The town of League City near Galveston, Texas, has three intersections with ticketing cameras. Now, many in the city want out of the five-year contract with the camera company Redflex, which will expire in 2014. 

That could cost the city $1.3 million in penalties to Redflex, according to League City's spokeswoman. 

And a legal dispute between the city of Houston, Texas, and red-light camera company ATS over early termination of a contract also slated to expire in 2014 resulted last month in a $4.8 million settlement to the company. 

Mayor Robert Zimmerman is afraid the same thing could happen here if Monroe tries to break a contract with Redflex, which owns cameras at three locations in Monroe, before it expires in 2014. 

One year after her death, the city of Monroe proclaimed January 29, 2012 “Jayme Biendl Day” in honor of the 32-year-old Monroe Correctional Complex officer who was murdered while serving at her job.

Trumpeter swans are a familiar sight, foraging for crop leftovers in Western Washington fields in the winter. But they often find more than food scraps; swans frequently die of lead poisoning found in the form of shotgun pellets and fishing sinkers. 

For five years, Take the Next Step in Monroe has been serving free dinners on Tuesday nights to people in need. 

So many people turn out, as many as 100 on any given Tuesday, that now another group has begin preparing a regular Monday night dinner. 

As early as this March, the city of Monroe will start earning money just by making everyday purchases.   

Front row, left to right: Augelo Lugo, Health; Anya Liebman, Choir; 

Second row: Collin Hardwick, Health; Amelia McLaughlin, Instrumental Music; Kyle Everitt, Instrumental Music; Eric Grewall, World Languages; Steven Fordham, Marketing.

Third row: Brittany Hawken, English; Trevor Nottingham, History; Luke Boyce, P.E.; Sierra Castor, History; Brithni Urrutia, P.E.

Back row: Josie Seigler, Digital Media; Samantha Ritzert, Agricultural Science; Breanna Reilly, 9th Grade Humanities.

Not in photo: Raelene Naseth, Blanca Rodriguez and Jamil Lakhani.

Photo by Dan Armstrong

Front row, left to right: Jeffrey Hutchinson, 9th Grade Humanities; Jackson Beaumont, History; Chelsea Santjer, Health; Hunter Quam, Agricultural Science; Jennifer Bas, Math.

Middle row: Edmond Lai, Science; Nash Rarig, P.E.; Kylie Acree, Family and Consumer Science; Danielle Latimore, Science; Brandon Burke, Marketing.

Back row: Yolanda Chavez-Zepeda, P.E.; Isabella Griego, 9th Grade Humanities; Elizabeth Laskowski, World Languages.

Not in photo: Christopher Brooks, Ivan Garcia-Santiago, Nicholas Johnson, Bryanna Jones, Ryan Nishikawa, Kylie Tate and Colby Weiser.

Photo by Dan Armstrong

Earl, right, a two-year-old Goldendoodle and a member of the Reading with Rover Dream Team, listens as two-year-old Haku reads a story during the Reading with Rover event Saturday morning at the Monroe Library. Luke, 4, from Woodinville, reads to Callie, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the background. The third dog in the event was Carson, an Afghan Hound.  

All three of the dogs help young readers develop the confidence to practice reading aloud. The dogs are part of the "Dogs for Reading, Education, Assistance and More," or D.R.E.A.M, program. The group makes appearances at schools, clubs, libraries, and more. Learn about the program at www.readingwithrover.org. 

Photo by Jim Scolman

When Marc Avni, director of the East County Senior Center, saw a contest with a category for special intergenerational events, he knew he had to enter. 

The National Institute of Senior Centers was requesting that senior centers send in programs they felt were worthwhile. The best one in each category would win an award, and one other would win honorable mention. 

There are hundreds of member senior centers across the nation, many larger and with more funding. 

But Avni knew the East County Senior Center's Senior to Senior project was special. 

I love good stories. Love to hear ‘em. Love to tell ‘em. Years ago, I heard one about Muhammad Ali. You know… The “Greatest.” It’s probably not true. Probably didn’t happen. But, the story is funny enough that it still bears repeating.

Nancy Franke of Monroe would like her daughter to come back home. And her daughter Kelly would love to return to the Pacific Northwest from New York. 

But she would also like to stay married. And if she and her wife Courtney come back to Washington, she won't be. Washington doesn't recognize same-sex marriages. 

That could change. This month, Governor Christine Gregoire said she's interested in signing same-sex marriage rights into law, and legislators are debating the matter, with a vote expected in coming weeks.

Now Sky Valley people on both sides of the issue are responding to the controversial matter. 

Last year, Monroe sued a political organization that brought forth a citizens’ initiative opposing the use of traffic ticketing cameras in the city. 

Monroe said it sued because it believed the initiative was not legal, and the city wanted a judge's opinion on the validity of the initiative. 

Thursday, Monroe got it. 

Of three parts of the initiative, two were not valid, ruled Snohomish Superior Court Judge George Bowden Thursday.

But one was. And since the citizens group was right even in part, that mean the city is liable for their court costs under Washington's anti-SLAPP laws, which are laws preventing cities from keeping initiatives off the ballot by suing.

It seems like the very opposite of a good business plan. 

Hide your store in an industrial park, and only open it two days a week. 

But for Real Deals on Home Décor, a mom-and-pop store that started in Idaho and in just five years has grown to 70 stores nationwide, it's the key to success. 

The Monroe School District was closed four days last week. That's all the snow days the district had budgeted, said district spokesperson Rosemary O'Neil. 

That means if there's any more bad weather, the district leaders will have to get together and come up with a plan for when to do makeup days.

There is no heavy curtain between the stage and the audience at the Everus Theatre in Snohomish, and the distance from the front row to the main stage is a matter of inches.

This is community theater the way it should be, according to Rustin and Yvette Klein, who opened the doors of their new venture last September. 

With a story on how the Citizens Emergency Response Team spared a senior citizen's mobile home park during the recent snow and ice storm, the Monroe Monitor kicks off a three-part series on Sultan's volunteer programs and their benefits to the city. 

In a corner of the Sultan Museum is a small round metal stove. That stove, part of a schoolhouse display, is just like one that once warmed a schoolroom held in a Sultan man's home, until the homeowner got irritated with the children one day and tossed in a stick of dynamite. 

The only thing harmed was the stove, but the school board promptly decided that the students needed a place of their own, and the first Sultan school was built. Or so the story goes. 

It's one of many stories of the history of Sultan that might be forgotten, if not for the museum above the post office. 

And thanks to the concentrated efforts of some members of the Sky Valley Historical Society, the museum has steadily expanded in recent years. Now, museum curators are urging residents who haven't been in for a while, or ever, to come in and see for themselves how much they can learn about the early days of their town. 

A 21 year old woman died of an overdose in Startup Saturday, Jan. 21. 

Police were dispatched to a home in the 36000 block of U.S. Highway 2 at 10:58 a.m., where they found the young woman deceased, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office.

There were no arrests made in the incident, nor is it known what the fatal substance was or how the overdose occurred.

U.S. Highway 2's busy bridge over the Sultan River carries more than cars and foot traffic. 

It carries sewage. 

But the pipe that carries sewage between the downtown and the sewer treatment plant across the river is only eight inches wide. And the walk that carries pedestrians is only 29.5 inches wide, which puts passing logging trucks so close that the tailwind tears hats from the heads of those on the walk. 

The bridge is too old to add new pipe, and the walk can't be widened. 

So Thursday, a delegation of Sultan officials and residents headed to Olympia to seek $100,000 in funding to get a new footbridge started that could carry walkers above and sewage below. 

And they are seeking another $250,000 to help pay for upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant. 

Dancers "jump, jive and wail" to the big band sound of the Sultan High School Jazz Band during the Jazz Dessert fundraiser on Saturday evening in the SHS Commons.

Photo by Jim Scolman

Last week’s frigid temperatures may be a contributing factor in one local death. A 33-year-old single father was found dead in his garage in the neighborhood of 400 Bell Street in Sultan last Wednesday.   

Sultan councilwoman Kay George was elected to office in November on a platform of saving citizens money on utilities. 

The quickest way to save money, she believes, is by changing the way Sultan disposes of town garbage. 

But she says she's having a hard time persuading the rest of the council. So she is reaching out to citizens to see if they will call for change as well. 

 So few people remain on the planning commission that it can no longer do any work. Seven available seats have been filled by three commissioners; and one has a term ending soon and doesn't plan to reapply. The law allowed the three members to vote, but two members can't; so the Planning Commission will be out of commission until at least one new member can be found. 

Safe Stop is a place kids can go, hang out, do fun things, and stay off the streets. Gold Bar's Wednesday night program is thriving. 

As 2012 draws into its second week, we take a look at the big events on the horizon for the Sky Valley this year. Below is a look at the upcoming election cycle, what's on tap for Reiter Trails, changes coming to U.S. 2 and the ongoing effort to improve recreation tourism up valley. 

A cat is down to eight lives, following a fire that nearly destroyed a home in Sultan Christmas Day. 

By a vote of 5-to-2, the Sultan city council adopted a $7.8 million budget at its final meeting on Dec. 8.  

Students of Sultan Middle School celebrate the school's new Netbook computers donated by the Sultan Sky Valley Lions Club. The middle school turned to the Lions Club for assistance to purchase the computers. 

According to Dave Moon, club secretary and technology director of the school district, the 32 computers with their support cart will be shared by students in their classes for research and studies. 

For more information about Lions Clubs, contact Art Ruben at (425) 514-5464.

Santa demonstrated his reliance on local news last week. A passer-by in Sultan noticed Santa taking a break in the midst of his busy holiday to rest with the Monroe Monitor & Valley News, the Everett Herald and the Seattle Times. 

Photo courtesy of Macy Haverly

Bearcat wrestler in the 152-pound weight class, Chase Dimonda grapples with Arlington's Jesse Driscoll in last Thursday's home match at the Monroe High School gym. The final score was Monroe 55, Arlington 54.

Photo by Dan Armstrong

Bearcat #22 Breezy Shore turns the corner on Snohomish #22 Callie Harwood in last Wednesday's battle at the Monroe High School gym. With less than a minute left to play, Snohomish picked up a foul and evened the game at 52-52, which put the game into overtime. At the buzzer Monroe topped Snohomish, 57-54.

Photo by Dan Armstrong

Turk senior Brittany Tabor, 106 pounds, pins opponent Steven Smith in 1:06 of her final home match Thursday. The Turks scored 7 pins and won two by decision to crush South Whidbey, 61 - 9 in their last home match before the Sub-Regionals and the State Mat Classic.

Photo by Jim Scolman

Lady Turk #5, junior Cyd Batts, and #20 junior Annie Nuyen double team for a rebound in the Turks’ hard loss, 62 - 41 to rival Granite Falls Wednesday evening. The Turks struggled with turnovers and a swarming Tiger defense. Batts led the Turks with 8 points.

Photo by Jim Scolman

Sultan JV Turk freshman, 5'6" Chrishelle Sentman floats to the hoop on a breakaway late in the second half of the Turk's loss, 30 - 35, to rival Granite Falls on Wednesday.

Photo by Jim Scolman

Sultan Turk Varsity junior forward 6'1" Brock VandenEkart crashes through the fierce Lakewood defense to score two of his 17 points in first-half action of the Turks' 51 - 50 win over Lakewood Tuesday, Jan. 24, at home.

Lakewood opened with a full court defense and a strong offense that put 11 points on the board before the Turks could score. The Turks found their pace in the second period, holding the visitors to three points in the quarter. The home team won the hard-fought game in the last 17 seconds on a shot by junior Steve Branham.

Photo by Jim Scolman

Turk JV sophomore guard, 5'11" Bubba Branham charges to the net in second-half action in the JV Turks' 60 - 53 win over Lakewood on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at home. The JV Turks rebounded from a 21- 30 first half.

Photo by Jim Scolman

Sultan Turk forward, 6'1" Steven Branham hauls in a rebound early in first quarter play in the Turks' win over South Whidbey Island, 52 - 40, Friday. Branham scored 16, VandenEkart poured in 11 with 14 rebounds; and sophomore Cooper Beucherie slammed in 14, 10 of them in the Turks’ explosive 20-point fourth quarter.

Photo by Jim Scolman

JV freshman forward, 5'7" Joey Crawford bulls his way to the net late in the JV Turks’ win, 42 – 39, over the South Whidbey Island squad.  The JV Turks, who were leading 25 - 19 at the half, survived a scare in the second half to pull out the win.

Photo by Jim Scolman

Turk sophomore, 160-pound James Boglivi grits his way to a pin victory in the closing bouts of the Sultan Turks' win over Lakewood, 41 – 27, on Thursday evening before a large crowd in Sultan. Boglivi's pin was one of five, with one technical fall win and two overtime bouts.

Photo by Jim Scolman

Turk junior guard, Cyd Batts drives around the baseline with a rebound in first half play in the Turks' loss, 38 – 27, to Cedarcrest, Wednesday at home. Batts scored six points and teammate Randi Tuggle was the only Turk in double digits with 10 in the low-scoring matchup.

Photo by Jim Scolman

Sultan Turk JV, 5'6" Sophomore Breanna Sangder checks the scoring table deep in the Turk's overtime victory, 44 - 43 over Cedarcrest on Wednesday. Regular time ended with a tie, 41 – 41, after Cedarcrest roared back in the second half.  

Photo by Jim Scolman

Bearcat #44, Lucas Waller, at 6'2" out-jumps Jackson's 6'5" Riley Waite for a rebound in last Thursday's junior varsity game at the Monroe High School Gym. Monroe won, 57-46.

Photo by Dan Armstrong

Bearcat #20, Payton Wangner bounces off of Kamiak's #33 center, Kate Blackwell, trying to break through a block in last Monday's home game. Monroe won with 54 to Kamiak's 47.

Photo by Dan Armstrong

Bearcat #25, Alex Alexander takes the Kamiak defense to the boards in last Monday's junior varsity game at the Monroe High Gym. The final score was Monroe 49, Kamiak 41. 

Photo by Dan Armstrong

An eight-foot tall igloo on Powell Street in Monroe appeared in a short clip on Youtube last week, in which one of its creators, Andrew Martin of Monroe, shared the story of its construction. A recycle bin was used as the form for the blocks, and it took approximately 30 man hours to complete. At its highest point, the igloo measured about eight feet. It was also built by Martin's brother, Matt and a friend, with some help from neighbor kids. The builders brought electricity in, decorating the igloo with Christmas lights inside; and they had pizza delivered to it. The Youtube clip can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqXyFx-rYPY.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Martin