Darrington

People begin to gather on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, at the North Mountain Fire Lookout north of Darrington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

‘A labor of love’: Restoration of lookout north of Darrington now complete

Volunteers spent eight years repairing the 57-year-old North Mountain Fire Lookout. Last week, they gathered to celebrate.

People begin to gather on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, at the North Mountain Fire Lookout north of Darrington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Teenagers tube the waters of the Pilchuck River Wednesday afternoon in Snohomish, Washington on July 20, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

28 cooling centers open in Snohomish County amid weeklong heat wave

Some places will get into the upper 90s. Firefighters are bracing for swift water rescues, heat stroke and more.

Teenagers tube the waters of the Pilchuck River Wednesday afternoon in Snohomish, Washington on July 20, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Teenagers tube the waters of the Pilchuck River Wednesday afternoon in Snohomish, Washington on July 20, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Heat wave to be a scorcher, especially for inland Snohomish County

Officials share tips on how to beat the heat, prevent fires and stay safe at your favorite swimming hole.

Teenagers tube the waters of the Pilchuck River Wednesday afternoon in Snohomish, Washington on July 20, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Tom Nechville and Linda Leavitt jam together in the shade on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at Darrington Bluegrass Music Park in Darrington, Washington. Nechville and Leavitt, both now living in Oregon, are visiting the festival for the first time this year. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

They’re strumming, picking, and jamming again in Darrington

After a two-year hiatus, the Darrington Bluegrass Festival returns. The music tradition is turning 45.

Tom Nechville and Linda Leavitt jam together in the shade on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at Darrington Bluegrass Music Park in Darrington, Washington. Nechville and Leavitt, both now living in Oregon, are visiting the festival for the first time this year. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Glacier Peak, elevation 10,541 feet, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest in Snohomish County, Washington. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald) 2019

Forest Service green-lights new seismometers at remote Glacier Peak

The volcano has potential to be one of the deadliest in the nation. Four new monitors could avert catastrophe.

Glacier Peak, elevation 10,541 feet, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest in Snohomish County, Washington. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald) 2019
A family escaped a house fire early Thursday morning in downtown Darrington, but their pets died. (Darrington Fire District)

Family escapes but pets die in Darrington house fire

The downtown home was destroyed. The Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office was investigating.

A family escaped a house fire early Thursday morning in downtown Darrington, but their pets died. (Darrington Fire District)
The car in the Sauk River around May 10 outside Darrington. (Contributed / Jon Allen)

It ‘doesn’t belong’: Crashed car still in wild and scenic Sauk River

The vehicle has been there for six weeks. One man wants it gone, but officials say the river is too dangerous.

The car in the Sauk River around May 10 outside Darrington. (Contributed / Jon Allen)
The Mountain Loop Highway between Darrington and Granite Falls remains closed beyond Barlow Pass. (Snohomish County)

Oops, Mountain Loop Highway only partly open

A miscommunication led Snohomish County to misstate how much of the road is open.

The Mountain Loop Highway between Darrington and Granite Falls remains closed beyond Barlow Pass. (Snohomish County)
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HERALD STAFF PHOTO BY JENNIFER BUCHANAN
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A car makes its way through a winding unpaved section of the Mountain Loop Highway 15 miles outside of Darrington.

14-mile scenic stretch of Mountain Loop Highway opens early

The highway between Granite Falls and Darrington reopened to traffic on Friday due to good weather.

LOCAL - MOUNTAIN LOOP HIGHWAY
HERALD STAFF PHOTO BY JENNIFER BUCHANAN
PHOTO SHOT 062208
A car makes its way through a winding unpaved section of the Mountain Loop Highway 15 miles outside of Darrington.
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3.6-magnitude earthquake jars awake Darrington residents

The quake and aftershocks did not cause any serious damage. They’re reminders of dozens of faults that lie below.

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Genna Martin/The Herald
Dayn Brunner and his son Riley, 17, pose for a photo at Darrington High School, Thursday, March 12, 2015.  Dayn's sister, Summer Raffo, was one of the 43 victims of the Oso mudslide.  Dayn and Riley spent five days searching the debris field before finding Summer in her car, hands still on the steering wheel.  Dayn spent a total of 39 days searching through the mud for other victims.  
Photo taken 03112015

Darrington fire commissioner charged with theft from hardware store

Dayn Brunner, 50, worked at Do It Best Hardware for about six months in 2019. He’s accused of stealing $6,300.

CROPPED FROM THIS:
Genna Martin/The Herald
Dayn Brunner and his son Riley, 17, pose for a photo at Darrington High School, Thursday, March 12, 2015.  Dayn's sister, Summer Raffo, was one of the 43 victims of the Oso mudslide.  Dayn and Riley spent five days searching the debris field before finding Summer in her car, hands still on the steering wheel.  Dayn spent a total of 39 days searching through the mud for other victims.  
Photo taken 03112015
A car became partially submerged after entering the Sauk River near Backman County Park off of Clear Creek Road on May 6, 2022. (Darrington Fire District)

Car ends up in Sauk River, person safely swims to shore

The car was to remain in the water overnight, at least. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office was investigating.

A car became partially submerged after entering the Sauk River near Backman County Park off of Clear Creek Road on May 6, 2022. (Darrington Fire District)
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Forest Service formulating big plan for Stillaguamish watershed

Three trails could be decommissioned. New ones could be built. And over 22,000 acres of trees could be thinned.

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A blueberry banana cake created by Jennifer Savage of CityBones, a dog treat bakery out of Darrington, Washington. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

These handmade dog treats are doggone delicious

Darrington resident Jennifer Savage aims to make Bark-ery, her dog treat bakery, a full-time gig.

A blueberry banana cake created by Jennifer Savage of CityBones, a dog treat bakery out of Darrington, Washington. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
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State budgets, signed Thursday, include money for local projects

Among the provisions are money to build a Community Recovery Center in Lynnwood and aid Afghan refugees in Snohomish County.

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Hundred gather at the 2018 Darrington Bluegrass Festival on Saturday, July 21, 2018 in Darrington, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Darrington Bluegrass Festival returns after two-year pause

Now in its 45th year, the three-day festival features bluegrass with a mountain backdrop and camping in the woods.

Hundred gather at the 2018 Darrington Bluegrass Festival on Saturday, July 21, 2018 in Darrington, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A quality control specialist at The Group14 Technologies in Woodinville, Washington on March 1, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
A quality control specialist at The Group14 Technologies in Woodinville, Washington on March 1, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
A rendering of the proposed Community Justice Center in Lynnwood, which would house a new jail, a misdemeanor court, the police department and behavioral health services. (City of Lynnwood)

Senators pencil in $12M for new Lynnwood recovery center

The money is in a proposed capital budget. There are also funds for area youth programs and housing the homeless.

A rendering of the proposed Community Justice Center in Lynnwood, which would house a new jail, a misdemeanor court, the police department and behavioral health services. (City of Lynnwood)
2021 survey results from the State Broadband Survey for Snohomish County. (Washington State Department of Commerce)

$16M grant to speed up broadband to north Snohomish County

In Darrington and elsewhere, rural residents have struggled to work remotely during the pandemic. A new project aims to help.

2021 survey results from the State Broadband Survey for Snohomish County. (Washington State Department of Commerce)
CloZee performs during the second day of Summer Meltdown on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019 in Darrington, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

The psychedelic fest Summer Meltdown is back — and in Monroe

The music and camping event is on for July 28-31, with a new venue along the Skykomish River.

CloZee performs during the second day of Summer Meltdown on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019 in Darrington, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)