Monroe

Justin Blasko

Blasko to resign, get nearly $396K in severance with Monroe schools

The embattled superintendent exits weeks after a scathing report found his conduct created a toxic work environment.

Justin Blasko
Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Monroe in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

Monroe schools wants to know what public seeks in an interim leader

The board is on track to interview candidates July 28, though it’s unclear if the community can watch

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Monroe in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
A group gathers near a blending pit, which is where cow waste and other biodegradable material begins its journey towards becoming energy in a digester Friday, June 17, 2022, in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Cow pie power! Monroe manure-to-energy project expands

Qualco has been turning cow poop into electricity since 2008. A new generator could turn on by mid-August.

A group gathers near a blending pit, which is where cow waste and other biodegradable material begins its journey towards becoming energy in a digester Friday, June 17, 2022, in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Monroe in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

Search begins in earnest for Monroe interim superintendent

Meanwhile, Superintendent Justin Blasko is still on leave, and school officials are keeping quiet about his future.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Monroe in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Monroe High School (Monroe School District)

Monroe High School student charged with anti-LGBTQ hate crime

Prosecutors allege a 16-year-old choked a classmate on campus and called him “gay.”

Monroe High School (Monroe School District)
All-Area softball player of the year is Monroe shortstop River Mahler. Mahler, a Stanford University signee, excelled at the plate and in the field while leading the Bearcats to a fifth-place finish in the 3A state tournament. Photographed on June 13, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

The Herald’s Softball Player of the Year: River Mahler

The do-it-all Stanford-bound senior shortstop broke school records and led Monroe to a 5th-place state finish.

All-Area softball player of the year is Monroe shortstop River Mahler. Mahler, a Stanford University signee, excelled at the plate and in the field while leading the Bearcats to a fifth-place finish in the 3A state tournament. Photographed on June 13, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Junelle Lewis, right, daughter Tamara Grigsby and son Jayden Hill sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during Monroe’s Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Rainy Juneteenth celebrations in Snohomish, Monroe mark progress

Community members say they hope their cities can continue to “build on what has begun.”

Junelle Lewis, right, daughter Tamara Grigsby and son Jayden Hill sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during Monroe’s Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Leafline Trails Coalition's vision for over 900 miles of trails would improve connections across King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. (Leafline Trails Coalition)

Group envisions robust links for Centennial Trail

Leafline Trail Coalition’s map has over 900 miles through King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

Leafline Trails Coalition's vision for over 900 miles of trails would improve connections across King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. (Leafline Trails Coalition)
Marysville

Marysville man accused of over 12 armed robberies at massage parlors

The suspect reportedly said he targeted Asian spas, “believing they would be hesitant to report the crimes.”

Marysville
Justin Blasko

Monroe schools on to ‘next steps’ for embattled superintendent

Blistering report in hand, Monroe school leaders are seeking an acting leader to fill in for Justin Blasko.

Justin Blasko
Cathy Clark tallies Vaux’s swifts as they fly into the chimney at Frank Wagner Elementary School on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Swifts descend by the thousands in Monroe — but who’s counting?

Vaux’s swifts are back in town. Armed with pencils and scrap paper, volunteers count thousands at a time.

Cathy Clark tallies Vaux’s swifts as they fly into the chimney at Frank Wagner Elementary School on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Trash bags (left) contained bulk marijuana that prosecutors said show the scale of an unlicensed marijuana operation in Monroe. (U.S. Attorney) 20220601

Monroe father, son get 5 years for marijuana, Bitcoin scheme

Kenneth Warren Rhule, 28, sold crypto to an undercover federal agent who claimed to be trafficking Ukrainian women.

Trash bags (left) contained bulk marijuana that prosecutors said show the scale of an unlicensed marijuana operation in Monroe. (U.S. Attorney) 20220601
Justin Blasko

‘(Expletive) idiot’: Scathing report paints Monroe schools supe as bully

In a response, Superintendent Justin Blasko apologized for his actions. His future with the district remains in limbo.

Justin Blasko
Monroe High School with (inset) a Facebook video screenshot from Nov. 10, 2021, which showed a white student repeatedly using racial slurs in a confrontation with a Black student.

‘It makes me angry’: Black students in Monroe report persistent racism

“Please help stop this racism,” a first-grade student told the Monroe school board Monday. Other kids reported racist slurs.

Monroe High School with (inset) a Facebook video screenshot from Nov. 10, 2021, which showed a white student repeatedly using racial slurs in a confrontation with a Black student.
Melissa Batson unfurls a Groundhog Day flag designed by her niece Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at her home in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Flags tell Monroe woman’s transgender journey — and more

The flagpole in her front yard is a visual for Facebook posts about who Melissa Batson is and how she got there.

Melissa Batson unfurls a Groundhog Day flag designed by her niece Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at her home in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
HIdden River Middle School (Monroe School District)

Monroe school employee on leave for ‘racially insensitive language’

The incident took place at Hidden River Middle School. Also, police were investigating racist vandalism found at another school.

HIdden River Middle School (Monroe School District)
Monroe’s Jessi Mahler, top left clockwise, River Mahler, Emma Nagy, Scarlett Nagy, Annie Oylear and Hadley Oylear are members of the Bearcats starting lineup going into the playoffs. Photographed in Monroe, Washington on May 16, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

‘Sisterly bond’: Monroe softball team features 3 pairs of sisters

The Mahler, Nagy and Oylear sisters make up two-thirds of the state-hopeful Bearcats’ starting lineup.

Monroe’s Jessi Mahler, top left clockwise, River Mahler, Emma Nagy, Scarlett Nagy, Annie Oylear and Hadley Oylear are members of the Bearcats starting lineup going into the playoffs. Photographed in Monroe, Washington on May 16, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Justin Blasko

Report on Monroe superintendent’s conduct delivered to school board

Employees accused Justin Blasko of fomenting a hostile workplace. Findings won’t be public for about two weeks or longer.

Justin Blasko
Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Monroe in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

Deputies: Shooting near Monroe possibly stemmed from road rage

One person was shot Monday night in the 13300 block of Wagner Road. The suspected shooter was in custody.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Monroe in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
William Talbott II pleads his innocence before a judge sentences him to life with out parole at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 in Everett, Wash. A Snohomish County judge sentenced William Talbott II to life in prison without parole, for murdering a young Canadian couple in 1987. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

1987 slaying of Canadian couple heads to state Supreme Court

Justices granted a motion Wednesday to review William Talbott’s overturned conviction in a landmark forensic genealogy case.

William Talbott II pleads his innocence before a judge sentences him to life with out parole at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 in Everett, Wash. A Snohomish County judge sentenced William Talbott II to life in prison without parole, for murdering a young Canadian couple in 1987. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)