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Gusty winds knocked out power for hundreds of Yakima residents on Tuesday a result of a powerful windstorm that’s expected to hit the valley again today with gusts of more than 60 to 70 miles an hour. Wind gusts knocked down a power pole on North 3rd street behind Ron’s Coin and Collectibles. Power was out for several hours. More wind is expected today with a high wind warning in effect until 10 tonight. The National Weather Service says the strongest winds are expected along the base of the Cascade mountains in Southwestern Yakima Valley including the West Valley of Yakima and White Swan.

The City of Yakima is starting the process of hiring 12 new police officers at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The Yakima Police department gave city officials an update on the hiring process. Interim Police Chief Greg Copeland tells our news partner KIMA action news the first hire was sworn in this week, but the new officers wont’ be on the street anytime soon. Copeland says it could take up to a year before all the officers are working Yakima streets. The department says it’s  looking for lateral hires from other agencies. Those officers could be on the street in 4 months.  6 officers hired will fill vacant positions and another 6 will be additional officers to the force.

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West Valley triple murder suspect Tracy Culton is fit to stand trial after undergoing a mental evaluation last month.

Prosecutors charged Culton with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the beating deaths of Bill, Pauline and Elizabeth Goggin in their West Valley home last year.

She was sent to Eastern Lake Hospital for the exam last month.

Yakima County Prosecutor Ken Ramm says the court has not set a trial date.

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This Spring, Yakima Valley Community College will host nature’s compass & psychology survival, a course for outdoor enthusiasts who want to learn more about surviving in nature.

During this course students will learn how to use a watch as a compass, tell time and direction by the Sun and the stars, locate the North Star and discuss its uses, and discover how plants, soils, winds, topography, temperature, humidity, and wildlife can give you directional aids. Students will also learn to interpret map symbols and basic compass use, and will explore the mental aspects of survival, such as developing a positive mental attitude, programing your mind to succeed, and controlling fear, imagination, and stress.

About the instructor: Don Witke is a 23 year veteran in the Yakima County Sheriff Search and Rescue and has taught these concepts to search and rescue personnel, scout groups, and outdoor persons of all ages and abilities. Don is a retired high school teacher and a part-time instructor at YVCC.

Nature’s compass & psychology survival will meet April 4 & 6, 2012 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm in Sundquist Hall, room 109, located on the south side of 16^th avenue and Nob Hill blvd.

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Snokist growers could wind up in new hands. An Oregon company looks to buy the cannery for more than $40-million. The day Snokist growers filed bankruptcy in December, the owner of an Oregon-based food processing company started talking about buying it.

Our news partner KIMA action news reports Truitt Brothers incorporated wants the Snokist plant to be the centerpiece of his canning operations.

Snokist’s facility is still running during the bankruptcy reorganization.

A move it was forced into after losing millions of dollars in sales when an FDA investigation identified operational weaknesses.

It also took the blame for getting nine kids sick from moldy applesauce at school.

The courts are the only thing standing in the way of the deal.

Peter Truitt says Snokist represents a good move for his company.

The purchase will allow his brand to expand while still sourcing pears from Snokist growers so no one is left out in the cold.

Truitt says the deal would bring jobs to the area.

“Once this process is complete of course we fully intend to open a personnel operation and hire people from Yakima to a part of this operation moving forward,” said Truitt.

Snokist board members didn’t want to comment.

Chamber of Commerce President Verlynn best says the move would be good for Yakima.

“This is absolutely a positive,” said Best. “It’s better than a boarded up building and we need those jobs back. And if this is going to bring those jobs back to the valley, I think first and foremost that’s what we need to look at.”

Truitt is hopeful the deal will be approved.

He says it has all the necessary pieces for a very good production facility.

Snokist and Truitt Brothers expect to hear from the court next month about deal.

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No charges are expected to be filed against the driver that struck and killed a 14 year old boy on Friday as the boy was crossing at 34th and Ahtanum. State patrol investigators say Brandon Harmon of Yakima crossed Ahtanum road in front of a Chevrolet Blazer driven by 22-year-old man. Police say the boy was with his stepfather working in a nearby field just before he decided to cross the street. A news release issued by WSP indicates no drugs or alcohol were involved in the accident. No charges have been filed. Neighbors say the area is known to be dangerous for pedestrians crossing the street, especially at night because of a lack of lighting.

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Yakima Police say a 29 year old man is lucky to be alive after a shooting Sunday afternoon on North 8th Street. The victim told police  he was walking down the street when several hispanic males approached him. One of the suspects pulled a gun and fired at him, hitting the him in the back. He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police say the shooting was related to local gangs. No arrests were made.

The man hasn’t been identified.

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A Stage 1 Burn Ban has been declared for both the Upper and Lower Yakima County areas, to remain in place until 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 17, 2012.  This burn ban has been called due to poor ventilation, dispersion and a low level inversion for the Yakima Valley.

·        PM2.5 levels are increasing and are Unhealthy (Orange) for the Upper and Moderate (Yellow) for the Lower Valley.

·        Ventilation category is poor.

·        Dispersion category is poor.

·        Weather predictions are for improvement to good ventilation and dispersion by early Saturday morning.

·        No Agricultural Burning –  allocations are 0 piles per request for both Upper and Lower County Areas while the burn ban is in place

·        We will continue to re-evaluate the Burn Ban status.

Please Note:  Restrictions may differ within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Reservation. The Yakama Nation is addressing air quality issues in conjunction with the EPA, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR).  For up-to-date information there, please call 1-800-424-4EPA (1-800-424-4372) and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website for the current burn status at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm .

Reminder:

During a Stage 1 Burn Ban:

1.     All Outdoor Burning, including Agricultural burning, is prohibited;

2.     The use of any fireplace, uncertified wood stove or uncertified fireplace insert is prohibited unless it is the only adequate means of heating a home;

3.     Certified wood stove, certified fireplace insert or pellet stove/insert use is allowed;

4.     No excessive smoke (over 20% opacity) is allowed from any wood burning device beyond a 20-minute start-up; and

5.     All violations of the burn ban are subject to civil penalty.

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A 49 year old man accused of trying to murder a 14-year-old girl was found not guilty Thursday by a Yakima judge.

Prosecutors charged Kurt Bonser with trying to kill a 14 year old girl in February of 2010.

It happened after Bonser was charged with raping the girl and getting her pregnant.

Prosecutor’s say Bonser was afraid she would testify against him about the rape charge so he allegedly picked her up in his car and beat her with a rock then tried to run her over.

A neighbor who saw the attack shot Bonser.

Bonser’s attorney says he was, however, convicted of rape last week after DNA results tied him to the girl’s baby.

He will serve one more year for that charge.

William Thomas Cain Getty Images News

Dirt and debris are being removed to make way for an outdoors-man’s paradise. however, this paradise won’t be outside, rather indoors at the Cabela’s outpost store in Union Gap. The Mayor Jim Lemon says the store is actually considered a tourist destination and there will be signs that lead drivers from the interstate to the store.

The business owners expect to hire 65 full and part-time employees.

Lemon says it should bring $300,000 to $500,000 in sales tax revenue for the city.

Nearby restaurants and coffee shops are hoping the new stores translates into more business for them. The idea is that a customer who spends his day shopping at Cabelas might build up an appetite and head out for a bite to eat.

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Could we see Sonics team play in Seattle again?

Plans for a new $500 million arena that would be built south of Safeco Field were announced today at a news conference in Seattle. Will it become a reality?Speculation about a new, self-funded NBA and NHL arena in Seattle in the city’s SoDo neighborhood, funded privately and publicly by tax revenue on the arena development and the professional teams that would call it home, has been getting hotter in recent weeks.

Nick Eaton of Seattle PI.com covered the story this afternoon:

The plan was spearheaded by Seattle-born investor Chris Hansen, who with his investment group is planning to purchase an NBA franchise and bring it to Seattle. He also is searching for a partner to bring an NHL team to Seattle.

Under the plan, which must still go through a newly appointed city and county panel, any teams at the new arena would be bound to stay in Seattle for 30 years. That means there could be no repeat of the Sonics fiasco for at least 30 years.

The proposed arena would take two years to construct and would be located south of the Safeco Field parking garage, where Hansen already owns a three-acre chunk of land. Several businesses would need to be relocated and several buildings would need to be demolished. The facility would be jointly owned by the city of Seattle and King County, and available for additional recreational and cultural events.

 

No public money would be committed to the arena until NBA and NHL franchises have been secured for Seattle. Hansen also would not commit his money until he has secured a team. So, there will be no new arena until Seattle has a new team.

Seahawks owner Paul Allen, who also owns the NBA’s  Portland Trailblazers issued the following statement this afternoon:

It was a sad day when the Sonics left Seattle, a move I opposed. It’s exciting to think about the NBA coming back to Seattle and renewing the rivalry with the Portland Trail Blazers. However, it is too early for me to comment any further without a specific plan or proposal to review.

Possible next door neighbors, the Seattle Mariners, issued a statement as well:

The Seattle Mariners are excited about this afternoon’s announcement and the possibility of having NBA and NHL teams coming to the Seattle area.   From our perspective, it is all about the fans and the community.  We aren’t familiar with the details, but are ready to participate in the public process to make this a “win” for the fans and to realize the many potential benefits for the region.  It is too early for us to make any further comments.

This definitely bears watching in the future.

Spring training and hope lives…will this be the season the Mariners turn it around this year?   NOT according to Jon Paul Morosi writing on  line for FOX Sports.  Morosi say there are 5 teams that are already waving the white flag of surrender based on the moves they made or didn’t make during the off season and the M’s are on his list….along with the Mets, Astros, White Sox and Athletics.  Check out his analysis and see if you agree.

But it will be almost impossible for this deal — right-handers Michael Pineda and Jose Campos to New York; catcher/designated hitter Jesus Montero and right-hander Hector Noesi to Seattle — to look like a win for the Mariners in the near term. Pineda will be a key starting pitcher for a Yankees team that appears destined for the postseason. Montero doesn’t yet have a defined role in the everyday lineup of the still-rebuilding Mariners.

The trade weakened the 2012 Mariners, because Pineda was essential to any scenario in which they finished close to .500. Now the rotation includes Felix Hernandez, Jason Vargas, Hisashi Iwakuma and some combination of Noesi, Blake Beavan, Kevin Millwood and Charlie Furbush. And that won’t be good enough to compete with the Angels and Rangers.

Unquestionably, the pitching prospects are coming: Danny Hultzen, James Paxton, Erasmo Ramirez, and, in time, the electrifying Taijuan Walker. But their biggest impact — at least in their ability to go pitch-for-pitch with Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and C.J. Wilson — won’t come until 2013 or 2014.

“With those young guys, I’m not going to make any bold statements,” Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “I’m just going to let them compete. The young kids probably need more seasoning — but there were people in the organization who felt that way about Pineda a year ago.”

Of perhaps greater importance, the Mariners must find out very quickly which hitters can give them All-Star-caliber production and provide the foundation for a post-Ichiro lineup.

Can Franklin Gutierrez stay healthy? Is Casper Wells an everyday outfielder? Will Mike Carp hit his way into the lineup while playing passable defense? Is Justin Smoak going to justify the Cliff Lee trade? Where do Kyle Seager and Alex Liddi fit? Can Montero catch?

At the very least, the Mariners need answers. That way, next offseason can be about getting the franchise back to the postseason for the first time since 2001.”  Jon Paul Morosi Fox Sports

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News that Cabela’s outdoor sporting goods retailer to Washington Plaza, a shopping center under construction at the former Costco property.

Cabela’s Incorporated (NYSE: CAB), the World’s Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, today unveiled a new retail concept – Cabela’s Outpost Stores – that will bring the unique Cabela’s retail experience to customers in Union Gap

Construction on the first Cabela’s Outpost Store is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2012 and grand opening is scheduled for fall 2012.

Though smaller than Cabela’s traditional stores, Cabela’s Outpost Stores will offer the same quality products and customer service for which Cabela’s is famous. They will be designed for efficiency, flexibility and convenience at approximately 40,000-square-feet, offering seasonal product assortments and featuring a rugged, outdoor look and theme, including trophy wildlife and outdoor memorabilia displays.

The Union Gap store is expected to employ approximately 65 full- and part-time employees. Most will come from Union Gap and the surrounding area. The store will be an anchor of Washington Plaza, a new shopping center located on East Washington Avenue adjacent to the Valley Mall, which is home to more than 55 specialty stores and merchants, including Kohl’s, Macy’s and Sears.

Customers will be treated to the unique Cabela’s shopping experience with access to all Cabela’s merchandise via online order kiosks, as well as free shipping to Cabela’s Outposts with an In-Store Pickup program. In-Store Pickup allows customers to order Cabela’s gear ahead of time and pick it up at their convenience at the store of their choice.

“This is an entirely new concept for us, and that is what is so exciting,” Cabela’s Chief Executive Officer Tommy Millner said. “Cabela’s Outposts are true Cabela’s stores, offering the same great customer service and access to all the great products we sell. They will extend our footprint into smaller markets and increase the range in which the Cabela’s retail experience reaches our loyal customers.

“We believe Cabela’s Outpost Stores will be perfectly suited to – and will be particularly successful in – the western United States and Canada. We have more Cabela’s Outpost Stores on the planning table, but we can’t reveal those locations just yet.”

Cabela’s Outposts will complement, not replace, Cabela’s popular next-generation stores. Currently, Cabela’s operates 34 stores in the United States and Canada. In addition to five next-generation stores scheduled to open in 2012, Cabela’s has announced plans to open three next-generation stores in 2013 – Columbus, Ohio; Grandville, Mich.; and Louisville, Ky.

Cabela’s stores showcase thousands of products, including hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, boating and wildlife-watching gear, as well as clothing and outdoor-themed gifts and furnishings. The company is famous for its strong brand and world-renowned reputation for delivering quality merchandise, value and legendary customer service.

Cabela’s typically attracts experienced outdoor enthusiasts as employees, who join the Cabela’s family of employees known for their excellent customer service skills and detailed knowledge of outdoor products.

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Budget constraints have led the City of Yakima Clerks office to reduce the hours its customer service counter is open.  The counter is now only open to the public Monday through Thursday from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.  The customer service counter is closed to the public on Fridays.

Prior to late January, the Clerks counter in the lobby of Yakima City Hall was open weekdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.  However, in order to absorb a reduction in staffing that will take effect later this month, the new hours for the customer service counter have been adopted.

“Our staff will drop from four people to three people on March 1st,” said Deputy City Clerk Sonya Claar Tee.  “Even though we’ll have a smaller staff, our responsibilities will essentially remain the same.  We needed to find a way to manage the same workload with fewer people, and reducing the hours that our customer service counter is open to the public was an obvious choice,” said Claar Tee

Debbie Kloster, who has served as City Clerk for the past six years, will retire later this month.  After Kloster retires, Claar Tee will become the City Clerk.  However, the City’s adopted 2012 budget does not provide funding to keep the Clerks office fully staffed for the remainder of the year.

Some of the services that were previously provided through the Clerks office, such as providing general information about City services and providing citizens with directions, are now being handled by the Utility Services office located across the lobby from the Clerks office.  Public records requests can be placed in a drop box located near the Clerks customer service counter, and damage claims and lawsuits are still being accepted by the Clerks office during normal business hours.

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A little more than two years ago, the Yakima Arts Commission was established by the Yakima City Council to expand public art in the community while also improving access to the visual and performing arts for residents and visitors alike. Now, the commission is itself looking for some visual art to help it achieve its mission.

Earlier this month, the commission launched a contest to find a logo that will help enhance the visibility and increase the promotion of art in Yakima.

The logo design contest is open to all high school students in the Yakima and West Valley school districts as well as those currently attending Yakima Valley Community College and Perry Technical Institute.

“We plan on using the winning logo design on signs, banners, announcements, stationary, and so on,” said Andrew Granitto, exhibitions curator at the Yakima Valley Museum and a member of the Arts Commission.  “The logo will serve as a signature image for the commission.”

All logo design contest entries need to be submitted by Friday, March 30^th at

5:00 pm.  The entries have to be submitted through the official logo design contest website at http://www.ci.yakima.wa.us/council/board/yac/contest/.  File size is limited to 15mb per submission.  Designs need to be submitted either as a vector file or as a pdf.

The guidelines for Yakima Arts Commission logo design contest submissions include:

- Designs may include variations of the same logo

- Logo designs need to include the name “Yakima Arts Commission”

- Designs must be submitted in both color and black and white (gray scale optional)

- Designs must work well in both large size and small size

- A design must be the original work of the student submitting it

The winning design will be unveiled during a Yakima City Council meeting this summer.  The winning designer will receive a proclamation from the City Council, tickets to events sponsored by each of the commission’s represented agencies (Allied Arts, Larson Gallery, the Capitol Theatre, The Seasons, Yakima Valley Museum, Yakima Symphony), and will be identified in various media releases announcing the winning logo design.

“We’re excited to be able to give young, local graphic artists an opportunity to demonstrate their talent through the logo design contest,” said Granitto.  “It’s another step in the commission’s efforts to foster art and artists in Yakima.”

liveyakimavalley.com

The failure of the West Valley levy in Tuesday’s election has West Valley School administrators searching for answers. Assistant Superintendent Peter Finch says the district already dealt with nearly $5 million in cuts in the last four years. Those cuts that are still being felt. The next step will be to try again. But this time, the district says it will likely try for something a little closer to what they have now. A $13.6 million levy. But what happens if that doesn’t pass? Cuts are expected cuts that could hit school personnel.
Some people say the proposed levy was too high. The district says it will refocus the effort and hope to see a majority of ‘yes’ votes in April.
West Valley’s board of directors will hold a study session in a week at the high school to determine the amount to ask for from voters in April.

West Valley wasn’t the only district to reject a ballot measure. Naches Valley’s attempt to pass a new bond is fell short of the supermajority needed for passage.
The $20 million bond issue would have paid for a new elementary school. School administrators are now meeting to determine the future plan.
Despite the bond’s defeat, voters approved a new levy in Naches. It was the only district in the valley that had a levy and a bond measure on the ballot.*