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My flight to L.A. has been booked for a month. I get to see my kids, whom I have not seen in many months, and I get to have Thanksgiving Dinner with my sister and her large family in Palm Springs and I get to play golf and tennis without the threat of rain. Sounds great with one tiny exception: COVID-19! The virus is spiraling out of control in the U.S. and the governors of California, Oregon and Washington have asked people to stay home and avoid crowds. Chances are I will be okay. Allegiant...
The dictionary describes tenderness as being acutely sensitive to pain and the feelings of others. Pope Francis, in his new message to all people, said, “Tenderness is the path of choice for the strongest, most courageous men and women.” America presents us many examples of such people. One is Abraham Lincoln, who said, “I have not willingly planted a thorn in any man’s bosom.” His whole life revealed great tenderness. After the civil war he declared, “Rebel leaders need not expect he would take any part in hanging or killing even the worst o...
A La Conner High student has no trouble grappling with success. Adjusting to new COVID-19 pandemic restrictions might be less certain, however. Delaney Cobbs, a reigning girls’ 2A regional wrestling champion has been selected to square off against top mat talent from around the country at a major tournament in Arizona next month. Cobbs, a junior, is scheduled to compete with the Tacoma-based Ford Dynasty Wrestling Club’s national travel team in Bullhead City, Az., about 100 miles south of Las...
Fraud depends on facts to prove the accuser’s case. Everyone has the freedom to believe what they want. At home, in a bar, on a ball field, in the stands, at church, wherever we gather people can tell each other their beliefs and call them truth. A 10,000 year old planet, angels dancing on the head of a pin, dead people voting, mailboxes stuffed with ballots, all of these can be true in a person’s or a congregation’s mind. Folks are entitled to hold on tightly to any belief and take it to their graves with them as gospel. Anyone can tell their...
The next Friday night extended shopping hours event in La Conner will be closer to Christmas than the start of the month. And that is under the best of conditions. Organizers have tentatively rescheduled to Dec. 18 the new First on First local business promotion in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s four-week state pandemic restrictions imposed today (Wednesday) to curb spread of the coronavirus. “That is our preliminary plan, assuming we open back up by the 18th,” First on First co-co...
Sunday and Monday night, diners were taking their last meals at La Conner restaurants, from La Conner Pub & Eatery down to Nell Thorn on First Street and over to Santo Coyote on Morris Street and COA on Maple Avenue. Residents once again made a run on toilet paper at Pioneer Market, though bottled water was in good supply Tuesday. Business owners who heard the news were not surprised by Gov. Jay Inslee’s Sunday proclamation to restrict Washington residents ability to be in close proximity. T...
The counting is not over, but only one Skagit County or Legislative District 10 election result is not certain: the Skagit Superior Court Judge Position 3 contest between public defender Elizabeth Yost Neidzwski and Mount Vernon attorney Tom Seguine. Yost Neidzwski had a 287 vote lead after Monday’s vote count, a slight increase from Friday’s numbers. Seguine needs 60% of the remaining 1,500 ballots outstanding to win. Republican County Commissioner Ron Wesen has won re-election against retired Anacortes commercial fisherman Mark Lundsten wit...
Council and staff are finalizing the budget La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes presented to them Oct. 21. He called 2020 unprecedented, noting the coronavirus pandemic and the spring’s “dramatic decreases in economic activity” when presenting his budget message to the Town Council and community. All comparisons of the 2021 budget are against the 2020 budget as passed. Revenues through October were down 3.5% from the budget passed last December. Town revenues received a boost from the $200,000 sale of the Town-owned “Kirsch property.” Full year 2020...
The Skagit County COVID-19 test site has moved to the Skagit County Fairgrounds. It is open for testing today after having been closed for the move Monday and Tuesday. Skagit County Unified Command made the announcement Nov. 14. “Washington winter isn’t going to get any easier, and making this move will allow us to continue providing this important service for the Skagit Community,” said Public Health Director Jennifer Johnson. “A huge thanks to all of our partners for making this possible and to the residents of Mount Vernon for accommo...
Explosive Town Council meetings are nothing new to La Conner. But the panel’s Nov. 10 tele-conferenced session briefly blew up in a way not seen here before. Mayor Pro-Tem Bill Stokes had to shut down the meeting for several minutes after it was “Zoom-bombed” with disturbing, profanity-laced content. The meeting did resume, and Town business was conducted, but the unexpected and troubling interruption left its mark. “I hate these Zoom meetings, especially if we’re going to get bombed like that,” said Stokes, who presided since Mayor Ramon...
As Thanksgiving approaches, local police officers have plenty on their plates. Only this is not talking about turkey and all the fixins. Sgt. Jeff Willard, who administers the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office La Conner detachment, outlined for Town Council members the busy schedule deputies are shouldering as Washington state enters a new round of COVID-19 restrictions. “It hasn’t been too bad yet,” Willard told the Weekly News on Monday. “Hopefully, the new lockdown will not negatively affect the public.” The detachment’s workload had been full...
Monday, November 9 4:36 p.m.: Shot downtown – Report of a large dead Blue Heron. The call was transferred to the Department of Fish and Wildlife to handle. Washington Ave. / S. 1st St., La Conner. Tuesday, November 10 9:36 a.m.: Stealing from a realtor – Caller reported that his office window had been pried open and the office door was locked from the inside. Deputies checked the building and unlocked the office door, nothing appeared to be disturbed or taken inside the building. Morris St., La Conner. 4:27 p.m.: Need kindness to...
When I travelled to the Kingdom of Bhutan in 2011 with Margrit Elliot, meals, hotels, in-country travel were included in the daily rate of $150. Margrit, lives with her husband, Bruce, in La Conner. She conducted medical missions, under a non -profit. On our trip, we each carried a suitcase full of medical supplies. Each item available over the counter here in the States. In Bhutan, much needed, such as gauze. Arriving from Bangkok, Thailand into Paro. Destination of Thimphu with travels to...
