Everett Daily Herald, August 21, 2015

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Puppy goes to school — at WSU A3

FRIDAY, 08.21.2015

EVERETT, WASHINGTON

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Following deadly flames

Ensuring trains will keep rolling Crews resume work to prevent mudslides above railroad tracks near Everett and Mukilteo in an effort to lower the number of cancellations caused by wet weather. By Noah Haglund Herald Writer

did. ... This is something that can happen to anyone.” With fires and power outages throughout Okanogan and surrounding counties, cellphone coverage has been limited for the crews, he said. Many of their families and fire departments at home found out before they did about the fatalities. That touched

EVERETT — Work has started to shore up the worst of the slipping, sliding coastal bluffs above the railroad tracks between Everett and Mukilteo. Mudslides pose a seasonal nuisance — and danger — for Sounder commuters, Amtrak passengers and freight trains. The state Department of Transportation, BNSF Railway and other partners completed work last year at two trouble spots. Crews on Aug. 15 resumed their efforts and are scheduled to finish four related projects by the end of the year. “The two that were completed last year, there were no (new) landslides at all in those areas,” said Janet Matkin, WSDOT’s rail communications manager. “We’re hopeful that that’s true for the for remaining ones that we’re doing this year.” Measures include building walls to hold back debris, installing fences with landslide-detection sensors and improving drainage. The work is part of a $16.1 million effort focused on the Everett-to-Seattle rail corridor, where hundreds of landslides have occurred over the past decade. It follows a plan that state agencies and BNSF drew up with help from local governments.

See FIRES, Page A2

See TRACKS, Page A6

PHOTOS BY ELAINE THOMPSON / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jackson Hotshots’ firefighters from Jackson, Mississippi, stand with hands and helmets over their hearts as they watch a motorcade carrying the bodies of three firefighters killed a day earlier drive past Thursday near Twisp. Below, a U.S. Forest Service truck drives near large flames on a hillside along Twisp River Road.

County fire crews shift from Chelan to Twisp as blazes rage firefighters who died >> The Wednesday were members

By Rikki King Herald Writer

EVERETT — A team of Snohomish County firefighters was redeployed from Chelan to Twisp on Wednesday afternoon. They arrived, got their assignments and, again, headed toward flames. Hours later, three federal firefighters working alongside them were dead. On Thursday, more than 60 local firefighters continued to work at the now-fatal fires blazing across Eastern Washington. “It impacts them heavily,” said Gold Bar Fire Chief Eric Andrews, who coordinates wildfire response from this part of the state. “They all know that those guys started the same day as they

of a specially trained unit, A2 Mandatory evacuation for Tonasket; officials ask heavy equipment operators to help establish fire lines; and firefighters are arriving from Down Under, A2

Express-lane tolling on I-405 to begin Sept. 27 Let the tolling begin. Starting Sunday, Sept. 27, the new express toll lanes on I-405 between Lynnwood and Bellevue will become operational and state transportation officials think it will mean quicker commutes for drivers willing to pay the price.

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They predicted those traveling in express lanes will motor along at 45 mph or faster most of the time on the 17-mile stretch from I-5 in Lynnwood to Northeast 6th Street in Bellevue. “That is something we feel confident we will see,” said Ethan Bergerson, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation The tolls will range from 75

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Business . . . . . A9 Classified . . . . B1

Comics . . . . . . D4 Crossword . . . D4

cents up to $10 and are expected to be around $4 at the worst times of the commute, Bergerson said. The tolls will vary based on congestion in the express lanes and how much of the tolledstretch of highway one travels. The rates will be displayed on overhead electronic signs. You pay the rate that’s posted when you enter the lane at a designated entry point.

Desaturated First, they came for my Kodachrome: General Mills and other foodmakers are removing artificial colors from their foods to meet consumer demand for more natural foods. But there are trade-offs. General Mills is dropping blue and green dyes from Trix cereal and Dear Abby . . . D5 Horoscope . . . B4

Carpoolers won’t have to pay but they will face new rules. You will need at least three people to qualify as a carpool from 5-9 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. weekdays. Two people will be enough at all other times including weekends. Also, carpoolers will be required to have the Good To Go! Flex Pass set to HOV mode to travel for free, otherwise they will get charged.

using subdued coloring made from radishes and strawberries (Page A9). This is going to be a blow for the Trix Rabbit; not only is the cereal off limits, he’s losing half the garden to those darn kids. Binge and purge: If you’re looking for something to do with the final weeks of

Lottery . . . . . . A2 Obituaries . . . A7

Opinion . . . . A11 Short Takes . . D6

summer, you could use the time to binge-watch some TV and catch up on series you might have missed, including “Orange is the New Black” and “The Walking Dead” (Page D6). And as long as you’re sitting in the dark on a nice sunny day, pour yourself a big bowl of Trix cereal, now with Duller Colors™. Sports . . . . . . C1 Stocks . . . . . A10

Vanpools, buses and motorcyclists can travel toll-free as well though motorcyclists also will need a special Good To Go! Pass. “This is a major milestone for us, but also a major call to action for drivers, especially carpoolers, to get ready,” Assistant Secretary of Transportation, Craig Stone said in a statement. “We know See TOLLS, Page A6

Don’t know much about history: On this day in 1858, the first of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas took place (Today in History, Page D6). But both candidates went past their allotted time because the doorbell sound had not been invented yet. —Jon Bauer, Herald staff

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