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La Conner is no one-horse town. But on Saturday it was a one Brahma bull town, and proud of it. "Little Wick," a 4-year-old purebred Brahma steer, made his way that morning up the Washington Street hill, avoiding the new one-way traffic flow downtown, to take part in the opening of the much-anticipated Wick Peth exhibit at the Skagit County Historical Museum. The late Wick Peth, of a La Conner and Burlington area pioneer family, was a legendary bullfighter who brought athleticism to rodeo...
Total turn around. The $68,591 reported in sales tax revenues to the La Conner Town Council in September by the state’s Department of Revenue is the highest ever for the month, $5,315 above last year’s, and the second highest total in 2024. After below normal collection totals four of the first five months this year, sales taxes the last three months total $203,359, 42.7% of the year’s total and putting the town on course to meet this projected income for the year. Likewise, the $6,798 firetruck sales tax receipts are a record for the month...
Great staff, great results: The La Conner Weekly News won 37 WNPA best newspaper awards at the annual Better Newspaper Contest of Washington's community newspapers, a bit short of doubling last year's total of 21. More individuals, 14, won in more categories. Weekly News staff swept first, second and third place five times, including art reviews, art features and general and topical columns. Bill Reynolds led with 11 certificates, with first place for a news and an education story. He shared...
The candidates vying to represent Washington in the U.S. Senate went head-to-head Oct. 8 at a debate in Spokane, sparring over affordability, immigration, foreign affairs and fentanyl. Democratic incumbent Maria Cantwell and Republican Raul Garcia, a Yakima emergency room doctor, met at the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center at Gonzaga University for a debate hosted by The Spokesman-Review in partnership with Gonzaga University, KSPS, the Black Lens and the Washington State Debate Coalition. It was the first debate between the two...
Eligible voters receive their Nov. 5 election ballots in the mail this week. While this is not the most significant election of our lifetime, it requires, as with every vote, thoughtful consideration of the candidates and issues. Our decisions do make a difference, including voting for alternative candidates or not voting. There are four initiatives on the ballot. Please spend the necessary time to learn their purposes, consequences and who their sponsors are. Brian Heywood is the money behind them. Last week this billionaire’s organization, L...
I’d just like to say I’ve bought at least one copy of the La Conner Weekly News every time I’ve been to La Conner. Lunch at Slider’s just wouldn’t be the same without it. I sincerely hope that if the paper is sold that the community be the ones to own it, what a great idea. Thanks for all the good work Ken and company. Corey Coffell via email...
I woke in the middle of the night, terrified Donald Trump could be elected; mystified that even his recent, repeated lies about Democrats, hurricanes and FEMA, toward his own political ends, have not outraged his followers. The word, fealty, has been used to describe a loyal Trumpist, like number two in the Republican leadership, Steve Scalise of Louisiana, who has repeated (!) Trump’s lie, “They (Democrats) use that (FEMA) money helping illegals here that they brought into America” (The Guardian). The word fealty is defined historically as, ...
Southern Resident Orcas are intelligent, social, biologically important as apex predators – and critically endangered. Only some 75 remain and recent research published in the journal Nature highlighted that human-produced noise is a key to the decline of the orcas – the noise from boats interferes with their ability to hunt, reproduce and survive. The same research foresees extinction for the Southern Resident Orcas. I’m thrilled that Janet St. Clair, running to be our state senator, says “I’m a fierce protector of salmon and our iconic or...
We have many things on our minds at this time, the fate of our newspaper and La Conner’s south end industrial area, the critically important elections locally and nationally, the Russian incursion in Ukraine, the climate crisis, hurricanes and more. But I would like to draw your attention to the war in the Middle East where Israel is reacting to the Hamas attack last October that killed 1,200 and took 240 hostages. Israel has so far killed, at a minimum, 42,000-plus Palestinians in Gaza, more on the West Bank and now is proceeding into L...
Today’s small-scale renewable energy generation and storage systems don’t have to be placed exclusively at big, centralized locations. It’s easier than ever to distribute electric generation and energy storage systems near places where energy is actually used. Distributed energy resources (DERs) have advantages over legacy systems based on huge power generation plants. Installing small generation systems at multiple points, instead of big systems at a few locations, can improve relia...
During the week they shifted historic South First Street one-way southbound traffic flow, La Conner’s leaders put the brakes on any free-wheeling budget plans for 2025. Town Administrator Scott Thomas shared a tight financial forecast with Town Council members at their Oct. 8 meeting, confirming projections submitted in writing by Mayor Marna Hanneman. “This is a tight budget year,” Thomas stressed. “Inflationary costs have risen dramatically. Expenses are going up. I’ve told the staff this is a year that we have to cut and choose....
The state’s Public Disclosure Commission issued a fine of $20,000 Oct. 9, half of it suspended on certain conditions, finding political action committee Let’s Go Washington violated state campaign finance laws. The PDC found that LGW failed to report subcontractors used by signature-gathering firms and failed to produce campaign records when requested by PDC. The decision and order includes: “LGW has an obligation to inquire and confirm whether its contractors have used subcontractors. Failing to ask or failing to follow up on a contr...
Douglas James Avery, 75, a lifelong resident of Skagit Valley, passed away with his loving family by his side on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. He was born on Aug. 4, 1949, in Anacortes to Warren and Lucille (Whitney) Avery. Doug spent the summers working in agriculture and graduated from La Conner High School in 1967. After graduation he worked on tugboats, then at Nelson Lumber until he began his building career, eventually retiring after 25 years of owning Avery Builders. Doug played any and all...
The improving La Conner Braves football team shocked the Shockers at Whittaker Field Saturday afternoon. The Braves (2-3) held Waterville-Mansfield scoreless in the second half and capitalized on key Shocker turnovers to post a 22-14 comeback triumph in non-league eight-man grid action. Senior quarterback C.J. Edwards ran for two touchdowns after the break and freshman running back Yandel Rosales-Rojas dashed 25 yards to pay dirt late in the first period to fuel the La Conner attack. It was the...
Quality overshadowed quantity when the La Conner High School volleyball team hosted its annual Dig Pink/Senior Night match last week. Defensive specialist Addison Wigal, the team’s lone senior, was celebrated as part of Oct. 8 festivities at Landy James Gym. For her part, Wigal delivered four digs and a service ace to help a young Braves lineup post a 3-1 triumph over Mount Vernon Christian. The score: 25-16, 25-13, 24-26, 25-13. Nora McCormick recorded a team-best 10 kills for the victors. Reese Bird (9), Maeve McCormick (6), Abi Poulton (...
BREW WAS SAMPLED CLOSE TO THIS SLOUGH - Visitors young and not so young flocked to Maple Hall Saturday for the La Conner Chamber of Commerce's first Brew on the Slough since 2019. There were 12 breweries pouring, a room full of people tasting, and the CC Adams Band performing. Plus a silent auction to raise money for the Chamber....
Though best suited for a Mediterranean climate, figs can be successfully grown in the Pacific Northwest. Gardeners are always looking for a captivating new plant to add to their gardens. One such beckoning horticultural challenge is the edible fig tree. Although edible figs are widely grown in the Mediterranean basin, our climate is too cool for many varieties. However, figs are part of NW Fruit’s experimental planting program and can be found at the NW Fruit Garden on SR 536, west of Mount Vernon, next to the Master Gardener’s Discovery Gar...
If ranked-choice voting becomes a reality in Washington state, you can thank former La Conner resident Kit Muehlman. Muehlman, who raised children, made pottery and taught yoga in greater La Conner for 42 years before moving to Bellingham in 2016, is spreading the word about this system of voting, now used by 60 U.S. cities and the states of Maine and Alaska. Ireland and Australia have been using ranked-choice voting for over a century. A proposal to use ranked-choice voting is on the ballot in Oregon this fall. Under this system, when a race...
Timothy Egan, from Seattle, and Rena Priest, of Lummi Nation, are among the winners of the 2024 Washington State Book Awards. Egan’s “A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them” won in general nonfiction/biography. Priest won in poetry for editing “I Sing the Salmon Home: Poems from Washington State.” Matika Wilbur of Swinomish and Tulalip was a general nonfiction/biography finalist for her “Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America.” Other winners in the seven categorie...
Skagit Community Band presents: “A Musical Passport.” Director Vince Fejeran opens the 2024-2025 season with selections from composers around the world, including Jan Van der Roost, Samuel Hazo, Gustav Holst, Ary Barroso and many more. Skagit Community Band’s two concerts are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at Maple Hall in La Conner, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, at Brodniak Hall in Anacortes. Free Admission, donation gladly accepted. More info: Skagitcommunityband.org. Beer & Bingo: Skagit Habitat for Humanity Joins Garden Path Ferme...
Why are you seeking office? This is a moderate district that expects its legislative leaders to bring people together to find practical and bipartisan solutions that best serve our community. As we see our nation become increasingly polarized, I'm proud to continue to work across the aisle to serve our community and state. I am committed to building bridges that help connect diverse people, groups and communities within our District and finding points of bipartisan consensus. It's especially...
Why are you seeking office? I am running for State House LD10 Position 2 because I feel that with one party control in Olympia, we are not getting good policies. As an example, HB 1589 which my opponent voted for and coincidentally Democratic Lt. Gov. Denny Heck called "a hot mess" is one example. The Seattle Times just endorsed I-2066 stating "The legislature could have and should have done better". I think the fact that there were seven initiatives, four of which are on this year's ballot, is...
Why are you seeking office? With soaring costs, our economy isn't working for us. That's why I fought to lower property taxes for more seniors, veterans and people with disabilities; and cap medication costs. I increased retirement benefits for teachers and public employees; and funded affordable housing across our district. I'm 100% pro-choice, an environmental advocate and champion for veterans and military families. Over the past two years as your representative, I'm proud of the progress...
Why are you seeking office? If one's dishonest or outed during an election, why would anyone trust or listen to anything they say or plan to do? I believe LD-10 Position 1 deserves an individual who is honest and trustworthy to represent them. I believe as a We The People candidate, I wish to represent the citizens of LD-10, Washington state and America to the best of my abilities of bring common sense honesty with integrity to represent the community, state and country I love! How will you...
Why are you seeking office? My experience in business and governance has provided me with a broad understanding of important issues. I've lived and worked in this district my entire life, giving me an understanding of this district that few have. My moderate perspective and accountability-first attitude not only align with the values of this district but also enable me to work with legislators across the aisle to get things done. How will you increase funding for public school special e...
