Local News

BoltBus adds a Vancouver, B.C. line from Seattle

The inexpensive and nonstop BoltBus, which will begin Seattle-Portland service on May 17, announced today that it will add another line from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. on May 31.

As of mid-day, the firm’s online reservation grid showed some $1 tickets the first four days to Canada, and several $6-$10 tickets in early June. Prices likely will rise a few dollars as fewer seats remain.  Unlike a traditional Greyhound bus, the BoltBus travels nonstop, with an estimated time of three hours, 30 minutes from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C.  Buses leave four times a day to Vancouver and four times to Portland, from Fifth Avenue South next to the International District/Chinatown transit station.

The QuickShuttle bus already runs from SeaTac to downtown Vancouver, B.C., serving multiple stops including Seattle, Tulalip, Bellingham, Surrey, B.C.,  and Vancouver Airport.  A spokseman for QuickShuttle was unavailable Monday.  Amtrak also operates trains and buses across the border. BoltBus started on the East Coast as a partnership of Greyhound and Peter Pan Bus Lines, and chose the Northwest as its second region.

Previous coverage from The Seattle Times is here.

1 comments | More in General news, Traffic & Transit | Topics: Amtrak, boltbus, grayhound

Everett city councilman dies in rafting accident

Everett City Councilman Drew Nielsen died Saturday in a rafting accident on the Green River.

“We’ve all lost a real, good friend and colleague,” fellow councilman Paul Roberts said today.

The Everett Herald reported that Nielsen, 61, was rafting near Black Diamond with his wife, Kim, and several friends. The raft flipped. Nielsen’s wife was able to escape, but he was not.

Roberts said Nielsen was an avid rafter, and was very safety-conscious. “He was well-equipped and took it very seriously,” Roberts said. “He was not a person that would take unnecessary risks.”

Nielsen was re-elected to his third term on the council last year, Roberts said. He was an attorney who specialized in real estate law.

He was a passionate advocate for open government and public access to shorelines, Roberts said. “Because of his real-estate background, he brought a great set of skills to the work of the community. He was a brilliant attorney.”

1 comments | More in General news, The Blotter | Topics: Black Diamond, Drew Nielsen, Everett City Council

Snohomish County Council Chairman Brian Sullivan running for 1st Congressional District seat

Snohomish County Council Chair Brian Sullivan today announced his candidacy for the seat in the 1st Congressional District vacated by Jay Inslee, who quit in March to run for governor.

Whoever wins the election would serve just the time remaining in Inslee’s term: basically, a month from the November elections to the start of the next session.

The higher-profile race in the 1st Congressional District has been to fill the new seat,  with names coming up on the Democrat side that include former Microsoft executive Suzan DelBene and activist Darcy Burner. (See related story here.)

John Koster, a Snohomish County Council member, appears to be the only Republican in that race.

Sullivan has been a Snohomish County Council member since 2008, serving the 2nd Council District, according to a news release issued by Washington State Democrats. He also served as a state representative from 2001 to 2007, representing the 21st Legislative District. He has also served as mayor of Mukilteo, as a Mukilteo City Councilmember and was a small business owner and manager.

“Starting when I was 23 years old, I have worked hard to represent the people in my community,” Sullivan said in the news release. “The people in the old 1st District need to be represented when Congress takes up key issues after the election and I am stepping up to serve them. It would be an honor to continue as a public servant and to represent the people of the district I’ve lived in for most of my life.”

0 comments | More in Government, Politics | Topics: 1st distrivt, brian sullivan, Jay Inslee

Fire damages house in northeast Seattle

A dryer fire caused extensive damage to a home in the Matthews Beach neighborhood of Seattle this morning. No one was injured.

Firefighters got a report of the fire at 8 a.m. in the 10300 block of 38th Avenue Northeast. By the time they arrived, flames were coming out of the front door and back side of the house, said Seattle Fire Department spokesman Kyle Moore.

The homeowner, who got out of the house along with his girlfriend, told firefighters it was a dryer fire and that he had tried unsuccessfully to put it out with a blanket, Moore said. No one else lives in the house.

The blaze took about 45 minutes to extinguish.

Damages were estimated at $150,000 to the structure and $75,000 to the contents, Moore said.

0 comments | More in General news, The Blotter | Topics: House fire, matthews beach

Man dies in Green River rafting accident

King County marine crews found the body of a man in the Green River Saturday evening, about three hours after the raft he was in got into trouble.

Authorities responded to reports of a raft in trouble near Kanaskat-Palmer State Park about 2:35 p.m. Saturday, said Paula Smith, a King County Sheriff’s communication supervisor.

“There were three people in the raft, and two got out when they got in trouble,” Smith said.

A King County rescue chopper spotted the overturned raft downstream about 5:15 p.m., and marine rescuers reached it 10 minutes later. The victim was found 45 minutes later.

Sheriff’s officials had no more information about the man’s identity or the precise circumstances of the accident, but said it’s easy to underestimate the rafting risks this early in the season.

1 comments | More in Environment, General news | Topics: dead, Green River, marine

Rescue helicopter hoists lost hiker from Olympic National Park

A helicopter equipped with a heat sensor led to the rescue of a Union, Wash., man from Olympic National Park Saturday morning, said National Park spokeswoman Rainey McKenna.

David Snider, 55, set out on Monday afternoon for a day-hike on the Irely Lake Loop Trail, but he got trapped by steep terrain and deep snow when he tried to take a shortcut.

Olympic National Park searchers started looking for him Wednesday afternoon, when he was reported missing from work. A helicopter found tracks in the snow on Thursday, and searchers on the ground started tracking him.

A helicopter located him using a heat sensor at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, and King County Air Rescue hoisted him out of the drainage at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, McKenna said.

He was dehydrated, slightly hypothermic, and tired, but otherwise in good condition, McKenna said.

“We are very pleased with the successful outcome of this search,” said Larry Nickey, Olympic National Park Search and Rescue Coordinator. “Although we were able to locate the hiker’s tracks and identify his general location on Thursday, steep terrain and dense vegetation hindered our ability to find him quickly.”

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Saturday in Burien: Free whooping-cough boosters for uninsured adults

Adults without insurance and who cannot afford to pay can get free whooping-cough booster shots tomorrow between  9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Group Health Burien Medical Center.

Group Health and Public Health – Seattle & King County have partnered to provide the booster-shot clinic. Health officials urge all adults, but particularly those who have contact with infants, children and pregnant women, to make sure they’ve been vaccinated, because whooping cough is at epidemic levels in the state.

Babies are particularly at risk for severe illness, hospitalization and death from the illness, also known as pertussis.

Adults and older children can experience symptoms ranging from cold-like illness to serious illness. But the biggest danger that they can spread the whooping cough to infants, pregnant women and others who aren’t protected.

The clnic is located at 140 S.W .146th St., Burien.  For more information, see Public Health – Seattle & King County.

1 comments | More in General news | Topics: Burien, Group Health, Public Health - Seattle & King County

Live tweets from Obama’s speech at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre

President Obama is speaking at the Paramount Theatre fundraiser. Seattle Times reporter Emily Heffter is tweeting from inside the theater.
 
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0 comments | More in Government, Politics | Topics: Barack Obama, Obama May 10

I-5 traffic was stopped at Ship Canal to make way for president

A long column of motorcycles from several law enforcement agencies are seen outside the home of the Blume family awaiting President Obama to finish his visit in the Denny-Blaine neighborhood. His next stop, the Paramount Theatre. (Photo by John Lok / The Seattle Times)

Interstate 5 traffic was stopped for several minutes on the Ship Canal Bridge, and Highway 520 traffic blocked approaching Portage Bay in both directions, to make room for President Obama’s motorcade, according to tweets from the state Department of Transportation, at @wsdot_traffic.

Traffic reporters are also saying that at least one freeway exit to north downtown has also been closed — which makes sense given that his upcoming stop at the Paramount Theatre is near Stewart Street. The highways reopened about 2:03 p.m., but one car stalled afterward on 520.

Earlier, traffic on westbound Highway 520 was stopped on the floating bridge, to keep it away from the eastbound motorcade that exited at Montlake Boulevard.

Police agencies do not reveal presidential routes in advance for security reasons, but DOT warns drivers to beware of temporary highway delays until 4 p.m. The president is scheduled to appear at the Paramount Theatre at about 3 p.m.  After that appearance, he will leave for California from Boeing Field.

King County Metro transit said delays are likely to worsen from this point on, through the afternoon commute. Pine Street and Convention Place Station near the Paramount are closed, but busy Westlake Station remains open.

0 comments | More in General news, Traffic & Transit | Topics: Barack Obama, Highway 520 Bridge, Obama May 10

People are already lining up outside the Paramount Theatre

A long line of people forms outside the Paramount Theater in Seattle where President Obama will be speaking this afternoon. (Photo by Mark Harrison / The Seattle Times)

The line is long outside the Paramount Theatre where President Obama will speak at 3 p.m. today. Supporters are paying $1,000 for general-admission tickets and $5,000 for a photo reception. Jam band leader Dave Matthews is scheduled to perform at the event.

1 comments | More in | Topics: $1, 000, Barack Obama