News
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 2048
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BREAKING: BNSF train derails behind Swinomish casino
Update, March 17 at bottom SWINOMISH RESERVATION — Early the morning of March 16, before 1 a.m., the two locomotives of a BNSF train heading east from an Anacortes oil refinery derailed along the... Full story
Sued again: 5 Shelter Bay board members
The officers of the Shelter Bay Community board of directors are called back to Skagit County Superior Court March 31 on a civil complaint that accuses them of breach of fiduciary duty. It alleges malfeasance and failure in their actions and conduct...
Emergency management members confirmed
A rare positive impact of the severe saltwater flooding that swamped La Conner in December was the flood of well qualified applicants seeking appointment to the Town’s new emergency management commission. Mayor Ramon Hayes last week nominated five...
BNSF locomotive derailed early Thursday morning behind Swinomish casino
SWINOMISH RESERVATION -The "active cleanup of the diesel spill caused by the early Thursday morning derailment of two BNSF locomotives" was ending early Saturday afternoon, Bill Dunbar, U.S. EPA...
Use less energy for heating and cooling with heat pumps
Over half of the energy used in residential and commercial buildings goes to heating and cooling the air to keep occupants comfortable. Most of the time, cooling is achieved by using electricity to...
CORRECTIONS
The poorly written page 1 headline last week needed to have read: "Record December Town sales tax revenues." The tax revenue summary town council receives inFebruary contains December’s data. Buy your in-person tickets only on Saturday for The...
Council told burlap bags are on way out
There were two sure signs at last week's La Conner Town Council meeting that spring is in the offing. The first was the presentation by Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Executive Director Cindy Verge of t...
Roger Pederson case protest
In 2018, Bay View resident Roger Pederson was charged with one count of first-degree animal cruelty and one count of second-degree animal cruelty after more than 70 dead cattle were found on his property. On March 13 he entered an Alford plea to two...
Amtrak open to Seattle and Vancouver
WASHINGTON – Amtrak, in collaboration with ODOT, WSDOT and other agencies resumes Cascades service between Portland, Ore. and Vancouver, BC This is the first direct service between Portland and stations north of Seattle since 2020. Serving 12...
Yes it has been cold: Weather delays daffodil blooms
It's March 15, and nary a daffodil can be seen, but Brent Roozen isn't worried. Field picking ramped up last weekend, said the Washington Bulb Company CEO, and daffodils are shipping to customers at...
Record February Town sales tax revenues
Between gift giving generosity and tourists wanting to get out of their hometowns, La Conner registers jingled merrily in December. Town of La Conner sales tax revenue reported in February was a record $63,103, $ 6,556 and 11.6% above 2022’s...
Climate resilience needed in the Skagit
Maybe the 50 or so people attending the Climate Resilience conversation Sunday at the Anacortes Senior Center did not provide $7,500 worth of advice for changing the trajectory Skagit County residents – and everyone – are facing as the climate ch...
Back-up systems for when the power goes out
Power outages are rare and usually short here, but grid-provided electricity isn’t completely consistent and reliable under all circumstances. Here’s a quick guide to the world of power quality...
Limedock apartments application filed
Peter Anderson, owner of the Limedock building, 109 North First Street in La Conner, has filed a permit application with the town planning department to create two residential apartments by remodeling the second floor office space. Two gabled...
Skagit County housing market prices have cooled this year
Anacortes sold home prices are the highest by far of Skagit County markets this year, at $832,000 for the median price for the 24 homes that closed in January and February. February’s Anacortes market was even hotter, with a median sold home price...
Muzzall and Paul LD 10 town halls
10th District state Sen. Ron Muzzall and State Rep. Dave Paul are hosting town halls this weekend to provide updates on the legislative session. March 18, 11 a.m. they are at the Oak Harbor Library meeting room, 1000 SE Regatta Drive, Oak Harbor....
BREAKING: Limedock building apartments application filed
Peter Anderson, owner of the Limedock building, 109 North First Street in La Conner, has filed a permit application with the Town of La Conner planning department to create two residential apartments... Full story
Council discusses tiny homes, bad weather shelter sites
During a week in late February which saw snow, wind and rain amid occasional sun breaks, Town officials and residents turned their attention to climate change. At the Town Council Feb. 28 meeting, members and Mayor Ramon Hayes lauded the...
Over 1 million homes needed in the next 20 years
OLYMPIA — The Washington state Department of Commerce released its final housing needs projections March 2. They show the state needs to add 1.1 million homes over the next 20 years, and more than half of them need to be affordable for residents...
February's cold was again below normal
Yes, February was cold, with nine nights of frost, four in a row Feb. 22-25, where the month’s low of 20.4 degrees Feb. 24 fell. That day the average temperature was 27.1 degree. February’s daily average temperature was 39.6 degrees, 1.6 degrees...
Electricity from renewable sources available 24/7 now, or soon
Could solar energy power the entire electric grid even though the sun is only up, in any given place, an average of 12 hours a day? Yes. It would be expensive to build solar power plants across every...
Two-year comprehensive plan update started
Officials took the first steps toward updating La Conner’s comprehensive plan at a joint Town Council-Planning Commission meeting at Maple Hall Feb. 28. Admittedly, they were baby steps. It will be a two-year process focusing on public engagement...
La Conner Marina upgrades with LED lighting
Having recently celebrated its golden anniversary, La Conner Marina is looking to remain a bright shining light on the local scene well into the future. The Port of Skagit marked a major milestone by completing upgrades to LED lighting at the...
Tommy Thompson trestle open
The Tommy Thompson trail trestle is repaired and the trail opened ahead of schedule Feb. 23, the City of Anacortes announced on its website. Contractors Culbertson Marine, Strandberg Construction and Transpac Marinas, volunteers and people who...
Ferry to Sidney, B.C. out for years
Washington State Ferries will not restore ferry service in 2023 between Anacortes and Sidney, British Columbia it announced in an updated restoration plan Feb. 28. The one sentence decision is: “WSF does not anticipate being able to restore...
