Valley Medical Center executive identified in Sammamish Plateau drowning
August 16, 2012
NEW — 4:35 p.m. Aug. 16, 2012
Valley Medical Center identified the woman from a recent Sammamish Plateau drowning as hospital executive Barbara Mitchell.
Barbara Mitchell
Mitchell, 66, served as senior vice president, human resources and marketing, at the Renton hospital. Police said she left for a walk and then drowned Aug. 8 in Rainbow Lake at Issaquah-Pine Lake Road Southeast and Southeast 44th Street near Klahanie.
Investigators said Mitchell lived within a mile of Rainbow Lake.
Mitchell worked at Valley Medical Center since 1999, initially as director of human resources, and then rose to vice president of human resources and, later, to senior vice president, human resources and marketing.
Use safety precautions to stay cool as temperatures rise
August 15, 2012
NEW — 1:05 p.m. Aug. 15, 2012
The mercury is expected to surpass 90 degrees in the days ahead, and as temperatures rise, so do the risks for heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
National Weather Service meteorologists in Seattle forecast highs of 89 for Wednesday, 95 for Thursday and 96 for Friday — hot enough to trigger a regional excessive heat watch. Thursday and Friday could rank among the hottest days of 2012.
State public health officials recommend for people seeking relief from high temperatures to visit air-conditioned places, such as public libraries, shopping malls or movie theaters. Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help people stay cooler once they get back into the heat. Read more
Public hearing on update to city’s parks, trails plan rescheduled
August 15, 2012
NEW — 12:45 p.m. Aug. 15, 2012
A public hearing on the park, trail and recreation chapter of the Comprehensive Plan will take place on Sept. 4.
The public hearing was supposed to take place on Aug. 9 before the Parks Commission, but was rescheduled because the Parks Commission meeting was canceled due to a lack of quorum.
Residents may provide public feedback as the city of Newcastle finalizes the process of updating its park, trail and recreation chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. Read more
