In the March 30, 2011 issue...

POSTED BY SANDY STOKES

Cremated remains found in shed

Steve Roberts, a new business owner in La Conner, was helping to clear out an old storage building when a rusting metal box nestled on a shelf among old paint cans caught his eye.

A badly deteriorated label on the bottom of the box indicated it was from a Colfax, California crematory that is now out of business. The box is an urn containing the ashes of a somebody whose remains were forgotten for years in a storage shed behind the Station House Bar & Grill and were almost included in a pile destined for a landfill. Today's paper tells how the mystery was solved, bringing peace of mind to an out-of-state family who thought their loved one was lost forever.

Writer Mary Evitt caught up with the Army Corps of Engineers snagboat Puget last week as they were taking floating menaces out of Swinomish Channel. Her story has some surprising statistics on just how much junk is lurking in the water to beat up boats.

 

 From the Police Blotter:

1:41 p.m.: Arrest – An intoxicated man and woman flagged down a deputy on Sherman Street, in La Conner and requested a ride home. The woman was taken home, but the man went to jail because he had an outstanding felony arrest warrant for failing to register as a sex offender.  

Pick up the paper at the drug store, gas station, liquor store, produce market and book store. Or get one when you feed feed 3 quarters into one of the red news stands around town (they even take Canadian quarters, but won't open with nickels and dimes).

 

Weekly La Conner High Sports capsule, March 30, 2011

Braves Raves

By Amylynn Richards

FASTPITCH

The Lady Braves played three games last week. The first game was an at home win over Concrete, 13-3 on Tuesday, March 22. The game was 9-0 until the fourth inning, when Concrete earned its first run.  The game was won by mercy rule in six innings.

 Taysha James was 3 for 4, with 2 doubles; Galena Graham was 2 for 3, with 1 double and 8 put outs at first base; Lauren McClung was 2 for 5 with a triple; Kelly McClung was 2 for 4, 1 RBI; Siomi Bobb was 2 for 3 with 1 RBI; and Sierra Brown was 1 for 3 with 3RBI and 3 assists. Sammie Miller struck out 8 opponents.  

Meridian came to Brave territory on Thursday, March 24. 1 A league Meridian won 7-4 in seven innings. The Braves got 9 hits to Meridian’s 5 overall. Alissa McCoy 2 for 4 and a double; Samie Miller was 3 for 4 and a double; and Galena Graham, 1 for 4, and a double.

The final game of the week was an away game at University Prep on Friday, March 25. The Braves won 8-0 over the 1 A league team in seven innings.

Pitcher Samie Miller was 1 for 3, a double and 1RBI. In addition, Miller allowed only one hit the entire game; as of Friday, she averages 8 strikeouts a game. Coach Peg Seeling says that during 5 of the 7 innings, Miller pitched three up, three down.

 Alissa McCoy stole three bases, and was 1 for 3; Sierra Brown was 2 for 3 with a triple and 2 RBI; Kaitlyn Summers was 2 for 3 with a triple and an RBI. 

The Braves aren’t resting on their winning record; the team is striving to become a better team each day out on the field. Coach Seeling sees progress. “The Team is starting to see the ball better, with better contact.  We had 10 extra-base hits in the three games” she said.

The Braves are 3-0 in league 3-2 overall.

BASEBALL

The boys also played three games this week. The Braves travelled to play the 1A Lynden Christian Lyncs on Monday, March 21. The Lyncs won the game 10-5, in 5 innings.  Coach Jeremiah LeSourd reports, “The Braves had a tough day against the Lyncs. The Braves offense was never able to get going.” Tyler Howlett got the one hit for the Braves.

The Braves bounced back the next day, Tuesday, March 22, taking on the Concrete Lions. The Braves won 10-1.  The game didn’t start out strong; the Lions scored early on in the first inning, and kept that lead until the third inning, when the Braves got 2 runs on the board. Tyler Howlett stepped up to the plate with bases loaded, walloped the ball to the outfield and brought home 3RBI’s, bringing the score 5-1. The Braves never looked back, scoring 3 more runs in the fourth inning and 2 more in the sixth.   Pitcher Garrett Wilbur “was in control on the mound,” LeSourd said.

Leading hitters: Wil James 2 for 4, 2B and 3 RBI; Tyler Howlett 2 for 3, 2 2B 3 RBI; Garrett Wilbur 2 for 3, and 2 RBI.

 On Thursday, March 24, the boys beat University Prep 14-2 in an away game.  The Braves scored in each of the three innings, but the Braves were red hot in the fourth inning, brining home 8 runs. Tyler Howlett pitched four shutout innings. Leading hitters: Kyle McKnight 3 for 3, 2B HR and 5 RBI; Tyler Howlett 2 for 3, 2B and 2 RBI and Garrett Wilbur 2 for 4, 2 2B 2 RBI. 

 The Braves are 4-3 overall, and are 2-0 in league play.

CHEER

The cheer squad awards banquet was Monday, March 28. The Jamie Joe Cheer Leadership Award is bestowed on a graduating senior who has been on the squad her sophomore, junior and senior year. Cheer coach Theresa James says the award is given in recognition of what the late Jamie Francine Joe said a cheerleader should be, “Someone who is dedicated to his or her squad, education, and school spirit. I’m proud to give this award to Katherine Jensen.”

Haley York was awarded the Star Award, for going above and beyond the call of duty as a cheerleader; Most Spirited fall quarter, Maggie Benetti; Most Spirited winter, Dianne Quintasket; Most Improved fall, Amanda Hanstad; Most Improved winter, Kaylee Dykes.

 “This year’s squads were great and I'm glad to have gotten to work with all the girls, they are all stars in my book,” Coach James said.

 BOYS TRACK

The Braves joined Grace Academy, Lopez, Mount Vernon Christian, Shoreline Christian, Cedar Park Christian and Concrete on Thursday, March 24 for a league meet in Concrete.

Senior Sten Mejlaender took first place in the 39” 110 meter hurdles with at time of 16.03 and first place in the 36” 300 meter hurdles, in 41.22 seconds. Mejlaender beat his personal best in both events by 0.40 in the 39” hurdles by a very large margin of 1.5 seconds; he has competed in this event each of his four years on the track team.

Junior Nathan Sybrandy took first place in the 800 meter race in 55.80 seconds, beating his previous personal best by 0.04 of a second.  Sybrandy took second in the 1600 meter race, in 4:59, again setting a new personal best by 0.87 of a second.

Senior Brandon Drye won the 1.6kg discus with a distance of 111’06”.

Junior Todd Hoagland took second in the 400 meter race, beating his personal best by 3.04 seconds with a time of 54.64c. 

Sophomore Sam Traylor took second in the 3200 meters with a time of 11:20.35, beating his personal best by 0.51 of a second and third in the 1600 meters in 5:05.

Sophomore Jamal James took second in the 39” 110 hurdles in 16.88, 0.9 faster than his previous personal record and also won second with a distance of 18’10.50” in the long jump, beating his previous record by an astounding 10.5”. James took third in the triple jump with a distance of 29’10.00.

Junior Nathan Parker took third in shot put with a distance of 37’04”.

Senior Conner Anderson took third in the 200 meter race with a time of 24.32.

The Braves took first in the 4x400 relay in 3:43.34 thanks to Nathan Sybrandy, Conner Anderson, Sten Mejlaender and Todd Hoagland. The Braves also won second in the 4x100 relay in 47.78 seconds. The 4x100 relay team was Wylie Thulen, Jamal James, Todd Hoagland and Conner Anderson.

 GIRLS TRACK

Junior Priscilla Ponce-Venegas won first place in the 600g javelin toss with a distance of 90’02”, 10” farther than her previous record; Ponce Venegas also won second in the 30” 300 meter hurdles in 50.31.

Junior Emily Anderson won first in the 33” 100m hurdles with a time of 19.28 and second in the high jump, leaping 4’04.”  Sophomore Lydia Lenning won first place in the 1600 meters with a time of 6:24. Sophomore Sammie Mesman won first place in the 400 meters race in 1:14.38. Freshman Madi Cavanaugh won first place in the 800 meters in 3.00.

Sophomore Kelsie Crawford won second in the 100 meters in 13.57 and second in the long jump with a distance of 13’5.00.  Katie McKnight took second in the triple jump with 25’11” and third in the 600g javelin with a distance of 80’01”.

The 4x100 meter relay team of Kelsie Crawford, Katie McKnight; Emily Anderson and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas won first place in 1:42.72. The same four girls also took first place in the 4x200 meter race in 1:55.88. 

GOLF

The boys won a close match against Orcas Island 240 to 262.  Brendan McLeod was the medalist with a score of 41. There were not enough girls to fledge a team. 

In the March 23, 2011 issue...

POSTED BY SANDY STOKES

Fire commissioner asked to step down

The Fire District 13 Commission abruptly canceled its meeting Tuesday morning when Commissioner Jim Grove’s eligibility to hold office was challenged and he was asked to step down.

 La Conner resident Dan O’Donnell told Grove he is ineligible to hold office because he had not filed an oath of office with the county, as required by state law. " For that, he should, "step down immediately and leave the room,” O'Donnell ordered.

Commissioners canceled the meeting until they could sort it out.  All three commissioners were elected in November, 2009. and were supposed to be sworn before taking office in January 2010 -- 15 months ago.

It's all hunky-dory now though. Grove’s oath of office was, “faxed to us a few minutes ago,” Skagit County Elections Supervisor David Cunningham said shortly after 10 a.m. on Tuesday ... This is in today's paper.

 

Suspended Battalion Chief update

So the REAL issue in Fire District 13 is the fate of suspended Battalion Chief Doug Avery, a district volunteer since 1982. His public hearing to appeal the commission's decision to  suspend and possibly fire him for alleged insubordination was two weeks ago.

After Tuesday’s meeting was halted, Grove said the commission hoped to have its investigation into the allegations completed and come to a decision on Avery at its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. on April 5. 

The great turkey chase

    Writer M.Sharon Baker has the latest on La Conner's newest spectator event -- watching town employees try their luck at catching wild turkeys with dip nets. So far, Old Tom, who was seen flaunting his freedom last week, and four other feathered fugitives are on the run.

From the Police Blotter:

4:13 p.m.: Burglary – Someone stole food from a freezer in the garage of a home on the 500 block of Maple Ave., La Conner. If anyone noticed someone walking around carrying 50 pounds of frozen food on March 12 or 13, please contact the Sheriff’s Office.

The paper is on sale at the liquor store, produce market, book store, gas station, drug store and in our office, which is conveniently located next to the Station House Bar & Grill.  Subscribe and you won't have to avoid fleeing turkeys to get a copy.

 

 

Weekly La Conner High Sports capsule, March 23, 2011

Braves Raves

By Amylynn Richards

VOLLEBYALL

Candice Pedroza and Lauren McClung were among 22 of the best Class of 2011 volleyball players competing in the 26^th Annual All-State 1B/2B Volleyball game in Fife recently. Both girls competed on the “Red Team,” which won the tournament in 4 matches: 25-7; 25-18; 25-23; 25-17.

FASTPITCH

The girls had a rough start to the season in a non-league game in Brave territory on Wednesday, Mar. 16; Squalicum won the game 5-0. Coach Peg Seeling says the girls “played pretty well defensively, except for the two innings they scored their runs.”  Team highlight: Samie Miller began her senior year on the pitcher’s mound with a 7-hitter strike out.

League play proved to be successful for a Friday night double-header against Darrington. The Braves won the first game 16-2 in 5 innings. The Braves earned 16 runs on just 10 hits. Team highlights of game one: Alissa McCoy went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI; Lauren McClung, 2 for 3 with a double and 3 RBI; Taysha James, 2 for 4 with 2 RBI; and pitcher Samie Miller struck out 7 for the second time so far this season.

The Braves won game two over the Loggers 10-0 in 5 innings. The Braves earned their 10 points off of 8 hits. The Loggers managed just 2 hits the entire game. Team highlights: Samie Miller, 3 for 3 with a home run, 3 RBI, walking only one batter and striking out 7 from the pitcher’s mound for the third time thus far this season; Sierra Brown, 1 for 3 with a triple and 2 RBI; Lauren McClung, 2 for 3; Alissa McCoy, 1 for 3 with 2 RBI; and Galena Graham had 10 put-outs while manning first base across both games of the double header.

Coach Seeling has six seniors on her team, no juniors, two sophomores and six freshmen. “We had a chance to get all of our young players into the games,” Seeling said.

BASEBALL

The baseball team is in a state of flux; some new players are coming on board, and Mike Wilbur is out due to injury sustained after the Saturday, Mar. 19 game against Overlake.  “He’s in our thoughts, and we hope to see him soon,” said Coach Jeremiah LeSourd.

The Braves made it to Bellevue for a 10 a.m. game against Overlake, after a double header the night before against Darrington.

Overlake won the game 12-6. “The team got off to a fast start, but unfortunately the long week began to catch up to them, said LeSourd, “The braves came up short, but played error free baseball.”

Mike Wilbur had gone 2 for 4 during the Overlake game, with a double. His older brother, Garrett Wilbur also went 2 for 4; Dakota Hartley, 1 for 3 with a homerun; and DJ Carr, 2 for 3;

The Darrington Double-Header was much more successful. The Loggers were saved by the 10-point mercy rule for both games: The Braves won the first game 10-0 and the second 20-10.

In game one, Tyler Howlett pitched a two-hit shutout in only five innings. Other highlights: Garrett Wilbur was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI; Tanner Cyr was 2 for 3 with 1 RBI; and Wil James was 1 for 3 with 2 RBI.

For game two, Coach LeSourd said, “There was lots of scoring in game two. The younger players on the roster got an opportunity, and played well.”

Eight of the twenty points scored in game two were earned in the fifth inning.

Team highlights: DJ Carr, 3 for 4 2B 4 RBI's; Dakota Hartley, 3 for 4 2 RBI; Wil James, 3 for 5 2B; and Kyle McKnight, 2 for 4 RBI.

 On Wednesday, Mar. 16, the Braves took on last year’s 2B State Champions, Seattle Lutheran. “The Braves played well had the lead for the majority of the game, just coming up short in the last inning,” said LeSourd. Seattle Lutheran won 8-6. The Braves’ leading hitter was Wil James, who was 3 for 4, a double and 4 RBI.

BOYS’ TRACK

Track and Field had their first meet on Friday, Mar. 18. Cedar Park Christian hosted the event in Brave Territory. Cedar Park, of Bothell, is now the farthest flung member of the Northwest 1B/2B league. Other teams competing on Friday were Grace Academy, Concrete, La Conner, Shoreline and Mount Vernon Christian.

The Braves finished strong across the board.  Senior Conner Anderson earned two first place finishes, taking the 100 meter race in 12.31 seconds, and first place in the 200 meter race, in 25.03 seconds.

In the 800 meters race, Todd Hoagland earned first place in 2:13.47 and Nathan Sybrandy earned second with 2:17.7.

The four-man team of Wylie Thulen, Jamal James, Todd Hoagland and Conner Anderson earned first place in the 4x100 meter relay in 48.04c; the four man team of Nathan Sybrandy; Conner Anderson, Sten Mejlaender and Todd Hoagland earned first place in the 4x100m relay, in 3:46.40c.

Sam Traylor won the 3200 meters in 11:24:22; Sten Mejlaender won first in the 36” 300 meter hurdles. Landy James took first in the 800g javelin with a distance of 149’9.5”, a full 25’5.5” farther than second place winner, and also first in the high jump, leaping 5’10”.

Nathan Parker took third in the 12lb. shot put with a distance of 37’4.25” and also third in the 1.6kg discus, throwing 93’.

BG Miller earned his own personal best with a distance of 19’1.00”, a full 5 inches farther than his previous personal best.

GIRLS’ TRACK

Priscilla Ponce-Venegas won first place in the 33” 100 meter hurdles with a time of 19.56 and second in the 600 javelin with a distance of 82’11”. Kelsie Crawford earned first place with a distance of 13’0” in the long jump, and second in the 100 meter with a time of 14.53.  Emily Anderson earned second in the 33” 100 meter hurdles in 19.84 seconds. Freshman Katie McKnight took third in the 600 g javelin with 77’11.5”. Freshman Kirstyn (CQ) Bell took third in the 200 meters in 31.5 seconds. 

The girls ran the 4x100 without competition; the team of Kelsie Crawford, Katie McKnight, Emily Anderson and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas got some good practice for the next meet with a time of 56.13 seconds.  Mount Vernon Christian attempted to take on the same team in the 4x200 meter relay without success, the Braves won in 1:56.69.

GOLF

The co-ed golf team is now 3-0, having won the matches against Rainier Christian, Friday Harbor and Cedar Park. The latter two are league matches.

Medalist for the home match against Rainier Christian on Wednesday, Mar. 9 was freshman Brandon McCloud, with 42.

Medalist for the second match against Friday Harbor at Similk Bay golf course on Thursday, Mar. 10 was Spencer Novak, with 43.  Six Braves qualified for districts during this match: Hillary Edwards, Brandon McCloud, Spencer Novak, Spencer Finley, Travis Silva and Trenton Swigert.

On Monday, Mar. 14 the team went to Cedar Park Christian in Bothell; Jake Silva was medalist with 45.

WRESTLING

 The wrestling team had their awards banquet on Wednesday, Mar. 16. Coach Mike Compton said, “We said goodbye to seniors Brandon Drye, Travis Silva, Dan Biladeau and Ashley Norton and look forward to a strong team with three returning State Participants Nathan Parker, Dahlton Zavala and Wil James, as well as State Alternate Cameron Wischhusen.

 The night was an opportunity to bestow the plaques earned by Coach Barry Harper, who received the Regional Assistant Coach of the Year award, Nathan Parker, who received his Academic State Champion Award; and also Honorable Mention Academic Award winners Brandon Drye, Cameron Wischhusen, Travis Silva and Ashley Norton.

Special guest Randy Audette, who has officiated for 41 years and is “one of the top wrestling officials in the state,” said Coach Compton, “had some fine words to share about the La Conner wrestling program.   All in all it was a good evening, and the food was pretty darn good, too.”

Team awards: Brandon Drye, Brave Spirit Award and Most Outstanding Wrestler; Nathan Parker, Joe Bowen Award; Cameron Wischhusen, Most Inspirational; Ashley Norton, Most Improved; Hunter Johnson, Team Choice Award; Dahlton Zavala, Iron Man Award; and Wil James was named Rookie of the Year.

Team Captains were Brandon Drye and Travis Silva.

 

In the March 16, 2011 issue...

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

Local man honored for valor

Almost a quarter century after he earned the U.S. Border Patrol’s highest honor, La Conner resident Lee Prejean received the medal that comes with the agency's Newton-Azrak Award at a ceremony in Blaine last week. Pictured with Prejean, second from left are Chief Patrol Agent John C. Bates, La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes, Nick Papritz and Tom Jenson as Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Hull reads the letter of commendation.

Turning 100 a La Conner trend

Writer Sue Phillips explains how, especially in La Conner  60 is the new 40, 80 is the new 60 and 100 is simply fantastic!  Our little town has three Centenarians, people who have lived for a century. Find out who they are in this week's paper.

Shelter Bay homeowner fees rising

Reporter Amylynn Richards explains that the Shelter Bay Community budget, which is expected to be $2.75 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1, will result in a monthly increase of about $17.44 in homeowner fees. Get the details in today's paper.