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Your weekly newspaper is doubling down on its commitment to La Conner, elevating journalist Bill Reynolds to news editor and buying the property his office is in at 119 North Third Street. “Bill Reynolds does much more than report on La Conner events. He is practically the town historian and certainly its champion. From the school hall to the town hall, Bill knows, and cares, about everyone. He is a thoughtful, careful journalist and I am thrilled he will increase his role by becoming the n...
Concerns of the Coronavirus have reached into La Conner. Tuesday Mayor Ramon Hayes sent this recommendation from the Skagit County Health Officer to Town Councilmembers and staff: “The community should postpone non-essential events and gatherings of ten or more people.” While there are no known infections in Skagit County, there have been local cancellations and runs on hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol and, yes, toilet paper. At the start of last week staff taped a “No masks, No Sanitizer” sign on the door of the La Conner Drug store. Saturday t...
Ashley Davis isn’t apt to toot his own horn. But the La Conner High junior can and does – in a literal sense, anyway – on those occasions when he takes up the saxophone. The laidback and modest Davis, however, is best known for playing the bass clarinet. And not just on and around the local campus. Davis recently auditioned for and was selected to the All-State Wind Ensemble during the Washington Music Educators Association Conference in Yakima. A member of the La Conner High b...
A division of labor has added up to multiple successes for the La Conner High Knowledge Bowl team. As in years past, the numbers continue to support the team’s strategy of bringing together students with diverse interests and varied skill sets. The latest example was at recent regional trials where La Conner dominated its enrollment division and placed ahead of all schools other than Stanwood High, which draws academic talent from more than 1,400 students. La Conner placed fourth at the State 1...
The youth league baseball season is weeks off, but the first pitch has already been thrown. Only in this case it’s a sales pitch. The Hedlin family, which since the early 1950s has leased to La Conner a near-two acre property facing Maple Avenue for use as a community sports field, has offered to sell the property outright to the Town. Hardball isn’t part of the deal. The Hedlins are making the ballfield site – an 80,000-square foot public use pocket nestled between residences and farmland – available at a discounted price, May...
John A. Summers, 83, a lifelong resident of Skagit Valley, passed away in Anacortes, WA on February 19, 2020. John was born in Burlington, WA on March 22, 1936 to Margaret (Hanson) Summers and Alvord C. Summers. He graduated from La Conner High School in 1954 and then graduated from Skagit Valley College. He attended Pacific Lutheran University, a fitting choice for a young man who was active in the Salem Lutheran Church which he credited with teaching him how to live and lead a good life. He...
Nicole Henriksen goes great distances to help others. Consider that the 2016 La Conner High alum spent part of last summer in Uganda as a health care volunteer and will return to Africa in June for a two-year Peace Corps assignment in Malawi. And she has done so while staying on schedule to graduate from Washington State University. Henriksen leaves for southeastern Africa in June, shortly after receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology during spring commencement exercises in Pullman. At o...
The reason Marcus Lamb isn’t seen often at his Shelter Bay home is because he’s out making his presence felt around the globe. And doing so in a big way. Lamb, an information technology systems specialist, was recently named one of six recipients of the U.S. Secretary of State Award for outstanding volunteerism abroad based on his work in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The award honors U.S. Foreign Service officers and family members for exceptional volunteer efforts while posted overseas. Lamb was re...
Brian Cladoosby is a recognized leader both here and in the other Washington. The longtime Swinomish Tribal Community Senate chairman, under whose tenure the local reservation has realized unparalleled economic growth along with major advances in social services and health care facilities, has during that time often shared a speaking dais with governors, state and federal lawmakers, cabinet officers, and even a U.S. President. Yet more remains on his to-do list, he told the Weekly News last...
Allen Lowe’s new job as La Conner School District’s math teacher ended tragically with his death from a brain aneurysm Jan. 20. Staff and students in La Conner and Mount Vernon, where Lowe taught for 16 years after becoming a teacher in 2003 are grieving. Lowe’s love of working with children began as a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia in 1987-8. Lowe went to Africa as an engineer. Born in Short Hills, New Jersey, he earned engineering degrees from Stanford and California Polytechnic State University. In Africa he met his life partner Andre...
Boyd W. Zimmerman passed away Saturday, January 11, 2020 at home surrounded by his family. He was born in Noonan, North Dakota to Edgar and Stella (Kjos) Zimmerman on October 14, 1930. The family moved to La Conner in 1936. Boyd graduated from La Conner High School in 1949. Shortly after graduation he married Donna Green, in 1951. They were married for sixty-eight years. Donna preceded him in death in 2019. Boyd began working at Zimmerman’s Service Station in 1949. He worked with his Dad until his Dad retired, at which time he purchased the s...
Patricia McEniry Love of La Conner, age 94, died at her home on November 26, 2019. She is survived by daughters: Robin (Richard Tanner) and Sheila Connolly, 9 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. No one will ever forget their “GG.” She was preceded in death by Henry Love, her husband of 60 years, daughter Ann Love Glick, and brother Michael McEniry. She was born Patricia Adele McEniry to James & Betty (Braga) McEniry on October 30, 1925 in Pasadena, California. The family moved to Seattle w...
The library at La Conner High School was buzzing with questions and conversations between 45 8th graders and 18 adults. They gathered together for two hours Jan. 8 to take part in “Pizza with Professionals.” This first-time event came about through the collaborative efforts of La Conner Schools Superintendent Dr. Whitney Meissner, Counselor Lori Buher and Susan Macek of the La Conner Rotary. The goal was to provide an opportunity for students in middle school to engage with local rep...
While the top, if not currently hot, story of 2019 is the still real turmoil in La Conner Schools, the quiet story this past year, indeed the past two years, and more, is the steady march from quest to accomplishment of funding the building of a new La Conner Regional Library. Our library, like all libraries, is as much a foundation of the community as our school district. Libraries are as much a fundamental building block of our local democracy as is the weekly newspaper. The world might be at your fingertips with your phone in your other...
Myrna, 85, of La Conner, WA, passed on December 11th, 2019. Born to Frank J. & Beatrice Shula (Patterson) Siebens, January 22, 1934 in Portland, OR. Myrna graduated from Renton High School, class of 1952. She had a long career at Boeing in Renton. She was co-President of the May Valley PTA along with her husband Donald, and co-founders of the Coalfield Five Star Athletic Club & King County Coalfield Park. She had a giving nature, such as writing personalized poems for loved ones for every occasion. Myrna was preceded in death by her husband,...
The sands of time have been kind to Cora Kellerman. A trained electrical engineer, the 29-year-old former La Conner High and Eastern Washington University volleyball standout now plugs into office hours on southern California beaches. Kellerman, who helped lead La Conner to State net titles in 2006 and 2007, is riding the popular wave of professional beach volleyball. Even for an accomplished player like Kellerman, who led EWU by averaging nearly three kills per set her senior year –...
Darwin Eugene Butcher, 88, passed away peacefully at home on December 9th, 2019 surrounded by his wife of 55 years and loved ones. Darwin was born August 11th, 1931 in Ogden, Utah to Harold Butcher and Hazel (Bingham) Butcher. He was the oldest of three children. His early childhood years were during the Great Depression. Darwin lived many places as a child including Washington D.C., Oklahoma City, Berkeley, Oakland and Seattle. In 1944, the Butcher family moved to Anchorage, Alaska. They were one of the first pioneer families to drive the...
Another month, another rain report. Regular readers know – and hopefully come to expect – a first issue of the month summary of the previous month’s rain and temperatures. For the thousands in the La Conner School district who don’t regularly receive a paper, this is a regular feature, as much as school news and sports. Just what is going on with the weather? Inquiring minds want to know. They find that answer in the Weekly News, the place for news about your community. A strong editorial voice is included every week, also. Edi...
Patricia McEniry Love, 94, of La Conner died at her home on November 26, 2019. She is survived by daughters: Robin (Richard Tanner) and Sheila Connolly; nine grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. No one will ever forget their “GG”. She was preceded in death by Henry Love, her husband of 60 years, daughter Ann Love Glick, and brother Michael McEniry. She was born Patricia Adele McEniry to James & Betty (Braga) McEniry on October 30, 1925 in Pasadena, California. The family moved to Seattle where Patsy attended Lowell School, and was a pr...
The weekly newspaper was delivered today, Wednesday, and through the end of this week around La Conner, as has been the case every week for 141 years, since 1878. Hopefully it is your local and weekly newspaper. To the subscribers in the greater La Conner region, the 98257 and 98273 zip codes, thank you. To expatriates in Seattle, Portland, California and beyond, thank you. To grown children and parents who have bought gift subscriptions for family members so those far away are kept up to date and reminded weekly of the goings on in the...
La Conner’s Mike Compton is in the hall of fame. After a lifetime of wrestling, starting before his winning a conference champion and being named Most Inspirational Wrestler at Western Washington State College in 1970, he has again been awarded: Nov. 2 Compton was elected to the 2019 Hall of Fame class of the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association. Compton finished his coaching career at La Conner (2004-2011). Hired as athletic director, he created a wrestling program. Before he retired,...
At its monthly meeting Monday, the La Conner School District Directors congratulated their high school’s state volleyball championship and then recognized outgoing Directors Janie Beasley and Kate Szurek with a board resolution. Together, the resolution stated, they have served 20 years on the board, Beasley since 2004 and Szurek since 2015. The resolution names specific contributions the two made to the school district and honors them for their involvement in school policy at the state and national levels. It ends with the Directors o...
Everyone loves a winner. That was the case here this week as La Conner High volleyball fans turned out in droves to support the Lady Braves in Yakima and then welcomed them back home after they captured their second in a row and fifth State championship in program history. “I have to say that in my past 25 trips to State we’ve never had a crowd quite like this,” said La Conner head coach Suzanne Marble, who has been at the helm for all five State titles. A chaperoned rooter’s bus carried 40 stud...
This corrects and updates the Nov. 6 election story which incorrectly stated all votes had been counted in the La Conner school board elections. Newcomer Marlys Baker will defeat Board Chair Janie Beasley for La Conner School Board Director and John Agen is posed to take Kate Szurek’s Director seat. Tuesday’s ballot count update shows a turnout over 50% higher than the 2015 school board election. With 800 votes to be counted countywide, Baker has 67% of the vote, steadily increasing her lead sin...
The 35th Anniversary of Art’s Alive! in La Conner opened with a bang and a crush of people attending the opening reception Friday in Maple Hall and the weekend, extending through 4 p.m. Monday, kept drawing people in. The show’s title, “Celebrating Skagit Valley Art Legacy,” was apt. Some 10 of the 12 artists had shown previous years. The late Clayton James and the elderly Ed Kamuda were the headliners and show draws. And they sold “really well” said Sylvia Strong, co-chair of the La Conner A...