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Residents and merchants are asked to report flood-damages from Tuesday’s flood for possible disaster-relief aid from the state of Washington. Today, Dec. 29, the Town of La Conner posted this urgent emergency alert on its website: Online self-reporting damage assessment forms are now available for the king tide event. The state will use this data to determine what level of aid may be available. Please take a few moments to self-report any damages so that the state will get an accurate picture of the scope of damages. Both residents and b...
Each October La Conner Public Works Director Brian Lease and his crew begin bracing for all kinds of wintry conditions anticipated in the weeks ahead – heavy snowfall, icy streets and sidewalks, high winds, steady rain and standing water. They dealt with all those in the last few days alone. A fierce winter storm that brought up to nine inches of snow was followed by record low temperatures making for hazardous travel and then rapid melting marked a wild weather week leading up through C...
The market for sold homes in Skagit County has cooled considerably in October and November. Fewer homes were sold and at lower median prices from 2021 and from last summer The median price of sold homes dropped below $500,000 in October, the first month this year below $500,000 and dropped further in November, to $489,500 for the 118 homes and condominiums that closed in November. July’s $557,500 was the peak median sold home price. The significant drop in the Anacortes market, with only 19 homes selling, at a median price of $585,000, down $...
The American judicial system isn’t always known for its swift action. But Skagit County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Yost Neidzwski took less than five minutes Dec. 15 to dismiss with prejudice a complaint filed by Shelter Bay residents Wesley and Roberta Fontenot against Philip Buri, the residential community’s longtime legal counsel. Dismissal with prejudice means a plaintiff cannot refile the same claim in that court. Roberta Fontenot, previously an assistant federal public defender in Louisiana, did not appear in court. She had named Bur...
What caused the February 2021 Texas electric supply crisis? Prolonged, unexpected cold weather created unexpectedly high electric and gas demand. Supply systems could not keep up. If farmers grow too much wheat, you get a big pile of wheat. If utilities generate too much electricity, overproduction does not create a big pile of electricity. It just heats up the transmission wires. Electric storage systems exist, but Texas does not have the elevation changes required for large scale...
SEATTLE — In a massive international and coast-wide decision for wild Chinook and Southern Resident killer whale recovery, Seattle’s federal court issued a landmark opinion Dec. 13 recommending terminating unsustainable commercial salmon harvest that has persisted for decades until new environmental reviews of those fisheries occur. Overfishing was found in a previous ruling to illegally harm the recovery of both endangered Southern Resident killer whales and wild Chinook salmon across the Pacific Northwest. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michelle Pet...
Democrat Clyde Shavers is the Legislative District 10 Position 1 state representative, defeating State Rep. Greg Gilday (R-Camano Island) in the Nov. 8 election. The Washington Secretary of State’s office certified amended returns from the three-county district elections offices Dec 16. Shavers won by 216 votes, gaining five in Island County. Skagit and Snohomish counties results were unchanged. State law mandated a recount....
Today is the official start of winter. The seasons changed Monday, though, when La Conner and the Puget Sound region awakened to sub-freezing temperatures and light snow on the ground. Much of the same is forecast through Friday. The wintry conditions immediately impacted schedules. La Conner Schools Monday morning canceled Tuesday classes, the last day of school before winter break. The La Conner High girls' basketball game at Meridian Monday and the Braves' Tuesday tipoff with Clallam Bay...
The 2023 budget the La Conner Town Council passed Dec. 13 is robust in its expenditures, at $6.97 million and modest in its increase in revenue, to $5.6 million. It is a deficit budget of $1.37 million, with reserves covering the difference. Expenditures will be $1.1 million more than projected for 2022, almost 19% higher. Five funds will increase by a total of $1.1 million next year: The general fund increase of $215,874 will include staff raises of 7.3% for administration and 3% for public works. Replacing the fire hall roof is $180,000,...
Sunday afternoon Skagit Habitat for Humanity’s 41st home was ready and dedicated for Katelyn and her two children. The Channel Cove duplex on Park Street was ready for move-in after three months of renovation by primarily volunteer workers, including Katelyn. Skagit Habitat Executive Director Tina Tate, Board President Rob Ashby and Skagit County Commissioner Ron Wesen spoke at a 2 p.m. ceremony in the Channel Cove community center. They welcomed Katelyn into her new home and expressed appreciation for all who made the project possible. Jodi D...
Since 2015 talks had stalled regarding negotiation of a new master lease between Shelter Bay and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Now folks are talking again. Shelter Bay and Swinomish residents and leaders last week attended the first of planned traditional Native American open floor discussions hosted by lease consultants Dr. Wil James and Ava Goodman at the tribal social services building. Most came away with a positive view of the three-hour session, which invited a frank but respectful dialogue stressing common ground approaches to s...
In February 2021, Texas had unusually cold weather, resulting in an electric energy supply crisis. Millions of customers were without power for up to four days, during the coldest days of the year. Retail prices went up dramatically, and some customers received monthly bills for more than ten thousand dollars. Initial news reports assigned the blame for both the reliability issues and the costs to Texas utilities increasing the amount of renewable energy on its grid. What really happened in the...
The La Conner Town Council was productive at its last meeting of the year Dec. 13. It approved the Town’s 2023 budget and passed ordinances raising fees after hearing from residents and getting staff reports. No residents spoke at the public hearing ahead of unanimous approval of the budget. The budget estimates $5.6 million in revenues with expenses of $6.97 million, projecting a $1.4 million deficit. See story, page 1. The business-side approvals included an amendment finalizing the 2022 budget, joining increases passed earlier. The six f...
The slight dip, to $57,164, in the Town of La Conner’s November sales tax revenue was the first sizeable year-to-year drop in collections since the first summer of the coronavirus pandemic, in 2020. That is $3,7467, 6.2% below 2021. Still, the $631,012 collected in 2022 is almost $140,000 above the year’s budget projections and exceeds 2021’s year total. Elsewhere, revenues are solid gold, moving to platinum by year’s end. The $21,228 in hotel/motel tax revenues is the highest November report ever, 5.2% over 2021. Revenue is almost $50,000...
Shelter Bay community residents learned about their marina’s history, structure and financials at the second “Know Your Community” class held Dec. 12 at the clubhouse. The class began with interim community manager Pat McGarry saying he was “drafted” to the volunteer marina committee after moving here in 2010 based on his marina construction experience. The marina’s story started with Axel Osberg negotiating a lease agreement with Dewey Mitchell of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in the 1960s to dredge a harbor and create a development...
Larry McCormick has been seeing a lot of dead birds. "You drive around Best, Calhoun, Bradshaw, you see them," said the La Conner resident, an avid hunter. "At one farmer's field with goose decoys out, I picked up 14 dead geese. A guy I know counted 81 dead ducks in a ditch on Best Road. It's bad." In a Dec. 8 release, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that it has retrieved more than 700 deceased birds of several species – primarily juvenile snow geese – from the Ska...
A lot of rain last month, 5.6 inches, and plenty cold: the daily minimum of 31.5 F was 6.5 F below the 22 year century average. That is a huge difference. The daily average, 38.4 F, was 5.6 F below the century average; and the daily high, 46.6 F, was 4 F below that average. Only 2005 was colder, when the daily average was 34.4 F and the daily average high a mere 40.6 F. Five minimum daily temperature records were set, early, Nov. 2, Nov. 9, then mid-month. Nov. 18-20, at 23.2 F, 23.9 F and 25.1 F, the last of nine frost morning, eight with...
When newspapers close, communities lose and democracy declines. It is happening in Washington state. A new study by the League of Women Voters of Washington is blunt: “Local newspapers are in crisis.” Since 2004 over 25 weeklies and three dailies have closed, roughly 20% of the state’s newspapers. The impact on communities – readers and nonreaders – is significant. Citizens are “experiencing an explosion of mis- and disinformation, creating significant challenges for public health officials and others. Coverage of government agencies an...
If patience is indeed a virtue, Skagit County Fire District 13 Commissioners and staff at manufactured home retailer Coach Corral have certainly earned their way onto Santa’s nice list this year. Commissioner John Doyle reported tangible progress in a lengthy permit process for the addition of a modular housing unit at the Snee-Oosh Road station at the panel’s meeting Dec. 8 “It’s been a rocky road with the permit process,” Doyle acknowledged, citing “bureaucratic stuff” and changes in the floor plan to three bedrooms and an office from f...
OLYMPIA — A Washington state appeals court Dec. 6 upheld virtually all of the ruling against initiative promoter Tim Eyman in the campaign finance case brought by Attorney General Bob Ferguson. After a 2021 trial, a Thurston County Superior Court ordered Eyman to pay a civil penalty of $2.6 million. The court also ordered Eyman to pay $2.9 million to cover the state’s costs and fees associated with investigating and prosecuting the case. Eyman subsequently appealed, resulting in today’s decision. The judge ruled that Eyman intentionally commi...
A growing legal movement seeks to recognize the rights of nature. Activists in the Northwest are celebrating a first here: the city of Port Townsend, Washington, recognized the inherent rights of Southern Resident orcas Dec. 5. The City’s mayor signed a proclamation Monday night, urging action by local, state, federal and tribal governments to protect those rights – and the ecosystems on which they depend. “Whereas the Southern Resident Orcas are culturally, spiritually and economically important to the people of Washington State and the world...
Communities in Washington and nationwide are experiencing an unprecedented surge in viral respiratory illnesses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and COVID-19. As a result, local emergency departments, urgent care clinics and walk-in clinics are severely strained and many have reached full capacity. “I recommend that everyone wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask when around others in indoor spaces to protect yourself and others” says Dr. Leibrand, Skagit County Health Officer. “As a reminder, N95s and KN95s provi...
What recession? Not in La Conner last weekend. A slew of activities started the holiday festivities – and the season's spending. The Christmas season began 6:30 p.m. Friday night, when all doors opened at the newly-built La Conner Swinomish Library, letting in a crowd of waiting bidders for the Tiny Tree auction. At 6:45, after remarks from Susan Macek, La Conner Library Foundation director, and library Director Jean Markert, one "Let the auction begin!" sent the audience to the bidding tables....
An olive branch appeared here Thursday on a cold and wintry afternoon and in the most unlikely of settings – he appeals hearing addressing Kate and Dr. Brandon Atkinson’s bid to develop a 20-unit three-story residential complex behind The Slider Café. The 45-minute session before Town Hearing Examiner David Lowell took an unexpected turn when Atkinson indicated he might be willing for the project to undergo an historic design review. La Conner residents Linda Talman and Debbie Aldrich had filed the appeal to deny the Atkinsons a cond...
Those attending the Port of Skagit’s open house Thursday at La Conner Marina lost their marbles. That was the plan, it turns out. Port consultants handed people Zip-Lock bags containing seven marbles each as they entered the Swinomish Yacht Club for the two-hour event, which offered an opportunity to share ideas and learn more about Marina redevelopment plans. Attendees were asked to indicate preferences by placing marbles in jars matching the respective Port proposals presented on illustrated placards. They ranged from pedestrian and r...