State’s elected officials will be getting a pay raise A3
Easy, cheap spring spruce-ups D1
THURSDAY, 05.14.2015
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Even Early danger at Big Four Ice Caves less beach access Rare battle Because of mild weather, sections of the popular attraction are already collapsing, and visitors are urged to stay on the trail.
By Eric Stevick Herald Writer
VERLOT — A mild winter and warm spring have caused sections of the popular Big Four Mountain Ice Caves to collapse.
Visitors are being urged to stay on the trail and well away from the caves. The ice is formed by avalanches that roar down the mountain’s north face during winter and spring. Most years,
one or more caves form as the ice melts. “As we head into the busiest and warmest part of the season the cave is in its most dangerous See CAVES, Page A2
ELECTION 2015 | Snohomish County Executive
Herald Writer
EVERETT — The Howarth Park pedestrian bridge, one of the last public beach access points in Everett, will be closed Thursday for emergency repairs. The bridge work will take five or six months to complete. Because the bridge and beach were scheduled to be closed in the fall for Snohomish County’s Nearshore Beach Restoration Project, that means that the beach will be inaccessible until the spring of 2016. The city’s contractor, KPFF Consulting Engineers, recently conducted a regular inspection on the 27-year-old bridge and found the steel beams were significantly rusted and corroded. The firm is preparing a report for the city that advises closing the bridge for emergency repairs, said Paul Kaftanski, Everett’s director of Parks and Recreation. “The right thing to do would be to close it now and not wait until the report arrives,” Kaftanski said. “The problem will be when there’s a lot of weight on that structure,” he added. “We didn’t want to take a chance with it open for the summer.” The city plans to design the fix and put the job out to bid as soon as possible. The city had been anticipating making some repairs to the bridge in the near future. The recent inspection accelerated the schedule, Kaftanski said. The bridge is the only access to the beach on the far side of the BNSF Railway mainline. The next-closest beach access points are to the south at Edgewater Beach in Mukilteo, which reopened April 15, and to the north at the Everett Avenue overpass, which leads to Port of Everett property and the trail to Pigeon Creek Beach. The access to Pigeon Creek Beach was made more difficult See BEACH, Page A2
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Democrats who’ve sparred all year are in a head-to-head bid to lead the county
IAN TERRY / HERALD FILE, APRIL 28
By Noah Haglund Herald Writer
EVERETT — Snohomish County’s top elected officials have traded accusations of poor leadership for much of the past year. Now they’re competing to lead the county. County Executive John Lovick hopes to win his first full term, four more years in office. He’s upbeat about his accomplishments since being appointed to the job nearly two years ago. He says he’s honored to serve.
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VOL. 115, NO. 92 © 2015 THE DAILY HERALD CO.
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HERALD FILE
Snohomish County Executive John Lovick (center) speaks with attendants at a reception for top donors at supporter Bob Lenz’s house in Everett. Lovick will be running for his first full term.
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Snohomish County Council Chairman Dave Somers says he entered the race because of concerns about the county’s financial future.
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Dave Somers confesses to being a reluctant candidate. The County Council chairman said he agonized over the decision to challenge another Democrat, but came to the conclusion that Lovick was leading the county toward financial ruin. He believes Lovick fails to understand crucial policy issues and relies on bad advice from a small circle of confidants. “It’s difficult. I know John’s popular,” Somers said. “I respect what he’s done in the past, but I think he’s in the wrong spot.” Lovick stands by his record.
My 13 sons Nothing but Y chromosomes: A Michigan couple on Wednesday welcomed their 13th child — a boy, like the 12 who proceeded him (Page A6). Mom and Dad say they continued their tradition of not learning the baby’s gender before the birth, but Dear Abby. . . .D5 Horoscope . . . B4
“I always know that there’s going to be a robust campaign, and I’m looking forward to it,” he said. The power of incumbency and the Democratic Party’s stamp of approval might give Lovick an electoral edge. By the time Somers entered the race this week, Lovick’s campaign had raised $20,000. Some seasoned Democratic political consultants, nevertheless, give Somers a shot. “There is an opening for Dave Somers to win this race, given some of the challenges
The Buzz suspects they were secretly relieved. If they had a girl, they would have needed to teach the 12 boys how to put the seat down after using the toilet. Don’t know much about history: On this day in 1796, English physician Edward Jenner administered the first inoculation against smallpox,
Lottery . . . . . .A2 Northwest. . . . B1
Obituaries. . . .A4 Opinion. . . . . .A9
using cowpox matter (Today in History, Page D6). Jenner had to deal with strong opposition from anti-vaxxers, who claimed the vaccine would cause children to sprout cow-like appendages.* Suck it up: The San Francisco 49ers have rushed to buy new Internet addresses Short Takes . . .D6 Sports . . . . . . . C1
in Snohomish County government,” said Seattle-based John Wyble, who has worked for Somers on past campaigns. “I think it’s great that Snohomish County voters have a choice.” Snohomish County Democrats don’t welcome the internal competition. Chairman Richard Wright, whose wife, Stephanie, sits on the County Council and supports Lovick, told Somers he was disappointed. “I reminded him that the county party had early and unanimously See EXEC, Page A2
that end with “.sucks” and “.wtf ” to protect their online reputation (Page A7). With the team in steep decline, holding the “.sucks” website in reserve was a smart move by Niners management. However, with Jim Harbaugh gone, there will be no need for “.wtf.”
— Mark Carlson, Herald staff
* They really said this. Brighter 64/49, C6
DAILY
By Chris Winters
under way
the buzz
Howarth Park bridge will be closed for emergency repairs after a regular inspection found its beams were significantly corroded.
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