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If you attended La Conner Schools anytime in the past three decades, then you probably remember “Ms. Seeling.” Maybe you sat in Peggy Seeling’s classroom in the 1980s when she taught social studies, or math. Or you may have spent sweaty afternoons running laps under her supervision for one of the sports she’s coached. If you were a rowdy student, you might have had a little extra one-on-one time at Seeling’s office when she was elementary school principal. Her friendly “school dog,” Tika—t...
The Landy James Gym was packed to the maximum to celebrate La Conner High School’s 49 newest graduates. An evening of applause and awards greeted the Class of 2017 last Thursday, June, 8. The beaming graduates in Braves’ blue caps and gowns filed into gymnasium through an archway, giving proud parents and family plenty of photo opportunities. Administrators and students gave commencement speeches and handed out numerous scholarships, describing the student’s achievements and plans for the futur...
After 12 years working alongside teachers who educate La Conner’s youngest students, it’s time for dedicated school volunteer Don Monroe to hang up his hat and “retire” as he moves onto the next stage of his life. Four days a week, four or more hours each day, “Mr. Monroe” has been a dependable presence at La Conner Elementary school. Students know they can count on Monroe to calmly and gently guide them through any academic troubles they’re struggling with as he works with them one-on-one in th...
A fire that broke out at approximately 3:30 a.m. last Wednesday caused serious injuries to two La Conner area women who had to be air-lifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The fire gutted a home on Downey Road, and according to Fire District 13 Chief Roy Horn, the cause may have had something to do with the severe windstorms during the night. On Tuesday, Deputy Fire Marshal Mark Anderson said the investigation is nearly complete and they believe the cause was an unextinguished candle,...
A new principal has been selected to lead the La Conner High School and Middle School after a quick and efficient search to replace current secondary principal, Cheryl Sullivan, who turned in her resignation notice in April. Her replacement—pending board approval—will be Todd Torgeson, currently an assistant principal at Sedro-Woolley High School but a familiar face in La Conner. During his 24-year long education career, Torgeson has previously worked for the La Conner School...
La Conner High School and Middle School principal Cheryl Sullivan gave notice she’s resigning, effective June 30. Sullivan, who was hired two years ago, has not specifically stated why she is leaving but said “personal reasons” when reached for comment. The school district provided this newspaper with a copy of the email she sent in late April to announce her resignation, and no reason was given then in the brief message. The school board accepted her resignation at their most recent meeting, and now the search is on for someone to fill her p...
The Swinomish Tribe’s fishing fleet is clearly in no shortage of blessings, well-wishes and community respect, as displayed in the tribe’s traditional annual “blessing of the fleet ceremony” on Thursday. The event kicked off with a luncheon in the jam-packed Swinomish Youth and Community Center, where guests feasted on watermelon, salmon and fresh, locally-caught seafood. There were about 550 people who were seated for lunch, Laura Dunn, from the Swinomish Fisheries Department estimat...
La Conner Schools is embracing a philosophy of “prepare today for tomorrow” when it comes to getting ready for disasters in a world that isn’t always perfect. Students and staff braved rain on Monday afternoon as they walked to three “safe” locations on the hill in town after evacuating the school for the district’s new “all-school evacuation drill.” Floods, tsunamis and school shootings are all things that could prompt a school evacuation, John Aguilar, the school’s security specialist, said....
Colorful quilts regularly adorn the hallways and numerous rooms of La Conner’s historic Gaches Mansion. Built in 1891, the old Victorian building is far from dusty and forgotten. It’s home to the Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum, where work from artists all over the world is displayed. The entire second floor of the mansion is currently dedicated to an exhibition by respected Japanese quilter, Miwako Kimura, and her students, titled “For the Love of Children.” Kimura, who is in her...
Local superintendents have banded together to suggest ways to fund schools as the Supreme Court’s 2012 McCleary decision deadline approaches. The ruling found that Washington State’s school funding system is broken and that the state needs to step up to adequately fund educators. In a letter dated March 23, superintendents representing Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island and San Juan counties laid out seventeen different positions that they urged legislators in Olympia to adopt. Changes included reforms on “collective bargaining,” so that lo...
About a month ago, La Conner Retirement Inn Activities Director BJ Johnson grabbed a nearby dictionary on a whim after she had an idea to put the residents’ spelling skills to the test. “I was throwing words out there and they were spelling them all,” Johnson said. “I said, ‘my gosh, we’ve got to do something with this.’” She asked the seniors if they would be up for a friendly spelling competition with any interested youngsters at the La Conner School District. The residents loved the idea,...
Those who have long wished to see the La Conner Regional Library upgraded are anxiously waiting to hear whether the state will approve the library’s request for state funds. In January, the Library’s Board of Trustees submitted a request for $1.9 million to three state legislators after meeting with them last summer to have the library represented in the 2017-2019 capital budget. The state budget will be voted on later this month. “We are very grateful for the efforts of our local delegates,” La Conner Library Foundation Director Susan Macek sa...
The past few years haven’t been easy for Sally Wilbur and her son, 13-year-old Daniel Rapada—but the boy plans to “walk” in his eighth grade graduation in June. Daniel was in the sixth grade when he was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, a condition that has left him fighting for his life. “He’s a survivor. Everyone refers to him as ‘our little warrior’ because he’s gone through so much in two years,” his mom said. Severe aplastic anemia is a rare bone marrow disease that leaves a per...
After 31 years in law enforcement, Skagit County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kelly Howell’s last day on the job is Friday. He’s been the commander of the Sheriff’s La Conner detachment since last January. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s a new chapter in my life,” he said of his upcoming retirement. “It’s something that you look at when you’re younger, thinking it’s never going to be here — but before you know it, it’s here.” The core philosophy of policing, for him, is to serve the community rather...
La Conner High schoolers “oohed and aahed” and clapped enthusiastically for the Chinese Acrobats, who put on a dazzling performance last Wednesday at the high school gym. The four young performers, dressed in colorful costume, balanced various items precariously on their feet and heads while performing impressive athletic feats. The youngest performer, 12-year-old Ma Rong Ge, displayed her strength and flexibility in a bent handstand while her co-performer, Ren Zhuang Ran, 20, added metal pla...
The Summit Park Grange in Anacortes was the place to be last Wednesday night for people with a stake in the land disputes that have put the Swinomish tribe at odds with some property owners and leaders from the Samish tribe, City of Anacortes and Skagit County. A panel of seven representing the city, county and Samish sat onstage, facing a room so crowded that people without seats leaned against the walls and spilled out the back door. Organizers counted 220 attendees. Landowners are worried the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community could assert...
There are many giant, looming skyscrapers in Seattle, but the tallest building in the city is Columbia Center. For the past 30 years, 6,000 determined people spend a day climbing up the center’s stairwells, scaling 69 floors to be rewarded with fresh air and a citywide view at the top. But the best reward is hope — each participant helps bring in funds to support those working on a cure for blood cancers. This year, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 31st “Big Climb” annual fundrai...
In hopes of addressing reoccurring problems with La Conner’s public restrooms, fed-up town officials have made some changes. New hours for the public restrooms on both Morris Street and First Street will be roughly 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. The exact opening and closing times may vary up to an hour earlier, depending on when the Public Works department and the La Conner Fire Department are available to unlock and re-lock the facilities, said Public Works Director Brian Lease. La Conner Town Administrator John Doyle said he hopes t...
The Swinomish Senate leader-ship remains unchanged after two senators were re-elected by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community on Feb. 26. at the tribe’s annual general election. Winners Steve Edwards and Leon John, had terms that expired this year. Edwards was challenged by Eric Day for his Senate Seat 6, and John ran unopposed for Seat 7. Eligible to vote in the general election are all voting-age tribal members — ages 21 and older — as outlined in the Swinomish Tribal Code. “There were 184 official ballots cast,” Wendy Otto,...
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is making the “rounds” across the U.S. to gather feedback from tribal nations to decide whether long-standing “Indian trading regulations” should be updated — laws that determine who can run a business on tribal reservations and what items can be sold. The BIA also says it wants tribes to comment on how changes to current dual tax regulations on Tribal lands could benefit tribes. On Thursday morning, the BIA had its first of eight consultations at the Wa Walton Event Center at the Swinomish Casino & Lodge,...
Standing proudly in their new dark-blue uniforms, 11 volunteer firefighters recited one-by-one an oath in front of their peers as they received an official badge from the mayor last Wednesday evening. The La Conner Fire Department held its first “badging ceremony” to present both new and old recruits with badges as they were sworn in—vowing to uphold the law, place their responsibilities above their personal feelings and to serve their communities fairly and to the best of their abi...
La Conner high school teacher Erin Lisser teaches students to “keep calm and carry on.” She’s got a poster of the popular saying with its iconic red background and decorative crown hanging in her classroom. It’s an image that’s commonly found on merchandise and online memes. But unlike many, her students actually understand where the World War II propaganda slogan originated, thanks to her U.S. History, American Government and Current World Problems classes. Lisser is on her second year of t...
After three months of searching and interviewing, the La Conner School Board has selected a new district superintendant. The school board wants to hire Whitney Meissner, 46, who comes from Chimacum School District in Jefferson County, where she is a high school principal and district assessment director. Meissner has a doctorate of education from Seattle Pacific University. “It was a very challenging decision and a lot of thought was put into it,” board president John Thulen said as the boa...
A fire on the Swinomish Reservation destroyed a family’s home on Saturday. Firefighters from Fire District’s 13 and 11 and the City of Anacortes responded at about 1:15 p.m. to a house burning on Reservation Lane. The resident, Amanda Johnston, was not at home at the time, and there were no injuries. On Monday Johnston was assessing the damage, and said her cat, “Fuzzy Pickles,” and dog, “Bentley,” were confused about being displaced, too. Aly Sehlin, a language arts teacher at La Conner Middle School has set up a Go Fund Me page for Johnsto...
After a day spent interviewing six semi-finalist candidates for the open school superintendent position, the La Conner School Board of Directors chose three finalists to proceed to the next round of screening. The candidates are Brian Isakson, Kenny Renner-Singer and Whitney Meissner. The board is expected to narrow the field to its favorite applicant during a special meeting Friday morning, after each one spends an entire day in the district. Isakson is currently the principal at Evergreen Elementary in Sedro-Wooley. Renner-Singer is the...
