In the May 4, 2011 issue...

Fowl fugitive caught in town bathroom

   Writer M. Sharon Baker has the tale of another La Conner turkey capture -- this time a young tom was hiding out in the town's public restroom on Morris Street when the Public Works crew nabbed him and booked him into the turkey detention facility. Read all about it in today's paper!

Photo by Kirsten Morse

Wow! And we live here!

The end of the rainbow also marked the end of tulip season in this image captured after Monday's rainstorm.

 

Town earns better flood insurance rating

La Conner residents should call their insurance companies right now and ask for cheaper flood insurance.

The town just received notification from FEMA contractor that the town’s the flood risk rating has improved. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Rating Service website, the new rating means homeowners can now get a 15 percent discount off the base price of their federal flood insurance premiums. Details in today's paper!

 There really is a good explanation for this. La Conner Chamber of Commerce Director Marci Plank is putting out  the word out that from now until June 15, you can pick out a pretty post card and the state will e-mail it to a recipient of your choice inviting them to come and visit. Do it for a chance to win free airline tickets! Go to http://www.shareyourwashington.com/ and try it out.

 

A focus on tourism

Writer Mary Evitt has the story on a local effort to keep visitors coming to La Conner and neighboring cities. With the Washington State Tourism office closing next month, local tourism leaders have come up with a plan to raise money to promote the area. It's all in today's paper.

 

 

Photo by Scott McDade

All eyes are on Elizabeth Bennet, played by Zoe Fejeran, left, who is ignoring the withering glance of the disapproving Lady Catherine de Bourgh, played by Madison Smith, seated next to Amber Drye, who plays her daughter. Standing are Amanda Grant cast as Charlotte, Alex Tzedakis in the role of Mr. Collins, Brandon Drye as Mr. Darcy and Christian Johnston as Mr. Fitzwilliam. 

"Pride & Prejudice" opens Friday

La Conner High School students will perform the classic tale, Pride and Prejudice – a play based on one of the most popular love stories ever written. Opening night is Friday.

Curtain times are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at La Conner Auditorium. Tickets are $5, and are available at the door. For reserved seats, call 466-3171. 

Drama Coach Scott McDade has all the details about the production, cast and stage crew in today's paper.

From the Police Blotter:

12:19 p.m.: Civil – A woman reported that a farmer was spreading manure on a field near the baseball field at La Conner High School while a game was in progress and she wanted him to stop. The deputy did not stop the farmer because it is not against the law to do farm work in a farming community. Seriously.

Pick up the paper in all the usual spots.

Bonus: There is a $5 coupon good at Sebo's Hardware on page 6 and El Gitano has a special Cinco De Mayo special with a coupon good for a half-price entree. (Muy bueno!)  

 

Weekly La Conner High Sports capsule, May 4, 2011

Photo by Amylynn Richards

La Conner Braves’ outfielder Christian Johnston gets under the ball during Friday’s home game against Coupeville. Braves won 14-13. 

Braves Raves

By Amylynn Richards

HOME SPORTS

Golf hosts Orcas Island High School at Similk Bay at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May. 4. On Thursday, May 5, Track hosts the Northwest 1B/2B/1A League Championships at 3 p.m.

BASEBALL

The Braves clinched first place in the 1A/2B League with their 12-1, six-inning win on Monday, May 2 at Concrete. The win gives them the number one seed in the upcoming Tri-District tournament, date and time to be determined.

 The Braves came out and put pressure on Concrete from the start. The Braves scored 2 runs in the first inning, 3 in the 2nd inning and 4 in the third inning. Despite the poor weather conditions, Pitcher Tyler Howlett was able to remain in control of the game giving up just 4 hits, while striking out 5 batters.

Leading hitters: Kyle McKnight was 3 for 4 with an RBI; Tyler Howlett was 2 for 3with an RBI, Tanner Cyr was 2 for 3 with 3 runs scored, Garrett Wilbur was 2 for 4 with a double and 4 RBI; DJ Carr was 2 for 4 with 2 2B and 3 RBI and Wil James was 2 for 3.

The Braves will host the district semi-final on Tuesday, May 10th at 4 p.m.

On Tuesday, April 26, La Conner hosted Shoreline Christian for a double-header; the Braves won the first game 19-0 in five innings, and the second game 12-4.

In the first game, pitcher Kyle McKnight threw a no-hitter and struck out 8 batters. “The Braves bats were active throughout,” said Coach Jeremiah LeSourd.  Leading Hitters: DJ Carr was 3 for 4 with two doubles and two RBI; and Dakota Hartley was 3 for 4.   

In game two, Coach LeSourd reports that the Braves once again were strong at the plate, and pitchers Matt McCauley, Christian Johnston, Tyler Howlett and Dakota Hartley combined efforts to get the win.

The Braves hosted Seattle Prep on Thursday, April 28. Seattle Prep won 8-1.  Matt McCauley earned the Braves’ run as a homerun. . Garrett Wilbur pitched for the Braves, holding the 3A Seattle Prep to 3 runs in the five innings Wilbur pitched. LeSourd said of the game, “although the Braves came up short, they got an opportunity to battle against a solid team.”  Leading hitters were Matt McCauley, 1 for 3 with a solo homerun; and Tyler Howlett was 2 for 3.

On Friday, April 29, the Braves hosted Coupeville, beating Coupeville 14-13.The Braves scored 11 runs in the first inning. Coupeville worked their way back, tying the score at 13 in the 7th inning. In the bottom of the 7 inning, Garrett Wilbur singled with one out to right field to score Kyle McKnight to win the game. Leading Hitters: Kyle McKnight, 3 for 5 with a solo homerun; Dakota Hartley, 3 for 4 with a double and triple; and DJ Carr was 3 for 4 with a triple.

GOLF

The boys team is undefeated this season. The girls do not have enough golfers to field a team.

The team played Lopez on Tuesday, April 26. Two Braves tied for top honors in the match; Spencer Novak and Brendan McCloud tied for medalist with 38. Hilary Edwards was the girls’ medalist with 58.

The Braves won both matches last week. The first was against Cedar Park on Thursday, Apr. 28. Jake Silva was the boys’ medalist, with 38; Hilary Edwards was the girls’ medalist with 57.

FASTPITCH

The girls’ team traveled to 2A League Lynden on Tuesday, April 26. Only nine Braves were able to make the game; Lynden won 13-3.  The Braves had three hits and seven errors, “not one of our best showings this year,” said Coach Peg Seeling.  Kelley McClung was 2 for 3; Samie Miller was 1 for 3 with a double, striking out 6 and allowing 7 hits while at bat.

On Friday, the girls hosted University Prep. The Braves won 20-3 in five innings. The Braves’ 20 runs came from 11 hits, and the team had no errors. University Prep had their three runs from 5 hits and had six errors.

Alissa McCoy was 1 for 2 and had a double, and had two base on balls; Samie Miller, as pitcher struck out 8 batters, 2 for 3, two doubles and 2 RBI; Kaitlyn Summers, 2 for 3, two doubles and 2 RBI; Kelley McClung, 2 for 4, two triples and 5 RBI; Lauren McClung was 2 for 4 with 5 RBI; Siomi Bobb was 1 for 1 with 2RBI and Galena Graham was 1 for 1, with 2 base on balls and 4 put-outs at first base.

The girls are 9-4 overall and 6-1 in league.

TRACK 

Seven boys’ teams and six girls’ competed on 105th Skagit County Championships. Preliminary races took place on Wednesday, Apr. 27 and Friday, April 29, was the main event. The event was at Burlington-Edison; all high schools in Skagit County are invited to compete, no matter the League classification determined by school size.

In boys’ track, Burlington Edison is the 105^th annual Skagit County Champions, having scored 209 points by Friday, April 29. Mount Vernon was second, with 141 points, and La Conner came in third with 136.  Also competing were Sedro-Wooley, 98 points; Anancortes, 81 points; Concrete, with 80 points; and Mount Vernon Christian with 27 points.

For the girls, Burlington-Edison won with 304; Sedro-Woolley, 222 points; Anacortes, 125 points; Mount Vernon, 107 points; Mount Vernon Christiann, 93 points and La Conner, 30 points.  Concrete did not send a team.

Sten Mejlaender won first in the 36” 300 m. hurdles in both the preliminaries (42.25a) and finals (40.97a) his personal best by .14a; first in the 39” 110 m. hurdles (16:02a )in in the varsity finals and third (16.58a.) in that prelims. Landy James won first place in the 800 g.javelin finals with a distance of 155’05” and first in the high jump, with a height of 6’02”. Brandon Drye won third in the 1.6 k. discus with a throw of 121’.00”, throwing 2’5” farther than his previous personal best. Jamall James won second in the 39” 100 m. hurdles in the preliminaries (16.92a) and third in that final (16.67a); second in the triple jump, distancing 41’03.00” and beating his previous personal best by an astounding 2’10”; third in the long jump, with 18’07.00”, and third in the high jump, setting his personal best by 2”. Todd Hoagland won second in the 400 m. preliminaries (54.39a) and won third the 400 m. race (53.57a), both times personal bests. The finals set a new personal best by 1.36a and the prelims by 0.25a. Sam Traylor won third in the 3200 m. race with a time of 10:42.90a, beating his prior personal best by 15.90a.  The Braves won second in the 4x400 m. relay race run by Nathan Sybrandy, Conner Anderson, Sten Mejlaender and Todd Hoagland. The four man team of Wylie Thulen, Conner Anderson, Todd Hoagland and Sten Mejlaender won third in the 4x100 m. relay.

Kelsie Crawford, Katie McKnight, Emily Anderson and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas won third place in the 4x100 m. relay.