Newcastle crews kept busy during storm
January 26, 2012
Coal Creek Utility District, Newcastle Public Works Department worked to maintain vital services despite snow, ice and power outages
NEW — 3:10 p.m., Jan. 26, 2012
While most Newcastle residents endured the brunt of January’s snow, wind, ice and consequential debris from the comfort of their own homes, five members of the Newcastle Public Works maintenance crew weren’t so lucky.
Despite 16-hour shifts, equipment malfunctions and no covered space to put chains on vehicles, Public Works Director Mark Rigos said the city staff “did an exceptional job under the circumstances.”
“We have a very small staff here,” he said. “They put in so many hours during this storm. Some had to sleep in City Hall … one of our guys didn’t go home for five or six days.”
Creating a sense of community
January 6, 2012
After 17 years, longtime Newcastle resident Sonny Putter steps down from City Council
Sonny Putter, longtime Newcastle city councilman, cuts into a cake celebrating his 17 consecutive years of service at his last City Council meeting Dec. 6. By John Jensen
As you flip through the pages of longtime Newcastle City Councilman Sonny Putter’s date book, you start to notice a trend.
For the month of October, nearly every date is bursting with small writing filling each box.
Donate toys at Bartell Drugs for Salvation Army toy drive
December 8, 2011
NEW — 11:20 a.m. Dec. 8, 2011
Bartell Drugs and the Salvation Army joined forces during the holiday season to provide gifts to children in need.
Bartell’s is collecting new, unwrapped toys during the eighth-annual Salvation Army “Toy ‘N’ Joy” drive through Dec. 16. The drugstore chain is collecting toys at all 58 locations in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
Newcastle’s Bartell store is located at 6939 Coal Creek Parkway in the Coal Creek Village.
Bartell’s and the Salvation Army plan to distribute the toys to low-income children and adolescents the week before Christmas the Salvation Army’s toy warehouses.
Founded in Seattle in 1890, Bartell Drugs owns stores in Western Washington. The family-owned and operated drugstore chain is the nation’s oldest drugstore chain.
Volunteers needed for trail work
December 1, 2011
Work parties continue from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10 and Dec. 18 on the May Creek Trail extension east to Coal Creek Parkway.
Scouts from several troops will work on both ends of the new trail, but more volunteers are needed. Newcastle Trails is a nonprofit organization that can provide certificates of community service.
Supervisors are also welcome. Adults who can move along the trail, keep people on task and answer questions are also needed.
Contact Peggy Price at 829-2196 or info@newcastletrails.org for more information.
Giving tree set up at HomeStreet Bank
December 1, 2011
The Newcastle branch of HomeStreet Bank, 6949 Coal Creek Parkway S.E., will have a giving tree to benefit Vision House, a local nonprofit that supports families facing homelessness.
This is the branch’s third year hosting a tree to benefit Vision House clients.
The tree will be available through Dec. 20.
The branch hours for the bank are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Call Linda Stemler, branch manager, at 401-8778 for more information.
City staff post-employment restrictions tightened
June 3, 2011
The City Council voted May 3 to create a new section of city code that — in some circumstances — restricts former city employees from working for companies with which they negotiated, supervised or approved contracts during their city employment.
If the employee takes a job at such a company, he or she would face a $10,000 fine for violating any of four restrictions.
According to the new code:
First, for one year after leaving the city, an employee cannot accept a job with a company if he or she approved large contracts for that company and would work on the same project as he or she did at the city. The contracts are considered large if they total more than $100,000 during the employee’s last two years at the city.
Second, an employee cannot have a financial interest in any contract that he or she played a role in negotiating, supervising or awarding while working at the city.
Third, an employee cannot accept a job offer from a company if he or she knows or has reason to believe the offer has been made as compensation for his or her work while working at the city.
Ethics ordinance a positive step forward
June 3, 2011
The City Council’s recent ethics ordinance — which most notably aims to keep employees from signing off on contracts in return for jobs — is a fantastic step forward. However, this ordinance should also apply to members of the Newcastle City Council.
The existing code of ethics was too broad and did not hold employees accountable, whereas the new ordinance does — through fines. This new degree of accountability should give residents a higher level of confidence in their government.
The ordinance — which applies to employees for one year after they leave the city — should also discourage suspicious situations from originating, such as the departure of former Public Works Director Maiya Andrews. After resigning in February 2010, Andrews took a job with contractor CH2M Hill, which she worked with on the Coal Creek Parkway and Newcastle Transit Improvement projects.
There is no evidence that Andrews used her power at the city to obtain a job with the company. In fact, City Manager Rob Wyman said it would be reasonable to assume she would not have been subject to the new regulations had they been in place when she left the city and joined CH2M Hill.
Cars pileup on Coal Creek Parkway April 25
April 27, 2011
NEW — 6 a.m. April 27, 2011
Two drivers were taken to Overlake Hospital Medical Center after a five-car wreck at the intersection of Coal Creek Parkway and Newcastle Way just after 7 a.m. April 25.
A woman driving an Acura TSX northbound on Coal Creek Parkway caused a pileup when she struck an Acura MDX from behind. The MDX struck a stopped Honda Civic, which then struck a stopped Toyota Highlander.
However, after triggering the pileup, the TSX continued into the intersection, striking a Chevrolet Blazer traveling eastbound on Newcastle Way.
Expect traffic delays Thursday and Friday on Coal Creek Parkway
October 7, 2009
NEW — 6:50 p.m. Oct. 7, 2009
Construction crews will work on the Newcastle Way and Coal Creek Parkway intersection Thursday and Friday.
City officials said this would cause lane closures during the day in both directions of Coal Creek Parkway.
Drivers should expect delays on both roads.
Expect delays along Coal Creek Parkway
August 21, 2009
NEW — 6 a.m. Aug. 21, 2009
Coal Creek Parkway will be reduced to one lane from Monday to Sept. 8.
Left turns will be allowed, and crews will be working on the northwest corner of the Newcastle Way and Coal Creek Parkway intersection.
Commuters should expect northbound delays on coal Creek Parkway in the morning and southbound delays in the afternoon.
