Crystal Mt. Could Have Earliest Opening In 30 Years

Great news for skiers and snow boarders, one local ski area could have its earliest opening day in 30 years. The snow is really coming down at Crystal Mountain, and this year the resort has some exciting new features.

The calendar may say October, but Sales and Marketing Director for Crystal Mountain Tiana Enger says winter has already arrived at the resort.

“With the early snowfall we're looking at a possible early opening, the earlier we can get open obviously the better,” said Enger.

According to Enger it has skiers and snowboarders anxious to hit the slopes.

“They're getting their bags packed already cause here things can happen really quickly in a matter of 24 to 48 hours you can go from having no snow to having enough snow to open,” said Enger.

Enger says the ski area could open in a matter of days, if Mother Nature picks up the pace. There’s about a foot and a half of snow up top right now, but just a few inches at the bottom.

“It looks like the forecast is calling for more snow which could mean a really early opening,” said Enger.

Work crews are hoping for a break in the weather, they’re still trying to complete the brand new Mt. Rainier Gondola the first of its kind in Washington State.

“In the final stages of completing the gondola construction we've got a Chinook helicopter scheduled to arrive November 1st we will fly towers into place when we get a weather window next week,” said Enger.

The gondola will take 8 passengers from the bottom of the mountain directly to the summit in just 9 minutes. Enger says something else that’s new this year a radio frequency identification system allowing skiers to swipe and go.

“It's a great way to save it's also a nice convenience to be able to preload that at home and bypass the ticket windows when you arrive here and go directly to the lifts. We can't wait to get the lifts open and I think a lot of people are really excited,” said Enger.

If Crystal is to open by the end of the month the base of the mountain will need another 3 feet of snow, on top another two feet. The new gondola is schedule to open the first week of December.

City Pulls Controversial Nude Artwork From City Hall

A piece of art deemed inappropriate by Gig Harbor City Leaders has been pulled from a South Sound art show. The piece in question is a photograph of a partially nude woman.

The Mayor of Gig Harbor and other City Officials became concerned since it was going to be displayed at City Hall. However, the show’s organizers feel the City overreacted to a tasteful piece of artwork.

For the last few years local artists have put their best work on display at the Gig Harbor Civic Center. But, at this year’s Peninsula Art League Show City Administrator Rob Karlinsey says things were a bit different.

“So, that's a kind of a new piece that the City hasn't had in City Hall before,” said Karlinsey

Karlinsey says the City had to remove the photo taken by a Seattle artist.

“Given the amount of traffic from the public that we get of all age groups we determined it wouldn't be appropriate to have it hung in City Hall when the public comes in,” said Karlinsey.

Instead, the photo is now on display at a local gallery. But, the President of The Peninsula Art League Anne Knapp says it belongs with the rest of the artwork.

“There is some buttocks showing, it's the back, it's nothing I would have a problem with,” said Knapp.

Karlinsey says the City feared children would see the partially nude photo.

“We didn't think it was appropriate for folks who aren't coming here to view art, they're coming here to conduct City business and other things,” said Karlinsey.

Anne Knapp disagrees.

“And, if the kids indeed saw it it's a teachable moment, a wonderful thing to say to children you know art is all about just expressing beauty,” said Knapp.

City Administrator Rob Karlinsey says the City wants to keep the annual art show at City Hall, but clothing isn’t optional.

“We could do that or we could just say no more art shows in City Hall if we're going to continue to have pieces like that are going to come in we may just say no more art in City Hall,” said Karlinsey.

PAL President Anne Knapp says it will comply as long as something is put in writing.

“The City doesn't have a written standard of what would be allowed or not allowed, so we felt a little blind-sided that it was suddenly pulled,” said Knapp.

The City says it’s working on criteria for future art shows. The current one will run until mid November at the Gig Harbor Civic Center. If you want see the partially nude photo it’s on display at the For Art Sake Gallery in Gig Harbor.

La Nina Means Good News For Skiers And Boarders This Winter In Cascades

Last year’s El Nino brought more rain than snow to the mountains and kept the skiers and boarders off the slopes. But, with record snowfall expected this winter from La Nina ski shops and local ski areas are banking on Mother Nature for a huge winter season.

Up high and down low crews at Snoqualmie Summit East are putting the finishing touches on two new chairlifts. They’re replacing the ones that got wiped out by a slide two years ago.

Summit Marketing Director Guy Lawrence says it’s a race to finish for them to get ready for what’s expected to be a cold and wet winter because of La Nina.

“The fact that we’re opening up new terrain, putting in these two new lifts and it's time for the La Nina season, for a marketing director you can't get much better than that,” said Lawrence.

Last winter El Nino was a big dud for local ski areas, warm conditions meant no snow.

In North Bend, Martin Volken with Pro Ski Service says his shop got wiped out by the lousy winter also.

“You know if it's a really bad season coupled with a bad economy maybe that all resulted in a 20 percent reduction in sales,” said Volken.

But, forecasters say this year’s ski season could be off the charts. Guy Lawrence says at Snoqualmie Summit skiers and boarders could be looking at a major snow pack.

“People have been paying attention to the fact that it is going to be a La Nina year and historically it's always favored us to a certain degree sometimes a lot,” said Lawrence.

Martin Volken says all of the excitement for a great ski season has skiers and boarders spending money again too.

“I think the economy is getting a little bit better and people have obviously caught wind of the weather predictions,” said Volken.

It’s not winter yet but at the Summit they’re already thinking snow and with new lifts plus La Nina Guy Lawrence says the place is buzzing.

“We're expecting more snow and as a result not surprisingly pass sales are up so that's great,” said Lawrence.

So far the Summit at Snoqualmie has seen a 6 percent increase in season pass sales. The area hopes to complete those two new chair lifts at Summit East by December.

Children's Hospital Nurse Gives Fatal Dose Of Medicine To Baby

Seattle - Only on Q13 Fox News a medical mistake that cost a family everything. Q13 Fox News has learned a nurse at Seattle Children's Hospital gave a baby ten times the intended dose of a commonly used medication killing that child. It's the second time in a little over a year that a patient at Children's has died of a drug overdose.

Children's Hospital would not speak with Q13 Fox News on camera Monday but instead issued us a letter which the CEO sent to hospital employees last week after this happened. In it he admits a nurse gave the child too much calcium chloride. It doesn't say and Children's Hospital wouldn't tell us why the child was getting the medication in the first place, or how the nurse could have gotten the dose so drastically wrong.

Children's CEO Doctor Tom Hanson says the infant who died was profoundly fragile. He says the hospital is investigating why its usual safety checks didn't prevent the overdose.

It was just last year that another patient at Children's suffered a similar fate. Tammy Jarbo-Blakenship lost her son Michael on day after a routine visit for dental work. The family's lawyer Chris Davis says the drug should have never been given to Michael.

"With respect to Michael who was given an overdose of a drug called Fentanyl pain patch that his dentist had prescribed for the first time in her career," said Davis.

Davis says after Michael's death Children's Hospital promised the Blakenships it would establish new guidelines to prevent accidental overdoses.

"We were assured at the beginning of the lawsuit that they had taken changes, implemented changes to make sure this type of thing wouldn't happen again. I'm absolutely shocked. It's very tragic of course and absolutely unfortunate," said Davis.

The nurse who caused this latest overdose death is on leave while the hospital investigates. The Blankenship's lawyer Chris Davis says he doesn't want to alarm the public, but after dealing with Michael's death he's learned getting to the truth in these types of cases may be difficult.

"The number of deaths and errors you see really hasn't declined in my experience because the hospitals and medical profession goes to great lengths to keep it confidential," said Davis.

The Blankenship Family just settled their lawsuit against Children's as part of the deal; they're not allowed to talk specifically about the settlement. As for changes the letter from the hospital says from now on only Pharmacists and Anesthesiologists can draw up doses of calcium chloride unless there's a life-threatening emergency.

Calcium chloride is used for a lot of different things including metabolism problems and dehydration. In this case we just don't know what the baby was being treated for.

What A Deal! You Can Own Your Own Coffee Shop And It Won't Cost You A Dime

FREELAND - A Whidbey Island business owner has a sweet deal for you that won't make you jittery; she wants to sell you her coffee shop for a shocking price.

Talk about deal that'll give you a jolt. You can have Jessica Leon's coffee shop without having to pay a nickel for it. You heard right Jessica will give you the 1504 Coffee Bar in Freeland for zilch, zippo, nada.

Jessica has owned the shop since 2006. But, tough economic times forced her to put it up for sale last year.

"You know I lost about 20 to 25 percent of my business in that time," said Leon.

Since then, she's cut the price and still has gotten any nibbles then she got an idea.

"I just was working in here and I suddenly thought adopt a coffee shop it just came to me I thought might get somebody," said Leon.

Now, there are a couple of catches, the new owner must promise keep the coffee shop open and sign a new lease with the property owner.

In exchange the new owner gets the keys, coffee machines, and organic beans. So far, 55 people have offered to take over the business, though Jessica stresses they may have to partake in a lot of their own product to make it work.

"Are you prepared to do 70 to 80 hours a week in here and do all your own books, get up every morning 7 days a week at 4 AM," said Leon.

Soon, Jessica will be making her final double tall mocha and turning over the shop to a new owner she hopes will remember, this isn't about getting a freebie it's about serving the people of Whidbey Island.

"It's one of the oldest coffee shops on the island, it has such a legacy it was heartbreaking to think of looking at my customers in the eye and saying sorry this is your last coffee here," said Leon.

Jessica says she plans on making a final decision this weekend on who she will hand over the coffee house too. After that she plans on taking some time off to relax and get some sleep. Be the first to know. Sign up for Q13 FOX Mobile and E-mail Alerts >>>

Seattle Police Issue Arrest Warrants In Brutal Hate Crime Attack

WEST SEATTLE - It was a crime that stunned a Seattle community, a teenager savagely beaten and burned for hours because the color of his skin. Now, arrest warrants have been issued for the men accused of the heinous attack.

For the first time in months there's some relief on Tim McClellan's face.

"Hopefully, it's just a matter of time until they get picked up. It's been a while, it's been real aggravating," said McClellan.

It was the end of May when two men assaulted his son Shane. They whipped him with his belt, burned him with a lit cigarette, urinated on him and threatened to cut his throat if he screamed.

Police say Shane was attacked for several hours on a dead end street in the 7700 block of 14th Avenue Southwest. It's a place that brings back bad memories, so much so that Tim has never been here.

"Every time I drive by the place I look up there, but, I haven't been physically able to walk up the stairs to the actual spot where it happened," said McClellan.

Then, just two weeks ago blood evidence collected from two men spotted in the area that night connected them to Shane's attack.

"I'm very happy that DNA came back and they got the results they know who it is positively and hopefully they'll be off the street very soon," said McClellan.

King County Prosecutors are doing their best to make that happen. They've charged 21 year old Jonathan Baquiring and 23 year old Ahmed Mohamed with malicious harassment a hate crime.

Court documents show why, revealing that during the attack the men shouted at Shane, "The white man has kept us down," and "This is for enslaving our people."

Police are tracking down leads on the two suspects for Tim McClellan and his family it can't happen soon enough.

"Once these guys are off the street, then we can start to have some closure and put it behind us," said McClellan.

Q13 Fox News went by Jonathan Baquiring's West Seattle home his grandfather told us he hasn't seen him in several days. When asked about the attack he said if Jonathan did it he should go to jail. Both Baquiring and Ahmed Mohamed's bond has been set at $500,000.

Seattle Firefighters Battle Massive Fire At Old Peanut Butter Plant

The City of Seattle owns the old Sunny Jim Peanut Butter Plant in Sodo and was supposed to tear it down a few years back but ran out of money. Now, the demolition is well on its way thanks to a raging fire that darkened the skies over Seattle and delayed many people on their commute home.

On Monday Seattle Firefighters came face to face with flames that moved at will through the old Sunny Jim Peanut Butter Plant. Andy Kim was nearby when the fire started.
“We work next door and we saw the smoke coming by our building. So, we went over there and saw fire shooting out through the roof,” said Kim.

Nearby businesses had to evacuate as the wind fanned the flames threatening to take over other buildings too. Scott Macmillan was working next door and was overcome by smoke.

“Lots of smoke, somebody told us the fire started at the other end, went down there and got a bunch of video, flames just pouring out of the top of the building,” said Macmillan.

The plant backs up to I-5, soon the smoke from it all brought even the afternoon commute to a blinding halt. Because, the plant is abandoned firefighters fought the fire defensively keeping it in check from the outside.

Fire crews dumped a lot of water on the structure which turned the building into something that looked like an urban waterfall.

Fire Chief Gregory Dean says one of his firefighters got hurt when he tried opening a side door to shoot water on the flames.

“When you have siding coming down it means he probably got hit in the head, hit throughout the body, so, they'll take a look at him make a determination,” said Dean.

The firefighter is a 37 year veteran with the department. He suffered a broken ankle and is expected to be okay. Chief Dean says much of the north end of the building is gutted and there are charred remains where the roof and a sidewall used to stand.

“The north end of the building is pretty much written off and we’re just trying to contain it and see if we can save the south part of the building,” said Dean.

Andy Kim says the damage from the fire was shocking. He didn’t realize the old building had also burned back in 1997.

“We never really understood what went on in the building. Of course we were surprised we didn't think anybody was in there, but so definitely it was surprising, scared,” said Kim.