In the February 23, 2011 issue...

Hint: Click "classified ads" and see a page from the current issue

Photo by Bill Stokes
Snow! Glorious snow!

This was the view of the barn at Hedlin Family Farm this morning from La Conner's Public Works yard. National Weather Service says we in for more today, tonight and tomorrow. It's a good day to curl up and read the newspaper .....
La Conner's public works crew knows how to stay on top of the snow situation. Well before noon this morning, Brian, Brad, Lynn, Sal and Kevin had the streets in La Conner clear and safe for drivers and pedestrians. 

Photo by Susan McKeehan
Tom? is that you?

Someone with dubious credibility claims this is the Woonsocket High mascot. So what's it doing in La Conner? Writer Susan McKeehan does a lot of explainin' about this in today's paper. For more, look here

........ meanwhile, the regular Town Turkeys have been ducking for cover since the Public Works guys have been running after them with dip nets every few days. Tom Jr., captured on Feb. 11, is still in the slammer. So far the rest of the fugitive flock hasn't tried to spring him. There was a turkey sighting in Shelter Bay on Monday, leading some to speculate that the feathered gang is looking to stake out new territory.

Huge hotel & convention center coming

The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is about to break ground on a $25 million 5-story hotel and convention center expected to be open next year in time for the Tulip Festival. Journalist M. Sharon Baker has all the details in today's paper. 

  Photo by Bill Stokes

Smelt Queen reign is Saturday

  The Rotary Club of La Conner's 46th Smelt Derby is Saturday -- let's hope it quits snowing. The Smelt Queen, Linda Reynolds Gravley, who was crowned during the Smelt Queen Pageant held at La Conner Pub & Eatery on Saturday, will be on hand for autographs and to help pick the winner of the $750 raffle. Festivities start at 8 a.m. with a $6 breakfast at Maple Hall and the fishing contest on the town docks until 2 p.m. 

 This week's best reading

Our Nuggets from Norway columnist, Mickey Bambrick has a story you won't be able to put down. She tells about Shelter Bay resident Larry Partridge's humanitarian flights into Phnom Penh  airport in March 1975 to help starving Cambodians. Partridge flew 52 missions in three weeks with his cargo plane peppered with gunfire and bombs exploding on the runway. A Norwegian journalist, Roar Bjerknes, accompanied him on one of his most dangerous flights, and now 35 years later, Mickey has put the two old friends back in touch.

The police blotter is mostly about goose watching and goose chasing -- those rowdy snow geese and swans have been driving tourists into a frenzy. They're stopping at odd places all over the rural roads. 

 

 The paper is in the red news stands all over town, and in the usual places, the liquor store, gas station, produce market and drug store.  But people who subscribe don't have to go out into the snow to get it.