Tugboat captain in 520 bridge crash surrenders license

Herald news services

SEATTLE — The captain of a tugboat that collided with the Evergreen Point floating bridge has surrendered his captain’s license for two months and agreed to a year’s probation.

The agreement between the U.S. Coast Guard and 59-year-old captain Myron Kjos was approved last week by administrative law Judge Edwin Bladen.

The Coast Guard concluded Kjos fell asleep while pushing an empty gravel barge early July 29, and woke up too late to keep the barge from hitting one of the bridge’s support columns. The accident closed the bridge’s right eastbound lane, snarling traffic for 12 days.

Kjos has agreed to stay off the water for good and accept an administrative job with his employer, Sea Coast Towing, operations manager Michael Myers said.

The Coast Guard is still considering a fine against Sea Coast Towing.

  • Photographer pleads innocent to exploitation charge: The owner of a Richland photography studio pleaded innocent Friday to sexual exploitation of a minor stemming from modeling sessions involving a 16-year-old girl. Harold C. Fleener, owner of Marlin’s Columbia Photography, is accused of arranging modeling sessions in which the teen-age girl posed nude while a 20-year-old female apprentice took photos. Fleener, 48, contends he didn’t find out the girl was underage until after the photo sessions in September and October. Police began their investigation in October after the girl told a school counselor about the sessions. If convicted, Fleener faces a 31- to 41-month prison sentence.

  • Neighborhood "candy man" charged with sex crimes: A man is in jail charged with 50 child-related sex crimes against at least four young girls who lived in his northeast Portland neighborhood. Leroy Myron Holmes, 61, was arrested Wednesday at his home in northeast Portland by the Multnomah County Child Abuse Team. Holmes, who is also known as "Bud" or "Buddy," faces multiple sex-related charges, including sodomy, sexual penetration and attempted rape. Holmes is being held in the Multnomah County Jail on $11 million bail. Police said Holmes was known by neighborhood children as the "candy man" because he handed out sweets on his doorstep.

  • State workers ordered to cooperate in investigation: Gov. John Kitzhaber’s office has ordered the state Department of Transportation to cooperate with a criminal investigation into a botched cleaning project that resulted in the accidental killing of federally protected steelhead in the Columbia River Gorge. The investigation includes determining whether state workers falsified documents, The Oregonian reported in its Saturday’s editions. The fish were killed on Oct. 9 when Tumult Creek was diverted from its bed so crews could remove debris. The creek is near the small community of Dodson and flows into the Columbia River. At the time, Transportation Department crews were supervising a contracting company hired to clean a culvert under Interstate 84.
    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.

    State’s draft of climate action plan open for public comment

    Residents can submit public comments or climate-related stories online through Aug. 22.

    The Edmonds School Board discusses budget cuts during a school board meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Edmonds school board approves 2025-26 budget

    After facing an estimated $8.5 million shortfall earlier in the year, the board passed a balanced budget Tuesday.

    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.

    A wall diagram shows the “journey of the ballot” at the new Elections Center on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    County Auditor: No need for feds to meddle with state or local elections

    Garth Fell’s comments were in response to a report of Justice Department mulling criminal charges against election officials.

    Edmonds Police Chief Loi Dawkins speaks after the city council approved her appointment on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Edmonds City Council confirms new police chief

    Assistant Chief Loi Dawkins will begin in the role Aug. 1. She has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience, including three years in Edmonds.

    The Edmonds City Council discuss the levy during a city council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Edmonds votes to place levy lid lift on the ballot

    By a vote of 5-2, the council decided to put the $14.5 million property tax levy lid lift to voters in November.

    A trash hauler from Republic Services. (Provided photo)
    Growing Teamsters strike disrupts garbage pickup in Snohomish County

    Republic Services said a temporary work stoppage is causing some customers in the county to experience “temporary service delays.”

    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.