San Juan County Sheriff’s Detective Brent Johnson’s hold on a general election ballot spot continued to hold as ballots were counted Wednesday. With 400 ballots to be counted Thursday, Johnson was still the second-place finisher in the race for sheriff. He had 1,247 votes, Probation Officer Brad Fincher has 1,151, Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Asher had 1,121, and Sheriff’s Deputy Felix Menjivar had 735. Sheriff’s Deputy Rob Nou held a commanding lead, leading the five-candidate field with 2,086. The two top vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 2 general election.
Thursday is Kids’ Day at the San Juan County Fair. (It’s Kids’ Day on Friday too). From noon to 5 p.m., children can enjoy unlimited rides for $20. Use the coupon on the front of The Daily Fair — available at the fair gates and The Journal booth — and get a free stick of cotton candy when you buy your wristband.
The Journal of the San Juan Islands won awards in the news, special sections and Web divisions of the state Better Newspaper Contest, an annual competition presented by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. Two of the winning staff members: Senior reporter Scott Rasmussen and multimedia reporter Jane K. Fox.
San Juan County Sheriff’s Deputy Rob Nou held a commanding lead in the race for sheriff Tuesday, leading the five-candidate field with 1,495 votes to advance to the Nov. 2 general election. The two top vote-getters in the primary advance to the general election. But who that second candidate would be was not clear Tuesday night when polls closed at 8 p.m.; Auditor Milene Henley said the race was “too close to call” between Sheriff’s Detective Brent Johnson, 1,066 votes; Adult Probation Officer Brad Fincher, 956 votes; and Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Asher, 945.
Today is Election Day. The top two vote-getters — regardless of party affiliation or preference — advance to the Nov. 2 general election. If you’re going to mail in your ballot, it must be postmarked today. Ballot drop boxes in Friday Harbor, Eastsound and Lopez Village close at 8 p.m. Ballots can be dropped off at the Elections Office until 8 p.m.
The San Juan County Fair starts Wednesday and continues through Saturday. Here are some things to know.
A motorist was injured after her car clipped a bicyclist and a parked car and drove through the fence of the field across the street from Friday Harbor Middle School. The driver, whose name was not available, was airlifted off the island to St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham, Sheriff Bill Cumming said. The cyclist did not suffer any serious injury. The parked car was partially damaged.
A celebration of Doug Grossarth’s life is scheduled for Aug. 14 — Saturday — at 4 p.m. at San Juan Golf and Country Club. No-host bar. Hot dogs, salad and chips will be served. “Please join us to share stories and pictures of our dear friend, who passed away on Aug. 1 in his home in California,” an invitation said.
Ashley Paull graduated from A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences in Mesa, Ariz., on Aug. 7. Paull received her doctorate of physical therapy degree and was one of 56 graduates from ASHS at its annual August commencement.
Anne and Adam Paull are proud to announce the birth of their son, Wyatt Robert Paull, on July 3, 2010.
The U.S. flag was raised for the first time in 36 years at Turn Point Light Station on Stuart Island, Aug. 12. The ceremony was conducted by people dedicated to the restoration of Turn Point Light Station. Special guests included Dan and Gloria Alexander of Olympia. They were newlyweds when the Coast Guard assigned Dan to Turn Point in 1949.
It’s very likely that Colton Harris-Moore will be coming to San Juan County to face charges of burglary. When that might be is anyone’s guess. The 19-year-old “Barefoot Bandit” has been held in a private cell in a federal detention center in SeaTac since his extradition to the U.S. from the Bahamas, where he was arrested on July 11. San Juan County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord said once federal charges against Harris-Moore are resolved in Seattle, he will be sent to one of five counties in which he allegedly committed crimes: San Juan, Island, Skagit, Snohomish, Whatcom. Prosecutors will be meeting to determine which jurisdiction is next in line.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting public comment on its draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan, Wilderness Stewardship Plan, and Environmental Assessment for the future management of the Protection Island and San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuges.
