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    Articles by Colleen Smith Summers
    Frustration looms large at power co-op candidate forum
    Frustration looms large at power co-op candidate forum
    By Colleen Smith Summers • April 14, 2015 6:06 pm

    “OPALCO bought a market competitor and is subsidizing it with the co-op,” Orcas Island’s Dennis King said. “You say it’s a community co-op but you are driving other local internet service providers out of business.”

    Read Story

    Publisher Colleen Armstrong
    County should allow cannabis production | Colleen Armstrong
    By Colleen Smith Summers • January 21, 2015 8:30 pm

    Here at the Journal, we are disappointed with the direction that San Juan County is taking in regards to cannabis farming.

    Read Story

    Sexual assault, it can happen here
    Sexual assault, it can happen here
    By Colleen Smith Summers • November 5, 2014 12:43 pm

    Officials warn about danger of drugs, date rape. While the cases are currently at a stand still because of victims’ reluctance to testify, the need to educate the public has become apparent.

    Read Story

    Deputy Doug Maya
    Off-duty deputy rescues two from smoke-filled home
    By Colleen Smith Summers • September 22, 2014 9:49 pm

    “I felt a little naked because I didn’t have any gear, but it was a small space with easy access – if things went sideways I could have gotten out,” deputy Doug Maya recalls of the rescue of two people from a mobile home filling up fast with toxic smoke.

    Read Story

    A major wake-up for San Juan Island communities | Colleen Armstrong
    A major wake-up for San Juan Island communities...
    By Colleen Smith Summers • August 25, 2014 7:49 pm

    We applaud the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission for recommending CenturyLink be fined more than $170,000 for the 10-day communications outage last November that created an upheaval in the San Juans

    Read Story

    A baby long-eared myotis bat
    Mysterious, good, bad? Bats unveiled
    By Colleen Smith Summers • August 20, 2014 2:02 pm

    Mouse-eared bats look similar from a distance and use the same frequencies to navigate and target their prey, but they vary somewhat in body proportions and behavior. Two of our mouse-eared species are actually quite rare.

    Read Story

    Cute kitties like these could use a home. The animal shelter welcomes opportunities for those who are willing to foster a pet.
    Do you have a big heart but limited...
    By Colleen Smith Summers • May 28, 2014 6:18 pm

    Shelters can be high stress environments for animals – strangers coming to visit and being in a kennel can cause anxiety. One solution is placing the cat or dog in a temporary home until a permanent adopter comes forward.

    Read Story

    A place for victims in their time of need
    A place for victims in their time of...
    By Colleen Smith Summers • April 15, 2013 9:25 pm

    Crime Victims Center offers support, expertise when it matters most

    Read Story

    Bruce Distler
    Distler ascends to 2nd in command at Sheriff’s...
    By Colleen Smith Summers • January 15, 2013 2:01 pm

    As undersheriff, Bruce Distler is considered second in command of the Sheriff’s Office. He will supervise sergeants, detectives, corrections officers and the traffic officer. The position of sergeant on Orcas and Lopez will be announced in mid-January.

    Read Story

    Sales up, dollars down; 2011 real estate market delivers mixed results
    Sales up, dollars down; 2011 real estate market...
    By Colleen Smith Summers • January 28, 2012 2:06 pm

    Last year’s median price for sales of single family homes and condos was $235,000. In 2010 it was $262,000. For the 21 counties included in the MLS report, the median price ranged from $120,000 in Grays Harbor County, to $387,500 in San Juan County.

    Read Story

    Greater girth means fewer berths onboard WSF
    Greater girth means fewer berths onboard WSF
    By Colleen Smith Summers • January 6, 2012 8:17 pm

    The average American weighs more and passenger vessels are feeling the impact.

    The Coast Guard’s new boat stability rules, which took effect nationwide on Dec. 1., raise the estimated weight of a typical adult passenger to 185 pounds from the previous 160 pounds. As a result, a handful of vessels in the Washington State Ferries fleet have had weight capacities reduced.

    Read Story

    Three weeks of ferry woes bring up bigger questions
    Three weeks of ferry woes bring up bigger...
    By Colleen Smith Summers • November 2, 2011 2:04 pm

    Washington State Ferries have been experiencing broken boats, replacement vessels, missed runs and overloads. For ferry riders, especially inter-island commuters, the last three weeks have been a little strange.

    Read Story

    Orcas sparks with trash fire
    Orcas sparks with trash fire
    By Colleen Smith Summers • April 18, 2011 11:11 pm

    Illegal burning gets out of hand on the island

    Read Story

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