Monroe

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

13 unvaccinated firefighters are cleared to return to work

Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue is allowing them to return, but they must be tested daily.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Monroe in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Khao poon katee at Thai on Main Street Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Funky, fresh: Monroe restaurant serves up traditional Lao dishes

Thai on Main Street is serving up fried beef jerky, minced pork, papaya salad and other Lao delicacies.

Khao poon katee at Thai on Main Street Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Andrew Albert measures the density of his fertilizer using a specialized scale Friday, April 22, 2022, at his farm in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Record inflation puts crunch on Snohomish County farms

Fertilizer prices doubled. Global wheat supply is under threat due to war. Gas, too. And that may add up to smaller yields.

Andrew Albert measures the density of his fertilizer using a specialized scale Friday, April 22, 2022, at his farm in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Monroe in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

Man charged in crash that killed Duvall woman near Monroe

A warrant for Roman Berkovich was issued this month. He’s accused of vehicular homicide in the death of Sophie Theriault.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Monroe in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Real Estate consultants and twin sisters Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb staging in the newly renovated downstairs family room in the Thaut House, as seen on "Unsellable Houses." (HGTV)

Snohomish sisters shine in new season of ‘Unsellable Houses’

The 13 new episodes show that with elbow grease and ingenuity, nothing is unsellable in this wild market.

Real Estate consultants and twin sisters Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb staging in the newly renovated downstairs family room in the Thaut House, as seen on "Unsellable Houses." (HGTV)
Monroe Historical Society board president Valeria Rae walks around the upstairs space, formerly the library, at the historical society’s downtown building on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Monroe, Washington. The space is being renovated to create an area for community members to hold meetings, and to retain most of the space’s original charm. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Historical society restores a piece of Monroe’s past

Monroe’s original library at the old City Hall will now house a community meeting room and museum exhibits.

Monroe Historical Society board president Valeria Rae walks around the upstairs space, formerly the library, at the historical society’s downtown building on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Monroe, Washington. The space is being renovated to create an area for community members to hold meetings, and to retain most of the space’s original charm. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Pieces of trash litter the side of Highway 522 as a car drives by on Monday, March 21, 2022 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

During the pandemic, roadside trash piled up in Washington

One reader noticed more litter along Highway 522. Cleaning up is a team effort of state agencies, volunteers and inmates.

Pieces of trash litter the side of Highway 522 as a car drives by on Monday, March 21, 2022 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Monroe in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

Tower catches fire at Monroe construction firm; no injuries

It took Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue roughly 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Monroe in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Labels from Felix Custom Smoking seafood products. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Feds press Monroe company to stop selling unsanitary seafood

An inspection last year found Listeria mono, a harmful bacteria, on surfaces at Felix Custom Smoking.

Labels from Felix Custom Smoking seafood products. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
Gabriel Herrera works on a piece of artwork in his studio Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Lake Stevens, Washington. Herrera said he is in his blue phase as an artist, which is why he uses blue pens to create his art. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Prison was art school for this Lake Stevens man

While incarcerated in Monroe for 10 years, Gabriel Herrera used a ballpoint pen to stick out.

Gabriel Herrera works on a piece of artwork in his studio Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Lake Stevens, Washington. Herrera said he is in his blue phase as an artist, which is why he uses blue pens to create his art. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Granite Falls High School (Granite Falls School District)

4 districts hope to change voters’ minds on school funding

Granite Falls, Marysville, Stanwood and Sultan all suffered levy defeats in this month’s special election. They’ll try again in April.

Granite Falls High School (Granite Falls School District)
Kenneth Williams

State to pay $3.75M for death of inmate whose cancer was untreated at Monroe

Had he gotten the recommended chemotherapy, he’d likely have lived to his release date, the lawsuit says.

Kenneth Williams
Prison photos of Arthur Longworth from 1998 through 2021. He was originally sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in 1986, when he was 21 years old. (Washington State Department of Corrections)

From a life sentence for a 1985 murder to imminent freedom

After a state Supreme Court ruling, Monroe prisoner Arthur Longworth had his sentence reduced for the killing of Cynthia Nelson, 25.

Prison photos of Arthur Longworth from 1998 through 2021. He was originally sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in 1986, when he was 21 years old. (Washington State Department of Corrections)
Trumpeter swans and Canada geese take flight from a field while others continue to graze Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in the Silvana-area in Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Nature’s soap opera: Swans are wintering around Snohomish County

For a few more weeks, here’s where to find visiting swans. If you’re lucky, you might see a “rare bird alert.”

Trumpeter swans and Canada geese take flight from a field while others continue to graze Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in the Silvana-area in Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Monroe Correctional Complex on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 in Monroe, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Families: Loved ones behind bars are not ‘in good spirits’

In a letter, they dispute the characterization by the state Corrections secretary after her visit in Monroe.

The Monroe Correctional Complex on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 in Monroe, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Justin Blasko

‘Angry BIPOC female’: Monroe supe accused of toxic workplace

Two employees filed complaints against Justin Blasko, citing accounts of “intimidation, abuse of power and unethical behavior.”

Justin Blasko
Washington State Department of Corrections Secretary Cheryl Strange outside of the Twin Rivers Unit at the Monroe Correctional Complex on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 in Monroe, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Corrections officers, inmates frustrated and fatigued by COVID

In a visit to the Monroe prison, Corrections Secretary Cheryl Strange said the response to the pandemic is keeping people safe and alive.

Washington State Department of Corrections Secretary Cheryl Strange outside of the Twin Rivers Unit at the Monroe Correctional Complex on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 in Monroe, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Police: Driver was drunk when he killed pedestrian on U.S. 2

Christopher Kelly, 49, of Gold Bar, is being investigated for vehicular homicide in the death of Martin Milburn, 60, of Sultan.

Aaron Howerton in (top L-R) 2001, 2005, 2008, and (bottom L-R) 2012, 2018 and 2021. (Washington State Department of Corrections)

Sentenced to life as a teen, Monroe prisoner to be released

Aaron Howerton was among the first in the state to be resentenced under a state Supreme Court ruling on young defendants.

Aaron Howerton in (top L-R) 2001, 2005, 2008, and (bottom L-R) 2012, 2018 and 2021. (Washington State Department of Corrections)
CloZee performs during the second day of Summer Meltdown on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019 in Darrington, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

The psychedelic fest Summer Meltdown is back — and in Monroe

The music and camping event is on for July 28-31, with a new venue along the Skykomish River.

CloZee performs during the second day of Summer Meltdown on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019 in Darrington, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)