Weekend Barbeque In North Bend

No hugs, but great food and excellent scenery as we had a Memorial Day social distanced Weekend babeque with Margie and Rick.

Top picture, Rick and I pose under Mount Si.  Bottom picture is looking down the river from their backyard.

2016 5th District Democratic Caucus Locations Announced

Locations for Democratic Precinct caucuses on Saturday March 26th have been announced.  The contest between Secretary Hilary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders is very much still in play. The locations are

Upper            Mt Si High School Freshman Campus
            9200 Railroad Ave
            Snoqualmie, WA  98065-9640

May            Maywood Middle School
            14490 168th Ave SE
            Renton, WA  98059-7951

Maple            Tahoma Jr High School
            25600 SE Summit Landsburg Rd
            Ravensdale, WA  98051-9732

Issaquah        Issaquah Middle School   
            400 1st Ave SE
            Issaquah, WA  98027-4246

Lower            Tolt Middle School
            3740 Tolt Ave
            Carnation, WA  98014-7537

Klahanie        Challenger Elementary School
            25200 SE Klahanie Blvd
            Issaquah WA  98029-5763
For more information click here.  Caucuses will begin at 10:00 am. 

Buildings Devastated By Explosion In North Bend

An explosion and fire in North Bend, approximately 20 miles from Maple Valley, has  destroyed about 3 buildings and shaken the community.  The explosion was reported to have happened about 3:30 Friday morning.  It was said to have occurred in what used to be a Pizza Restaraunt.  It also destroyed a barber shop and damaged a Les Schwab Tire Center.  At this time, only a few minor injuries were reported.

North Bend Candidate's Forum

I went to North Bend last night to see all the candidates for King County Executive including former KIRO news anchor Susan Hutchison and Alan Lodbell. Even though the race is non-partisan (for the first time after a vote last November) it was clear that this would wind up with a Democrat going against a Republican.

It was evidently Susan Hutchison's first appearance in a forum and it was really clear that it was a less than comfortable situation for her. She was the last candidate to show up and may have even caused the session to start late which lead it to finish late. The candidates did not take any questions from the audience. She did not go into detail on any particular issue, preferring to speak in generalities about smaller government and dissatisfaction with Ron Sims (now gone to DC), softball opinions that play well in any part of the county except for Seattle. She referred to opponent Ross Hunter as "Hunter" obviously meaning to say "Ross" and a quip about putting viewers to sleep in their bedrooms came over as awkward.

Alan Lobdell on the other hand was a different type of Republican. He was unpolished, but sincere, with some smart observations. If the Rs are ever going to get some footing in the political stage, they would be wise to start listening to his type.

The four Democrats, Larry, Ross, Dow, And Fred stuck to the styles illustrated in other postings on this blog.