Briefly: Police investigate arson, Carnation appoints Ribail as Mayor

A round-up of local news briefs from Jan. 2 to 6.

Police Investigate Arson: The Snoqualmie Police are seeking the public’s help to investigate an arson at the North Bend Taco Time. Around 5 a.m. On New Year’s Eve, the fast-food chain’s drive-thru window was smashed and a firework was tossed inside causing property damage, police said. Residents can report tips to law enforcement by calling 1-800-55-ARSON.

Heavy Winds: On Wednesday, Jan. 4., The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for much of Western Washington, including the Snoqualmie Valley. Winds between 30-40 MPH, with gusts up to 55 mph were expected. Fallen trees and power outages were seen Thursday on the outskirts of Snoqualmie, North Bend and Fall City.

Roundabout Construction: Construction on the roundabout being built at the intersection of 136th street and 436th avenue in North Bend will resume this month. Construction will run through February and short delays are possible. The roundabout is hoping to mitigate traffic impacts associated with the 128-unit River Run Apartment Complex, which is also under construction.

Mentoring Month: January is Mentoring Month in the Snoqualmie Valley. The month is an effort led by the Empower Youth Network to raise awareness for its “Youth Success! Mentoring” program, which pairs adults with young people in need of support. You can learn more about the program at empoweryouthnetwork.org/youth-success-mentoring.

Mayor In Carnation: The Carnation City Council has tapped Jim Ribail to continue as Mayor for the next two years. Ribail had been serving as the city’s interim-mayor since September, following Kim Lisk’s resignation. He was officially appointed at the council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 3. With a weak-mayor government, the Mayoral-role is mostly ceremonial, but Ribail said in a social media post that he takes the position seriously and thanked his fellow councilmembers for the opportunity.