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It will be cold comfort to the family whose relative was found in the Swinomish Channel mid-day Tuesday, Jan. 23 but perhaps allow the start of a grieving and healing process. Employing a remote operated underwater vehicle supplied by the Seattle Harbor Patrol, staff from the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office located and recovered human remains during a low tide search. The remains were found in the Swinomish Channel adjacent to the south end of First Street. This was the same area of a low tide search conducted the evening of Jan. 10, when agency...
So much for El Nino. The climate pattern linked to warmer than normal sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and which led to forecasts of above average temperatures this winter went AWOL for more than a week. A major storm swept into Skagit County last Wednesday on the heels of an arctic blast that had earlier plunged thermometers and wind chill gauges into single digits. The result was an extended stretch of icy and snowy roads and streets that forced local business closures and pushed... Full story
Every vote counts is no mere cliché. Just ask Bruce James, Jr. James advanced to the Swinomish Tribal Senate general election next month by a single vote, edging incumbent Brian Wilbur 84-83 and placing second in primary balloting last Saturday. Myrtle Rivas, who received 97 votes, will face James in the Feb. 10 contest for the Swinomish Senate Seat No. 10 that Wilbur had held for three terms. Meanwhile, Rodney John and incumbent Eric Day will vie for Seat No. 11 in the tribe’s general election. John polled 103 primary votes while 88 voters se... Full story
La Conner Drug Store is not the first small-town, family-owned drug store to go out of business in recent years. Rite Aid, hopefully the new home of former employees from La Conner Drug and Island Drug, is itself in bankruptcy. The conservative advocacy group Association of Mature American Citizens reports that 2,000 U.S. pharmacies closed between 2017 and 2020. Forbes wrote last September, "CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid were closing nearly 1,500 stores. Between 1980 and 2022 the number of...
The La Conner drugstore closed Monday, as reported in the Weekly News, a victim of the ongoing corporatization of the American economy, where small companies are forced out because – in ways too many people don’t see or care to understand – the books are cooked and the game is rigged. Small businesses in small towns closing is not a new story, of course. That has always been the American way, the thug-like pressure to get big or get out, or, more commonly, as Judy Booth writes this week on so-called pharmacy benefit managers, the press... Full story
Last Thursday I reached out to Rep. Dave Paul (and our two other state reps as well) and shared my frustrations and asked for help over the La Conner Drug Store closing. Here is the core of my message to Rep. Paul: Don’t know if you can do anything about this but I feel you should know that Rite Aid just purchased our only local pharmacy – La Conner Drug. This little business was first established in 1877. The corporate chain operation made this acquisition only to close the store and transfer the prescription files to their store in Ana...
As a long-time (14 years) La Conner resident I have appreciated having certain local services such as a local bank branch, a grocery store, a pharmacy and a local newspaper. It has meant that I don’t need to travel far for services, supplies and information. I like personally knowing the people with whom I do business. This is the advantage of small-town living. Then I read the stunning news of the closure of the La Conner Drug Store! I have steadfastly used their pharmacy for my several prescriptions refusing mail-order offers of ... Full story
On Jan. 16, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders introduced a resolution in the. Senate calling on the State Department to investigate requesting accountability on Israel’s misuse of American weaponry in their current genocide of the people of Gaza and the West Bank. Unfortunately the resolution did not pass. It was voted down 72-11. Eleven senators, including one Republican, voted for the resolution. I googled the results: Low and behold, our state’s Democratic senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, helped shoot the resolution down. I then goo...
The American Red Cross is facing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. In recent weeks, the Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country. Blood products are currently going to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in. Additional challenges lie ahead as winter weather and seasonal respiratory illnesses may create a more dire situation for the U.S. blood supply. A sufficient blood supply is critical to being able to provide timely care for... Full story
Thanks to Ashley Sweeney for her letter in the Jan. 17 Weekly News encouraging people to read. I would add a short sentence: a person who doesn’t read is no better off than a person who can’t read. Beverly Haywood La Conner...
Safe and Sane Skagit members drove to Olympia last week to be present as five new legislative bills on gun responsibility were presented before the Legislature’s House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee. Those bill are: HB 1902/SB6004: Permit-to Purchase that would ensure that background checks occur before a firearm purchase as well as at the point of sale; HB 1903: Lost and Stolen Reporting wherein stolen guns are often diverted to an underground market, making them more easily obtained without restriction; HB 2118: Dealer Responsibility e... Full story
Our democracy is strongest with full and equal participation in free, fair and secure elections. This means protecting your right to vote and having your vote counted. That’s why I introduced House Bill 2023, which increases language assistance in our elections. Put simply, if an individual cannot understand the ballot, they’re less likely to vote. Even for proficient English speakers, the voting process is challenging to navigate. By expanding the language requirements in the Voting Rights Act, this bill will provide voting translation res...
Hours before snow hit outside, the La Conner Planning Commissioners plowed through a busy agenda during their 80-minute Jan. 16 hybrid meeting at Maple Hall. The pile of issues addressed were housing and parking issues, the status of the Talmon Project at 306 Center Street, population projections for the town and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community’s plans to convert its Maple Avenue apartment complex to a staffed home recovery facility. The tribe has designed a program for persons and families who have completed treatment at the Didgwalic W...
Kroger and Albertsons claim a proposed merger worth 24.6 billion will result in better prices for grocery shoppers, but many fear food prices will go up and jobs could be lost as the stores eliminate competition. Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit to stop the merger, which was announced at a Seattle press conference Jan. 15. “Our job is to make sure there is a level playing field for Washington consumers and that means pushing back against the consolidation of power that destroys free enterprise and harms Washingtonians,” Ferguson sa... Full story
Extracurricular learning open to all takes place at Skagit Valley College this Saturday, Jan 27. The 10th Legislative District of Washington Democrats hosts Democracy in Crisis: Taking Action, a free day of inspiration and workshops, working in concert with students from Skagit Valley College Breaking Free Club, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Skagit, FairVote WA, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 3000, Civil Survival, Fidalgo Democrats, Skagit Democrats and additional community partners and elected representatives, to... Full story
Residents can learn about a feasibility study for a grant to allow solar and storage of energy at the La Conner’s fire department and school district campus at 10 a.m. Feb. 3 at the La Conner Swinomish Library. The presentation explores solar and storage opportunities and how they can help build resilience and support community needs. The Town of La Conner Emergency Management Commission will be available to discuss their work with emergency preparedness. Information: townoflaconner.org/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=51; [email protected] or M... Full story
ANACORTES — Skagit Bay Search and Rescue has been granted $25,000 by HF Sinclair to support the basing of a new marine emergency response boat in Anacortes. A ceremony with a representational presenting of the donation will be held at Seafarer’s Memorial Park Tuesday Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. by the Lady of the Sea Memorial, 601 Seafarer’s Way. The public is invited. City of Anacortes Mayor Matt Miller and Port of Skagit commissioners will attend. Skagit Bay Search and Rescue is a nonprofit, volunteer organization founded in 2002 and formed under...
La Conner High School seniors started their freshman year wearing masks and learning from home in front of their computers. Three years later they’re still playing catch-up from the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus the La Conner’s Class of ‘24 has lagged in fundraising, not possible with the campus closed. The class must still raise about half of the estimated $25,000 needed for its June trip to Disneyland. Senior class advisor Theresa James apprised school board members at their Jan. 22 meeting that despite the yeoman effor... Full story
Braves hoop team blister nets, win 2 With a frigid winter cold snap outside, the La Conner Braves turned up the heat inside gyms at Coupeville and Darrington for a pair of key NW2B/1B high school hoops triumphs last week. Fittingly, given the plunging temps, La Conner’s 69-68 victory at Coupeville Jan. 16 was a classic barnburner. The Braves then scorched the nets Friday night enroute to a lopsided 76-35 decision at Darrington. “It was a good conference win after two days off for weather,” coach Lance Lopez told the Weekly News after the route...
The La Conner High School girls’ basketball team saved its best for last at Coupeville. Entering the fourth quarter deadlocked, the Lady Braves finished with an 18-4 spurt that secured a 46-32 NW2B/1B triumph Jan. 16, extending their winning streak over the hosts to 11 games dating to 2018. Coupled with a 51-25 road victory over Darrington Jan. 19, the team is unbeaten (5-0) in conference play before last night’s clash with Orcas Island. For La Conner, the road trip to Coupeville was Valentine’s Day a month early. With head coach Joe Harpe...
We hope everyone’s New Year is off to a great start, It is hard to believe that January is almost over already. Our little taste of winter made for an interesting start to 2024, but now that things are finally thawing out, come to the library for a cozy day of reading or come to one of the many programs we have coming up through Feb.. Our first armchair Travels with Teri program had to be postponed due to the snow; however, we are going to reschedule. Stay tuned to our website or come by the library to get the new date. We have tons of fun c...
Saturday's lecture at the Museum of Northwest Art capped off the three-month visual and sound exhibition, "Surge: Mapping Transition, Displacement and Agency in Times of Climate Change," with a disturbing look at the future of birds. "If birds aren't doing well, we aren't either." said John Bower. He had collaborated with artist Natalie Niblack for their talk, "Inside an Artist & Scientist Collaboration: '66 Birds/3 Degrees,'" as they worked together for her exhibit. They spoke before a full...
The La Conner Birding Festival returns to Maple Hall Feb. 3-4 with art, education and family activities for the whole family. Wildlife artist Tony Angell speaks 6 p.m. Saturday on “For Ravens, Crows, and Other Birds, Timing Is Crucial.” The La Conner Chamber of Commerce is festival host. Doors open 10 a.m. each day. Sunday’s end is 4 p.m. A Facebook page for the La Conner Birding Festival contains more information. Email [email protected]....
Join the Skagit Community Band when it performs music inspired by dance 7 p.m. Feb. 2 in Maple Hall. Selections include: "Four Scottish Dances" by Arnold, "Russian Sailors' Dance" by Gliere, "The Rakes of Mallow" by Anderson and "Armenian Dances" by Reed. Free admission with donations. A second performance is in Anacortes at 3 p.m. Feb. 4 in Brodniak Hall . Information: Skagitcommunityband.org. Source: Skagit Community Band...
CONWAY — Last week’s weather paused cleanup operations of the December Olympic Pipeline gasoline spill east of Conway. By Jan. 20 excavation of impacted soil at the spill site north of SR 534 resumed. This update is from United Command press releases. SR 534 will be closed in both directions at the site in the near future for a period of four to six hours while a temporary sheet piling wall is installed to isolate the eastern bank of Hill Ditch and allow response crews to dig out the remaining impacted soil and sediment and replace it with clea...
