In the June 29, 2011 issue...

The last turkey left town

After a two-month stay in the town’s turkey hoosegow following an attempt to hide in a public restroom, La Conner’s last tom turkey had his “bail posted” by Marci Plank, executive director of the La Conner Chamber of Commerce.

Writer M. Sharon Baker has the story on the adoption of  “Monty,” which ends La Conner's Town Turkey era.

Or does it? Somebody was making a turkey gobbling noise this morning.... there are several groups of wild turkeys in the area.

We're out of these...

File photo by Kirsten Morse

But we still have plenty of these...

 File photo by Don Coyote

Fashion Statement 

 Photo by Joy Neal

 Samantha Clark “models” the latest look in snakeskin during last week’s Reptile Man visit to young readers at La Conner Regional Library. Scott Peterson, the Reptile Man, brought living exhibits for the children to learn about.

3^rd of July Fireworks

4^th of July Parade & Picnic

While most places have fireworks on July 4, La Conner's fireworks display over the Channel will be Sunday, July 3.  But the 4th of July Parade and Picnic is still scheduled for Monday, July 4. The Parade steps off at 11:30 a.m. in downtown La Conner and the Old Fashioned picnic and party is in Pioneer Park right after the parade.

From the Police Blotter: 

1:36 p.m.: Rude motorist – Poor driving accompanied by numerous hand gestures on Morris Street in La Conner prompted a 911 call. Deputies were unable to locate the rude driver or the vehicle involved.

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In the June 22, 2011 issue...

Photo by Jeff Clark

IN LA CONNER! 

This Nigeria Police boat appeared to be at least 7,400 miles outside its jurisdiction in the U.S. waters of Skagit Bay and the Swinomish Channel recently. The boat’s Sedro-Woolley based builder, Workskiff, as been taking the vessel out for sea trials before it ships it to Africa next month. The 50-caliber gun mounted on the bow is a dummy.

 

New La Conner video

La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes has released a new video on YouTube promoting the town as a getaway spot for city dwellers in the Seattle area. See the video

Photo by Amylynn Richards

Yummy Worm

Demonstrating a quick and easy recipe to gross out parents, teachers and girls, Jadyn Koetje holds aloft a plump and juicy earthworm as Mason Wilson pretends to eat it.

Familiar new face coming to School Board

Writer Amylynn Richards has the story about November's La Conner School Board Election.  Gretchen McCauley, who has served on the board for 15 years, will retire.
Running unopposed for her  Position One seat is popular Coach Mike Compton, who just announced his retirement after 32 years teaching and coaching this year after 32 yerars in the school district.

Jim Smith in Pull & Be Damned has a colorful trip down memory lane about this lake in Woonsocket, South Dakota.

From the Police Blotter:

12:17 p.m.: Stray cat – A scrawny kitten was reported to be near the roundabout in La Conner. The deputy was unable to locate the animal.

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In the June 15, 2011 issue...

Council shot down zoning request

 La Conner Town Council voted 3-2 Tuesday to deny a request for a change in the town’s comprehensive plan that would designate land in a south end neighborhood for industrial use. Upper Skagit Indian Tribe owns the 5½ acres of at the waterfront on the south side of Caledonia Street and uses it for its fishing operation. The tribe wanted the land changed from commercial to industrial zoning to be compatible with its present use. Read about it in today's paper.

  Photo by Amylynn Richards

SCHOOL'S OUT! – Kyle McKnight and Jenna Barsness applaud for a classmate who is accepting one of the dozens of scholarships and awards bestowed on the 43 members of the 2011 graduating class at La Conner High School on Thursday. See the long list of awards on page 4 in today's paper.

 Dude! Skate Park! 

Construction starts next week on La Conner’s long awaited skateboard park at the north end of 6^th Street near the school property. La Conner Town Council voted unanimously to award a $96,000 construction contract to get it going. Read today's paper to find out about the cool feature to be added at the suggestion of  Spanish teacher Mr. B.

Photo by Joy Neal

Remember when there were turkeys here? Now we have sculptures dedicated to their memory. This life-size piece of art was created by Don Mulanax for the Kiwanis annual Cash Cow Art Show and auction. 

  

New Garden of Hope to feed needy

 Writer Sue Phillips has the story of how the local food banks, including the La Conner Sunrise Food Bank, will be offering fresh produce every week because of the generosity of local farmers and gardeners. 

From the Police Blotter:  

3:40 p.m.: Alarm – The cleaning crew accidentally set off the alarm at Bank of America in La Conner. Did anyone see TV coverage on this one?

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Weekly La Conner High Sports capsule, June 15, 2011

Last day of school Thursday

   High School sports in La Conner has pretty much gone on vacation ... the Football Team's last day of spring training was Monday. The boys will go to football camp in July and then go full steam into into training in August for the fall season.

from Braves Raves

TRACK AWARDS

The track team has awarded BG Miller with the Most Inspirational award; girls’ team captain Emily Anderson with Most Improved; Jamall James as the boys’ high point winner; and Kelsie Crawford as the girls’ high point winner. The boys’ team captain was Sten Mejlaender.

EMMA HEDBOM AWARD

This is the third year that an award has been given to the middle school student who shows the most fun-loving spirit during spirit week. It is named in honor of Emma Hedbom, a La Conner High School student, who died in 2008. This year’s Emma Hedbom Spirit Award went to Emma Christianson, and for the first time, an honorary award went to Coach Mike Compton, who typically goes full bore with different costumes and disguises as often as he can get away with it.

In the June 8, 2011 issue...

 

Tribe seeks industrial zone in neighborhood

The La Conner Town Council could decide on Tuesday to allow a change to the town’s comprehensive plan that would designate land in the Caledonia Street neighborhood for industrial use.

The 5½ acres is presently zoned for commercial use and is owned by the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe which bought the land in 2009 for its fishing operation. Upper Skagit has recently requested that the zoning be changed to industrial.

 

 Photo by Amylynn Richards

 ‘Hard court press’ 

rolls into La Conner

Writer Amylynn Richards explains what was going on at 6th and Morris streets in La Conner on Saturday, when artists teamed up with a road roller to make prints from carvings created by Swinomish youth.

Local artist Theodora Jonsson, orchestrated the event, which featured live music and heavy equipment pressing out art prints.

 Photo by Pat Doran

Arne Svendsen operating the "printing press" in the street.

Photo by Pat Doran

One of the artists on hand for Saturday's event, noted Swinomish carver Kevin Paul, looks over the art prints made with the road roller.

Politicking season again

This is the week when people who say they’re running for public offices in Skagit County put their signatures on their promises. Candidates have until 4:30 p.m. on Friday to file to have their names on the November General Election ballot. 

La Conner area residents will elect a town Mayor, two Town Council members, three School Board members and a Fire District 13 commissioner. Click here to view the latest information on who's challenging who. Hint: It won't be boring around here this fall!

  Photo by Bill Stokes

These traveling thespians just kind of jump out of their cars and start acting.  Shakespeare Northwest members gave a free performance in Pioneer Park in La Conner on Saturday. They're promoting their upcoming Shakespeare Festival which will be a big production at the Black Rock Amphitheater, a converted quarry on land owned by Rexville Grange. Shakespeare Festival starts on July 7. Check out their website for the details.

From the Police Blotter:

12:57 p.m.: Found property – Deputies recovered two bicycles left behind a business on Maple Avenue. It turned out the bikes belonged to two kids who left them there on purpose and didn’t ride them the rest of the way to school because the school has a bicycle helmet rule.

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