Articles written by Maria Matson
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A La Conner educator for generations retires
If you attended La Conner Schools anytime in the past three decades, then you probably remember “Ms. Seeling.” Maybe you sat in Peggy Seeling’s classroom in the 1980s when she taught social studies, o...
Presenting the class of 2017
The Landy James Gym was packed to the maximum to celebrate La Conner High School’s 49 newest graduates. An evening of applause and awards greeted the Class of 2017 last Thursday, June, 8. The b...
Mr. Monroe tells La Conner kids goodbye
After 12 years working alongside teachers who educate La Conner’s youngest students, it’s time for dedicated school volunteer Don Monroe to hang up his hat and “retire” as he moves onto the next stage...
Two women badly injured in house fire
A fire that broke out at approximately 3:30 a.m. last Wednesday caused serious injuries to two La Conner area women who had to be air-lifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The fire gutted a...
New principal for Middle and High schools
A new principal has been selected to lead the La Conner High School and Middle School after a quick and efficient search to replace current secondary principal, Cheryl Sullivan, who turned in her...
Search for new high school principal
La Conner High School and Middle School principal Cheryl Sullivan gave notice she’s resigning, effective June 30. Sullivan, who was hired two years ago, has not specifically stated why she is leaving but said “personal reasons” when reached for c...
Swinomish Tribe blesses fishing fleet
The Swinomish Tribe’s fishing fleet is clearly in no shortage of blessings, well-wishes and community respect, as displayed in the tribe’s traditional annual “blessing of the fleet ceremony” on Thur...
Schools evacuated in disaster drill
La Conner Schools is embracing a philosophy of “prepare today for tomorrow” when it comes to getting ready for disasters in a world that isn’t always perfect. Students and staff braved rain on Monda...
A patchwork of culture at the Quilt Museum
Colorful quilts regularly adorn the hallways and numerous rooms of La Conner’s historic Gaches Mansion. Built in 1891, the old Victorian building is far from dusty and forgotten. It’s home to the Pac...
Unions riled at school chiefs' funding ideas
Local superintendents have banded together to suggest ways to fund schools as the Supreme Court’s 2012 McCleary decision deadline approaches. The ruling found that Washington State’s school funding system is broken and that the state needs to ste...
A spelling battle of the generations
About a month ago, La Conner Retirement Inn Activities Director BJ Johnson grabbed a nearby dictionary on a whim after she had an idea to put the residents’ spelling skills to the test. “I was thr...
High hopes state will fund new library
Those who have long wished to see the La Conner Regional Library upgraded are anxiously waiting to hear whether the state will approve the library’s request for state funds. In January, the Library’s Board of Trustees submitted a request for $1.9 mil...
Young warrior in the fight of his life
The past few years haven’t been easy for Sally Wilbur and her son, 13-year-old Daniel Rapada—but the boy plans to “walk” in his eighth grade graduation in June. Daniel was in the sixth grade...
La Conner's top cop retires
After 31 years in law enforcement, Skagit County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kelly Howell’s last day on the job is Friday. He’s been the commander of the Sheriff’s La Conner detachment since last January. “I’m lo...
Acrobats from China perform in La Conner
La Conner High schoolers “oohed and aahed” and clapped enthusiastically for the Chinese Acrobats, who put on a dazzling performance last Wednesday at the high school gym. The four young per...
Swinomish proposed expansion picked apart
The Summit Park Grange in Anacortes was the place to be last Wednesday night for people with a stake in the land disputes that have put the Swinomish tribe at odds with some property owners and leaders from the Samish tribe, City of Anacortes and...
Working up a sweat to cure cancer
There are many giant, looming skyscrapers in Seattle, but the tallest building in the city is Columbia Center. For the past 30 years, 6,000 determined people spend a day climbing up the center’s s...
Thank party-poopers for bathroom business hours
In hopes of addressing reoccurring problems with La Conner’s public restrooms, fed-up town officials have made some changes. New hours for the public restrooms on both Morris Street and First Street will be roughly 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a w...
Incumbents re-elected to Swinomish Senate
The Swinomish Senate leader-ship remains unchanged after two senators were re-elected by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community on Feb. 26. at the tribe’s annual general election. Winners Steve Edwards and Leon John, had terms that expired this y...
Tribes help craft national policy on reservation businesses
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is making the “rounds” across the U.S. to gather feedback from tribal nations to decide whether long-standing “Indian trading regulations” should be updated — laws that determine who can run a business on tribal...
La Conner Fire Department has new look
Standing proudly in their new dark-blue uniforms, 11 volunteer firefighters recited one-by-one an oath in front of their peers as they received an official badge from the mayor last Wednesday...
Kids ditch phones and focus in this class
La Conner high school teacher Erin Lisser teaches students to “keep calm and carry on.” She’s got a poster of the popular saying with its iconic red background and decorative crown hanging in her c...
A new superintendant for La Conner Schools
After three months of searching and interviewing, the La Conner School Board has selected a new district superintendant. The school board wants to hire Whitney Meissner, 46, who comes from Chimacum...
Fire leaves family homeless
A fire on the Swinomish Reservation destroyed a family’s home on Saturday. Firefighters from Fire District’s 13 and 11 and the City of Anacortes responded at about 1:15 p.m. to a house burning on Reservation Lane. The resident, Amanda Johnston, was...
School chief decision expected Friday
After a day spent interviewing six semi-finalist candidates for the open school superintendent position, the La Conner School Board of Directors chose three finalists to proceed to the next round of screening. The candidates are Brian Isakson, Kenny...
