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Articles from the May 31, 2022 edition


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  • Pleasant Ridge, Swinomish Memorial Day ceremonies

    Bill Reynolds|May 31, 2022

    The weather was iffy, but the timing couldn’t have been better when Memorial Day ceremonies at the Swinomish Tribal Community Cemetery concluded Monday morning. Almost as soon as the tribal canoe family closed the solemn 90-minute multi-denominational prayer service with its Warrior Song, two eagles and four U.S. Navy jets soared across gray skies overhead. The symbolism was not lost on Brian Cladoosby, serving as master of ceremonies. He noted how Memorial Day, like the images that filled t...

  • 4,300 without electricity Monday morning

    May 31, 2022

    Time stopped inside for almost 4,300 greater La Conner residents Monday at 8:23 a.m. They lost electrical power after a vehicle heading south on La Conner Whitney Road slid off the road, breaking an east side Puget Sound Energy pole just north of Flats Road. Within 25 minutes power was restored for 2,700 of those customers. At 9:09 a.m. another 1,500 households gained electricity. At 2:55 p.m. the last 54 customers had power again. Around 10 a.m., a repair crew was onsite assessing the damage....

  • Guns still don't add up

    Ken Stern|May 31, 2022

    Because any newly penned editorial on gun violence and the prevalence of weapons of war in the hands of seemingly everybody only adds to long held positions, this editorial is being reprinted from Feb. 21, 2018, after the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.Add the numbers up: 58, 17, 13, 10, 27, 2012. That is an old exercise, written in 2018. Here are only the latest, late May, last week, murders: 10 in Buffalo, May 15 and now 21 in Uvalde, Texas, May 24. Include Joe Garcia, dead of a heart attack –...

  • Now is time to remedy Growler jet noise harms

    Anne Harvey|May 31, 2022

    Our nation faces many challenges. It has been decades since we have watched the horrors of war on the evening news. The atrocities of the war in Ukraine are a harsh reminder of the fragility of peace and prosperity in our world. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shows the future of military action. While the Sound Defense Alliance supports the national security mission of the EA18-G “Growler” electronic attack aircraft and the robust training that enables our pilots to be the best in the world, we also recognize that the national security missi...

  • Sometimes a salmon tourist

    May 31, 2022

    So, however you slice it, the more diverse the chances to edu-tain these tourists, the better. When tourists come and catch a sustainably raised, collaboratively grown fish, they will learn so much that their bill tips left behind would be a new income stream for the community. Here’s a quick example of a future letter from the local school superintendent to the taxpayers. Dear taxpayer: Here’s some super good news. Our recently implemented fish-based STEAM curricula have paid dividends far beyond our wildest dreams. With the collaboration of...

  • Federal firearms legislation

    May 31, 2022

    Over the past two decades there have been nearly 20,000 deaths due to gun violence in the United States and since 2013 over 3,500 mass shootings. More than 2,000 firearms-related bills have been intoduced to the U.S. Congress. Proponents argue the country must impose stricter regulations to address the horrifying number of gun-related deaths. Opponents say adding new gun control laws not only could infringe on Second Amendment rights but also will not deter someone determined to kill. The following are gun-related bills that have passed over...

  • Musings – on the editor’s mind

    May 31, 2022

    Hatfield and McCoy were sitting solidly in their seats, holding tightly on to their bourbons and beers for dear life, drinking doubles and ordering new rounds before their glasses were empty. You could tell they were shook but it would be a long while before the drink took hold, despite their intent to put themselves to sleep and leave the communal national nightmare behind. "There is a lot I like about that Nader fella and he is right about most things, but he missed it by a mile when he said there wasn't a dime worth of difference between...

  • Center Street condominiums challenge waiting hearing examiner response

    Ken Stern|May 31, 2022

    No decision on the reconsideration requests filed for the Center Street condominiums conditional use permit before hearing examiner David Lowell had been made by May 27. Four requests for reconsidering Lowell’s May 11 decision to approve the 3-story, 21 unit building on the corner of Center and Fourth streets were filed by May 18. Planner Michael Davolio’s request, filed May 12, received a same day email response from Lowell stating he would “wait five days and will render a revised decision.” By May 18 three additional reconsideration request...

  • Emma Worgum wins girls’ state golf crown

    Bill Reynolds|May 31, 2022

    Winning has long been par for La Conner High School senior Emma Worgum. The Lady Braves’ senior golf standout has excelled throughout her high school career, including summer tournaments. She capped her fantastic four-year run by capturing the Washington 1B/2B girls’ state championship at Deer Park May 25. She carded a two-day score of 144 – highlighted by a three-under-par 69 during Thursday’s second round – to win the title by 17 strokes. “Emma played great,” golf coach Jamie Car...

  • School Board learns of 60 graduating seniors plans

    Bill Reynolds|May 31, 2022

    La Conner School Board members dealt with topics from A to Z during their two-hour hybrid meeting May 23. During public comments, a series of speakers stressed the value of preschool instruction being accessible to all children. They said it helps build a lifetime foundation of academic and social-emotional skills and that a district program will make sure children unable to attend private preschools not “fall through the cracks.” Members said they will consider it. Counselor Lori Buher reported that 24 seniors plan to attend four-year pub...

  • Murdock captures state gold in hurdles

    Bill Reynolds|May 31, 2022

    La Conner High School sophomore Tommy Murdock won the boys’ state 2B 300-meter hurdles title in storybook fashion at Cheney May 26-28. Murdock, who had bolted to an early lead, clipped the final hurdle before tumbling across the finish line. Despite the late fall, it was Murdock who moments later climbed atop the winner’s podium to collect the gold medal in his signature event. “He won pretty decisively,” La Conner head track coach Peter Voorhees said. Murdock clocked a 0:40.76 in the final,...

  • Asian Marinade for Steak & Veggies

    Patricia Aqiimuk Paul|May 31, 2022

    A flat iron steak is perfect for this recipe. After marinating the steak four hours, I used an indoor electric grill. While it was grilling, I prepped fresh veggies. I used a double sided grill from Pampered Chef. For the marinade, there are ingredient choices. You can substitute 4 regular garlic for the 2 elephant garlic. The choice of soy sauce is what your diet dictates. For hot chili paste, I used a chili garlic sauce. The vegetables can vary by what’s in season and what you have on hand. T...

  • Skagit County Police Blotter

    May 31, 2022

    Sunday, May 22 10:48 a.m.: Conway burglar – Suspect attempted to get into a back door of the house but did not make entry. Suspect described as a male entered the garage where a generator was taken and loaded into a vehicle. Fir Island Rd., Conway. 12:18 p.m.: Window breaker – A vehicle owner interrupted someone breaking the window out of his truck’s canopy. The same person was possibly siphoning gas from another vehicle. Boat Launch Rd., Greater La Conner. Monday, May 23 8:04 p.m.: Missing license plates – License plates w...

  • The train to SeaTac is a 21st century option

    Anne Basye|May 31, 2022

    SeaTac airport is about half an hour closer to La Conner now that Sound Transit’s Link light rail service extends to Northgate. As a frequent commuter between SeaTac and Skagit Station in Mount Vernon, I’m thrilled. The public transit journey still has three legs and takes more than three hours, but the tedious traffic jams between Northgate and downtown Seattle are history. The whole trip costs about $8, compared to $40+ for the two-hour trip on the Airporter shuttle and keeps critical carbon emissions out of the atmosphere. Northbound or sou...

  • Chris Omdal new La Conner Marina harbormaster

    Bill Reynolds|May 31, 2022

    Chris Omdal stepped into his new role as the La Conner Marina harbormaster last week after career stop where he has always enjoyed meeting folks from all walks of life. That will not change here. Omdal, an avid walker, has already developed an easy rapport with boaters moored at the marina’s floating docks along Swinomish Channel. At the start of the Memorial Day weekend Friday, he donned his safety vest and walked the marina’s guest float area to meet and greet members of the Edmonds Yacht Clu...

  • Residents criticize Center Street project at council meeting

    Bill Reynolds|May 31, 2022

    The Fourth of July is more than a month away but there were plenty of fireworks at the La Conner Town Council meeting last Tuesday. Fuses were already short when late in the 70-minute session residents opposed to a proposed three-story, 20-unit Center Street condominium building were finally able to address the issue – the public comment segment of the meeting having been delayed about a half-hour, much to the chagrin of those attending. When allowed to speak, several persons living near the project site voiced concerns with a process tha...