Darrington

The Sauk River rushes by near a popular boat launch area close to White Chuck Mountain off the Mountain Loop Highway, just outside of Darrington. The trail was recently closed due to wildfire danger, so check conditions before you leave.(Daniella Beccaria / Herald file)

Why it’s a good idea to hike loops and connection trails

One-way hikes lessen our impact on the landscape, and, to some extent, on the other hikers on the trail.

The Sauk River rushes by near a popular boat launch area close to White Chuck Mountain off the Mountain Loop Highway, just outside of Darrington. The trail was recently closed due to wildfire danger, so check conditions before you leave.(Daniella Beccaria / Herald file)
The Pincer Creek Fire pictured on Aug. 5. (U.S. Forest Service)

Lightning starts small fires in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie forest

The biggest, near Marblemount, is 15 acres. Five other fires are in Snohomish County.

The Pincer Creek Fire pictured on Aug. 5. (U.S. Forest Service)
A Darrington woman was injured early Monday morning after a hit-and-run crash on Highway 530 just west of Darrington. The other driver allegedly ran away. (Washington State Patrol)

Darrington woman seriously injured in hit-and-run crash

The woman was driving west on Highway 530 when another driver allegedly crossed the centerline and hit her.

A Darrington woman was injured early Monday morning after a hit-and-run crash on Highway 530 just west of Darrington. The other driver allegedly ran away. (Washington State Patrol)
Nate Nehring (left), Nicole Ng-A-Qui (center), Richard Yust.

Nehring faces two Democrats in County Council primary

Nicole Ng-A-Qui and Richard Yust are running to unseat the Republican, who joined the council in 2017.

Nate Nehring (left), Nicole Ng-A-Qui (center), Richard Yust.
Jessica Ward runs a stacker at Hampton Mill on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019 in Darrington, Wash. The mill is asking for more trees from Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Hampton Lumber makes big purchase for small-town Darrington

The town’s largest employer acquired 145,000 acres of timber land from Weyerhaeuser.

Jessica Ward runs a stacker at Hampton Mill on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019 in Darrington, Wash. The mill is asking for more trees from Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Darrington woman dies after rollover crash near Concrete

The woman, 24, was driving an SUV on Concrete Sauk Valley Road, where it flipped at a curve.

LOCAL - MOUNTAIN LOOP HIGHWAY
HERALD STAFF PHOTO BY JENNIFER BUCHANAN
PHOTO SHOT 062208
A car makes its way through a winding unpaved section of the Mountain Loop Highway 15 miles outside of Darrington.

Mountain Loop Highway reopens, in time for a hot weekend

The opening comes with a warning: Fire danger will be high with the hot, dry conditions.

LOCAL - MOUNTAIN LOOP HIGHWAY
HERALD STAFF PHOTO BY JENNIFER BUCHANAN
PHOTO SHOT 062208
A car makes its way through a winding unpaved section of the Mountain Loop Highway 15 miles outside of Darrington.
Amanda Brown, a senior at Darrington High School, will be attending WSU in the fall as the first person in her family to attend college. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Amanda Brown loves science, her hometown and her chickens

This Darrington grad is a first-generation college student who will always remember her roots.

Amanda Brown, a senior at Darrington High School, will be attending WSU in the fall as the first person in her family to attend college. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens High School graduate Madelynn Coe will be attending Northeastern University and participating in a study abroad program in Greece her first semester. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Madelynn Coe spent senior year helping others learn online

The pandemic changed everything for the class of 2021. For one young woman, it was a time to give back.

Lake Stevens High School graduate Madelynn Coe will be attending Northeastern University and participating in a study abroad program in Greece her first semester. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A map of Mountain Loop Highway. (Snohomish County Public Works)

‘A big win for residents’: Part of Mountain Loop opens early

A stretch between Deer Creek and Barlow Pass reopened Wednesday. The last 12 miles of highway are still closed.

A map of Mountain Loop Highway. (Snohomish County Public Works)
Kevin Ashe, right, and his daughter Carly Nations prep meat before opening on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 in Darrington, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Decades of family ownership ends at venerated Darrington IGA

The store, a hub after the Oso landslide, is changing hands. The new owner will keep all 25 workers.

Kevin Ashe, right, and his daughter Carly Nations prep meat before opening on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 in Darrington, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Woman, 61, seriously injured after crash north of Darrington

She wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, according to Washington State Patrol. She was airlifted to Harborview.

Darrington woman arrested after crashing into brewery patio

She reportedly was having mental health and drug-use issues, and is accused of assault and hit-and-run.

Captain Carl Williams speaks to a socially distanced and masked group of whale watchers before boarding the Island Explorer 4 on Thursday, March 11, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County’s tourism workers feel hopeful, wary in 2021

Many seasonal ventures are waiting until the last minute to decide whether to open this year.

Captain Carl Williams speaks to a socially distanced and masked group of whale watchers before boarding the Island Explorer 4 on Thursday, March 11, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
An access road leads into plot of land located in north Darrington that could potentially be used to build a 30-acre Wood Innovation Center, which will house CLT manufacturing and modular building companies on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021 in Darrington, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

$6 million grant is green light for Darrington timber center

The Darrington Wood Innovation Center is set to become a reality — bringing roughly 150 jobs with it.

An access road leads into plot of land located in north Darrington that could potentially be used to build a 30-acre Wood Innovation Center, which will house CLT manufacturing and modular building companies on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021 in Darrington, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Third grade teacher Lisa Thompson walks by her ten students, separated at six-foot distance, at Eagle Creek Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 in Arlington, Washington. The students wear masks, are six feet from each other in class and after recess ends, get a mask break. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Third grade teacher Lisa Thompson walks by her ten students, separated at six-foot distance, at Eagle Creek Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 in Arlington, Washington. The students wear masks, are six feet from each other in class and after recess ends, get a mask break. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
An access road leads into plot of land located in north Darrington that could potentially be used to build a 30-acre Wood Innovation Center, which will house CLT manufacturing and modular building companies on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021 in Darrington, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Timber innovation center a chance to reinvigorate rural town

A center to produce innovative wood products could stabilize Darrington’s drained timber economy.

An access road leads into plot of land located in north Darrington that could potentially be used to build a 30-acre Wood Innovation Center, which will house CLT manufacturing and modular building companies on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021 in Darrington, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lidar imagery enables geologists to accurately identify landslides, such as the area around the Highway 530 Oso landslide. In this area, lidar data show prehistoric landslides in beige along the North Fork Stillaguamish River. The darker-shaded, outlined area is the extent of the March 2014 Oso landslide. (Daniel Coe/Washington State Department of Natural Resources)

New program may help pinpoint landslides before they happen

A bill pushing more funding toward 3D mapping and disaster preparation is on the president’s desk.

Lidar imagery enables geologists to accurately identify landslides, such as the area around the Highway 530 Oso landslide. In this area, lidar data show prehistoric landslides in beige along the North Fork Stillaguamish River. The darker-shaded, outlined area is the extent of the March 2014 Oso landslide. (Daniel Coe/Washington State Department of Natural Resources)
An Edmonds woman died in this single-car crash on Highway 530 near Oso on Sunday. (Washington State Patrol) 20201220

Edmonds woman, 26, dies in Highway 530 crash

Her car reportedly failed to negotiate a curve and struck a utility pole.

An Edmonds woman died in this single-car crash on Highway 530 near Oso on Sunday. (Washington State Patrol) 20201220