The Monroe Monitor & Valley News, Monroe, Washington, The Voice of the Sky Valley Since 1899

Sky Valley Food Bank hit hard by rising prices

by POLLY KEARY, EDITOR

Gasoline prices, food prices, mortgage payments and rents are all increasing, and it is creating new pressure on the Sky Valley Food Bank, said Director Julie Morris last week. "Some parents are working two or three jobs and still coming to the food bank," she said in her small office at the food bank Wednesday. "Our numbers are just flying up." Read Story

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Wild Sky Wilderness bill close to passing

by POLLY KEARY, EDITOR

After nine years of effort, wilderness advocates are on the verge of celebrating the creation of the first new wilderness area in 20 years, a 106,000-acre parcel of forest land near Index.

"I'm not going to jinx the bill by celebrating yet," said U.S. Senator Patty Murray, who with Representative Rick Larsen introduced the bill in the legislature. When a law is introduced into the legislature, it has two years to pass in both the House and Senate or it has to start over.

Three times, the bill passed in the Senate, but failed to pass the House. Last year, the bill passed in the House for the first time. Thursday, it passed in the Senate for the fourth time. Now only two steps remain. Read Story

Much more inside!
• Newsbriefs, Calendar, Births, Page A2
• Letters Page A3 • Classified Ads Page A4
• Obituaries, Editor's Notebook "Tribute" Page A5
• Monroe councilman calls for Sustainability Committee Page B1
• Monroe area homeowners helping each other Page B1
• Pearson celebrates legislative victories Page B1
• Classic care for classic cars at B & M Ford Page B-2
• Two Sultan couples travel Route 66 in classic cars Page B-3
• Sports Page B-4

Put bus driver back on road, kids, parents say

by POLLY KEARY, STAFF WRITER

They don't know what the school district thinks he did wrong. But the kids who ride bus #55 don't think it could be so bad that their driver, Mr. Fox, should lose his job. So when he was put on administrative leave recently in relation to an incident about which the school district is remaining silent, they took action. Read Story

Explosion questions lack of movement on stadium

by POLLY KEARY, EDITOR

When the Explosion basketball team left Everett, its move to small Monroe came as something of a surprise to many. One of the main inducements, team organizers explained at the time, was an unofficial but convincing promise by someone in high office that Monroe would soon get a full sized sports arena. The location of the future arena remained unnamed, but was widely rumored to be the fairgrounds. Team organizers also believed that the arena would be constructed in time for the basketball season of 2009. But so far, there is no sign of construction or even plans for construction, and the team is getting anxious. Read Story