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The La Conner School Board reviewed the top two submissions in a school district contest to adopt a new Braves logo and were updated on the progress of the district’s auto tech course taught by the transportation department’s Randy Swift during their monthly hybrid public meeting on campus Dec. 13. They agreed to the high school’s students voting on which of the two proposed logos to send to the Swinomish Tribal Senate for possible approval. They also gave two thumbs-up to the hands-on automotive technology curriculum. Development of a new l...
Like everyone growing up in La Conner, Tristen Nelson knew each holiday season kicked off with the famed Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade televised from New York City. Unlike most here, however, she would one day be part of the storied event. That day was this past Thanksgiving when Nelson, associate director of marketing with the Funko pop culture collectibles company, helped introduce the giant Baby Yoda balloon to the rest of the country. “I’m not being biased – okay, maybe a little &ndas...
It’s been quite a year for La Conner High School volleyball. And no month reflects that better than November, when the team captured its third straight state 2B tournament championship. They did it dropping only a single set at Yakima to cap yet another undefeated season. Because of that, and their winning ways off the court in terms of community service and academic excellence, the Lady Braves were selected by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association and Les Schwab Tire Center a...
Two La Conner High School wrestlers are again more than holding their own wrestling on a co-op basis with the 2A Burlington-Edison girls’ mat program. Delaney Cobbs and Kaliana Bill, who have wrestled regularly for Burlington Edison High School because La Conner no longer offers the sport on campus, have returned to the Burlington- Edison fold for the 2021-22 campaign. They made their presence felt on several levels Saturday. The two seniors turned in strong showings at the Everett High School Girls’ Wrestling Tournament, an event that dre...
A member of a local pioneer farm family played a key role in growing the La Conner volleyball program into a perennial state title contender. Julie Hulbert Marble is now a dental hygienist at Skagit Valley Family Dental Center. She helped La Conner High School enjoy a steady diet of wins, including state net crowns in 2006-2007 and then majored in nutrition at Central Washington University, A 5’-11” middle blocker who was a four-year high school letter winner, she played for the school’s back-...
Harry Everett Smith was neither born nor died in Anacortes, but he did live there for about 10 years as a youth before and during the Great Depression. Salmon canneries brought his family, and his father, R.J. Smith, to Anacortes and cannery work took the Smith family to Bellingham, where Harry Smith graduated from high school. After living in Seattle, he left the Puget Sound area, never to return. As a high school student Harry Smith studied Salish Sea traditions, recording and collecting tribal songs on 78 rpm shellac records. He went on to...
Lloyd Michael Jennings, 86, a lifelong Mount Vernon resident, died peacefully at home on Sunday, November 28, surrounded by his family. Lloyd Michael Jennings was born April 13, 1935 in Sioux City, Iowa to Lloyd Louis Jennings and Elma Hazel Mayer Jennings. When Lloyd was 2, the family moved out west to Mount Vernon, Washington. Lloyd and his three sisters had a very typical 1940s childhood, enjoying car rides to get ice cream, movies on Saturdays, and bike rides through the farmland with...
Ellie Marble was thankful for a “real season” this fall after the 2020 volleyball schedule was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, replaced by a shorter, modified spring campaign. It was only fitting, then, that the La Conner High junior outside hitter would emerge as the real deal in a real season that saw Marble and her teammates do something really special – go undefeated and win the State 2B Tournament without dropping a single set in Yakima. Along the way Marble recorded her 1,0...
The La Conner High School girls’ basketball defense never rested in three straight wins over non-league opponents opening the 2021-22 season last week. The team romped past 1A Lynden 70-40 on the road Wednesday, then debuted at Landy James Gym Friday with a 41-40 squeaker over 1A Nooksack Valley before routing 2A Anacortes 64-33 at home Saturday. “Our defense has been great,” La Conner head coach Scott Novak told the Weekly News while assessing his team’s quick start against a challenging early season schedule. He said La Conner’s full-cour...
Home is where the heart is. And, for the La Conner High School boys’ basketball team, it’s also where the wins are. At least that was the case through the opening weekend of the Braves’ 2021-22 hoop campaign as La Conner defeated SeaTac 2B foes Seattle Lutheran and Concordia Christian Academy in non-league games at Landy James Gym. La Conner (2-1) routed Seattle Lutheran 59-13 on Friday and downed Concordia 46-32 Saturday afternoon. In so doing, the Braves rebounded nicely from a 43-22 setback at SeaTac 2B leader Northwest Yeshiva in their...
La Conner town’s council is posed to pass the town’s 2022 annual budget at its Dec. 14 meeting. At their Nov. 23 meeting, held on Zoom only, members, the mayor and staff seemed in general agreement on the items they discussed. No resident was present or spoke during the budget public hearing agenda segment. Discussion centered on social infrastructure, first the need to catch up with equipment for the fire department. The department budget will be raised to about $175,000 from October’s $144,596 initial amount. Fire Chief Aaron Reinstra and m...
Lynn Wallace Weidenbach passed away peacefully from natural causes at his home on Monday, November 8, at the age of 81. In the weeks and days leading up to his passing, Lynn was happy, smiling, joking and loving while surrounded by family and many of the innumerable friends he made during the course of his extraordinary life. While Lynn often referred to himself as “just a farmer”, nothing was farther from the truth as his presence on earth made a positive impact on the lives of the hundreds, if...
There was rarely suspense when the La Conner High School volleyball team took the court this year. The team not only went undefeated in regular season and playoff matches but didn’t drop a single set at the Yakima Sun Dome enroute to capturing the 2021 state 2B championship last month, the program’s sixth title trophy in two decades. Thus, there were few surprises when it came time for league schools to select this season’s All-NW2B/1B team. Six players were selected for major All-League honors. Leading the way is 6’-0” junior outside h...
Eight is enough. The title of a popular 1970s TV series is also an apt rallying cry for the La Conner High School girls’ varsity basketball team this season. La Conner will employ a short roster to begin its pursuit of a tall order when head coach Scott Novak’s charges tip off their 2021-22 campaign in earnest tonight (Wednesday) at Lynden. In 2020 the team placed second in the state’s 2B Hardwood Classic. It was runner-up in this year’s small school summer state tourney in Mount Vernon. The much-anticipated Dec. 1 non-league clash with th...
They have the same name but play different games. But both will be taking those games to the next level. La Conner High School seniors Emma Worgum and Emma Keller signed letters of intent last month to compete collegiately next year in their respective sports. Worgum signed with the Western Washington University women’s golf program. Keller committed to playing volleyball at Edmonds Community College. Worgum has been a state tournament caliber golfer and top entrant on the Washington junior circuit, playing a dozen or more major events each s...
Monday, November 22 4:17 p.m.: Horse sense – Caller believed the horses at the polo farm are being fed moldy hay and a shelter. A deputy responded and observed dry hay stored behind the barn. La Conner Whitney Rd., La Conner. Tuesday, November 23 4:51 p.m.: Close call – Two car, non-injury accident. One driver was eight months pregnant. La Conner Whitney Rd., La Conner. 10:30 p.m.: Got one – While patrolling the Padilla Bay trail parking area, deputies located a suspicious vehicle. Deputies discovered the vehicle was stolen...
It was a pleasure to talk with the November Honored Student of the Month, Junaper Swanson. Juna is a senior at La Conner High School and working toward her AA degree at Skagit Valley College. She is staying closely connected to school – participating in sports, activities and volunteer opportunities. She has been starting point guard for the varsity basketball team all four years – calling plays, bringing the ball down the court and helping her teammates get in position to score....
This year the La Conner Rotary Club is bringing back an old favorite – the Santa Breakfast. Add a craft fair the same day and selfie photo opportunities at the boardwalk gazebo, and you have a formula for fun. The ever-popular Santa Breakfast will be held 8:30-11a.m. Dec. 4 at Maple Hall. Come join us for eggs, sausage and pancakes. Santa will be there for photos with families and/or pets. We will help you take photos of your loved ones using your own cell phone, no waiting for us to send you finished prints. Our thanks in advance to the...
As is the case each November there is much anticipation here about the start of the La Conner High School basketball season. But this year there is also a sense of loss – one far more pronounced than can be reflected on any scoreboard – around the school’s hoops programs. Lynn Weidenbach, 81, who across several decades served various roles with both the La Conner boys’ and girls’ teams, died Nov. 8 after a brief illness. A memorial service celebrating his extraordinary life is tentatively scheduled for next summer. Few people have...
Monday, November 15 10:25 a.m.: Ripped off – Caller reported a theft of Amazon packages from her residence. The caller reported two ripped open boxes were turned into the post office with her address on them, but nothing inside. Ring Ln., La Conner. 5:29 p.m.: Water, water everywhere – Report of water over the roadway and cars speeding through it. Public Works was requested to put warning signs out. Farm to Market / T Loop Rds., Edison. 3:00 p.m.: Knocked down – Report of a down stop sign, Public Works notified. Calhoun /...
High School Student of the Month for October is Delaney Cobbs. Delaney is the daughter of Amanda Buck of La Conner. She is a senior at the La Conner High School. Delaney active in school sports. She participates in soccer and wrestling. She says sports are her whole life and are a huge part of what she does inside and outside of school. She plans to attend college after graduation and study sports nutrition. Middle School Student of the Month for October is Mason Magill. He is the son of Ethan and Arin Magill of La Conner. He is in eighth...
City of Mount Vernon staff and businesses prepared for near historic flooding of the Skagit River in the downtown area Monday, with the City of Mount Vernon declaring a civil emergency as of 6 a.m. The river measured 35.3’ at 9:45 p.m. at the USGS (United States Geological Service) gauge at the Riverside bridge. It more than doubled in height, rising 18.8’ from its 5:30 p.m. Nov. 10 measurement of 16.5’. Phase 2 flood stage is 32.0-35.6’. The City of Mount Vernon termed it “serious and histo...
William Kenneth “Ken” Baker passed away peacefully at his home in La Conner, WA on November 6, 2021. He was born in Washington, DC on February 18, 1947, and raised in Camp Springs, MD. Ken graduated from Massanutten Military Academy, Woodstock, VA, and attended Concord College, Athens WV, before marrying Marcella “Marcy” Manken, his high school sweetheart. Ken had many athletic abilities including football, baseball, tennis, and golf. At Tahoma Valley Golf Course, Ken hit a “hole-in-one” while p...
The lights were bright inside the Yakima Sun Dome last week, but none shone more than the La Conner High School volleyball team. La Conner (22-0) kept its unbeaten mark intact by sweeping four matches over two days to capture the 2021 Washington state 2B championship behind several stellar performances. Head coach Suzanne Marble’s charges posted straight-sets tourney victories over Rainier, Okanogan, Manson and Walla Walla Valley Academy enroute to the sixth state title in program history. H...
La Conner High School students have gone on to make their marks all over the globe, attaining achievements not soon to be forgotten. Perhaps none more so than John K. Bob, a U.S. Army medic killed in action near the end of World War II while trying to remove wounded American soldiers from a German battlefield. Bob, a member of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and a student leader, athlete and musician prior to enlisting for military service, has been memorialized locally in numerous ways,...