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A wind-blown tree didn’t just crash onto the covered picnic area at Pioneer Park last week. It also crashed plans the public might have had to access park facilities for a while. The Town has closed off much of the park and its hiking trails while hazard and damage assessments are conducted following a severe windstorm that brought gale force gusts to the La Conner area a week ago Monday. The most obvious point of concern is the status of the park’s log-framed pavilion, which caught the brunt of a fallen tree snapped off during the storm. “We...
In the big picture, newspapers are as fundamental to our democracy as the Constitutional separation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. Referred to as the Fourth Estate, newspapers function to not only inform the public, but to hold governmental leaders and institutions accountable for their actions. Even though the Founding Fathers often complained of bias, untruths, vulgarities and a stench of “putrefaction” in press reporting, they ironically regarded the press as crucial to the preservation of our form of...
La Conner wrestler Delaney Cobbs rarely faces a foe she cannot beat. The COVID-19 pandemic is one of those, however. New statewide restrictions put in place to curb spread of the coronavirus have forced Cobbs to forego participation in a major mat tournament in Arizona this weekend. Under mandates imposed Nov. 16, after Cobbs was selected to join a Tacoma-based national travel team for the Arizona trip, she and others traveling from Washington would have had to quarantine for two weeks upon their return. That would not have been feasible for...
The Feast of All Saints and other celebrations make November “the month for the dead,” says Father Paul Magnano, senior priest of Skagit Valley Catholic churches. Congregations pray for the deceased by name at the beginning of mass. Day of the Dead altars feature their photos, food and drink for their journey to paradise and marigolds, symbols of life after death. This year, the process of honoring the deceased has been complicated by changing rules and soaring infection rates from the coronavirus pandemic. For the family of Phyllis Webb, the...
La Conner artist Jay Bowen is an avid distance runner, often seen training in the local area. He ran a half-marathon in early November, five years after suffering a heart attack. But it is Bowen’s daughter, registered nurse Laho Zachmeyer, who has logged the most miles in the family this year. Zachmeyer, 35, has traveled to New York and Texas to provide extended relief at hospital COVID-19 units whose staffing has been pushed to the limit by spread of the virus. She spent four weeks in New Y...
La Conner School Board members were in a thankful mood Monday and hope to be so again in February when voters consider a four-year replacement educational programs and operations levy totaling $4,036,344. Acting on recommendations from a levy election committee co-chaired by La Conner alums Robert Hancock and Jerry Carr, the board, during a 90-minute Zoom meeting, unanimously approved a resolution putting the ballot measure before school district voters on Feb. 9, 2021. If approved, the levy rate on taxable property would be $1.45 per $1,000...
Marianne Manville-Ailles has played a key role for three years helping develop long range plans for the Town of La Conner. Now her own career plans are taking her elsewhere. Manville-Ailles announced last week she will leave after the holidays to assume a senior planning position with the City of Mount Vernon. Town Planner since January 2018, Manville-Ailles also provides contract basis planning services for the Town of Concrete and other entities and clients. That relentless juggling act, further complicated by impacts of the COVID-19...
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...
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...
MOUNT VERNON — A partnership between Skagit County government and the Children’s Museum of Skagit County creates a family resource center for families adversely impacted by COVID-19. Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars provide the funding. It will operate from the Children’s Museum. “In the best of times, families need community support. It truly does take a village to raise a child,” said Jennifer Sass-Walton, Child and Family Health Manager with Skagit County Public Health. “During the pandemic, and this...
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new normal over the past seven months. But for the first time since March, the old normal has returned to Fire District 13 – at least in terms of its monthly call log. Each month during the virus crisis district service calls and transports trailed where they had been in 2019. Until September. The local fire district fielded 102 calls for service last month, one more than a year ago, with three more transports than last year. “It’s the first time since the beginning of COVID that we’ve had more calls...
Skagit County voters are on their way to record breaking participation in the 2020 presidential election. With one week to go, the County’s election office had ballots for almost 53% of its registered voters, reported Laura Han, the County’s public information officer. On Oct. 27 elections staff had “signatured checked 29,700 ballots” and had collected approximately 15,000 additional ballots. The elections office staff estimate turnout may be as high as 90% of the 85,159 registered voters....
Helen Price Johnson has the right stuff to be our state Senator. I have known Helen for over 30 years, since the days she campaigned for good government with her youngest child in a backpack. I worked with Helen while she was on the South Whidbey School Board and as an Island County Commissioner. Helen has always been a champion of the families, the local communities, small businesses, seniors, veterans and farmers that she represents. She has owned a small business with her husband for 25 years and knows what it takes to keep a business...
In our front yard we have a flagpole. It has the American flag, the 12th man flag and at the base of the flagpole is our Helen Price Johnson yard sign. We are voting for Helen Price Johnson Nov. 3 because of her leadership and experience. My roommate and I both experience disabilities. We live on our own with the support of caregivers and our caring families. We both have jobs and are very active in our community. One organization we are actively involved is People First of Island County. This is a non- profit organization that educates the...
LA CONNER — Republican Bill Bruch, a candidate for the state Legislature representing District 10 who is seeking to unseat incumbent Democrat Dave Paul, was the subject of two lawsuits in 1998 that found him liable for judgments totaling nearly $1.7 million. The judgments were made public by Skagit County Democrats on Oct. 14 and posted on their website under the headline “Bill Bruch sued for swindling seniors in 1998.” Bruch posted a statement on his own campaign website in response. “Whe...
OLYMPIA — Over 100 state parks are open for camping or day-use activities this winter Washington State Parks announced with its 2020-21 winter schedule. The winter schedule is available online. State parks offer ample opportunities for those who enjoy camping in the winter months. Campgrounds that remain open are less crowded, and more campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, most parks offer off-season rates. Specific areas within a park may be closed, and some parks are open only on weekends and...
A plethora of political signs there this election cycle has in the view of many turned the La Conner roundabout into an eyesore. But that is about to change. The roundabout area is getting a well-deserved makeover, the effects of which will be visible long after the polls close and candidate signs come down. Two local businesses and service club members have teamed up to launch a long-term beautification project at the roundabout at the east entrance to town. With the iconic Pioneer Monument,...
Background / qualifying experiences 2001-07 South Whidbey School Board Director; 2008-20 Island County Commissioner; 2013-14 president, Washington State Association of Counties; Education: Mills College B.A. Administration and Legal Processes. I grew up on Whidbey Island and am a third-generation small business owner. I have spent my adult life giving back to the community I love. My husband and I own a residential construction company, raised our four children here and put them through college....
Background / qualifying experiences I am an architect, small business owner and former carpenter, laborer and machinist with a Masters Degree in Environmental Law and Policy. Whidbey Island has been my family’s home for 23 years. During the Great Recession I served as Island County Commissioner balancing the budget and promoting transparency and accountable government. I have the experience, accountability and compassion to help steer our state out of tough times and to set us on course for a s...
Background / qualifying experiences I’m an educator and community leader and I have worked at Skagit Valley College since 2008 and served on the Oak Harbor Educational Foundation since 2009. I have had the honor of serving in the State Legislature for the past two years. Voters can trust that I will continue to listen to all constituents and work hard to find bipartisan solutions whenever possible. The legislation that I have sponsored to protect veterans, support education and improve transport...
SEATTLE — In a newly launched pilot project, civilian mental health crisis responders are riding alongside Skagit County sheriff’s deputies on 911 calls. It is the latest example of reimagining policing in the Pacific Northwest. Skagit County Sheriff’s Office Detective Anne Weed broached the idea for a partnership months before the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police ignited the national debate about reform. Weed said two existing mental health clinicians from Compass Health are now being “embedded” with regular patrol deputie...
A new mortgage assistance program to assist low-income homeowners impacted by the COVID-19 economic downturn is available from the Skagit County government. This program is for homeowners who have lost income due to COVID-19 and are currently at 50 percent or below of area median income. The threshold is $2,617 per month for a household of two, or $3,267 per month for a household of four. Additional eligibility criteria can be found on the application. The program can assist with up to $6,000 in past due mortgage payments, excluding escrow...
The COVID-19 pandemic has everyone’s immediate attention. Fire District 13 Commissioners and personnel, who have been on the front lines of the ongoing virus crisis, are looking to the future as well. Commission chair Larry Kibbee and panel members Bruce Shellhamer and J.J. Wilbur approved the proposed outline of a new five-year plan for fire district operations as part of a briskly paced 45-minute video-conferenced meeting last Thursday. “This is the first stage,” Fire District Capt. Ted Taylor said of the outline. “Nothing is cast in concret...
Two consulting firms wanting to help lead the search for a new La Conner Schools superintendent made their pitches to school board members during near hour-long Zoom presentations Monday night. Neither missed the mark. As a result, the board postponed at least until its Oct. 12 study session choosing which will lead the perhaps six months process. “I thought both firms did a good job presenting,” board president Susie Gardner Deyo said of the Northwest Leadership Associates spokesmen Mark Venn and Dr. Wayne Robertson and McPherson & Jac...
Regarding the letter writer (Mike Morrell, Sept. 16)) who “set the record straight” on the fact that President Obama built the cages at the southern border and used them: His information is correct, with his added note that his information was fact-checked on Snopes.com, including an excerpt. What is curiously omitted from that letter is further information in that same Snopes.com fact-check, elaborating on the purposes for the enclosures under the Obama administration, as compared with the current Trump administration. The following quo...
