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Reporter ISSAQUAH | SAMMAMISH
Issaquah woman to challenge Rep. Rodne - Page 2 -
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2016
LWSD board considers $400 M bond for new schools Bond would also fund remodeling, enlarging Margaret Mead Elementary School in Sammamish BY MEGAN CAMPBELL
State lawmakers begin 2016 session - Page 4 -
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ISSAQUAH/SAMMAMISH REPORTER
To address continued enrollment growth, the Lake Washington School District board of directors is
considering a $398 million bond. “Basically, we’ve done everything we can with the facilities we have,” district spokeswoman Kathryn Reith said. “Really, to do the kind of expansion we need, it takes a bond
measure.” The bond, which might be sent to voters on the April ballot, will fund three new schools and repair some of the oldest facilities in operation. The school board is expected to vote on the measure at the Jan. 25 meeting. In the meantime, the public can comment on the draft funding model through a district survey, available online through
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Third-highest kokanee run in the last two decades ISSAQUAH/SAMMAMISH REPORTER
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BY MEGAN CAMPBELL
Sammamish resident runs Goldberg’s Deli - Page 5 -
Eagles take 64-45 win against Skyline - Page 7 -
Friday, Jan. 15. The 2015 tax rate would not increase if the measure passed, she said. The 2016 bond would be followed-up by subsequent measures in 2018, 2022 and 2026. The 2016 bond would fund the most immediate needs, while the others would focus on long-term needs,
King County Sheriff John Urquhart address the media during a Jan. 7 press conference at the King County Courthouse in Seattle regarding an organization of self-identified sex soliciting “hobbyists” and the sex trafficking site they frequented. After a months-long investigation, officials raided and arrested members of the organization and shut down the website last week. Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett stands behind Urquhart. For the full story, see page 3.
Residents to have more recycling options, embedded compost service in 2017 BY MEGAN CAMPBELL ISSAQUAH/SAMMAMISH REPORTER
Next year, Sammamish residents can expect a more comprehensive solid waste service, one that accepts more recyclables and includes composting for all. Plus, it’s one that will save most residents money. The Sammamish City Council unani-
mously approved the 2017-2025 contract with Republic Services at the Jan. 5 meeting, as it was the “lone responsive” bid, according to city staff. Waste Management had also submitted its bid for the services, but staff ruled that “nonresponsive.” In a split vote, 4-3, the council adopted
So far, it appears to be a solid return year for the rare, freshwater salmon swimming back to their spawning grounds in Sammamish and Bellevue. Likely 4,000 kokanee — a species closely related to the sockeye salmon but that only live in Lake Sammamish — will have returned to familiar breeding streams by spring, estimated David St. John, coordinator and chair of the Lake Sammamish Kokanee Work Group. These numbers would make this year’s return the third highest in the last two decades, he said. “It’s a good sign that we’re making progress,” St. John said. Since 2009, per the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery program, crews have been collecting and raising kokanee offspring before releasing them back into native creeks. This strengthens the species’ numbers and increases their chance of survival. This year, hatchery crews collected about 145,000 eggs, the second most ever gathered, St. John said. And since 2010, the hatchery program has brought more than 300,000 kokanee fry back to native waters. The 2015 Kokanee Release saw 46,000 baby fish returned to local streams. This year’s return, the 2015-2016 run, are the offspring of a large spawning group in 2012-2013 when an estimated 15,000 fish swam back to native streams. “When we talk about having a ‘good year’ it’s relative. Historically speaking, these are all bad years,” St. John said. “We need to do better.” Once, the kokanee thrived in the tens of thousands, St.
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