Granite Falls

Elizabeth Panagos kisses her son Paxton through her mask as she drops him off for his first day of kindergarten at Mountain Way Elementary on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021 in Granite Falls, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Masks on, at a distance, students begin a new year of school

Nervous and excited students filtered back into classrooms full-time in five districts in Snohomish County.

Elizabeth Panagos kisses her son Paxton through her mask as she drops him off for his first day of kindergarten at Mountain Way Elementary on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021 in Granite Falls, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Mountain Loop Highway stretch to drop to one lane

Snohomish County crews will replace a culvert to improve fish passage.

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.

Granite Falls couple killed in Bellingham motorcycle crash

John and Mary Anderson died when their Harley Davidson collided with a pickup truck Saturday.

Without a word, suspect allegedly stabbed man 13 times

He reportedly spit on an officer and said he stabbed the Marysville man. “And I’ll stab you, too,” he said.

Police: Man stabbed stranger at Green Mountain campsite

The suspect was invited into a family’s camp area, then allegedly got drunk and attacked.

Ryan Whitton, executive director of the Granite Falls Food Bank, unloads donated foods from a truck on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 in Granite Falls, Washington. Whitton became the executive director at the age of 22 in November 2020.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

‘I was that kid’: At 22, food bank leader’s past motivates him

The Granite Falls Food Bank’s first paid executive director has a hard-earned sense of empathy.

Ryan Whitton, executive director of the Granite Falls Food Bank, unloads donated foods from a truck on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 in Granite Falls, Washington. Whitton became the executive director at the age of 22 in November 2020.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
The Monte Cristo trail connects to an access road on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020 in Monte Cristo, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

At Monte Cristo ghost town, a big fight over a short road

Historic preservationists want to keep a new road to access the townsite. Environmentalists want it gone.

The Monte Cristo trail connects to an access road on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020 in Monte Cristo, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
LOCAL - MOUNTAIN LOOP HIGHWAY
HERALD STAFF PHOTO BY JENNIFER BUCHANAN
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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.
Jude Jackson, a senior at Crossroads High School, on Friday, April 23, 2021 in Granite Falls, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Jude Jackson changed schools, went to the top of his class

He is the first in his family to graduate from high school, an achievement he described as “surreal.”

Jude Jackson, a senior at Crossroads High School, on Friday, April 23, 2021 in Granite Falls, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Panel to hear input on 1st Congressional District boundaries

Residents can tell commissioners how they would draw boundaries during the redistricting process.

A moment of silence is observed by those gathered in Lundeen Park in Lake Stevens to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd. Taken May 25, 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Remembering George Floyd

People gathered in Lake Stevens to mark one year since a death that changed the conversation in America.

A moment of silence is observed by those gathered in Lundeen Park in Lake Stevens to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd. Taken May 25, 2021. (Kevin Clark / 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)

No one hurt in Lake Bosworth house fire

Fire crews arrived at the scene to find a small home engulfed in flames. It was destroyed.

Ivan Maik, 78, was shot to death outside a kidney dialysis center around 5 a.m. on April 10 in Arlington. (Courtesy of family) 20210414

Arlington gunfire victim, 78, was Marine who led simple life

Ivan Maik, of Granite Falls, was waiting for a dialysis appointment Saturday. The suspect remains at large.

Ivan Maik, 78, was shot to death outside a kidney dialysis center around 5 a.m. on April 10 in Arlington. (Courtesy of family) 20210414
Gabriel van Winkle, center, struggles with lifting a bag of rice weighing nearly half his weight as he and volunteers help move the Granite Falls Food Bank from their old location to a new one on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 in Granite Falls, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

New digs will give Granite Falls nonprofit room to grow

The small town’s community coalition and food bank have found a home on school district grounds.

Gabriel van Winkle, center, struggles with lifting a bag of rice weighing nearly half his weight as he and volunteers help move the Granite Falls Food Bank from their old location to a new one on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 in Granite Falls, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Jesse L. Hartman (Everett Police Department)

Fatal shooting suspect on the run, his whereabouts unknown

Jesse Hartman allegedly shot a man during a chase in Everett. Police are asking for help in finding him.

Jesse L. Hartman (Everett Police Department)
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)

Mountain Loop Highway to close for the winter on Monday

Each year, a 14-mile gravel stretch of the loop closes due to snow and reopens in the spring.