Applause

The Granite Falls School District broke ground for its new high school on March 15.

The work, which includes grading, utilities, asphalt and drainage, began Thursday. Bids for construction of the building will be out in June, and construction is scheduled to begin in July.

The two-story, 800-student school will feature 34 classrooms plus a greenhouse, library-media center, gym and 400-seat performing arts center. Most work on the school is scheduled to be finished by Dec. 1, 2007.

Arlington FFA team takes second, fifth

The Arlington FFA horticulture team recently competed at the state FFA floriculture and nursery-landscape career development event at Spokane Community College.

Team members were Stephanie Newbre, Nina Kerschner, Amanda Summers, Brian Zwieg, Shannon Wadey and Cendie Carlson.

In the floriculture contest, Arlington placed second out of 16 teams. Each member had to complete a 50-question knowledge test, identify 40 plants and solve problems, among other things.

Stephanie Newbre placed fourth, and Amanda Summers placed eighth.

In the nursery-landscape contest, Arlington placed fifth out of 13 teams. Each member had to complete a 50-question knowledge test, identify 50 plants and tools, and answer questions about landscape design.

Those who placed will receive their plaques in May at the FFA State Convention in Pullman.

Cowsert named judge of the year

The Snohomish County Bar Association named Superior Court Judge Kenneth Cowsert Judge of the Year at its annual meeting and auction March 11.

The association annually takes nominations for the honor from lawyers countywide, and the group’s executive board names the winner.

In a letter nominating Cowsert, the judge was praised for his “tremendous capacity to listen and to let the individuals know he is listening, while also dealing out a fair and just result.”

Teen adopts park as Eagle Scout project

Boy Scout Michael Beers, 17, a Lynnwood-area resident and a member of Troop 49, chose to help spruce up Meadowdale Neighborhood Park for his Eagle Scout project after learning of its needs from the city of Lynnwood.

Beers, a junior at O’Dea High School in Seattle, installed a picnic area, including a table and cement patio; put up an entrance sign; built and installed chickadee nesting boxes; and renovated the entrance landscaping at the park.

When safety concerns forced the city to cut down trees, the high school’s Environmental Science Club wanted to build chickadee nesting boxes, but they didn’t have the money.

Beers solicited money and worked with club members to construct the nesting boxes. The club hopes the boxes will attract more birds, which it will then be able to study.

Two new captains for Fire District 1

Snohomish County Fire District 1 has promoted Joe Hughes and Shaughn Maxwell to the rank of captain.

Hughes has been with the department for eight years and has been a firefighter for 11 years. He completed his paramedic training in 2002 at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Hughes is assigned to Mountlake Terrace Fire Station 19. He is a native of Kirkland and a 1994 graduate of Lake Washington High School.

Maxwell has been a firefighter for 17 years and a paramedic for 13 years. A native of the Methow Valley, he has been employed at Fire District 1 for 10 years. Maxwell has been assigned to serve as a medical services officer in the Emergency Medical Services Division at Fire District 1 headquarters.

State Senate honors late Arlington adviser

The state Senate during its recent session passed a resolution honoring John Jenft,a longtime financial adviser for the Arlington School District who died last year of cancer at 80.

The resolution notes his many public contributions.

Jenft worked as a teacher and later as business manager for the Arlington School District from 1951 to 1995. He also provided financial services to other school districts statewide.

He was an active member of the Washington Association of School Business Officials since 1962, serving as president in 1976 and receiving the association’s Outstanding Service Award in 1980.

As a member of the Washington Association of School Administrators for 35 years, he wrote a famous annual “Nuts and Bolts” analysis to help budget writers for school districts across the state.

“John Jenft will be remembered as the ultimate number cruncher, and as a delightfully multidimensional human being who will be dearly missed by his family, friends and colleagues,” according to SR 8725, which was presented by state Sens. Rosemary McAuliffe, Phil Rockefeller, Jean Berkey, Harriet Spanel and Luke Esser.

The resolution passed Feb. 23.

Mill Creek filmmaker gets audience award

Chris Elston of Mill Creek was one of the recipients of the Audience Favorite Overall Award at the fourth annual 168-Hour Film Competition, a Christian film contest.

The short film he created with Sue Doc Ross, “The Diner,” won the award because it received more audience votes for favorite film than any other film.

The 168-Hour Film Project is a competition in which all films are created simultaneously during one week, or 168 hours. Filmmakers are assigned a theme and a Bible verse for the basis of their film.

Marysville sophomore granted an audition

Cassie Miller, a sophomore at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, was invited to audition for “Wonderful Town” at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle as a performance intern. Miller, 15, was one of the youngest cast members.

Paramedics deliver baby on the road

On March 10, the Lake Stevens Fire Department responded to a report of a woman in labor in a neighboring fire district.

Shortly after placing the expectant mother in the medic unit, paramedic-firefighter Dave Safford and paramedic student Jeremy Church informed paramedic-firefighter Kurt Middleton that they could see the baby’s head during contractions.

As Safford and Church were preparing the mother for delivery, Middleton drove the medic unit to the hospital. Shortly before arriving at the Frontier Village area of Lake Stevens, the woman gave birth. The medic unit stopped so Middleton could help Safford and Church stabilize the mother and baby girl before continuing the trip to the hospital.

Grange gives away blankets and hats

Kellogg Marsh Grange of Marysville Community Services has been making seven blankets and 68 crocheted and knitted hats.

Two hats went to the Marysville Fire Department and the others went to Volunteers of America and Deaconess Children’s Services of Everett.

Marysville quilter invited to Kentucky

Marysville-area quilter Kathy McNeil has been selected as a semifinalist for the 22nd annual AQS Quilt Show and Contest April 26-29 at the Paducah Expo Center in Paducah, Ky., for her quilt “Sagacious Sisters.”