Year in review: National honors for Si View and a tow-truck tribute

Published 12:18 pm Tuesday, December 29, 2015

The Record continues its look back at the year 2015, which included a trip to national competition for the Mount Si High School cheer squad, the opening of the new Snoqualmie Valley hospital and an unusual tribute to a local businessman.

March 4:  Sanctuary lost

Macaw Rescue and Sanctuary in Carnation had 50 birds stolen. The theft was a first for the sanctuary. Birds stolen included blue quakers, bar-eyed cockatoos, rose-breasted cockatoos, Senegal, Meyers and red-bellied parrots.

A trio of Amazon parrots huddles together at the Macaw Rescue and Sanctuary near Carnation. All of the 800 or so birds are slated for microchipping, since the theft of about 50 birds.

March 4:  Making history

The Si View Community Center, in the midst of a $1.7 million renovation, was recently named to the National Register of Historic Places. More classroom space, new flooring in the gym and lobby, fire safety improvements, and a return to the early layout of the building, are all planned.

Ballet class, normally in Si View’s hardwood-floor social room, goes on as usual in a temporary location during the Si View remodel.

March 11:  One-year mark

One year after the Snoqualmie Police Department began covering North Bend, Officer Grant Boere talked about how it’s gone and community policing. Police Chief Steve McCulley presented survey results to the North Bend City Council indicating 52 percent of respondents thought crime had decreased in the past year.

Snoqualmie Police Officer Grant Boere talks on the radio as he patrols North Bend on a Friday evening in February. This week marks the one-year anniversary of the department’s police service contract with North Bend.

March 18:  New elementary school

Snoqualmie Valley School District broke ground on its sixth elementary school on March 16. The new 71,000 square-foot building will have 31 classrooms and a student capacity of 650. The school is one of the projects to be funded by a $244 million bond passed in February.

Snoqualmie Valley School District Superintendent Joel Aune, with board members Tavish MacLean, Marci Busby, Carolyn Simpson and Dan Popp, broke ground March 16, on a new elementary school, the first component of the recently approved $244 million bond.

The North Bend Jazz Walk returned.

On the set at Valley Center Stage, Oliver Groenewald plays with Jay Thomas and the Cantaloupes.

Singer Aria Prame, with guitarist Volpicella, charmed audiences at Georgia’s Bakery.

April 1:  Day at the park

Snoqualmie’s Jeanne Hansen Park was officially opened. The opening was a result of a city council vote that amended the city’s contract with the park developer to accept early ownership of the park.

Katie Monica pushes her daughter, Camille, 4, on the swings on Friday, March 27.

Some sheep went missing and made the news

Escaped sheep in Wilderness Rim on Thursday, April 2.

The Northwest Railway Museum worked on expansion plans.

Richard Anderson, Northwest Railway Museum’s executive director poses in front of the new water cistern for the steam engine.

April 15:  New hospital nearly open

Snoqualmie Valley Hospital cut the ribbon on its new hospital building on April 10. With more than 100 guests attending, Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson, hospital CEO Rodger McCollum, and COO Tom Parker spoke about the lasting economic benefits that the new hospital could bring to the city.

The new Snoqualmie Valley Hospital entrance, while still under construction.

Ben Lindekugel, executive director of the Washington Public Hospital Districts, was the guest speaker at the event.

April 15:  Thanks to a citizen

North Bend resident Cameron Heutmaker was honored by the city of North Bend April 7 for helping police apprehend a group of burglars. Heutmaker called 911 when he saw a suspicious man on the roof of Frankie’s Pizza.

North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing, left, and Snoqualmie Police Captain Nick Almquist, right, congratulated Cameron Heutmaker for his help in arresting three burglars in North Bend in March. Heutmaker called 911 when he saw a man on the roof of Frankie’s Pizza around 4 a.m., and heard thumping noises from inside the building.

April 22:  Tow-truck tribute

In honor of the passing of Dennis Todd, owner of Todd’s Towing in North Bend, 72 tow trucks drove in procession from Snoqualmie to the Pass and then back through North Bend on Saturday, April 18.

A line of 74 tow trucks make up the memorial procession for the late Dennis Todd.

Sno-Valley Idol Junior winners were named

Sno Valley Idol Junior winners, from left are Jessica Conlon (2nd place), Audrey McNames (3rd place), Natalie Bateman (1st place), and Julian Betz (people’s choice).

North Bend still recovering from explosion one year ago

A tree grows crookedly, next to the site of last year’s accidental gas explosion in North Bend. The tree seems otherwise unharmed by the blast.

Red Oak Residence Director Laure Ann Wilbert said repairs needed after the April 25, 2014, explosion are 98 percent complete.

April 29:  Dads on patrol

Fall City Elementary launched a new program this year, Watch D.O.G.S.(Dads of Great Students). The program brings dads into the classrooms for volunteer work, and everyone loves it, said program co-founder Jeff Kissick.

Heidi, 6, and her sister Anna, 8, help their dad, Simon, with his Watch D.O.G.S. cross walk duties.

Local band LocoMotive got attention from some pros.

LocoMotive members Bella Mariani, Campbell Farris, Ryan Horn and Ethan Horn practice at the Horns’ house.

We announced the Valley Record Amateur Photography Contest winners in April:

Jim Reitz of North Bend took first place with this image of “sunrise on a chilly morning at Rattlesnake Lake near North Bend,” in the Valley Record’s annual Amateur Photography Contest.

Kite flying at Cannon Beach led to this third place people photo by Karen Dennis.

Zach Wolf’s trio of turtles was the third-place winner in the animal category.

May 6:  Wildlife wanted

A census by the Upper Snoqualmie Valley Elk Management Group found that a local elk herd had a population ranging from 449 to 591. It was the largest population calculated in the last five years. The work the elk group is doing, such as building fencing around roads is also helping keep the population up and the elk away from cars.

Walking along a “linear meadow” that the Upper Snoqualmie Valley Elk Management Group created, member Harold Erlandson points out signs that wildlife has been foraging there.

The Snoqualmie Falls Candy Factory welcomed new owners.

Longtime Candy Factory owners Wes Sorstokke and his wife, Sharon Nikko, welcomed the store’s new owners, Terry Willingham, with his daughter, Ally, and wife Geralyn, to the Valley recently.

The Seattle Mariners came to Snoqualmie for a golf tournament.

The Mariner Moose mugs for the camera May 11, during the Mariners Care golf tournament supporting the fight against cystic fibrosis.

May 13:  Salvaging Si View

The Si View Community Center let Valley residents salvage old materials not being used in the community center’s remodel. People picked up boards, doors and other items, with plans for using them in new projects at home.

Bob Widrig, North Bend, maneuvers a handful of fir boards taken from the Si View community center salvage day.

Mary Miller’s Heart of the Valley event returned.

A ‘70s-style smiley face was one of the shapes in play in Sunday’s Heart of the Valley event.

May 20:  Fire season

With fire season in full effect, The Department of Natural Resources began early training for fire crews to protect a 12 million-acre span of land. Last year’s fire season was the worst in state history. Gov. Jay Inslee declared a statewide drought emergency, and the DNR extended Washington’s fire season from April to October.

Teachers rallied for education.

Mount Si language arts teachers Brian McCormick and Susan Holihan took part in the rally.

And Mount Si High School’s student photographers won awards in the Washington State High School Photography Competition:

Connor Bunting’s nighttime portrait was one of 18 finalists in the category.

Watch for stories from the rest of 2015 posted throughout the week.