In the February 16, 2011 issue...

Photo by Bill Stokes

IN THE POKEY – Tom Jr. is not happy. Captured on Friday, he's stuck in the town turkey detention facility, where he will stay until his fugitive relatives either turn themselves in or get caught so they can go live on a Christmas tree farm.

Turkey posse nabs  one 

Today's best reading is M. Sharon Baker's account of Friday's turkey chase. A posse from the town's public works department surrounded the feathered fugitives and managed to catch Tom Jr., one of the younger toms, with a dip net. 

The six remaining birds scattered and the chase was on through the rugged back country of La Conner's hilltop neighborhood!  It ended when a turkey sympathizer called a halt to the pursuit through his property.

Big news at Swinomish

Photo by Sue Phillips

The new pavilion 

On Tuesday the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community broke ground on its new park pavilion to be built near the new canoe landing under construction on the west shore of the channel. This promises to be a real treat for the eyes, with the pavilion shelters built to resemble traditional Salish cedar hats. Swinomish is preparing to welcome 220 big family canoes and an estimated 20,000 visitors for the 2011 Canoe Journey, Paddle to Swinomish. in July. Starting the construction were Tribal Chairman Brian Cladoosby and Tribal Senators Dianne Edwards, Sophie Bailey and Barb James. 

And this ..

 Photo by Sue Phillips

The new church

The Indian Shaker Church, a Northwest Native American religion founded in the 1800s, is about to dedicate a new church in the heart of Swinomish village. Shaker Minister Joe McCoy walked writer Sue Phillips through the new church. The new building replaces the little dilapidated 1929 wood clapboard church that sits out on Reservation Road about four miles from the village.

Fire Battalion Chief fired

Details are sparse, but there is a public termination hearing at Fire District 13's Snee Oosh Road fire station at 3 p.m. next Wednesday, Feb. 23. You betcha we'll be there....

  From the Police Blotter:

11:09 p.m.: Malicious Mischief – Somebody stretched plastic wrap across both lanes on the Rainbow Bridge. Someone else came driving by and wasn't about to let a little plastic wrap get in his way, so he drove right through it. The deputy came and cleaned up all the plastic wrap that was laying on the bridge. No suspects. 

Go pick up a paper to read the rest.  Get it in the news stands around town and at the drug store, liquor store, gas station, book store and produce market.  We sell subscriptions, too.