tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2162328430610928792024-02-19T00:50:04.322-08:00La Conner Weekly NewsLa Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.comBlogger238125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-22139909914485949062012-05-02T14:51:00.002-07:002012-05-02T14:51:50.495-07:00We have a new website<span style="color: red;">Looking for a peek at today's paper? </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Go to </span> <a href="http://www.laconnerweeklynews.com/">www.laconnerweeklynews.com</a><br />
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With the help of Derek Furman, we quietly launched a "real" website last week. We plan to keep linked to this blog, but as we get better at this, we'll be adding content to LaConnerWeeklyNews.com.<br />
Right now it has news, sports and classifieds. The Police Blotter will be another regular feature.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8Tb7iw6a8-PdP5vVmXR3PbTXrmzRpVOY0i4HF8lhq5btPQhD4XO7Uky-j4Mf6b2khEo5o5KBQKSccBtB0ImBw2BqsJjNmk_lvGK3LT-ZK372zMbK_0FjSELuk9Wc0eSKyY64Gxm-bus/s1600/web+coyote+tulip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8Tb7iw6a8-PdP5vVmXR3PbTXrmzRpVOY0i4HF8lhq5btPQhD4XO7Uky-j4Mf6b2khEo5o5KBQKSccBtB0ImBw2BqsJjNmk_lvGK3LT-ZK372zMbK_0FjSELuk9Wc0eSKyY64Gxm-bus/s1600/web+coyote+tulip.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></div>
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<i>Photo by Mickey Bambrick</i></div>
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<i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And finally ...</span></div>
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RIP Mr. Nibbles</div>
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Steve Pierce shares a tragic tale...</div>
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<a href="http://www.laconnerweeklynews.com/">www.laconnerweeklynews.com</a></div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-24688012734573438412012-04-25T10:42:00.001-07:002012-04-25T12:58:49.320-07:00in the April 25, 2012 issue ...<b><span style="font-size: large;">Reasons people love La Conner:</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtbBnH7i7fTO3olYurmIqGXyk2cZmFQsOm_8DglHzRxhhAHIKIsYpkQsNGjX09YghKeQc2Rj7t84RpraxxCAmSqqXsluVsPcz256UpKhrl4RaqDUIe8FCfF7tu5TvGN9cBDShqmmM1Ug/s1600/329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtbBnH7i7fTO3olYurmIqGXyk2cZmFQsOm_8DglHzRxhhAHIKIsYpkQsNGjX09YghKeQc2Rj7t84RpraxxCAmSqqXsluVsPcz256UpKhrl4RaqDUIe8FCfF7tu5TvGN9cBDShqmmM1Ug/s320/329.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>We're in bloom! </b> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div>
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<b>Brody's lunchtime puppet show </b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b><i>Photo by Kirsten Morse</i></span></div>
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<b>Swinomish canoes on the channel </b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Coyote photo</i></span></div>
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<b>Thrilling rides </b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Coyote photo</i></span></div>
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<b>We're blooming! </b><i>Karla Reynolds p</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>hoto</i></span></div>
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<b>Waterfront dining </b><b> </b><b> </b><i>Coyote photo</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We're in for a dry spell...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Homeport Liquor will close on Saturday, May 5 – two
weeks earlier than originally planned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">As one of 163 contract liquor stores, the La Conner Homeport
Liquor’s inventory is all owned by the state, which will be out of the liquor
business May 31, since voters approved Initiative 1183 in November.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">For La Conner, there will be no retail liquor
available in town for more than three weeks, until at least June 1, when
Pioneer Market expects to start carrying spirits in addition to the beer and
wine already available there.<span style="color: red;"> In today's paper!</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Tribal tideland ordinance public hearing set for Thursday</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">People concerned with shorelines on the Swinomish
Reservation will have a chance to voice their opinions on a revision of the
tribe’s proposed tidelands ordinance tomorrow, Thursday, April 26.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Planning
Commission will hold a public hearing at the Swinomish Social Services building
at 4 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24pt;">Longer trek on La Conner transit<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Adrian Sharpe<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Proposed changes to public bus routes may have La
Conner residents spending more time on trips to <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mount Vernon</st1:place></st1:state> and back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Skagit Transit will hold several public meetings to
introduce the proposed changes and take public comments. The meeting in La
Conner is scheduled for Wednesday, May 3, from 5 to 6 p.m., in Maple Hall. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The schedule changes would take effect in September.<span style="color: red;"> Read Adrian's story in today's paper.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Scott McDade</i></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">M*A*S*H comes to La Conner Auditorium </span>By Scott McDade </b><br />
Remember the TV sitcom M*A*S*H? Or the 1970 blockbuster film starring Elliot Gould, Tom Skerrit and Donald Sutherland? <br />
If you do, you've already been introduced to some of the craziest and most lovable military doctors and nurses you'd ever want to know. <br />
Next weekend, May 4, 5, and 6, you'll get to meet them all again at La Conner Auditorium as the high school drama department presents the stage version of this beloved story. <br />
M*A*S*H will be performed three times. The show opens Friday evening at 7:30 p.m., Saturday's matinee is at 12 noon. The final performance is Sunday evening at 7 p.m. <br />
Tickets for the production are $5 per person. You can reserve seats by calling Vicki Jones at the district office, 466-3171. Tickets will also be available at the door.<span style="color: red;"> you won't want to miss this!</span><br />
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<b>More M*A*S*H </b><b style="text-indent: 9pt;"> </b><span style="font-size: x-small; text-indent: 9pt;"><i>Scott McDade photo</i></span></div>
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<b>More M*A*S*H </b><b style="text-indent: 9pt;"> </b><span style="font-size: x-small; text-indent: 9pt;"><i>Scott McDade photo</i></span>
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<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">From the Police Blotter</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">3:30 p.m.:
Tourist teasing – </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The
Sheriffs Office received a report of two fellows hiding in the bushes near the
area where tulip buses stop at the intersection of South First Street and
Washington Ave. in La Conner. They guys were yelling and whistling at the
visitors, so the deputy picked them up and
transported them away from town.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Pick up the paper today in all the usual spots or from one of our red news stands. Don't have enough quarters? No worries! Our stands also accept rupees from India!</b></div>
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<br />La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-29786470956979342722012-04-25T09:49:00.000-07:002012-04-25T09:49:00.167-07:00Braves Sports April 25, 2012<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbonzhT825EGNen0ZgvMVBXJ2TDYHGgoWPhAgYSi8IvHV5YwOHvWE7PWu77CgEbUPzkt3goU9KM5DchfNEttWZiS8CsKOh4MFlp2YyjZw4z8oucCstaoUCZj5OMFiar2NW_GsVTppZv0/s1600/web+golf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbonzhT825EGNen0ZgvMVBXJ2TDYHGgoWPhAgYSi8IvHV5YwOHvWE7PWu77CgEbUPzkt3goU9KM5DchfNEttWZiS8CsKOh4MFlp2YyjZw4z8oucCstaoUCZj5OMFiar2NW_GsVTppZv0/s1600/web+golf.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt;">La Conner linksters
not rusty despite rain, long layoff</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">They say the best things in life
are well worth the wait.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">And for golfers, that includes a day on the
course – even in the pouring rain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The La Conner High golf teams returned to action
Thursday after going nearly a month without a match, and had little trouble
shaking off the rust.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves kept their undefeated season intact,
easily downing visiting <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Grace</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Academy</st1:placename></st1:place> and Highline
Christian in a downpour at nearby Similk Beach Golf Course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves, meanwhile, boasted medalist
Hilary Edwards, who shot a 59, one stroke under the round shot by teammate
Bailey Wyles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I'm proud of the effort," La Conner
head coach Sean Skiles said afterward. "The rain made it tough, but
everybody stuck with it and really turned in some impressive scores considering
the elements."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner's Jake Silva took top honors on the
boys' side, carding a 37. Teammate Brendan McLeod fired a 39.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves' Spencer Finley finished at 42, while
Wilson Crawford shot a 44 in his varsity debut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Pretty remarkable scores given there was
standing water on some greens, and the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner boys were without three of their top
five players.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">"It was nice to get a couple of the JV
golfers a chance to compete in a varsity match," said Skiles,
"without a noticeable drop off in team score."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves finished with a combined count
of 210. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Grace</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Academy</st1:placename></st1:place> was 32 strokes back, at 242.
Highline Christian golfers sloshed their way to a 267.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">"It was very wet and never stopped
raining," said La Conner assistant coach Kelly Silva. "So a team
score of 210 was pretty awesome all things considered."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">There will be little idle time for La Conner
golfers from here on out. The LCHS teams were slated to host Lopez late
Tuesday, then return the favor tomorrow, Thursday, afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner wraps up the
week Friday at Snohomish in a dual match with Northwest Christian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkYukziGxUwJiigZDh72PcSxYDs5Wwc2XutySKWFoy15eQ3P5qonYPCpFR8zu-rA7BlhqjZEvK_5s-aVXNkkrM3fYt_GhogLyeD0KDaCYeHdlGUejQ2bfy7TU-i0HmX_eFtqsWQkxVAY/s1600/web+track.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkYukziGxUwJiigZDh72PcSxYDs5Wwc2XutySKWFoy15eQ3P5qonYPCpFR8zu-rA7BlhqjZEvK_5s-aVXNkkrM3fYt_GhogLyeD0KDaCYeHdlGUejQ2bfy7TU-i0HmX_eFtqsWQkxVAY/s320/web+track.JPG" width="247" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">La Conner thinclads sweep home track meet</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By
Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">It was two weeks past Good Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">But a good Friday, indeed, for the
La Conner High track teams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves boys' and girls'
squads each won their half of the five-school La Conner Invitational
Track Meet Friday afternoon at Whittaker Field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves outdistanced runner-up
Crescent 122-77, with league rival Concrete, 67, claiming third place in the
boys' meet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">On the girls' side, La Conner edged
Concrete 110-96 for the meet title, with Crescent, 67, placing third.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Friday</span></st1:placename><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Harbor</st1:placetype></span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, 30, and Christian Faith, 17, rounded out the
girls' field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Christian Faith, 34, and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Friday</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Harbor</st1:placetype></st1:place>,
33, waged a close battle for fourth place in the boys' competition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner's Landy James, Nathan
Sybrandy, Jamall James, and Nathan Parker were double victors for the Braves,
whose mile relay team also captured top honors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Landy James claimed the high jump
with a personal best leap of 6'-4", easily besting Crescent's Donovan
Christie, who finished second with 5’10”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">James, a senior, also won the
javelin by a wide margin. His winning heave of 167'-5" was more than 24
feet better than the second best effort, a toss of 143'-0" by Quenton
Wolfer of Crescent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sybrandy won both the mile and
two-mile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The La Conner distance standout hit
the tape in five-minutes flat in the 1600 meters. That was seven seconds better
than <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Friday</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Harbor</st1:placetype></st1:place>'s Jose Guerrero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sybrandy dominated the 3200 meter
field, clocking an impressive 11:19.00, nearly two minutes faster than the
rest of the field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">An added bonus in the two-mile was
the performance of La Conner sophomores Jack Borusinski, Alec Azure, and Alex
Wirth, all of whom placed in the top five.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Jamall James took gold in the long
jump with 19'-6" and 110-meter high hurdles at 16:16, winning both events handily.
No one was within a foot of him in the long jump. And James was nearly a full
second better than Crescent's Matthew Waldrip in the hurdles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Parker took both the shot put
(43'-8") and discus (119'-10") in impressive fashion. His
distance in the discus was more than 14 feet better than the second place
finisher, Josiah Martin of Concrete.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves' quartet of Todd
Hoagland, Jamall James, Mitchell Grant, and Dahlton Zavala added to the La
Conner point total by cruising to a win in the 4x400 meter relay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Their time of 3:43.00 was nearly two
seconds faster than that posted by Crescent's mile relay entry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Grant and Zavala each
earned silver in solo events, placing second in the 400 and 200 meters,
respectively. Grant's time was :55.60, just back of Hoagland's winning pace.
Zavala clocked a :24.38 in a race won by Concrete's Andy Aiken at :23.94.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner's depth was a key factor
in the girls' half of the meet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Kelsie Crawford had a role in four
wins, pacing the Lady Braves with triumphs in the 100 meters at :13.75 and long
jump of 12'-9" while also running legs of La Conner's meet-best sprint and
mile relay entries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Crawford led a 1-2-3 Lady Braves
finish in the 100 as Priscilla Ponce-Venegas placed second at :13.85), just
ahead of teammate Madi Cavanaugh’s :14.44).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Katie McKnight, Emily Anderson, and
Ponce-Venegas likewise turned in blue ribbon performances for the Lady
Braves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">McKnight was first in the 200 meters
at :28.68 winning by more than two seconds over Concrete's Thea O'Brien.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Anderson</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> captured the triple jump with
32'-2.5", an event which saw La Conner teammate Amber Drye place
fifth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ponce-Venegas sped to a convincing
win in the 300 meter hurdles. Her time of :50.75 was almost three seconds
faster than her nearest rival, Crescent's Kellie Belford. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ponce-Venegas, McKnight, and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Anderson</st1:city></st1:place> joined Crawford
on La Conner's winning 4x100 meter relay team, clocking a time
of :53.44. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ponce-Venegas also finished fourth
in the javelin with 93'-7", three slots ahead of McKnight, who turned in a
toss of 77'-0".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">McKnight, Anderson, Crawford, and
Cavanaugh then teamed to claim the 4x400 meter relay, posting a time of
4:29.06, nearly a half-minute faster than second place <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Friday</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Harbor</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Cavanaugh, meanwhile, was a strong
second to Crawford in the long jump.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">On a busy day, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Anderson</st1:place></st1:city> also finished second in the 100
meter hurdles, a finish matched by La Conner junior Sammie Mesman in the
1600 meters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Mesman at 6:19.00 was just one tick
back of mile winner Kaitlyn Smith, who finished in 6:18.00.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Mesman also joined Lydia Lenning,
Marina Kochuten, and Victoria O'Brien for a second place finish in the 800
meter relay, turning in a time of 2:08.34.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Lenning further added to the Lady
Braves' tally with a third place finish at 15:38.37 in the 3200 meters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">In related notes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner head track coach Peter
Voorhees said the meet's highlight was the mile relays for both the boys and
girls. Braves' sprinter Jamall James closed a 30-meter gap on the leader and
seized the lead going into the final exchange. Anchor Dahlton Zavala held on
for the win. Voorhees said the Lady Braves met their pre-race goal in
terms of time, and are now the sixth ranked 4x400 group in the State.
"The girls' relay was a great example," said Voorhees, "of the
athletes choosing to make something happen, working hard for it, and pushing
themselves through to their goal. I'm very proud of them."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Another highlight, stressed
Voorhees, was the performance of Robert Duckworth, who established personal
bests in four events.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Voorhees was grateful for the community's
support of the meet. "The people in La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner
do a great job supporting school activities. I'd like to thank
everyone who came out to help. It was our last home meet for our seniors and
they all had a great day."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8berLucB26WZkV80j-HB9Yk4KYRIBeO3_sfzGGg83imINkG3eLpnEumZrbqdYdTT-WXlfLApEuaAbHRBHJJKmhyphenhyphenj7uwASH83eOPBX0BjXVhqNA5MMCb9p5xlJ2VCI4FattWULGh4lpc/s1600/web+baseball.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8berLucB26WZkV80j-HB9Yk4KYRIBeO3_sfzGGg83imINkG3eLpnEumZrbqdYdTT-WXlfLApEuaAbHRBHJJKmhyphenhyphenj7uwASH83eOPBX0BjXVhqNA5MMCb9p5xlJ2VCI4FattWULGh4lpc/s1600/web+baseball.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i>Photo by Lauren Reynolds</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;">Braves defense
falters in two tough losses</span></b><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Baseball is a game that can drive coaches
batty – in more ways than one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Just ask La Conner's Jeremiah LeSourd, who last
week saw his club turn in solid mound work and grind out several quality at-bats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">But it was their defense that let the Braves
down in tough losses to Concrete and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Blaine</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner committed critical errors at
crucial points of an eventual 5-3 setback to the Lions, a game marred by
wet playing conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">"The game was close throughout," said
LeSourd, "but errors were the difference. Weather conditions also
played a factor, and made things difficult."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Braves' hurlers Taylor Swanson
and Tanner Cyr were poised on the mound Thursday while facing a good
hitting Concrete team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">"They really performed well and kept their
composure," LeSourd stressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Cyr also helped his cause with a base
hit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hayden Schmidt led La Conner with a pair of base
knocks, while Dakota Hartley lined a run-scoring single.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Cyr swung a hot bat Saturday against <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Blaine</st1:place></st1:city>, as well. He went
three-for-three at the plate, with a double, a pair of singles, and two
runs scored in a 14-3 loss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Erick Reinstra likewise delivered three
hits, while Wil James laced two safeties in four trips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">But, again, it was defensive miscues that sealed
La Conner's fate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Starter Matt McCauley and Reinstra, who
came on in relief, were victimized by five Braves' errors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Matt got his first start on the
mound," said LeSourd, "and did well. Erick pitched the final three
innings and was very aggressive."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Despite the twin defeats,
LeSourd justifiably has a positive outlook on the rest of the campaign.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Our pitchers are getting experience and
improving with each appearance," he said Monday. "Their
confidence will be an asset in the playoffs."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">It's much the same scenario on offense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">"The Braves' attack is improving,"
LeSourd told <i>La Conner Weekly News</i>, "with the hitters having solid
at-bats. We just need to come through with runners on base."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The key will be shoring up the defense, he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">"That's where we must improve if we're
going to make a run in the playoffs," LeSourd noted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">It's a mission, he said, that can be
accomplished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We're working on staying focused and
thinking a play ahead," said LeSourd. "When we can do that we'll
begin to execute on a more consistent basis."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves (3-4 in league) were scheduled
to resume play Monday at home against longtime rival Darrington.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The struggling Loggers entered the week with a
1-5 conference mark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner is slated to entertain Lummi
today, Wednesday, in a non-league twinbill before traveling Friday to
Coupeville. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-36590916084876816292012-04-18T13:07:00.000-07:002012-04-18T13:07:55.417-07:00in the April 18, 2012 issue<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALnpukKv5K3B19KkK7U0-T1Mc3f_ifwVYSLlPZpkqODJUIDqnLqovfoyWLo_vQF1ApUax9NKR422myLfpCOYgt250Z9OPYRVSLxjTI6w9929ZviW9KYhDWgwknTYe8kctNjqqzse7Avc/s1600/web+tulips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALnpukKv5K3B19KkK7U0-T1Mc3f_ifwVYSLlPZpkqODJUIDqnLqovfoyWLo_vQF1ApUax9NKR422myLfpCOYgt250Z9OPYRVSLxjTI6w9929ZviW9KYhDWgwknTYe8kctNjqqzse7Avc/s1600/web+tulips.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDkcZoYcCakCK6JXCqDADN9gB8UbBoMau0be7T3Hjz3GWNtbbCVG5E5eeOUdLzBDPl567wMLqxaNeexToEND5lL0GjKn636tIJ62RGcPU5BcdxxAg4dFtC7HD80dOKQI9TWh384Nzkrk/s1600/web+tulips+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDkcZoYcCakCK6JXCqDADN9gB8UbBoMau0be7T3Hjz3GWNtbbCVG5E5eeOUdLzBDPl567wMLqxaNeexToEND5lL0GjKn636tIJ62RGcPU5BcdxxAg4dFtC7HD80dOKQI9TWh384Nzkrk/s1600/web+tulips+2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Parade, sunshine and tulips; a recipe for invasion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Writer Adrian Sharpe tells what it is like in La Conner on a sunny day, when there are acres of tulips in bloom around the town. Throw in a parade and we have lots of company around here! The local merchants and restaurants owners have been pretty happy as the tulip tourists mean business is in bloom, too.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;">Boardwalk funding in new State budget<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">For decades, people in La Conner have envisioned a boardwalk running past all the shops and restaurants along the length of the downtown waterfront.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The boardwalk is finally on track to start taking shape this year. Last week the state Legislature approved a jobs package that includes $750,000 in the state capital improvements budget to start building the boardwalk, said Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D- Camano Island.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes said that means the boardwalk construction could begin late this summer or in early fall.<span style="color: red;"> In today's paper!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhEZwfizKHbcrPAe8kjJPLNKvf1qZrjUbgLC2w1sZxZVOpJqhfqoZ8AGccUWVHiSBs0rlglVb-zM2QYsfRUjYUVO_gBPF2JPoUtc9cy1Yd0PgYnA1rxgsGim0M9n8RKAnNpLnlttPljg/s1600/web+truck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhEZwfizKHbcrPAe8kjJPLNKvf1qZrjUbgLC2w1sZxZVOpJqhfqoZ8AGccUWVHiSBs0rlglVb-zM2QYsfRUjYUVO_gBPF2JPoUtc9cy1Yd0PgYnA1rxgsGim0M9n8RKAnNpLnlttPljg/s320/web+truck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Jim Itter</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Oops!</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">A semi truck trailer p</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">arked on the south side of </span><st1:street style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;" w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Caledonia Street</st1:address></st1:street><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"> near the Swinomish Channel, the truck, owned by Alpac Components was loaded with wooden walls the company manufactures when it suddenly tipped over Friday morning. An employee had un-hitched the trailer from the truck cab portion to switch out cabs, when the trailer just flopped over onto its side. Writer Adrian Sharpe explains this Friday the 13th "mystery" in today's paper.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Saturday's </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-indent: 9pt;">Not so Impromptu Parade</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUD-YBR3nztpPuByAj_w_VT-gg6K34iYzB77A7pkPG1HdkiiaoEJOfqRNUE3Sw7Qr9G0L4Z-PgNF2j9FWIklGRhMOy_FBzfRdcEv2-ZkhocmBjs0nUf27FtgaXUAoPgGjhgps_zvK_YQ/s1600/web+parade+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUD-YBR3nztpPuByAj_w_VT-gg6K34iYzB77A7pkPG1HdkiiaoEJOfqRNUE3Sw7Qr9G0L4Z-PgNF2j9FWIklGRhMOy_FBzfRdcEv2-ZkhocmBjs0nUf27FtgaXUAoPgGjhgps_zvK_YQ/s320/web+parade+1.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDODdtlXiwL9vOzimVaeTCeOsRFkDqr1Yt7w6keJ-aefEhLWDAKdSuSvdY21sMC-eKasxqV-_-Nr0bP51V7AaFihPTeEB-sDJS92COswx5QmPh1h82QtTbxlb-NuTT_6tcoIOj90zcFI0/s1600/web+parade+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDODdtlXiwL9vOzimVaeTCeOsRFkDqr1Yt7w6keJ-aefEhLWDAKdSuSvdY21sMC-eKasxqV-_-Nr0bP51V7AaFihPTeEB-sDJS92COswx5QmPh1h82QtTbxlb-NuTT_6tcoIOj90zcFI0/s1600/web+parade+2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Don Coyote</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5wmwDchx4-xd3xMq_rLWZO7IhZDty9UIHxkd-pQQawdpCflm_0-CUevGFNVoWIeUqZpxe0wivM-Jta4kH-w74qpFBA_ziW9BABhoHG2p_1Ph4vp7zNZnPHbG6J-inhMr11-B3cBaklM/s1600/web+parade+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5wmwDchx4-xd3xMq_rLWZO7IhZDty9UIHxkd-pQQawdpCflm_0-CUevGFNVoWIeUqZpxe0wivM-Jta4kH-w74qpFBA_ziW9BABhoHG2p_1Ph4vp7zNZnPHbG6J-inhMr11-B3cBaklM/s1600/web+parade+3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i> </span></div></div><br />
<br />
<b>From the Police Blotter:</b><br />
<b>6:02 p.m.: Bothersome boater – </b>A business owner on First Street in La Conner, complained that a live-aboard boater was disturbing customers by shouting and playing loud music. Deputies warned the boat owner that he would be cited for disorderly conduct if they had to come back.<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-85885545818553477972012-04-18T12:38:00.000-07:002012-04-18T12:38:12.825-07:00Braves Sports, April 18, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pR5XGZgSaaG1WzJ3Bm4dLWmznjLzdO_YkJC2_Jpk0WjkipyZDh6YK299nDWufPgXdFovDWyBPtg6veEVZEj0a3wFMsXu5EROFO-B0kt6T0QtQU-PDVG6hSzTOkJa85085XZWvMCWzqg/s1600/WEB+YOUTH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pR5XGZgSaaG1WzJ3Bm4dLWmznjLzdO_YkJC2_Jpk0WjkipyZDh6YK299nDWufPgXdFovDWyBPtg6veEVZEj0a3wFMsXu5EROFO-B0kt6T0QtQU-PDVG6hSzTOkJa85085XZWvMCWzqg/s1600/WEB+YOUTH.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Kirsten Morse</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">The South Skagit Little League opening ceremony was Saturday at Bakerview Fields in Mount Vernon, with La Conner’s Oakland A’s playing the same day.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgck6wKLKfU63kGF1WK647HVEZYe4eHpVUZJ6nsy5izpawW-Kv-QkkwFj2rToYCgkUUStZrSq7B6Oj3f25Fi3DoBjlQ8LFf90YYzkNcjPkm32pq8FsMBBXa_2JrBL4wKYhzbxYdE6VN2kI/s1600/Web+soft.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgck6wKLKfU63kGF1WK647HVEZYe4eHpVUZJ6nsy5izpawW-Kv-QkkwFj2rToYCgkUUStZrSq7B6Oj3f25Fi3DoBjlQ8LFf90YYzkNcjPkm32pq8FsMBBXa_2JrBL4wKYhzbxYdE6VN2kI/s1600/Web+soft.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt;">Lady Braves crush Concrete</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">A blowout win over Concrete Thursday was just what the doctor ordered for La Conner High head softball coach Michael Bliss.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves, with Bliss absent due to illness, crushed visiting Concrete 31-12 in a game called after five innings due to the league's mercy rule.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Siomi Bobb and Lauren Reynolds paced a 17-hit La Conner attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Bobb ripped a two-run inside-the-park homer and delivered an RBI double for the victors.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Reynolds blasted a two-run fence-clearing roundtripper and plated a pair of tallies with a triple, both shots going to the deepest part of the yard in left-center.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Bobb's home run scored La Conner catcher Hayleigh Summers, who had just accounted for one of her three RBIs on the day with a run-scoring single to right-center.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It was all part of a 13-run third inning explosion by the Lady Braves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Reynolds' deep shot came during an 11-run La Conner outburst in the fourth. Her circuit clout drove in Olivia Hedlund, who had lined a two-run double.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Leadoff hitter Kelley McClung set the tone for La Conner, patiently drawing six walks as the Lady Braves scored in every frame.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Taysha James, Emma Christianson, and Madison McCoy also lined safeties for the winners, while pinch-hitter Kaitlyn Cultee worked a walk.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner hitters provided more than enough run support for Christianson, who shook off a minor foot injury to toss a complete game victory, logging a pair of strikeouts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Christianson cruised in the early going, limiting the Lady Lions to a single tally through three innings. Concrete managed four runs in the fourth and seven more in the fifth, but by then the game had long since been decided.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Defensively, Summers erased a Lady Lion baserunner in the second inning by throwing a perfect strike to McClung at second on a failed steal attempt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sarah Spaeth led Concrete with a pair of singles and a double. Melissa Clontz chipped in two singles and drove in three runs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">With the win, coming on a chilly and gusty afternoon, La Conner improved to 6-1 in league and 7-3 overall.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves were coming off an impressive doubleheader sweep of Darrington.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner was slated to resume home action late Tuesday with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Friday</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Harbor</st1:placetype></st1:place>. The Lady Braves are scheduled to host Lynden Christian April 26 before traveling April 28 to Squalicum.</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjN2m57aCvc5zCKf1Bnn2fJv6bgW3B5deoV2uU2_z0xV4z9wger-b9vaqyTH0wJyMvaDUB2ShBFnvSPMuDGURmH5hD0TIRSaXOZS3iI9LK1FogHH9_UuLWzPuxQRDAe4jv2Sz8U5XAU0/s1600/WEB+STEN.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjN2m57aCvc5zCKf1Bnn2fJv6bgW3B5deoV2uU2_z0xV4z9wger-b9vaqyTH0wJyMvaDUB2ShBFnvSPMuDGURmH5hD0TIRSaXOZS3iI9LK1FogHH9_UuLWzPuxQRDAe4jv2Sz8U5XAU0/s320/WEB+STEN.JPG" width="204" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt;">Former Braves' standout is two-sport collegian</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">A La Conner High alum is getting his kicks clearing hurdles as a college freshman.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Soft-spoken Sten Mejlaender is quietly making a name for himself by competing this year in both soccer and track-and-field at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Skagit</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">A midfielder for the soccer Cards, Mejlaender is also running hurdles this spring at SVC.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It isn't easy catching up with the busy Mejlaender for an interview. He works out five to six days per week, mixing powerlifting in the gym with regular sessions on the track and soccer pitch.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">He splits workout time between La Conner and <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mount Vernon</st1:place></st1:state>, on whose high school oval he logged laps in chilly, windy conditions Friday afternoon. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The 5-11, 195-pound Mejlaender geared up for college by putting on 10 pounds of muscle following his days as a multi-sport performer for the La Conner High Braves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">He originally committed to the soccer program at <st1:placename w:st="on">Concordia</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Portland</st1:place></st1:city> after having played on a pair of La Conner boot teams that advanced to the State playoffs. But ultimately Mejlaender landed close to home at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Skagit</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place>, where he could be a dual-sport performer and watch younger brother, Bjorn, play for the Braves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">An “A” student at La Conner, Mejlaender has thus far enjoyed the <st1:place w:st="on">Skagit</st1:place> experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"There was some adjusting to do early on," he says, "but SVC is definitely a school that grows on you."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">He's currently taking a full academic load, including psychology, an area he might pursue for a four-year degree.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Next winter or spring I'll make a decision on where I'll go after <st1:place w:st="on">Skagit</st1:place>," Mejlaender says. "I'm looking at Central and WSU, but I want to visit my friends at their schools and see what it's like."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Mejlaender is also considering a major in fire science, and career as a firefighter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner High well prepared Mejlaender both academically and athletically, he says.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I have a lot of great memories of La Conner High School," says Mejlaender, who advises current La Conner students to focus on their school work, assume campus leadership roles, and be mindful of future scholarship opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"It's important to stay dedicated," he says. "Once you start something, you need to follow through as best you can."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Mejlaender has followed his own advice at SVC, literally staying on track while juggling two sports.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">He has spent much of his spring working on footwork technique in the 400 and 110 meter hurdles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"They've raised the hurdles three inches this year," Mejlaender notes. "But my big challenge is in between the hurdles. Most of the other guys are taller and have longer strides."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Mejlaender, meanwhile, has made huge strides himself, often paired this year against more experienced athletes from larger high school programs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It's that kind of challenge that has always fueled Mejlaender's competitive drive. In fact, it's what led him to the hurdles in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I first got interested in the hurdles when I was in eighth grade," he recalls. "I knew I wouldn't be the fastest runner in the 100 meters, but I'm pretty flexible so I figured I could make up the time in the hurdles."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Indeed, he did. In May 2011, for instance, Mejlaender was named a <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><i>Seattle</i></st1:city></st1:place><i> Times</i> Athlete of the Week after posting a personal best time of :40.97 in the 300 meter hurdles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Still, soccer remains Mejlaender's favorite sport – one he can see himself coaching someday at the high school level.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"During my senior year at La Conner we had a good deal of success in soccer," he says, "and that's when I decided to pursue it in college."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Mejlaender, flanked by dynamic teammates Kyle McKnight and David Carr, was often referred to by La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner head coach Steve De Leon as the "engine" that drove the Braves, who won 18 of 21 starts a year ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">And, thus far, Mejlaender is an engine that's running on all cylinders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-72985183319135311572012-04-11T11:42:00.000-07:002012-04-11T11:42:11.093-07:00in the April 11, 2012 issue<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><u>BREAKING NEWS:</u></b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">La Conner Boardwalk funding survives state budget process</span></b><br />
La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes said he received a call from State Sen, Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, this morning with news that the state's capital improvements budget hammered out by the Legislature late last night includes $750,000 for the first phase of the boardwalk construction. (This news came too late to make today's paper.)<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">New totem ties communities together</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"> La Conner artist, Kevin Paul, who is a Swinomish Tribal Senator, has carved a story pole that will be unveiled at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon on Monday, April 16 at 2:30 p.m.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"> The Skagit Valley College Foundation commissioned the pole to represent the tie between the college and the local tribal community. It will stand 18 feet tall near the main entrance to the college. Writer Adrian Sharpe has the story in today's paper explaining the symbols carved on the artwork.</span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24.0pt;">Weekend was “Egg-stasy” for kids <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Writer Adrian Sharpe and photographer Don Coyote attended the two Easter egg hunts in La Conner. One on Saturday in Pioneer Park, and the other on Sunday in the garden at La Crema coffee.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQl3tum4F-jykr_7YDBveo4NXLyj87sRoOpOhJv1JDJrkfgIg9hMyzRbTo6HJvl05dcOKCNAep3V3m79Aok0vqfvPfKfzmlGuZij8DZ9UFf9txETwIlDiEJBNcHm3qxfwEARJrGTeKHQ/s1600/web+egg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQl3tum4F-jykr_7YDBveo4NXLyj87sRoOpOhJv1JDJrkfgIg9hMyzRbTo6HJvl05dcOKCNAep3V3m79Aok0vqfvPfKfzmlGuZij8DZ9UFf9txETwIlDiEJBNcHm3qxfwEARJrGTeKHQ/s320/web+egg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2584tKE5KdShwwHOmR3pnCBXePFOIQ3XR7EVHRf06dI3ksvw-cQSQL5ETsWKeSHFeYva6F2Ha2iuuSDbGMIbty6-1dnwTVGNE6w1HJ83ptpAnc2X3lJmb5NvgINLTnWZ62Qkh-Q3bdk/s1600/web+egg+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2584tKE5KdShwwHOmR3pnCBXePFOIQ3XR7EVHRf06dI3ksvw-cQSQL5ETsWKeSHFeYva6F2Ha2iuuSDbGMIbty6-1dnwTVGNE6w1HJ83ptpAnc2X3lJmb5NvgINLTnWZ62Qkh-Q3bdk/s1600/web+egg+girl.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNYI1a6dM3Tsz-zjQYHHGakTFu4h1XiWlyM7jAPCtatlr_ZmHIyTobPz0At18VGqFApIMTmlzMOvb41-ae3rsGdMEK9WKQY01qe3N_wernHhXcXRyPPrK7UCHE1YZedsvGX3-CREVu_c/s1600/web+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNYI1a6dM3Tsz-zjQYHHGakTFu4h1XiWlyM7jAPCtatlr_ZmHIyTobPz0At18VGqFApIMTmlzMOvb41-ae3rsGdMEK9WKQY01qe3N_wernHhXcXRyPPrK7UCHE1YZedsvGX3-CREVu_c/s320/web+trail.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: small;">Photo by Don Coyote</i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAcMBwLARqqYSozpwxJ0MyykoIXzQk_2dWwGBkbBySDj4V_kWAIIkRIzekNfUHU-Kzc4LJuEq37gVZg4rSaVPV8cweHi1DUHwWc4NViLj2VJlmCc1u0eQDvYgiT_q4aZQgyUmbGTZ37o/s1600/web+larsen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAcMBwLARqqYSozpwxJ0MyykoIXzQk_2dWwGBkbBySDj4V_kWAIIkRIzekNfUHU-Kzc4LJuEq37gVZg4rSaVPV8cweHi1DUHwWc4NViLj2VJlmCc1u0eQDvYgiT_q4aZQgyUmbGTZ37o/s1600/web+larsen.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Congressman tours a Conway slough</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Writer Adrian Sharpe followed Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, on a tour of a local hunting and recreation ground, Wiley Slough, Monday. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">Before the tour, Larsen sat down for an informal lunch with locals including farmers Dave Hedlin, Keith Morrison, and Serena Campbell. Then Larsen and the group wen</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">t for a walk along Wiley Slough on </span><st1:place style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;" w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Fir</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island, noting the many improvements due to conservation efforts over the last 10 years.</st1:placetype></st1:place></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNY1LRpdXkqMvq45AJRWOFLVnEOzleXYXAEWOHkqsGsqIc8CpJQg2hWEAKCNoaWTbPdkhZ5UQb5Ft8bjKPgTOD3T_A2kMK04vL8QHVaNwodK91xIIcgCNy1M-tPRhoCvLtzCSv7MC2pXU/s1600/web+larsen2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNY1LRpdXkqMvq45AJRWOFLVnEOzleXYXAEWOHkqsGsqIc8CpJQg2hWEAKCNoaWTbPdkhZ5UQb5Ft8bjKPgTOD3T_A2kMK04vL8QHVaNwodK91xIIcgCNy1M-tPRhoCvLtzCSv7MC2pXU/s1600/web+larsen2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><st1:place style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;" w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></st1:placetype></st1:place></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br />
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</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>From the Police Blotter:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">3:32 a.m.: Bad Guest –</b> A resident in the 900 block of Maple Avenue, in La Conner, allowed a guest to sleep in the laundry room. However, sometime during the night the guest tried to enter the apartment and an argument erupted. Neighbors called the police.</div><br />
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</i></div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-26002677501924121212012-04-11T10:52:00.000-07:002012-04-11T10:52:19.477-07:00Braves Sports, April 11, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNSxaADtx6tqZR4LCrcdgaTh6ROo357Rx13l-rW2AyA5B7gj6fSGYr5DDvLrFgsKn8HmkxOkdtOpYsOaHcnG8KDKWO3fHWmicyfwqPQrP8nMm1chQLEU5qN6qF4BXRxJTap8I4F4c70s/s1600/WEB+VB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNSxaADtx6tqZR4LCrcdgaTh6ROo357Rx13l-rW2AyA5B7gj6fSGYr5DDvLrFgsKn8HmkxOkdtOpYsOaHcnG8KDKWO3fHWmicyfwqPQrP8nMm1chQLEU5qN6qF4BXRxJTap8I4F4c70s/s320/WEB+VB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>The All-Star quality play of La Conner High volleyball standouts Emily Anderson (15) and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas (31) resulted in their selection to the recent 1B/2B All-State Volleyball match, where La Conner's Suzanne Marble (back row, right) was on the coaching staff. The La Conner contingent played a key role as its All-State team won in straight sets. </b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Braves volleyball enjoys net gains in off-season</span></b></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">It's no secret La Conner High boasts one of the top volleyball programs in the state.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">And, just in case the word hasn't gotten completely out, the play of two La Conner netters at the recent 1B/2B All-State Volleyball match in <st1:place w:st="on">Fife</st1:place> spoke volumes of the Lady Braves' repeated success.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">La Conner seniors Emily Anderson and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas played key roles in a three-set sweep for an All-Star squad that also featured Darrington's Jessica Brooks and Jill Goldman and a half-dozen <st1:place w:st="on">Eastern Washington</st1:place> standouts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Anderson</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">, Ponce-Venegas and their All-State teammates posted a 25-21, 26-24, 25-18 triumph.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">They fought back from an early 9-2 deficit in the opening set, finishing with a 23-12 run that set the tone for the rest of the match.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"We were down in the first set and came back to win it, and that took the pressure off of us and we were able to relax," said veteran La Conner mentor Suzanne Marble, who has guided the Lady Braves to multiple State titles, and was tabbed as an All-State coach.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Anderson</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> and Ponce-Venegas had much to do with the comeback, Marble said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I was really pleased with the way the girls played having had only one two-hour practice," said Marble. "I was so proud of the way Priscilla and Emily represented<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> La Conner. They really played fantastic and were a huge part of our success." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The entire squad meshed well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Playing with the other players was one of the best experiences I've had," said Ponce-Venegas, who hopes to enroll this fall at either Gonzaga or <st1:placename w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Eastern</st1:place> <st1:placename w:st="on">Washington</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:placename>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I seriously had the most amazing team ever," she said. "We were all so supportive and we played like a team despite only practicing a couple hours before the actual match.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"The whole time was awesome," Ponce-Venegas stressed. "The fact that I can say my All-State teammates are now my friends is amazing."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Anderson</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> had much the same feeling afterward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I'm really glad I was able to participate in the experience," she said. "It's definitely something I will always remember."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Anderson</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> singled out Ponce-Venegas and Darrington's Goldman, a skilled libero, as favorite All-State teammates.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Priscilla and I were on the same team and won all our games," said <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Anderson</st1:place></st1:city>. "And it was super fun playing with Jill Goldman. She was amazing."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Anderson, who next year plans to play volleyball and run track at Whitworth University, in Spokane, was amazing herself – just mustering the strength to play such a highly competitive match on the heels of a bout with walking pneumonia.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">But the rigors of playing at a championship level for La Conner High, said Ponce-Venegas, more than prepared her and Anderson for the All-State match, despite illness and "having not played volleyball in ages." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"You can't get an experience like La Conner volleyball anywhere else," said <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Anderson</st1:place></st1:city>. "You fight through the tough preseason workouts and the sweat because, in the end, it's worth it to be part of such an outstanding team."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Marble laments that <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Anderson</st1:place></st1:city> and Ponce-Venegas, who in two months graduate from La Conner High, will no longer be part of that team. Still, she realizes time marches on.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">They've accomplished so much in the past four years," noted Marble, "and I'm very proud of them."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ponce-Venegas and <st1:city w:st="on">Anderson</st1:city>, in turn, take pride in having been part of the La Conner volleyball tradition, and vow to carry those lessons forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I learned," Ponce-Venegas said, "that when things get hard, push yourself harder. Never settle for less and always push yourself to be the best you can be."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Marble, meanwhile, knows the contributions by Ponce-Venegas and <st1:city w:st="on">Anderson</st1:city> are lasting, and that their presence will continue to be felt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Priscilla and Emily will be missed next year," she stresses. "but I so look forward to hearing about their successes in the future."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYY0IFvu3iAivzZ05uyesJ2XkGfOl4KDI582LH13DpZF-A3Ls4xiSkqbyu3pOwzohJPRClasBKeNNp9Sc8r3dxzXQhus7fJIjfhlqFy6LTyHs2nLg-Ari-wBIvXBoTncXZrvszJVfXy3I/s1600/web+bb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYY0IFvu3iAivzZ05uyesJ2XkGfOl4KDI582LH13DpZF-A3Ls4xiSkqbyu3pOwzohJPRClasBKeNNp9Sc8r3dxzXQhus7fJIjfhlqFy6LTyHs2nLg-Ari-wBIvXBoTncXZrvszJVfXy3I/s320/web+bb.JPG" width="246" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></span></div>La Conner's Wil James works on his timing, getting in some extra cuts during a soft toss session Monday with Braves' coach Jeremiah LeSourd. La Conner was scheduled to resume league action late Tuesday with a doubleheader at Darrington.<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>La Conner diamond teams drawing double duty</b></span><br />
<b> By Bill Reynolds </b>The La Conner High baseball and softball teams were looking to spring back into action this week after weathering a series of postponements. <br />
Both the Braves and Lady Braves were slated to resume action late Tuesday with league twinbills at Darrington. <br />
For the La Conner baseball team, the doubleheader at Darrington was to kick-start a stretch of five games in a week. <br />
The Braves were able to prep for the schedule crunch with workouts late last week and on Monday. <br />
"Practice went well," La Conner's Sean Hulbert said Monday afternoon. "Everything is getting quicker and we're getting a lot more done in the two hours we have than we were before, so I think we're ready for this week." <br />
That view was echoed by Wil James, one of the team's top run-producers. <br />
"I thought we had a very productive practice," said James, who got in some extra cuts Monday with Braves' coach Jeremiah LeSourd throwing batting practice. <br />
La Conner, with the second half of its regular season looming, hopes to finish the campaign with a surge, despite not having injured pitcher Tyler Howlett available. <br />
"It felt like we got a lot of work in today," the Brave's Taylor Swanson said Monday. "I think the pieces are starting to fall in place and we'll finish this last half of the season off strong." <br />
There was much of the same sentiment on the Lady Braves' softball diamond, where players were getting in some conditioning after a near week-long layoff. The Lady Braves told La Conner Weekly News they expected to pick up in Darrington Tuesday where they left off last week.La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-3827473205194925952012-04-04T12:35:00.002-07:002012-04-04T12:50:54.224-07:00in the April 4, 2012 issue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISJ0wlUnv6hru6NCvrKIg9BO21d3aDxpJcviX02usu9R1v-xPN-az98BzerQ1ziXZStqcpDECI1aR9kMKglatQxC3jLHAhIhNWs7cVbZBc9LVCZJ6M8-TCBdH9CPjkz5Q35GaDXwZ-_c/s1600/WEB+BRAS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISJ0wlUnv6hru6NCvrKIg9BO21d3aDxpJcviX02usu9R1v-xPN-az98BzerQ1ziXZStqcpDECI1aR9kMKglatQxC3jLHAhIhNWs7cVbZBc9LVCZJ6M8-TCBdH9CPjkz5Q35GaDXwZ-_c/s320/WEB+BRAS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Jane Godfrey</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Marilynn Olson, far right, has today's story explaining why she and her Soroptimist International colleagues, Linda Talman Debi Demigilio, Monica Todd-Klopfer and Maureen Harlan strung up 130 bras to "Free the Girls." </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffMijRczXZWK0bHz4MxL1OVISnSgSBA-8K31PkRstOMwe8rvWz0DEjZbbWgcwzkGuCwLa9SuAyy-MyBYoznug3lmLvAB0g3o2vRJruUTzvGM7pKfnxb2qSQ0YseyOCeGjG4U3enevdL8/s1600/web+abrams.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffMijRczXZWK0bHz4MxL1OVISnSgSBA-8K31PkRstOMwe8rvWz0DEjZbbWgcwzkGuCwLa9SuAyy-MyBYoznug3lmLvAB0g3o2vRJruUTzvGM7pKfnxb2qSQ0YseyOCeGjG4U3enevdL8/s1600/web+abrams.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Adrian Sharpe</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 22pt;">Toons of talent<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b>Writer Adrian Sharpe has crafted a profile of La Conner artist Bob Abrams, who spent a career as a film animator for Hollywood studios including Disney and Warner Bros. He's retired from drawing the likes of Daffy Duck, but he hasn't put away his easel and paint brushes. </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 22pt;">New Pavers at La Conner High</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The La Conner High School Booster Club is selling tiles in a new quad </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">to those who wish to commemorate an athlete, student, family, or local business.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"> Pavers will be sold for $75 each</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">. Graduating seniors get the discount price of $50.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Order forms are</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"> available at the High School office and also the </span><i style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">La Conner Weekly News</i><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"> office or can be downloaded from the school district’s website at lc.k12.wa.us – follow the link to “extracurricular” and from there to “Booster Club.”</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 12px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IBlxC404wVIq6syufTT7Hz1CmhFrvvWDX0h9rH9tTqXACegr3eH8VCu3IZuZAkn2CZ1BCAJnLROwsOFnnp6dA8PVOpr8WuRBG2qi85SwyCq0m8oe-VMlN9w3fzLKYraIQ_ATNaDumgs/s1600/WEB+PARTY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IBlxC404wVIq6syufTT7Hz1CmhFrvvWDX0h9rH9tTqXACegr3eH8VCu3IZuZAkn2CZ1BCAJnLROwsOFnnp6dA8PVOpr8WuRBG2qi85SwyCq0m8oe-VMlN9w3fzLKYraIQ_ATNaDumgs/s320/WEB+PARTY.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 12px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 12px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">PARTY ANIMALS – These mooching pooches were among several canines who “crashed” a party for retiring Station House owner Rich Wells on Saturday night. The new owners took over on Sunday, and have been working day and night giving the place a make-over. They plan to re-open the Station House restaurant on Friday. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 12px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH45Lm2pKkrLaupqJulqsu4b8x72lt7xQmm9MueBQCkamdpkchrPo4Jj1wLcEabDj0IgekqWqxbrbL0_sbFms-kabGciO0NnBVSrtKH_6TnC4CwoVKidT1QhnHcSXJlR2e4UeFL3EscKM/s1600/WEB+SING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH45Lm2pKkrLaupqJulqsu4b8x72lt7xQmm9MueBQCkamdpkchrPo4Jj1wLcEabDj0IgekqWqxbrbL0_sbFms-kabGciO0NnBVSrtKH_6TnC4CwoVKidT1QhnHcSXJlR2e4UeFL3EscKM/s320/WEB+SING.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 12px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">GREAT MUSIC – Singers Patti Allen and Kathi McDonald performed with the Swinomish Blues Revue at Maple Hall on Sunday. The musicians, including bluesman Nick Vigarino, (in photo below) Terry Nelson, Chris Leighton and Rob Moitoza drew rave reviews from those who attended. </span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbH_Mkc2QicDzEKuT12v5VEPVO4pG5bdsC8oxmLop0tnXrj7SvhXk04nb7beXyF7UFqP-Nmh8kJbzLvFYY3OI8BxLfwN_gLK8VHxIcT5d6z0JPUSl5FooqoORpoNBrMElG7Vz951ROch0/s1600/web+blues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbH_Mkc2QicDzEKuT12v5VEPVO4pG5bdsC8oxmLop0tnXrj7SvhXk04nb7beXyF7UFqP-Nmh8kJbzLvFYY3OI8BxLfwN_gLK8VHxIcT5d6z0JPUSl5FooqoORpoNBrMElG7Vz951ROch0/s320/web+blues.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 12px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 12px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KIQdkwqvHaavqoZJd0AB5KB1_fKDfWn6LWtH_JV3cJExG50JmAu_VBQ_rjNHNSMjS0llrG6XXz59EK9dLQ9QoFC1ADgAwGB_wQvRAdVu6y3X9qbiQxiE91ZFeV4xcN1lIc7MzVAc5nA/s1600/web+piano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KIQdkwqvHaavqoZJd0AB5KB1_fKDfWn6LWtH_JV3cJExG50JmAu_VBQ_rjNHNSMjS0llrG6XXz59EK9dLQ9QoFC1ADgAwGB_wQvRAdVu6y3X9qbiQxiE91ZFeV4xcN1lIc7MzVAc5nA/s320/web+piano.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>After the show, Amara Grace of La Conner sat down at the piano and entertained the crowd some more. </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>See Jim Smith's review of the Swinomish Blues Revue show in today's Notes from Pull & Be Damned.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
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</span></div><b>From the Police Blotter:</b><br />
<b> 10:22 p.m.: Wacky washer –</b> A report of a disobedient washing machine caused someone to call 911 from the 900 block of Maple Avenue in La Conner. The caller was referred to the Housing Authority for the complex. <br />
<b> 10:39 p.m.: Leaky laundry –</b> A second call was placed about the same utility problem in the 900 block of Maple Avenue in La Conner. A downstairs apartment had water coming in through the ceiling.<br />
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<b>The newspaper hit the streets today and is available at the usual places, including in our office where you can often get a little fresh gossip to go with it. Or subscribe and have it delivered. 466-3315.</b><br />
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</span></div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-20626229229136408402012-04-04T11:46:00.001-07:002012-04-04T12:51:13.529-07:00Braves Sports, April 4, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87t9-RBTDU6JlrYrSepiiFrQEX2TObSJlN3DB6Vyw3ivkP5xgOpu6qlLdtxZenZ7ZTeY7X13zaVYuLXi3va16cbqlO-FDcLSWJYfZo3GValQJmuvLe6E82uOYdDx8Cyx690jOdt0K19k/s1600/WEB+TRACK+04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87t9-RBTDU6JlrYrSepiiFrQEX2TObSJlN3DB6Vyw3ivkP5xgOpu6qlLdtxZenZ7ZTeY7X13zaVYuLXi3va16cbqlO-FDcLSWJYfZo3GValQJmuvLe6E82uOYdDx8Cyx690jOdt0K19k/s320/WEB+TRACK+04.JPG" width="246" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;">La Conner thinclads get the jump on track foes</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">There was no way the La Conner High track teams were going to blow a chance last week to shine against big school rivals.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Even if it meant having to weather gusty conditions at a four-team meet in Anacortes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ultimately, La Conner got the jump on its competition, at least in the field events.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Landy James paced the Braves' thinclads by capturing the high jump, 5'-10", while La Conner's Emily Anderson claimed the girls' triple jump with a best effort of 30'-4".<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Jamall James, meanwhile, clinched second place in the boys' triple jump, stretching the tape to 40'-10.5."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Anderson</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> was nearly a dual winner, finishing second, 4'-6", in the girls' high jump.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">She also ran legs of the sprint and 800 meter relays for the Lady Braves, who placed third in each event.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Kelsie Crawford, Priscilla Ponce-Venegas, Anderson, and Katie McKnight combined to clock a :55.40 in the 4x100. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The same quartet posted a time of 1:57.63 in the 4x200 meters.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Anderson</span></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> said afterward the weather contributed the afternoon's mixed results.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I had a really off day in high jump," she conceded, despite the runnerup finish against entrants from larger schools. "I'm not sure if it was the wind or not. But running both relays on the back stretch was really difficult in the wind.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"But, for the triple jump, I won," she noted. "I think the wind was going with us then so it wasn't really an issue in that event."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ponce-Venegas was another Lady Brave to finish in the Top Three in a solo event.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The La Conner senior placed third in the 300 meter hurdles, clocking a :52.50 in that event's final heat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">McKnight finished fourth in both the 200 meters,:29.06, and javelin, 83'-8", while Crawford was fourth in the long jump, 14'-5.5", and fifth in the 100 dash, :14.78.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Lydia Lenning placed fifth in the 1600 meters, 6:38.04, a finish matched by Ponce-Venegas in the javelin, 82'-9".<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Lenning was also sixth at 3200 meters, nearly breaking the 15-minute mark. She was clocked at 15:00.91. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner's Chrissy Barsness, Marina Kochuten, Kelby Herstad, and Victoria O'Brien were timed at 5:17.34, good enough for fifth place in the girls' mile relay.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Amber Drye posted Top Ten placements in the shot put, discus, and triple jump.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">On the boys' side, the Braves' Nathan Parker was second in the discus and third in the shot put. Parker went 124'-6" in the discus, and 41'-2" in the 12-pound shot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner sprinter Mitchell Grant, just a freshman, placed fourth in the 200 meters at :24.50.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Versatile Nathan Sybrandy and Todd Hoagland once again were all over the time sheet.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sybrandy was fifth in the 1600 meters, 5:00.69, and fifth in the 800, 2:30.18.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hoagland finished fourth in the 400 meters, :56.13, and eighth in the 200, :25.04.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sybrandy and Hoagland each ran legs of La Conner's mile relay, which finished second in 3:54.80. Jamall James and Dahlton Zavala rounded out the Brave quartet.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hoagland, Jamall James, Landy James, and Zavala were runnersup in the sprint relay, completing the 4x100 in :46.22.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It was yet another busy outing for Landy James, who rounded out his meet with a fifth place finish in the javelin , 142'-6".<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Zavala, 100 meters; Jordan Romanelli, 200 meters, 300 meter hurdles; Grant, 400 meters; Mitch Roth, 110 meter hurdles; and Jimmy Garcia, 300 meter hurdles, added Top Ten finishes at Anacortes for the Braves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;">Mount Baker erupts in twin wins over Braves</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Life was a beach Monday for La Conner High's baseball and softball teams, both of whom opened Spring Break with double-digit setbacks at <st1:place w:st="on">Mount Baker</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It was a matter of offenses getting stuck in quicksand for the La Conner clubs, neither of which was at full strength due to players being away on spring vacation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves fell 12-2 to the potent Mountaineers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves, with starting pitcher Emma Christianson unavailable, were defeated 18-2.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">But all wasn't lost in either case.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The La Conner softball team received outstanding relief pitching from Olivia Hedlund and sterling defensive play at shortstop by Kelley McClung.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">McClung also delivered an RBI safety in support of Hedlund, who threw over 50 per cent strikes and yielded just six tallies after taking over the circle late in the first frame.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">With the Lady Braves playing shorthanded, coach Michael Bliss used the game as an opportunity to give players work at different positions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Lexi Nelson, for instance, debuted at second base and turned in a flawless performance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We didn't have <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=216232843061092879&postID=2062622922913640840" name="_GoBack"></a>any errors," Bliss said afterward. "It's just that <st1:place w:st="on">Mount Baker</st1:place> is such a good hitting team.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"This game," he said, "was a good learning experience for us. What I liked is our girls stayed positive the whole time."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Lauren Reynolds had two doubles and drove in one of La Conner's two runs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hayden Schmidt led the La Conner boys at <st1:place w:st="on">Mount Baker</st1:place>, going three-for-three at the plate while also pitching four solid innings.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The game was closer than the final score indicates, said Braves' coach Jeremiah LeSourd, noting that Mount Baker was held fairly in check other than a seven-run eruption in the fifth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner had bolted to a fast start, with Tanner Cyr leading off the game with a double and then scoring on the first of Schmidt's three base hits, an RBI single to right.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Trailing 2-1, the Braves briefly deadlocked the contest in the fourth when Taylor Swanson drove in Cameron Sherman with a single.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Mount Baker</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> added three insurance scores in the sixth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-35208194178085830762012-03-28T11:14:00.000-07:002012-03-28T11:14:29.423-07:00in the March 28, 2012 issue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBCSHzqrn4JfSUP4VDPsDceZOtlov9_dxiyqYNJCwMNLFWcgZWVtqTnE17YPFdrzefv4kTNCW8wLl1DQUw7fg-iz1D_bqD9B7xsSS1mbk043j7pWIBpqQiJaFDmGaKlC_c1nsyavNyMI/s1600/WEB+DRUMS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBCSHzqrn4JfSUP4VDPsDceZOtlov9_dxiyqYNJCwMNLFWcgZWVtqTnE17YPFdrzefv4kTNCW8wLl1DQUw7fg-iz1D_bqD9B7xsSS1mbk043j7pWIBpqQiJaFDmGaKlC_c1nsyavNyMI/s320/WEB+DRUMS.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Adrian Sharpe</i></span></div><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 22pt;">Learning to the beat of their own drums<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner High School Students are hitting a beat and learning to hand-craft drums. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">A new addition to the curriculum, “Drum Making” is a class offered through the high school and will fulfill an art credit, if students achieve a B or better the credit is even transferable to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Skagit</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Swinomish artist Kevin Paul and shop teacher Mike Carrigan teamed up to teach the youth both culture and technique in the art of drum making. <b>Writer Adrian Sharpe has the whole story in today's paper!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXch-zlFtNxBytTgnA2toF-mNQfyVEOsNNA9Ht__Pfx6f5tpW_deSZG1kNzt95JPCmam-U5THUremo5JfQmTpDGbJXLUxWw_DUKze1GK4gHFCbMFMn48kdyJH2gTbEVJEywqB2v5AvqQ/s1600/WEB+DUM+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXch-zlFtNxBytTgnA2toF-mNQfyVEOsNNA9Ht__Pfx6f5tpW_deSZG1kNzt95JPCmam-U5THUremo5JfQmTpDGbJXLUxWw_DUKze1GK4gHFCbMFMn48kdyJH2gTbEVJEywqB2v5AvqQ/s320/WEB+DUM+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Adrian Sharpe</i></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;">Salmon habitat court fight is over</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"> The State Growth Management Hearings Board ruled in Skagit County’s favor, ending a 10-year legal battle that pitted the county and agricultural interests against the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and environmental entities. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> At issue was how to protect salmon habitat in streams that flow across or border agricultural land throughout the county. ... “The tribe lost its argument that protection meant more than simply not further degrading salmon streams,” said Alix Foster, legal council for Swinomish. <b>In today's paper!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURJrlBfMeAjeNcI-Ds6_jEhN7L5YxEOnQupMT9pD72C-HV-L-5D8Vcd8ZRPILzwsiwynLiGY9WaXgFVLVAOj0exqF2xbogsz38f_9HMRxC2rEa5aw-W8NVGFx-0wggKUPVebEyVvMFUg/s1600/WEb+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURJrlBfMeAjeNcI-Ds6_jEhN7L5YxEOnQupMT9pD72C-HV-L-5D8Vcd8ZRPILzwsiwynLiGY9WaXgFVLVAOj0exqF2xbogsz38f_9HMRxC2rEa5aw-W8NVGFx-0wggKUPVebEyVvMFUg/s320/WEb+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;">Foreclosure forestalled: Triton steps in<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The old Moore Clark property in La Conner, on the brink of foreclosure just last week, has a new owner.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Triton <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>, which owns <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Pioneer</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Point</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Marina</st1:placename></st1:place> to the south of the historic 1898 warehouse on La Conner’s southern waterfront, bought the 3-acre parcel from La Conner Associates. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">Triton has leased the property back to the former owner, who has plans to develop it. </span><b style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">Details in today's paper!</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><b><br />
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</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24pt;">It’s Bailey vs. Haugen in November</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">State Rep. Barbara Bailey will try to unseat State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen in November.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">Haugen, </span><st1:place style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;" w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">D-Camano</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">, has been the District 10 Senator since 1993. Bailey was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2003. Both women are very popular with their constituents and neither has ever been defeated in their bids for re-election to their respective legislative positions. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><br />
</span></div><b>From the Police Blotter:</b><br />
<b>5:20 p.m.: Tagged Toilets –</b> Graffiti was found in the public men’s restroom at Pioneer Park in La Conner. The vandals also defaced structures in the north end of the park, and left their evidence – cans of black and yellow spray paint – in the trash. <br />
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<b>Get your fill of news in today's paper on the usual store shelves and in the red news stands around town. Or subscribe and have it brought to you. 466-3315.</b>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-39104573785906609412012-03-28T10:27:00.000-07:002012-03-28T10:27:03.417-07:00Braves Sports, March 28, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJOCz_RG7DX3ne64FoLdQruMUJgp9sc4fvmVOBb6yVNARThvRMnvSS2aLu9ukcuTgi_cR76txz7aEzK5ptVbxdAIk-5PqkqQts3XqubMGAn_e-IEquFEaCRlpjNu86pw-B369V6Em_04/s1600/WEB+GOLF.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJOCz_RG7DX3ne64FoLdQruMUJgp9sc4fvmVOBb6yVNARThvRMnvSS2aLu9ukcuTgi_cR76txz7aEzK5ptVbxdAIk-5PqkqQts3XqubMGAn_e-IEquFEaCRlpjNu86pw-B369V6Em_04/s320/WEB+GOLF.JPG" width="247" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></span></div><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;">La Conner linksters ace Similk in season debut</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It didn't take La Conner High golfers long to get into the swing of things.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner's Jake Silva and Hillary Edwards were top medalists as the Braves’ and girls' golf teams enjoyed solid rounds in their season debuts last week at <st1:placename w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Similk</st1:place> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Beach</st1:placetype></st1:placename>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner played host to teams from Shoreline Christian and Cedar Park Christian, with the Braves winning the boys' half of the match.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Team scores weren't compiled on the girls' side because the squads weren't able to field the required five players per school. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Silva carded an even par 36 over nine holes despite wet conditions from recent heavy rains.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I didn't think it played that difficult," Silva said afterward, "because it's my home course. I was able to play my game and everything seemed to click."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Edwards, who nearly qualified for State a year ago, shot a 52 despite being momentarily distracted when a roaming <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Newfoundland</st1:place></st1:state> dog picked up teammate Bailey Wyles' ball.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"It had a nasty drool on it," quipped Edwards, a junior, who also shook off the effects of rain-soaked fairways.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"It wasn't as bad as it was last year," she noted, recalling the dismal spring weather of 2011. "But sometimes it makes the game ten times harder. But, then again, that's golf for you."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The highlight of Edwards' round was her par three on the downhill third hole, which is unforgiving to both hooks and slices.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner coach Sean Skiles was clearly pleased afterward with the day's results.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Jake has put in a lot of extra time this past year and is really hitting the ball well and with consistency," he said of Silva's round.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Skiles noted that Silva is just one of several key returnees from last year's league championship team, which should be further bolstered by the additions of Mathew Finley, Crawford Wilson, and Mike Wilbur.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Returning State qualifier Brendan McLeod was likewise splendid last week at Similk, firing a two-over 38.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"He's coming off a seventh place finish at State," Skiles said of McLeod, "and has been really working on his game."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Bobby Poulton, Spencer Finley, Bjorn Mejlaender, and General Cayou are also playing at a high level, according to Skiles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Poulton and Mathew Finley recorded 42s their first time out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We may have one of the strongest and deepest teams in the state," Skiles said. "Perhaps some of the toughest competition we'll face this year is on our own team."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Skiles is equally encouraged by the Lady Braves' play.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Hilary," he said of Edwards, "is really determined to make her first State appearance. She's playing very well."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Wyles and Amanda Hanstad return after nice campaigns a year ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Both are really improving and hitting the ball well," said Skiles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">They and Edwards were joined at Similk by junior McKenzie Harrison, yet another Lady Brave golfer with plenty of upside.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Our expectations for the year," Skiles said, "are definitely very high."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">*In a related note: McLeod shot a 40 and claimed medalist honors in La Conner's recent boys' home match with Orcas. Silva carded a 41, while Wilbur and Matthew Finley shot 43s. Poulton and Mejlaender were five strokes back of McLeod, at 45. While Orcas didn't bring a girls' team to Similk, La Conner's Hilary Edwards and Amanda Hanstad each shot rounds. Edwards turned in a 49 and Hanstad finished at 57. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXNqTLQjOZ1Av7CLkiBGM4XqfFY9imxNl2xmTD4Lr9W89lLfC06oQyo65wSpmv1YSw02XrIHCF-1XIIu-Fwg6IKQZdRXNrVUdoKPMs3xI95amHxUOm0mtjyJZp6wej8vEadaUL3-6vCM/s1600/WEB+VB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXNqTLQjOZ1Av7CLkiBGM4XqfFY9imxNl2xmTD4Lr9W89lLfC06oQyo65wSpmv1YSw02XrIHCF-1XIIu-Fwg6IKQZdRXNrVUdoKPMs3xI95amHxUOm0mtjyJZp6wej8vEadaUL3-6vCM/s320/WEB+VB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tourney Champs!</b></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The La Conner Club Volleyball U16 (under 16) team won a 16-team tournament at Ferndale High School on Sunday. The championship match was played against Stanwood Volleyball Club and the La Conner team won 25-17, 16-25 and 15-5. Pictured here from left are Assistant Coach Nancy Anderson, Aubrey Stewart, Anna Cook, Kelly McClung, Carly Anderson, Katie Novak, Katie McKnight and Coach Bruce Entrikin.</b></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 22.0pt;">Lady Braves able to clean up on rivals</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 22.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The La Conner High softball team has a great sense of timing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Last week the calendar turned to spring, and the Lady Braves went on a cleaning spree.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner swept three key games, taking a doubleheader (14-2, 24-6) from Concrete and using a late rally to edge Orcas 8-7.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner pitcher Emma Christianson tamed the Lady Lions on three hits while striking out five Concrete batters in the first game of the twinbill.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Taysha James and Lauren Reynolds paced the Braves' attack with three hits apiece. Two of James' safeties went for extra bases.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Olivia Hedlund was La Conner's top power hitter, driving in a team-best five runs on a double and triple.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Siomi Bobb laced a pair of singles for the winners.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Overall, I thought the girls did a real good job of coming out and controlling the game from the start," Braves' head coach Michael Bliss said afterward. "We hit well, played solid defense, and Emma did a great job pitching."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It was pretty much the same formula in the nightcap.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Christianson scattered seven hits and again fanned five batters. She was backed by a flawless defensive effort as the Lady Braves committed no miscues.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Christianson and battery mate Hayleigh Summers were on the same page throughout the day, rarely falling behind hitters.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner batters, on the other hand, often worked ahead in the count. As a team, the Lady Braves pounded out 17 hits.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hedlund ripped five base hits, two of which were doubles. James went four-for-four at the plate, blasting a pair of round-trippers and driving in six runs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Kelley McClung, Christianson, and Reynolds had two hits each, with Reynolds delivering a bases-loaded homer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I liked the way we came out and continued to play with energy until the end," said Bliss. "We never slowed down. The second game is always a tougher one to win in a doubleheader, and I think the team did a good job of making a mental adjustment."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Bliss was impressed with how well his club shook off a six-run Concrete rally in the opening stanza of the second game.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We didn't quit when we got down early in the game," he said. "Instead we showed a lot of toughness."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">That was also the case when La Conner faced Orcas in a clash that featured a playoff-type atmosphere.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves eventually won when Reynolds plated Christianson with a bases-loaded double in the final frame.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"This was a significant win for us," Bliss stressed. "We gave up six runs in the third inning and things weren't looking good for us. But we hung in there and scored nearly every inning.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We stuck to our approach," said Bliss, "which was to get the lead back one run at a time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I was really glad," he said, "to see the team stay positive and confident."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Christianson went all seven innings, striking out 10 Lady Vikings to raise her season strikeout total to 27.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">With the win, she remained perfect, 3-0, in league mound decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Emma was able to battle and get through that tough third inning," Bliss said, "and she did such an amazing job of maintaining her composure. She gives us a chance to win every time we go out and p<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>lay, and she definitely carried us through the entire (Orcas) game. I can't say enough about her performance."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Christianson was supported by McClung, who lined two base hits; Summers, who chipped in a single, walk, and was hit twice; and Hedlund, who was aboard four times.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Bliss was elated by McClung's outstanding glove work up the middle and his club's clutch hitting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Kelley has been so consistent at shortstop," he said. "She made several solid defensive plays against Orcas.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"And," he added, "it’s been great to see Lauren Reynolds driving in runs and hitting the ball well. She's stepped up and been playing well."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Bliss is hopeful the La Conner team can continue to blossom throughout the spring campaign. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"It’s been really fun to watch the progress that this team has already made," he said Monday, "and I'm proud of the way they responded to the challenge posed by a tough Orcas team."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxINv5-KtBwuAffSI7SbfNKGIDyEDLx3jaR0HOI7pbmmJtmfW-nXvNPlID7wjRu3BVrzJYL09BuwyhXWj3Exx_yMPn9hrWwe1Zq79AnMtAoI5XUhWxI7lXxt0u2CLwttEHBOBamd6MvNo/s1600/Web+Baseball.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxINv5-KtBwuAffSI7SbfNKGIDyEDLx3jaR0HOI7pbmmJtmfW-nXvNPlID7wjRu3BVrzJYL09BuwyhXWj3Exx_yMPn9hrWwe1Zq79AnMtAoI5XUhWxI7lXxt0u2CLwttEHBOBamd6MvNo/s1600/Web+Baseball.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;">Youthful Braves round into mid-season form</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The new-look La Conner Braves are being thrown a lot of curves this spring.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">And perhaps none more than the learning curve.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">That was much in evidence during an up-and-down week in which La Conner routed <st1:placename w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar</st1:place> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:placename> 12-1 after splitting a twinbill (0-9, 7-3) with archrival Concrete.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves parlayed nine first inning runs into a convincing 12-1 triumph over <st1:placename w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cedar</st1:place> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:placename>, which managed just seven hits against La Conner frosh hurlers Taylor Swanson and Erick Reinstra.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Tanner Cyr paced the Braves' attack with a pair of singles and two free passes. Wil James and Hayden Schmidt each ripped RBI safeties for the victors.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves enter a tough stretch of their schedule after having been blanked in the league-game half of doubleheader with Concrete.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner did come back to edge the Lions in the nightcap, a game in which the Braves went the small ball route to jump-start their offense.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We were able to find ways to get on base and were aggressive running the bases to get our offense going," La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner coach Jeremiah LeSourd said afterward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves are slated to resume play 1 p.m. on April 2 at <st1:place w:st="on">Mount Baker</st1:place> and at noon on April 3 at home opposite Squalicum.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Both should be key tests for the youthful Braves, whom LeSourd notes have thus far proved to be quick studies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Our team is young," he stressed earlier this week, "and everyone is learning their role. Our inexperience has showed at times, but we're learning quickly." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-71126342346410194702012-03-21T11:12:00.001-07:002012-03-21T12:01:16.418-07:00in the March 21, 2012 issue<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 22pt;">Liquor store will close</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 22pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">After almost 20 years of serving the community, Homeport Liquor in La Conner will be closing its doors in May. Reporter Alexander Kramer has the details in today's paper.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;">Swinomish moves to control tidelands<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is preparing to enact an ordinance that would require non-tribal residents to obtain shoreline leases for boat docks in front of their homes in some areas and make environmentally sensitive tidelands in other areas off limits.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Most of the reservation's residents are non-tribal members who live on leased land or privately owned, or “fee simple,” parcels within the reservation boundaries. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">The tribe’s position is that everything within the reservation boundaries that lies between mean high water and extreme low tide is reservation land held in trust by the federal government for the benefit of tribal members. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">Tribal officials have said that the proposed ordinance is not intended to prevent reservation residents from enjoying the beaches, but is to give the tribe a means to </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">prevent encroachments into the water with docks, bulkheads and other structures and to protect the tidelands.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"> The tribe has provided this link to read a <a href="http://www.swinomish.org/media/13118/20120123_drafttidelandsord.pdf">draft of the proposed ordinance</a> . Details in today's paper.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 9pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHlwecx9fvmxacH6I52PKtfuGiHsbgn9ZDR0j4cDrCrRZOkT4LDHB_KXWYtzg2z7y1FQfoSMD7Al_wQNZEvK_UU3gccSSaIBBw44pNQT2OWsfIG5qJD4M6mB72mTVsZIkq_GWFxXDmKw/s1600/WEB+SWANS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHlwecx9fvmxacH6I52PKtfuGiHsbgn9ZDR0j4cDrCrRZOkT4LDHB_KXWYtzg2z7y1FQfoSMD7Al_wQNZEvK_UU3gccSSaIBBw44pNQT2OWsfIG5qJD4M6mB72mTVsZIkq_GWFxXDmKw/s320/WEB+SWANS.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;">Swans coming in for a landing in a field near La Conner</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 22pt;">Fans of ‘well worn’ art fill the town <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fashion writer Burgundy Woods covered the </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">annual MoNA Style Wearable Art & Home Fashions Show held Saturday. In today's paper read her story about the show, which drew together 35 artists and nearly 1,000 patrons for an array </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">of one-of-a-kind clothing, jewelry, crafts, and home décor.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cZgolUv5heY6MbFZHUdXvKdM8VNM4fIsELM_J1ftUxQBbYa6hmZCwe8Nvw4LJlI0s8AtquOvzx6NDZ98A7lO_RFOBHlgsNvHTVH0b5A463Mh4yM9IioK8sDisY5a9STlCph02ZJAd-0/s1600/WEB+MONA+again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cZgolUv5heY6MbFZHUdXvKdM8VNM4fIsELM_J1ftUxQBbYa6hmZCwe8Nvw4LJlI0s8AtquOvzx6NDZ98A7lO_RFOBHlgsNvHTVH0b5A463Mh4yM9IioK8sDisY5a9STlCph02ZJAd-0/s320/WEB+MONA+again.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><b>Hand-dyed items by Teri Jo Summer of Shiing Sea Studios of Greenbank.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qABffNCriapg9NNr-j6fW57LeBgn3pgqapROaDXLbL-ktN_EJ_MKZBii4-2uYiN7eOYOM0V47t1IaePJuOYub4vCTgkvUdvXYFGAdRGKOBDQ2EvFxqMxpK1sEzAdL5h0X-5_OrarQQE/s1600/WEB+MONA+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qABffNCriapg9NNr-j6fW57LeBgn3pgqapROaDXLbL-ktN_EJ_MKZBii4-2uYiN7eOYOM0V47t1IaePJuOYub4vCTgkvUdvXYFGAdRGKOBDQ2EvFxqMxpK1sEzAdL5h0X-5_OrarQQE/s1600/WEB+MONA+1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><b>Mariah Halkett of Baltimore, Maryland tries on fashions created by designer June Blout of Portland, Oregon. </b></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlzGNQ0hkRg7qXOt6w6r35QBx8oAxWCt-A2gwwv2nRWyKrBUNt6_BUkCp4rQmcmyWDNuwa2l4PAUZHFTCnp1-8vBcaD_a5CI8WVVWdBMX5lpBs27H83-lW24iey-_ZpwwNQW0PN7OoIw/s1600/WEB+MONA+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlzGNQ0hkRg7qXOt6w6r35QBx8oAxWCt-A2gwwv2nRWyKrBUNt6_BUkCp4rQmcmyWDNuwa2l4PAUZHFTCnp1-8vBcaD_a5CI8WVVWdBMX5lpBs27H83-lW24iey-_ZpwwNQW0PN7OoIw/s1600/WEB+MONA+2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><b>Kelly Lyles of Seattle with her acrylic candy creations.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;">Finding fun in essay writing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">Writer Adrian Sharpe was in the classroom this week at La Conner Elementary School to see first-hand an innovative approach to literacy. Contract educator David Matteson was in Keith Hunter’s 5</span><sup style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">th</sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"> grade classroom keeping the kids </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"> intrigued and had them eagerly raising their hands as the all participated in writing an essay</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"> about the St. Patrick’s Day holiday in </span><st1:place style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Chicago. Principal Lori Knudson said the program has paid off for the students, whose scores on state mandated test in literacy have risen.</st1:city></st1:place></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 24px;"><st1:place style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><br />
</st1:city></st1:place></div><br />
<br />
<b>From the Police Blotter:<br />
2:27 p.m.: Road rage – </b>Some people in a broken down pickup truck, parked along the shoulder of Fir Island Road near Conway, got in an argument with some other people that were passing in a car.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Pick up your La Conner Weekly News today at one of our quarter-eating news stands, and on the shelves at the usual stores. Or subscribe and have it brought to you. 466-3315</div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-84406654948922681332012-03-21T10:13:00.000-07:002012-03-21T10:13:52.304-07:00Braves Sports, March 21, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtZvf1Za93bCK7bhH0BsMyKu021afrrkE4Wb_WtU6VuwYknyy3xx7eBhxbM_zm8zDvJJBp0hyphenhyphen6V6qK6Jt6Nufn1kaopPysYS91tqisdRvQLfL4USB19mBGcdvyrk85V92uOjq0M6ciI8/s1600/WEB+SOFTBALL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtZvf1Za93bCK7bhH0BsMyKu021afrrkE4Wb_WtU6VuwYknyy3xx7eBhxbM_zm8zDvJJBp0hyphenhyphen6V6qK6Jt6Nufn1kaopPysYS91tqisdRvQLfL4USB19mBGcdvyrk85V92uOjq0M6ciI8/s1600/WEB+SOFTBALL.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;">Foes hurl gems at La Conner diamond teams</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It was a case of good news, bad news Monday for the La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner High softball and baseball teams.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The good news is both La Conner squads played well on the road.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The bad news is the two La Conner clubs were still edged in non-league action by larger programs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves fell 6-5 at 1A <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Meridian</st1:place></st1:city>, while the Braves dropped a 10-4 decision at Lynden Christian.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Frosh pitcher Emma Christianson showed excellent control for an early season game, fanning seven <st1:place w:st="on">Meridian</st1:place> hitters while throwing two-thirds of her 111 pitches for strikes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Meridian</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> was coming off a convincing victory over Coupeville, which had earlier beaten Concrete.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner was slated to face the Lady Lions in a twin bill late Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Lady Braves' head coach Michael Bliss was pleased with the offensive support Christianson received at Meridian, which included a two-bagger from senior Jazmin Snyder in her first-ever at-bat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Kelley McClung paced La Conner with three safeties, including a double to lead off the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Olivia Hedlund lined a pair of singles and drew a walk for the Lady Braves, while designated hitter Taysha James, batting cleanup, ripped a double and single and drove in three tallies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"What I really liked," said Bliss, "is that everybody was up there swinging."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">He said the Lady Braves will be addressing fundamentals and game situations in the days ahead. Getting more non-league games under their belt, said Bliss, will help in both areas. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We'll work on the small stuff and how to correct the little mental errors that you can't always teach at practice," he said. "It has to come during a game, which is what the game tonight (at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Meridian</st1:place></st1:city>) helped to do."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves, meanwhile, were forced Monday due to field conditions to give up a home date for the trip to Lynden Christian.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Dakota Hartley and Wil James led the La Conner attack with extra-base hits.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hartlet delivered a solo homer in the second inning, while James blasted a two-run double in the fifth frame.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Tanner Cyr and Hayden Schmidt added two singles each for the Braves, who closed to within 5-3 before the Lynx added some late insurance scores.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Junior Christian Johnston, sophomore Cameron Sherman, and freshmen Taylor Swanson and Erick Reinstra shared mound duties for La Conner.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaQHa0JOSubQBqXyEcBcqnnQFXoXavC4QJC2dYs5NUeUIS9UJ1OBwUNrKFrCcOsieAsF_xZ5FLYHd67QP0MRVaoiR_Q_a8LAbueQIS3OsemvU7VUDw7snGu88ILZldQFg1FsLqe3tzs0/s1600/WEB+TRACK.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaQHa0JOSubQBqXyEcBcqnnQFXoXavC4QJC2dYs5NUeUIS9UJ1OBwUNrKFrCcOsieAsF_xZ5FLYHd67QP0MRVaoiR_Q_a8LAbueQIS3OsemvU7VUDw7snGu88ILZldQFg1FsLqe3tzs0/s320/WEB+TRACK.JPG" width="247" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i>Photo by Melissa Reynolds</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt;">La Conner thinclads sweep League preview meet</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">If Thursday's NWB League Preview meet is any indication, the future looks bright for the La Conner High track teams.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">And that means the immediate future.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Building upon past success, La Conner captured both sides of the annual event before a supportive home crowd at Whittaker Field.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The defending League champion La Conner boys, coming off a fourth place finish at the 2011 State trials, bested runnerup Concrete 85-51.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves edged Mount Vernon Christian to claim their half of the meet.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">We had several multiple event winners and our boys' and girls' relays swept the field," an elated La Conner head track coach Peter Voorhees said afterward. "It was a great day and a nice way to start the year."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Versatile distance runner Nathan Sybrandy enjoyed the unseasonably mild conditions, weathering all challenges in both the boys' 800 and 1600 meters.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sybrandy clocked a 2:19.75 to win the 800. He posted a 5:11.0 finish in the 1600.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Brothers Landy and Jamall James were also dual victors for the La Conner boys.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Landy was best in the javelin (151'-4") and high jump (5'-6"), while Jamall took top honors in the long jump (18'-5") and triple jump (38'-7").<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Todd Hoagland set the pace in the 200 meters, hitting the tape at :25.43.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hoagland joined Jamall James, Wylie Thulen, and Dahlton Zavala on the Braves' winning sprint relay team. The La Conner quartet ran away with the 4x100 meters in a meet-best time of :48.21.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hoagland, Zavala, Sybrandy, and Mitchell Grant secured the boys' mile relay crown for La Conner, winning the 4x400 meters in 3:52.91.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Katie McKnight and Emily Anderson paced the La Conner girls, each placing first in one track and one field event.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">McKnight won the 200 meters (:29.53) and javelin (88'-11"), and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Anderson</st1:place></st1:city> reached the winner's circle in the 100 meter hurdles (:19.40) and high jump (4'-6").<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Priscilla Ponce-Venegas was also a solo victor for the Lady Braves, turning in a :54.37 effort in the 300 meter hurdles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The La Conner girls claimed first place honors in the 800 and 1600 meter relays, respectively, with Ponce-Venegas, Kelsie Crawford, Madi Cavanaugh, and Victoria O'Brien combining to post a 2:03.7 finish in the 4x200.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">McKnight, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Anderson</st1:place>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Lydia</st1:country-region></st1:city> Lenning, and Chrissy Barsness each ran legs of La Conner's blue ribbon mile relay entry, winning that event (4:57.08) by more than two full seconds. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"The great thing about this meet," said Voorhees, "is we have a better idea of where our strengths and weaknesses are now that we have some official times."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Among the strengths for both La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner squads is depth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves’ teams piled up points with high placements across the board.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Crawford finished a strong second in the girls' 100 meters (:14.37) and long jump (13'-0"), with teammate Kelby Hermstad matching that finish in the 800 (3:10.81).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Lenning placed third in both the 1600 (6:59.6) and 3200 (15.07.0). McKnight picked up the bronze in the 100 (:14.97), as did Ponce-Venegas in the javelin (79'-11").<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">On the boys' side, Zavala was second in the 100 (:12.50), as was Braves' sophomore Alec Axure in the 3200 (12:51.0).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Nathan Parker picked up second place finishes in both the discus (109'-7") and the 12-pound shot put (39'-11").<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Landy James, Jimmy Garcia, and Jordan Romanelli each tallied third place points for the Braves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">James was third in the shot (36'-0"). Garcia did likewise in the 300 meter hurdles (:48.90). And Romanelli finished third in the 200 (:25.62), just back of Hoagland.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Based on last season's showing, Voorhees was guardedly optimistic going into Thursday's competition.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The final results played out pretty much as expected, with Concrete's boys and Mount Vernon Christian's girls pushing La Conner the hardest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Mount Vernon Christian staved off Friday Harbor to clinch third place team honors on the boys' side of the meet, while Concrete's Lady Lions fell just five points short (56-51) of upsetting MVC in the girls' events.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"The biggest surprise," Voorhees quipped afterward, "was the weather. It held out the entire meet." <o:p></o:p></span></div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-86187279509009102622012-03-14T11:54:00.000-07:002012-03-14T11:54:09.864-07:00in the March 14, 2012 issue<div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kiwanis suggest tin turkeys for town</span></b></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"> Wild turkey’s are no longer an official La Conner attraction, but monuments to the once numerous garden nemeses could soon turn up in the town. Writer Adrian Sharpe has the story on how the Kiwanis Club wants to donate at least one metal turkey sculpture to the town. </div> There is actually a small flock of the life-size tin turkeys created by 85-year-old La Conner resident Don Mulanax, a local artist and owner of Morris Street Antiques. While his sculptures have drawn mixed reviews from art aficionados, it is likely the turkey sculptures would receive a warmer welcome than the real ones that were run out of town after tearing up gardens and decorating porches.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7b9vGiTEti1Il6YJ5E49xiKlm-SPTSlVLNWw4fnpOgICjo1oPVA6ETbFAM68HR0G7mdLU4F0HVTEuEpJiJhR3DewFxPihjuTyv_fpKH-y-wGA7aADkqM2FOC3EOWGthaPL0Z3YNQuv9I/s1600/web+flower+pickers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7b9vGiTEti1Il6YJ5E49xiKlm-SPTSlVLNWw4fnpOgICjo1oPVA6ETbFAM68HR0G7mdLU4F0HVTEuEpJiJhR3DewFxPihjuTyv_fpKH-y-wGA7aADkqM2FOC3EOWGthaPL0Z3YNQuv9I/s320/web+flower+pickers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> Mother Nature was throwing a weather tantrum this week with rain, sleet, hail and snow driven by gale force winds. But the daffodils in fields off McLean Road will get to market on time, with this intrepid crew picking them.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKk2qKBkfnJ-ExWgi-x0oF8UJUtQFRDIBuTBWXsJQICM3eFCyLonccmFmQzGbySWaApJFQE9ubE0HgEnpGrAJ8WBWpc2_Q1cj-i4jKGTWaBj0rPpmxw0cFlFIdXU_sR-R2pG_-jP35ZNA/s1600/web+flower+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKk2qKBkfnJ-ExWgi-x0oF8UJUtQFRDIBuTBWXsJQICM3eFCyLonccmFmQzGbySWaApJFQE9ubE0HgEnpGrAJ8WBWpc2_Q1cj-i4jKGTWaBj0rPpmxw0cFlFIdXU_sR-R2pG_-jP35ZNA/s320/web+flower+girl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><b> </b><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>Here's a smile beneath all that foul weather gear.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYB-jIHFbfs1PyqYX2pg6_4JszLuCI6JbCeX9TUdas1qoSD_PFxj6cGU5rkElurNmM-wFZukVox9pUbJGM4_PJQvSOg8tVTR1f_T6g56_1oHlJgtqmtPHBeCYyxhLxJkcr7uvXNSgtKE/s1600/web+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYB-jIHFbfs1PyqYX2pg6_4JszLuCI6JbCeX9TUdas1qoSD_PFxj6cGU5rkElurNmM-wFZukVox9pUbJGM4_PJQvSOg8tVTR1f_T6g56_1oHlJgtqmtPHBeCYyxhLxJkcr7uvXNSgtKE/s320/web+flowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Meanwhile...</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNn280Vq5OrbmZLPs-eIJj5y5Fxon9TVxL3W-sjK0I4xkOpALxrZZAP2UivaksYYlIfb22YB10j3PJHpS2yWranVGhoAXHghZ1Y49lm0OaQpAdWdh3CSETdYK1ioeSPYnM6ay7OvDcIE/s1600/web+logs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNn280Vq5OrbmZLPs-eIJj5y5Fxon9TVxL3W-sjK0I4xkOpALxrZZAP2UivaksYYlIfb22YB10j3PJHpS2yWranVGhoAXHghZ1Y49lm0OaQpAdWdh3CSETdYK1ioeSPYnM6ay7OvDcIE/s320/web+logs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="text-align: justify;">OOPS! <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: bold;"> A logging truck took a spill in the roundabout at McLean and Best roads on Monday. No one was hurt. Sheriff’s investigators haven’t determined what caused the truck’s trailer to tip over. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirI3pU4Nx29HSR-hAiRA7_PAW1O6trqiRE0TQbY1EcXih4rCTx0gGJDxQkG_my1UF3G9kA4mFMGRJ8MPAs90CBcm8j8nWNSHOX3wyAH1LAK4PMIpPcVUoBSktFN0MyLQ1bbKXfrC6g-Xs/s1600/web+spill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirI3pU4Nx29HSR-hAiRA7_PAW1O6trqiRE0TQbY1EcXih4rCTx0gGJDxQkG_my1UF3G9kA4mFMGRJ8MPAs90CBcm8j8nWNSHOX3wyAH1LAK4PMIpPcVUoBSktFN0MyLQ1bbKXfrC6g-Xs/s320/web+spill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 22.0pt;">When the Space Needle was new<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">A half century ago, Shelter Bay resident Gail Taylor was an event hostess for Century 21 Exposition, also known as the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. Writer Sue Phillips has the story on the 50th Anniversary of the event that forged so many memories and friendships all those years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">For Taylor, </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">“The experience changed my life,” she says. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><st1:city w:st="on"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt;">Moore</span></b></st1:city><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt;"> <st1:place w:st="on">Clark</st1:place> foreclosure postponed<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">The foreclosure auction scheduled for the La Conner Associates property, known as Moore-Clark, scheduled for last Friday was delayed until March 23.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="text-indent: 9pt;">The trustee’s sale notice indicated that it would take more than $8.5 million to stop Whidbey Island bank from foreclosing on the 3-acre parcel, which includes the historic 70-foot tall 1898 warehouse that dominates the south end La Conner’s waterfront. Details in today's paper.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And finally, it seems the old "spring forward" routine with the clocks on Sunday hit the locals pretty hard. </b></span></div><div><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>From the Police Blotter:</b> </span></div><div><b> 9:57 a.m.: Porch snoozer – </b>A homeowner on Morris Street, in La Conner, found an intoxicated person sleeping on the front porch of their house.<br />
<b>12:54 a.m.: Catching ZZZ’s –</b> An intoxicated person was found sleeping on the ground in front Pioneer Market, in La Conner.<br />
<b>11:58 p.m.: Noisy Sleeper – </b>A welfare check was performed on a person on Maple Avenue in La Conner. A neighbor had reported that the person in question was laying in their back yard snoring very loudly.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>The paper is in the news stands and on the usual store shelves. If it's too cold and windy to go get one, call and subscribe to have it delivered next time. 466-3315.</b><br />
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</div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-48822851649212765442012-03-14T10:19:00.000-07:002012-03-14T10:19:55.371-07:00Braves Sports, March 14, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHK7sCuut7-ptIRCEI3yyt5sUT7t8GNJGwtMLIzxCbjct7wGQZsb72DU3NalKiklR4ys6z3-c2CfourZvQzXkdpYyoOlrHpCBouIMzlgDFJFZaAOgthyqZyc_WAz4GUQSU2eC7K7sjTIU/s1600/web+alumni.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHK7sCuut7-ptIRCEI3yyt5sUT7t8GNJGwtMLIzxCbjct7wGQZsb72DU3NalKiklR4ys6z3-c2CfourZvQzXkdpYyoOlrHpCBouIMzlgDFJFZaAOgthyqZyc_WAz4GUQSU2eC7K7sjTIU/s320/web+alumni.JPG" width="205" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Alumni hoop tourney assumes greater meaning</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner High alums last weekend honored the memory of one of the school's most unforgettable players.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Braves from five different decades gathered Friday for their seventh annual alumni tournament, the first of which to memorialize La Conner All-Stater Erik Tjersland, who in 1987 helped lead La Conner to a third place finish at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Spokane</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Tjersland, a standout in the classroom as well as on the court, went on to study and play basketball at <st1:placename w:st="on">Pacific</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Lutheran</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype>, in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tacoma</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">His death last year at age 42 shocked and saddened his many local friends and former La Conner teammates, a number of whom participated in the four-team tourney at Landy <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>James Gym.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The unassuming Tjersland, blessed with size, speed, and a soft shooting touch from almost anywhere on the floor, was often bemused at the attention he drew from local fans – who regularly filled Landy James Gym to see him play.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Imagine, then, what his reaction to Friday's event might've been.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner players from as far back as the 1970s – featuring in some cases multiple generations within families – took part.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner head coach Scott Novak had earlier this year formally renamed the popular tournament in Tjerland's memory.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We cherish our memories of Erik Tjersland," said Novak, "and the joy he brought to La Conner High School, its basketball program, and his many friends and fans."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Novak, like Tjersland, joined the Braves' hoop program in the 1980s and has worked tirelessly to preserve its rich history.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The alumni tournament is among the more visible examples of that effort.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">This year's format was a four-team affair won by the Swinomish entry, whose roster included Steve "Rudy" Edwards from the 1979 La Conner High School State entry coached by George Gamble.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Swinomish edged Danny's Dunkers, led by current Braves' assistant coach Danny Hagen, by a 62-54 margin in the tourney finale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hagen, who also attended <st1:placename w:st="on">Meadowdale</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">High School</st1:placetype> in suburban <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Snohomish</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place>, is each year impressed by the level of support the La Conner alumni tournament receives.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Meadowdale's a much bigger school and they can usually get four teams out to do a tournament like this," said Hagen, "so it's pretty special to get the same turnout here for a much smaller school."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner Brewing Co. and the Old Timers rounded out the bracket.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Old Timers' roster included many of Tjersland's former La Conner teammates, including Ben Winkes ('86), his former partner in the paint who had delivered a heartfelt eulogy at the funeral service.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakrR90BYBl-npIC6LeqgAX20FgRllsUTzBO98P5W0N_f3BAQOsjuc-QeL31YWzcdPnHEyo6zoujWusxEu06rSlRVtWmF4XpXbZ3hxxo2N2y_2Z34sh7C7eh1452El7L8aZmzO48mqa5M/s1600/web+baseball.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakrR90BYBl-npIC6LeqgAX20FgRllsUTzBO98P5W0N_f3BAQOsjuc-QeL31YWzcdPnHEyo6zoujWusxEu06rSlRVtWmF4XpXbZ3hxxo2N2y_2Z34sh7C7eh1452El7L8aZmzO48mqa5M/s320/web+baseball.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Braves making pitch for another post-season run</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Despite a revamped roster, La Conner High is again well-armed for and setting its sights on the upcoming baseball playoff hunt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Few clubs could survive losing three key seniors to graduation and top pitcher Tyler Howlett to injury from a club that placed third at State a year ago, yet still aim high in terms of post-season aspirations.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Most, in fact, would anticipate a rebuilding season – or two.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">But the Braves, under fifth-year coaches Jeremiah LeSourd and Andy Otis, are no ordinary program.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner, while young, returns 10 players – five of whom are starters – from a team that went 17-7 in 2011, capturing top honors at the League, District, and Regional levels before making a strong State showing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">All of which is cause for optimism with LeSourd and Otis, both of whom are former La Conner High standouts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We're very young this year," LeSourd acknowledges, "but we have depth and athleticism at each position."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It all starts on the mound, even without Howlett, a talented junior.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Losing Tyler, who was also our cleanup hitter, to an ankle injury is tough," LeSourd said Thursday. "But we may have as many as six to 10 pitchers this year who could play large roles for us."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By contrast, the Braves pretty much rode two elite hurlers into the 2011 post-season fray.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Depth is really a luxury we haven't always had in the past," concedes LeSourd.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Among top returnees on the present 16-man La Conner roster are senior Matt McCauley; juniors Dakota Hartley, Tanner Cyr, and Christian Johnston; and sophomore Wil James.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">They will likely comprise the corps of players LeSourd and Otis call upon for leadership on the field as the regular season unfolds.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Our leadership," said LeSourd, "will come from our upperclassmen. We've been in the playoffs the past four years and they know what it takes to be successful."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ditto LeSourd and Otis, who rose from the local youth league ranks – where they coached a number of their current players – to take the high school reins in 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">In their first campaign, they guided La Conner to a 10-10 mark, missing a Regional tourney berth by a single game.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The next season, under LeSourd and Otis, La Conner improved to 11-10 and qualified for Regionals, where the Braves fell to eventual State titlist Northwest Christian.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Two years ago La Conner returned to Regionals, sporting a fine 15-8 slate, before bowing out with a tough 8-7 loss to Napavine.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">LeSourd and Otis will again welcome second-year assistant Tommy Peth, also a <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>La Conner High product, in the Braves' dugout.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Peth played three seasons at La Conner for LeSourd and Otis before joining the coaching staff in time for last year's deep playoff run.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The defending Northwest 1A/2B champs expect another tight league race, with challenges sure to be posed by familiar rivals <st1:placename w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Friday</st1:place> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Harbor</st1:placetype></st1:placename> and Concrete.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Each year," LeSourd said, "we all battle for the League title, and this year should be no different." </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlpHizXLWS8458QL3r4n0yV_Yp7VtTyW7brw9TTmQ4YyypVGLeKU6AOqJaP04bjIGC95aKIkbNRMz7bTMfo1dPvtr8u_SyMS84Ctvf6Rz4TLupE_wsKPLgO3KkGYyqqV03ose04_T6kM/s1600/web+basketball.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlpHizXLWS8458QL3r4n0yV_Yp7VtTyW7brw9TTmQ4YyypVGLeKU6AOqJaP04bjIGC95aKIkbNRMz7bTMfo1dPvtr8u_SyMS84Ctvf6Rz4TLupE_wsKPLgO3KkGYyqqV03ose04_T6kM/s320/web+basketball.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;">La Conner hoopsters net post-season honors</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner High basketball players continue to score points even after the season has ended.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Four La Conner players landed on the boys' All-League team, while two Lady Braves were similarly recognized during recent polling of NW 1A/2B coaching staffs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner seniors Landy James and Mike Wilbur and junior Spencer Novak, all of whom helped lead the Braves to a 22-4 mark and State Tournament appearance, were first unit All-NW 1A/2B picks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The three were consistent double-digit scorers and lock-down defenders for La Conner, whose season highlights included a non-league win at 3A Sedro-Woolley and an impressive home shootout triumph over a touring Australian select team.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">James, tabbed the League's Player of the Year, was a versatile performer able to score while either posting up or facing the basket, often from behind the three-point arc. He also led the Braves in blocked shots and dunks. His ability to freeze defenders with spin moves and scissors dribbles was also a crowd favorite.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Wilbur served as the Braves' crafty point guard and floor leader. He routinely filled the stat sheet with points, steals, and assists, plus had a knack for drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line when needed. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Novak emerged as a major outside scoring threat, doing significant damage from the perimeter in big wins at <st1:placename w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Toutle</st1:place> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype></st1:placename> and Concrete. Many felt his first half shooting display against the Lions was the finest they'd ever seen from a La Conner player.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Tyler Howlett, another key member of the Braves' squad, was a second team All-NW 1A/2B selection.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">But Howlett, a talented junior forward, went down in January with a season-ending ankle injury. His absence was sorely felt in the post-season by La Conner, which rallied for its record 36th State tourney berth before falling at <st1:city w:st="on">Spokane</st1:city> to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dayton</st1:place></st1:city> and eventual champion Colfax.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Veteran La Conner head coach Scott Novak was recognized as well for again guiding the Braves to the Elite Eight, earning League Coach of the Year honors.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Novak likewise coached the Lady Braves, whose senior guards Priscilla Ponce-Venegas and Nikki Finley were All-League choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ponce-Venegas frequently led La Conner, which advanced to the Regional Tournament in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Longview</st1:place></st1:city>, in all statistical categories. In addition to being the team's floor leader, Ponce-Venegas was a dynamic scorer able to drive the paint, spot up for mid-range jumpers, or post-up in the blocks. She was also a tenacious defender, especially when La Conner pressed full-court.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Finley was a perfect complement to Ponce-Venegas in the Lady Braves' backcourt. She frequently displayed extended range on her jumper, often hitting from well beyond the trey stripe. Finley was equally comfortable off the dribble, either driving the lane for scoop shots or kick-outs to open teammates.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Ponce-Venegas and Finley helped lead La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner to a 17-7 overall mark and runner-up finish in the League </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">standings.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjxaWJBkHlqVSb4pNRKs741s7LqKVUZxi0w6CBJFfkoivTDqpoBPnG_wafstkIVNwZFQ3UuEYyO_yPqQkqSsnLXhOy9jThc7K1lE0w8bDWotvLCKIDDvQDVtvjHKYIrJFFT8cjaYY-mk/s1600/WEB+track.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjxaWJBkHlqVSb4pNRKs741s7LqKVUZxi0w6CBJFfkoivTDqpoBPnG_wafstkIVNwZFQ3UuEYyO_yPqQkqSsnLXhOy9jThc7K1lE0w8bDWotvLCKIDDvQDVtvjHKYIrJFFT8cjaYY-mk/s320/WEB+track.JPG" width="246" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
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</span></div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-45082690040468564022012-03-07T10:37:00.000-08:002012-03-07T10:37:08.820-08:00in the March 7, 2012 issue<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">Fire authority idea still percolating<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">An idea to combine La Conner, Fire District 13, Anacortes and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Guemes</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype></st1:place> fire departments into a single agency is moving along. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">Officials from the four fire departments have been meeting monthly to gather information from each other and from agencies that have successfully merged. Next </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">they'll start talking about how to make a regional Fire Authority work, especially regarding how to pay for it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Very busy weekend</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqI-Qd12pMuvia-92BPU5eXEBucvxDkbfs4_WmJ9bv-VfTtmYqsszNeAkg68mFJ4xXgRZHb_cH10kn2AShSeo50R4DzQxunuLvYAHcdg2WXI3S0_a5LFNLN7oZF_QzmGpOO2nL4K723RE/s1600/WEB+RIBBON.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqI-Qd12pMuvia-92BPU5eXEBucvxDkbfs4_WmJ9bv-VfTtmYqsszNeAkg68mFJ4xXgRZHb_cH10kn2AShSeo50R4DzQxunuLvYAHcdg2WXI3S0_a5LFNLN7oZF_QzmGpOO2nL4K723RE/s320/WEB+RIBBON.JPG" width="258" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><i>Photo by Marci Plank</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="text-indent: 9pt;">There were several grand opening and ribbon cuttings in La Conner on Saturday, this one at Pelindaba Lavender. There are new art galleries in town, as well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="text-indent: 9pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8PiW7TqwEGTGo8JoTLJ50ROy3tPSIQV0AbmjaG0YWz7RYXyHMG88evo4gaOCUZjiVsS_PY7qaSKx748G_fbE8OyqVF40DO49Gbsbc3cKNjCMlRQuw7IocYgq4sHHYFWcwCkoDgslMlE/s1600/Web+Blackfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8PiW7TqwEGTGo8JoTLJ50ROy3tPSIQV0AbmjaG0YWz7RYXyHMG88evo4gaOCUZjiVsS_PY7qaSKx748G_fbE8OyqVF40DO49Gbsbc3cKNjCMlRQuw7IocYgq4sHHYFWcwCkoDgslMlE/s320/Web+Blackfish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="text-indent: 9pt;">The new Blackfish Gallery grand opening</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="text-indent: 9pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPt6Uq1sbAqTp0efeHJ5foxGNvLAeiBQ7TbuD-SXOgWcpNmJL7t8BO3DVvwaODeNXll7AZPsyQNYvIjFn9KIoi0jvM5eAaETHPtWrHzpGSFI6mhX6FxONbcNmKaInT-H3ET4bcH4A548/s1600/web+tour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPt6Uq1sbAqTp0efeHJ5foxGNvLAeiBQ7TbuD-SXOgWcpNmJL7t8BO3DVvwaODeNXll7AZPsyQNYvIjFn9KIoi0jvM5eAaETHPtWrHzpGSFI6mhX6FxONbcNmKaInT-H3ET4bcH4A548/s1600/web+tour.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Don Coyote</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;">Several people braved the chilling morning to take a guided tour of the town's newly installed 2012 Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition. Kelly Wynn, who chairs the Arts Commission, led the tour. Here glass artist Lin McJunkin stands with her sculpture, Kelp Totem, installed outside the Quilt Museum. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2fFLwMe_SuN_GriUVJznCMXPi2JyQapmmXnqf3xahnr9fgO4mm1LfKUuDMzdC1sVD-rAg8k0Rnc4jxjSlwMq84ezLnLxmDXfwF_qN1itB4NWJOIoPttnOuTLGNiDaovsFM_-0IhO708/s1600/Web+brushpile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2fFLwMe_SuN_GriUVJznCMXPi2JyQapmmXnqf3xahnr9fgO4mm1LfKUuDMzdC1sVD-rAg8k0Rnc4jxjSlwMq84ezLnLxmDXfwF_qN1itB4NWJOIoPttnOuTLGNiDaovsFM_-0IhO708/s320/Web+brushpile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;">Artist Stephen Rock was describing his work to create Brush Pile, his sculpture of giant artist's brushes and a pen made of logs. This is installed near Town Hall near the town parking lot. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">New neighbors building a future in La Conner<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">Writer Adrian Sharpe interviewed our new neighbors and tells us all about the families who will be working on their new Habitat for Humanity homes in the Channel Cove development starting Saturday.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A duplex will be built with the new homeowners doing much of the labor. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">Jennifer and Roman Rodriguez and their three children will live in one of the duplex units; Salvio and Victoria Hernandez and their two children will live in the other.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkVBstMnLGxtIWKFy2UtRWKIfcaDn38caW-cp95abidk6fQJ0gb4_P-qHUda3FBFxKSQgV_6TcqIZYwgtRuoLqrD5aBVJknwkAjlPhMWIPY50Gx6HtcOu0RRuI2VDK9WQweN2OClHZFQ/s1600/web+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkVBstMnLGxtIWKFy2UtRWKIfcaDn38caW-cp95abidk6fQJ0gb4_P-qHUda3FBFxKSQgV_6TcqIZYwgtRuoLqrD5aBVJknwkAjlPhMWIPY50Gx6HtcOu0RRuI2VDK9WQweN2OClHZFQ/s320/web+car.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Kirsten Morse</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">The driver of this car told Sheriff’s Deputies he was traveling at 10 miles per hour when he struck this pole off Chilberg and Hulbert roads near La Conner. Officers didn’t believe him. The 22-year-old driver, who is a La Conner resident, was not injured in the one-vehicle crash, but he was arrested for driving without a license and for a previous outstanding warrant for the same offense. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><br />
<b>From the Police Blotter:</b><br />
<b>3:23a.m.: Observant neighbor –</b> A group of people were seen scaling a security fence on Dodge Valley Road, near La Conner. The group was seen removing something from the residence by a keen-eyed neighbor, who called the cops. But it was determined that the fence hoppers had permission to be there. They just didn’t have a key. The Sheriff’s Office does encourage neighbors to always call police about any suspicious activity.<br />
<br />
<b>Pick up a copy of the paper, which is already in the usual places and in the news stands today. Or subscribe and have it brought to you. 466-3315. </b>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-21775217354373373632012-03-07T09:43:00.000-08:002012-03-07T09:43:29.437-08:00Braves Sports, March 7, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofmaWlhreCCCOKlMJ4EKYVWXa0oQbsWD3gtjP7t139hy-6ic6OKfW_2ODJ2R9HIkfNeGCFRM48fLgvNHS2NfNJ3QP9s_Vs6e4d3Gs9U1aeAugsHWZtfE4J8sMFjIhhf9wgW9vzrKC4_c/s1600/web+basketball.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofmaWlhreCCCOKlMJ4EKYVWXa0oQbsWD3gtjP7t139hy-6ic6OKfW_2ODJ2R9HIkfNeGCFRM48fLgvNHS2NfNJ3QP9s_Vs6e4d3Gs9U1aeAugsHWZtfE4J8sMFjIhhf9wgW9vzrKC4_c/s320/web+basketball.JPG" width="204" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Melissa Reynolds</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt;">Drawing first blood hurt Braves' State title bid</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Spokane</span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> hasn't always been kind to La Conner during its many trips there in search of a State basketball championship.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Now add a wardrobe malfunction to the list of bad breaks that have stymied the Braves' quest for that elusive first title.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It's often been a story of blood, sweat, and tears for La Conner during three dozen State appearances, but perhaps no more so than this past week.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves were leading eventual tourney champ Colfax 21-19 at halftime of their opening round game Thursday when La Conner was assessed a controversial – and, in the minds of many, bogus – technical foul for allegedly failing to properly swap out a bloodstained jersey.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Blood from the cut on an elbow of a Colfax player had rubbed onto the uniform top of La Conner scoring leader Landy James, making the change necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Game officials insisted before the second half began that James leave the floor and don a <st1:city w:st="on">new jersey</st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Which he did.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">James and his younger brother, Jamall, also a member of the Braves' team, briefly left the court and switched uniforms. All was good.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Or so everyone thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">During the sometimes heated five-minute discussion that ensued – involving coaches from both teams – officials assessed a technical against La Conner because the two players hadn't exited all the way to the Braves' locker room to exchange jerseys.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The penalty, resulting in a Colfax trip to the free throw line and Bulldog possession, was for the uniforms being switched "within the confines of the arena," according to courtside observers privy to the confab in front of the midcourt scorer's bench.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Colfax converted a foul shot and scored on its next two possessions to seize command at 24-21, pretty much negating a 17-7 La Conner run that had come at the end of the first half.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Although a Landy James drive to the rack allowed the Braves to briefly regain a 33-32 lead early in the final stanza, momentum had clearly swung Colfax's way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Bulldogs closed with a 13-6 spurt triggered by physical post Justin Berarducci, who was to play a big role in Colfax's upset win over Northwest Christian in Saturday's tourney finale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner, 22-4, was eliminated from the trophy round Friday with a hard-fought 39-37 loss to <st1:city w:st="on">Dayton</st1:city>, the second straight day the normally high-scoring Braves failed to break the 40-point mark.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner head coach Scott Novak lamented afterward that the Braves' only prolonged shooting slump of the year came at <st1:city w:st="on">Spokane</st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves shot just 14 of 43 from the floor and two of 16 from behind the three-point arc in their 46-38 loss to Colfax.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner didn't help its cause at the foul stripe, either, converting just eight of 17 charity tosses.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Landy James (12), Spencer Novak (12), and Mike Wilbur (10) finished in double-digit scoring for the Braves. Bobby Poulton (2) and Sean Hulbert (2) rounded out the La Conner attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Poulton also led the Braves with eight rebounds, continuing his string of fine all-around performances in the post-season.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner held Colfax shooting star Brandon Gfeller to 11 points on four-of-12 shooting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Berarducci and Jay Hart added 11 and 10 tallies, respectively, for the victors.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner, despite having taken an early 8-2 lead Friday, hit only 14 of 41 field goal attempts against <st1:city w:st="on">Dayton</st1:city>. The Braves again struggled from the perimeter, missing all but two of their 18 three-pointers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">James again paced La Conner, netting 17 points. Wilbur chipped in 11 points, while Novak (7) and Hulbert (2) also landed on the scoring column.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Garrett Turner (16) and Hayden Fullerton (11) led <st1:city w:st="on">Dayton</st1:city>, which likewise struggled (13 of 39) from the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Despite the twin losses at <st1:city w:st="on">Spokane</st1:city>, La Conner did add to its State-best total for State Tournament appearances.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Unfortunately, this year's tourney also marked the final go-rounds for La Conner seniors Wilbur, Poulton, Landy James, and Jared Fohn, who formed the nucleus of a Braves' squad that both started and ended the year among Washington's elite 2B programs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">And while a trickle of blood might've helped thwart La Conner at <st1:city w:st="on">Spokane</st1:city>, Braves' fans say there's no denying the heart of a club that went undefeated in league play and defeated 3A Sedro-Woolley on the Cubs' hardwood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">In a related note:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">*The annual Erik Tjersland Memorial-La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner Alumni Basketball Tournament tips off this Friday, March 9, at Landy James Gym, with four teams vying for the 2012 crown. Games are set for 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:15 p.m., and the 8:15 p.m. title contest. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ7Ri0PDYG9W01gnggmZMRi-U3BESpVe8vImppjVpQpKJWY5iPhdgOpQzSl1Po9cfA70wglV5WWLvlAxhCKnEjY7ES_Nsyvb37_j0ZzHyYP39WctLLB_8JYJafmgSJWNrTwoThF1ZtY4/s1600/web+softball.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ7Ri0PDYG9W01gnggmZMRi-U3BESpVe8vImppjVpQpKJWY5iPhdgOpQzSl1Po9cfA70wglV5WWLvlAxhCKnEjY7ES_Nsyvb37_j0ZzHyYP39WctLLB_8JYJafmgSJWNrTwoThF1ZtY4/s320/web+softball.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt;">Lady Braves hope to sparkle on softball diamond</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The La Conner High girls' softball team is out to prove a rebuilding season can be Bliss-ful.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">New Lady Braves' head coach Michael Bliss greeted a short roster with just one senior – Jazmin Snyder – to early season workouts this week on the La Conner campus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner will try to rebuild this spring after heavy graduation losses following a deep State playoff run a year ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We have a young team," concedes Bliss, "but I think that can work to our advantage because if we stay together we have a chance of being a strong team not only this year but in the years ahead."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">In many ways, Bliss is blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Lacking depth, La Conner can still take the quality versus quantity approach.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves can do so even at arguably the most important position on the diamond – in the pitcher's circle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Pitching," he says, "will be one of our strengths, as well as our infield play."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Bliss can count on polished hurler Emma Christianson to tame opposing lineups, blending a lively fastball and array of off-speed pitches with an ability to consistently find the strike zone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I definitely look at Emma as a leader because she's our number one pitcher," says Bliss. "I also think she has the ability and character to be a leader."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Bliss, who will be joined in the La Conner dugout by veteran assistant coach Peg Seeling, says he also sees that leadership role being shared with La Conner's small but skilled corps of returnees.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I view them as strong leaders," says Bliss, "and I look forward to seeing how each of them develops over the year."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Two of those key returnees will be coming back from injuries, and eager to rediscover the groove.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hayleigh Summers was on the shelf last year, while third baseman Taysha James was recently cleared for softball after sitting out the basketball campaign with knee issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Madison McCoy, Kaitlyn Cultee, Siomi Bobb, Kelley McClung, and Snyder bring versatility and experience to the table. Bobb and McClung will be transitioning from the hardwood, having played for La Conner High's girls' hoop team that qualified for Regionals.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">They will be joined by another La Conner basketball team member, sophomore first baseman Lauren Reynolds, a transfer from <st1:placename w:st="on">Mart</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">High School</st1:placetype>, in <st1:place w:st="on">Central Texas</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"At this point," Bliss says, "I'm happy with the team and where we are as a group. I think these players have what it takes to compete."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">As far as La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner's competition goes, the first-year mentor is embracing a time-honored coach's mantra.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Bliss is going to take things one game at a time, if that.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I think each team we play will present new challenges," he says. "As cliché as it sounds, our approach is going to be to take it one inning at a time, one day at a time, and focus on right now."<o:p></o:p></span></div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-56223114145666495622012-02-29T11:58:00.001-08:002012-02-29T13:39:42.863-08:00in the Feb. 29, 2012 issue<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Big news that didn't make it to print:</span></b></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span class="apple-converted-space">State </span>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.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 9.0pt;">The first phase of 2,700-foot-long boardwalk along the town’s waterfront will connect <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Gilkey Square</st1:address></st1:street> with the Palmer’s Restaurant building.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 9.0pt;"><b>Next:</b> 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.)</div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE0IwZVSOCP-NN6gp5Ale8pqVEnrR2TKuhH1CcaqfN6zFhFmZhmjidz_f8-v0Z2iKynR3aJEmttPxdtThmnLsZlS7xbFId89IpImrEKjyFQtVE1M9H5wPRAqdXff1E_kkG08E3Y9s7WY/s1600/WEB+STUMP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE0IwZVSOCP-NN6gp5Ale8pqVEnrR2TKuhH1CcaqfN6zFhFmZhmjidz_f8-v0Z2iKynR3aJEmttPxdtThmnLsZlS7xbFId89IpImrEKjyFQtVE1M9H5wPRAqdXff1E_kkG08E3Y9s7WY/s320/WEB+STUMP.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <i>Photo by Bill Stokes</i></span></div><b> Look at the monster that washed up with high tide – </b>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.<div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIe_bKg_P4pTKI5HgLcJ4NFP0bQMV0Zq7sSDk2Dq3mqtmtlTF9qLIYPD4FNfJH1vJ2RdASHOdlSP74_TwCPTSdLQsrXOCRbViBNU5KNsYqhBYdHMCa_bvYheHaFifMe5Bg-0gKsJ0Eyv4/s1600/WEB+BRUSH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIe_bKg_P4pTKI5HgLcJ4NFP0bQMV0Zq7sSDk2Dq3mqtmtlTF9qLIYPD4FNfJH1vJ2RdASHOdlSP74_TwCPTSdLQsrXOCRbViBNU5KNsYqhBYdHMCa_bvYheHaFifMe5Bg-0gKsJ0Eyv4/s320/WEB+BRUSH.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Adrian Sharpe</i></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: bold;">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 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Conner</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Town Hall</st1:placetype></st1:place> 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.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Smelt Derby drew fish and fishers</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">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.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqHwI8bQUupsVpcl2NUX0K7zGGw9sNzJsWjYNOYhPcmk2t_Nt6_XHmHSQ-DIoH6bswdcZJB1bfb_7VOY1YCEkeeY2n-dV39882f6aDqvu0rd4nn6T7AvLlqxQkPPZri8gihbMM7KURKc/s1600/056+(2)ashleigh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqHwI8bQUupsVpcl2NUX0K7zGGw9sNzJsWjYNOYhPcmk2t_Nt6_XHmHSQ-DIoH6bswdcZJB1bfb_7VOY1YCEkeeY2n-dV39882f6aDqvu0rd4nn6T7AvLlqxQkPPZri8gihbMM7KURKc/s320/056+(2)ashleigh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This happy fisher is Ashleigh Mason of Bayview</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNn20De53ifQT06G9jkLi3EEFjk5yK0_YEVqmow52Wc2ypNfaFrO5R7FFCTdakGOa_BFRtw8GFdmHY8CDS2pQa1F0r662tIBbhTIftFyw1etu4766TYPwNtSMAcWrRpPHDHNycZkqYmY/s1600/022+(4)abigail+coyote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNn20De53ifQT06G9jkLi3EEFjk5yK0_YEVqmow52Wc2ypNfaFrO5R7FFCTdakGOa_BFRtw8GFdmHY8CDS2pQa1F0r662tIBbhTIftFyw1etu4766TYPwNtSMAcWrRpPHDHNycZkqYmY/s320/022+(4)abigail+coyote.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sporting fashionable fishing attire is Abigail Adams of Burlington</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFnSxJJHgC0eNymP4VZPS7p54N3j6dYLnlWOThwrhRGg7RZb3bRLenNJ_ToRyJWLSKrfQKvN2Psk-sdoyWBAU1diupaQPG69Fj3LkAHWg8KFAXCTYGccN9vXxzALAg_nn3NvDN8Uz9p8/s1600/120+coyote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFnSxJJHgC0eNymP4VZPS7p54N3j6dYLnlWOThwrhRGg7RZb3bRLenNJ_ToRyJWLSKrfQKvN2Psk-sdoyWBAU1diupaQPG69Fj3LkAHWg8KFAXCTYGccN9vXxzALAg_nn3NvDN8Uz9p8/s320/120+coyote.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">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.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHyhSU4-C62NSqx-gHpwIxbSq9YvcU92XcioaCiGxzl_g33XQGvztJoLBfoHnFCKFwoD9IgDGUxmvGE_lgSlGkMMlmkGu9goPeex5eYaeDSr6tZXIQVlmhVIGwbzq2opX8C1oU4_-uFI/s1600/WEB+ARTIST.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHyhSU4-C62NSqx-gHpwIxbSq9YvcU92XcioaCiGxzl_g33XQGvztJoLBfoHnFCKFwoD9IgDGUxmvGE_lgSlGkMMlmkGu9goPeex5eYaeDSr6tZXIQVlmhVIGwbzq2opX8C1oU4_-uFI/s320/WEB+ARTIST.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">New artist co-op opens at Pier 7<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>From the police blotter:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>6:43 p.m.: Auto yelling –</b> 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.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">or how about this one...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>9:37 a.m.: Squatter –</b> 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.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>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.</b></div></div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-89068383325152290982012-02-29T10:36:00.000-08:002012-02-29T10:36:55.258-08:00Braves Sports, Feb. 29, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias-Q8H3yFp3vOyfYzWVaISFTx1k6OMILxgLjz77Oj4wpSqJFS02k76wuXorAflZ-ggHcpAU7UJCi17CeaW1jd51wnIzsvGehyqtRb76P3D-v6hCZajdSgXBtlOU9y9aaSFImdc_g-NBw/s1600/WEB+TEAM.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias-Q8H3yFp3vOyfYzWVaISFTx1k6OMILxgLjz77Oj4wpSqJFS02k76wuXorAflZ-ggHcpAU7UJCi17CeaW1jd51wnIzsvGehyqtRb76P3D-v6hCZajdSgXBtlOU9y9aaSFImdc_g-NBw/s320/WEB+TEAM.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Karla Reynolds</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt;">Braves to battle Colfax in state tourney</span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner High Basketball Team head coach Scott Novak believes you've got to play the best to be the best.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">That's why he slated tough non-league games during the holiday break at Adna and <st1:placename w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Toutle</st1:place> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype></st1:placename>, where the Braves earned a hard-fought split four hours from home.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Novak's scheduling now seems brilliant, in hindsight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner, 22-2, makes a seven-hour trip this week to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Spokane</st1:place></st1:city>, where the Braves will face one of the state's top 2B players in Colfax star Brandon Gfeller.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Gfeller, a versatile 6-3 guard, leads Colfax against La Conner in tomorrow's first round of the 2012 State 2B Boys' Basketball Tournament, with tipoff at the Spokane Arena set for 3:45 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Gfeller scored 18 points, three above his season average, in Colfax's recent 76-38 Regional romp past Oroville.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">He also grabbed six rebounds and dished off five assists for the Bulldogs, whose 13-3 league record was good enough for second place in the Bi-County loop.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Brady Ellis led Colfax, 19-5 overall, with 20 points, while three-point specialist Kyle Johnson hit three straight first period treys to help bury Oroville early.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Novak considers Johnson, a 5-11 guard who averages 13 points per game, a consistent deep threat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Colfax, which placed fifth at last year's State tourney, also returns 6-3 lunch bucket forward Justin Berarducci, who regularly scores 11 points per outing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"He's a skilled, hard-nosed player," Novak says of Berarducci, who pretty much symbolizes head coach Reece Jenkin's Colfax roster.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Many, including Novak, compare Colfax's style to that of La Conner's.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"They're very similar to us," he said Sunday, following the WIAA tourney draw, "in that they are very guard oriented."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves' three primary perimeter shooters – Landy James, Spencer Novak, and Mike Wilbur – all scored in double figures during La Conner's Regional triumph Friday over Mossyrock.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">From the Braves' perspective, there should be few surprises at this year's tourney.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The field includes both Adna and <st1:placetype w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Toutle</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype></st1:placetype>, whom La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner played during the regular season, and Northwest Christian, winners of five of the past six </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">State crowns.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpD8IqqcfG9OVLmw8eypgE4Sy7qzvb811H7-r7YFYp35go7vQ6C1V8V89gwQBKGSLVBH5jQgcEIFcZVFKcBp-eDpAB77kqa-KXoHw5esaiOmnFzJY68xV3AupgFciUxhPxENmtxtt4o0/s1600/WEB+BOYS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpD8IqqcfG9OVLmw8eypgE4Sy7qzvb811H7-r7YFYp35go7vQ6C1V8V89gwQBKGSLVBH5jQgcEIFcZVFKcBp-eDpAB77kqa-KXoHw5esaiOmnFzJY68xV3AupgFciUxhPxENmtxtt4o0/s320/WEB+BOYS.JPG" width="211" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><i>Photo by Melissa Reynolds</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Tradition trumps new State format; Braves enter elite eight</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The more things change, the more they stay the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">When the La Conner Braves in 1947 earned the first of their more than three dozen State Tournament berths, they featured a high scoring frontliner named Landy James.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Fast forward to 2012 and La Conner is again going to State and again will be led by Landy James – this time the namesake grandson of the iconic Hall of Fame coach for whom the Braves' gym is named.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The current James scored a game-high 22 points, including four straight perimeter treys, as La Conner, 22-2, advanced with a 67-60 Regional comeback win Friday in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mount Vernon</st1:place></st1:state> over Mossyrock.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">One thing that has changed is tomorrow's state tourney format.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">An eight-team bracket has replaced the former four-day, 16-team tournament.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves qualified for this year's elite eight by downing a club whose top player ironically bears the name of another storied La Conner hoops family.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Mossyrock's Riley Alvord recorded an impressive double-double – 14 points, 11 rebounds – including an offensive putback that gave the Vikings a seemingly safe 23-12 lead midway through the second period.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Alvord is probably the best player in District Four," Braves' head coach Scott Novak acknowledged, "and Mossyrock is a really great team."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">But, as things turned out, Mossyrock was not quite good enough to best a refocused La Conner squad coming off its poorest outing of the campaign, a double-digit Bi-District title loss to Bear Creek.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">After a quiet opening frame, James helped trigger a 21-13 second quarter La Conner run that allowed the Braves to lead Mossyrock by four, 29-25, at the break<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">James hit three treys during the spurt, which was triggered by back-to-back acrobatic driving bank shots by La Conner point guard Mike Wilbur.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Wilbur, another third generation Braves' standout, was nothing short of sensational. He joined James in double-figure scoring, finishing with 19 tallies, and dished off three assists.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">One of those was a pinpoint Wilbur pass to Sean Hulbert for the bucket that enabled La Conner to reclaim the first half lead at 24-23. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Backcourt partner Spencer Novak added 17 points for the victors, including three treys---two coming in the decisive second half.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves, who were stymied a week earlier by Bear Creek's length and double-teams out of an active two-three zone, rebounded with perhaps their finest outside shooting effort of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner drained 11 of 16 shots from beyond the three-point arc.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">That allowed the shorter Braves to yield post-ups down low to Mossyrock, which found itself on the short end of three-for-two exchanges while trying to make up a deficit that reached 10 points (52-42) when Wilbur hit his last trey early in the final stanza.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">As has become a recent pattern, Bobby Poulton, Sean Hulbert, and Jared Fohn emerged as unsung heroes for La Conner.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Poulton scored seven points and grabbed 11 rebounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">He also erased Mossyrock's initial 2-0 lead, countering an Alvord jumper with a three-pointer that set the tone for La Conner's hot shooting the entire night.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Bobby definitely does the blue collar work for us," said coach Novak, who also praised the work of Hulbert and Fohn inside against Mossyrock's bigger frontline. "We were undersized against Mossyrock, but our guys really battled."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves also helped themselves at the charity stripe, converting 12 of 15 foul shots. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">That was another factor helping La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner offset Mossyrock's 35-24 edge on the boards.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">But the number that ultimately mattered most Friday night was 39 – the amount of times in school history the Braves have now been part of the state tourney field.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29Bu8DmH6wHimg5bKibcYWVG16HKWd2ysq9cPzgWFCEQoKQUglZsKGMg-mlKnQ-V0FlM6M1uDT14SxRDKyp3JtvmL8si-nJlLS5HbNYNbGaQiQZQlE6tmytfpNEaVZy8EuXjajEJYwL4/s1600/WEB+GIRLS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29Bu8DmH6wHimg5bKibcYWVG16HKWd2ysq9cPzgWFCEQoKQUglZsKGMg-mlKnQ-V0FlM6M1uDT14SxRDKyp3JtvmL8si-nJlLS5HbNYNbGaQiQZQlE6tmytfpNEaVZy8EuXjajEJYwL4/s320/WEB+GIRLS.JPG" width="228" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i>Photo by Melissa Reynolds</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 22.0pt;">Pe Ell pulls plug on Lady Braves' season</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 22.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">You couldn't blame the La Conner High Girls Basketball Team for being in a foul mood Saturday night.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">First, they learned technical difficulties had nixed the previously scheduled webcast of their Regional Tournament contest five hours away in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Longview</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Then, once the game got under way, La Conner couldn't seem to catch a break.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves were forced into 13 turnovers and earned just one trip to the free throw line in a tough, physical 45-31 elimination loss to Pe Ell, abruptly ending upset-minded La Conner's season with a fine 17-8 mark.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Pe Ell had come into the game having lost 48-46 to Adna (22-2), a club coached by La Conner alum Jeff Beasley and 48-40 victors over La Conner in a late December non-league test at James Gym.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner was hopeful Saturday the Adna game had taken something out of the Lady Trojans.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It hadn't.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Pe Ell played aggressively on the defensive end, and a loosely called game worked in its favor.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Trojans held La Conner to 14 of 43 – 32 percent – shooting from the floor, and just three of 16 from beyond the three-point arc.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Katie McKnight, who led the Lady Braves with nine points, was one La Conner player who managed to break free of Pe Ell's defensive vise. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">McKnight hit four of seven field goal attempts and meshed one of La Conner's three outside treys. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Aubrey Stewart added eight points and 10 rebounds to continue her string of solid post-season outings for the Lady Braves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Nikki Finley (5), Anna Cook (4), Kelley McClung (3), and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas (2) also landed in the La Conner scoring column.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Finley and McClung each drained three-pointers for the Lady Braves, while the versatile Ponce-Venegas was awarded the team's one and only foul shot attempt on the night.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ponce-Venegas, McKnight, and Cook also dished off assists for La Conner – not an easy task as Pe Ell defenders were able to quickly seal off passing lanes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Lady Braves' head coach Scott Novak, who had hoped to take two La Conner teams to State this week, consoled players and fans afterward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Among those was his daughter, Katie, a freshman shooting guard among the deep nucleus of players returning next year for La Conner.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Coach Novak could, however, take solace in knowing the Braves' boys team had secured a State berth tomorrow, Thursday, at 3:45 p.m. in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Spokane</st1:city></st1:place> opposite the Colfax Bulldogs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">As for the La Conner girls, Novak knew beforehand their potential route to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Spokane</st1:place></st1:city> would be much tougher – and longer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Both figuratively and literally.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We knew going in," he conceded last week, "that it wasn't going to be an easy road as far as getting to State."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">As a third seed to Regionals, the Lady Braves were sent Saturday to <st1:placetype w:st="on">Longview</st1:placetype>. That meant the team had to bus Friday night, immediately after the boys' Regional win in <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mount Vernon</st1:placetype> over Mossyrock, to the Centralia-Chehalis area in an attempt to cut down Saturday's travel time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">In the end, though, La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner fans preferred focusing on how far the team had come since November in terms of its development.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves finished a surprising second in Northwest 1A/2B standings to <st1:placetype w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Friday</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Harbor</st1:placetype></st1:placetype> before enjoying its two-week playoff run. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-54216585046803842272012-02-29T08:50:00.000-08:002012-02-29T08:50:10.444-08:00Breaking News!<b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Green light for La Conner boardwalk!</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Official word came from Olympia last night:</i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'; font-size: 14pt;">Haugen announces proposed funding for major district projects</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'; font-size: 7pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';"> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">OLYMPIA</st1:city></st1:place></span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';">– The Senate’s proposed capital budget funds a number of projects of major importance to the 10</span><sup><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';">th</span></sup><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';">Legislative District,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>said today.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';">“These projects will improve our communities and at the </span><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';">same time provide jobs that are dearly in demand,” Haugen said. “They not only promise a better future for our community, they will provide real jobs and wages that our residents and our communities need today in these difficult economic times.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';">One project preserves and opens to the public a 60-acre property owned by <st1:placename w:st="on">Seattle</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Pacific</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> on <st1:place w:st="on">Whidbey Island...</st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';">...<u style="font-weight: bold;">Another key project in the proposed budget provides for the first phase of a project to transform the La Conner waterfront with a 2,780-foot-long boardwalk that travels over existing structures, on uplands and across new areas over the water.<o:p></o:p></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';">“This is a 30-year dream that wouldn’t have been possible without the work of Sen. Haugen, and it’s finally going to be realized,” said La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes. “I’m at a loss for words almost. La Conner has been talking about the boardwalk for 30 years.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';">“The commitment that Sen. Haugen has had over the years to the district and the Town of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">La Conner</st1:place></st1:city> is just amazing,” Hayes said. “She has been a friend of La Conner, and we appreciate it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';">Hayes said the project will create family-wage paying jobs and boost tourism and the level of economic activity exponentially. “The folks of the town of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">La Conner</st1:place></st1:city> also benefit in a huge way, gaining waterfront access, but this is first and foremost about jobs and economic activity.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype';">In contrast to the state’s operating budget, which uses tax revenues to fund the operation of state government, the capital budget uses bonds to pay for physical improvements to buildings, facilities and public lands.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-6564326552272149602012-02-22T12:59:00.000-08:002012-02-22T12:59:50.640-08:00in the Feb. 22, 2012 issue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXITXgDclckLtiGdIu6FEXS2xcRFqhBMhwJfJ_PBb4vfR7BOZwiJuwHb3tjZguOCR3QuPdSTDixtrkDYr8lGXqsTU1dZbrP3EqGA0jLpYUKWXh6Gy6Bi5DDuD6AxVbDFlHuC3N-iZT_8/s1600/WEB+TRACY.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXITXgDclckLtiGdIu6FEXS2xcRFqhBMhwJfJ_PBb4vfR7BOZwiJuwHb3tjZguOCR3QuPdSTDixtrkDYr8lGXqsTU1dZbrP3EqGA0jLpYUKWXh6Gy6Bi5DDuD6AxVbDFlHuC3N-iZT_8/s320/WEB+TRACY.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Adrian Sharpe</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 22pt;">Touching myth in stone and spirit</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Adrian Sharpe<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sculptor and La Conner resident, Tracy Powell has carved out a reputation for creating exquisite stone and wood sculptures. Inspired by mythology, Powell has created one-of-a-kind pieces that represent the universal themes of nature and spirituality. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> “I look for the universal things we all share,” said Powell when describing how he picks a myth to be embodied and etched into wood or rock. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyeqPPdOgFX9038scV_NQh13ss1oOIp4nGLekQIDd_6FM54mb45mYh5uTCm9oe7Nwdaw0hd2Pu0q9kKEAnqleOv22kPzOYNGHH1xiCsz2m0pJiYyjx5R9mqnMXthLf-nILoupzRng9LqU/s1600/WEB+TREE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyeqPPdOgFX9038scV_NQh13ss1oOIp4nGLekQIDd_6FM54mb45mYh5uTCm9oe7Nwdaw0hd2Pu0q9kKEAnqleOv22kPzOYNGHH1xiCsz2m0pJiYyjx5R9mqnMXthLf-nILoupzRng9LqU/s320/WEB+TREE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i>Photo by Kirsten Morse</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><b>Guerrilla Art -- </b>A tree on the "dog beach" north of Pearle Jensen Road is turning into a sculpture, thanks to the sea and the creative hands of many passers by.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:city w:st="on"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;">Moore</span></b></st1:city><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;"> <st1:place w:st="on">Clark</st1:place> property to be artist housing?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> It doesn't seem too likely right now.<br />
But a concept to turn the 3-acre Moore Clark property in La Conner into an art center will be unveiled Saturday in a public meeting at the Garden Club from 1 to 3 p.m. <br />
Vetting the concept in public is part of the feasibility study for the development of low-income artist housing the town is working on with the non-profit group Artspace, which specializes in such developments. <br />
Read all about it in today's paper.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 22pt;">Saving up for the next dredging crisis<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">By the time the U.S. Corps of Army Engineers finally agreed to pony up $2.3 million to dredge the Swinomish Channel, a group of local people were already scrambling to come up with the money fund the dredging on their own.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">In all, pledges totaling $650,000 came in from entities who stand the most to lose should silt accumulation in the channel make the waterway impossible for boaters to navigate. Even though the feds are stepping up this year, </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">the money already pledged locally won’t necessarily go to other purposes.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"> The Port of Skagit has already determined that the $400,000 it pledged will go into maintenance fund for future dredging. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="text-indent: 9pt;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Smelt Derby on Saturday</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><b>Starting at 8 a.m. with pancake breakfast at Maple Hall</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><b>Fishing derby with great prizes</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><b>Raffle with more great prizes, including $750 cash</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><b>Final raffle drawing around 3 p.m.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><b>Hot dogs, hot drinks in the Bank of America parking lot</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><b><br />
</b></div><b>From the Police blotter: </b><br />
<b>9:57 a.m.: Burglary –</b> A guest at a La Conner lodging establishment reported that earrings had been stolen from her room. She told deputies she had placed the earrings in a glass of water when she left the room. Upon her return, the glass and earrings were gone. The cleaning staff insisted they had not removed a glass of water with earrings in it, so the woman was going to go through her luggage just to make sure she hadn’t misplaced the earrings.<span style="color: red;"> Really! </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Read Damski today -- The intrepid Zookeeper will probably have town in an uproar by tomorrow regardless of anyone's views on gay marriage. <br />
And read Mickey's Nuggets for a surprising take on what is not considered underwear in Norway. <br />
Jim's back this week, too, with shocking news: his birthplace was not preserved as an historical monument. </b><br />
<br />
<b>Read it all in today's paper. On sale in the usual spots or coming to a mailbox near you! 466-3315 to start delivery.</b>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-20957552155518803012012-02-22T10:50:00.000-08:002012-02-22T10:50:55.587-08:00Braves Sports, Feb. 22, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJs_ybXU_02kCI-YR0Ae7LkiVZJUT0zXfwno3RpGyC-Jws3dfkM3SbbYWGQ-thmXeIgBljCyXUWxoP-FTux9t04F4c2WGLSRdbU04U_bB0JSzjKfHTWAcyiDZXS0RDtg37Zmc3gLU2DG4/s1600/web+wrestling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJs_ybXU_02kCI-YR0Ae7LkiVZJUT0zXfwno3RpGyC-Jws3dfkM3SbbYWGQ-thmXeIgBljCyXUWxoP-FTux9t04F4c2WGLSRdbU04U_bB0JSzjKfHTWAcyiDZXS0RDtg37Zmc3gLU2DG4/s320/web+wrestling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Amylynn Richards</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;">Braves’ wrestlers compete at state<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Amylynn Richards<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Among the 12 wrestlers from the NW 1B/2B league representing <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Skagit</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> at the WIAA State Championship, also known as the Mat Classic XXIV, five were from La Conner.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner sent five wrestlers: Senior Nathan Parker, 285 pounds, junior William Zeimantz, 285 pounds, senior Cameron Wischhusen, 182 pounds, Dalton Zavala, 160 pounds, and Jimmy Garcia, 138lbs. Amber Drye and Todd Hoagland attended as alternates. Darrington sent four wrestlers; Concrete sent three. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Wischhusen, Zavala and Garcia were the only wrestlers in the Braves’ league to make it past the second round; however all were eliminated in round three. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Zavala struggled to gain the upper hand during his match against Jon Walling of Kittitas, but took firm control in the final seconds of the match. “Five more seconds and he would have won that match,” said Coach Barry Harper, “If Dalton had time to hold him down for a 3-point near fall, he’d have won.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Wischhusen and Garcia’s opponents, Jon Walling of Kittitas and Levi Seylor of <st1:placename w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Roosevelt</st1:place> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype></st1:placename> respectively went on to win third in their weight class. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The W.I.A.A. Mat Classic was comprised of six simultaneous wrestling tournaments : Girls; 1B/2B; 1A; 2A; 3A; and 4A. Twenty-four mats were organized into six units; the W.I.A.A. estimates that approximately 1,400 athletes across fourteen possible weight-classes competed. Of those athletes, 36 were in the 1B/2B league classification .<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> “There is nowhere else in the country that has a state tournament that large,” says Coach Harper, “it’s pretty impressive; nothing else like it, that’s for sure.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves, now in their 9<sup>th</sup> year competing in wrestling, did much better than expected competing against the region two athletes; the 2B league state-wide is divided into two regions. The Braves won the region one championship with a team score of 129. In region two, Warden won with 271 points, Reardon with 175 and Kittitas finished third with 139. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By the end of day one, La Conner was in 20th place, Concrete in 29<sup>th</sup>, and Darrington in 31<sup>st</sup>, by tournament end the Braves finished 24<sup>th</sup>, Concrete 29<sup>th</sup>; and Darrington 31<sup>st</sup>. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">“Our boys did really well,” said Coach Harper, “it’s a tough tournament. Those eastern <st1:placetype w:st="on">Washington</st1:placetype> schools, for whatever reason, are really good, solid, tough wrestlers.” The Braves “gave everything they had, and I’m proud of them. We learned a lot…we’ll go in<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>to next season targeting on that state tournament.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Coach Harper wants elementary age athletes to consider wrestling with the Burlington Yellow Jackets, “I want to point a lot of La Conner kids that way – get them started early and get their skills developed. “ Harper has worked with the club in the past and is “impressed with how well the kids do that go there.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Other <st1:placetype w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Skagit</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:placetype> news of note: Burlington Mayor and Burlington-Edison coach Ed Bruntz was inducted to the Washington State Wrestlers Coaches Hall of Fame. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmfqX_ebI8LsSi3h9Ke1YL2MQnuJQ9RNzAZ4egJwIc9lSO7H5e55Q7UUCIzacP3eXDUEJ7Mwha9u3P7ZGmoMoJrpsqg6rwyP6ZB0-5xiSOP-eV5V4enBG6iYEM5DECBkHfJiirMQAzTc/s1600/WEB+GIRLS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmfqX_ebI8LsSi3h9Ke1YL2MQnuJQ9RNzAZ4egJwIc9lSO7H5e55Q7UUCIzacP3eXDUEJ7Mwha9u3P7ZGmoMoJrpsqg6rwyP6ZB0-5xiSOP-eV5V4enBG6iYEM5DECBkHfJiirMQAzTc/s320/WEB+GIRLS.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> <i>Photo by Melissa Reynolds</i></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;">Lady Braves become true road warriors</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner High Lady Braves will travel five hours Saturday to see if a longer trip to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Spokane</st1:city></st1:place> is in their near future.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves tip off Saturday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m. in Regional hoop action at <st1:placename w:st="on">Mark</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Morris</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">High School</st1:placename> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Longview</st1:city></st1:place> after having won two of three Bi-District clashes this past week.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner, 17-7, sandwiched convincing wins over Crosspoint and league rival Concrete around a 42-37 setback to highly-regarded Bear Creek to clinch a No. 3 Regional seed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Longview</st1:place></st1:city> berth was secured with a 50-28 weekend triumph at Chief Leschi over Crosspoint, a club La Conner had edged in its Bi-District opener.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves, who held a slim five-point lead at intermission, sealed the verdict with a 32-15 run over the final two periods.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"It was a great team effort," La Conner head coach Scott Novak said afterward. "We knew going in that it wasn't going to be an easy road as far as getting to State, but it's doable."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Katie McKnight paced a balanced Braves attack in the Crosspoint game.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">McKnight scored a game-high 14 points, all but two coming in the decisive second half.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">She also grabbed a pair of rebounds and matched teammate Nikki Finley with an outside trey.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Priscilla Ponce-Venegas, who hit La Conner's first two buckets, finished with eight points.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Kelley McClung, who filled the stat sheet with a fine all-around game, chipped in seven points.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">McKnight, Ponce-Venegas, and McClung each drained outside treys for the victors.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Emily Anderson (6), Aubrey Stewart (5), Anna Cook (5), Finley (3), and Alyssa McCormick (2) rounded out La Conner's scoring.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves broke open what had been a close game with a 10-0 spurt to close the third period.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner built momentum going into Saturday with a fine 42-20 defeat of <st1:placename w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Skagit</st1:place> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:placename> foe Concrete.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Due to the pre-determined nature of Bi-District brackets, the two Skagit teams found themselves squaring off at the Leschi arena, in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Puyallup</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The travel seemed to impose a greater toll on Concrete.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves, who bolted to an early 8-0 lead, were even more dominant opening the second half.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner went on a 17-2 rampage in the third frame, with Ponce-Venegas scoring every way imaginable.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">She hit a driving scoop shot, converted a transition layup off a nice feed from Stewart, and hit a pair of mid-range jumpers – the second of which came as the third quarter buzzer sounded.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ponce-Venegas led the Braves with a dozen tallies while also grabbing 14 rebounds and dishing off four assists.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Finley chipped in nine points, including a perimeter trey.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Cook (8), Stewart (4), McKnight (3), Carly Anderson (2), Emily Anderson (2), and McCormick (2) also reached the scoring column for La Conner.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Novak was pleased with how his club responded to a potential losers-out scenario, coming off a tough 42-37 mid-week Bi-District loss to Bear Creek.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We battled hard," he said. "I was proud of how well the girls responded. We had our backs against the wall, and did a great job.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I thought Nikki (Finley) did a great job running the team," he added, "and Aubrey (Stewart) was all over the floor."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Stewart, in fact, had hit a clutch jumper and free throw down the stretch to give La Conner a 31-30 lead in its earlier upset bid against Bear Creek.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">But the Lady Grizzlies finished with a 12-6 run – most of those points coming at the charity stripe – to secure the victory.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Stewart scored eight points before fouling out. McKnight also tallied eight points to tie for team-high scoring honors.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Finley (7), Emily Anderson (6), Ponce-Venegas (4), McClung (2), and McCormick (2) likewise landed on the Braves point parade.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ponce-Venegas saw only limited duty in the Bear Creek game due having sustained a concussion in the earlier Crosspoint clash.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">But she and her La Conner teammates were definitely at full strength when the bracket shifted to Chief Leschi.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">And the La Conner road warriors will need to be so again when they drive farther down I-5 to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Longview</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUih9Pym1PqqmRwDftDu8WyGjjeDwEou4r-uJCCllam6_aPq1Yu7QSpNxWwnm_BoztT_MfRtNyj3WDyuUHU8deXOqu1eab3f5Nw0XgCpb7h1BI8WdJYrKEWXA7ffmGcq2zm6mO7Z5dJs/s1600/web+boys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUih9Pym1PqqmRwDftDu8WyGjjeDwEou4r-uJCCllam6_aPq1Yu7QSpNxWwnm_BoztT_MfRtNyj3WDyuUHU8deXOqu1eab3f5Nw0XgCpb7h1BI8WdJYrKEWXA7ffmGcq2zm6mO7Z5dJs/s320/web+boys.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i>Photo by Melissa Reynolds</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt;">Grizzlies edge Braves for Bi-District title</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">For one night, at least, Bear Creek was top banana among Northwest Bi-District boys' hoop teams.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">And, unfortunately for La Conner fans, it wasn't limited to the guy dressed in garish yellow sitting in the Grizzlies' student section Saturday at Chief Leschi Gym.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Bear Creek, with its long and imposing front line, wore down La Conner, 21-2, in the second half to claim a 48-36 victory and Bi-District title, sending the Grizzlies to <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mount Vernon</st1:place></st1:state> Friday night as a No. 1 Regional seed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves, who suffered their first setback in nearly two months, also play 6 p.m. Friday at Regionals in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mount Vernon</st1:place></st1:state>, having garnered a Bi-District runner-up berth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Bear Creek, which enjoyed a significant size advantage, broke open a tight contest with an 11-1 fourth period run marked by putbacks off the offensive glass and easy looks in the paint.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Grizzlies also contained La Conner scoring leader Landy James, often double-teaming him along the baseline and at the elbow with a tight two-three zone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">After scoring the game's first bucket on an acrobatic alley-oop, James had very few good looks. He finished with nine points, about half his normal total.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Bear Creek defenders repeatedly swarmed to James like bees to honey.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It was imagery, however, quite opposite the sour and even tasteless chants of "air ball" from the Bear Creek crowd each time James touched the ball.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Spencer Novak led La Conner with 14 points, 11 coming during a third period flurry in which the Braves briefly tied the score at 35-35 on a rare four-point play.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Trailing 35-31 with a minute left in the frame, Novak meshed a deep trey and drew a foul on the play. His ensuing free throw knotted the count.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">But that would be La Conner's high water mark.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves would manage just a single tally – a Bobby Poulton charity toss – over the final nine minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner head coach Scott Novak took the glass-half-filled approach immediately following the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"The guys are a little down right now," he acknowledged. "They're stunned. But I reminded them that the last time they lost a game – at Adna over Christmas Break – they came back with one of their best games of the year and beat a really good <st1:placename w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Toutle</st1:place> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype></st1:placename> team."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Poulton was among the bright spots Saturday for La Conner.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">He scored six points, grabbed nine<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a> rebounds, and tallied two assists.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I thought Bobby played a real fine game," said Novak, "and Sean (Hulbert) did a good job battling their post."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Mike Wilbur (5) and Hulbert (2), who missed some time after being elbowed in the face on a non-call, rounded out La Conner's scoring.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The points were far more plentiful earlier in the week when the Braves routed Shoreline Christian 57-31 in their Bi-District opener.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">James led eight La Conner scorers with 20 points.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves spotted Shoreline an early 2-0 lead, then went on a quick 17-2 run capped by an old school three-point play by James.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The La Conner lead swelled to 35-12 at the break, allowing Novak to substitute freely.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hulbert joined James in double digits for the Braves, scoring 10 points, doing most his damage in the lane.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Wilbur (8), Jared Fohn (6), Novak (5), Wil James (3), Poulton (3), and Cameron Sherman (2) contributed to a balanced La Conner attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner shot over 50 per cent, 24 of 53, from the floor, and forced Shoreline Christian to commit 19 turnovers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves also enjoyed a 25-21 edge in rebounding.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 9pt;">That's the level of productivity La Conner hopes to reclaim Friday in </span><st1:state style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 9pt;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mount Vernon</st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 9pt;"> – and thus avoid slipping on any more banana peels. </span></div></span>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-3621759368323821272012-02-15T10:18:00.000-08:002012-02-15T10:57:35.936-08:00in the Feb. 15, 2012 issue<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Saturday's Fire</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM52CxhCpQrMbo1LgHGUEBw6M4CzpU3E_3Q-XmvI4-cjzkZnfV_DeG-tQLYyz3r7CUM_8Yu155Ip0a2VtfYKzMwsQOPIPMhyphenhyphenBUJfSBiFD-rE7xy3VklvkfoDhG7yjjlEDEZ6d8rec5Js/s1600/WEB+FIRE+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM52CxhCpQrMbo1LgHGUEBw6M4CzpU3E_3Q-XmvI4-cjzkZnfV_DeG-tQLYyz3r7CUM_8Yu155Ip0a2VtfYKzMwsQOPIPMhyphenhyphenBUJfSBiFD-rE7xy3VklvkfoDhG7yjjlEDEZ6d8rec5Js/s320/WEB+FIRE+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Don Coyote</i></span></div>Photographer Don Coyote was on the scene for the training fire Fire District 13 arranged just outside La Conner on Saturday. Four obsolete agricultural buildings were totally destroyed in the blaze.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dhFBAMGKIp_JSavOhSdO3hjMTgeuoG-w0ScBK2DlIOeChmtJdDWnnIAi9UCKlzIfJwF3Vvk8ZY57T4g3xVlRotDNPx0y9yuYR_FJ1b2inWd9w0TWsUbqcb-TbYxK6mNITA6eqPsVINc/s1600/WEB+FIRE+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dhFBAMGKIp_JSavOhSdO3hjMTgeuoG-w0ScBK2DlIOeChmtJdDWnnIAi9UCKlzIfJwF3Vvk8ZY57T4g3xVlRotDNPx0y9yuYR_FJ1b2inWd9w0TWsUbqcb-TbYxK6mNITA6eqPsVINc/s320/WEB+FIRE+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photos by Don Coyote</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNv2XRsbhAJToOr8m0TL6GfcKo1VT7nqA6oAoaZR76OAKmpcuQ9v1_ZFyoR040NiQ_Qa9hnbNG7S0jSmGp4eeFL9h4Y3zStGQmHsNe61c3vOWR-tC0WjPk6yeN6VwOjUDPmkeH2Rf8Eoo/s1600/WEB+FIRE+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNv2XRsbhAJToOr8m0TL6GfcKo1VT7nqA6oAoaZR76OAKmpcuQ9v1_ZFyoR040NiQ_Qa9hnbNG7S0jSmGp4eeFL9h4Y3zStGQmHsNe61c3vOWR-tC0WjPk6yeN6VwOjUDPmkeH2Rf8Eoo/s320/WEB+FIRE+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;">School levies passing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner School District replacement levies appeared headed for approval Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">Proposition 1, the educational programs and operation levy, pays for instruction in foreign language, advanced math, music, drama and other instruction that state funding doesn’t cover. It had 890 “yes” votes and 381 “no” votes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Proposition 2, the technology levy, gives students access to the latest in computer technology and provides every high school student with a laptop for school and home use. It was passing 877 “yes” to 380 “no.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">How about a park at the old fish plant?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;">Writer Adrian Sharpe talked to La Conner Parks Commissioners, who are mulling a very interesting idea to turn a shady, grassy stretch of town-owned shoreline adjacent to the town's public boat launch and Pioneer Park into a public shoreline.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">Read all about it in today's paper!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;">Taking the human suffering out of technology<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b>Writer Anna Ferdinand is back with a story on one woman's efforts to put an end to the ugly stories h</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">idden in the computers and cellular devices we use every day. From inhumane working </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;">conditions at assembly factories in </span><st1:country-region style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China, to a war in </st1:place></st1:country-region><st1:place style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;" w:st="on">Africa</st1:place><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"> that has claimed millions of lives as violent militia control mining of the materials that go into our cell phones.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 9pt;"> Read Anna's interview with Lisa Shannon in today's paper.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>From the Police Blotter:</b></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 9pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10:57 a.m.: Unloved –</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> A car’s owner decided it was time to part ways with the falling apart contraption. It was abandoned on <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Moore Road</st1:address></st1:street> near <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Conway</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><b>Pick up a copy of today's paper in the usual spots. Just three quarters for news, good reading and a little entertainment.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br />
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</b></span></div></div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-29478042380162347762012-02-15T10:00:00.000-08:002012-02-15T10:00:56.958-08:00Braves Sports, Feb. 15, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5gYeaWxlajwVGH2iIJAN07V503nX9R6qapugiV3YOtrRh8i2stQYNnSWT0722cVmqqhBtG69X-IDCRdpPaziTeayWDm4qZ_q3YR_D7HTwWF76Hp17OdF6byU02WCO7RXERqLbxlAROw/s1600/WEB+CHAMPS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5gYeaWxlajwVGH2iIJAN07V503nX9R6qapugiV3YOtrRh8i2stQYNnSWT0722cVmqqhBtG69X-IDCRdpPaziTeayWDm4qZ_q3YR_D7HTwWF76Hp17OdF6byU02WCO7RXERqLbxlAROw/s320/WEB+CHAMPS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Bob Wischhusen</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;">Brave wrestlers grab regional crown</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">For the La Conner High wrestling team, it's been a weight-and-see type of year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">And by more than pulling their weight, the La Conner grapplers can now see how they stack up against the State's best.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Five of nine Braves' wrestlers have qualified for State trials slated Friday and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome following La Conner High's Regional title performance this past weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Led by Jimmy Garcia and Dahlton Zavala, the Braves captured Region top team honors in a tourney featuring all 2B programs in <st1:place w:st="on">Western Washington</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Garcia placed first in Regionals in the 138-pound class.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Zavala did the same in the 160s.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Nathan Parke, 285, Cameron Wischhusen, 182, and William Zeimantz, 285 also qualified for State by placing in the top three of their respective weight divisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Parker was his group's runnerup, while Wischhusen and Zeimantz each placed third.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Two other La Conner wrestlers will also make the trip to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tacoma</st1:place></st1:city> as alternates.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Kevin Aske, 138, and Todd Hoagland, 170, were fourth place finishers at Regionals, and could wrestle at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tacoma</st1:place></st1:city> if others in their brackets are unable to compete.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">And, were it not for a tough numbers game in the 132-pound class, La Conner's Ben Harper would be in <st1:city w:st="on">Tacoma</st1:city> as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Harper fell just short of qualifying for State in what most mat side observers said afterward was the Region's toughest weight class.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I'm very proud of the guys," said first-year La Conner head coach Barry Harper. "They really stepped up and wrestled well. We went to Regionals focused and ready to go. They really got after it and wrestled hard."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Harper had an inkling beforehand something special could happen at the Regional tourney.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I knew going in that we had a chance to do well," he said Sunday, "so I'm not surprised we won it. We had a good week of practice and the kids are working hard and staying focused."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Harper's mission this week is for the State qualifiers to turn in another strong series of workouts and build upon momentum gained from winning the Regional championship.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"You want to wrestle your best at the State Tournament," he said. "That's when it really counts."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">And, in Harper's view, conditions couldn't be more ideal for the La Conner wrestlers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We're peaking at just the right time," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">That, stressed Harper, is both in terms of his charges' physical and mental approach to the <st1:city w:st="on">Tacoma</st1:city> matches.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We have the mindset," he explains, "that every time we step on the mat we expect to win."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">In a related note:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">*La Conner High's Amber Drye placed a solid fifth in her division at the girls' Regional event and will also travel to the State Tournament as an alternate<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSV5_0ssuoebX2FHS_r-6p2IIdP4QUxVmUIpsZsxB2Gk-FQrmF6UCjKqVRcz2SPp6mGR-xJTcjePC9fBUHdPcA5SkzFUTsJdVyT6D5M75iNhZvtBvA4N95URCXcGM3ev5VaRsJKlVFVxE/s1600/WEB+BOYS+BB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSV5_0ssuoebX2FHS_r-6p2IIdP4QUxVmUIpsZsxB2Gk-FQrmF6UCjKqVRcz2SPp6mGR-xJTcjePC9fBUHdPcA5SkzFUTsJdVyT6D5M75iNhZvtBvA4N95URCXcGM3ev5VaRsJKlVFVxE/s320/WEB+BOYS+BB.JPG" width="203" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Melissa Reynolds</i></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;">Braves make quick work of Evergreen Lutheran</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Speed kills.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Just ask the Evergreen Lutheran Eagles, whose tall and long frontline couldn't keep pace with the revved up La Conner Braves in Saturday's Northwest 2B Boys' Bi-District Tournament action at Landy James Gymnasium.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner, 20-1, put the pedal to the metal and raced to a convincing 73-34 triumph, setting up a tourney semifinal date today, Wednesday, at 4:30 p.m. with Shoreline Christian in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mount Vernon</st1:place></st1:state>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Landy James led nine Braves' scorers with 22 points, hitting an array of shots from all angles, including a deep trey early in the opening frame that helped set the tone the rest of the night.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">But 23 was the number that stood out most for La Conner head coach Scott Novak, after his club had safely taken the checkered flag.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">That's how many turnovers the smaller, quicker Braves forced from the Eagles, who enjoyed a distinct size advantage up front.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Many of those Eagle miscues were directly converted to La Conner scores.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves, with junior pivot Tyler Howlett sidelined with an ankle injury, compensated for their lack of a post presence by harassing the Eagles on the perimeter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The ploy worked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Evergreen Lutheran, 9-11, was rarely able to get comfortable in its half-court offense.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Eagles, when they didn't turn the ball over, struggled from the floor. The visitors hit just 13 of 53 shot attempts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The visitors were able to score more than 10 points in just one period, tallying 11 in the first stanza.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner, by contrast, scored no fewer than 15 points in any quarter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We played really good defense and were able to force a lot of turnovers," Novak said afterward. "That was a key to the game."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">So, too, was the brilliant point guard play of Mike Wilbur, who dished out five assists in the first half, by which time La Conner had sped to a convincing 36-19 lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"He played a great game," Novak said of Wilbur, who finished with 11 points. "And not only in terms of his stats, but also the leadership he provides."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Wilbur's backcourt partner, Spencer Novak, also landed in double figures by scoring 16 points, all but four coming after the break.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Novak meshed 10 points – including a long three-pointer – during an 18-5 La Conner spurt late in the third quarter that stretched the Braves' lead from 40-21 to 58-26. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Versatile forward Sean Hulbert was credited with being the sparkplug that helped ignite the Braves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hulbert, whose minutes have increased since Howlett went down, scored eight points – four in each half – and was a constant presence at the defensive end.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Sean was very active," said coach Novak. "He was diving on the floor for everything."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">But, in the end, it was Evergreen Lutheran that took a dive – unable to withstand a Braves' scoring flurry that seemed to come from all directions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">As a team, La Conner shot 44 per cent from the field, 30 of 68, and converted 11 of 16 free throws.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">James, who scored 19 by intermission, had plenty of company on the La <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Conner point parade.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Novak (16), Wilbur (11), Hulbert (8), Skyler Krueger (6), Jared Fohn (4), Bobby Poulton (2), Jamall James (2), and Bjorn Mejlander (2) all reached the scoring column.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sam Shannon led the Eagles with 13 points.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Braves are now geared up to face Shoreline in today's matinee tipoff at <st1:placename w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Mount Vernon</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Christian</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">High School</st1:placename></st1:placename>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The winner receives an automatic berth to Regionals.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXgYkMFKyY8vcVPp0KeyjTAmrFXchWTVRFgbICgLoPQys7esMB8UnFvKbk9FV4wFqRFSYMhj4Q2v65Ixb8MBak3weGy_lEMgx11GHHx0KTz-1xJZsnD2dqaBEv0xHblpxrtiw0nsLuZk/s1600/WEB+GIRLS+BB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXgYkMFKyY8vcVPp0KeyjTAmrFXchWTVRFgbICgLoPQys7esMB8UnFvKbk9FV4wFqRFSYMhj4Q2v65Ixb8MBak3weGy_lEMgx11GHHx0KTz-1xJZsnD2dqaBEv0xHblpxrtiw0nsLuZk/s320/WEB+GIRLS+BB.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Melissa Reynolds</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 9pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;">Lady Braves cross out Crosspoint at Bi-District</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By Bill Reynolds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">For the La Conner High Lady Braves, their best is yet to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">And La Conner fans hope that could well be tonight, when the Lady Braves, 15-6, face highly-touted Bear Creek in semifinal action of the Northwest 2B Bi-District Girls' Basketball Tournament on the Mount Vernon Christian campus. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner advanced to the Wednesday tipoff at 6:15 p.m. by virtue of a gritty, hard-fought 44-34 triumph Saturday at home over upset-minded <st1:placename w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Crosspoint</st1:place> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Academy</st1:placetype></st1:placename>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"It wasn't our best game of the year," Lady Braves' head coach Scott Novak acknowledged after his club staved off a late Crosspoint rally. "But you have to give Crosspoint credit. They kept clawing their way back in it."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bremerton</st1:place></st1:city> area team closed to within four points, 38-34, in the late going after having trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner's Aubrey Stewart proved the difference in the end, scoring six quick points in the waning moments on a variety of shots.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Stewart hit a short banker off an in-bounds pass, then delivered on a nice post-up move to give La Conner a six-point lead with just over two minutes to play.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Moments later, Stewart clinched the La Conner victory with a foul line jumper after having forced a Crosspoint turnover at the defensive end.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I really liked the play of Aubrey Stewart," said Novak. "She had a great game for us. She really set the tone."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Stewart's late heroics helped La Conner rebound nicely from a home loss to <st1:placename w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Friday</st1:place> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Harbor</st1:placetype></st1:placename> the week before in the Lady Braves' league finale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Priscilla Ponce-Venegas paced the victors with 12 points, seven in the first half, when La Conner built a 20-13 advantage.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves' forced 15 Crosspoint turnovers in the first half, and 26 for the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner's defensive intensity and efficient work on the offensive glass helped the Lady Braves overcome a 3<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>2 per cent shooting night, 18 of 56, from the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The hosts' 33-21 edge on the boards translated into 17 more shot attempts for La Conner, a vital stat given Crosspoint's field goal percentage was nearly identical to that of the Lady Braves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Warriors were 12 of 46 from the field, and both clubs sank six of 14 charity tosses.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">La Conner managed to wear down Evergreen Lutheran by pounding the ball inside to Anna Cook, still rounding into shape after a mid-season knee injury, and Alyssa McCormick, who combined for eight points in the paint.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"I know we can play better," said Novak, "but what I'm really pleased with is the number of good looks we got. Those are shots that will fall."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Crosspoint, on the other hand, could get little to drop at the outset of Saturday's clash.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Warriors went scoreless the first five minutes, while La Conner's Nikki Finley buried the first of her two outside treys and Cook scored inside off a deft feed from Katie McKnight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">McKnight contributed six points to a balanced Lady Braves' attack, four of which came during a 10-0 La Conner run stretching from late in the first quarter to midway through the second frame.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">But Crosspoint didn't go away.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Desiree Doughty hit five quick points, including a jumper from beyond the three-point arc, to reduce La Conner's halftime lead to single digits.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Braves seized command again in the third quarter, doubling the score, 30-15, on Crosspoint at the 4:15 mark, when Emily Anderson scored on a breakaway.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Yet, in a game of spurts, Crosspoint had one more left.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Lady Warriors, behind Doughty – who tied Ponce-Venegas for game-high scoring honors – went on a 19-8 tear before Stewart iced the verdict in crunch time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216232843061092879.post-37313742437329666962012-02-08T11:19:00.000-08:002012-02-08T11:19:02.916-08:00in the Feb. 8, 2012 issue<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Big news for boaters & marine industry!</b></span></div><b>The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is scheduled to dredge the Swinomish Channel in July, following years of lobbying by the town of La Conner, Port of Skagit, Upper Skagit Tribe and others whose livelihoods depend on the channel being navigable. Writer Adrian Sharpe has the details in today's paper -- pick up a copy at the usual spots in town. </b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5Vl0pKPfdB0RKaIQUbzts5GRqBcjytsSQ3cEWYbnt1ILsADI_XEXQZ-vL5MTebFSEr94nuvG-i9NCUwl7X8Gdobr9dUxbIGLxYYEL97dADzdP6uuu5Gmi9Sh2r3moZHDTGVphC1XzGc/s1600/Web+channel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5Vl0pKPfdB0RKaIQUbzts5GRqBcjytsSQ3cEWYbnt1ILsADI_XEXQZ-vL5MTebFSEr94nuvG-i9NCUwl7X8Gdobr9dUxbIGLxYYEL97dADzdP6uuu5Gmi9Sh2r3moZHDTGVphC1XzGc/s320/Web+channel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photos by Kirsten Morse</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEUCLOmqCfpD0-fRwhNGib1c0Tu3PieO8bKCmQ4_fgLnw22KI432JGCoiumrc8r0gYz2H1TXJoZ8lQZciQF6PCijw8Unu2_tOsrgOaJeHcQTL9QzmRch4RizmvGHTJ5JUVs6n8pvblnw/s1600/WEB+MOORE+CLARK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEUCLOmqCfpD0-fRwhNGib1c0Tu3PieO8bKCmQ4_fgLnw22KI432JGCoiumrc8r0gYz2H1TXJoZ8lQZciQF6PCijw8Unu2_tOsrgOaJeHcQTL9QzmRch4RizmvGHTJ5JUVs6n8pvblnw/s320/WEB+MOORE+CLARK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 22.0pt;">Historic Moore-Clark site in foreclosure<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Property at the heart of a development plan that divided the La Conner’s residents between its supporters and detractors for more than 15 years is in foreclosure.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">A notice of trustee’s sale in today’s paper states that the three acres belonging to La Conner Associates, the old Moore-Clark property on the south end of <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">First Street</st1:address></st1:street>, is scheduled to be sold at auction on the Skagit County Courthouse steps on March 9. Details in today's paper. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Affordable housing coming soon </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Home Trust of Skagit and Skagit Habitat for Humanity have teamed up as partners in developing housing in La Conner’s Channel Cove community, formerly known as Southfield. Construction is set to begin in April on a duplex in Channel Coe. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> The agreement between Habitat and Home Trust provides for the two agencies to build five housing units together over the next two years. Get it all in today's paper.</div><br />
<b>The Police Blotter is particularly interesting this week. Here's a sample of the stuff that goes on around here:</b><br />
<b>9:26 a.m.: Picky thief – </b>A UPS package was taken from the porch of a residence on Whatcom Street in La Conner. Apparently the goods found inside the package were not up to par, as the contents were later found discarded in a local dumpster. A suspect was detained but no arrest made because the witness could not give a positive identification.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">We have some real snoozers, too:</span></span><br />
<b>10:04 a.m.: Sleeper – </b>Morris Street employees reported a gentleman taking a siesta out front of their La Conner business. Deputies politely issued the intoxicated man a trespass warning and drove him to his house where he could slumber in comfort. <br />
<b>11:42 a.m.: Sleeper # 2 –</b> The public restroom on Morris Street in La Conner became the comfy resting spot for another intoxicated sleeper, who someone thought was possibly deceased. But the person did rouse to refuse treatment by EMT’s that came to the scene. The grouchy dreamer was given a lift home.<br />
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<b>Get the paper and get all the local news.</b> Call 466-3315 to start receiving it at your home or office, or try feeding 3 quarters into one of our red news stands in town. If that doesn't work, stop by and see us in the office conveniently located next to the Station House.La Conner Weekly Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01697781214140111239noreply@blogger.com0