San Juan County News

Inspired members of our island communities shared favorite photographs of Land Bank preserves for the first annual Eye of the Beholder - " a Photography Exhibit celebrating the citizen's Land Bank of San Juan County.

Ingrid Gabriel starts work as the new San Juan County Council Clerk. Contributed Photo Today, 12:34 PM UPDATED Ingrid Gabriel has been hired as the new San Juan County Council Clerk.

Ron Henrickson ... out as director of Community Development and Planning. County of San Juan Today, 10:36 AM UPDATED San Juan County Administrator Pete Rose announced today that Ron Henrickson, director of Community Development and Planning, has "left the county's staff" in a departmental reorganization.

Orcas residents whose hearts stop completely during a heart attack now have a better chance of surviving the incident than people of many other communities in the United States because of a new protocol called hypothermic resuscitation.

From 4 to 6 p.m., representatives from the Eastsound Planning and Review Committee, San Juan County Planning Department, Public Works, Eastsound Sewer and Water, Eastsound Water Users Association, Island Stewards, Sustainable Orcas Island, San Juan Builders Association, and more will give a oeA Report to the Peoplea on the stage of the Village ...

Last month's sewage spill released an estimated 287,000 to 493,000 gallons of untreated sewage and effluent into Eagle Harbor.

The Open Space Taxation Act, enacted in 1970, allows property owners to have their open space, farm and agricultural, and timber lands valued at their current use rather than at their highest and best use.

Orcas Rec has several outings for the month of July that are open to both kids and adults.

In response to complaints from islanders and business owners about illegally placed signs, San Juan County has been tagging non-compliant signs with a courtesy notice stating that they must be removed within a specified period of time.

Six young men, ages 17 to 19, stood waist-deep in 50-degree water Thursday, catching, weighing and hauling chinook salmon from one water container to another.

Orcas Center will present one performance only of the Portland Taiko on Friday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m. Those who have experienced taiko drumming know the thrilling sound created by performers playing large drums in unison, moving in dramatic choreography.

Hot dogs, hamburgers and ham-radios -- oh my! On Saturday, San Juan County's Amateur Radio Society will host a Field Day Barbecue and demonstration at the historic U. S. Navy Radio Compass Station, better known as the Cattle Point Interpretive Area, on Cattle Point Road.

Could some of our seemingly harmless activities around our homes and gardens actually be harming salmon and other marine animals? Two recent "biological opinions" released by the National Marine Fisheries Service has found that all six pesticides that they examined - " carbaryl, carbofuran, methomyl, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, and malathion - " ...

Supporters of a proposal that would ban the use of Styrofoam to-go containers and polystyrene food service products in San Juan County gathered more than 1,200 signatures of like-minded people to help boost their cause.

The San Juan County Council was set for a long and perhaps contentious public hearing on the proposed $933,121 in cuts to the County's 2009 budget for the remainder of the year, but only three people spoke during the hearing, including County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord.

The Washington State Ferries summer schedule starts Father's Day, increasing service levels to and from Fidalgo, Whidbey and the San Juan islands.

While Washington state's unemployment rate continued to grow to 9.4 percent in May, Skagit County saw some of the first job increases in months.

Chief Mike Harris asked for and received approval from the commissioners to proceed with the creation of two new staff positions during the Fire Commissioners Meeting, deputy fire marshal and fire mechanic.

The most flammable part of Thursdaya s Fire Commissioners meeting centered on public comment, with fire department supporters and questioners engaging in sometimes personal rhetoric.

Washington State Ferries officials boarded the inter-island ferry Thursday to discuss the beleaguered system's long-range plan, but the proposed fall schedule dominated the shipboard meeting attended by more than 50 county residents.