Camano Community

Arlington High School in lock down

Arlington High School was locked down as a precaution this morning while police investigated a report of shots fired near the school.

Police found someone taking target practice in an area outside of the city limits but near the school, city spokeswoman Kristin Banfield said.

via www.heraldnet.com

Updated: Power Out in parts of Camano

Updated:

Power back on in Stanwood after 45min outage.

Parts of Camano still look pretty dark.

Snohomish County PUD says 6500 without power as of 9PM

Winds dropping somewhat.

Updated: SWAT teams search for suspect near Granite Falls

On the lam is Colton Harris-Moore, an 18-year-old from Camano Island who was first convicted at age 12 and is suspected in nearly 50 cases since he snuck out the window of a halfway house in April 2008. He is believed to have taken two airplanes from the San Juan Islands in the past year before stealing a boat and making his way to Point Roberts, a nub of land in the northwest corner of Washington that's an easy walk from the Canadian border.

via seattletimes.nwsource.com

More here.

Updated: Manhunt under way near Granite Falls

A massive manhunt was under way this morning near Granite Falls for a burglary suspect who fired a gunshot at a Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy late Sunday night.

No one was hurt but the gunfire alarmed authorities, Snohomish County sheriff’s spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said.

via www.heraldnet.com

Updated: Missing Stanwood teen found safe in Marysville

An autistic teen missing since this afternoon has been found safe.

Zane Williams, 15, of Stanwood, left school at some point today and wasn’t accounted for, Snohomish County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said. He has a high-functioning form of autism.

Police were called shortly after 3 p.m. The city of Stanwood contracts its police services through the sheriff’s office.

The boy was found safe in the Marysville area about 7 p.m. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

“We are relieved to have a happy ending to this story,” Hover said.

Earlier:

Police were looking for a missing autistic teen this evening.

Zane Williams, 15, of Stanwood, left school at some point today and wasn't accounted for, Snohomish County Sheriff's spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said. He has a high-functioning form of autism.

“There's no sign of foul play in Zane's disappearance, but he has some health concerns and officials just want to make sure he's OK,” Hover said.

Police were called shortly after 3 p.m. The city of Stanwood contracts its police services to the sheriff's office.

via www.heraldnet.com

KRKO radio towers toppled; ecoterrorism suspected

Two controversial radio towers belonging to Everett radio station KRKO were toppled early this morning.

Somebody left a sign at the scene that may indicate the work of ecoterrorists.

via heraldnet.com

Camano Island deputies pursue man in camos

From KOMO:

CAMANO ISLAND, Wash. - Deputies are responding to a report of a young man in camouflage clothing, possibly armed with a shotgun, leaving a camper parked on private property near Camano State Park.

According to the Island County Sheriff's Office, the tall young man was reported exiting the camper by the owner of the property, who had not given him permission to be there.

The property owner said it appeared the man was carrying a shotgun, and deputies are en route to the location, said Island County Sheriff's Office spokesman Ed Wallace.

The property is near the scene of dozens of burglaries on Camano Island that are believed to be the work of jail escapee Colton Harris-Moore, 18.

But deputies would not speculate on whether their pursuit of the young man in the camper is related to the Harris-Moore case.

Harris-Moore was sentenced to three years for three burglaries, but he escaped from a minimum security facility last year and detectives believe he may be responsible for a new burglary spree on Camano Island.

Morning earthquake rattles Whidbey Island

From the Whidbey News-Times:

A 3.7 magnitude earthquake struck Whidbey Island at 5:09 this morning, two miles southeast of Coupeville. The tectonic slip occurred 36 miles below the earth's surface, according to the University of Washington Department of Earth and Space Sciences.

Continue reading...

Fire burns 3 buildings, chickens at Stanwood farm

From the Seattle Times:

A three-alarm fire has destroyed three large buildings and killed thousands of chickens at a poultry farm near Stanwood.

Firefighters estimate the damage at $2.2 million.

The fire broke out around midnight Tuesday and about 60 firefighters from several districts battled the fire through the early morning. Tanker trucks had to bring in water.

The three buildings — each about 60 feet wide and 600 feet long — burned to the ground with chickens inside.

Skagit Publishing to manage Stanwood/Camano News

120 years as an independent newspaper is coming to an end as Skagit Publishing of Mount Vernon is assuming management and partial ownership of the weekly Stanwood/Camano News.

Dave Pinkham, who has owned, published and edited the News for 24 years, said he is retiring, and ownership of the paper has been transferred to a partnership he has formed with Skagit.

Sources say editorial, advertising and graphics department jobs are being retained for the time being, but the entire press operation staff will soon be let go.

The Mount Vernon company publishes the daily Skagit Valley Herald and weekly newspapers in Anacortes, Burlington and Sedro-Woolley.

State confirms first H1N1 death in Washington | Snohomish County man dies from influenza A(H1N1) complications

SNOHOMISH COUNTY – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed the state’s first death related to swine-origin influenza (H1N1). The unnamed male was a Snohomish County resident who died Wednesday, May 6.

The man, in his thirties, had been suffering flu-like symptoms. Testing completed Saturday, May 9, by DOH has confirmed the link to H1N1, while an autopsy also shows the man suffered from underlying heart disease.

Wild Weather on the Way

From NOAA:

...AN UNSEASONABLY STRONG PACIFIC STORM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE
WASHINGTON OFFSHORE WATERS TONIGHT...

.A STRONG FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL MOVE ONTO THE WASHINGTON COAST
TONIGHT AND MOVE THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF WESTERN WASHINGTON EARLY
TUESDAY MORNING. A BAND OF STRONG WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS
WRAPPING AROUND THE LOW MAY REACH THE NORTH COAST AND WESTERN
STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA AS THE LOW MOVES ONTO VANCOUVER ISLAND
TUESDAY MORNING. WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE INTERIOR
OF WESTERN WASHINGTON BEHIND THE FRONT.

THE TRACK OF THE LOW IS CRITICAL TO HOW THIS STORM AFFECTS
WESTERN WASHINGTON. AT THIS TIME THE LOW IS FORECAST TO MOVE
NORTH JUST EAST OF 130N AND REACH NORTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND EARLY
TUESDAY MORNING.

A STORM AND FRONTAL SYSTEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE IS MORE TYPICAL OF
LATE FALL OR WINTER THAN OF EARLY MAY.

Updated: Car goes into the Stilly, girl injured

Update:

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office divers were searching a slough just south of Stanwood Wednesday morning after a vehicle drove off the road and into the water on Marine Drive near Thomle Road. The incident was reported by a witness shortly before 9 a.m.

One woman in her late teens was pulled out of the icy water by Sheriff’s deputies Brian Odenborg and Steve Gordon, a firefighter and a civilian shortly after the 911 call came in.

Once the woman was out of the water, Stanwood Police Chief Ty Trenary and Stanwood Sgt. Barry Ruchty performed CPR. The woman was taken to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. Her condition is unknown at this time.

Early reports suggested a second person might be in the vehicle. Divers searched the area but didn’t find anyone else. The Sheriff’s Office helicopter flew over the scene to determine if anyone else was in the water, but didn’t see anyone either.

The divers were out of the water by 11:15 a.m. The crash is under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Collision Investigation Unit.

North County firefighters also responded to the accident and worked with deputies and Stanwood officers at the scene.

Snohomish County sheriff's spokeswoman Rebecca Hover says the girl was taken to Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett. She was reported in critical condition.

Stanwood-Camano School District spokeswoman Cathy Britt says the student attends Lincoln Hill alternative high school. "Stanwood HS principal (Christine Gruver) and Lincoln Hill HS principal (Dan Johnston) are at the hospital to help the family in any way they can. We have counselors available at both schools if students or staff need to talk to someone," she adds.

As of 1045AM:

At about 900AM a small car went off Marine Drive into the Stilly Slough just north of the Thomle bridge.

Firefighters pulled one young woman, said to be an 18 year old alternative high school student, from the completely submerged car.  She was revived and taken to the hospital, where she is in critical condition.  One firefighter was transported to the hospital suffering from exposure. 

No other victims have been found.  Marine Drive remains closed to through traffic.

Update

2nd tow truck called in,car stuck in mud.

Update

1 car accident. Vehicle being recovered from river. Young female victim revived and sent to hospital. No word on other possible victims. Search is underway.

Marine Drive Closed

Bad car accident. has closed Marine Drive south of Stanwood for at least several hours. More soon...

Serious crash in Stanwood last night

From the Snohomish County Sheriff:

A Jeep went off the road and over an embankment, rolled and struck a tree in the 6600 block of 268^th St. NW at 6:45 p.m. last night.

Both people in the vehicle (male and female) were ejected.

It is undetermined who was driving.

Female is 22, is from Arlington. She suffered minor injuries and was taken to an Everett hospital.

Male is in his early 20s, is from Camano Island and was flown to Harborview. We’re told he’s in serious condition.

Speed and alcohol were factors in this crash.  No citations have been issued.

Though it happened in the city of Stanwood, CIU is investigating. Stanwood PD also responded to the scene.

Elderly man critically injured after being struck by bus near Warm Beach Senior Community Center

Sheriff’s collision detectives are investigating a crash that happened about 11:45 a.m. today in the 20400 block of Marine Drive in unincorporated Stanwood.

An 86-year-old man was crossing Marine Drive in a motorized wheelchair when a Community Transit bus turning right onto Marine Drive from the Warm Beach Senior Community Center struck the man in the crosswalk.

The man was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with life-threatening injuries.

The crash remains under investigation. No citations have been issued.

Mudslide hits 8 waterfront homes on Whidbey Island

From AP:

CLINTON — A mudslide has hit eight waterfront homes on Whidbey Island near Clinton.

Sheriff Mark Brown says water that backed up in a blocked culvert broke through a road about 7 a.m. today and carried debris downhill to Puget Sound. He says the water flooded the eight homes and caused some foundation damage.

Brown says residents had been evacuated overnight because of the danger, and no one is injured.

County crews are removing debris and repairing the road.

Stanwood students might have been exposed to whooping cough

From GoSkagit:

The Washington State Department of Health reported Thursday that at least 15 people with whooping cough attended the tournament held Feb. 20 and 21, potentially exposing wrestlers, coaches and spectators from across the state to the infection.

Forty-nine boys and girls from Mount Vernon, La Conner, Sedro-Woolley, Burlington-Edison, Concrete, Oak Harbor and Stanwood school districts competed at the event.

More here.