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Cabin crasher chased off by property owner with AR-15
A 46-year-old Ellensburg man was arrested Sunday for burglary and possession of a controlled substance after a property owner armed with an AR-15 rifle found the man inside one of his cabins near Teanaway Junction. Jathan Lee Van Weerdhuizen made his first appearance in Kittitas County Superior Court on Monday. Deputy Prosecutor Patricia Todd asked that the bail set during his arrest over the weekend stay at the same amount. ...
Two injured in motorcycle vs. deer crash in Kittitas County
RONALD - In a sobering reminder of the hazards posed by wildlife on rural roads, two individuals were injured in a motorcycle accident involving a deer near Salmon Lake Sac Road and Lake Forrest north of Ronald near the eastern shore of Cle Elum Lake. The incident, which occurred this morning, has once again highlighted the dangers that deer and other animals present to motorists.
Kittitas County Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks Show
CLE ELUM- The Independence Day Celebration at Memorial Park will include a kid zone, food trucks, a beer garden with an assortment of beverages, rotating music and entertainment throughout the day. The ultimate Independence Day Celebration on Thursday, July 4, 2024 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. This is all...
Dangerous heat and fire weather expected to ramp up after the 4th
Today: Tuesday will be a day with more sunshine compared to Monday, although we’ll still be seasonal. Highs will be in the low to mid-60s in the Cascades and Blues, with low to mid-80s in the Kittitas/Yakima valleys and in the foothills of the Blues. Things could heat-up to near 90-degrees in the Lower Columbia Basin. Just like on Monday, it'll be another blustery one. Winds will mainly gust with a westerly component between 20-45 MPH–the strongest gusts being in the Kittitas Valley.
Tacoma woman sought on forgery charge after no-show in court
A Kittitas County judge has approved a bench warrant for the arrest of a Tacoma woman who failed to appear in court last week on allegations of forgery and identity theft. Judge L. Candace Hooper authorized a $5,000 warrant for Safiya Tahira Farmer, 35. Farmer’s legal troubles in Kittitas County started last June when she was pulled over by the Washington State Patrol and given a speeding ticket. The citation...
Plea agreement in the works for man accused of fleeing police
An agreement on a plea deal appears to be nearing for an Ellensburg man who was arrested in April after an extensive police pursuit. Jonathan Castles Chandler, 37, was arrested April 11 for eluding police after he allegedly sped away from a traffic stop on his motorcycle before ditching the bike and trying to escape on foot down the railroad tracks near Opportunity Street. Chandler was first jailed on suspicion...
Camo-clad man arrested in alleged Cle Elum burglary
A Cle Elum man was jailed for first-degree burglary Thursday after he was found crawling through a field in camouflage clothing near a home that had just been burglarized. Kenneth Clyde Shoptaw, 52, was expected to be arraigned this week in Kittitas County Superior Court. Shoptaw was booked into Kittitas County Jail after he was seen crawling around on the property off Lauderdale Lane. Sheriff deputies brought in a drone...
Public Notices
The Kittitas County Auditor’s Office has scheduled a Logic and Accuracy Test for the 2024 August Primary/Special Election, at 10:00am Monday, July 8, 2024, in the Auditor’s Elections Room, Kittitas County Courthouse Basement, Ellensburg. These proceedings are open to the public. For more information, contact Auditor. Published: This...
Heat-seeking drone helps find burglary suspect near Cle Elum
KITTITAS COUNTY, Wash.-Kittitas County Sheriff's Deputies arrested an Ellensburg man on suspicion of burglary and drug charges with the help of a drone on June 28. KCSO Deputies responded to reports of a man trespassing on private property east of Cle Elum, however, the suspect was gone when Deputies arrived.
Seasonal and sunny for now, but turning much hotter after the 4th
Today: Monday will start off with partly cloudy skies for some, but clouds will eventually breach and give way to mostly sunny to sunny skies. There could be a stray thunderstorm, or two, in the Cascades, Kittitas Valley, and the foothills of the Blues–but don’t bank on it. It’ll be a toasty one, but highs will only be a couple degrees above average. It’ll be in the low to mid-60s in the Cascades and Blues, with low to mid-80s in the Kittitas/Yakima valleys and Blue Foothills. The Lower Columbia Basin will flirt with 90-degrees. Otherwise, today will be a breezy to windy one depending on where you are. West-northwesterly wind gusts will gust between 20-45 MPH, with the strongest wind gusts easily being in the Kittitas Valley.
Wrong track/right track? Survey asks Kittitas County voters
A new poll conducted to gauge support for an increase in Kittitas County’s Road Levy sheds some interesting insights about how voters feel about local government. Kittitas County commissioners met late last week to talk about a possible November ballot measure to increase the annual Road Levy, which pays for repairs and maintenance to county roads and bridges, and also provides matching funds for outside transportation grants. County staff is expected to bring a proposed resolution for a ballot measure to the county commissioners for...
Independence Day events abound in Kittitas County
Kittitas County is ready for a patriotic party, with Independence Day events planned from July 4 through the weekend. Here’s the rundown: LIBERTY Old-fashioned, patriotic and “definitely not commercialized” — Liberty is hosting its annual Fourth of July parade, organized by Paul Compaan. ...
County eyes potential increase to Road Levy
Kittitas County officials are considering a property tax measure that would increase revenues for the county’s Road Levy. County commissioners held a special meeting Friday with Public Works staff and consultants to talk about putting a proposition before voters during the November election. No decisions were made by the board of commissioners. Instead, staff will come back in the weeks ahead with a resolution that sets out the proposed levy...
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