In the April 6, 2011 issue...

Local girl in international ski contest

 Reporter Amylynn Richards has the story on Anna Bruce of La Conner, who at 12 years old is an accomplished skier and was chosen to compete as one of four girls in the Whistler Cup in British Columbia this Saturday. She will be competing against elite skiers from 25 countries on 5 continents. 

Local gathering spot in peril

La Conner Fruit & Produce Market, a place where local residents gather for coffee and lunch and stop in to buy milk and veggies, is in foreclosure and will be sold at auction on the county courthouse steps later this month unless a federal judge grants the business a reprieve. The owners turned a old ramshackle building that was about to fall into the Swinomish Channel into one of the prettiest and most popular spots in town 2005. But with the sluggish  economy and a long winter,  the business hasn't been able to keep up with its mortgage and taxes. 

Trash & recycling: read all about it

If you've been wondering what can and what can't go into the recycling bin and what happens to all the stuff we throw away, read La Conner writer Grace Hubbard's informative piece on trash. She tells what's recyclable, and explains how garbage is sorted to minimize the amount that goes to a landfill.

 

La Conner Elementary student Parker Rivas demonstrated that fruit produces electricity during the recent science fair. Guess which one produces the most energy? And is it enough voltage to run, say, a plasma TV? Pick up today's paper to find out what the young scientist discovered.

From the Police Blotter: 

1:43 p.m.: Bridge mess – Someone called the Sheriff’s Office to report tire debris on the Rainbow Bridge. Deputies went and picked it up.

Parade on Saturday

2 p.m. down First Street

(Line up at the school to join in.)

Paper is on sale in the usual places and in the news stands. Or stop by our office Monday through Friday. Call 360-466-3315 and subscribe to have it delivered.

   

Weekly La Conner High Sports capsule, April 6, 2011

Braves Raves

By Amylynn Richards
 

ALL-STATE BASKETBALL

Senior Kyle McKnight was selected on Thursday, March 31 as an Honorable Mention to the 2B Basketball All-State team.   

GOLF

La Conner high school hosted Grace Academy at Similk golf course on Monday, March 18, and won 211-294.  Senior Jake Silva was the medalist with a score of 37.

On Thursday, the team traveled to compete against Rainier Christian.  The Braves won 243-255. The medalist was Jake Silva, who scored 41.   

Bobby Poulton has qualified for districts; the Braves now can boast six boys and one girl who have qualified for district competition.  “We’re looking good so far,” says Coach Sean Skiles, “we’re still undefeated so you can’t do much better than that, but some better weather would be great.”

BASEBALL

The boys hosted Friday Harbor on Tuesday, March 29. The Wolverines won 5-4. Jeremiah LeSourd reports, “This game went back and forth and was close throughout.”

Tyler Howlett pitched. Howlett struck out eight batters, gave up six hits and only one earned run.  The Braves’ five errors contributed to the team’s first 2B/1B league loss this season.

LeSourd reports that the Braves had a great offense, “The Braves were able to get runners on base consistently, but left ten on base. The Braves were missing a few starters for the game, and this was a great opportunity for younger players to get valuable experience.”

Leading Hitters: Garrett Wilbur 4 for 4, with a double; Christian Johnston 2 for 4 and 1RBI; and Matt McCauley was 1 for 4 with 2RBI. 

FASTPITCH

The Lady Braves played Friday Harbor at home, on Tuesday, March 29, beating the Wolverines 15-11. The Braves took an early lead, scoring 4 runs in the first inning. Each team scored one point each in the second and third innings. The Wolverines gave the home team a bit of a scare in the fourth inning, evening up the score 6-6, until the Braves brought 2 more runs at the bottom of the fourth.

The Wolverines brought in 4 runs in the top of the fifth for the lead, but the Braves brought home 7 runs. The Wolverines scored one final run in the seventh inning, but it was too little too late for Friday Harbor. 

The Braves made the 15 runs off of 13 hits, with 11 errors. The Wolverines scored their 11 runs from 11 hits, with 4 errors.

Team highlights: Kaitlyn Summers was 3 for 3, with a double and 4 RBI; Taysha James was 2 for 5, with a double and 2 RBI, Kelley McClung was 1 for 4 with a triple. First baseman Galena Graham was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and 9 put outs, and pitcher Samie Miller had 7 strikeouts and 6 assists.

The girls travelled to Seattle Lutheran on Thursday, March 31. The Braves won 24 – 4 in five innings.

 Seattle Lutheran scored 1 run in the first inning, but the Braves sent them packing with 9 runs in the second inning. The Saints never recovered. Though the Saints did score 3 more points before games’ end, the Braves second high scoring fourth inning of 8 points sealed the win for the Braves.

The Braves 24 runs were scored off of 15 hits, with only 2 errors.

Pitcher Samie Miller threw 11 strike-outs, and hit a double. Kelley McClung was 3 for 4, with a double, triple and 2 RBI. Kaitlyn Summers was 2 for 4 with a double and 5RBI; and Taysha James was 5 for 6 with 2RBI.
The fastpitch team is 6-2 overall and 4-0 in league.

GIRLS’ TRACK

La Conner, Concrete, Lopez and Friday Harbor met on Friday Harbor on Thursday, Mar. 31 for a 1B/2B/1A meet.

Freshman Kirstyn Bell earned first place in the 400 meter race in 1:14.25 seconds and second in the 200 meter race, in 30.93 seconds; Priscilla Ponce-Venegas won first in the 600 g. javelin with 92’04”, beating her previous personal best for the second straight week, this time by 1’8”; Ponce-Venegas also won first place in the 30” 300 meter hurdles, in 50.54c; and Sammie Mesman won first place in the 1600 meter race in 6:21.37.

Emily Anderson won second in the 33” 100 m hurdles, and second in the high jump, leaping 4’04"and second in 14.1 seconds, setting a new personal best and finishing an exact second quicker than the first race of her high school career on March 18.

Kelsie Crawford took third in the 100 meters race, in 14.1 seconds;

The Lady Braves swept the relay races, winning first place in the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relay races.  

The four-woman team of Sammie Mesman, Lydia Lenning, Madi Cavanaugh and Kirstyn Bell won first place in the 4x100 relay, in 5:05:50.  

The 4x200 race was won by Madi Cavanaugh, Kirstyn Bell, Emily Anderson and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas in 1:58.09.

The 4x400 race was won in 5:05.50 by Sammie Mesman, Lydia Lenning, Madi Cavanaugh and Kirstyn Bell.

BOYS’ TRACK

The boys track team also competed at the La Conner, Concrete, Lopez and Friday Harbor met on Friday Harbor on Thursday, March 31 for a 1B/2B/1A meet.

Senior BG Miller has beaten his personal best in the long jump event. Miller attempted the long jump competitively once before, on Friday, Mar. 18. In less than two weeks, Miller increased his personal best by 7 inches, for a new personal record of 10’1.00”.

Senior Sten Mejlaender won first in the 36” 300 meter hurdles, in 42.24c; Mejlaender won first place again in the 39” 100 meter hurdles in 16.24c. This time beat his previous personal best by 0.10c.

Landy James set a new personal record for the high jump of 6’, beat his previous personal best by 2 inches. James picked up first place along the way. Landy James also took first place in the 800g javelin throw, with a distance of 144’07”.

Brandon Drye earned first place in the 1.6 kg. discus, throwing the discus 120’09.25”. Drye earned second in the 12lb. shot put, with a distance of 36’09.75”.

Nathan Sybrandy took second in the 1600 meters in 4:58.25 and third in the 800 meters with a time of 2:18.21; Todd Hoagland came in second in the 800 meter race, with a time of 2:12.0, and third in the 800 meters, in 2:18.30.

Sophomore Jamall James earned second in the long jump, leaping 19’0”, his new personal best by 1.5”.  Track is only 3 meets into the season, and James has already increased his long jump by 1ft. compared to his personal best of the 2010 season.  James won second place in the triple jump, leaping 38’5.00”.

Stephen Bell won third place with a distance of 97’09.25” in the 1.6 kg. discus throw.

Nathan Parker won third in the 12lb. shot put, throwing a distance of 35’07”.

The Braves won first place in the 4x400 relay race in 3:47.09, run by Nathan Sybrandy, Jamall James, Sten Mejlaender and Todd Hoagland.

In the 4x100 meter relay, the Braves took second place in 47.56 seconds. The race was run by Wylie Thulen, Jamall James, Todd Hoagland and Sten Mejlaender.

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.