Potpourri
Sorted by date Results 1 - 50 of 67
Fentanyl tainted envelope mailed to Skagit elections
Courthouse drama is nothing new in Skagit County. But what is new is the tact taken to disrupt the counting of 2023 general election ballots at the county auditor’s office in Mount Vernon last Wednesday, Nov. 8. Ballot counting... — Updated 11/16/2023
Venersborg Schoolhouse features a place of community
A place of community since 1912, the Venersborg Schoolhouse has served multiple roles throughout its existence, but, lately, community events have been what has tied the rural area... — Updated 11/9/2023
Hey Siri ... Wait what the?!?!
The driver of a truck bringing a commercial load of marijuana products from Calgary, Alberta to Port Coquitlam, B.C. somehow managed to take a few wrong turns and ended up at the U.... — Updated 11/2/2023
Megan Moore gets a head start with drag racing
Megan Moore, a freshman at Battle Ground High School, already has four years of driving experience with her success behind the wheel of a Junior Dragster car. In 2022, Moore earned... — Updated 10/26/2023
Thousands of Knitted Knockers are stitched with love
In the black bag Char Malseed carries with her at all times are yarn, knitting needles, scissors, projects in progress and a worn sheet of pink paper full of minuscule tally marks.... — Updated 10/26/2023
'We are still here': Community gathers for Indigenous Peoples Day
The Lummi Nation welcomed hundreds of community members into the Wex'liem Community Building Monday night, Oct. 9, for salmon, song, dance and speeches to mark Indigenous Peoples... — Updated 10/12/2023
Overcoming senior loneliness: We are in this together
It is fair to say we live in an interesting time in history, where crisis has become the norm. Where information is plentiful, technology is ever consuming, and frankly, we all... — Updated 10/12/2023
Pleasant Valley School's spirit lives on through wood carving
Pleasant Valley School's campus sees community identity live on through a wood carving of the school mascot, Buddy the Beaver. When the campus opened in 1976, two red oak trees... — Updated 9/28/2023
The Power of Love
In an 8-foot by 20-foot metal box near East Wenatchee, five men crowd inside to run electrical cables from one panel to another. They are finishing up a two-month project to... — Updated 9/28/2023
Local Ghost Hunters Document Paranormal Experiences on YouTube
Derek Grannes and Alex Donahou were tossing back a few drinks at The Floatation Device Pub & Grill near the Purdy Spit last December. Nothing strange about friends of nearly 20... — Updated 9/28/2023
Grand Coulee man takes state photo prize
Merle Roberts, of Grand Coulee, earned a blue ribbon in photography last week at the state fair in Puyallup. Roberts named his photo, in dramatic dark gray shades of a local tree... — Updated 9/14/2023
Miniature donkeys raised as companion animals
When you drive around Skagit County, you see lots of animals: horses, cows, goats and more. One small farm on Best Road that immediately caught my attention has a sign stating JF... — Updated 9/7/2023
Whatever History Has Forgotten, Seattle Put His People First
A year ago in September, I wrote about a few books in these pages that I thought our community might read and asked for suggestions for those many titles I certainly missed. One... — Updated 9/7/2023
New WWU athletic director looks to place larger emphasis on fundraising, fan engagement
When former University of Missouri Director of Athletics Jim Sterk was hired to helm Western Washington University's athletics department, a 15-year-old question was once again... — Updated 8/31/2023
Witness: Person struck, killed by train while trying to save dog near Woodland
A person and a dog were killed after being struck by a train on a span commonly known as the Ghost Bridge near Woodland on Tuesday, according to a news release from the Cowlitz... — Updated 8/31/2023
Investigation underway in Birch Bay Waterslides accident
Whatcom County officials are investigating a man's injury at Birch Bay Waterslides that forced the park to close for the season on Aug. 25. An adult male was injured on one of the... — Updated 8/31/2023
Packwood's 'Hammock Head' has done it again, this time with a chair
One member of Packwood's abundant elk herd, dubbed "Hammock Head" by locals, earned regional notoriety for getting himself caught in a hammock late last year and spending the... — Updated 8/25/2023
Peninsula guides a doggone 'miracle': Woman kayaks out to rescue missing Doberman
Operation Doberman sounds like a military code-name, but it was a remarkable instance where the peninsula displayed its collective concern. When Arlington visitor Stacy Day's pet... — Updated 8/25/2023
Northwest Steam Society hosts 50th public meet
Enthusiasts from the Northwest Steam Society are gathering their fleet of boats and historical memorabilia at Blaine Harbor for their 50th anniversary celebration of all things... — Updated 8/10/2023
'A Story of Shocking Function' - Derek Kilmer Works to Fix Congress
Ten years ago, then-state legislator Derek Kilmer considered running for Congress to replace the retiring Norm Dicks (D-6th), but he had some reservations. "I was conscious that if... — Updated 8/10/2023
Around the World Alone - Again - This Time by Sail
Once you become the first person to circumnavigate the globe alone under your own power - 41,196 miles of rowing solo across the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, then pedaling... — Updated 8/10/2023
U.S. Navy to name ship in honor of late tribal activist Billy Frank Jr.
The late Billy Frank Jr, a Nisqually tribal elder and legendary Native American activist, will soon have a U.S. Navy ship named in his honor. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro... — Updated 8/3/2023
Lady Washington tall ship returns to Blaine Harbor for maritime festival
Blaine's annual Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival is back Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6 for a pirate-themed weekend with events for the whole family (pets included). The... — Updated 8/3/2023
Longbranch Photographer Shares Her Art of Storytelling
Gretchen Shepherd was getting ready to head to church camp at Camp Ghormley near Yakima. It was summer in the 1960s, and to capture the special moments between all the worship and... — Updated 7/27/2023
Boat work: Do it right or risk 'big ol' can of worms'
ILWACO - Under a high July sun, shipwright Rachel Kuhn sanded the mahogany hull of a 1967 Chris-Craft next to Westport commercial fisherman Chris Cain, who was busy re-painting the... — Updated 7/13/2023
Washington Ranks Second Nationally in UFO Sightings, With Many in Yelm and Rainier
While one of the most famous shows based in Washington state is "Fraiser" - a Seattle-based comedy about psychiatrist Fraiser Crane - perhaps it should have been the "X-Files"... — Updated 7/13/2023
WCSO inmate attempts escape after door locks fail
BELLINGHAM — On July 4 at approximately 6:30 p.m., Whatcom County Corrections Deputies were alerted to an inmate out of his cell. The inmate, 23-year-old Christian Dillard, was being held in one of the highest security units in t... — Updated 7/6/2023
Bellingham's first female fire captain is a 'professional problem-solver'
Being a firefighter was not on Sarah Pernick's childhood list of aspirations. Before becoming the first female fire captain in Bellingham, she was a self-described "ski bum."... — Updated 6/29/2023
Long-time Grand Coulee family physician earns prestigious award
Andrew C. Castrodale, M.D., is the recipient of the 2023 UW School of Medicine Alumni Service Award, the school announced last week. The award recognizes a University of Washington... — Updated 6/29/2023
Americorps team is back in the valley
For the first time since 2019, an Americorps team is at work in the Methow Valley. The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program offers participants a chance to... — Updated 6/21/2023
Author with Quincy roots digs through the history of territorial Washington
The marathon reading sessions paid off. The year was 1964, and the librarian at Quincy High School was Mary Kazda, also the teacher of Pre-College English. "She was a no-nonsense... — Updated 6/21/2023
Harmony on Horseback: Local Teen Competes for Spot on U.S. Equestrian Team
It seems like a circus act, but it's in a barn. It looks like gymnastics, but there's no mat. It feels like figure skating, but it's on dirt. It's kind of like dancing, but it's on... — Updated 6/21/2023
Former WWU track and field star wins UK cheese run
Former WWU track and field star and Nooksack Valley High School coach Cooper Cummings flew overseas to take home the big cheese: first place in the men's downhill race at the... — Updated 6/8/2023
Trio of local paddlers gearing up for 70-mile race
Some among us seem hellbent on contriving the most hair-brained follies to test the outer limits of personal capabilities. It's baked into the DNA, I suppose. A decade ago, rock... — Updated 6/1/2023
Ski to Sea returns Memorial Day weekend
WHATCOM COUNTY - The creme-de-la-creme athletic event of Whatcom County is coming soon. Ski to Sea is a 93-mile course across snow and water and other surfaces, with biking and runn... — Updated 5/19/2023
Website lists Washougal River as nation's best skinny-dipping spot
MyDatingAdviser.com recently updated its ranking of the 25 best nude beaches in the world. The Washougal River was named the No. 1 spot in the United States and checked in at No. 7... — Updated 5/4/2023
Wilcox steps down from House Republican Leader role
After five years serving as Washington state's House Republican Leader, Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, announced his decision to step down from his leadership role. Being the House... — Updated 4/26/2023
Legislature adjourns without 'Blake bill' solution
The Washington State Legislature adjourned April 23 after failing to approve a controversial bill setting drug possession penalties, raising the possibility of a special session in... — Updated 4/26/2023
Finland's president addresses state Legislature
For the first time in history, a foreign head of state has addressed a joint session in the Washington State Legislature. President, Sauli Niinistö, of the Republic of Finland,... — Updated 3/8/2023
Children's Day brings a bill on a state dinosaur to the House floor
Children and grandchildren sat on laps and wandered the aisles of the House of Representatives for this year's Children's Day at the state Legislature, and many young observers... — Updated 3/8/2023
New nickname, same as the old nickname
Washington State might have an official nickname if a bill that passed a Senate committee becomes law, but it's not really “new.” You’ve seen it on everything from license plates to a state college. Senate Bill 5595, by Sen.... — Updated 3/8/2023
Foraging racoons trouble Cathlamet woman
It's been a frustrating few days for Gloria Johnson in Cathlamet. Several mornings in a row now, she's discovered that something is turning over the newly laid sod in her back... — Updated 12/15/2022
Long Beach Post Office closed for investigation
LONG BEACH - A hazardous materials specialist is expected to investigate the mystery of what's going on at the Long Beach Post Office, which remained closed and taped off to the... — Updated 12/14/2022
Veteran-Owned Ranch in Thurston County Offers Reindeer Rentals
Looking to add some literal life to your holiday event? With Christmas a little over a month away, the Twisted Holly Reindeer Ranch in Rochester is offering reindeer rentals for... — Updated 12/1/2022
Local service clubs struggle with declining, aging membership
Service clubs in Bellingham are struggling with declining membership across the board. As longtime members get older and younger professionals struggle with the time commitments... — Updated 11/28/2022
'Tree of Life' springs at Ridgefield High School
On a chilly November day, rods of steel arose from the ground at Ridgefield High School. When completed, the metal will resemble grass blowing in the wind, and if the sculpture’s... — Updated 11/28/2022
Restored orca sculpture will find a home in Edmonds
For nearly 30 years, former Edmonds resident John Hurley has continually played a part in the life of his iconic yet battered orca sculpture at Brackett's Landing. At 95 years old,... — Updated 11/28/2022
What's the Deal With: Mount Baker Theatre's boulder?
The boulder behind Mount Baker Theatre is rather conspicuous. Nestled in the alley behind the building between Commercial and Unity streets, it looks like city planners made a... — Updated 11/11/2022
Fore! New disc golf course tees off in Long Beach
LONG BEACH - A budding sport with a broadening base is now teeing off on the Long Beach Peninsula. In October, the Peninsula Golf Course in Long Beach officially opened a new... — Updated 11/11/2022
Horse enthusiast combines her love of painting and riding
Joanne Mehl blended her passion of horses and art to form a business where she paints vivid landscapes and equestrian activities. Mehl, who has been a professional, figurative... — Updated 11/3/2022