PSE promises $50 credit for dozens of customers

PSE promises $50 credit for dozens of customers

If you were one of the thousands without power for nearly a week, you could get a break on next month's bill.

Puget Sound Energy says it plans to give a $50 credit to customers who lost power for five or more days during last week's winter storm.

"The prolonged power outages from the storms created a real hardship for many of our customers," said Sue McLain, PSE senior vice president of Delivery Operations. "The bill credit won't take back the dark evenings and chill in the bones that many families experienced. Rather, it is a gesture of our appreciation for their understanding and patience."

According to PSE, this is the first time, since passing the 120-consecutive-hour power outage credit in 2008, the utility has had to activate it.

PSE says the credit will automatically be provided to all customers without power for five days or longer.

The credit should show up on your Feb. 15th bill.

If it doesn't - you should notify PSE at: 888-225-5773.

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City hosts open house to encourage bicycle tourism

Kent wants to transform itself into a tourist town, for bicyclists.

Here’s more from the city:

The Kent Arts Commission invites residents, businesses and cycling enthusiasts to an Open House, Friday, January 27 from 4 - 6 p.m. at the Kent Senior Activity Center, Room 9, 600 East Smith Street.

The Open House will begin with a welcome from Mayor Suzette Cooke, explaining how easy it can be to encourage bicycle tourism. HLM Design will share their plans for artwork along the route, followed by Q&A. Break-out sessions will allow residents, business owners and bicycle enthusiasts to share information.  

International, regional and local tourists visit the Green River Valley to experience four unique landscapes. The Herbert Bayer Earthwork, Robert Morris Earthwork, Green River Natural Resources Area and Waterworks Gardens attract people who are interested in bird watching, landscape design, ecology and art. The Kent Arts Commission is connecting these unusual tourist destinations into a single, cohesive Earthworks Bicycle Tour.  

Seattle Police help bring down drug ring stretching to San Francisco

Seattle Police help bring down drug ring stretching to San Francisco

Twenty people are in custody following a lengthy investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Seattle Police Department into a cocaine, meth and heroin trafficking ring that stretched from San Francisco to Vancouver, Canada.

Investigators allege the conspirators brought multi-kilo loads of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine into the Seattle area from California and distributed it throughout Western Washington and Canada.

The following defendants have been charged with various federal crimes including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and/or conspiracy to engage in money laundering:

  • Juan Gomez-Diaz, 37, Des Moines
  • Dagoberto Herrera-Avila, 37, Sea-Tac
  • Jose Rodriguez-Rivera, 38, Lynnwood
  • Juan Siquiero-Gonzalez, 33, Federal Way
  • Luis Orozco-Lopez, 21, Sedro-Woolley
  • Uriel Amin Martinez-Botello, 31, Everett
  • Hugo Gomez-Barrada, 29, Seattle
  • Lorenzo Rodriguez-Rivera, 35, Mountlake Terrace
  • Elmer Alvarez-Ochoa, 39, Lynnwood
  • Ramon Barrera, 35, Mountlake Terrace
  • Pedro Lopez, 38, Seattle
  • Jose Rodriquez-Lujan, 36, Kent
  • Mario Gamiz-Yescas, 33, Kirkland
  • Gerson Fletes-Ramos, 30, Shoreline
  • Javier Cabrera-Arteaga, 26, Shoreline
  • Manuel Mejia-Garay, 32, Seattle
  • Enrique Munoz-Andres, 32, Pacific
  • Timothy Rishor, 36, Edmonds
  • Joshua Abellera, 37, Shoreline
  • Mayra Mendez-Rodriguez, 28, Mountlake Terrace

Two roads still blocked with trees, power lines

Two roads still blocked with trees, power lines

Only two roads closures remain, days after trees and power lines blocked roads and sidewalks, according to the city.

The two remaining closures can’t be cleared until Puget Sound Energy has cleared the power in the vicinity.  The remaining closures are:

SE 248th at 120th Ave S - due to power lines

Frager Rd at 216th Ave SE - due to trees and power lines

Other roads are open, including:

Gowe St and Railroad Ave intersection

3rd Ave S from the 700 block to the 3rd Ave Bridge

S 218 St from 93 Ave S to 88 Ave S

The city reminds drivers to not drive over power lines and stay clear of roads blocked with trees.

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After the storm: Cleaning up trees, branches in Kent

After the storm: Cleaning up trees, branches in Kent

Nearly a week after a winter storm wreaked havoc on trees and branches in Kent, the city continues its cleanup efforts, offering special recycling rates and opportunities.

The city is directing residents to Rainier Wood Recyclers in Covington. Rainier Wood has reduced cost to dispose of trees and limbs that fell during last week’s snow and ice storm. Starting today and for about two weeks, the fee is $5.00 per yard.

Wood from seniors will be accepted for free.

Business hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends, 7 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Amtrak train slams into tow truck in Kent

KENT, Wash. -- Kent police say it’s a "major miracle" that a tow-truck driver suffered only minor injuries Tuesday evening when his truck was hit by an Amtrak train.

Witnesses say the driver, who was towing a vehicle at the time, tried to beat a train across the tracks on North First Avenue just after 5:30 p.m. when the collision happened.

Those same witnesses say the flashing emergency lights were activated and the crossing arms were coming down when the man attempted to cross.

Kent police say the southbound train slammed into the truck, separating it from its trailer. The train then pushed the truck for at least a block before it could stop.

The train was carrying 68 passengers to Eugene, Ore, and those passengers continued their journey using a bus.

The train's lead engine was damaged in the wreck. Several streets near the crossing were shut down until 8:30 p.m., and traffic had to be rerouted around the wreckage.

Police say the driver, 46-year old Auburn man, will most likely be cited for attempting to beat a train and for being on the tracks.

Man injured during ice storm now looking for his lifesaver

Man injured during ice storm now looking for his lifesaver

When Thursday's ice storm hit the region, Justin Stucky first made sure his fiancee was alright.

"He went out and got me some hot chocolate and stuff to eat, so I would be OK by myself without the power," said Monique Rosson. "He was trying to take care of me before he left."

He then set out for work, walking down 256th in Kent at the height of the storm. Hours later, Stucky opened his eyes in a hospital bed, in incredible pain.

"I woke up. Everything was sore and disoriented," Stucky said. "Couldn't move. Hard to breathe."

And he had no idea how he got there.

"Initially wasn't sure where I was, but they all came out of the shadows, basically," he said, referring to his family.

There was good reason for Stucky's pain according to his doctor, Greg Jurkovich.

"He's got skull fractures, face fractures, spine fractures, rib fractures, and even his scapula - both scapulas - are fractured, which is an unusual injury," said Jurkovich, chief of trauma at Harborview Medical Center. "So basically every bone from his head to his lower back has been injured."