Photography

Mckenzie Roberts, 17, shears her sheep Aspen during opening day of the Evergreen State Fair on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Evergreen State Fair is the hot ticket as 11-day run kicks off

Guests came out in 90-degree heat for animals, food, entertainment and rides. The heat should wane this weekend.

Mckenzie Roberts, 17, shears her sheep Aspen during opening day of the Evergreen State Fair on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Keb, the 12-year-old search an rescue dog, stands at the feet of owner Suzanne Elshult after a quick training exercise Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, at Meadowdale High School in Lynnwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Edmonds’ Keb, who combed Oso mud, up for Hero Dog of the Year

Suzanne Elshult’s search dog, a 12-year-old yellow Lab, has deployed on over 100 missions. She “is the consoler.”

Keb, the 12-year-old search an rescue dog, stands at the feet of owner Suzanne Elshult after a quick training exercise Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, at Meadowdale High School in Lynnwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A few weeks before what could be her final professional UFC fight, Miranda Granger grimaces as she pushes a 45-pound plate up her driveway on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Lake Stevens, Washington. Her daughter Austin, age 11 months, is strapped to her back. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

A mother’s fight: Miranda Granger’s journey from pregnancy to the Octagon

For the Everett-based UFC fighter, a grueling comeback was one of blood, sweat and tears.

A few weeks before what could be her final professional UFC fight, Miranda Granger grimaces as she pushes a 45-pound plate up her driveway on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in Lake Stevens, Washington. Her daughter Austin, age 11 months, is strapped to her back. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Performers show off their mop talents during Up Up Up Crane Circus’ evening performance Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in the empty lot at Hewitt and Oakes in downtown Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Up Up Up’s circus truck troupe rolls into downtown Everett

A truck breakdown on Whidbey didn’t stop the show from going on — grand piano, aerial feats and all.

Performers show off their mop talents during Up Up Up Crane Circus’ evening performance Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in the empty lot at Hewitt and Oakes in downtown Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Zion Wright, 6, makes a face as Cecilia Guidarrama starts to massage cold facial cleanser onto his face during Evergreen Beauty College’s annual back-to-school beauty event on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Dozens of kids get free back-to-school haircuts in Everett

For hours on Wednesday, training beauticians pampered families at the Everett campus of Evergreen Beauty College.

Zion Wright, 6, makes a face as Cecilia Guidarrama starts to massage cold facial cleanser onto his face during Evergreen Beauty College’s annual back-to-school beauty event on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crew Chief Dennis Fennessey stands on the wing of Sentimental Journey, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, after a morning flight on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, at Arlington Municipal Airport in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

‘Museum artifact’ that flies: WWII warbird lands, takes off in Arlington

The B-17 Flying Fortress Sentimental Journey arrived Monday morning. It’s available for tours and rides this week.

Crew Chief Dennis Fennessey stands on the wing of Sentimental Journey, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, after a morning flight on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, at Arlington Municipal Airport in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
People begin to gather on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, at the North Mountain Fire Lookout north of Darrington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

‘A labor of love’: Restoration of lookout north of Darrington now complete

Volunteers spent eight years repairing the 57-year-old North Mountain Fire Lookout. Last week, they gathered to celebrate.

People begin to gather on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, at the North Mountain Fire Lookout north of Darrington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Poe Pinson railslides during a warm up before the start of the Street League Skateboarding women’s final on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Gallery: Street League Skateboarding comes to Angel of the Winds

Top professional women skateboarders compete in Street League Skateboarding final

Poe Pinson railslides during a warm up before the start of the Street League Skateboarding women’s final on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rev. Barbara Raspberry, dressed in her go-to officiating garments, sits in the indoor chapel at her home, the Purple Wedding Chapel, on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, in Everett, Washington. The space used to be two bedrooms, but she and her husband Don took down a wall converted them into a room for wedding ceremonies the day after their youngest son moved out over 20 years ago. The room can seat about 20 for in-person ceremonies, plus it serves as a changing room for brides and is the setting for virtual weddings that Raspberry officiates between brides and their incarcerated fiancees at the Monroe Correctional Complex. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Everett’s oh-so-colorful Purple Wedding Chapel is in the red

Rev. Rasberry has hitched hundreds of couples over the years. After her husband died, she’s unsure if she can keep the place.

Rev. Barbara Raspberry, dressed in her go-to officiating garments, sits in the indoor chapel at her home, the Purple Wedding Chapel, on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, in Everett, Washington. The space used to be two bedrooms, but she and her husband Don took down a wall converted them into a room for wedding ceremonies the day after their youngest son moved out over 20 years ago. The room can seat about 20 for in-person ceremonies, plus it serves as a changing room for brides and is the setting for virtual weddings that Raspberry officiates between brides and their incarcerated fiancees at the Monroe Correctional Complex. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Josh Haazard Stands inside his workspace, the HaazLab, where he creates a variety of cosplay props and other creative gadgets, on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at his home in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

This contraption crafter turns junk into sci-fi weaponry

Joshamee “The Chief” Haazard is a costume prop maker in Monroe. He transforms trash into treasure.

Josh Haazard Stands inside his workspace, the HaazLab, where he creates a variety of cosplay props and other creative gadgets, on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at his home in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ella Larson, left, and Simon Fuentes sort through blueberries at Hazel Blue Acres on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Fruits, flowers and bees aplenty in Arlington farm fete

First-ever event highlights local growers’ bounty and contributions to local community

Ella Larson, left, and Simon Fuentes sort through blueberries at Hazel Blue Acres on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Commanding Officer Meghan Bodnar is greeted by her son Grady, who hasn’t seen her in 224 days, at Naval Station Everett on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

After 200-plus days abroad, Navy destroyers return to Everett homeport

The USS Gridley is one of the few women-led ships, attesting to a growing number of women in the U.S. military.

Commanding Officer Meghan Bodnar is greeted by her son Grady, who hasn’t seen her in 224 days, at Naval Station Everett on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Members of Casino Connect line up to stow luggage Tuesday morning aboard the Adventuress in Everett on August 9, 2022.  The teens will go on a four-day sailing trip where they learn about maritime skills and environmental science. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Casino Road teens on tall ship Adventuress set sail for 4-day voyage

The Everett at Sea program offers outdoor, on-the-water lessons that “underserved youth” might not get otherwise.

Members of Casino Connect line up to stow luggage Tuesday morning aboard the Adventuress in Everett on August 9, 2022.  The teens will go on a four-day sailing trip where they learn about maritime skills and environmental science. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Jason Clifton, of Ellensburg, works on a mural on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, in downtown Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

30 new graffiti murals to brighten downtown Everett

Dozens of artists are spray-painting Everett buildings and alleys in the four-day event. The public is welcome to watch.

Jason Clifton, of Ellensburg, works on a mural on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, in downtown Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Jon Elmgren, president of the Everett Rock Club, talks with two club members while out searching for olivine and other minerals on Saturday, July 22, 2022, along the Nooksack River near Deming, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Everett rockhounds dig in for shiny, rare, ‘ugly as sin’ treasure

This club has been around for 83 years. They’ll tell you what rocks their world — and how to identify “leaverite.”

Jon Elmgren, president of the Everett Rock Club, talks with two club members while out searching for olivine and other minerals on Saturday, July 22, 2022, along the Nooksack River near Deming, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Biome Borneo, a conservation themed board game made out of shrooms and fishing net. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

A local board game made of mushrooms? Sure, sounds fungi

A Stanwood trio plans to launch their first board game, using fungi and recycled materials to teach about Borneo rainforests.

Biome Borneo, a conservation themed board game made out of shrooms and fishing net. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Forest ranger Justin Sundstrom looks over a newly reported broken rail at the Ice Cave trail Saturday morning near Granite Falls, Washington on July 23, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

On Mountain Loop, crew of 5 rangers covers a mountain range of work

Ranger Justin Sundstrom spends his days patroling for illegal shooting, picking up trash — and exploring a slice of paradise.

Forest ranger Justin Sundstrom looks over a newly reported broken rail at the Ice Cave trail Saturday morning near Granite Falls, Washington on July 23, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Tala Davey-Wraight, 3, is thrown in the air by her dad Oscar Davey-Wraight, one of the Summer Meltdown headliners also known as Opiuo, during Cory Wong’s set on Thursday, July 28, 2022 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Some growing pains, lots of nostalgia as Meltdown returns at new venue

Summer Meltdown is in its 20th year. Attendees of the four-day festival converged on the new riverfront grounds Thursday.

Tala Davey-Wraight, 3, is thrown in the air by her dad Oscar Davey-Wraight, one of the Summer Meltdown headliners also known as Opiuo, during Cory Wong’s set on Thursday, July 28, 2022 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A Volunteers of America Western Washington crisis counselor talks with somebody on the phone Thursday, July 28, 2022, in at the VOA Behavioral Health Crisis Call Center in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

‘One call for all’: 988 mental health hotline quadruples Everett staff

Calls to the new Everett center have jumped 47% since the three-digit number rolled out. Gov. Inslee toured the facility Thursday.

A Volunteers of America Western Washington crisis counselor talks with somebody on the phone Thursday, July 28, 2022, in at the VOA Behavioral Health Crisis Call Center in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Nickel Bros successfully move Bill Liles’ home onto a barge to make its way out to Hat Island on Thursday, July 21, 2022 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Island-bound homes are rollin’ down the river

Remote work has spurred an uptick in homes being relocated to Hat Island. One firm is bringing in three by barge this month.

Nickel Bros successfully move Bill Liles’ home onto a barge to make its way out to Hat Island on Thursday, July 21, 2022 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)