Week in Review

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. 11

Solving the cold cases: Wendy Walsh thought police detectives had forgotten about the murder of her brother, Michael Walsh. They hadn’t.

The case spanned years and several states and culminated this summer in a three-month trial featuring more than 100 witnesses, some of whom have since assumed new identities out of fear of retribution for testifying against four members of the Hells Angels.

Diana Hefley

Monday, Nov. 12

Little girl is half a world away from parents serving in Iraq: It could be several years before Mishala Alcaide, 4, can truly appreciate Veterans Day.

Perhaps someday her parents, Nolan and Jessica Alcaide, will explain why the nation takes a day to honor its military veterans and why they chose to serve their country.

But for now, Mishala will have to settle for studying their picture in her grandparents’ kitchen, hearing Mom over the telephone a couple times a month and seeing Dad over a webcam.

Eric Stevick

Tuesday, Nov. 13

ATV driver hard for cops to corral: When Arthur Thompson hears sirens and sees flashing lights, he revs up his ATV and speeds away, according to court documents.

Snohomish County prosecutors say the 40-year-old Darrington man has outrun sheriff’s deputies at least three times this year on a quad.

Kaitlin Manry

Wednesday, Nov. 14

Sheriff’s badge goes to Lovick: John Lovick was fitted for his first Snoho­mish County sheriff’s uniform Friday.

At the time, he led his opponent, Tom Greene, by a couple thousand votes. The latest canvass showed him dominating in the cities with the largest number of registered voters. The math indicated it would be nearly impossible for Greene to catch up, despite thousands of ballots still to be counted.

Greene on Tuesday agreed, and conceded to Lovick in a late-afternoon phone call.

Diana Hefley

Thursday, Nov. 15

From the ashes: Church keeps going after fire: It’s hard to imagine anyone worshipping at St. Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church, a building known for its ornate copper dome that rises above the trees along I-5.

The dome is now wrapped in plastic. Inside the church, a maze of scaffolding rises from the floor to the roof, which was damaged by an accidental fire in May.

Leaders of the Lynnwood church had to choose whether to move services into the basement or find a new place to worship.

Scott Pesznecker

Friday, Nov. 16

Everett Station on top in UW report: A consultant, NBBJ of Seattle, concluded that Everett Station is the best of four finalist sites for a University of Washington campus. Property in Marysville off Smokey Point Boulevard is the second-best option, followed by the former Kimberly-Clark property next to the Snoho­mish River in Everett and in the Cavalero Hill area in Lake Stevens, according to the $1 million state report.

Eric Stevick and Jerry Cornfield

Saturday, Nov. 17

Officer admits stealing; jail next: Paul C. Watkins, 50, on Friday pleaded guilty to stealing from the police department and pocketing thousands of dollars seized during criminal investigations. Federal prosecutors say Watkins, one of the department’s deputy chiefs, abused his position of trust and obstructed justice when he threw out evidence.

Watkins faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 22 in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Diana Hefley