Skagit Valley Herald

Chimney fire destroys shop, trailer
Skagit Valley Herald – Wed Dec 9, 8:13 pm ET

BIRDSVIEW — A chimney fire from a wood burning stove destroyed a shop and a nearby camping trailer on Lena Lane on Tuesday afternoon, according to Kevin Noyes, Skagit County deputy fire marshal.… Full Story »
Apparent suicide at Deception Pass Bridge
Skagit Valley Herald – Wed Dec 9, 7:44 pm ET

DECEPTION PASS — Island County officials are investigating an apparent suicide on the Deception Pass Bridge. The incident was reported just after 3:30 p.m. today. The Island… Full Story »
Money donated toward trestle restoration
Skagit Valley Herald – Wed Dec 9, 4:58 pm ET

The Samish Indian Nation and the Puget Sound Energy foundation announced today they will donate thousands of dollars toward the rebuilding an old railroad trestle on the Tommy Thompson Trail in Anacortes… Full Story »
Wednesday’s Prep Scoreboard
Skagit Valley Herald – Wed Dec 9, 4:13 pm ET

Girls’ Basketball Blaine 44, Concrete 33 Stanwood 48, Everett 36 Boys’ Wrestling Oak Harbor 59, Mountlake Terrace 16 Anacortes 36,… Full Story »
Officials look at consolidating three programs to save money
Skagit Valley Herald – Wed Dec 9, 11:58 am ET

County officials are looking at consolidation as a way to save money in a tight budget year. Human Services, Senior Services and the At-Risk Intervention Specialist program will all be consolidated… Full Story »
Christmas Fund: A great way to spread the cheer
Skagit Valley Herald – Wed Dec 9, 11:29 am ET

Christmas is less than three weeks away, but there is still time to make a big difference in the lives of struggling families on that special day. The Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund brings… Full Story »
Playing on ice
Skagit Valley Herald – Wed Dec 9, 9:59 am ET

It isn’t often Skagit Valley residents get a chance to go ice skating inside the county limits. But cold temperatures and clear skies provided the perfect opportunity Tuesday. … Full Story »
Murder defendant released on bail
Skagit Valley Herald – Tue Dec 8, 9:14 pm ET

MOUNT VERNON — The man accused of murdering a well-known Anacortes dog trainer was released from the Skagit County Jail Tuesday evening, according to jail staff. Michiel Glen Oakes, 41,… Full Story »
Tuesday’s Prep Scoreboard
Skagit Valley Herald – Tue Dec 8, 5:14 pm ET

Boys’ Basketball Nooksack Valley 62, Concrete 32 Burlington-Edison 82, Oak Harobr 48 Stanwood 79, Everett 47 Mount Vernon 71, Anacortes 68 Coupleville… Full Story »
S-W to consider sewer rate hike
Skagit Valley Herald – Tue Dec 8, 2:14 pm ET

SEDRO-WOOLLEY — The millions spent to increase the city’s sewer system capacity will likely mean a bump in sewer rates for 2010. Residential customers would pay $53.25 per month… Full Story »
Dike district agrees to contribute $1 million to Mount Vernon flood project
Skagit Valley Herald – Tue Dec 8, 11:59 am ET

MOUNT VERNON — Another $1 million could soon be in hand for the downtown flood protection project. Commissioners for Dike District 3, which includes downtown Mount Vernon, have already… Full Story »
Letters to the Editor, December 8, 2009
Skagit Valley Herald – Tue Dec 8, 11:29 am ET

A shelter worth saving We live in one of the most beautiful areas possible. Skagit County has incredible people here who care about each other, and for many years created a loving place… Full Story »
H1N1 vaccine available to all in Island County
Skagit Valley Herald – Tue Dec 8, 10:14 am ET

Island County Public Health has opened up the H1N1 vaccine to anyone in Island County. The vaccine was restricted to people at most risk for complications from the swine flu virus and to emergency… Full Story »
A little chilly
Skagit Valley Herald – Tue Dec 8, 8:14 am ET

If you’re looking for warmer days, you’ll probably have to go somewhere else this week. The cold, dry air mass that has pushed temperatures below freezing will remain over the Western… Full Story »
Pearl Harbor survivor reflects
Skagit Valley Herald – Mon Dec 7, 8:59 pm ET

James Murray, a 21-year-old shopkeeper second class, was standing with his fellow sailors for the raising of the flag on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor just before 8 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, when he… Full Story »
A warm place to go
Skagit Valley Herald – Mon Dec 7, 8:14 pm ET

MOUNT VERNON — Some local churches have opened up the Severe Weather Emergency Shelter for the homeless. The shelter, run by the interdenominational service group Christian Ministry Network,… Full Story »
Skagit Valley Herald’s Offensive Football Player of the Year
Skagit Valley Herald – Mon Dec 7, 5:29 pm ET

BURLINGTON — It’s not often that a high school football team has a kicker who is as potent a weapon as Andrew Furney was this year for the Burlington-Edison Tigers. Furney, who… Full Story »
Eagle Scout project honors veterans
Skagit Valley Herald – Mon Dec 7, 3:29 pm ET

Sam Fagan, son of Kent and Peggy Fagan of Conway, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at a court of honor held Monday, Nov. 23, at the Fir-Conway Lutheran Church near Conway. To earn the Eagle… Full Story »
Coffee with a cause
Skagit Valley Herald – Mon Dec 7, 2:59 pm ET

When Dave Crumbo headed to Africa for a couple of months last year after retiring as a partner in Alaska Ocean Seafood, he never imagined he’d return with a new business plan. But he… Full Story »
Defendant in dog trainer homicide case secures bail money
Skagit Valley Herald – Mon Dec 7, 2:44 pm ET

MOUNT VERNON — The man accused of planning and carrying out the murder of a well-known Anacortes dog trainer has secured the $250,000 he needs to post his $2.5 million bond for release, according… Full Story »
Marriage licenses Dec. 6, 2009
Skagit Valley Herald – Mon Dec 7, 1:29 pm ET

Derrick Baer, 26, of Mount Vernon, Heather O’Neill, 21, of Sedro-Woolley. James Moore, 62, Patti Chambers, 58, both of Mount Vernon. John Harkins Jr., 29, of Anacortes, Erin… Full Story »
Births Dec. 6, 2009
Skagit Valley Herald – Mon Dec 7, 1:29 pm ET

Bellingham Birth Center Julie and David Schutte, Sedro-Woolley, a boy, Oct. 22, 2009. Home births Tracy Dahlstedt and Robert Rienstra, Bellingham, a girl, Nov. 28, 2009.… Full Story »
Made with Care
Skagit Valley Herald – Mon Dec 7, 12:14 pm ET

Marines add handmade toys to Christmas Fund stash Seven of Dwain Colby’s grandchildren helped refine the design of a wooden toy float plane that moves like a rocking horse and will be… Full Story »
Private schools feel pinch of recession
Skagit Valley Herald – Mon Dec 7, 12:14 pm ET

MOUNT VERNON — About 100 teenage heads bowed in prayer as students attended a midday chapel service at Mount Vernon Christian School. The speaker, Mike Encoe, the children’s youth… Full Story »
Samish cleanup must be a total group effort
Skagit Valley Herald – Mon Dec 7, 11:44 am ET

There is encouraging progress toward cleaning up the Samish River after decades of inaction. The river is not long — just 29 miles — but its influence on salmon, agriculture and tideland… Full Story »