Picks perfect: Great spring plants for 2015 D1
SCORES
MORE IN SPORTS
BOYS
Glacier Peak
56
Mville Pilchuck
55
Stanwood Arlington
65 55
Winners advance to state
THURSDAY, 02.19.2015
Track verdict delayed for now
●
EVERETT, WASHINGTON
●
WWW.HERALDNET.COM
●
75¢ (HIGHER IN OUTLYING AREAS)
Felon has ‘violent history’ John Keinath, arrested Feb. 10, is under investigation for being in possession of firearms, drug crimes and more. By Eric Stevick Herald Writer
EVERETT — When the SWAT team descended on the Tulalip home last week, there were plenty of reasons for caution.
County Council members say they want to take time to determine if proper steps were taken when plans for motocross were approved.
The man living there was wellknown to police. His rap sheet included threats, assaults and brazen pursuits. Detectives were told that in the few months he had been out of prison he had been using drug
deals to amass firearms, including assault rifles. They were told he had a police uniform he planned to use in a robbery. Word on the street — and later, allegedly from the suspect himself — was he was buying heroin and methamphetamine by the pound. John C. Keinath, also known by his street name of “Flare,”
was arrested Feb. 10. He’s now under investigation for 11 counts of being a felon in possession of firearms, drug crimes and trafficking in stolen property. Keinath, 43, has “an extremely violent history,” Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Jennifer DeJong told a See FELON, Page A2
Seabirds hanging in there
By Noah Haglund Herald Writer
It’s early, but rising populations speak to effectiveness of conservation work By Kari Bray and Noah Haglund Herald Writers
STANWOOD — Scientists spotted some potentially uplifting trends when they sat down to pore over observations from Puget Sound birdwatchers. Over the past seven years, volunteers with the Seattle Audubon Society saw increases among 14 of 18 seabird species they were tracking. That includes cormorants, loons, rhinoceros auklets and harlequin ducks. Scientists warn it’s too early to jump to rosy conclusions about seabirds bucking population declines, which have been happening since at least the 1970s. Nevertheless, the data hold tantalizing clues about the effectiveness of conservation efforts in the region, among other factors. “It indicates that perhaps we are doing something right,” said Toby Ross, science manager for the Seattle Audubon Society. Results of the Puget Sound Seabird Study were published last month in the online journal PeerJ. Observations took place at 62 locations throughout
Go to HeraldNetDailyDeal.com to purchase today’s deal from
Dakota’s Dog Washing Service VOL. 114, NO. 9 © 2015 THE DAILY HERALD CO.
Business . . . . .A9 Classified . . . . B2
See BIRDS, Page A5
Cormorants perch at Kayak Point County Park south of Stanwood.
50% OFF
INSIDE
PHOTOS BY KEVIN CLARK / THE HERALD
Comics . . . . . .D4 Crossword . . .D4
The Brit’s a hit Oliver’s hardy in his show: HBO has picked up two more seasons of John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight,” ending any thoughts that he might return to Comedy Central following Jon Stewart’s announcement that he will leave “The Daily Show” this year (Page D6). Dear Abby. . . .D5 Horoscope . . . B4
Which means that if disgraced NBC anchor Brian Williams is still interested in doing a “fake news” show, “The Daily Show” is still a possibility. The One with the Desperate Actor: “The Odd Couple,” the 1970s series about incompatible roommates Oscar Madison and
Lottery . . . . . .A2 Northwest. . . . B1
Obituaries. . . .A6 Opinion. . . . .A11
Felix Unger returns to CBS tonight, this time with Matthew Perry as Oscar and Thomas Lennon as Felix (The Clicker, Page D6). After no less than three other one-season attempts at sit-com success following the end of his Chandler Bing role, Perry must be hanging around in hopes someone will reboot “Friends.” Short Takes . . .D6 Sports . . . . . . . C1
I said heel: Miss P, a beagle, was named best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show (Page A2). There was some controversy during the award presentation when Kanye West took the stage, grabbed a mic and insisted that Matisse, a Portuguese water dog, deserved the honor.
—Jon Bauer, Herald staff
Glum 51/45, C6
DAILY
See MOTOCROSS, Page A5
Dana Fowler takes her turn looking through the scope with Jim Morgan at Port Susan Bay Nature Conservancy on Feb. 7.
the buzz
EVERETT — A long-awaited decision about building a complex of motocross racetracks northeast of Granite Falls will have to wait a little longer. Dozens of people from the off-road motorcycle community filled Snohomish County Council chambers Wednesday urging lawmakers to rule in their favor. Some held signs with messages such as “Vote Yes for MXGP” — the Kirkland company seeking permission to build the track along the Mountain Loop Highway. Council members, however, made it clear they intend to set emotions and opinions aside when making their decision on whether to allow the complex to get built. Their job is to determine whether the county hearing examiner’s Dec. 23 decision was correct in approving plans for the track, subject to a long list of conditions. “I know the community supports it. It’s in the record and I understand why — I have motorcycles myself,” County Council Chairman Dave Somers told the audience. “But our job here today, as I view it, is to first decide if county code has been followed — upheld — and second if the hearing examiner has made any errors. I think those are the tests in front of us.” In that sense, their role is more akin to a judge’s than a lawmaker’s. Wednesday’s proceeding, known as a closed-record appeal hearing, was continued from a week earlier. Council members agreed to take more time to understand the legal nuances at play. They’re scheduled to reconvene at 10:30 a.m. March 2. “I was expecting to get a favorable decision today, but that’s better than a ‘no,’ ” MXGP coowner Gary Strode said. Strode’s company has been pursuing the current proposal since 2007. Plans call for building multiple tracks in five phases. Construction could take 15 years to complete. Camping facilities are a major aspect of the design. Portland, Oregon, company
6
42963 33333
9