The risk of drowning is a concern this weekend and into early summer as weather warms and the local swim season begins. Local lakes are cold and dangerously deep, and rivers are running swift and cold.
In little more than a week the bell will ring to signal the opening of the second season of the Maple Valley Farmer’s Market.
The market opens at 9 a.m., Saturday, June 19, at Rock Creek Elementary School on Maple Valley Highway north of Four Corners.
There are 18 new vendors this year including Silver Springs Creamer, Chelane’s Jame, George’s Baker, Alpacas at Morning Star Ranch, Daily Bagel and Cougar Mountain Kettle Kettle Corn Co.
Black Diamond Mayor Rebecca Olness received a Certificate of Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities. Olness completed more than 30 hours of training credits to earn the distinction.
An auction to benefit the Brandon J. Lagerquist medical fund is scheduled for 5 p.m. June 26 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Covington, 25810 156th Ave. S.E.
The public is invited to attend. Information about the auction can be found at jlagerqu.web.officelive.com/default.aspx or by calling Rose Kinsella at 206-235-0446.
Ballfields in Maple Valley are few and far between, and the solutions are as tricky as the infield fly rule in baseball.
The city staff presented the current master plan for the Summit Park and ballfields to the City Council at the Monday study session.
The staff presented the preliminary master plan to the council March 1 and at the Monday study session more information was provided to the members.
It was a packed house June 3 at the Covington Planning Commission public hearing on the downtown zoning plan, and the hot topic was an emergency medical department in the town center area.
After a flurry of statements and suggestions at the hearing in the City Council chambers, it became clear Covington is ground zero in a hospital war between Valley Medical Center and MultiCare.
Bigger and better is the mantra for this year’s Home Depot Contractor Appreciation event set to start at 10 a.m. on June 18.
More importantly, though, the four-hour long event will be an opportunity to serve the community, explained Ira Dunlap, pro sales supervisor and the person in charge of coordinating it.
ROAD RAGE: 21800 block of Southeast 271st Place. Angered while driving, a motorist assaulted the other driver involved in the road rage incident, pushing the victim a number of times. The suspect was arrested for fourth degree assault.
June is a good time to grab the pruners, gloves and first aid kits and launch into the summer pruning chores. By now, many landscape plants have put on most of their new growth.
Mathnasium of Covington presented the second math triathlon May 15. More than 90 local elementary students from grades two through sixth participated in the event.
Mathnasium director of education, Rayan Chepuri, believes math should be a positive experience for all students.
“We know kids don’t hate math. They just hate the frustration that comes with it,” Chepuri said.
CHIMNEY FIRE: 22200 block of Sweeney Road Southeast. At 6:54 a.m. firefighters were dispatched to a chimney fire. Engine 81 responded and found fire debris discharging from the chimney onto the roof. Firefighters used a pressurized water extinguisher to attack the fire inside at the fire box and from the roof at the top of the chimney. The fire was quickly extinguished. Firefighters used a thermal imagining camera to ensure that no fire had extended into the walls or attic space. The home had properly operating smoke alarms which alerted the occupants who safely evacuated and called 911. The loss was estimated at $5,000.
Police agencies begin enforcing the state’s revised law restricting the use of wireless devices by drivers Thursday.
The revised law makes texting or improper cell phone use primary offenses, meaning that drivers can be pulled over for those violations alone. It also prohibits the use of electronic devices by younger drivers with an intermediate driver’s license or learner’s permit, with or without a hands-free device.
The Maple Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Philharmonia has completed its first solo performance. The concert was May 22 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. Philharmonia is MVYSO’s intermediate orchestra group designed to provide instruction and training for intermediate musicians preparing them to play in more advanced groups.
The Black Diamond Museum celebrated Welsh Day and Welsh heritage Saturday, June 5.
Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety is offering a free CPR class on 6 p.m. June 28th. If you would like to register please call 425 432-0200. This class will cover adult, child and infant CPR.
Washington State Patrol detectives are seeking witnesses to a fatal collision that occurred southbound on state Route 167 at South 277th street in Auburn around 4:30 a.m.
The Black Diamond Fire Department reported the mother of a 16-month-old girl saved her daughter’s life after the girl was found floating in Lake Sawyer Friday night about 8:30 p.m.
A message sent from spokesman Tim Perciful stated the mother revived the girl by providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
The girl was taken to a nearby hospital following treatment at the scene from emergency medical personnel.
Maple Valley Parks and Recreation offers “The Best Defenses for Women” training program from Pacific Martial Arts Academy from 6-9 p.m. June 15. The cost is $39.
The class challenges students by developing mental, physical and emotional responses to threats and aggression. Studies show women who are willing to resist an attacker are more likely to escape injury.
The Lake Wilderness Arboretum has scheduled a plant propagation workshop 10 a.m. June 26. The cost is $15 with a $10 material fee. Preregistration is required.
The city of Maple Valley’s rehabilitation of the Lake Wilderness Lodge was honored at the 10th annual John D. Spellman Awards for Achievement in Historic Preservation ceremony May 21 at the Carol Edwards Center in Woodinville.
