San Juan County News

An Orcas Island man who four months ago held a gun to his head and threatened to shoot himself on the front lawn of his in-laws home was sentenced to a total of 180 days in jail after pleading guilty to a series of criminal charges, including felony stalking.

Orcas Islanders came out in high numbers to support the formation of an Orcas Parks and Rec District.

Kevin Carlton said it was the worst fire he's seen at Roche Harbor in his 29 years as harbormaster.

UPDATES 2:47 P.M.: Sheriff's boat Guardian has arrived at Roche Harbor. Sheriff Bill Cumming reports one boat fully engulfed.

An 11th-hour reprieve stood between some of the more popular publicly-funded programs in San Juan County and the chopping block.

Most San Juan Island ballots have been received, the county elections office reported at 12:30 p.m. Ballots were expected to be received from Orcas Island later this afternoon, and from Lopez Island on Wednesday.

David Moseley, the chief of Washington State Ferries, will hold four meetings for ferry communities in Skagit and Island counties to reach out to customers and businesses affected by the state agency.

San Juan County health officials say the H1N1 flu is now considered widespread on San Juan Island and the incidence of the flu is increasing on Orcas Island.

The building and land that's home to Ace Hardware in Friday Harbor is back under local ownership.

The San Juan County Sheriffa s boat Guardian has been recognized by the State of Washington as a licensed ambulance, following aA three-year process of fund-raising, planning, modification and training.

I support the Farmers Market. I always have and, as manager of the San Juan County Fair , I worked with Lovel and Boyd Pratt every year to help bring awareness to the public about agriculture, past and present in the county.

San Juan County's Elections officials are asking local voters to check the return address on their ballot envelope.

Orcas School superintendent Barbara Kline told the school board last night one of her students is home sick with the flu that may be the H1N1 strain.

During the last town hall meeting of the year, Councilmen Richard Fralick and Gene Knapp, county administrator Pete Rose, and auditor Milene Henley discussed the levy lift on this year's ballot and gave updates on the CAO process and sign ordinance.

Tough times lay ahead for San Juan County with or without a voter-approved property-tax hike.

Health and Community Services Director John Manning told the San Juan County Council this week that to date, there have been no known hospitalizations of county residents related to the H1N1 flu virus.

The number of people afflicted by swine flu is on the rise in Western Washington.

Bat researcher Russel Barsh knows his way around old barns. It's up where sunlight leaks through the walls, and cobwebs rule the corners that Barsh feels right at home.

Voters in San Juan County will be asked to vote on a proposition that concerns an increase in property taxes.

A change is coming to enforcement of the Uniform Fire Code for businesses and new construction on Orcas Island.