Jacqueline Allison

Joe Taylor, co-owner of Pinnacle German Shepards, gets his dogs to sit outside of their new temporary home at Rosecrest Equestrian Estate on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Dogs, goats, horses among evacuees of chaotic Bolt Creek wildfire

It has been a stressful week for animals and their owners, who are looking forward to going home as the fire gets under control.

Joe Taylor, co-owner of Pinnacle German Shepards, gets his dogs to sit outside of their new temporary home at Rosecrest Equestrian Estate on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cars drive along a smokey Mountain Loop Highway on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022 in Granite Falls, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Wildfires flood Western Washington with smoky skies

Air quality in Darrington was ranked the worst in the state Friday. Most of the region was in a red flag warning.

Cars drive along a smokey Mountain Loop Highway on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022 in Granite Falls, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A truck drives past a sign displaying fuel prices on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Diesel prices stay high for truckers, farmers

Gas prices have fallen steadily this summer, but diesel costs have started to climb again.

A truck drives past a sign displaying fuel prices on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Walt Jackson, a Granite Falls veteran, has attached a rare sidecar to his Honda Shadow which allows his wife, who suffered a stroke, to take ride along. Photographed Tuesday morning in Granite Falls, Washington on August 16, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

After stroke, Granite Falls couple still finds a way to ride together

Walt Jackson built a motorcycle sidecar for his wife. It’s smooth sailing. “You can sip your coffee and enjoy your ride.”

Walt Jackson, a Granite Falls veteran, has attached a rare sidecar to his Honda Shadow which allows his wife, who suffered a stroke, to take ride along. Photographed Tuesday morning in Granite Falls, Washington on August 16, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
The gray area is under a red flag warning until 11 p.m. Friday. (National Weather Service)

High fire danger in Cascades prompts red flag warning

Conditions were ripe for combustion, according to the National Weather Service.

The gray area is under a red flag warning until 11 p.m. Friday. (National Weather Service)
The map shows the location of three wildfires burning in remote forested areas northeast of Darrington. (Washington State Department of Natural Resources)

Trails close as 3 wildfires burn on slopes northeast of Darrington

There was no immediate threat to populated areas. Multiple trailheads and campgrounds have been closed for public safety.

The map shows the location of three wildfires burning in remote forested areas northeast of Darrington. (Washington State Department of Natural Resources)
Aleigh Davis, left, becomes emotional and hugs her friend Dylan Carpenter, right, after the sale of her steer Maverick during the Evergreen Youth Livestock Show at the Evergreen State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Youth livestock auction in Monroe ‘teaches them so much’

The event at the Evergreen State Fair is open to ages 8 to 21. For some kids, it’s money for college.

Aleigh Davis, left, becomes emotional and hugs her friend Dylan Carpenter, right, after the sale of her steer Maverick during the Evergreen Youth Livestock Show at the Evergreen State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Egyptian grasshopper (Hectonichus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Egyptian grasshopper, a nonnative insect, spotted in Everett

The public is asked to report any other sightings. The grasshopper can grow nearly 3 inches long and has distinctive striped eyes.

Egyptian grasshopper (Hectonichus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Mckenzie Roberts, 17, shears her sheep Aspen during opening day of the Evergreen State Fair on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Evergreen State Fair is the hot ticket as 11-day run kicks off

Guests came out in 90-degree heat for animals, food, entertainment and rides. The heat should wane this weekend.

Mckenzie Roberts, 17, shears her sheep Aspen during opening day of the Evergreen State Fair on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Dustin Allen, an Indiana-based service technician for Semcor Manufacturing, inspects the Freak Out as the state fair approaches on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Evergreen State Fair gears up for first full-capacity event since 2019

Organizers estimate crowds will be similar to pre-pandemic times. Old events are back and new ones will debut.

Dustin Allen, an Indiana-based service technician for Semcor Manufacturing, inspects the Freak Out as the state fair approaches on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Servo looks towards the photographer while trying to get some pets from people in the room on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at Purrfect Pals Cat Sanctuary in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

At Purrfect Pals, cats with special needs are saved from euthanasia

The sanctuary and adoption center near Arlington has plenty of “catios.” It started in Kathy Centala’s basement in 1988.

Servo looks towards the photographer while trying to get some pets from people in the room on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at Purrfect Pals Cat Sanctuary in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ella Larson, left, and Simon Fuentes sort through blueberries at Hazel Blue Acres on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Fruits, flowers and bees aplenty in Arlington farm fete

First-ever event highlights local growers’ bounty and contributions to local community

Ella Larson, left, and Simon Fuentes sort through blueberries at Hazel Blue Acres on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A concept drawing shows the future multi-use path along U.S. 2 between 179th Avenue Southeast and the North Kelsey Street shopping area. (City of Monroe)

Monroe to start building walking, biking path along U.S. 2

The long-awaited project will give pedestrians and cyclists a safe route to the North Kelsey Street shopping area.

A concept drawing shows the future multi-use path along U.S. 2 between 179th Avenue Southeast and the North Kelsey Street shopping area. (City of Monroe)
Hazel Blue Acres is a family farm owned and operated by Karen and Spencer Fuentes with their children Simon, Everett and Phoebe. The family has operated an organic blueberry farm since 2008. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Arlington farmers showcase crops, flowers, wares in weekend event

A dozen farms will open to the public to share their lavender, sunflowers, blueberries, animals and more.

Hazel Blue Acres is a family farm owned and operated by Karen and Spencer Fuentes with their children Simon, Everett and Phoebe. The family has operated an organic blueberry farm since 2008. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
A samurai and dragon mural created during the “Going All City NW” event is seen the evening of Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, before being painted over on Tuesday along Rucker Ave. in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Everett building owner asks graffiti mural to be painted over

Nearly 40 murals were painted in Everett last weekend in a four-day event. One building owner didn’t like the finished product.

A samurai and dragon mural created during the “Going All City NW” event is seen the evening of Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, before being painted over on Tuesday along Rucker Ave. in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Jason Clifton, of Ellensburg, works on a mural on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, in downtown Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

30 new graffiti murals to brighten downtown Everett

Dozens of artists are spray-painting Everett buildings and alleys in the four-day event. The public is welcome to watch.

Jason Clifton, of Ellensburg, works on a mural on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, in downtown Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Carri Tokareff, an Everett Food Bank employee since late last year, packs bags while surrounded by empty shelves Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Everett Food Bank on Broadway in Everett, Washington. Tokareff said the food bank has never seen a shortage of food like this one, and that it’s due to an economic climate in which more people are using the food bank’s services and fewer people are able to donate. The food bank has had to reduce its services from once a week per family to twice a month, and the boxes of supplies they do offer are now less diverse and missing things like sanitary products. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

‘Shelves are bare’: More need, fewer donations puts strain on food banks

Demand is higher at Snohomish County food banks than any point in the pandemic. An Everett food bank has limited its customers.

Carri Tokareff, an Everett Food Bank employee since late last year, packs bags while surrounded by empty shelves Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Everett Food Bank on Broadway in Everett, Washington. Tokareff said the food bank has never seen a shortage of food like this one, and that it’s due to an economic climate in which more people are using the food bank’s services and fewer people are able to donate. The food bank has had to reduce its services from once a week per family to twice a month, and the boxes of supplies they do offer are now less diverse and missing things like sanitary products. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Farmer Frog employees sort through a pallet of lettuce at their new location on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

At Farmer Frog’s new pad, nonprofit helps feed 1.5M Washingtonians

The emergency food distribution network began amid the pandemic. Demand was high — so high, the truck volume led them to move.

Farmer Frog employees sort through a pallet of lettuce at their new location on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Steve Hobbs, who was sworn in as Washington Secretary of State, Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., poses in front of photos of the 15 people who previously held his office. Hobbs, a former state senator from Lake Stevens, Wash., is the first person of color to head the office and the first Democrat to serve as Secretary in more than 50 years. He replaces Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman, who resigned to accept an election security job in the Biden administration. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Hobbs leads the pack in crowded secretary of state race

Former state Sen. Steve Hobbs, of Lake Stevens, faced seven challengers for the job he was appointed to last year.

Steve Hobbs, who was sworn in as Washington Secretary of State, Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., poses in front of photos of the 15 people who previously held his office. Hobbs, a former state senator from Lake Stevens, Wash., is the first person of color to head the office and the first Democrat to serve as Secretary in more than 50 years. He replaces Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman, who resigned to accept an election security job in the Biden administration. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Stanwood in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

Stanwood Chamber of Commerce ‘can’t keep the doors open’

The chamber is set to shut down at the end of the month due to financial challenges.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Stanwood in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118