Report of bear keeps Redmond students inside

Redmond

Sunrise Elementary School students were kept inside Wednesday after a nearby resident reported she saw a bear in the area.

The neighbor said she saw the bear about the time school started, although no one at the school saw the animal, said Susan Stoltzfus, spokeswoman for Northshore School District. The principal decided to keep the students inside during recess and physical-education classes, Stoltzfus said.

Parents and school volunteers accompanied students who normally walk home after school, and all after-school activities were canceled, district officials said.

The school also notified parents by phone and sent a letter home with all students explaining what had happened, Stoltzfus said.

Bothell

Mayor to run for re-election

Bothell Mayor Mark Lamb is running for another term on the City Council.

He was elected to the council in 2003. In 2006, the council picked him to serve as mayor.

Lamb and his wife, Kim, have three children and live in the North Creek Valley area. He is a board member of the Snohomish Health District and serves on the council's finance, public safety, public outreach and economic development committees.

When he was elected four years ago, Lamb said he intended to focus on three areas: public safety, preserving Bothell's quality of life and revitalizing the downtown area.

Bellevue

City taking steps against W. Nile virus

Bellevue city officials are preparing to prevent the spread of West Nile virus this summer.

The city will spray storm-drain catch basins with larvicide if necessary and is asking residents to remove stagnant water and change water in birdbaths and pet bowls.

The virus spreads through mosquitoes, and stagnant water helps the insects breed. In most cases, the virus gives people flulike symptoms, but fewer than 1 percent get more serious symptoms, city officials said.

Sammamish

Real-estate broker to run for council

John James announced this week that he will run for City Council Position 4, currently held by Nancy Whitten.

James, an associate broker for Windermere Real Estate, has served on the city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. He has lived on the Sammamish Plateau for 12 years.

Seattle Times Eastside bureau