DECEMBER

The Tulalip Tribes are working on a very important transportation project connecting the reservation and Marysville at 116th Street. They announced they would like to tweak the plan to make it reduce congestion even more.

The Red Curtain Arts Center found a new home behind the Goodwill on State Street after its former home, at the old Dunn Lumber, was purchased.

The Marysville Food Bank announced it was serving fewer people, but those who did come had greater needs than before. In Arlington they are feeding younger and smaller families.

About 600 people in Marysville and Arlington have GoFundMe accounts to try to get help from the community to pay for various needs.

A Marysville citizens committee decided the school district need to try to pass a $196.5 million bond to pay for construction of new schools.

A fundraiser was under way for Layla Beckstrand of Marysville, a toddler with cancer.

Ivan Owen of Arlington developed a model to help people who need prosthetics.

Arlington and Marysville opened their cold-weather shelters to help the homeless.

Hans Hansen of Lake Stevens was convicted for shooting at Marysville police and faces 71 years in prison.

NOVEMBER

A mysterious time capsule was found inside an artillery shell at the American Legion in Arlington.

The Arlington Eagles girls soccer team finished fourth in state.

A huge wind storm hit the area, knocking down trees in both communities and ripping up some houseboats on the Marysville Marina.

The new history museum in Marysville is making a final push to raise $150,000 more so it can finish its project by the city’s 125th anniversary March 19, 2016.

Marysville Getchell diver Alexandra Pimental placed third at state.

Dozens of people in Marysville responded with well-wishes when they found out Santa Claus was sick.

After losing many of its grocery stores downtown in the past few years, Arlington was happy to see a Grocery Outlet open.

Marysville wasn’t able to get its own four-year college, but it got the next-best thing when it found out Washington State University will open a campus in north Everett near the community college.

Nathan Beamer of Arlington placed second in state in cross country.

In the election, voters overwhelmingly passed a measure that could lead to a ban on fireworks in Marysville. In Arlington, Mayor Barbara Tolbert was re-elected by a slight margin.

OCTOBER

Hundreds of people turned out for the Walk of Strength Oct. 24, on the one-year anniversary of the shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck.

Sunnyside Elementary teacher Danette Hedge won a spot to compete on Wheel of Fortune.

Senior Lilly Whitehead of Lakewood won the district cross country title.

Marysville Getchell put on a fund-raiser to help a family that lost its wife-mother to breast cancer just a few weeks before.

Lakewood residents spoke out against plans made by the city of Marysville to expand into that community.

The Marysville Globe-The Arlington Times won 13 awards at the state Washington Newspapers Publishers Association convention in Everett.

Bellevue developer Chris Gayte announced plans for the Gayteway Business Park, which would cost $100 million but bring in 2,000 jobs.

Arlington brought in skateboarders from all over the country for its annual Centennial Sk8 Festival.

Early Childhood Education and Assistance Programs work to connect schools and parents at an early age.

An audit says problems remain at the Arlington Airport, as some issues have not been fixed as fast as others.

A new Arlington business recycles mattresses so they don’t take up space in landfills.

The Absolute Air Park in Arlington closed suddenly with no explanation to the community that supported it.

Arlington hired four new police officers, the first additions in a decade.

Middle and high school students in Marysville received Chromebooks, small computers they use daily in class.

After a 21-year fight over open space and urban sprawl issues, Dwayne Lanes opened a dealership at Island Crossing.

SEPTEMBER

Marysville hired Diane Rose to help city residents prepare in the event of a disaster.

Talks broke off between Marysville and Fire District 12 over the formation of a Regional Fire Authority. The main point of contention was over power of a new board that would oversee the authority.

Cecil D. Lacy of Marysville died after an altercation with Tulalip police. An investigation later cleared police of any wrongdoing.

Former Marysville-Pilchuck standout Shane Pahukoa and former Arlington standout coach ——— were named to the Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame.

Paul Brown, publisher of The Marysville Globe-The Arlington Times, was named this year’s president of Maryfest.

Former Marysville-Pilchuck star Austin Joyner was injured early in his freshman year at the University of Washington, so was able to redshirt and have four years of eligibility remaining.

An in-depth investigation on the shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck said the killer wanted to take his friends with him.

Arlington planned a new event to celebrate its heritage, called the Viking Festival and Pub Tour.

A 20-year project south of Marysville came to a climax as a dike was breached, leading to water filling up the Qwuloolt Estuary.

AUGUST

Despite being on hospice, Marysville’s sandwich board evangelist, Gary Haga continued walking in the name of Jesus. Haga then died in December.

War canoe races returned to Tulalip after decades.

Tulalip mourned the loss of four residents who died after the truck they were in went into a pond at the tribal hatchery.

Tulalip opened at Early Learning Academy to help kids get a head start on school.

Interim fire chief Martin McFalls was named to the top spot, taking over for Greg Corn, who retired in April.

JULY

Eagle Wings disAbility Ministries put on a luncheon to connect businesses to potential employees.

Marysville Police Chief Rick Smith wants to organize with local social services and others a program that would help cure the drug problem in town.

Marysville put on a triathlon with city employees to show the public the potential for using the waterfront.

Marysville was ordered to pay Cedar Grove Composting $143,000 after losing a public records lawsuit.

The Arlington Boys and Girls Club is going to expand thanks to $3.83 million in grants for the Stilly Valley Youth Project.

The state legislature approved $50 million to be spend on new north- and southbound ramps on I-5 at Highway 529, which eventually will make it so motorists will not have to deal with the train tracks to get to and leave town.

Despite the nationwide anti-gun movement, Marysville hosted its first gun show, and organizers say it was so popular they will return.

There were concerns about fires due to extremely dry weather, but the Fourth of July went off with fewer problems than usual.

Concerned about increased oil trains, resident Marshall Parker worked with the city to start a Map Your Neighborhood community, where neighbors learn about each others’ skill and how they could best be used in an emergency.

The city of Marysville is trying to get federal funding to go under Grove Street in a short tunnel to help traffic avoid the train tracks there.

A Farmer’s Market returned to Marysville after many years.

JUNE

For the first time in years Marysville’s Cedarcrest Golf Course turned a profit, thanks to its new management firm, Premier Golf Centers.

Tulalip Tribal Chairman Mel Sheldon explained why the tribes have filed a lawsuit against the state and Snohomish County. It’s because Quil Ceda Village generates up to $50 million in sales taxes a year, and the tribes get none of it.

Marysville banned fireworks in its parks, which have seen large amounts of litter on previous July 4ths.

Arlington started a Pooch Patrol for dog walkers to help police spot crimes.

Marysville police cracked down on people who leave dogs in cars on hot days.

State funding was approved to replace the cafeteria at Marysville-Pilchuck, where the shooting took place last year.

The Tulalip Tribes Employment Rights Office graduated 13 from its vocational program that built tiny homes for homeless in Seattle.

David Thorsen of Arlington admitted to killing his sister, Karen Harris, and will serve 17 years in prison for the crime.

A Classical Dance class at Arts and Tech High School on the Tulalip campus proved to be very popular.

Ten employees at the Marysville Jail were disciplined after allowing a prisoner to escape.

KMD Architects said a new jail in Marysville would cost up to $48 million, quite a bit more than the $15 million the city had planned for.

A measure passed in the legislature will help both Marysville and Arlington. It would create a tax break for businesses locating in the area, as long as they meet certain conditions.

Arlington boasted the only state champion from the area: Justean Landis won the title in the discus. The Marysville Getchell 4 by 100 relay team was second. For Lakewood, Josh Dickey was second in the 100, Megan Fenton was second in the discus and the 4 by 100 relay team was third.

MAY

Arlington council member Dick Butner, 80, died after a lifetime of public service.

The Marysville School District passed a resolution asking for more controls for train shipments of volatile crude oil through town.

Craig Christianson announced he would run for mayor with one of his key issues the number of empty storefronts in downtown Arlington.

Marysville teachers went on a one-day strike to protest the state’s new Smarter Balanced Assessment, saying high-stakes testing has damaged education.

Marysville-Pilchuck standout Sebastian Navarro came to the school from Yakima to play soccer and get away from drugs and gangs.

The Stillaguamish Senior Center invites similar entities to take on their residents in video game bowling.

APRIL

Lakewood and Arlington teachers strike for a day to protest lack of funding for schools.

Marysville-Pilchuck’s outstanding artist, Carly McCartney, was inspired in her work by the school’s shooting.

More than 160 workers lost their jobs when Microgreen Polymers suddenly closed their doors in Arlington.

After closing for five months because of a sewage backup, The Ken Baxter Community-Senior Center reopened with an almost brand-new building.

A homeless encampment returned by Marshall Elementary School, even though one had been cleaned out by police just months earlier.

Arlington scaled back changes to anti-solicitation laws to avoid a conflict with the Constitution.

Deryck McLeod is working hard to clean up the city as its code enforcement officer.

Former Mayor Dennis Kendall’s funeral was filled with praise, love and laughter at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marysville.

MARCH

On the one-year anniversary of the Oso slide, dozens of people gathered at the site to pay their respects to the 43 people who lost their lives.

A state auditor said it did not have enough evidence to show if Arlington Mayor Barbara Tolbert had a conflict of interest in her dealings with the Arlington Airport or not.

The Arlington girls basketball team finished fourth at state. Marysville-Pilchuck’s boys team qualified but lost both of its games.

An organization called Youthville helps people interested in adopting become foster parents in the meantime to see how that works for them.

Arlington City Councilwoman Jesica Stickles became president and CEO of the Great Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce, after Caldie Rogers stepped down for health reasons.

 

FEBRUARY

Bus commuters enjoy the new transit center in Smokey Point because it’s safer.

A candlelight prayer service for the Marysville-Pilchuck shooting victims took place at the high school.

Marysville-Pilchuck High School wrestler Killian Page won the state title.

The Rotary Ranch at Jennings Park opens after a huge remodel.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marysville opened its doors to the homeless on Friday nights.

Steve Thompson, who played football with Joe Namath on the New York Jets Super Bowl winning team of 1969, was a guest speaker at the HUGE Men of God retreat, which was attended by a few hundred men.

The Sorenson Interpretation Center at Smokey Point uses video relay interpreters to community with deaf people.

Snohomish County said it is hard to keep track of homeless because the government’s definition keeps changing the rules.

JANUARY

Students out of school to celebrate Martin Luther King Day volunteered around the communities.

Two people died in a mobile home fire in Arlington.

The new chief administrator in Arlington, Paul Ellis, gave a city address.

Arlington Public Safety Director Bruce Stedman recommended getting rid of two supervisor positions, to streamline the police department and make it more efficient.

First-responders for the Oso and Marysville-Pilchuck disasters were honored in the governor’s state of the state address.

Mary Schoenfeldt was brought in to provide tough love for the Marysville School District after the disaster at Marysville-Pilchuck.

Anthony Wiederkehr, who went to Lakewood High School, returned to coach the school’s basketball team.