The Mill Creek Mavericks 16U baseball team helped raise funds and food for the local food bank. (Mill Creek Baseball Club)

The Mill Creek Mavericks 16U baseball team helped raise funds and food for the local food bank. (Mill Creek Baseball Club)

Mill Creek Food Bank find support from the baseball field

Christmas House adapts during COVID, delivers gifts to thousands

About 8,500 children across Snohomish County had gifts this holiday season thanks to creativity and collaboration from board members at Christmas House and more than a dozen local food banks.

Christmas House board members expressed their gratitude to donors and volunteers for their contributions.

Schmidt named first full-time chief of Fire District 21

After years as the part-time fire chief for Snohomish County Fire District 21, Chad Schmidt was promoted last week as the first full-time fire chief.

In its 60-year history, the district had never had a full-time chief, but increased staffing responsibilities and construction of a second fire station made it clear to the Board of Fire Commissioners a full-time leader was needed.

Fire District 21 serves an area of approximately 70-square miles in rural Arlington.

Schmidt served as the part-time chief since 2017, while simultaneously working as a full-time paramedic for Camano Island Fire & Rescue. His promotion will provide operational, technical and administrative advantages for the District 21.

A badge pinning ceremony will take place virtually through Zoom on Monday during the monthly commissioner meeting.

Outreach manager for South County Fire honored for keeping kids safe

Shawneri Guzman, outreach manager for South County Fire, is Washington’s Outstanding Safe Kids Coordinator of the Year. (South County Fire)

Shawneri Guzman, outreach manager for South County Fire, is Washington’s Outstanding Safe Kids Coordinator of the Year. (South County Fire)

Washington’s Outstanding Safe Kids Coordinator of the Year is Shawneri Guzman, South County Fire’s outreach manager.

Safe Kids Washington and Washington’s Child Passenger Safety Program awarded Guzman the honor for her work leading the Safe Kids Snohomish County coalition. The group prevents childhood injuries from traffic crashes, drownings, falls, burns, poisonings and more, through education and protective equipment.

Guzman also volunteers on boards and workgroups to address child injury prevention, sharing her expertise and resources.

About 3,000 Washington children are seriously injured or die in preventable incidents.

Will Hitchcock, with the Washington State Department of Health, said Guzman was honored for “the passion, care and connectedness she demonstrates through her work for injury prevention and commitment to her community.”

Mill Creek Mavericks Baseball Club supports community food bank

When the Mill Creek Food Bank ran low on food, a local baseball organization stepped up to the plate.

In one weekend, the Mill Creek Baseball Club, also known as the Mill Creek Mavericks, collected more than 700 pounds of food and $1,850 in donations for their local food bank.

About 40 ballplayers and their families from the club’s 9U, 16U and 18U teams — ages of 8 to 18 — assisted in the food collection.

“We’re so proud of how quickly our families rallied in two days to show how much we care about our community,” said Shannon Van Duzer, player agent with the Mill Creek Baseball Club.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

People explore the expansion of the Tulalip Casino on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Tulalip casino expansion open to the public

The 70,000-square-foot addition displays a new design that will eventually span the entire casino.

Emilee Swenson pulls kids around in a wagon at HopeWorks' child care center Tomorrow’s Hope, a job training program for people interested in child care, on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 in Everett, Washington. HopeWorks is one of the organizations reciving funding from the ARPA $4.3 million stipend. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
New report highlights child care challenges in Snohomish County

Child care is too expensive and hard to find for families, the report showed. Providers are also struggling with burnout and high turnover.

Edmonds mayor names candidate for next police chief

If the City Council approves Assistant Chief Loi Dawkins’ appointment on Tuesday, she will begin her term as chief Aug. 1.

Trump’s policy bill clears Congress after House quells revolt

The final vote, 218 to 214, was mostly along party lines.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.