The state of Washington canceled three days of a planned four-day razor clam dig this week due to a sudden rise in domoic acid levels in the clams. Domoic acid levels have been increasing since Monday and are projected to exceed guidelines by the weekend. In other news, the median home price in King County hit $480,000 in April, just under the 2007 pre-housing crisis peak, as buyers move quickly in a tight housing market with low inventory and fears of rising interest rates. Additionally, the Olympia city Finance Committee is recommending a ballot measure to establish an Olympia Metropolitan Parks District that would raise an estimated $3 million per year through new taxes for parks.

1. The Olympiantheolympian.com
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
PITBULL
PERFORMING
AT STATE FAIR
Final concert of the
season
LIVING, D2
MARINER
CHOSEN AS
PLAYER OF
THE MONTH
Cruz recognized by
American League
for April
SPORTS, B4
$0.75
State cancels
most razor clam
dig following
rise in domoic
acid levels
By Jeffery Mayor
Staff Writer
A sudden rise in
domoic acid levels
earlier this week
forced the state to
cancel three days
of a
four-day
razor
clam dig
on all
ocean
beach-
es this
week.
The
opening
contin-
ued as
planned
Thursday on Long
Beach and Twin
Harbors beaches
after state health
officials cleared that
day’s dig.
Levels of domoic
acid have been on
the rise since late
Monday and could
exceed guidelines
by this weekend.
See> Living, D5
“The
highest
level
detected
so far is
15 parts
per
million.”
- Dan
Ayres
By Sanjay Bhatt
Business Reporter
The median price of
single-family homes
sold in King County hit
$480,000 in April, just
$1,000 shy of the peak
set in July 2007 before
the housing bubble
burst.
April’s median price
was 9 percent higher
than in March and 11.5
percent higher than a
year ago, according to
data from the Northwest
Multiple Listing Service.
Buyers have hit the
gas, fearing higher in-
terest rates and offering
premium prices in the
face of a record low
inventory of homes for
sale.
“This is a historic
moment in time,” said J.
Lennox Scott, CEO of
John L. Scott brokerage.
“Housing is in a pres-
sure cooker in the metro
area. We’re going to be
here for a while.”
One extreme example
of that pressure is a
1,120-square-foot north
Ballard home that sold
last month for $158,000
above its asking price.
While Windermere bro-
ker Phil Greely said he’s
delighted with the price
he got for his seller,
“for buyers it’s a slightly
depressing story.”
See> Business, B2
Proposed tax would raise $3 million a year for Olympia Parks
By Andy Hobbs
Staff Writer
The ball is rolling
on a proposal to raise
taxes in the name of
Olympia parks.
For the 2015 gener-
al election, the city’s
Finance Committee is
recommending a ballot
measure that would
establish an Olympia
Metropolitan Parks
District.
See> LOCAL NEWS, A3
King County market for home prices surging, just shy of 2007 peak
The median price for single-family homes sold in King County
has recovered the ground lost since the last peak in 2007.
J. Lennox Scott
Occupation: CEO of
John L. Scott
Industry: Real
Estate
Hometown:Seattle
Family: Grandson of
John L. Scott
Foundation: Began
in 1997
Photoby:SteveBloom
At Priest Point Park, Jazzlyn Lewis, 2, tallies up her collection with help from her mother
Janel as they joined an estimated 1,200 other young egg hunters for the Olympia Eagles
Annual Easter Egg Hunt.