The state Department of Transportation says Memorial Day weekend travel increased 10 percent this year compared to last, which led to long delays and a few collisions.

Here's the state's numbers:

The Memorial Day weekend travel roundup from across the state in comparison to 2008:

I-90 Snoqualmie

199,000 vehicles traveled over Snoqualmie Pass between Friday and Monday, an increase of just more than 9 percent (16,500 vehicles).

57,000 traveled Friday, an increase of close to 7 percent. The largest increase was morning and early afternoon drivers. On Friday, a number of early afternoon minor traffic collisions on eastbound I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass led to 17 miles of stop-and-go traffic through the evening.

1,400 more vehicles Saturday.

4,900 more vehicles Sunday. There was good attendance all weekend at the Sasquatch music festival at The Gorge Amphitheatre, especially for Sunday performers Jane's Addiction and Nine Inch Nails.

56,000 traveled Monday, and increase of 8 percent, with the largest increase before noon. Those drivers coming back Monday faced 22 miles of stop-and-go traffic.

US 2, Stevens Pass

38,200 vehicles traveled US 2 from Friday through Monday, an increase of 12 percent (4,300 vehicles).

10,000 traveled Friday, an increase of 13 percent.

800 more vehicles Saturday.

1,200 more vehicles Sunday.

10,800 traveled Monday, an increase of 12 percent. Westbound drivers noting the Monday backups on I-90 may have gone to US 2, as traffic was stop-and-go between Peshastin and Leavenworth between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday.

Olympic Peninsula/Hood Canal Bridge

The Hood Canal Bridge closure, along with increased holiday traffic and boaters headed to Shrimp Fest, contributed to significant backups and long delays on southbound US 101 at Hoodsport in Mason County. At one point, backups stretched nine miles and WSP reported it took them between 1 and 1 1/2 hours to get through the backup.

I-5 Thurston/Lewis counties

269,700 vehicles traveled I-5 south of Olympia into Lewis County between Friday and Monday, an increase of 7 percent (17,700 vehicles).

79,100 traveled Friday, an increase of 5 percent.

6,000 more vehicles Saturday.

5,900 more vehicles Sunday.

65,000 traveled Monday, an increase of 4 percent.

Just north of this area, holiday traffic resulted in significant congestion on northbound I-5 Monday afternoon and evening from the I-5/US 101 interchange in Olympia to Fort Lewis (mileposts 104 to 121).

I-5, near US/Canada Border

There was a communications outage at the traffic counter and no data is available.

The state Department of Transportation has flickr page dedicated to their photos of storm damage and flooding.

You can see it by following this link.

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith today in a press release lauded the flooding response:

Rep. Smith Applauds Local Leaders and Emergency Personnel’s Response to Flooding; Urges President to Act Quickly

Washington – Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement applauding the efforts of local leaders and first responders in Washington State and urging the President to take prompt action to provide Federal support:

“As we continue to grapple with the unprecedented flooding in Washington state, with thousands of people forced to evacuate their homes, I will continue to work with the Governor, local officials and the federal government to ensure Washington state’s needs are met.

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Until you check the rules, the state Department of Ecology says...

OLYMPIA - Washington residents who want to burn debris from
recent floods and storms should contact the Washington Department of
Ecology (Ecology) or their local clean air agency for rules and permit
information.

In counties where a state of emergency has been declared, permits
can be issued so residents can burn natural vegetation left on the land
by storms or floods. Debris must be burned by the property owner or a
designee on the same land where it was deposited, according to
Washington law.

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Gov. Chris Gregoire is scheduled to tour flood damage in Orting and Chehalis this afternoon, her office announced.

She will be joined by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters.

1:30 p.m. Gov. Gregoire, Sen. Murray, Sen. Cantwell, US Transportation Sec. Mary Peters to tour flood damage in Orting

2:30 p.m. Gov. Gregoire, Sen. Murray, Sen. Cantwell, US Transportation Sec. Mary Peters to tour flood damage in Lewis County

Amid all the chaos of the floodpocalypse, I thought I'd make our readers aware of something that appeared on The Stranger's blog today.

Eleven gay bars have received threats to poison their customers with the toxin ricin, which is made from castor beans.

Eleven gay bars in Seattle received letters today addressed to the "Owner/Manager" from someone claiming to be in the possession of ricin, a deadly poison. "Your establishment has been targeted," the letter begins. "I have in my possession approximately 67 grams of ricin with which I will indiscriminately target at least five of your clients."

Follow the link above for the full story.

The Thurston County Sheriff's Office announced it was unveiling a new sex offender Web site. You can see it by following this link. The full press release is after the jump. You can visit the Pierce County sex offender Web site here.

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Here's the news release from the Oregon State Police:

News Release from: Oregon State Police
INVESTIGATION OF INJURY CRASH INVOLVING JUVENILE IN STOLEN VEHICLE ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE OFFICERS NEAR ASHLAND
Posted: October 15th, 2008 7:22 PM

Oregon State Police are continuing the investigation into a traffic crash involving a 15-year old male who crashed the stolen vehicle he was operating into the back of parked ODOT vehicles while attempting to elude Jackson County Sheriff's Department and Ashland Police Department on Interstate 5 near Ashland. The juvenile male received serious but non-life threatening injuries in the crash.

On October 15, 2008 at approximately 1:20 p.m. Jackson County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance of Ashland Police Department, attempted to stop a reported stolen 2004 Ford Expedition operated by a 15-year male from Tacoma, Washington, northbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 14. The juvenile operator refused to yield and continued northbound at a high rate of speed, but due to erratic driving and the approaching construction zone the officers backed off and kept the vehicle in sight as it continued to elude.

Near milepost 16 the operator lost control and crashed into the rear of an ODOT dump truck and backhoe parked on the right shoulder of the freeway. ODOT workers were in the vicinity near the collision but were not injured.

On impact, the vehicle caught fire with operator still secured in the driver's seat by safety restraints. Police and other rescue personnel extinguished the fire and removed the operator who was subsequently transported to Rogue Valley Medical Center with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

OSP is continuing the investigation. Ashland Fire and Rescue, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Medford Police Department, Ashland Police Department and ODOT assisted at the scene.

The FBI is asking for the public's help catching the bank robber picture above. The photo was taken a 9:15 a.m. today at Washington Federal Savings in Seattle. He's also suspected in other robberies, including in Tacoma and Puyallup.

The above suspect is now believed to be responsible for at least four bank robberies and one pharmacy robbery in the Puget Sound region. His demand notes state that he is armed with an explosive device. He is described as a white male, 20 to 30 years of age, 5’10”, and 180 lbs. He wears prescription glasses and has short brown hair.

The robberies are:
Sept. 12, 5:30 p.m., Sound Community bank, 2001 5th Ave, Seattle
Sept. 18, 5:30 p.m., US Bank, South Meridian Ave., Puyallup
Sept. 24, 12:25 p.m., Heritage Bank, 1119 Pacific Ave, Tacoma
Sept. 28, unknown time, Bartell's Pharmacy, downtown Seattle
Sept. 30, 9:15 a.m., Washington Federal bank, 725 3rd Ave, Seattle

24-Hour contact info: FBI (206)622-0460

This is a little out of our circulation area, but the photo is pretty amazing.

Here's the press release from the Poulsbo Fire Department:

(Poulsbo, Kitsap County) Poulsbo Fire Department paramedics treated the operator of this “Unlimited Chainsaw” competition after the saw suddenly erupted into flames. Old Mills Days took place this weekend in Port Gamble. It draws hundreds of spectators from around the Northwest to see this event and others such as; tree climbing, limbing and wood carving. The 50 year old man was treated on the scene for minor burns.

Here's the press release from the Border Patrol:

Lynden, Wash. – Lynden Border Patrol agent and service K-9 respond to call for assistance from the Lynden Police Department.

Last night a Border Patrol Agent K-9 handler en route to work responded to a call from the Lynden Police Department requesting assistance in locating a subject who fled the scene of a domestic violence incident in Lynden. Upon arriving at the scene, the Border Patrol and service K-9 began searching the subject’s last known location. After a short search of the area, the service K-9 alerted to the potential presence of a hidden human or contraband. A male suspect was located and taken into Lynden police custody without incident.

Border Patrol canine units are an invaluable tool used to gain and maintain operational control of our nation’s border. Border Patrol agents and their service K-9 partners undergo a complex and continuous training regimen to maintain their skills in searching for the presence of illegal contraband and humans.

Police think a Fort Lewis soldier decided it would be easier to shoot his two dogs than find a new home for them.

But he insists he’s innocent and called the situation “a big misunderstanding.”

Spc. Travis Carl McDermitt of the 5th Stryker Brigade was arrested on a Skagit County warrant as he tried to enter the post last Thursday, officials said.

He faces two counts of first-degree animal cruelty with a weapons enhancement and one count of discharging a firearm, according to jail records.

In an interview Monday, McDermitt, 26, said he stopped briefly in Anacortes while moving from Fort Riley, Kan., to Fort Lewis. During his stay there, his two boxers, Sadie and Duke, got loose. He looked for them for hours, he said, but eventually had to leave them behind.

“I couldn’t wait around and hunt for them,” he said. “I don’t know if someone just grabbed them or what.”

On March 29, the dogs were found at Heart Lake park. Both had been shot. One was dead; the other had been shot in the back but survived, said Anacortes police spokesman John Small.

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