Islands' Sounder

Orcas Island High School has once again been named to U.S. News and World Report's “America's Best High Schools” list. The top schools were placed into gold, silver, bronze, or honorable mention categories. Orcas High received a bronze award, and was the only San Juan County school to be recognized. Full Story »

The Lobos put the first points on the scoreboard Saturday, jumping ahead with two productive fast breaks in the first minute of play. Full Story »

The ballots are counted and results have been certified. But there's at least one issue from the November election which has yet to be put to rest. Full Story »

Christmas will be a little warmer for some. Full Story »

The state Supreme Court has appointed Island County Superior Court Judge Alan Hancock to perform judicial duties in San Juan Superior Court, succeeding John Linde, who died Dec. 3. Linde, 62, died of apparent cardiac arrest while vacationing in Hawaii. Memorial service is Dec. 12, 11:30 a.m., at Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church. Full Story »

Jennifer Johnson was on her way to bed on Dec. 6 in Deer Harbor, but she wouldn’t get much sleep that night. “I saw some smoke upstairs and there was some smoke coming out of a chimney area. The smoke alarms started going off and I went directly to 911,” Johnson said. Full Story »

For a moment this morning, San Juan County Superior Court was still. No gavel, no opening statements, no questions, no testimony. Judge John Linde's courtroom opened at 9 a.m. today with a moment of silence in his honor, the county communications office reported. Linde, 62, died Dec. 3 while vacationing in Hawaii. He had been snorkeling with a friend; an autopsy was scheduled. Full Story »