in the March 28, 2012 issue

Photo by Adrian Sharpe

Learning to the beat of their own drums

La Conner High School Students are hitting a beat and learning to hand-craft drums.

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 Skagit Valley College.

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. Writer Adrian Sharpe has the whole story in today's paper!

Photo by Adrian Sharpe

Salmon habitat court fight is over

    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. 

    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.  In today's paper!

Photo by Don Coyote

Foreclosure forestalled: Triton steps in

The old Moore Clark property in La Conner, on the brink of foreclosure just last week, has a new owner.

Triton America, which owns Pioneer Point Marina to the south of the historic 1898 warehouse on La Conner’s southern waterfront, bought the 3-acre parcel from La Conner Associates. Triton has leased the property back to the former owner, who has plans to develop it. Details in today's paper!

 It’s Bailey vs. Haugen in November

State Rep. Barbara Bailey will try to unseat State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen in November.

Haugen, D-Camano Island, 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. 

From the Police Blotter:
5:20 p.m.: Tagged Toilets – 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.

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.