Yakima Herald-Republic Weekly News

County defends high cost of buying Nile property

2009-11-22T07:00:33+00:00

By DAVID LESTER YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC YAKIMA, Wash. -- In the hectic days after the Oct. 11 Nile Valley landslide, Yakima County purchased more than 60 acres, including open land, several homes and a barn to make way for a new Naches River channel and

Take our weekly news quiz

2009-11-22T06:59:29+00:00

Herald-Republic*weekly news quiz 1. Jennifer Wilde lost her job as a A) barista at Brewlesque B) custodian at Valley Mall C) DJ at 92.9 "The Bull" D) waitress at Mel's Diner 2. Jane Gutting is stepping down from her job at A) Educational Service

School officials say poverty count is too low

2009-11-22T06:58:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show the Granger and Sunnyside school districts have the highest percentages of children living in poverty in the Yakima Valley. Granger tops the list. Sunnyside follows. So do Mabton and Toppenis

Public art -- it's a matter of taste

2009-11-22T06:57:57+00:00

Take your pick -- a woman, a nun, maybe a hint of Barbara Streisand. Then again, it could be a cow, baboon, sea horse, bird, or an Afghan (the four-legged variety). Picasso's 58-foot tall steel statue in downtown Chicago was called all of these when it w

Two teenage boys in custody after police stop in Grandview

2009-11-21T22:11:00+00:00

GRANDVIEW, Wash. - Two Grandview teenagers are in custody at Yakima County Juvenile Center today, facing charges for driving without a license, driving under the influence and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Grandview woman cited for inattention while driving

2009-11-21T17:48:00+00:00

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. – A Grandview woman was cited Friday after she failed to slow down for traffic ahead that had stopped for a coliision on Interstate 82 and rear-ended another car.

CWU teacher education programs in good standing

2009-11-21T07:26:09+00:00

CWU teacher education programs in good standing Central Washington University has met all requirements for continuing accreditation. The requirements were set forth by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which had a team

Third suspect arrested in fatal shooting of Las Vegas officer

2009-11-21T07:25:25+00:00

Third suspect jailed in fatal shooting of Las Vegas officer NORTH LAS VEGAS, NEV. -- Police say they have arrested a third person in the shooting death of an off-duty Las Vegas police officer in his garage. Officer Trevor Nettleton, a 1997 Davis High Sc

Red Cross urges sending holiday cards to service members

2009-11-21T07:17:09+00:00

Red Cross urges sending holiday cards to military yakima -- The public is invited to send holiday cards to military service members and their families and veterans who are not able to be home for the holidays. The Yakima Valley Chapter of the American Red

Selah schools superintendent gets state honor

2009-11-21T07:15:00+00:00

Selah School District Superintendent Steve Chestnut is the new Washington State Superintendent of the Year. The announcement was made Friday in Seattle at the annual superintendents' meeting of the Washington Ass

Mexican growers' coalition donates apples to food bank

2009-11-21T07:14:00+00:00

The Washington State Mexican Fruit Growers Coalition recently donated 46,000 pounds of organic Yakima Valley apples to food banks in the Puget Sound area. Joe Cervantes, chairman of the coalition, wh

Two pedestrians hit by vehicles in separate incidents

2009-11-21T07:11:12+00:00

yakima herald-republic A 69-year-old Yakima woman was hospitalized in good condition and an 18-year-old Union Gap man had been released from the hospital Friday after both were struck by vehicles in separate Yakima accidents on Thursday. Both accidents ha

Struggle in pickup with officer may draw assault charge

2009-11-21T07:10:25+00:00

By Mark Morey Yakima Herald-Republic The Union Gap man arrested in connection with a Thursday night incident that injured a Yakima police officer may face a first-degree assault charge, police said Friday. The 22-year-old suspect was being held in the Yak

Another voice joins Front Street sculpture protest

2009-11-21T07:09:00+00:00

Opponents of an abstract sculpture headed for the heart of Yakima's downtown historic district are planning a protest rally at noon Monday. Karl Pasten, owner of The Depot Restaurant and a leading critic of the proj

Investors work on plan to rescue Vineyards Resort

2009-11-21T07:08:00+00:00

The bankrupt Vineyards Resort, a proposed destination golf and residential community southeast of Yakima, has a pulse after all. The local investors who purchased rights to buy the first housing lots are working to d

Grandmother of ex-councilman replaces him in Wapato

2009-11-21T07:07:00+00:00

Eighty-year-old Ruth Cabrera is taking over a Wapato City Council seat her grandson vacated nearly a year ago. On Monday night, the City Council voted 5-1 to appoint Cabrera, a 50-year resident and retired store cle

It is rocket science in afterschool enrichment program

2009-11-21T07:06:00+00:00

The boys in the back of the room aren't listening to Bubbly Brittany. They're busy using cardboard tubes as lightsabers and creating

Feeding feathered gardeners in winter

2009-11-21T07:06:00+00:00

Americans spent more than $3 billion on wild birdseed in 2001, according to the findings of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife. Even adjusting that figure downward due to the current economic conditions, we are still spending

Giving thanks at annual Elders Day Dinner

2009-11-21T06:51:54+00:00

TOPPENISH -- Wafts of roasting táki, xtsya lined up on the tables, pyaxi ladled into bowls, lapátaat swimming in lakamiin -- it may have looked much the same 388 years ago. Legend tells us that roast turkey, cranberries, roots, potatoes and

Volunteer Opportunities

2009-11-21T06:50:42+00:00

* CHILD CARE HELP: The Yakima School District wants volunteers to assist with child care supervision during English as a second language classes. The district has infants to about seventh-graders who come with parents to these classes. The district is als

Serving cake and country

2009-11-21T06:50:00+00:00

William Goldston watched on television as terrorist-piloted planes crashed into the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. The former Marine had left military service a year before 9/11, but the Tennessee native knew instantly that he wanted back in the fig

Sweep nets 80 arrests

2009-11-21T06:49:53+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- More than 80 people have been arrested and a variety of drugs, firearms and cash seized in a sweep across Central Washington that targeted gang-related crime. The arrests, which began in the early hours of Wednesday and ended Friday, incl

Snoqualmie and White passes both open this morning

2009-11-20T16:07:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Both major cross-state mountain passes linking Central Washington to Puget Sound are open this morning.

Union Gap man knocked unconscious after being struck by pickup

2009-11-20T15:59:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- An 18-year-old Union Gap man who dashed into traffic was hurt when a pickup hit him Thursday on Nob Hill Boulevard, police said.

Woman hit by car on North First Street

2009-11-20T15:40:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. — Authorities say a 69-year-old Yakima woman was hit by a car Thursday as she crossed North First Street.

11/21/09 Faith Happenings

2009-11-20T07:32:53+00:00

Thanksgiving Eve at Peace Lutheran Peace Lutheran Church in Selah will host a Thanksgiving Eve worship service at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The church is at 91 Wernex Loop. Information: 509-697-4353. Interfaith thanksgiving worship on Wednesday The Yakima As

Great joy worldwide in small boxes from Yakima

2009-11-20T07:32:51+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Even a toothbrush is cause for excitement. Then, throw in a box of crayons, a rubber ball and some lollipops, and there's absolute joy. Children around the world will once more be delighted by small, simple gifts this season, courtesy of

Photo: Ringing in the holidays

2009-11-20T07:03:59+00:00

Avalanche control impedes traffic

2009-11-20T06:58:43+00:00

Drivers heading to Seattle this morning shouldn't run into any road problems -- but it doesn't hurt to check conditions first. It was a different story on Thursday as avalanche control work and blasting closed both major routes to the west side for portio

Right Pro Hardware closing after 15 years

2009-11-20T06:57:58+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- A local hardware store is closing its doors for good on Saturday. Right Pro Hardware has spent the last month selling all of its inventory at marked-down prices as part of its closing sale. The store will be closing after 15 years in bu

Wapato homicide is county's 20th this year

2009-11-20T06:56:39+00:00

WAPATO, Wash. -- The Wapato man found shot to death at a dark intersection near his home Thursday morning once told a state trooper he sold hundreds of dollars of a meth every week, according to court documents filed in one of his criminal cases. Lenard C

Woman's family sues for medical negligence

2009-11-20T06:55:31+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- A Sunnyside man has accused four Yakima doctors of medical negligence in connection with the death of his wife last year from septic shock after her colon ruptured. An attorney for Gary Stonemetz filed the lawsuit Thursday in Yakima Coun

Recount for Selah CIty Council race is Dec. 7

2009-11-20T06:54:25+00:00

SELAH, Wash. -- A mandatory recount in the ever-so-close Selah City Council race for the Position 1 seat is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 7, county elections officials said Thursday. The recount in the race between incumbent Allen Schmid and challenger

Shortfall may force budget cuts in Wapato

2009-11-20T06:53:11+00:00

WAPATO, Wash. -- Cuts may be inevitable as the city of Wapato grapples with a projected $350,000 shortfall in next year's operating budget. The possible deficit comes after a mid-year budget crisis sparked layoffs and a spending freeze on office and other

Local job growth gets a financial lift

2009-11-20T06:52:23+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima and Klickitat counties are receiving part of $3.3 million in loans and grants to create job and business growth. The money, which will be shared with Asotin and Lincoln counties, was awarded Thursday by the Washington State Commun

Saving young fish from dying channel

2009-11-20T06:43:00+00:00

NILE VALLEY -- Call it the Great Fish Rescue of 2009. Some 35 biologists sloshed hip deep through the frigid backwaters of a dying river channel Thursday. Working in teams of three, one attracted and stunned fish with an electrically charged pole, while t

Police officer from Yakima shot to death in Las Vegas

2009-11-20T06:42:01+00:00

MOXEE -- Trevor Nettleton liked to call his dad Chevy after the character portrayed by actor Chevy Chase in the movie "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." It was a kidding reference to their friendly competition to outdo one another in decorating thei

EPA picks Valley for well project

2009-11-20T06:40:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- The Yakima Valley has been selected as one of 10 communities nationwide for a special project to reduce health risks faced by minorities drinking contaminated water from private wells. The Seattle office of the U.S. Environmental Protecti

Officer injured in traffic stop gone awry

2009-11-20T05:37:00+00:00

An Indoorsman Thanksgiving

2009-11-20T01:08:53+00:00

A lot of people think of Thanksgiving as the beginning of the holiday season, a time when love of family provides warmth and shelter against the coming cold of winter -- a time when traditions are revived, blessings are counted and rosy gratitude reigns o

An Indoorsman Thanksgiving -- The recipes

2009-11-20T01:07:41+00:00

Bird with Bourbon and Brown Sugar Glaze Whole turkey, 16 pounds 3/4 cup bourbon (Jim Beam works well, is delicious and cheap. Wild Turkey is more Thanksgiving-appropriate and also delicious, but not cheap.) 1/4 cup brown sugar 3 tablespoons brown mustard

An Indoorsman Thanksgiving -- Entertaining tips

2009-11-20T01:06:17+00:00

I almost ran out of plates before people even arrived for my test-run Indoorsman Thanksgiving feast and was forced to do dishes several times just so everyone could have clean silverware. The Indoorsman is not, therefore, the end-all-be-all of party throw

An Indoorsman Thanksgiving -- Giving thanks

2009-11-20T01:05:45+00:00

Times are tough right now. That's not news, and it's not something to laugh about. We're fighting wars, we're losing our savings and we're mired in an existential crisis, trying to figure out who we'll be as a nation when we manage to dig ourselves out --

Josh Blue -- Equal parts inspiration and humor

2009-11-20T01:04:00+00:00

Josh Blue, the comic who performs Saturday in Yakima, tells a story in his act about a stranger approaching him on the street to tell him how inspiring it is that he's out on his own. "I'm like, lady, I'm on my way to th

Dan Peters sees the poetry in everyday life

2009-11-20T01:03:00+00:00

There's poetry in everyday life in a house in Selah. Dan Peters' new book, "Down the Road the Children Go," proves it, image by image. Peters, a 41-year-old father of two who teaches English at Yakima Valley Community Co

Local flavor colors La Riviere's latest novel

2009-11-20T01:01:00+00:00

Susan La Riviere's latest Yakima Valley novel, "The Brothers," brings us the latest adventure from the Gunderson family out in Naches. The self-published work, La Riviere's third, has Jake and Levi Gunderson fighting for their lives after a routine hike i

Engaging music on top in Camerata Chorus performance

2009-11-20T01:01:00+00:00

The Camerata Club Men's Chorus has been entertaining Yakima and raising money for music scholarships since 1916, and it continues that tradition Saturday with its annual Capitol Theatre performance. The club, joined by the Central Washington University Me

11/20/09 Film clips

2009-11-20T01:00:33+00:00

OPENING TODAY "THE BLIND SIDE" -- A homeless African-American teenager is taken in by a wealthy white couple as part of a college football recruitment program in this adaptation of Michael Lewis' nonfiction bestseller. Starring Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bull

11/20/09 10 Days Out

2009-11-20T00:59:38+00:00

Friday, Nov. 20 * That excited screaming you hear? It's the thousands of teenage and preteen girls around the Yakima Valley all worked up over the new "Twilight" series movie, "New Moon," which opens today. Even if you're not one of those wait-in-line-ov

11/20/09 Planner

2009-11-20T00:59:09+00:00

AUDITIONS BEL CANTO OF YAKIMA. 7-9 p.m. Mondays. Yakima Evangelical Church, 7901 W. Nob Hill Blvd. Women's choir. 509-575-5762, www.belcantoyakima.com. CASCADE WINDS OF YAKIMA. Thursdays. Broadmoor clubhouse, 55 W. Washington St. Open auditions for wome

11/20/09 Art

2009-11-20T00:58:00+00:00

ART CONTESTS YAKIMA VALLEY PET RESCUE POSTER. Celebrating pet rescue in the community. Deadline to submit art is Dec. 7. Any 2-D media welcome: painting, computer graphics, drawing, photography, cartoons. All art must be donated to be considered; no copy

11/20/09 Night life

2009-11-20T00:56:42+00:00

NIGHT LIFE Blues/Jazz/Swing GILBERT CELLARS. 8 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 4-5. Mark and Kim Holt. 5 N. Front St., Yakima. Music in the tasting room or the Gilbert Underground. 509-249-9049. (Blues.) JACK-SONS SPORTS BAR: BLUES, BREWS AND BURGERS. Thursdays

11/20/09 On sale now

2009-11-20T00:53:00+00:00

DISCOUNT PASS SASQUATCH! MUSIC FESTIVAL. Memorial Day weekend (May 29-31) at The Gorge in Quincy. Special discounted three-day festival pass on sale at www.sasquatchfestival.com through Dec. 16. Full lineup announced Feb. 16. NOW ON SALE CAPITOL THEAT

11/20/09 Books

2009-11-20T00:52:30+00:00

READING/SIGNING SUSAN MARIONNEAUX LA RIVIERE. 10 a.m. Saturday. Inklings Bookshop, 5629 Summitview Ave., Chalet Place. Local author will sign copies of "The Brothers." Accompanied by a performance by Larry La Riviere, promoting his CD "Gator Woman." 509-

11/20/09 Theater

2009-11-20T00:51:49+00:00

NOW PLAYING "THE NUTCRACKER BALLET." 7 tonight and Dec. 4, and 1 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 5. Sunnyside High School auditorium, 16th Street and Edison Avenue. Admission: $10; ages 2 and younger free. Performance by the Prosser School of Ballet. 509-788-5070

President of Pacific Northwest University abruptly leaves

2009-11-20T00:19:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Dr. Stan Flemming, president of Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, has abruptly left his position as the top administrator of Yakima’s medical school.

Snoqualmie Pass shut for avalanche control

2009-11-19T23:01:00+00:00

SNOQUALMIE PASS, WASH. -- Traffic on Interstate 90 on Snoqualmie Pass was stopped at 3:30 p.m. today so road crews can conduct avalanche control.

Recount date set in Selah City Council race

2009-11-19T20:45:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- A mandatory recount in the ever-so-close Selah City Council race for the Position 1 seat is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 7, county elections officials said this morning.

Davis HS grad killed in Las Vegas robbery attempt

2009-11-19T20:23:00+00:00

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A Las Vegas police officer who grew up in Yakima was shot to death in his garage in North Las Vegas early this morning, family members told the Yakima Herald-Republic.

Highway 12 closed tonight for cliff blasting

2009-11-19T17:39:00+00:00

NACHES, Wash. — U.S. Highway 12 will be closed tonight to allow for safe blasting of rock cliffs over the roadway.

Wapato man is Yakima County's 20th homicide this year

2009-11-19T16:19:00+00:00

WAPATO, Wash. -- A 55-year-old Wapato man was found fatally shot in his car at a rural intersection southeast of Wapato.

'Macbeth' performed this weekend at YVCC

2009-11-19T07:37:15+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima Valley Community College will present the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's adaptation of "Macbeth" today through Sunday. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday in Kendall Hall Auditori

Navarro honored in final day on Yakima school board

2009-11-19T07:36:58+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Raymond Navarro Jr. received a standing ovation Tuesday night at the November business meeting of the board of directors for the Yakima School District. The outgoing school board member said he was humbled by the display. And other board

Attendance jumps at Maryhill Museum

2009-11-19T07:32:35+00:00

GOLDENDALE -- Maryhill Museum south of Goldendale saw attendance rise 17 percent this year, a trend its director suspects is driven by a poor economy spurring people toward affordable diversions. "I think it's indicative of people staying closer to home a

Union Gospel Mission offers turkeys to those in need

2009-11-19T07:32:34+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Families in need this Thanksgiving are invited to sign up for a free turkey at the Union Gospel Mission. Families must sign up in person at the mission and present two pieces of identification, including from Washington state. The deadlin

Yakima County pageant contestants face Dec. 31 deadline

2009-11-19T07:32:20+00:00

YAKIMA -- The Miss Yakima County and Yakima County's Outstanding Teen pageants are seeking contestants through the end of the year. The pageants, part of the Miss America Organization, take place in March. But the deadline to apply is Dec. 31. This is the

Sunnyside auto theft program appears to be working

2009-11-19T07:31:34+00:00

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. -- Sunnyside police say the number of car thefts dropped by almost half in 2009 compared to last year. Auto theft reports from January to November decreased 49 percent when compared to the same period in 2008. Using a state grant, the cit

Photo: Don't go there

2009-11-19T07:31:15+00:00

Budget picture brightens in Mabton

2009-11-19T07:30:42+00:00

MABTON, Wash. -- Residents of this financially beleaguered town may see lower utility taxes and two more police officers patrolling streets next year. As they prepare the 2010 budget, some city leaders say finances have improved and will only get better,

Program focuses on medical careers for Yakima Valley students

2009-11-19T07:29:23+00:00

High school students who want to get connected to careers in health care might want to check out the ConneX program. ConneX, an academic program sponsored by the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, is looking for high school students interested in health

ESD Superintendent Jane Gutting to step down

2009-11-19T07:27:00+00:00

Jane Gutting, superintendent of the Educational Service District 105, plans to retire next year. Gutting announced her retirement through a news release Wednesday after telling her staff at a meeting Tuesday that she plans to retire June 30, 2010. Guttin

Tea partiers to rally in support of California farmers

2009-11-19T07:23:42+00:00

ELLENSBURG -- The men behind Yakima's tea parties want to draw attention to a water dispute in California. They will rally today in support of San Joaquin Valley farmers who oppose water restrictions enacted to protect a threatened fish called delta smelt

Yakima DJ Jenifer Wilde is bucked by The Bull

2009-11-19T07:23:26+00:00

Jenifer Wilde, a radio DJ with 92.9 The Bull, is the latest casualty in a string of cuts at Gap West Broadcasting. "They're cutting it down to the bare bones," said Wilde, who was let go on Friday. "There is no morale. There are honestly a lot of very d

Community centers offer a sense of place

2009-11-19T07:22:00+00:00

Grandview wants a new community center. Sunnyside wants to reopen one. So does Wapato. And an incoming city councilwoman in Toppenish is lobbying for a new one. While Yakima Valley cities are cutting back on parks

Car thefts drop in Sunnyside

2009-11-18T21:18:00+00:00

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. -- Sunnyside police say car theft dropped by almost half this year compared to last year.

Palin reportedly spending Thanksgiving in Richland

2009-11-18T17:39:00+00:00

RICHLAND — Sarah Palin will reportedly spend Thanksgiving Day in Richland at the home of her aunt Katie Johnson.

Breast-cancer guidelines touch off firestorm

2009-11-18T17:34:00+00:00

To Gail DeGiulio, new breast-cancer guidelines from a national panel of medical experts saying most women in their 40s shouldn't bother with annual mammograms weren't merely startling news. They smacked of a potential death sentence.

Snoqualmie Pass restrictions lifted

2009-11-18T16:04:00+00:00

EASTON, Wash. -- Travel restrictions have been lifted on Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass.

Dueling over dual-language classes in the Yakima Valley

2009-11-18T07:37:44+00:00

Teachers in the Yakima Valley see it every day: Spanish-speaking children running into an English language barrier. Many schools have provided dual-language classes to help them. But just how well these classes work remains a point of contention. Most du

Dispute leads Yakima to limit annexations

2009-11-18T07:34:33+00:00

Major residential development in West Valley will all but cease under a new Yakima city policy that makes it tougher for developers to get sewer hookups outside city limits. The new policy, adopted Tuesday by the City Council, represents a dramatic turna

Sculpture move not set in stone

2009-11-18T07:34:00+00:00

A compromise for an 8-foot art sculpture appears to have fallen through. Last week, Yakima City Councilwoman Kathy Coffey announced the Yakima Convention Center was more than willing to take

Professors will bring Michoacan culture to CWU

2009-11-18T07:31:00+00:00

ELLENSBURG -- There's Cinco de Mayo, then there's Nov. 20. Back in Mexico, there is no question which date is more important. In November, uniformed school children march down the streets and families gather in central plazas to mark the outbreak of their

High-speed chase ends near Moxee

2009-11-18T07:30:50+00:00

Authorities say a high-speed chase of a convicted felon that began in Royal City ended with four arrests before dawn Tuesday near Moxee. It all began about 12:30 a.m. when a Grant County sheriff's deputy spotted a stolen 1990s Ford station wagon northboun

State panels favors new wind farm

2009-11-18T07:30:10+00:00

A state energy siting panel Monday recommended Gov. Chris Gregoire approve the Desert Claim wind farm located eight miles northwest of Ellensburg. Gregoire has 60 days to act on the unanimous recommendation of the state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Cou

County jobless rate steady

2009-11-18T07:29:39+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima County's unemployment rate in October was 6.7 percent, unchanged from September but well above the rate of 5.2 percent for the same month a year ago. The county's workforce numbered 130,330 with 121,540 employed and 8,790 unemploye

City to push ahead with gang-free initiative

2009-11-18T07:29:20+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- At her last meeting as a member of the Yakima City Council, Sonia Rodriguez got a shout-out from the fire chief and saw her fellow council members agree to continue working on a gang-free initiative she proposed. "This is a real opportuni

Hero honored for doing 'what I was taught'

2009-11-18T07:28:58+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- In late September, Chuck Doan was standing in line to buy a cup of coffee at a downtown supermarket when he heard someone yell for help. What the 47-year-old Yakima man did next not only saved a man's life, but got him honored before the

School district approves Ike specs

2009-11-18T07:23:39+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- The Yakima School District took a step toward replacing Eisenhower High School on Tuesday night, when the school board formally approved educational specifications for the Ike replacement project. The move, required by the state, defines

Reaction to City Council proposed subsidy cuts mixed

2009-11-18T07:23:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Plans to cut the subsidies that a variety of groups gets from the city of Yakima drew mixed reviews Tuesday night during a packed meeting at City Hall. Some of the groups were OK with it. Others were not. "We know the economy is bad right

School workers call for 'fair' contracts

2009-11-18T07:22:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima School District employees -- from teacher's aides to custodians -- pushed for "fair and equitable" contracts Tuesday night at the November business meeting of the district's board of directors. Representatives of Yakima Educators U

High-speed chase results in four arrests near Moxee

2009-11-18T01:07:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. — Authorities say a high-speed chase of a convicted felon that began in Royal City ended with four arrests before dawn today near Moxee.

Yakima County's unemployment rate dips to 6.7 percent in October

2009-11-17T19:07:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima County’s unemployment rate in October was 6.7 percent, slightly lower than September’s rate of 6.9 percent but well above the rate of 5.2 percent for the same month a year ago.

Yakima man to be honored tonight for life-saving heroics

2009-11-17T18:35:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- The Yakima Fire Department is honoring Chuck Doan at tonight’s Yakima City Council meeting for helping save a life in September.

New mammogram advice raises questions, concerns

2009-11-17T18:11:00+00:00

NEW YORK — For many women, getting a mammogram is already one of life’s more stressful experiences. Now, women in their 40s have the added anxiety of trying to figure out if they should even be getting one at all.

Nile Road breached to divert river

2009-11-17T16:53:00+00:00

The Nile Road is breached at 7 a.m. Tuesday to divert the adjacent Naches River away from the toe of a landslide that covered nearby Highway 410 and the Naches River in October.

Yakima Valley foster children lent a helping hand to college

2009-11-17T07:22:10+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Like a lot of freshmen, Taylor Judd is living in the dorms and getting used to college. It's her first quarter, and she's still figuring things out. "I'm just trying to get my prerequisites done so I can decide what I want to do," the 19-

Teacher accused of sexual misconduct appeals firing

2009-11-17T07:22:00+00:00

Michele Taylor, the 31-year-old East Valley High School physical education teacher accused of having sex with a 16-year-old male student last spring, is appealing termination from her job. Taylor has asked for a hearing, and that request "constitutes an a

Equal access, taking responsibility key to health

2009-11-17T07:20:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Two of the three deaths related to swine flu so far this year in Yakima County were relatively young men who were also obese, Yakima Health Administrator Dennis Klukan said Monday. Klukan said each of the men who died weighed more than 40

County budget: $51.9M ... and cutting

2009-11-17T07:19:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Call it a work in progress. Yakima County commissioners adopted a 2010 budget Monday that includes job losses for 26 people, fewer beds for juvenile offenders and reduced public services. The bad news? More budget cuts are likely after th

Regional's sleep center wins accreditation

2009-11-17T07:18:13+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center's Sleep Disorders Center recently received accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. To receive a five-year accreditation, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for

Tip: Bypass Nob Hill overpass Wednesday

2009-11-17T07:18:00+00:00

The Nob Hill Boulevard overpass will be closed between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday while construction crews repave both ends of the span, city officials say. Eastbound motorists should take Third Avenue, Mead Avenue and First Street to return to Nob Hill.

Toys for Tots collection to honor late Toppenish boy

2009-11-17T07:17:45+00:00

TOPPENISH, Wash. -- The family of a Toppenish boy who died in 2001 from asthma is holding a Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive Sunday in his honor. Tony Menard-Wentz would have turned 20 on Sunday, according to a news release. Relatives are asking people to

Meetings discuss fast-track teacher certification

2009-11-17T07:17:16+00:00

Educational Service District 105 is presenting informational meetings this week about the Alternative Route to Teaching Certification program. The meetings will take place at 7 p.m. today and Wednesday in the Kittitas Room of the ESD 105 Conference Cente

County to send Naches into new channel, close detour

2009-11-17T07:16:00+00:00

Naches, WASH. -- Prompted by rapidly rising water in the Naches River, Yakima County was preparing to divert the river to a new channel around the Nile landslide Monday evening. Workers also plan to close State Route 410's existing detour on the Nile Road

Yakima trailer fire under investigation

2009-11-17T07:15:45+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Authorities are investigating a fire Sunday afternoon that destroyed a trailer at the Woodland Mobile Park, 2008 N. First St. Neighbors reported the fire in the 22-foot trailer at 12:23 p.m., battalion chief Tom Sevigny said in a news rel

11/17/09 Photo Journal

2009-11-17T07:11:00+00:00

Warmer forecasts could push Nile work ahead of plans

2009-11-16T21:57:00+00:00

NILE, Wash. — Pushed by rising water levels in the Naches River, Yakima County is preparing to open the new river channel around the Nile landslide, perhaps as early as Tuesday.

Authorities investigate Sunday afternoon fire

2009-11-16T19:35:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. — Authorities are investigating a fire Sunday afternoon that destroyed a trailer at the Woodland Mobile Park, 2008 North First Street.

Nob Hill overpass to close much of Wednesday

2009-11-16T17:24:00+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. — The Nob Hill Boulevard overpass will be closed between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday while construction crews repave both ends of the span, city officials say.

Land on the move

2009-11-16T06:47:00+00:00

Call it the shifting road. Or call it, as engineers do, a maintenance problem. Tieton Reservoir Loop Road, tight on the southeast corner of Rimrock Lake, is a road in motion. Slow motion.

We've got your quiz answers right here

2009-11-16T06:45:45+00:00

1. Central Washington University is No. 1 in the country in current rankings of B) Division II college football teams 2. Private fundraising will provide $25,000 to keep what open this winter? C) state Department of Natural Resources Sno-Parks in the are

11/16/09 In Basket

2009-11-16T06:41:45+00:00

Agriculture The Yakima County Cattlemen's Association has elected new officers. They are Ed Campbell, president; Justin Waddington, vice president; Sandy Hull, treasurer; and Cary Campbell, secretary. Construction The Building Industry Association of Was

Holiday decorating 101

2009-11-16T06:40:41+00:00

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Cut-up credit cards. Fruit. Wallpaper scraps. While most people wouldn't see how these items relate, Marci Venable sees them as holiday crafts in the making. "My focus i

11/16/09 Senior lunch menus

2009-11-16T06:37:59+00:00

Older American Nutrition Program (Call 574-2200 the day before by 3:30 p.m. to register for lunch.) Today: Rib barbecue, jo jo potatoes, baked beans, orange, pudding. Tuesday: Mulligatawny soup, half salami and Swiss sandwich, lettuce, tomatoes, pears,

Photo: Taking a stand for peace

2009-11-16T06:37:17+00:00

Yakima convenience store robbed early Sunday

2009-11-16T00:10:00+00:00

A man in a black ski mask robbed a convenience store at gunpoint late this morning, authorities say.

Burglar nabbed in former West Valley High School

2009-11-15T20:02:00+00:00

Authorities arrested a 39-year-old Yakima man who had broken into the old West Valley High School building early this morning.

Man arrested after drive-by shootings, chase near Toppenish

2009-11-15T19:55:00+00:00

Authorities Saturday night arrested a 19-year-old Buena man who they say sideswiped a patrol car during a high-speed chase after a drive-by shooting.

Drivers running stop signs cause two fatal crashes

2009-11-15T08:07:00+00:00

HARRAH -- Two crashes involving blown stop signs in two days have killed two people within a few miles of this small town. A 75-year-old Harrah man died Saturday after a col

Web site lists teachers' projects to attract donors

2009-11-15T08:06:35+00:00

By Adriana Janovich Yakima Herald-Republic A ninth-grade science teacher at East Valley High School is hoping to fund technology for her classroom by looking for donations online. Sarah Malkovich posted a request at DonorsChoose.org, which is spotlighting

Anti-amnesty theme draws crowd to local event

2009-11-15T08:04:00+00:00

Wearing T-shirts bearing the slogan "Stop the Invasion" and applauding exhortations to "take back our country," opponents of amnesty for illegal immigrants gathered at a Grange hall in Yakima. About 65 people attend

King will hold town hall meeting by phone

2009-11-15T08:03:45+00:00

Selah crews contain fire on property to garage SELAH -- Firefighters battled a blaze that destroyed a family's garage and everything in it Saturday afternoon. Selah firefighters were called about 2:45 p.m. to a garage fire in the 700 block of Point Drive

Yakima People: Horse trainer to compete for reining championship

2009-11-15T08:02:45+00:00

Horse trainer from Moxee will vie for reining championship Moxee horse trainer Dan Stark will compete in a North American reining championship on his quarterhorse Gallo Del Cielo. Stark, 60, will go up against nearly 300 reiners from across North America

Keeping seniors on their feet

2009-11-15T07:59:00+00:00

Yakima now has a small army of fitness instructors who have as their mission nothing less than preventing falls among the elderly, a leading cause of inj

Meeting will review fire response in 'no man's land'

2009-11-15T07:57:00+00:00

Meeting will review response on remote fire Legislators seeking ideas for what to do when wildfires ignite in no man's land By ROSS COURTNEY YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC SUNNYSIDE -- Could firefighters have done more to prevent this summer's Dry Creek fire fr

Quiz yourself on the week's local news

2009-11-15T07:55:23+00:00

Herald-Republic weekly news quiz 1. Central Washington University is No. 1 in the country in current rankings of A) colleges with "Central" in their names B) Division II college football teams C) top party schools D) colleges with lowest rates of swi

Johnson may face primary challenge

2009-11-15T07:45:00+00:00

First-term legislator's vote to give domestic partners equal rights riled some fellow Republicans By PAT MUIR YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC State Rep. Norm Johnson's sup-port of a domestic-partner benefits bill earlier this year turned some of his fellow Repub