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My oldest sister, Maureen, turned 70 Sunday. She is five years older than me, enough years apart that I do not think of us as growing up together. She was 10 when I was five. We never walked to school side-by-side. She graduated high school when I was in eighth grade, so we never passed each other in the hall. Maureen went to college in 1968, to Maryville, Tennessee, because that is where our father went. We grew up in Toledo, Ohio. I didn’t know anything about Tennessee. Or Vietnam, either. In 1968 my oldest sister was as much a mirage as r...
Dear Editor: I appreciate and concur with your July 1 musings (protests offer hope – ed.). In spite of 2020 thus far being in some ways an ‘annus horribilis,’ it is also hopeful. These protests since the George Floyd tragedy seem a tipping point. Our thirty-ish daughters and their peers are passionately advocating for #BlackLivesMatter and defunding police. Jim Crow era statues glorifying oppression are coming down. More people are rising up against the ugliness of white supremacy. More people are signaling they will vote for humane, lev...
I’m excited to tell you, if you haven’t already heard, there’s a challenger to Republican Ron Wesen, the county commissioner currently representing our District (No. 1). I’m excited not only because Wesen is not unopposed (as was true the last time he ran), but also because the Democratic challenger, Mark Lundsten, is an excellent candidate. He is smart, articulate, hard-working and, importantly, in this day and age, collaborative. He knows how to listen and to take action. If you are as tired as I am with the court challenges filed and los...
I am writing this letter in support of Bill Bruch for the House of Representatives 10th Legislative District. Bill Bruch tried to protect our children by opposing the radical sex education Senate Bill 5395. His opponent championed that bill and was not concerned about the views of parents in his district. Bill Bruch was one of the leaders in supporting referendum R-90 that has received enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot and will repeal that radical sex education bill. Bill Bruch is not beholden to the liquor industry,...
In the July 9th Weekly News I noticed a letter singing the praises of Mr. Bill Bruch running for State House representative in the 10th LD. This will NOT be praising him but quite the opposite. Mr. Bruch did serve as a fellow Town Councilman a few years back, seemingly for a “minute.” Each Council person usually is assigned area of responsibility to coordinate and to a degree “shepherd” in its processes. I do not recall what Mr. Bruch’s area was, but I certainly do not remember any momentous achievements or projects while he served, which was d...
I usually wear my Trump shirt when out in the public. Why? Because I am not afraid of the opposition, and I have the right to my beliefs. So far I have had many speak or nod in agreement. One who was afraid to speak, gave me a written note of his agreement. Stand up for your beliefs. We have everything to lose at this election. Many years ago, I came to a crossroads about the two parties. I had been an independent. Then a candidate came on the scene that I found definitely in opposition to my value system. I decided I better research the...
The election this November gives us a chance to elect someone new to the Tenth District’s Senate seat. Yes, we have the guy who sat in the seat during the session back in January, February and March, but that is about all he did. We have an opportunity to elect a real go-getter to that position, Helen Price-Johnson! Ms. Johnson has been dealing with many of the problems of a large part of the Tenth District for the last twelve years as County Commissioner from Island County’s First District. And she has truly dealt with them, from the rec...
I would like to ask for your support for Dave Paul who is seeking to return to the Washington state legislature as our representative in the 10th District! As a teacher at Skagit Valley College, I have worked with Dave for many years. He is hardworking, smart and brings an attitude of compassion and respect to his interaction with students and all others at the college. Dave is thoughtful and carefully considers all options when making a decision. He has also demonstrated this smart decision making in his work in Olympia. As we face the challen...
Ballots for the August 4 primary election are in the mail. The Weekly News again, having thought long and hard about the ballot races, is endorsing you, the common citizen. Are you prepared to make your candidate choices? This newspaper is taking the chance that its readers, neighbors and families will do the necessary heavy lifting in seeking out and sorting through the many contested elections to determine who is best qualified in terms of training, experience and temperament to occupy the many offices being filled. People of good character,...
It was announced this morning that the Washington, D.C. professional football team would no longer be known as the “Redskins” nor be represented by a Native American logo. It is likely other pro teams in Cleveland, Atlanta and Kansas City that also have Native American themed names and mascots soon will follow suit. Such is the sign of the times, although Stanford U. and Dartmouth College dropped their tribally affiliated logos decades ago in response to the pressures of “political correctness.” That being the case, how long will La Conner...
Democrats have controlled our State Government for 40 years, and as our crumbling infrastructure, higher taxes and runaway spending demonstrate, it is high time for a change. Those of us in Legislative District 10 have an excellent opportunity to help turn things around with three very principled candidates who care about our community because they are part of it. Our State Senator, Ron Muzzall, deserves our vote, as do Bill Bruch and Greg Gilday, who are seeking election to the two House of Representative seats. Bill Bruch is challenging an...
Twenty-five cases of the coronavirus at the Mira Vista Care Center in Mount Vernon, first reported July 1, lead the 100 cases of the coronavirus confirmed in Skagit County in the June 28-July 11 period. The Mira Vista cases included one death, raising to 16 the number of Skagit County deaths linked to COVID-19 infections since tracking began in February. Fourteen residents and 11 staff there have the virus, Director of Public Health Jennifer Johnson told the County Board of Health Friday at its...
In Skagit County, the Board of County Commissioners is the legislative authority and administrators of several County operations. They adopt the annual budget, levy taxes and set five department budgets: emergency services, health parks, planning and roads. They legislate ordinances “concerning the general welfare of the County.” They also have quasi-judicial duties. The Commissioners are partisan elected officials. Candidates are nominated in the primary election, by ballots cast only the...
Rich Stewart is no stranger to La Conner, having visited here several times during a long career in public schools marked by stops all over Washington state. He was hired last week to serve as interim superintendent of La Conner Schools, filling a role that has defined much of his more than four decades in public education. “Being an interim superintendent has been a good thing for me,” Stewart, who enjoys a statewide reputation, told the Weekly News on Thursday. “I hope I can help with La Conne...
Q: Long term County public health role for the coronavirus pandemic? A: Skagit County’s primary role in the pandemic is to realistically assess it and act accordingly, not to play politics. We need to continue to coordinate our efforts with the state’s and then, along with other counties and the state, work with our newly elected federal officials to establish a national strategy of testing, contact tracing, and then an effective vaccination program. Q: County response for the long-term economic...
Q: Long term County public health role for the coronavirus pandemic? A: Skagit County will continue to have our drive-through testing site available to our residents. Skagit County Health Department will continue to follow up with the positive cases doing contact tracing of individuals who have had contact with the positive cases. If isolation is not able to take place in their home, a hotel has been contracted to allow people to stay there. Q: County response for the long-term economic impact,...
The first whistle hasn’t blown and already there’s a delay of game call for fall sports at La Conner High and around Washington state. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Board of Directors has moved to push back the start of the fall sports season two weeks. The WIAA action, taken last week, was in response to the coronavirus threat and makes Sept. 18 the start of fall sports games and matches. The adjusted schedule shifts the start of football workouts to Sept. 5. Other fall sports, such as volleyball and soccer, are...
Pandemic or not, the sun doesn’t set on the La Conner Sunrise Food Bank. “The biggest message,” says Michelle Havist, director of the local food pantry, “is just that we’re here. There are people, clients and donors alike, still learning that La Conner has a food bank.” And it is one for which community support has increased during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, she said. “The community has been great,” said Havist, who doubles as general manager of the Weekly News. “Donations picked up as soon as COVID-19 hit.” Those donations include f...
A year without the Pioneer Picnic in La Conner is rarer than the return of Halley’s Comet. This is one of those years. For the first time in more than a century – 116 years, in fact – there will be no Pioneer Picnic here on the first Thursday in August. COVID-19 is the culprit. “Our board voted to put the picnic on hiatus until next year,” Skagit County Pioneer Association President John Kamb, Jr., a Mount Vernon attorney, told the Weekly News on Friday. “Our thought,” Kamb said...
During this time of uncertainty, rely on the League of Women Voters for unbiased voter information in a safe format at its website. Visit the League of Women Voters’ Vote411.org to register to vote and learn about candidates and issues on your ballot – without facing crowds. Vote411.org reviews your personal ballot and provides candidate answers in their own words. Fill out your ballot while you visit Vote411.org for a quick and easy vote. Information is available through Primary Election Day, Aug. 4. The League of Women Voters has r...
The Honorable Patricia Paul has been reappointed as a tribal court appeals judge with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, in Grand Ronde, Oregon. This is her third appointment to the bench for Grand Ronde. She is a member of the Inupiaq Tribe. Paul was reappointed to the three-member panel along with Robert Miller. Paul received her law degree from Seattle University School of Law. She practices law in La Conner. Paul is a business and estate-planning lawyer specializing in land use law and federal Indian law. She lives on the Swinomish...
