RAYMOND – In small towns, word travels fast. But if there’s really a snake on the loose like people are saying, it might be a bit quicker.
On Saturday, Raymond police were called to the local Veterans of Foreign Wars hall at noon, after someone reported seeing a big snake slither under the building. When police got there, no snake was in sight.
“Everyone kind of freaked out,” said VFW manager Bre Makaiwi. “If there is snake, it’s under the building, and it doesn’t want to be found.”
Rumor has it that a former Raymond resident lost a pet ball python a while back near the building. The owner could not be reached for comment.
A snake was allegedly seen when some VFW workers were recovering a cat and her kittens living under the building Saturday, Makaiwi said. She’s not sure who saw it.
John Kessler, 58, a VFW member and college snake handler, decided to crawl under the building to see if he could locate a snake or clues that one was living there.
“I have my doubts,” Kessler said. “There wasn’t any scat (snake droppings) or slither marks.”
Makaiwi isn’t scared.
“It’s the talk of the town,” she said. “I just keep telling customers that if there is a snake, it isn’t in the building and it’s not going to get in the building. To tell you the truth, I was more worried about the kittens.”
The Daily World
Bainbridge Island: Money magazine’s pick
Money magazine thinks its readers ought to know that Bainbridge Island is the second-best place to live in the nation, behind Moorestown, N.J.
“That’s pretty cool,” said Brian Dempsey, a former board member of the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce. “Bainbridge is a great place to live. There’s a great quality of life. The people are community-minded. I think it’s indicative of what’s really here.”
Money magazine, in its annual “Best Places to Live” feature, described Bainbridge as a 28-square-mile haven and touted its schools, views, “rational home prices,” and its proximity to Seattle.
The Kitsap Sun
Kalaloch: Timely surf training saves kayaker
A kayaker who was being pulled out to sea off the Pacific coast Sunday morning was rescued by Olympic National Park personnel who happened to be nearby.
Eleven park rangers and firefighters were completing a surf rescue and training lesson about 10:30 a.m. when someone ran up to report that two kayakers had capsized in the ocean, said Barb Maynes, park spokeswoman.
Rescuers found that one had already managed to make his way to shore, said Maynes.
However, the other kayaker, Jonathan Denham of Ferndale, was between 150 yards and 200 yards off the coast. The tide was pulling him out farther.
Seasonal park firefighter and lifeguard Rob Palmer gathered his gear, swam out to Denham and hooked him to a rescue line. Denham was pulled to safety.
Peninsula Daily News
Seattle: King County proceeds with trail buy
The King County Council has given the go-ahead for a $3.5 million deposit that will maintain the county’s exclusive negotiation rights to buy a 47-mile rail corridor running from Renton to Snohomish.
The council gave approval on Monday and now has through August to negotiate with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.
The 100-foot-wide corridor runs through Bellevue, Kirkland, Woodinville and Snohomish, and is used by the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train. The council said it will talk with rail line users and neighbors of the corridor before determining a specific plan.
The council expects to spend another $300,000 on research and to pay for the negotiation costs. The county has been in talks about the corridor since late last year.
Associated Press
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