Northwest briefly — Debra Stephens appointed to Supreme Court
Published 11:29 pm Tuesday, December 4, 2007
OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire on Tuesday appointed state Court of Appeals Judge Debra Stephens of Spokane to the state Supreme Court, predicting she would enjoy a “long and stellar” career on the bench.
In making the closely watched appointment to the high court, her first as governor, Gregoire picked a “twofer,” a judge from Eastern Washington and a woman.
Stephens will succeed Justice Bobbe Bridge, a longtime social services and child welfare advocate who is retiring at the end of the month.
Stephens, 42, will have to run statewide next November to retain the seat.
Whidbey Island: Squadron returning
A squadron of P-3C Orion surveillance planes is returning to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.
The Navy says the 400 personnel with the “Fighting Marlins” (VP-40) are returning in stages until Dec. 9.
It deployed in May and supported ground forces in Iraq. The Navy says the planes also looked for pirates during patrols off the east coast of Africa.
Wenatchee: Cascades Hwy closed for season
The Washington Department of Transportation has closed the North Cascades Highway for the season because of overwhelming snow accumulations on the roadway.
The road, State Highway 20, was temporarily closed on Nov. 30 because of heavy snow, high winds and rain that created unsafe avalanche conditions.
DOT Twisp Maintenance Supervisor Don Becker says the snow was 40 inches deep at the Silver Star Gate on Monday. Rain turned that into 27 inches of heavy wet snow by Tuesday morning.
The highway usually closes between Thanksgiving week and mid-December, reopening in late April or early May.
Snoqualmie Pass: Avalanche kills two
The King County Sheriff’s Office says two hikers were killed in an avalanche near Snoqualmie Pass and a third suffered a broken leg.
A rescue operation was under way for a second group of hikers in another location near the pass.
King County sheriff’s spokesman John Urquhart says a helicopter from Fairchild Air Force Base was able to reach the hiker with a broken leg near Snow Lake, north of Alpental in the Cascades, east of Seattle.
He says a married couple and a friend, all in their 30s, went hiking Friday night. When they didn’t return Sunday a relative called the sheriff’s office and the search began Monday.
Snow, rain and avalanche danger also is making it difficult to reach a second party.
Associated Press
