The Issaquah Press – News, Sports, Classifieds in Issaquah, WA

Local

Issaquah police alert residents to security alarm scams

NEW — 8 a.m. July 31, 2010

Issaquah police warned residents to be alert for door-to-door salespeople aggressively pushing security alarm systems. The salespeople might be targeting senior citizens.

Police said out-of-state companies brought a sales force into the community in past years. The salespeople might misrepresent themselves as representatives from the homeowner’s alarm company, or use another brand name, such as Honeywell or GE Security.

The solicitors might also claim to be selling a new and better product, or claim to fix a problem with the existing alarm system.

Sports

Vaughan leads U.S. Open in Sammamish

NEW — 11:05 a.m. July 30, 2010

Bruce Vaughan, a former fireman who didn’t take up golf until he was 20, shot a 4-under-par 66 Thursday to take the first-round lead in the U.S. Senior Open golf tournament at Sahalee Country Club.

Vaughan had a two-stroke lead over Loren Roberts and amateur Thomas Jackson.

Seattle native Fred Couples, who had three straight birdies on the back nine, finished at even par, tying for ninth place. Tom Watson, who was the early leader, also finished at even par.

Defending U.S. Senior Open champion Fred Funk started the day with a bogey and things never got better. His opening day score was 6-over-76.

Schools

High school students get new chemistry curriculum

Issaquah School District high schoolers will come back to their science laboratories this fall with a new chemistry book.

Issaquah School Board members unanimously voted to adopt the textbook “Chemistry 2008,” by Prentice Hall, at their July 14 meeting.

The new curriculum cost about $120,000 and was paid for with money donated to the district by the Issaquah Schools Foundation.

The curriculum replaces one the district has used for more than 14 years. While the science of chemistry hasn’t changed in that time, the best methods for teaching it has, district spokeswoman Sara Niegowski said.

The new books are more hands-on, she said, with more inquiry, deep-thinking problems and new laboratory experiments for students to do.