Bypass heads for cats, time capsule
Thursday, November 19, 2009
A Department of Transportation illustration of new road that will run along the back of Fred Meyer and Top Foods.
EAST WENATCHEE — A time capsule and a feral cat colony lie in the path of a Sen. George Sellar Bridge project that will include a new ramp and road to eliminate the congestion at Grant Road and Highway 28.
A ramp will curve right off of the eastbound lanes of the bridge and run along the backside of Fred Meyer and Top Food & Drug, continue past 3rd Street and merge onto Highway 28 for travelers continuing south, said Mike Andreini, assistant project engineer for the state’s Department of Transportation.
Andreini said the $28 million project includes a one-way, three-lane road that will line up along the right side of Fred Meyer’s retaining wall.
He said one lane, a mandatory left-hand turn, will drop off at Grant Road. The second lane will peel off to the left at 3rd Street and the final lane will merge onto the highway.
However, anyone familiar with the back side of Fred Meyer knows that a Washington State Centennial Time Capsule is buried at the Grant Road Viewpoint. There is also a well-established colony of feral cats located behind Top Foods. Both are situated at the site of the new roadway.
Lori Barnett, community development director for East Wenatchee, said the city and DOT are in negotiations about where the time capsule should be moved to — noting that the capsule has already been moved once.
She said when the capsule was first buried in the fall of 1988, Fred Meyer didn’t exist. “During that construction, Fred Meyer moved the capsule about 80 feet and enhanced the little park area,” Barnett said. “They even put in that great wrought-iron fence, which I hope we get to keep.”
At this point, no one is really quite sure what is inside the time capsule, which isn’t scheduled to be opened until Nov. 11, 2088.
Dana Barnard, East Wenatchee city clerk, said she couldn’t find any records for the time capsule. “I have a list of what’s inside the capsule at city hall; but I don’t think there are any records for the capsule down there.”
Regarding the well-fed feral cat colony that The World reported on in April, Andreini said the DOT doesn’t plan to take any special measures.
“They are not threatened or endangered or protected by environmental laws,” he said. “My experience is that as soon as construction equipment starts to make a disturbance, they will skedaddle.”
Andreini said he anticipates advertising bids for the road by May, with a tentative construction start date in August.
“There will likely be a winter shutdown from mid-November 2010 through February 2011,” he said. “The project should be completed around November 2011.”
Michele Mihalovich: 665-1188
mihalovich@wenatcheeworld.com
Comments
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douglas (Doug Shirk) says...
I am assuming at this point that Barney the groundhog, who was at one time the official Groundhog Day groundhog of Washington State has moved on to greener (or rockier) pastures.....
November 19, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
David123 (David 123) says...
So there is a known feral cat colony.
East Wenatchee also has a department called "animal control".
What exactly is the the purpose of this department again?
November 19, 2009 at 2:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Dixie (Dixie Dringman) says...
They need to deal with the feral cat colony the say way they dealt with the groundhogs. One day they were there and the next day they were in groundhog heaven.
November 19, 2009 at 4:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Psycho (Yeah Right) says...
If the city would give me a permit, I could help "relocate" the cats. 22?
November 19, 2009 at 7:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Dixie (Dixie Dringman) says...
Maybe we could have a BAR-B-Q ???
Thanskgiving "Kitty"
November 19, 2009 at 7:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
David123 (David 123) says...
Maybe animal control is taking more of a naturalistic approach to all of this. We'll just wait for the coyotes to move down from the hills and let the "circle of life" take place.
Then we'll just have a pack of coyotes instead a colony of feral cats.
November 19, 2009 at 8:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jrabbt (Darla Daniels) says...
It is humans that have caused this problem not the cats. Educate yourselves & try to become intelligent, compassionate people instead of spreading more hatred & ignorance. The cats are doing there best to survive after being abandoned by irresponsible humans who didn't take care of them, dumped them & left them for dead. Become a better person.
November 19, 2009 at 10:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chernova (Cheryl Law) says...
Well said Darla, is refreshing to hear another with the same feelings. Maybe the DOT should be pressured to come up with another solution.
November 20, 2009 at 1:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Psycho (Yeah Right) says...
You are both correct. Humans are the problem. Are all of your pets spayed?
"The cats are doing there best to survive after being abandoned by irresponsible humans who didn't take care of them, dumped them & left them for dead. Become a better person."
Are these cats spayed? Are you feeding them? Yes Then you are just adding to the problem. If they survive on their own great. If not at least they won't be continuing the colony of unwanted cats.
When I bought my house I went to the Humane Society and got a live-trap.
I caught 7 wild cats in 7 days. What do you think the Humane Society did with them? Look up the word Humane and think about the quality of life these cats don't have. As a responsible adult I understand something most "pet lovers" don't. Quality of life matters.
November 20, 2009 at 3:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mitch117 (Mitchell Williams) says...
How the hell are we spreading hatred Darla? It seems to me you don't know what sarcasm is. I'm sure the cats will do just fine living somewhere else. Animals will adapt to change, just like humans and they'll find a way to survive. It's been that way forever. I see no problem.
November 20, 2009 at 7:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )