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Last year was a great time to sell a house throughout western Washington, or be a residential realtor. Buyers seeking homes in Skagit County know it was a sellers market: The $500,000 median home price was up 18.2% over 2020, good for brokers and sellers, both. The 111 homes priced – not sold – at $1 million or more pushed the median price up. Almost 2,000 homes and condos sold in the county. That is 159 dwellings, 7.4% fewer than sold in 2020. The median sold price of 3-bedroom homes countywide was $492,750. The median sales price...
Development of two properties in town helped transform La Conner from a sleepy waterfront village to the “Inn” place to be on Puget Sound. One, now the La Conner Country Inn, was a low-lying, flood-prone area. Several wartime housing units constructed during the 1940s were moved there from Whidbey Island. “They were not exactly built to last,” recalls Rick Thompson, whose father, the late Paul Thompson, bought the cabins and property at Second and Morris streets nearly a half-century ago. “I don’t know much about the history of the buildings e...
Here is a nonpartisan issue that this community – and indeed, every resident in the state – can rally around in agreement: putting our Washington on standard time year round. That is right: ditching the semi-annual spring ahead fall back scenario of artificially changing sunrise and sunset by moving clocks ahead an hour in March and returning them to standard time in November. Once again Yakima Valley Republican state Sen. Jim Honeyford has a bill in the Washington State Legislature for year round time. He has bipartisan support...
By proclamation of the governor, January is School Board Recognition Month. It is a great time to recognize our elected community members who selflessly give their time and energy in support of high-quality public schooling for our youth. School board members in La Conner are entrusted by this community with responsibility for an annual budget of $14,070,000 for this year, fiscal year 2021-2022, an average of 555 students, 116 employees and nine buildings. School boards are charged with making decisions that can sometimes be quite difficult,...
I was really surprised to read that the WHO were deciding what to name each new strain of the coronavirus. I loved the WHO, they were one of my very favorite bands, although I had trouble both times I went to see them in person. The first time was at the Flushing Meadows in the Queens, New York outdoor arena, when they opened for The Doors. I had asked a high school friend to join me and I promised her mother that it would be safe to attend a rock concert. When the Who finished the first set,...
Demolition of the old garage behind The Slider Café on a January Sunday drew plenty of attention. What was missed, however, were conditions spelled out on the Town demolition permit allowing the structure to be torn down on property eyed as the site for a 20-unit apartment complex. Planner Michael Davolio told the La Conner Planning Commission, during their monthly Zoom meeting two days later, on Jan. 18, that a stop work order was placed on the demolition because representatives of property owners KSA Investments had not conferred with...
Washington State Journal Advocates hope mandatory conservation of key habitat areas will help salmon runs recover, but opponents worry farmers will pay a price. House Bill 1838, to be known as the Lorraine Loomis Act in honor of the late Northwest Indian Fisheries Commissioner, will reserve land on public and private property near salmon bearing waterways. Prime sponsor of the bill, Rep. Debra Lekanoff, D-Anacortes, said salmon play a vital cultural and economic role in Washington. The potential loss of the species will affect all...
Ensuring a robust salmon recovery has become a daunting and politicized task. The latest proposal championed by the Office of the Governor is an example of the bad practice of creating more conflict rather than offering real solutions. The legislation amounts to an unethical taking of private property that will do nothing to aid salmon recovery, while allowing politically connected interests who are doing more harm to those efforts off the hook. The proposals also conflict with the Growth Management Act’s goals of preserving valuable f...
The Price was right for the La Conner Braves against Darrington Thursday night. As in right on the mark. Team scoring leader Isaiah Price scored 32 points – 21 in the second half – to pace the Braves in a convincing 62-35 league triumph at Landy James Gym. Price drained three perimeter treys after the break and might have done even more damage if the game was not stopped early after an official collapsed on the court in the fourth quarter. “It sounds like he’s going to be oka...
There are victories, defeats and moral victories. The latter was the case for the La Conner Braves Friday night, Jan. 21, when they lost a hard-fought 59-49 non-conference boys’ hoops decision to 2A Sedro-Woolley at Landy James Gym. “It was a good game,” first year head coach C.J. Woods told the Weekly News afterward. “We had a chance to win.” Indeed, the 2B Braves truly had a shot to knock off their larger school foe. La Conner (4-8 overall; 2-3 in NW2B/1B play) trailed just 39-33 entering the final stanza on the strength of strong post play...
The powerhouse La Conner High School girls’ basketball team (13-1 overall) is becoming as much a threat to the electric grid as extreme winter weather. The explosive Lady Braves are threatening to short out scoreboards in area gyms with their frenzied point production of late, having broken the century mark in successive matchups with NW2B/1B foes this month. The team followed up a 104-14 rout of Concrete earlier in January with a 108-18 romp over Darrington last Thursday. Between those lopsided triumphs, they defeated 1A programs Klahowya a...
Happy New Year! The La Conner Regional Library is very excited for 2022. New Library Construction Construction is moving right along for the new La Conner Swinomish Library. The foundation and footings have been poured and the walls will be going up in February. The foundation work for the new library has seemed an apt metaphor for all the work so many have been lending hands to for many years. An endless array of vital behind the scenes work and project detail have been necessary before the...
Monday, January 17 12:50 p.m.: His hot news – Caller reported a cold vehicle prowl. The caller parked his vehicle and left for a walk with friends. When the caller returned, the vehicle window was broken, and several items were missing. Bay View Edison Rd., Greater La Conner. 5:29 p.m.: No spitting – Deputies responded to a removal of a female subject that was threatening to spit water on employees. Deputies completed a trespass admonishment form and transported the female back to her residence. An inn, S. 2nd St., La Conner. Tuesda...
Chocolates are one of my biggest cravings. This frosting recipe is sweetly chocolatey. It can be made with canned evaporated milk, heavy cream or any dairy milk. I use a powdered baking cocoa for this recipe. You want a consistency so it spreads fairly easy. The baked goods must be entirely cool or at room temperature before you spread on the frosting. Ingredients Powdered sugar, 1 cup Powdered baking cocoa, 2 heaping tablespoons Milk, 3 tablespoons Preparation In a medium bowl, measure out...
Jenna Rudig, a senior at La Conner High School is the Soroptimist International of La Conner January Honored Student. She has contributed to many causes in the community while working part time, attending Skagit Valley Community College and continuing her education at La Conner High School. Much of Jenna’s volunteerism the last three years has revolved around the LCHS Varsity Volunteer Club. One of their projects this year is the Collective Impact Project, collecting canned food for the La C...
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, part of the 300-member Skagit Headwaters Coalition, is grateful for a new agreement between the government of British Columbia, Imperial Metals Corporation and the Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission. Imperial Metals has agreed to surrender all its mining and related rights within the so-called Skagit River Donut Hole. The is a 22.4-square mile gap of unprotected lands surrounded by the parks in British Columbia. The headwaters of the Skagit River are inside this area, which is also a centerpiece of...
