San Juan County Fire Marshal Bob Low said Thursday he will run for mayor of Friday Harbor in November. Low, a former town fire chief, said he expected to make a formal announcement Friday. His candidacy means that for the first time since 1997, voters will have a choice of more than one candidate for mayor: Gary Boothman ran unopposed in 2001; David Jones ran unopposed in 2005.
Sharon led a modest life, had a positive, strong-willed spirit and was the rock of her family and friends. Her life on Lopez was full of days at the beach, gardening, keeping up with her kids’ musical endeavors, sporting events, making jewelry, knitting, baking and planning events. The smell of fresh baked bread, cookies and pies always seemed to fill her house.
State Sen. Kevin Ranker has faced a tough first several months in office. He just finished the state budget process, and says it was “one of the more difficult experiences” of his life.
Friday Harbor Town Council member Carrie Lacher announced today her candidacy for mayor of Friday Harbor. If elected, she would be the first female mayor since the town was incorporated in 1909. She is the first candidate to announce for the position this year; Mayor David Jones told The Journal April 22 that he will not seek a second term.
The county Health Department is prepared to close a school for a minimum of seven days if a student or staff member is confirmed to have the H1N1 virus, or swine flu. School district Superintendent Michael Soltman said today that the district has been working closely with the health department and the Department of Emergency Management to develop procedures for communicating information about response to student illness and potential school closures ordered by the health department.
Camp Orkila on Orcas Island is being closed and about 300 school children from King County and Richland are being sent home after six children and one adult exhibited flu-like symptoms Thursday night, the San Juan County Health Department reports. County Health and Human Services Director John Manning reported that 267 of the children arrived from the Tyee Middle School in Bellevue on Tuesday evening and another 36 of the children are from the Christ the King School in Richland. The children from the Richland area are leaving via the 10:20 a.m. ferry. At this point, health officials say none of the Richland-area children have exhibited symptoms.
Joseph Giuliano, the former deputy chief of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Northwest region, will be sentenced June 23 after pleading guilty to charges of child rape. On April 23, Giuliano, 55, pleaded guilty in Whatcom County Superior Court to three counts of child rape and, according to the Bellingham Herald, will likely be sentenced to one year in jail, on work release, and three years of sexual-deviancy treatment.
A take-off of the TV program that helps participants lose weight is coming to San Juan Island. San Juan Island Fitness is organizing the Community Weight Loss Challenge, a variation of TV’s “The Biggest Loser.” The 15-week challenge starts May 15 and ends Aug. 15 at the San Juan County Fair. The “biggest loser” individual and team will win cash prizes.
This week, three local restaurants are donating part of their proceeds to Dollars for Scholars.
On April 25, 2009, Bill Taylor — a loving husband, father and grandfather — passed into the Lord’s hands, after a short illness at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon, Wash. Bill, 90, was born in Friday Harbor, Wash., on Dec. 28, 1918, the only child of Jesse Taylor and Dorothy (Houlton) Taylor.
The San Juan Island solid-waste transfer station is staying right where it is — at least for now. In a 4-1 decision, the County Council on Tuesday selected Sutton Road, the site of the existing transfer station, as its top choice for the future home of a new, improved and, perhaps someday, expanded solid-waste facility. The council chose Beaverton Valley Road as its second choice and Daniel Lane as its third.
Several U.S. senators and representatives are scheduled this morning to announce legislation that would invest $200 million a year from 2010-15 in public ferry systems, including Washington State Ferries.
Pilgrim will conduct a book and computer drive April 25, May 2 and May 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the old Sam’s Shoe Shop at 187 Spring St. Pilgrim is conducting the drive to help the students of Beacon of Hope Secondary School in Soroti, Uganda, build a library collection and increase their access to education.