Local briefly: Cat dies in Lynnwood house fire

Published 10:52 pm Friday, February 1, 2008

LYNNWOOD — One cat died and another was missing Friday after an early morning house fire that caused about $140,000 damage, officials said.

Fire investigators were working Friday to determine what sparked the blaze just after 7 a.m. in the 2200 block of 177th Place SW, Snohomish County Fire District 1 spokeswoman Leslie Hynes said.

Neighbors called 911 to report smoke coming from the home’s vents, she said. Firefighters worked the blaze, which caught hold of insulation in the home’s basement crawl space.

The owner wasn’t home at the time of the blaze and no one was hurt putting out the fire, Hynes said. The homeowner does have insurance, she said.

Monroe: Man, 20, arrested in robberies

Police arrested a 20-year-old Monroe man Thursday night after he allegedly robbed an espresso stand and a restaurant on U.S. 2.

The man demanded money from a barista just after 8 p.m. in the 400 block of Butler Street, Monroe police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said. The man implied he had a gun.

A few minutes later, a man matching a similar description went into a restaurant and took the cashbox, Willis said.

A short time later, police spotted the man and arrested him for investigation of first-degree robbery and drug charges, she said. The barista identified the man as the person who robbed her, according to a police affidavit.

The man was booked into the Snohomish County Jail.

Mill Creek: Home damaged in blaze

A residential fire Wednesday night destroyed one room in a house and caused smoke damage throughout, officials said.

Crews responded to the blaze about 8:25 p.m. in the 15300 block of 25th Drive SE, Snohomish County Fire District 7 Battalion Chief Janet Jaeger said.

It took firefighters about a half-hour to put the fire out, she said. There were no injuries. Fire investigators blamed an electrical problem for the blaze.

Snohomish: Learn about school bond

School district leaders plan to hold an informational meeting on a March 11 bond proposal from 10 a.m. to noon today at the Snohomish Public Library, 311 Maple Ave., Snohomish.

District leaders, including acting Superintendent Betty Robertson and director of business services Karen Riddle, will be available to answer questions.

The $261 million measure would complete the Snohomish High School renovation, renovate and expand Valley View Middle School, expand Centennial Middle School, construct new elementary schools to replace Machias and Riverview elementary schools, construct an aquatic center, make districtwide building improvements, and add classroom technology.

Olympia: No action on branch campus bill

The House Higher Education Committee did not act Thursday on legislation to establish a University of Washington campus in Everett.

Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett, who is vice chairman of the committee and a bill sponsor, said his Democratic colleagues on the panel wanted more time to consider the proposal.

He also said the bill could be amended to make clear that moving forward on this proposed university will not siphon resources from the state’s existing two- and four-year colleges.

Sells said possible action could be taken as early as Monday.