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Danny Hagen is handily winning his primary race for Skagit County Assessor, replacing his boss, Dave Thomas, who is retiring. The Shelter Bay resident, running as an independent, leads Republican Karie Storle by almost 3,000 ballots and over nine percentage points after Monday’s Aug. 8 vote count. Hagen and Storle will face each other on the November ballot. All county races were between two candidates or had officeholders unopposed. Incumbents were winning handily in every contest. Auditor Sandy Perkins’ portion has dropped to 57.5% of the...
Old memories were shared while new ones were made at the 118th annual Pioneer Picnic on Thursday, August 4. The traditional summer event, organized by the Skagit County Pioneer Association, brought together long-standing friends and new acquaintances who enjoyed a barbecued salmon lunch prepared by the “Good Girls” and served by members of the La Conner Civic Garden Club. Sisters Kim Good Rubenstein, Virginia Good-Vlahovich and Patsy Good cooked 185 pounds of sockeye salmon for the outdoor lun...
Everyone who has lived in Washington for the past decade knows all about mail-in voting, now a very familiar part of our civic way of life. The Weekly News hoped to show the vote counting process, complete with volunteer observers representing the Democratic and Republican parties. Given the high level of accusations of “rigged elections,” “cheating” and “fraud,” the last implying criminal intent, highlighting the actual process taking place at the Skagit County Office of Elections is important so that residents get a report of the integrity of...
A federal judge ruled Aug. 2 that the U.S. Navy’s environmental review process for expanding Growler jet use on Whidbey Island illegally failed to analyze the noise impacts of low-flying jets on classroom learning and birds, did not properly consider the greenhouse gas impacts of Growler fuel use and did not adequately consider moving operations to El Centro, California, all violating the National Environmental Policy Act. Judge Richard A. Jones supported without changes the NEPA challenge brought by the plaintiffs – the state of W...
What was going to be a standard and straightforward story extolling the integrity of the vote counting process by staff at the Skagit County Office of Elections and open government with the attendant citizen volunteer Democrat and Republican observers has turned into this lament and surprise in decisions made by staff at the county auditor's office. The back story starts with the Weekly News staff story development meeting listing assignments. With the Aug. 2 primary election looming – and the paper's ever present concern for integrity...
I seldom struggle to find subjects about which to write, but right now most of the subjects give us a fright! They sometimes cause us to kick, scratch and bite, we all seem to be a bit quick to turn our differences into a fight! Roe vs Wade, Trump and his tantrum on trial, immigrants trying to find a better place to live, China chiding us for Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan, crazy war in Ukraine, climate change, affordable housing, yeah, the subjects go on and on, which do I choose? About all of these matters I could write what would make most of us s...
I found the burn ban article (Weekly News Aug. 3) to be poor journalism. Although you admitted professionals "will not speculate," you named a local family and all but accused them of arson. Everything from the title of the article to the description of the scene was speculative and sensationalist. I feel like a legitimate newspaper should take a cue from said professionals and report back to the community when you have actual findings, not feelings. Austin Kinney Shelter Bay...
McCoy could not wait for happy hour at the Tav – and the bar did not have reduced prices anyway. Though he almost never called his friend, he did now. Hatfield had not gotten through hello when McCoy jumped in. “That Bubba Smith, you won't believe it. I don't believe it. He won't get away with it. No one's going to accept his cockamamie story.” This was McCoy red hot upset. Hatfield tried to get him to start at the beginning. “Bubba Smith. Your pappy's friend? You haven't mentioned him in decades, back to the 1980s. Where did he come from...
For years – decades, actually – folks in La Conner have talked at length about the community’s housing crunch. In the 1980s and 1990s, when in-filling vacant lots was proposed as a preferable remedy to zoning changes that would encourage sprawl, the question was posed in the context of whether property values or human values would prevail. Now, with a changed narrative and renewed emphasis on creative problem-solving, perhaps both values are achievable. “We need better and more precise terminology,” Bill Henkel, executive direc...
The first week in August, 1945, I was downtown in Seattle when it was announced that Japan had surrendered following the dropping of the atom bomb. Seattle’s streets were filled with people going wild with joy. People were jumping on police cars and fire trucks. Those in uniform were especially joyful. One Seattle man was extremely sad as he reflected on the effects of the bomb. Children in classrooms looked out of the windows at the bright lights from the bomb and, in a few seconds, they were incinerated. People looked for water to deal with t...
On Saturday, July 9th, 2022, the world lost an amazing husband, father, grandfather and friend. Jay, William Jay Thorp, passed away peacefully at his home on the beautiful La Conner waterfront, with his family surrounding him with love and great care. Jay was born in Auburn, Washington on October 3rd, 1953. He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Peggy, son Matt, daughter-in-law Ariel, daughter Jenny, youngest daughter Margo and son-in-law Blake. Jay was the proud grandfather of five... Full story
The Town of La Conner collected $53,917 in sales tax revenue in July, the highest July total ever, 3.6% above 2021’s previous high. It is the third straight month above $50,000 collected, as last year. The $375,917 generated for 2022 is the highest January-July total ever and 76.4% of the annual sales tax revenue estimated in the annual budget. If sales tax collections match 2021’s pace, with September’s report the Town will exceed it 2022 revenue estimate of $492,303. The past six monthly collections are again the highest monthly and year...
Sirens blared and lights flashed at John K. Bob Ball Park Tuesday, Aug. 2, the sure signs of a big bust. However, no crime occurred. Instead, this was a planned event at the Swinomish outdoor recreation area, the Swinomish Tribal Police Department’s National Night Out celebration. Participant came to a giant and festive block party complete with loud upbeat rock-n-roll music, activity booths for folks of all ages, rides on emergency vehicles, a celebrity dunk tank and free food. Billed as an a...
Terry Brazas will be recognized by the Rotary Club of La Conner with its 2022 Paul Harris Recipient at their annual auction fundraiser Aug. 27 for his years of supporting the chapter. Brazas, a Skagit Valley native, started his long career in hospitality after graduating from Washington State University in 1972. Work took him to Los Angeles, but in 2003 he returned to the valley, beoming the sole proprietor of the Farmhouse Restaurant. Brazas has always focused on food quality and employee...
Skagit County Commissioners have designated August as Breastfeeding Month in the county. The Skagit County Breastfeeding Coalition made a presentation to them July 26, highlighting the health benefits of breastfeeding for both baby and parent, while also calling attention to barriers that exist in our community that may impede a parent’s breastfeeding journey. According to the CDC, 93.7% of infants born in Washington State in 2019 started out breastfeeding. By six months of age, this number dropped to 68%. By the one-year mark, less than h...
Those looking to spice up their garden are in luck. On Saturday, Aug. 20, the La Conner United Street Fair will have hand-crafted cedar planter boxes for sale. The new La Conner Swinomish Library will get 100% of the proceeds. In early July, La Conner resident Brad Bradford decided he wanted to build planter boxes using the library’s scrap wood. “Everybody needs a couple planter boxes,” he told the Weekly News. Tiger Construction, the library’s contractor, generously donated scraps of the cro...
Sunday, July 31 7:15 p.m.: Fender bender – Two vehicle non-injury collision. One vehicle was following too close and crashed into the rear of the other vehicle when it braked suddenly. Best Rd., Greater La Conner. Monday, August 1 5:24 a.m.: Collision – Two vehicle non-injury collision that resulted in partially blocking the roadway. The vehicles were cleared from the roadway and traffic returned to normal. Beaver Marsh/McLean Rds., Greater La Conner. 12:27 p.m.: Mistaken burglary...
