Did you miss your news last week? Here’s a selection of the week’s top news items from across Snohomish County as they appeared in The Herald. For the full stories, go to www.heraldnet.com.

Sunday, Nov. 5

Cantwell and McGavick ready for election: U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell and GOP challenger Mike McGavick swing through Everett reminding their supporters to vote and attempting to persuade undecideds to their side.

Jerry Cornfield

Monday, Nov. 6

City’s Iraqis cheer verdict: Iraqis proudly waved their country’s flag and danced to Arabic music as they celebrated the news that former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein will be put to death.

“This is the best day we have ever seen,” said Salima Hadi of Everett, who left Iraq 10 years ago. “We have been waiting too long to see this day.”

Everett is home to the state’s most concentrated Iraqi population, refugee and immigrant officials said.

Jeff Switzer

Tuesday, Nov. 7

State of emergency declared in county: Record flooding is expected into Snohomish County river valleys today, causing widespread damage and driving hundreds from their homes.

Floodwaters began rising early Monday in the mountain communities of Granite Falls and Index, fed by torrential rains.

More than 80 people required rescue downstream – more than a dozen by helicopter, others by hovercraft.

Lukas Velush and Jeff Switzer

Wednesday, Nov. 8

Democratic sweep: Sen. Maria Cantwell and a host of other Democrats win local, state and national elections, giving Democrats control of the House and Senate for the first time since 1994 and further strengthening their majority in the state Legislature. Two initiatives regarding the estate tax and compensation for environmental laws are also defeated.

Herald staff

Damage in millions: Flood waters this week have torn up 1,000 feet of railroad, soaked at least 100 homes and have caused millions of dollars in other damage in Snohomish County, officials said Wednesday.

The Snohomish is expected to remain at flood stage through Friday, something one expert called a “long crest.” Meanwhile, the river will keep pouring into low-lying farmlands.

Jackson Holtz, Jeff Switzer and Diana Hefley

Thursday, Nov. 9

Dead whale washes up at port: Port of Everett workers discovered the corpse of a 50-foot baleen whale against the pilings on the north berth of the pier on Wednesday.

“It’s clearly been dead for days,” said Lynne Barre, marine mammal specialist with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service in Seattle.

This is the first time a whale has washed up on port property in recent memory, port spokeswoman Lisa Mandt said.

David Chircop

Friday, Nov. 10

‘One heck of a mess’: Around Snohomish County on Thursday, roads reopened, families started returning to soggy houses and officials tried to assess damage.

The National Weather Service said flood warnings for the river likely will be canceled by today.

Jackson Holtz and Lukas Velush

Saturday, Nov. 11

Iraq still on sailor’s mind: Chris Erbe, a chief petty officer at Naval Station Everett has been home two months following a nine-month deployment to Iraq, where he often had to keep watch for snipers. Still he is in awe of the accomplishments of other veterans. Erbe spoke Thursday at a ceremony in advance of Veterans Day.

Jim Haley