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Dear Editor: Was asked after the primary election, “What I thought of the results?” I didn’t know, as the print and radio media didn’t tell me, and had to ask friends, who checked the County’s electronic record. That’s sad: Eventually, learned 42.2 percent of Skagit County voted! That means a “minority” determined the November general election ballot, and 26.4 percent of the voters (19,844 of 74,937) approved an EMS property-tax levy! Ours is a representative government, and if voters don’t vote/participate; it’s not representative. Rev...
Dear Editor: I am eager to read and learn more about the move towards a charter form of county government. So far there has been information about the voting and adoption process, with encouragement to vote yes, but very little in the way of compelling reasons to support why the change is needed. Proponents would do well to explain what exactly is defective with the current governmental structure and how this new structure will be an improvement in both cost and efficiency. Thirty-two of Washington state’s thirty-nine counties do not have t...
Democracy seeks to give voice to all parts of a diverse community, not just one, as Commissioner Wesen desires. Apparently, in responding to the charter measure, his “biggest concern is the loss of representation in the agricultural community.” While two of three commissioners are from farming families, passage of a charter doesn’t mean there will be a loss of representation of farmers. First, the charter will be developed by seven individuals elected from each of the three districts represented by our commissioners. Individuals from diverse ba...
Dear Readers: It is time for the 2018 Bicycle and Pedestrian Count. We are looking for volunteers wanting to help collect useful data about non-motorized transportation – and how lucky we are to live in a place where we can enjoy walking and biking so pleasantly. The Washington State Department of Transportation and the Cascade Bicycle Club are recruiting volunteers at multiple locations across the county as part of a statewide count. Each site needs to be counted twice – once in the morning and once in the afternoon. The morning...
OK old-timers. Here is the most inside of insider baseball. What’s the question to this answer: Curt Flood. Give up? Here’s the question: What pioneering, heroic, personally sacrificing-his-career sports star does Colin Kaepernick take after? I was crazy about sports as a kid and came of age as the 1970s emerged from the tumultuous decade of the 1960s. When I first followed sports, players wore narrow ties and said “Sir’ and “Ma’am” There was no irony and almost no nodding and winking when players, professional and college, were termed All Amer...
You can both imagine and make real this possibility: your influence deciding the shape of a new governing constitution for Skagit County. First you must pass the referendum calling to develop a charter. The 21 delegates, termed freeholders by the state’s19th century constitution, will then draft a charter framing a 21st century governance structure. We are much closer to the action than our 18th century ancestors were when our federal Constitution was created. Almost all of us would not have been eligible to vote. Today all of us have a v...
The La Conner school district directors unanimously approved the salary schedule and tentative contract for its teachers at its Monday night study session. Voting yes to Director Lynette Cram’s motion were Chair Kate Szurek, Janie Beasley, Brad Smith and John Thulen. The agreement make’s the district’s minimum salary $50,633, a 27 percent increase. Teachers at the top of the scale, with 16 years and advanced degrees will earn $106,146. In year two those salaries increase to $51,595 and $108,157. La Conner teachers were briefly the second highe...
Joanna Sikes was named executive director of the Museum of Northwest Art by its board of trustees on Sept.1. She drops the “interim” from her title while continuing the work she has been doing since her April hire. In a phone interview, she said, “the fabric of the museum is in a robust state. We have new people coming on that are well qualified for their positions. The education program is up to speed.” The museum has hired Ellie Cross to be its education director. She began the end of August....
Work along Shelter Bay Drive posed a minor inconvenience for motorists on Thursday. But the work itself was in response to what looms as a potential major concern later down the road. Drought-stricken and dead trees lining Shelter Bay Drive were cut and removed as a traffic and pedestrian safety measure, a scene community leaders fear will have to be repeated going forward. “According to arborists we have contacted,” Shelter Bay Manager David Franklin told La Conner Weekly News last week, “th...
Provided by Skagit County Pioneer Association The position of Historian-Memorialist (Historian for short) on the Board of Skagit County Pioneer Association’s, along with President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, has been a mainstay for the group, which in 2019 will mark 115 years. Dan Royal, at this year’s 114th Annual Pioneer Picnic, was pleased to announce local resident and writer, Bill Reynolds as the Pioneer Association’s new Historian, voted and approved by the Board earlier in t...
Over 50 people, including at least 10 from greater La Conner, crowded into a room at Coconut Kenny’s last Wednesday and the free pizza and beer was the least of the draw. Home Rule Skagit organizers were rallying supporters for the election campaign to approve a charter for Skagit County. The 3,333 petition signatures they collected this year and submitted in August qualified the measure for the November ballot. Steering Committee Chair Gary Wickman told the crowd, “When it passes we will hav...
Vernon Lewis Stevens passed away in his home on Friday, August 31, 2018. He was born in Tacoma, Washington on October 10, 1930 to Lawrence L. Stevens and Lilly Bird Barton. Vern graduated from Lake Washington High School in 1951. He was drafted into the Army and served 3 years, many up on old Bauldie. On December 17, 1954, Vernon married his wife Dorothy. Along with their 5 children Vern and Dorothy raised 34 foster children. Vern moved his family, by train, to Cincinnati, Ohio to work for...
