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At the eighth annual Skagit Ag Summit, on Friday, Feb. 9, about 75 people working or interested in agriculture spent the day learning and sharing critical developments in local agriculture topics at the event hosted by WSU Skagit County Extension. During a panel discussion about economic viability, farmer Jason VanderKooy, co-owner of Harmony Dairy, answered a question about succession planning. It is one of the most difficult things in family farming, said VanderKooy. He recommended hiring...
Black Press Ltd., owner of the Everett Herald’s parent company, Sound Publishing, is seeking a sale to new ownership as part of a corporate restructuring transaction, Black Press announced Jan. 15 and reported in the Lynnwood Times. That day Black Press obtained an Initial Order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver. The ownership group would include Canadian institutional investors Canso Investment Counsel, Deans Knight Capital Management and Carpenter Media Group, the Times reports. Carpenter has operations in Texas, L...
After having survived last month’s primary by a single vote, Bruce James, Jr. emerged from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community general election on Saturday with a comfortable victory for a five-year Senate term outpolling Myrtle Rivas 167-124. Rivas had led a three-candidate field with 97 votes in a low turnout bad weather day Jan. 20 primary election. James followed with 84. Three-term incumbent Brian Wilbur, had 83 votes and was eliminated by a lone ballot. Prior to the primary, James told the Swinomish Qyuuqs publication that his ...
Banks: Closed Buses: Regular service Library: Closed Post Office: Closed Schools: Closed Town Hall: Closed County, state, federal government: Closed Trash Pick Up: Yes...
This modern world. It works against us humans, as individuals, families and communities and in people’s efforts to get along together and build a common place. The norms of living, of doing business, are you aware of how often they work against you? The Weekly News is handicapped in publishing and distributing each issue to you by this modern world. As subscribers, you are customers. The Weekly News’ responsibility is to deliver excellent customer service. Probably the most frequent call to the office is, “Where is my paper? Why wasn’t it deli...
Too many of us lie awake worrying about what will happen if someone in our family gets seriously ill. Will I be able to find affordable health care? Do we have enough nurses and doctors in our rural, community hospitals? That’s why, as your legislator and vice chair of the House Education Committee, I’m committed to tackling our health care workforce on the front end – with our students. This legislative session, I introduced House Bill 2236 which expands and strengthens career and technical education in our high schools by creating the Core...
When we bought our home in La Conner in January of 2019, we were told that our block, the only block on Washington Street where there is no storm sewer, was in “Phase 2” of the project to provide storm drainage throughout the town. Shortly after we moved in, members of the town council told us that there was no money at present for such improvements. We were asked to be patient. Our lot periodically floods and such phenomena as atmospheric rivers leave behind a pond of 6-8 inches in depth, which can remain flooded for several weeks and whi...
Muzzall is wrong on progressivism As he stated last week in his legislative column, Sen Ron Muzzall (R-Oak Harbor) has a problem with progressivism. It appears he does not understand what progressivism is about and attempts to use it as a whipping boy for our state’s (and the nation’s) horrific problem with “behavioral health and substance abuse.” That reasoning is as flawed as the Republican Party’s suggestion that the Jan. 6 insurrectionist riot was instigated by the left with the cooperation of “the Feds.” Progressivism is the attempt to lev...
One of the least publicized but nevertheless significant obstacles to the new infrastructure required to support development of new energy resources is that this infrastructure can be unsightly. A few years ago, I was working on a consulting assignment at a well-known university. Management had a strong interest in developing on-campus renewable resources. Funding was easy to acquire. The biggest obstacle to progress was that a politically powerful, well-funded neighborhood association nearby...
While it’s been a hot topic in La Conner for decades, the last word on parking likely won’t be spoken here anytime soon. And the always lively local conversation continues 6 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Civic Garden Club on South Second Street. The second in a series of in-person “community mingles” will address all angles of downtown parking, from traffic safety and pedestrian access to signage and revenue opportunities. “We’re wanting to solicit input on what if any changes and improvements the public wants to see regarding parking,” Assistant Pla...
On Nov. 2, 2023, after a short but fierce battle with cancer, Carmen Spofford died in Anacortes at the age of 79. Carmen was born on June 7, 1944, in the village of Seeshaupt, Germany, to Margarete Horney. Carmen's father was a French POW who disappeared before she was born. Margarete was an actress and Carmen was raised by her grandparents until the age of 5, when she and her mother moved to the U.S. in search of a better life. They settled in Plattsburgh, New York, where Margarete met and...
Shirley Steinman passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends at her home in Trout Creek, Montana, on Nov. 6, 2023. Shirley grew up in Stanwood and was a graduate of Stanwood High School. Some of the other places Shirley called home were La Conner, Mount Vernon and Trout Creek, Montana. Before retiring and moving to Montana, Shirley worked for many years as the Office Manager at Northrup King Seed Co. in Skagit Country and as Manager of the Mount Vernon RV Park. Shirley loved to...
Ingeborg Siller: Born Oct 15, 1931, made her transition to the afterlife Jan. 9, 2024. What a full life this 92-year-old woman had! She survived World War II as a refugee and as a Near Death Experiencer (NDEer) when she died at the hands of a U.S. soldier, crossed over to the other side, and came back to live the rest of her life as an immigrant to the U.S., mom to two girls and their mates, Oma to three grandkids and their partners, and three great-grandchildren. She was a chemist in Germany,...
Here is a toast, a nod and a wink to all the guys with birthdays today, who, romantically engaged, do not get a dinner out, except if they do they are expected to both make the reservations and pick up the tab. April might be the cruelest month and Dec. 25 birthdays are almost as difficult to smile through, so here is recognition for all those tough birth days....
Call them the Comeback Kids. The La Conner Braves mounted two furious second half rallies in NW2B/1B boy’s hoops action last week, the second bringing a convincing 73-57 win at Friday Harbor Feb. 9 that secured top seeding at the Bi-District Tournament. La Conner opened bi-district play at home Monday night opposite Northwest Christian of Lacey.They’re at Coupeville tonight (Wednesday) opposite either the host Wolves or Auburn Adventist. The four-team, double elimination Bi-District format will send two teams to the state 2B tournament. La Con...
A pair of double-digit wins over league rivals last week clinched a No. 1 bi-district tournament seed for the La Conner High School girls’ basketball team. La Conner (14-7 overall; 7-1 in league) closed out the regular season, defeating Coupeville 46-30 Feb. 6 at Landy James Gym and winning 41-29 at Friday Harbor on Saturday. With the wins, the Lady Braves secured the top seed to the bi-district tournament, which opened last night at home opposite Northwest Christian of Lacey. La Conner moves on to the second round Thursday in Coupeville a...
Addison Wiga is January's high school student for January for the Kiwanis Club of La Conner. Her parents are Todd and Katie Wigal. Addison is a junior at La Conner High School. She was on the school volleyball team and looks forward to playing each year. She is attending the Northwest Career and Technical Academy, taking applied medical science. Outside of school she enjoys doing things with family and friends. After graduation, Addison would like to attend college and pursue a career in the...
Greg Whiting has rarely – if ever – lacked for energy. Consider that in a robust and wide-ranging professional life Whiting has variously researched, analyzed, helped develop and written about energy systems designed to both improve quality of life and protect the environment. And now, with his partner Jenelle Whitton as co-proprietor of Raven's Cup Coffee and Art Gallery on First Street, he markets beverages that, while served in a laid-back Pacific Northwest setting, are the fuel that kee...
“The Knight of the Burning Pestle” at Bellingham’s Idiom Theater is a “17th century satire full of equal parts chivalry and whimsy in a disorderly, theatrical romp,” promotions claim. written by Francis Beaumont and adapted for the iDIOM stage by director, Glenn Hergenhahn-Zhao. Summing up: “This rarely performed comedy written in 1607 by a friend of Shakespeare’s is a joyride of a play and a love letter to theatrical invention. Perfect for all audiences.” It plays Thursdays-Sundays through March 2. Tickets and times: idiomtheater.or...
The Madrona Poetry Series brings Claudia Castro Luna and J.I. Kleinberg to read Feb.24 at 7 p.m. at Pelican Bay Books in Anacortes, 520 Commercial Avenue. The Erik Christensen Band will play....
Join a community blood drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 at the La Conner High School gym, 404 North Sixth Street. It is a collaboration between local volunteers and Bloodworks Northwest. The blood drive is organized by high school students and the La Conner Kiwanis Club. Donors must be older than 16. Minors must bring parental consent to donate. Snacks and water are included. Questions: Dorothy Downes, [email protected], or Lori Buher, [email protected]. For information on the benefits of blood donation: massgene...
I recently enjoyed Jean Wedin's company over lunch. She began describing her meals. I was all ears as she described this salad dressing. I guesstimated the amount of each ingredient and adjusted for taste. I also made just enough for a small salad for two. Ingredients White balsamic vinegar, 2 teaspoons Extra virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons Honey, 2 teaspoons Preparation Add all ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk or stir around. Drizzle over a mixed green salad....
Local firefighters are taking a step in the right direction when it comes to winning the fight against cancer. Make that many steps. Six members of Skagit County Fire District 13, including Chief Wood Weiss, will take part in the 33rd annual Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Firefighter Stair Climb in Seattle on March 10. The event, whose mission is to raise much needed funding toward finding a cure for those battling blood cancer, is billed as the largest on-air stair climb competition in the world. Standing 788 feet tall, the Columbia Center is...
Some 50 area residents attended the Conway School community meeting Feb. 6 to gain more information about the Dec. 10 Olympic Pipeline gasoline spill near Conway and the ongoing cleanup, local media reported. Billed as an open house, residents could speak with the 25 experts from state and federal agencies and bp, the company managing the pipeline, answered their questions. A presentation was made at a Zoom online webinar Feb. 7. Questions and answers followed. Operational update Last week a sheet pile wall was constructed to build a...
Monday, Feb. 5 1:42 p.m. Crime prevention lesson – Owner of the business had questions on the trespassing laws and how to handle situations in the future. Specific problems with juvenile trespassers. Questions answered and laws explained to the caller. S. Second St., La Conner. 3:02 p.m. How money grows – Caller reported that she had written a check a couple years ago for $50 that had just resurfaced and was cashed for $500. She is not sure who had found and forged the new amount, but the bank was aware and had reimbursed her money. The ban...
