Sultan

New LGI Homes on Thursday, May 12, 2022 in Sultan, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Sultan gets a boost from remote-work newcomers — and growing pains

Houses are sprouting. Traffic is worsening. And new Sky Valley residents find “we don’t really get Uber Eats out here.”

New LGI Homes on Thursday, May 12, 2022 in Sultan, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Ken Crossman, from Snohomish County Planning and Development, looks over a flood map of the Skykomish during a disaster simulation Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at Snohomish County Fire District 5 Station 51 in Sultan, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

This is a drill: Officials rehearse for a dam bursting near Sultan

If Culmback Dam at Spada Lake reservoir really were to fail, a wall of water would sweep through the Sky Valley.

Ken Crossman, from Snohomish County Planning and Development, looks over a flood map of the Skykomish during a disaster simulation Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at Snohomish County Fire District 5 Station 51 in Sultan, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Brace for Memorial Day weekend traffic and long ferry lines

Leave at non-peak hours to avoid road congestion and ferry backups. The passes will be busy, too.

Destiny Conner, 13, takes tags off of clothing at the new Volunteers for America storefront on Monday, May 16, 2022 in Sultan, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

At Sultan’s only thrift store, teens learn teamwork, job skills

Teens with the Sky Valley Youth Coalition “stepped up and created the store” on Main Street.

Destiny Conner, 13, takes tags off of clothing at the new Volunteers for America storefront on Monday, May 16, 2022 in Sultan, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Traffic along Hwy 2 in Monroe of Sunday afternoon on March 7, 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Sultan seeks solutions to U.S. 2 gridlock — again

An open house will be held on Wednesday about several ideas to ease traffic jams. Most options call for a wider highway.

Traffic along Hwy 2 in Monroe of Sunday afternoon on March 7, 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Clockwise from top left: Mill Creek Fire Station 76 (Mill Creek Fire Department); Liberty Elementary School (Marysville School District); Sultan schools Superintendent Dan Chaplik (right) and mechanic Dan Erdman in the bus barn (Olivia Vanni / The Herald); Cascade Elementary School (Marysville School District); Lakewood High School locker room (Olivia Vanni / The Herald); Granite Falls High School (Granite Falls School District).

School levies failing in Marysville, Stanwood-Camano, Lakewood

Granite Falls and Sultan were passing their levies. And in Mill Creek, voters approved joining South County Fire.

Clockwise from top left: Mill Creek Fire Station 76 (Mill Creek Fire Department); Liberty Elementary School (Marysville School District); Sultan schools Superintendent Dan Chaplik (right) and mechanic Dan Erdman in the bus barn (Olivia Vanni / The Herald); Cascade Elementary School (Marysville School District); Lakewood High School locker room (Olivia Vanni / The Herald); Granite Falls High School (Granite Falls School District).
Sultan School District Superintendent Dan Chapik, right, and lead mechanic Dan Erdman look up at a large missing piece of wall that was taken out to fit the busses inside as they got taller on Wednesday in Sultan. Voter approval of a capital levy would fund a new transportation facility and give the district access to nearly $4 million in state funding. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Sultan, Granite Falls face cuts if school levies fail again

After-school activities and dozens of jobs could be on the chopping block. Voters will decide April 26.

Sultan School District Superintendent Dan Chapik, right, and lead mechanic Dan Erdman look up at a large missing piece of wall that was taken out to fit the busses inside as they got taller on Wednesday in Sultan. Voter approval of a capital levy would fund a new transportation facility and give the district access to nearly $4 million in state funding. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
311th Street was expected to be closed for a couple hours between Mann Road and U.S. 2 after a pedestrian was hit and killed by a train. (Snohomish County Sheriff's Office)

Pedestrian killed by train near U.S. 2 in Sultan

The man died at the scene. The train was stopped during the investigation, blocking Mann Road.

311th Street was expected to be closed for a couple hours between Mann Road and U.S. 2 after a pedestrian was hit and killed by a train. (Snohomish County Sheriff's Office)
Election

Voters to act on school funding measures, fire district annexation

Granite Falls, Marysville, Stanwood and Sultan all suffered levy defeats in February. They’ll try again April 26.

Election
Members of PRISM close out a dance off Friday afternoon at the Stanwood-Camano YMCA in Stanwood, Washington on March 3, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Gender-identity clubs face resistance in some local schools

Some Snohomish County parents have objected to supportive groups for LGBTQ youth. For the kids, the clubs can be lifesavers.

Members of PRISM close out a dance off Friday afternoon at the Stanwood-Camano YMCA in Stanwood, Washington on March 3, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Merlin Halverson (Fire District 5)

A ‘three-month handshake’ led to 23 years as Sultan fire chief

Longtime Fire District 5 Chief Merlin Halverson has retired. One of his last achievements was a brand new station.

Merlin Halverson (Fire District 5)
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)
A 42-year-old Sultan man, who deputies believe is pictured here, is accused of robbing three espresso stands at gunpoint this month. (Snohomish County Sheriff's Office) 20220210

Sultan man arrested in spree of robberies at gunpoint

The suspect is accused of robbing coffee stands in Everett, Edmonds and Clearview this month while armed with a shotgun.

A 42-year-old Sultan man, who deputies believe is pictured here, is accused of robbing three espresso stands at gunpoint this month. (Snohomish County Sheriff's Office) 20220210
Director, producer and writer Rosie Kreider and cinematographer Barry J. Briggs make their way down an isle inside Norm's Market where they filmed for their upcoming movie on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

$1,000 budget: First-time director has high hopes for local film

“The Woman” will feature scenes shot at Norm’s Market in Lake Stevens and Flat Iron Gallery in Sultan.

Director, producer and writer Rosie Kreider and cinematographer Barry J. Briggs make their way down an isle inside Norm's Market where they filmed for their upcoming movie on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (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.

Jesse Spitzer (Snohomish County Sheriff's Office)

Sultan man wanted in Washington, Idaho arrested in Montana

Jesse Spitzer, 30, is accused of multiple thefts and was on the run from law enforcement for a week.

Jesse Spitzer (Snohomish County Sheriff's Office)
A car drives along a section of Ben Howard road that Snohomish County will raise due to flooding on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021 in Monroe, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Not so high and dry: Climate change adds to flooding risks

Road improvements are planned with future river flows in mind, starting with an area between Monroe and Sultan.

A car drives along a section of Ben Howard road that Snohomish County will raise due to flooding on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021 in Monroe, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jason Dominguez at his sentencing at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Former guard and scouts volunteer gets 14 years for child rapes

A girl told a jury that Jason Dominguez, now 36, began sexually abusing her when she was 13.

Jason Dominguez at his sentencing at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A pink salmon makes its way upstream along a side stream created to help improve conditions for fish in the Sultan River on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021 in Sultan, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

As a dam tries to mimic nature, Sultan River comes to life

Water is flowing through new channels, salmon have new spots to spawn and kayakers have more chances to battle whitewater.

A pink salmon makes its way upstream along a side stream created to help improve conditions for fish in the Sultan River on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021 in Sultan, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Sultan police looking for tips after rash of car prowls

On Sunday, the department responded to 20 reports at Sportsman Park and trailheads near Gold Bar.