In the October 12, 2011 issue...

Election season

This is an issue for political junkies -- the paper is all election stuff with a bunch of letters to the editor alleging immoral behavior by just about everyone and profiles of the La Conner Town Council candidates and the Mayor's race. You have to be a political junkie or really, really bored to read this stuff.

Thank goodness we have this...

Harry Heron by Don Coyote

Harry is running for Port Commissioner Piling 1. Nobody knows the waterfront like Harry. He promises to work a leg off to bring back the native smelt runs, enforce the no wake zone, lobby to have Rainbow Bridge painted in “mossy oak camo,” make seagulls obtain panhandling licenses and to run those cormorants out of town.

Candidate Debate Oct. 19

Candidates for La Conner Mayor and Town Council are expected to provide a lively evening of political discussion starting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at the school auditorium.

Retiring Skagit Valley College President Dr. Gary Tollefson will moderate the debate, and residents will have an opportunity to ask questions.

Incumbents Councilman Jacques Brunisholz and Councilman Don Wright and their respective challengers, Marna Hanneman and Dan O’Donnell have agreed to participate.

Mayor Ramon Hayes and his challenger, Councilman Stuart Welch, will also face each other at the event.

The debate sponsor, La Conner Weekly News, will provide the coffee and cookies.

The La Conner School District auditorium is on North 6^th Street on the oldest part of the campus. An elevator is available for those who wish to avoid the steep stairs.

Ballots will be mailed to registered voters on Oct. 19. They’ll be counted on Election Day, Nov. 8.

Newspaper garners awards

The talented writers and photographers for La Conner Weekly News came home from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association dinner with a total of 15 awards on Friday.  Click on "Award Winners" above to see the winning  photos.

Photo by Randy Richards 

Award winning journalists from left are Mickey Bambrick, Amylynn Richards, Ryan Hiller, Alexander Kramer, Kirsten Morse, Anna Ferdinand, Sue Phillips and Jim Smith.

From the Police Blotter:

10:31 p.m.: Unofficial Skateboarding – Deputies received a report that three juveniles were skateboarding at the La Conner Middle School. They left before a deputy arrived.

The paper is in all the usual places on store counters and in news boxes and of course, right here in our office conveniently located next to the Station House Bar & Grill (which sometimes doubles as our conference room).

 

Weekly Braves' sports capsule Oct 12, 2011

Photos by Amylynn Richards

from Braves Raves ...
 

By Amylynn Richards

HOMECOMING

La Conner’s 2011-2012 Homecoming Royalty is: Emily Anderson, homecoming queen; Cameron Wischhusen, homecoming king; Amanda Grant, senior princess; Nate Sybrandy, senior escort; Lydia Lenning, junior princess; Mitchell Roth, junior escort; Carly Anderson, sophomore princess; Rafael Ponce-Venegas, sophomore escort; Emma Christianson, freshman princess, Matt Finley, freshman escort.

HOMECOMING SPORTS

The boys’ soccer team will host Cedar Park at 3:30 p.m. and the football team hosts Chief Leschi at 7 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

The Braves hosted Cedar Park Christian on Tuesday, Oct. 4; the Braves won 25-9, 25-8, and 25-9. “It was a good night for us all the way around,” said Coach Suzanne Marble. “Kelley McClung did a nice job of mixing up the offense and running a lot of different options.  Katie McKnight and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas did a nice job of putting the ball away on the outside.” Team highlights:  Kelley McClung had 38 assists; Emily Anderson had 6 kills; Priscilla Ponce-Venegas had 4 aces and 8 kills; Katie McKnight had 8 kills; and Aubrey Stewart had 5 kills.

On Thursday, Oct. 6, the girls traveled to Concrete, and racked up a win with 26 aces. The Braves beat the Lions 25-5, 25-9, 25-4.  The team did a “really nice job of keeping composure and control,” Coach Marble said. She praised Kelley McClung, for “spreading the ball around…and running our offense.” Marble added that she was very pleased with the team effort.  Team highlights: Kelley McClung had 34 assists and 3 aces; Emily Anderson, 13 kills and 7 aces; Priscilla Ponce-Venegas, 7 kills and 5 aces; Emma Christianson, 8 kills and 3 aces; and Katie McKnight had 8 kills and 3 aces.

The team played in the 16-team Anacortes Tournament Saturday, Oct. 8. The girls played three games in pool play: Oak Harbor won the first match 25-22, 25-11, 15-11; La Conner beat Sedro Woolley 25-22, 25-11, 11-15; and the Braves bested Cedarcrest Christian 25-10, 22-25, 15-5. The Braves advanced to the second round, but were eliminated in the first match by Lynden Christian.  Coach Marble noted the Braves faced strong teams. “We learned a lot about where we are now and where we want to be in the next few weeks,” she said. Brave tournament highlights: Kelley McKnight had 73 assists and 7 aces; Emily Anderson had 26 kills, 6 aces and 4 blocks; Priscilla Ponce-Venegas had 4 aces, 29 kills and 33 digs; Emma Christianson had 14 kills and 10 aces, 29 digs; and Carly Anderson had 4 aces and 37 digs.

FOOTBALL

The Braves played Seattle Lutheran Saturday, Oct. 8. and came away with a 23-20 win.  “The game was great,” said Coach Johnny Lee. “We entered the game pretty beat-up at a few of our key spots so we had to play some guys in different positions than they were used to playing.”  Coach Lee added he “couldn't be more proud of the way they performed,” thanks to the team’s “heart, effort and competitive attitudes.” 

Dahlton Zavala had 2 touchdowns; the first was 79 yards off of the team’s first offensive play. Wil James was given a shot at running back, and scored on a 1 yard run. Freshman Taylor Swanson clinched the win with a 21-yard field goal with four minutes left in the game.

BOYS SOCCER

The boys won three games last week, bringing their overall record to 9-2. On Tuesday, Oct. 4, the Braves traveled to Mount Vernon Christian and came away with a 3-2 shootout win. Each team scored twice in regulation time and failed to score in overtime sending the game to penalty kicks. La Conner’s first three shooters -Todd Hoagland, Jamall James and Tyler Baker – each scored while Mount Vernon’s first three shooters missed, giving La Conner the win.  Scoring for La Conner in regulation time were Robert Johnny and Kory Duran.

On Friday, Oct. 7, the team beat Orcas Island 7-1.  Hayden Schmidt and Todd Hoagland had hat tricks; and Kory Duran chipped in one.  Tyler Baker and Schmidt earned two assists while Dylan Sicklesteel and Mitchell Roth each earned one.

The Braves won 9-0 on Saturday Oct. 8 against Lopez Island. Todd Hoagland scored four goals, Hayden Schmidt had two, and Tyler Baker, Kory Duran, and Taylor Fay each scored once. Hoagland and Baker each earned two assists while Eric Reinstra, Jamall James and Mitchell Roth each provided one assist.