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Normal lasted less than 24 hours last week after La Conner weathered heavy snowfall and thick ice before Christmas that brought the community to a virtual standstill. Winter king tides along with high westerly winds and low barometric pressure contributing to steady rain and rapid melt-off combined to produce flood conditions causing significant damage to more than a dozen homes and businesses in the town's low-lying areas from Sherman Street (south) to State Street (north) and downtown last...
They come from opposite ends of the country, different generations and work separately at Town Hall. But Ajah (pronounced Asia) Eills and Lynne Lovejoy, the Town of La Conner's new staff hires, complement one another quite nicely. Eills, a native of Concord, New Hampshire and a 2021 graduate of College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts – a Jesuit school that has produced numerous business and political leaders, actors and sports stars – arrived here in November as the assistant pla...
Just like December 2021, last month was a witch’s brew of bad weather the last 11 days of the year. First we froze, with record cold mornings of 7.6, 5.9 and 22.5 degrees Dec. 21-23 (and Dec. 2: 23.5 degrees). Between six and seven inches of snow were measured by volunteer weather recorders in La Conner Dec. 20. But, the opposite of last year, there were record high temperatures of 58.1, 59.1 and 56.6 degrees Dec. 25-27. The month was thoroughly cold, with the average daily minimum of 34.3 degrees 3.7 degrees below the century average. D...
After winning a razor-thin race made closer by late campaign charges that he had embellished his military service and civilian career resumes, it is full steam ahead for U.S. Naval Academy graduate Clyde Shavers as he embarks for Olympia as the 10th Legislative District's newest lawmaker. Shavers said he has already been swamped with work ahead of the Jan. 9 opening of the 2023 legislative session. "These past few weeks," he told the Weekly News recently, "I have been tirelessly working on...
Wow. What weather these last two weeks, ending the year with both a groan and a whimper. Last Tuesday’s flood, blown in with rain and mild temperatures, was a stark contrast to the seven inches of snow and bitter cold a week earlier, the Tuesday before Christmas. Then kids could be forgiven for thinking the Washington Street sledding hill would be open all month, maybe all winter Recall 2021’s post-Christmas week weather: days of record cold, snow and First Street businesses virtually shut down. Who wanted to – or could – visit La Conner?...
The coronavirus pandemic roared into 2022 but vaccinations slowed its spread and the story faded from the public consciousness. Fewer people reported their positive tests and infections. People are still getting infected and hospitalized, however. Skagit Count now over 15,000 COVID-19 cases Jan.12 New COVID-19 hospitalizations swamping county Jan. 26 Indoor mask mandate ends statewide March 21 Feb. 23 Skagit one of 12 state counties with high COVID-19 transmission Jul. 6 New Skagit COVID-19 cases drop dramatically Sep. 7 Wearing masks indoors...
The February 2021 Texas energy crisis affected millions of people for up to four days. Its worst effects was where the Electric Reliability Council of Texas manages an electric grid which operates independently from the much larger eastern and western U.S. electric grids. The crisis caused hundreds of deaths from the cold. Some individual homeowners’ monthly electric bills increased to thousands of dollars. The total economic cost was nearly $200 billion. It could have been worse. The c...
I am pleased to add my appreciation to the many other thankful letters you received, hopefully, after reading the editorial of our “Local heroes of democracy. This is some of the “village” that it “takes” to keep a town honest to itself while moving forward as it must. It is many people, offering their talents, time, and tenacity, to make La Conner unique. Thank you, Ken, for recognizing those you did by name and recognizing that there are even more, unnamed. It is a big village for a small town. In peace, Irene Blanchard Greater La Conner...
The choice is yours, to download an 845 page PDF file, the “FINAL REPORT of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol” or buy one of several editions at a bookstore, order it from a library or buy if from the U.S. government. It was published Dec. 22, 2022. Start at the front, reading the forwards from former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Committee Chair Bennie Thompson (D-Ms) or Vice-Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wy). Pelosi’s is titled “The Last Best Hope of Earth,” taken from Abra...
He was born on family farm in Inman, Nebraska during the dust bowl and depression of 1933. Two years later, the sale of their farm, home and equipment netted $95 and paid the train fare for the family to California. The build up to WWII brought the family to northern California. Larry attended one and two room schools through 9th grade, then boarded with relatives in the Seattle area for high school. After graduation from Lincoln High in 1948 and knowing he would soon be drafted, he enlisted in...
The two-sport college athlete is a rare bird these days. But Skagit Valley College boasts one in Sarah Cook, who has excelled at both volleyball and basketball in her first year as a Lady Cardinal. An All-State selection in both sports at La Conner High School, where she graduated in 2022, Cook has seamlessly transitioned to collegiate athletics. At 5'-8", Cook was versatile enough to be listed as both an outside hitter and libero for the SVC volleyball program last fall. Her season highlights...
Thieves tried turning the hiding of the golf cart they stole into an art form. The reviews to date have not been pretty. The cart, which belongs to North First Street resident Mit Harlan, was recovered last week after having been crudely spray-painted green, camouflaged and partially buried in thickets in the McGlinn Island area. Whoever was responsible apparently had use for the cart and was not looking to sell the hot wheels: They altered its appearance and concealed it in a remote area just...
Three years ago Meyer Sign & Advertising Company launched a blog series dedicated to “telling the stories of the people, places and things that make the Skagit Valley a magical place to live.” The Mount Vernon business called this “Tales of the Magic Skagit.” Some 80 episodes later, not counting many other stories that make up the “Behind the Sign” section of their website (www.meyersign/articles), “Tales of the Magic Skagit” has attracted a respectable and highly engaged audience that not only...
After struggling through two pandemic years, the Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon closed out 2022 in good shape. Audiences are returning. There is money in the bank. Membership, which dipped to 482 during the pandemic, is on the rise. Programming and ticket sales look good for 2023. Pull and Be Damned resident Roger Gietzen is a big factor in the Lincoln's good fortunes. A Lincoln staff member staff since 1999 and executive director since 2015, he has helped lead the theatre, its staff and volunt...
This year's New Year's Day Swinomish Channel polar plunge almost did not happen. At 1 p.m. spectators Lucy Martin, Pieter VanZanden and J. Lonee were looking expectantly but the shore and water at the beach just north of Pearle Jensen Way were empty of people. Calls were made to Rick Dole and John Leaver, who in 2021 led a group of four males into the water. Ollie Iversen, an observer last year, had been called earlier. He had no solid information to share. But then Martin's sister, Anna Rose...
My holiday baking stretched out a bit during this season. I baked this recipe on New Year's Eve. Some prep occurred several days prior. I made three cups of Earl grey tea and simmered the candied fruit for two hours. I also set out ½ cup of butter to soften it at room temperature. Everything in this recipe was stirred by hand. Ingredients Fruit cake mix, 12 ounces Earl grey tea, 3 teabags Water, 1 quart Flour, 2 cups Baking powder, 2 tsp Butter, ½ cup Eggs, 2 Sugar, 1 cup Vanilla,...
Monday, December 26 1:55 a.m.: Sound asleep – A male was located sleeping outside the public restrooms. He was asked to move away from the doors by a cleaning service employee. The male complied and didn't cause any problems. Morris St., La Conner. 4:26 p.m.: Found phone – A cell phone was found by employees. The owner returned and claimed the phone. Morris St., La Conner. Thursday, December 29 8:49 p.m.: Loud music – Report of loud music coming from the street. The music was eventually turne...
