Wednesday, December 28, 2011

in the December 28 issue

Photo by Gary Cole

Winds gusting at 50 miles per hour on Christmas Day in the Snee-Oosh Beach area knocked down a power pole at the corner of Keith Johnson’s yard. Doug Cole, reporting from the scene, said the power outage didn’t deter the Barbara Hoover family holiday celebration; they just fired up generators and carried on. Utility crews worked through the night to replace three poles and power was restored by 8:10 a.m. Monday.

2011 in Review
     OK, when you see a "Year in Review" or a "Look Back" on the front page of a newspaper, that's newspaper code for NOTHING IS HAPPENING. That's the real reason these things show up between Christmas and New Year's Day. It's the quietest time of the year for news...
     Nevertheless, some people enjoy looking back; and for those of us in La Conner the year had some events worth talking about.


 Photo by Ben Davidson
A happy memory: Canoe Journey
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community hosted the annual Canoe Journey, which drew about 80 family canoes carrying tribal people from throughout the northwest in July.
Almost everyone in the La Conner area participated in the event. Thousands of people lined up on both sides of the channel to witness the spectacular canoe landing, which included a surprise visit from Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, who was a paddler in Tribal Chairman Brian Cladoosby’s canoe.
Swinomish invited the whole town to dinner every night during weeklong gathering, which ran from July 25 through 31 and included Native American dancing and performances every day.
The event left the community with wonderful memories and a beautiful reminder – the three cedar hat-shaped pavilions at Swadabs Park across the channel from Gilkey Square mark the site of the historic canoe landing.

 Photo by Don Coyote
Scary day: Cops shut down the town
We’ll be telling the grandkids about the afternoon that quiet La Conner suddenly started swarming with police, their assault rifles at the ready ordering residents to take cover indoors while a low-flying Blackhawk helicopter circled overhead with armed officers looking out.
The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, acting on a credible tip that a man who had just committed two murders in Oak Harbor had come to La Conner called in officers from six other law enforcement agencies to shut down the town.
The accused murderer, Joshua David Lambert, 30, was captured in Oak Harbor. He is charged with stabbing both his 80-year-old grandfathers to death in separate attacks on Monday, Oct. 3. Lambert has told the Island County Superior Court he plans to represent himself in his defense and that he is insane.

 Photo by Kane Stokes
Remember these guys?
 Town turkeys evicted
La Conner’s wild turkey flock, which once numbered 18, was run out of town.
Resident complaints about the birds’ foul habits, including digging up flower beds and pooping on porches, prompted the Town Council to order town employees to trap, chase and net the birds.
Public Works crews nabbed the last tom in May as he was taking refuge in the public restroom on Morris Street. That bird spent about a month in “solitary” in the old dog pen at the old public works department until Marci and Bob Plank took him in. Now the turkey has a name, Monty, and a job. He is overlord of the chickens, who stand around and admire him at the Planks’ ranch.


Columnists Mel Damski and Mickey Bambrick gave us some very personal information for Christmas. Look inside the paper for some great reading from these two amazing local writers.

From the Police Blotter:
11:57 a.m.: Animal mix-up – A resident in La Conner reported a suspicious package on her front porch, and was concerned it may be dangerous. Deputies found the box contained a near-lethal amount of cuteness in the form of a kitten. The kitten was taken into custody and transported to the Humane Society. Deputies determined that the kitten was intended as a gift for the caller’s daughter. Well, it could have been a bomb.

The paper is on the streets today in the news stands, in both gas stations, the liquor store, drug store and book store.
 

Braves Sports, Dec. 28, 2011

Photo by Melissa Reynolds

Lady Braves rebound, win big over Coupeville
By Bill Reynolds
The La Conner High girls' basketball team was looking for a bounce back game after suffering a tough loss at Darrington.
They found one Wednesday night against another longtime rival, Coupeville.
It was a pairing the Lady Braves won moments after tipoff, bursting to an early 24-2 lead and never looking back en route to an eventual 48-18 romp.
"The Coupeville game was definitely a good one for us following the loss at Darrington," La Conner head coach Scott Novak said afterward. "The team came out and played aggressively, and basically put the game away in the first half."
La Conner parlayed its tenacious full-court press into Coupeville turnovers and easy transition baskets, building a 31-5 cushion at intermission.
The advantage swelled to 38-8 going into the final stanza.
The early and large lead allowed Novak to substitute liberally and keep his squad well rested going into Tuesday's late action with Adna and this Friday's trip to Toutle Lake.
Priscilla Ponce-Venegas finished with eight points to lead 10 La Conner scorers, all of whom benefitted from the Lady Braves' "pass-first" mindset in their halfcourt attack.
"I thought we moved the ball really well on offense," Novak insisted afterward.
Point guard Nikki Finley recorded two assists in playing time limited by the lopsided score.
Solid passing by Finley and her teammates enabled La Conner to shoot 43 per cent from the field (17 of 40), including three of seven trey attempts.
Finley, Katie McKnight, and Katie Novak each buried shots from beyond the arc.
La Conner literally rebounded well in bouncing back from the earlier Darrington defeat.
Aubrey Stewart paced the Lady Braves with seven caroms, to go along with five points.
Emily Anderson (7), Kelly McClung (5), Emma Christianson (2), Lauren Reynolds (2), and Alyssa McCormick (2) rounded out LaConner's scoring.
Coach Novak expected stern tests this week from Adna and Toutle Lake.
"These," he said, "should be two very tough non-league games."
Of that, the Lady Braves are well aware. They know the visit to Toutle Lake, in particular, is no mere holiday vacation.
To that end, they worked out until 7 p.m. the day after Christmas, not expecting gifts from either Toutle Lake or Adna.

 Photo by Melissa Reynolds
Braves earn praise as road warriors
By Bill Reynolds
The La Conner Braves passed their first big road test of the season with flying colors.
But head coach Scott Novak isn't quite ready to say his club, which remained unbeaten with a convincing 66-53 win last week at 3A Sedro-Woolley, is in the driver's seat yet.
"The Sedro-Woolley game was a nice win for the team," Novak said after the much anticipated clash, which was broadcast live on radio. "The boys played well, executing on offense and playing good defense."
Landy James, Jonah Cook, and Mike Wilbur paced a balanced La Conner attack at Sedro-Woolley that saw seven Braves land in the scoring column.
Wilbur literally filled the stat sheet, meshing 12 points on five-of-nine shooting while also recording three steals and dishing off a pair of assists.
James led the La Conner point parade with 18 points, including a perimeter trey.
Cook, meanwhile, punished the Cubs inside with 17 tallies and three blocked shots.
He converted six of nine attempts from the floor and made Sedro-Woolley pay when the hosts fouled him in the paint.
Cook converted five of six charity tosses – nearly half the Braves' team total.
But despite the impressive triumph, in which La Conner led throughout, Novak remained the soul of caution even after the Sedro-Woolley win was safely in the books.
His focus was instead on this week's longer road trip to southwest Washington.
"Things don't get any easier," he stressed, "as we play at Adna (Thursday) and Toutle Lake (Friday)."
So it was left for La Conner fans to savor Wednesday night's victory.
They saw contributions by the entire roster against a bigger school featuring in Isaac Bianchini one of the top scorers in the area.
Bianchini paced the Cubs with 13 points, but it wasn't nearly enough against a deep La Conner squad.
Consider that Tyler Howlett responded with a season-best nine points, hitting four of seven field goal attempts.
And that Bobby Poulton drained the only shot he took, and was one of five Braves to register assists – confirming Novak's praise about how well his club ran its offense.
In addition to Wilbur and Poulton, James, Jared Fohn, and Spencer Novak also passed off for buckets, helping trigger LaConner's motion offense.
The Braves bolted to an early 16-12 lead, but used a 21-9 run in the third period to set the tone.
LaConner led by double digits much of the second half, entering the final frame with a comfortable 51-35 edge.
Thursday's tipoff at Adna, which is coach Novak's high school alma mater, is set for 7 p.m. The Friday matinee at Toutle Lake gets under way at 4:30 p.m.
  
 La Conner grapplers give peak effort at Mt. Baker
By Bill Reynolds
La Conner High's Jimmy Garcia wasn't being asked to move mountains last weekend.
It just seemed that way.
The Braves’ wrestler found himself paired against Concrete's Johnny Evans, ranked No. 2 in the State at 145 pounds, during one of his four matches at the highly competitive Mount Baker Invitational Tournament.
It proved to be a peak moment for Garcia, who upset Evans for one of his two victories on the afternoon – competing mostly against foes from the 2A through 4A ranks.
"I was very happy with Garcia's day at 145," La Conner head coach Barry Harper said afterward. "He went 2-2, but it was probably the toughest weight class in the tournament."
La Conner's Dahlton Zavala placed fourth in the 160s, while teammate Cameron Wischhusen clinched fifth place in the 182s.
Kevin Aske (138), Todd Hoagland (170), and William Zeimantz (285) won one match apiece for La Conner at the Mount Baker meet.
It was a 16-team tourney which saw La Conner grapplers continue to make progress, despite often facing uphill battles against wrestlers from larger schools.
The Braves placed 12th overall on the boys' side.
In the girls' competition, La Conner's Amber Drye and Frances Zeimantz each won two matches.
"We fared pretty well, I thought," said Harper. "I'm continuing to see improvement every week, which is good. That's exactly what we need."
La Conner resumes mat action 2 p.m. on Thursday at home opposite Mount Vernon.


 

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

in the December 21 issue

The winter solstice occurs at 9:30 p.m. local time.

 Photo by Kirsten Morse
This is the view of Gilkey Square from the Swinomish side of the channel.

 Photo by Joy Neal
Many Christmas wishes granted
With more people struggling this year, the generosity of the La Conner community is the top story. The Kiwanis Club, students in La Conner schools and merchants’ donation jars helped bring Christmas to 34 local families this year. Here is the Bank of America’s giving tree and bank employee Monica Wickstrom with many gifts received during the toy drive. Local residents also helped the more than 80 families served by the La Conner Sunrise Food Bank. A concert featuring all local talent sponsored by the town and  La Conner Institute of Performing Arts raised $1,170 for the food bank in donations from people who came to enjoy Christmas music. Our caring and generous community is one of the season's greatest blessings.

Photo by John Doyle, courtesy of Kathie Hubbard
 Councilman Don Wright's last Town Council meeting
Wright spent more than three decades serving on the town council. For the first time since he was first appointed to the council in 1980, Wright was defeated in an election when Dan O’Donnell challenged him in November. Writer Adrian Sharpe has the story on today's paper -- and she pulled it off without interviewing Don, who is not real big on tooting his own horn. Fortunately, there are plenty of others who know him well and are willing to go on record, including his Council colleagues and the Mayor shown above toasting him with sparkling cider at his final meeting.


Pets at risk of predators
By Adrian Sharpe
As the chill in the air gets frostier, the local wildlife may become scarier.
In recent months coyotes have been blamed for a handful of pet deaths in the La Conner area. By leaving garbage out and allowing pets free reign of outdoor areas, humans are inadvertently inviting predators to dinner.
“There are coyotes running all over,” said Rich Petteys whose cat was recently attacked. Details in today's paper.

From the Police Blotter:
10:41 a.m.: Dog attack – A woman on Reservation Rd, toward Anacortes, let her Chihuahua out and a few minutes later heard barking and a commotion. She went outside and found her dog cornered by a large, brindle colored, long-hair pit bull-mixed dog. She picked up her little dog and the big attacked her, causing a possible broken arm and severe lacerations on both arms. When her husband came out and pulled the dog off her, the animal attacked him, as well. The bad dog ran off and authorities have been unable to locate the animal. The woman was treated in a hospital emergency room for her injuries. This is a bad one, please call 911 if you spot this outlaw dog.

On a brighter note, our award winning columnists have plenty of good things to read in today's paper. Jim Smith and Mickey Bambrick will get you giggling and Mel Damski will get you thinking. Bob Skeele has some unusual Christmas prose. And Joy Neal  has some great book suggestions; keep the library in mind when you unwrap that new e-reader on Christmas morning.

Come in to our office and get a free cookie with your paper. Or feed quarters into our red news stands or pick up a copy at both gas stations, the liquor store, book store and drug store. 


Thank you La Conner, for keeping the newspaper going.
Our readers, our generous and loyal advertisers, and our talented local writers, poets and photographers are the reason the award-winning La Conner Weekly News is here. 

We wish you a wonderful holiday season followed by a prosperous and healthy 2012.
 






 



Braves Sports, Dec. 21, 2011


Photo by Melissa Reynolds

La Conner fells Loggers with tree-mendous effort
By Bill Reynolds
La Conner kept its perfect season intact with a convincing 68-37 NW 1A/2B boys’ hoop victory Friday over the Darrington Loggers.
But the Braves aren’t out of the woods yet, according to La Conner head coach Scott Novak.
La Conner,  4-0 in league and 6-0 overall, enters perhaps its toughest stretch of the regular season starting tonight, Dec. 21, when the Braves face 3A Sedro-Woolley and then travel for the holidays to meet Adna and Toutle Lake.
“These next three games,” Novak said Sunday, “will be good benchmark games for our team to see where we really stack up.”
Against Darrington, La Conner managed to stack the Loggers like cordwood.
The Braves bolted to an early 25-6 lead and never looked back.
Landy James and Jonah Cook led 10 La Conner players in the scoring column, netting 17 and 13 points, respectively.
James buried two of four outside trey attempts, while Cook dominated play in the paint, converting six of 11 shots from the floor.
Backcourt starters Mike Wilbur and Spencer Novak orchestrated the rout with crisp passing and keen decision making.
Wilbur paced the victors with five assists, while Novak was adept feeding Cook and Tyler Howlett in the post.
“They did a great job,” coach Novak said afterward, “getting the ball inside for easy looks.”
Howlett was a prime beneficiary, meshing 10 points on five-of-nine shooting, while also grabbing five boards.
Novak (6), Skylar Krueger (5), Cameron Sherman (5), Wil James (4), Jamall James (3), Jared Fohn (3), and Wilbur (2) rounded out a balanced LaConner attack.
Fohn joined Landy James in exending Darrington’s defense by scoring from beyond the arc, draining a deep three-pointer.
For Darrington, on the other hand, it was pretty much a one-man show.
Tim Fenstermaker accounted for more than half the Loggers’ offense. He finished with a game-high 19 points, including a perimeter trey.
That, as things turned out, proved to be apropos.
For it was clear – on this night, at least – that Darrington had only an outside shot at besting La Conner.


 Photo by Amylynn Richards

Photo by Amylynn Richards
8th Grade Basketball team

Photo by Melissa Reynolds

Lady Braves suffer “pane-ful” loss
By Bill Reynolds
It was a glass act that shattered the La Conner High girls’ hoop team’s hopes Friday at Darrington.
The hosts used a huge 17-3 edge in offensive rebounds to post a piercing 40-38 NW 1A/2B win in a pairing of longtime league rivals on the storied Darrington hardwood.
Darrington’s repeated ability to snare caroms off the old gym’s half-moon glass backboards was a decisive factor in the contest, acknowledged La Conner head coach Scott Novak.
Nor did it help, he added, that La Conner committed a season high 20 turnovers and went cold at the charity stripe – converting just five of 14 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter – when the game was literally on the line.
And yet, stressed Novak, all wasn’t lost on the Darrington trip.
“Despite everything,’ he said, “we kept battling back and still had a chance to win. We just couldn’t quite get over the hump.”
Katie McKnight gave the slow-starting Lady Braves a boost with a fine all-around floor game.
She finished with a team-high 10 points – bolstered by a six-of-nine effort at the foul stripe – to go along with two steals and five rebounds.
But La Conner could muster just 11 tallies in the first half, stymied at times by a pesky and scrappy Darrington defense inspired by its loud and supportive home crowd.
“We got caught up playing their type of game and at their tempo,” Novak conceded afterward, “rather than playing ours.”
La Conner went scoreless the first five minutes of the contest before Alyssa McCormick ended the drought with a jumper in traffic at the 2:58 mark of the opening frame.
The Lady Braves, who had trouble adjusting to Darrington’s smaller backboards, didn’t record their next field goal until less than three minutes remained before halftime.
Point guard Nikki Finley sparked La Conner’s attack after intermission with a perimeter trey midway through the third period, as the Lady Braves trailed by just four, 27-23, going into the final stanza.
Darrington, however, was able to stave off a couple fourth quarter La Conner runs.
“This is a game,” said Novak, “that our team can hopefully learn from.”
La Conner, which fell to 3-1 in league and 4-2 overall, returned to the practice floor Saturday with positive results.
“We had a great workout the morning after the game,” Novak said Sunday, “and the girls seemed more focused and ready to go than they have been all season.”
Following Monday’s late action, La Conner is slated to host Adna Dec. 27 at 4:30 p.m. in a key non-league Holiday Break encounter.


Wednesday, December 14, 2011

in the December 14, 2011 issue

Christmas lights La Conner style
Photo by Don Coyote

Photo by Don Coyote

Photo by Don Coyote

Big drug bust near La Conner
Four people were jailed on felony drug and weapons charges after SWAT and narcotics teams raided two houses on Best Road.
The bust was conducted by at least 25 officers and two dogs from four different agencies who found a drug lab, the hallucinogen DMT,  heroin, marijuana, hallucinogenic mushrooms and several guns. It's in today's paper.

Gift Guide Inside
Inside the paper, find the thrifty Santa's guide to unique gifts available in the stores right here in La Conner. We've gathered up some ideas for wonderful La Conner gifts at budget-taming prices.
 
And as usual, our award-winning columnists have provided some really good reading... Jim Smith makes the Post Office sound like fun, Mickey Bambrick tells us when it's polite to tell a human "good dog," and Mel Damski has a haunting story about a tragic death that struck his film crew on location.


From the Police Blotter
7:48 a.m.: Swan dive – Deputies responded to a report of an injured swan lying in the intersection of  Fir Island Rd and Rawlins Rd, near Conway. The swan struck the power lines before landing and was turned over to the WA Department of Wildlife.


Go out and get your full 3 quarters worth of news. Or subscribe, save money and stay warm while the paper is brought to you. 466-3315.


 


Braves Sports, Dec. 14, 2011

Photo by Amylynn Richards
 Inside job helps Braves steal win at Meridian
By Bill Reynolds
The Meridian Trojans did their homework, but La Conner still won Saturday’s big non-league boys’ hoop test.
The Braves, despite – or perhaps because of – constant Meridian double-teaming of leading scorer Landy James, managed to escape with a hard-fought 52-51 triumph.
Meridian’s pre-game scouting had convinced the Trojan staff to double-team James on the perimeter. But the attention paid to James, while merited, allowed La Conner post Jonah Cook to do plenty of damage in the lane.
The double-teaming opened lanes for repeated entry passes to Cook down in the blocks.
As a result, Cook scored 14 points – all inside the key – and grabbed a team-best six rebounds to go along with the same number of blocked shots.
Perhaps most important, he was one La Conner player who was proficient at the charity stripe.
Cook buried six of nine free throws on a night the team hit less than half (13 of 30) its attempts.
“I was happy we got to the free throw line against Meridian,” Braves head coach Scott Novak said afterward. “Normally, we’re a very good free throw shooting team, but this game we only converted 13.”
Cook’s solid inside game freed up James in the second half.
The La Conner senior filled the stat sheet with 18 points, four blocks, two steals, and two assists.
James, Mike Wilbur, and Spencer Novak all benefitted from Cook’s presence in the paint as each meshed a pair of outside treys.
In the end, Meridian’s best option was to foul.
“They had trouble stopping us,” said Novak, “so they ended up fouling. If we had converted a few more free throws down the stretch the final score wouldn’t have been so close.”
Still, Novak and the Braves knew going in that Meridian would be a tough pairing.
“They’re a good team and they play very physical,” Novak said. “We matched their intensity and ended up pulling out the win.”
That was possible in great measure because LaConner employed a balanced attack.
James (18), Cook (14), Novak (9), Wilbur (6), and Bobby Poulton (5) all landed on the point parade for the victors, who hosted Mount Vernon Christian late Tuesday and are slated visit Darrington this Friday (Dec. 16).
Novak was looking to both contests this week as likely opportunities to extend player rotations and further develop the team’s depth.
“Hopefully,” he said, “we’ll be able to play a lot of guys and try some different combinations.”
 Photo by Amylynn Richards

Photo by Melissa Reynolds

Photo by Amylynn Richards
Lady Brave hoopsters turn tide against Shoreline
By Bill Reynolds
The La Conner High girls’ basketball team made a statement Friday with its convincing 52-31 home romp over Shoreline Christian.
But the double-digit triumph speaks volumes about La Conner’s listening skills as much as anything.
At least that’s the word from Lady Braves head coach Scott Novak, who praised his charges afterward for making key adjustments following a sluggish second period.
“For three quarters we played pretty good basketball,” said Novak. “But in the second quarter we let down defensively.”
Novak was referring to a frame in which La Conner, after having bolted to an early 16-4 lead, let Shoreline creep back into the game.
The visitors closed to within six points – 25-19 – at the break by going on a 15-9 second quarter run.
“The girls really listened at halftime,” Novak explained, “and came out and played a very good half of basketball.”
Priscilla Ponce-Venegas paced La Conner with a game-high 20 points.
In addition to hitting 10 of 14 shots from the floor, Ponce-Venegas grabbed three rebounds and blocked a shot.
Anna Cook joined her in double figure scoring, finishing with 14 points, mostly in the paint.
La Conner was also effective on the perimeter as Nikki Finley hit twice from beyond the three-point arc, and Katie McKnight buried an outside trey.
Finley, in addition, dished off a pair of assists from the point as eight LCHS players reached the scoring column.
Aubrey Stewart (3), Alyssa McCormick (2), Carly Anderson (2), and Kelley McClung (2) rounded out the Lady Braves attack.
Novak credited his club’s crisp interior passing – primarily from high post to low post –with creating open looks in the lane.
Cook, who converted seven of 13 shots, was the main beneficiary of La Conner players being willing to make the extra pass.
La Conner, which defeated Cedar Park 57-26 earlier in the week, resumed action late Tuesday at home against Mount Vernon Christian. The Lady Braves travel this Friday, Dec. 16, to Darrington.
Novak expected going in that both games this week would pose stern challenges.
“These are two very tough games,” he said Sunday. “We’ll have to play very well to win them.”

 Photo by Amylynn Richards

Photo by Karla Reynolds
Braves wrestling with tough schedule
By Bill Reynolds
The La Conner High wrestling team is pinning its hopes for a strong campaign on muscling through a tough early season schedule – one that literally doesn’t dodge the big boys.
La Conner’s ambitious non-league mat slate definitely took hold Tuesday when the Braves grappled with a veteran Stanwood team, which came out on top by a comfortable 53-15 margin.
But while the 4A Spartans easily prevailed, La Conner wasn’t without its share of uplifting moments.
Ben Harper captured the 132-pound match, besting his foe by a 6-2 margin.
The Braves’ Cameron Wischhusen came away from Stanwood with a 6-4 triumph in the 182s.
And heavyweight William Zeimantz pinned his opponent in the 285-pound class.
With a thinner roster than Stanwood’s, LaConner was forced to forfeit matches in the 106 through 126-pound classes.
But, again, all wasn’t lost in the eyes of head coach Barry Harper, who knows it will take time and match experience to fully mold a young roster.
“I thought we were a little flat at Stanwood,” he conceded afterward. “But they’re a tough team and a 4A program.”
Sure enough, renewed emphasis on basic skills and fundamentals in subsequent workouts paid immediate dividends.
Harper’s squad rebounded nicely Saturday during a 10-team invitational tournament in Burlington, featuring schools from the 2A-4A ranks.
All eight LaConner wrestlers making the Burlington trip placed, with Jimmy Garcia, 145; Dahlton Zavala, 160; Wischhusen, 182, and Zeimantz, 285 claiming top honors in their respective divisions.
Harper, 132; Todd Hoagland, 170, and Robert Duckworth, 195 returned with third place hardware, while Kevin Aske clinched fourth spot in the 138s.
“We really wrestled well at Burlington,” Harper stressed. “The kids are showing improvement daily. We’re clearly on the right track.”
He noted how Harper, Garcia, Zavala, Wischhusen, and Zeimantz have begun to bring their A-games to matches.
“They seemed this week to have taken it to the next level,” he said.
Harper said Sunday he and his staff are impressed with how well all team members are addressing key points of interest, such as riding, working on footwork,  and learning to escape potential pins.
“We still have some work to do,” he said, “but it’s early in the season and all that will come.”

 ...from Braves Raves
 By Amylynn Richards
HOME GAMES
Academics are winding down for the calendar year, but Braves Athletics are still going strong.  On Friday, Dec. 14, the wrestling team hosts Friday Harbor in the old gym at 5 p.m. On Monday, three games will be played at home. The boys will play a “C” team game against Lummi at 1:30 p.m.  The girls’ varsity and junior varsity hosts Coupeville; junior varsity plays at 3 p.m. and varsity plays at 4 p.m.
SWISH CHAMPIONS      
The La Conner eighth grade girls’ basketball team won the Skagit County Park and Recreation county SWISH basketball league Silver-Whidbey division tournament championship on Saturday, Dec. 10. The La Conner team went into the championship as first seed. Games were played in the old gym and the middle school.
 Photo by Tammy Henriksen-McKenzie
SWISH CHAMPS – La Conner Middle School’s 8th grade girls swish basketball team coached by Mike Harlan played in a basketball tournament on Saturday, beating big-school Burlington 27-12 for the championship. Here they are, holding their huge trophy.
  


Wednesday, December 7, 2011

in the December 7, 2011 issue

Photo by Kristen Morse
A swan takes an early morning flight over frosty fields on the La Conner flats. (And we get to live here!)
Stolen remains found
  Last summer a Fir Island woman, fighting tears that kept threatening to spill, came in and put an ad in the newspaper offering a reward for items stolen from her home, including “beloved ones ashes in a burl wood box.”  None of the other items were recovered, but the woman's husband's remains turned up in a very strange place. Story is in today's paper.
 Photo by Amylynn Richards
NEWS ANCHORS – Sam Traylor, Bill the tree, Nikki Finley and Wylie Thulen at the premiere of the new hit series, La Conner High School Daily Bulletin.
School bulletin now a hit show
By Amylynn Richards
 Live from La Conner: News students can use. 
Well, it’s not really live. And to be perfectly accurate, not everyone on the broadcast team is really alive, either.
One of the newscasters, “Bill” is actually a paper palm tree. Bill the tree joined anchors Sam Traylor, Nikki Finley, Wylie Thulen in the debut webcast of the La Conner High School Daily Bulletin and comedy show last week. In today's paper!

It's getting pretty festive around here...
Photo by Don Coyote
 Photo by Marlo Frank
Photo by Marlo Frank
 
Photo by Marlo Frank

Christmas donation spots
Toys: La Conner High School students will collect toys in the $5 range for kids 12 and under at the home basketball games on Friday. A box for new, unwrapped toys will be at the high school gym starting with the JV game at 4:30 p.m. Student Wylie Thulen said the toys will be distributed through the local food banks.
Food: The Kiwanis have boxes set up in stores all over town go collect non perishable food items for the food banks. Also, there is a box in the high school office for the students’ food drive.
Family Christmas: If you can sponsor Christmas for a local family having a hard time this year, take a tag from the Giving Tree at Bank of America and go shopping.  The Kiwanis will help you make some children very happy.

From the Police Blotter:
10:49 a.m.: Removal – Someone reported that two men and one woman entered the public restroom on Morris Street in La Conner. Deputies contacted the trio a few minutes later walking on First Street. The three people were very intoxicated and said they had gone into the restroom to warm up before they walked home.

   
And much more, including award-winning columnists only in La Conner Weekly News...
Pick up the paper at the usual spots, or come by our office conveniently located right next to the Station House Bar and Grill. Better yet, subscribe and we'll make sure you never miss another issue. 360-466-3315