in the Feb. 29, 2012 issue

Big news that didn't make it to print:

State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, announced last night that the State Senate's proposed budget includes $750,000 in bond funding to go towards the first phase of La Conner's boardwalk.

The first phase of 2,700-foot-long boardwalk along the town’s waterfront will connect Gilkey Square with the Palmer’s Restaurant building.

Next: The State House of Representatives, will consider this plan before a final budget makes its way to the governor's desk to be signed. (Our Reps are Barbara Bailey, 360-786-7914, and Norma Smith, 360-678-3604.)

 Photo by Bill Stokes

Look at the monster that washed up with high tide – La Conner’s Public Works crew had to work on Sunday using a backhoe and a loader to pull this huge stump from under the gangway at the town’s public boat launch off Sherman Street. When the tide went out, the walkway was high in the air, and in danger of being damaged.

Photo by Adrian Sharpe

This is "Brush Pile" one of 7 new sculptures in the La Conner's new Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, which will open on Saturday with a guided tour by Mayor Ramon Hayes and some of the artists starting at 11 a.m.  This wood sculpture, depicting giant artist’s brushes and a pen is on display near La Conner Town Hall and the town parking lot. Created from logs by artist,  Stephen Rock, the sculpture was installed on Monday by Rock and his brothers, who are loggers.

Smelt Derby drew fish and fishers

Young anglers didn't leave disappointed on Saturday. There were actually smelt in the channel  for the Rotary Club's 47th Annual Smelt Derby. For years the schools of the little silver fish have been elsewhere during the fishing derby. Though there weren't buckets full of them, there were enough to keep the fishing interesting.

Photo by Don Coyote

This happy fisher is Ashleigh Mason of Bayview

Photo by Don Coyote

Sporting fashionable fishing attire is Abigail Adams of Burlington

Photo by Don Coyote

Smelt weren't having much fun, though. They were stapled to cedar shingles to be measured as the La Conner Sea Scouts did the judging.

Photo by Don Coyote

New artist co-op opens at Pier 7

Writer Adrian Sharpe has the story on the brainstorm of Lisa Judy, granddaughter of the La Conner’s Pier 7 buildings owner, Jerry Blades, to open an artist's co-op in the historic building. Artists can share expenses and have gallery as well as work space. Here fabric and tattoo artist Akasya VerSoy, with her fur buddies Boodah and Chyna, stand outside the new co-op with Lisa.

From the police blotter:

6:43 p.m.: Auto yelling – Often, people will yell out their window as they drive by, but a man on Morris Street in La Conner decided to give car hollering a new twist. Intoxicated, the man stood in the roadway yelling at the traffic.

or how about this one...

9:37 a.m.: Squatter – A complaint was lodged about an unwanted lodger on Maple Avenue and Hill Street in La Conner. Deputies responded to a tip that a tent was set up on private property. The owner of the humble abode told officers that he had moved to the location after being evicted, but has since found four walls to call home and will remove his pop-up. No charges were filed.

Find all this and so much more in today's La Conner Weekly News, on sale in the usual places and in the quarter-eating red news stands. Or stop by our office and have a piece of chocolate with your paper.