Happy fourth
July 9, 2008
Parks bond proposed
July 9, 2008
Package could cost homeowners about $95 per year in property taxes
Sammamish residents may have an all-ages recreation center in their future, and they may be asked to help fund its construction.
The City Council is nearing a decision on whether to ask voters to support Read more
Water agreement reached
July 9, 2008
Major step toward securing future water source for Sammamish
After five years of negotiation, the Cascade Water Alliance, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe reached a multifaceted agreement that strives to ensure a future water source for many Sammamish residents.
The resolution, signed June 25, will allow both tribes to have a say in future water enactments surrounding the apportionment of Lake Tapps as a water source. With the tribes’ blessing, Cascade officials hope to secure Lake Tapps as a water source for their members in the future.
The resolution comes as Cascade remains in the process of purchasing the outmoded reservoir from Puget Sound Energy. Read more
Teacher pay unfair say Sammamish school districts
July 9, 2008
State formula favors some school districts
In late June, Sammamish’s Doug Eglington traveled to Olympia to tackle two educational issues rankling school districts across the state: salary schedules and levy lids.
Eglington represented the concerns Read more
State audit calls for strengthening financial controls
July 9, 2008
Sammamish’s Financial Services Department is keeping better track of its books after a state auditor’s report found “significant deficiencies” in its internal accounting controls in 2006. Read more
Review editorial
July 9, 2008
Summertime is now time to vote
Summer is a great time to relax, but in just a few short weeks, voters will need to get back to business and prepare for the Aug. 19 primary election. Last year, the state kicked its long-standing September primary to the curb for its first August election. What that means is absentee ballots will be in the mail beginning July 30.
Voters need to keep in mind that among local and state elections, primaries are extremely important. Many of the most important decisions affecting county and state government will be made during the dog days of summer.
The election winnows the field among candidates and sets the stage for the November general election ballot.
The state Supreme Court races are often decided in the primary.
Other critical primary decisions will be made in races for governor, superintendent of public instruction, state lands commissioner and more.
Everyone should consider a candidate forum on their list of summer activities, and add the primary voters pamphlet to the list of good summer reads. To get a jumpstart, the elections department has a copy of the primary ballot on its Web site.
Residents who aren’t yet registered have even less time to get involved. Register online or by mail by July 17 to vote in the August primary.
Or sign up in person time by Aug. 4 at the King County Elections Office in Renton. Forms are online at www.metrokc.gov.
Historically, voter turnout has been a national disgrace, although record numbers turned out for Presidential Primaries across the nation earlier this year.
The average election turnout in presidential elections barely tops 50 percent. School levy elections and primaries have even fewer voters. Your vote does matter.
So, pack the voters pamphlet along with the sunscreen as you hit the beaches and parks this month.
Embrace democracy by becoming a 1) registered and 2) informed voter, and then be sure to vote.
Sammamish Forum
July 9, 2008
The winner matters
You’d think there were more, but there weren’t. The sport of kings, horse Read more
Local businesses looking to hire teens
July 9, 2008
Plateau bucks national trend, continues to bring on youth workers
For recent Eastlake High School graduate Andy Shee, working a summer job this year was a foregone conclusion. Read more
A triumphiant triathalon
July 9, 2008
Physically and emotionally fit women to compete in August race
After months of preparation and training, a half-mile swim, 12.4-mile bicycle ride and 3.1 mile run are all that remains between two Sammamish women and the finish line of the Danskin Women’s Triathlon.
Bonnie Kosko and Kristin Lucas are set to compete in the race Aug. 17.
Kosko and Lucas have both overcome personal trials in their journey to become triathletes.
After meeting her four-year goal of losing 100 pounds, Lucas said she needed a new goal to keep her motivated.
The Danksin Women’s Triathlon provided the perfect opportunity and motivation to continue her winning battle. Read more
Sammamish girl’s art gives back to Children’s Hospital
July 9, 2008
Nine-year-old Nicki Wehrs likes to paint rabbits and rainbows, play soccer and go swimming, like many children her age. But Nicki, who lives in Sahelee, has to endure more than most children to stay healthy enough to do those things.
Since she was diagnosed with a chronic bleeding disorder in 2002 called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Nicki has become a patient at the Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, where she travels for intravenous therapy treatments every 6-8 weeks.
Although her family is well insured, Nicki and her father, Ray Wehrs, are working to raise money for uninsured children who also need the hospital’s services.
Last month they participated in Children’s Ride, an annual motorcycle event that raised more than $600,000 for the hospital’s uncompensated care fund. Read more
