ISSAQUAH | SAMMAMISH
Friday, January 6, 2012
www.issaquahreporter.com
Sammamish police bust Christmas thieves BY CELESTE GRACEY CGRACEY@ISSAQUAHREPORTER.COM
Congressional District 8 jumped over the Washington Cascade Mountain ranger to include Kittatas and Chelan counties. The district also shed Bellevue and took on all of Auburn. CONTRIBUTED
New Neighbors Issaquah, Sammamish joined with Wenatchee, Chelan in Eighth Congressional District BY CELESTE GRACEY CGRACEY@ISSAQUAHREPORTER.COM
Seattle’s Eastside may not have much in common with rural Chelan, a tourist town marked by summer homes and a worldclass lake, but a new congressional redistricting plan puts the two under the same congressman. For decades the Cascade Mountain range has divided the state’s districts, but when a commission discovered it needed to bring more than 150,000 voters into a Western Washington district, the logical choice was along I-90. “I’m kind of surprised we broke the Cas-
cade curtain, but it had to be done,” said the Chelan Mayor, Robert Goedde. Eastern Washington’s conservative voters were also a natural fit for the Eighth District, which is held by Republican Rep. Dave Reichert. The change strengthens his district. “I think it will all melt together,” Goedde said. The change comes with the Eighth completely letting go of Bellevue and taking on all of Auburn. With 70,000 people, Auburn is now the largest city in the district. Even though Issaquah residents tend to be more liberal, like their Eastside neighbors, it won’t affect them much, because their congressman won’t change, said Ava Frisinger, the Issaquah mayor. On a federal level, the east and west sides of Snoqualmie Pass have much in common, such as the need for more jobs, she said. Both regions butt up against wilderness, care about the purity of their lakes and have an interest in outdoor recreation.
Communities east of Auburn also care as much about maintaining their family farms as Wenatchee cares for its apple orchards, Reichert said. The cities, however, have staunchly different approaches to transportation. Issaquah is vying for light rail in the next 30 years, while Wenatchee is still trying to get SEE DISTRICT, 10
Prosecutors believe the people behind the Sammamish Christmas-Day burglary, as well as four other local breakins, were also dealing meth and heroine from their Klahanie apartment. Among other allegations, Nickolas R. Pogue, 35, and Nicole Byrd, 33, were charged with possession of stolen property and a third suspect is expected to face charges in the next week. Sammamish made a connection to the burglaries during a stake out at a known drug house on the 3800 block of Klahanie Drive Southeast. Police pulled over a man who left the house, knowing he had a suspended license, and found a slingshot ball bearing in his front pocket. It matched those used in the Christmas burglary. Police also found two baggies filled with jewelry in the man’s front pockets. The Reporter doesn’t name suspects who have not been charged. The suspect told police that there was stolen property in the apartment and that Byrd once bragged about dealing two pounds of drugs a week, according to the charging papers. During the search of the apartment, police found about 34 grams of meth and heroine combined and about 60 prescription narcotic pills, stowed away in a make-up bag covered in peace signs, hearts and flowers, according to the papers. Police also recovered two handguns and a $900 pair of Prada boots from the home, according to the papers. Officers then searched Pogue’s storage SEE POLICE, 14
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425-313-1545 22629 SE 29th St. Sammamish, WA 98075
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