A complete list of All-Wesco teams C5 Berry season’s early, but just as delicious D1 WEDNESDAY, 06.03.2015
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‘Inference of favoritism’ at PUD An ethics report says there was merely the appearance of a conflict of interest when a former worker got a no-bid contract. By Dan Catchpole Herald Writer
EVERETT — The Snohomish County Public Utility District
failed to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest when it awarded a no-bid contract to a “clean-energy” software company, an outside investigator’s
Glut forces closure of mill
report says. The 25-page ethics report, released by the electric utility Tuesday, details a close relationship between PUD managers and Dave Kaplan, the owner of 1Energy Systems. That relationship, and discussion of a possible contract to develop cutting-edge
battery storage systems for the PUD, began when the consultant was still on the utility’s payroll. “As discussions for the contract proceeded, Mr. Kaplan continued to work side-by-side with the same executives who would ultimately advocate to the commission that it approve
the contract with his company, 1Energy,” the report says. The report says steps could have been taken to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, including putting the contract out to be competitively bid to See PUD, Page A6
Rotary rewards students ‘Impressive’ kids given $149,500 during annual presentation
The market for lumber is overloaded, and there’s not enough demand, leaving the family-owned business in Snohomish no options. By Amy Nile and Jim Davis Herald Writers
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EVERETT — Audrey Taber stood in front of the room of students and parents while her guidance counselor at Cascade High School read off a list of her qualities: focused, determined, humble. “But she’s one of the most brilliant students we’ve ever had at Cascade High,” Kim Taylor said. Taber was awarded one of four Anthony G. Bozich scholarships from the Rotary Club of Everett on Tuesday night. “I feel very honored. This was very unexpected,” Taber said. The scholarship, totaling $17,500 over four years, will help her when she enrolls in the University of Washington’s Department of Civil and
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Environmental Engineering this fall. “I’m really interested in hydrology, so I want to work in water management and making efficient water treatment systems,” Taber said. The Everett Rotary gave out $149,500 in scholarship money Tuesday at its annual presentation. The club gives out scholarships to local students every year and has given out more than $1.5 million over the years. This year, the awards were given to 43 students in public schools within the city of Everett, plus one to an Everett Community College student. “The kids are very impressive,” said Mark Valentine, this year’s Rotary president. “Some of them are impressive
Regime change Bye, Sepp: Four days ago, Sepp Blatter was re-elected head of soccer’s governing body and defiantly declared he would clean up a widening corruption scandal. On Tuesday, the FIFA capo announced he will resign as president because “I do not feel I have a mandate from Dear Abby. . . .D5 Good Life . . . .D1
because they are brilliant and articulate and energetic, and some of them are kids who have just had a lot of bum luck and not let it hold them back. You have to admire their determination,” Valentine said. Soledad Medina held back tears when she received a $5,000 AVID Scholarship. The scholarships are for students in the AVID program, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. It’s a college-preparatory program for students with academic promise but of below-average income or other reduced means. Medina, who is 20 and graduating from Sequoia High School, is also raising a 3-year-old son at home. “I’m really thankful,” said Medina, who plans to enroll in
the entire world of football” (Sports, Page C1). Blatter’s post-FIFA plans are unclear, but if he wants to keep the Justice Department off his case, he might consider taking a job at one of the “Too Big to Fail” banks. Let me say this about that: Secretary of State
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John Kerry on Tuesday successfully underwent surgery for a broken leg suffered in a bicycle accident Saturday in France (Nation Briefly, Page A10). And contrary to what you may have heard, there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that doctors sedated Kerry by playing audio of his speeches. Short Takes . . .D6 Sports . . . . . . . C1
Everett Community College in the fall and become a medical assistant. “It has been a struggle, but that struggle has helped me a lot. I don’t see it as a bad thing,” Medina said. The scholarships were presented at the Everett School District’s Community Resource Center and cheered as their names were called to receive their awards, which ranged from a $500 AVID college supplies shopping spree to the four $17,500 Bozich scholarships. The Bozich awards were named for a Rotarian who died in 2004 and left more than $1 million to fund scholarships in science or technology. Among the more personal awards are the Brett Akio Jensen See ROTARY, Page A2
The clock is ticking: Trevor Noah, who will replace Jon Stewart as host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” is slated to begin his new job Sept. 28 (Short Takes, Page D6). For folks keeping score at home, this means Noah has 117 days to become funny.
— Mark Carlson, Herald staff
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See MILL, Page A6
KEVIN CLARK / THE HERALD
Taylor Elliott gives an embarrassed laugh during the Rotary scholarship ceremony Tuesday night. The Rotary Club of Everett gave out nearly $150,000 in scholarships to 44 students in Everett.
the buzz
SNOHOMISH — The city’s last remaining mill is shutting down after almost 75 years. The Seattle-Snohomish Mill, a family-owned company that has been in business since 1941, plans to close this summer, laying off 68 people. The company expects to shut down the sawmill at 9525 Airport Way by the end of this month when it runs through the last of its logs. The firm’s planing mill, which produces surfaced, finished lumber, likely will close by the end of July, said Megan McMurray, the mill’s president. The market is overloaded with lumber, and there is too little demand, McMurray said. She doesn’t expect that to change any time soon. “In general, as a business owner, you have to assess the market and assess the bottom line,” McMurray said. It’s difficult to compete with much larger companies around the Northwest and Canadian companies that are producing lumber, she said. “It had nothing to do with my employees’ experience, performance or attitude,” McMurray said. “It had everything to do with the market.” Snohomish City Manager Larry Bauman said mills have been an important part of the city’s heritage. He said he had
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