Winter blankets region in snow
January 2, 2009
Traffic snarled, school districts closed
Karina and Lucas Fluegge, of Newcastle, sled on a hill in Lake Boren Park last month. By Dan Hubbell
A fierce winter storm struck Newcastle and Western Washington with a blast of snow Dec. 18, causing an icy commute that snarled morning rush hour Read more
Election forum set for chief candidates
January 2, 2009
The election season is upon us once again. A little less than two months after the Nov. 4 general election, King County voters on
Fire destroys elementary school teacher’s home
January 2, 2009
A Newcastle Elementary School teacher’s house was destroyed in a Dec. 21 fire.
The fire at 4721 192nd Place S.E. destroyed everything, causing about $600,000 in damage. By Chantelle Lusebrink
Jessica Smith, a third-grade teacher, and her family were at a relative’s house having dinner at the time of the fire.
Firefighters battled the fire at 4721 192nd Place S.E. in Issaquah’s South Read more
Legislators detail goals for 2009
January 2, 2009
The Legislature convenes Jan. 12 with the daunting task of closing a projected $5.8 billion shortfall.
Last month, Gov. Chris Gregoire proposed slashing more than $3.5 billion in funding Read more
Obama handily beats McCain in Newcastle
January 2, 2009
Gregoire, Reichert tops among local voters
Color Newcastle blue with a tinge of red politically from the November election. Barack Obama handily defeated
Councilwoman named to Harborview board
January 2, 2009
Newcastle City Councilwoman Lisa Jensen has been named to the board of trustees at Harborview Medical Center.
Jensen was nominated by King County Councilman Reagan Dunn and confirmed by the 13-member Read more
High winds are coming; prepare now for power outages
December 19, 2008
NEW — 12:09 p.m. Dec. 19, 2008
The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning in effect from 9 a.m. Saturday to 4 p.m. Sunday. This warning upgrades the high wind watch, which had been in effect.
Residents and local officials in the warned area should be prepared for widespread damage and power outages that could last for more than a week.
People need to prepare now for major disruption resulting from this windstorm. Be sure to have enough supplies on hand to last for several days should you be stranded at home. By late Saturday morning, it may be too late to prepare. Read more
Storm strikes Newcastle
December 18, 2008
NEW — 12:12 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008
The snow storm that missed Newcastle Wednesday arrived a day late, closing schools and making driving treacherous.
The Issaquah School District cancelled classes for Thursday. Go here for more information.
The Renton School District initially was on a 90-minute delay, but at 8:30 a.m., officials decided to close school and have children return home. Go here for more information.
Closings, cancellations announced because of forecast
December 17, 2008
NEW — 9:42 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008
Forecasts are predicting snow for Newcastle today.
Issaquah Schools are closed due to snow Dec. 17. Out-of-district transportation is not available. All before and afterschool programs have been cancelled. Go here for more information.
Renton Schools are opening 90 minutes late today. Go here for more information.
Tonight’s Newcastle Planning Commission meeting at 7p.m. will still take place.
Go here for a list of snow plowing routes. Read more
National Weather Service warns of frigid temperatures for area
December 13, 2008
Cold could be dangerous to elderly, children and pets
NEW — 8:38 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008
Below is a winter warning from the National Weather Service in Seattle:
THE LONGEST STREAK OF COLD WEATHER SINCE DECEMBER 1990 IS ON THE WAY…WHILE THE POSSIBILITY OF LOWLAND SNOW SHOWERS IS IN THE FORECAST AT TIMES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS…IT IS THE FRIGIDLY COLD TEMPERATURES EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT WEEK THAT COULD HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON WESTERN WASHINGTON.
AN ARCTIC AIR MASS WILL STREAM INTO WESTERN WASHINGTON TONIGHT AND
SUNDAY…IN THE WAKE OF AN ARCTIC FRONT MOVING SOUTH THROUGH THE
AREA THIS AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL BELOW FREEZING ACROSS
WESTERN WASHINGTON TONIGHT WITH MANY SPOTS DIPPING INTO THE LOWER TO
MID 20S. MOST OF THE REGION WILL REMAIN BELOW FREEZING ON SUNDAY
WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS ONLY IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S. IN ADDITION
WINDY CONDITIONS WILL ACCOMPANY THE ARRIVAL OF THE ARCTIC AIR MASS
TONIGHT AND SUNDAY…ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTH INTERIOR OF WESTERN
WASHINGTON.
SNOW SHOWERS TONIGHT AND SUNDAY COULD PRODUCE LOCAL ACCUMULATIONS OF
1 TO 3 INCHES…CREATING SLIPPERY ROADS AND SIDEWALKS. ROADWAYS AND
OTHER SURFACES THAT ARE ALREADY WET WILL QUICKLY BECOME ICY AND
DANGEROUS. THE FRIGID WEATHER COULD BURST OUTDOOR PIPES AND ENDANGER
PETS AS WELL. WIND CHILL IS ANOTHER THING THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED. IN
THE NORTHWEST INTERIOR THE COMBINATION OF SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES
AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL CREATE APPARENT TEMPERATURES NEAR ZERO
DEGREES FAHRENHEIT…LOW ENOUGH TO CAUSE FROSTBITE TO EXPOSED SKIN.
TEMPERATURES WILL DROP FURTHER ON MONDAY…AS VERY COLD AIR
CONTINUES TO FUNNEL THROUGH THE FRASER RIVER VALLEY OF SOUTHERN
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND INTO WESTERN WASHINGTON. BY MONDAY…DAYTIME
HIGHS WILL GENERALLY REACH ONLY THE 20S WITH NIGHTTIME LOWS IN THE
TEENS OR LOWER. THE COLD AIR MASS WILL SIT OVER THE REGION FOR THE
REST OF THE WEEK…WITH MOST ALL OF WESTERN WASHINGTON REMAINING
NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING EVEN DURING THE DAYTIME. THIS WILL LIKELY BE
THE MOST PROLONGED STREAK OF SUB-FREEZING WEATHER SINCE DECEMBER
1990.
IN ADDITION…A WEATHER SYSTEM ON WEDNESDAY COULD INTERACT WITH THE
STUBBORN COLD AIR MASS TO PRODUCE A RENEWED THREAT OF ACCUMULATING
SNOW ACROSS THE WESTERN WASHINGTON LOWLANDS.
OVER THE MOUNTAINS…TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE TEENS AND
SINGLE DIGITS TONIGHT AND REMAIN VERY COLD FOR MUCH OF THE WEEK
AHEAD. WIND CHILL VALUES OF 20 BELOW ZERO CAN BE EXPECTED AT TIMES
…WHICH WOULD CAUSE FROSTBITE TO EXPOSED SKIN IN ONLY ABOUT 15
MINUTES.
PLEASE BE PREPARED FOR AN UNUSUALLY PROLONGED AND INTENSE PERIOD OF
COLD WINTER WEATHER.
