The Island Digest - News from San Juan County, Washington

Headlines from the week of June 18, 2025    - It takes an island - Class of 2025 graduates from OIHS    - Voices for democracy    - Lopez track team celebrates record-breaking season    - Orcas Island and Friday Harbor athletes honored with league spring sports awards    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of June 11, 2025    - A deeper shade of Dad    - Islanders celebrate the graduating class of 2025    - Lopez Center announces Spirit Award recipients    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of June 4, 2025    - Giant Pacific Octopus along Eastsound waterfront     - Lady Vikings soccer is back    - New life for the lavender farm    - Lobos golfers ending strong    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of May 28, 2025    - International Indigenous leaders unite at Orcas Island's ‘Gathering of the Eagles'    - Orcas Island boys win second straight golf title; Malo places top 10    - Track and field is heading to state    - Sitting down with County Manager Jessica Hudson    - Lopez senior Lilli Nichols to play college soccer    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of May 21, 2025    - Orcas ferry terminal contract to change hands    - Perrine named ED of Orcas Center    - Sawyer named new coroner    - New trial for man charged with rape    - Lopez track and field is in top form    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of May 14, 2025    - Orcas dancer performs with New York troupe in Seattle    - Fifth annual Gathering of the Eagles     - Federal cuts cripple Island Conservation Corps    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of May 7, 2025    - Honoring the mother orca    - Lindsey Saarie shares her adventures of motherhood    - New exhibit on 50 years of restaurants at Historical Museum    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of April 23, 2025    - Girls Soccer may return to Orcas High School    - Health district levy lid lift approved    - Amazon to move out of Lot C - two months later - possibly to the port    - Lopez Golf headed to District play    - San Juan County Conservation Land Bank opens Watmough Head Trail on Lopez Island    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of April 23, 2025    - Soroptomist award 11 island women    - SeaDoc's ‘Salish Sea Wild' earns EMMY nomination    - Wren's Berries and Native Plants is honoring the natural ecosystem    - Shooting Stars, harbingers of spring    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of April 16, 2025    - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ballet to open    - Orcas Chamber shifting gears for July 4th    - Newest J Pod calf, the fourth Southern Resident killer whale born in the last 12 months    - Help support local grassroots efforts at Kenya orphanage     - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of April 9, 2025    - First annual Trans Visibility gathering draws a crowd    - Tipping his cap to passersby    - Islanders packed the courthouse lawn to say ‘Hands Off'    - Daily passenger-only boats, free emergency water taxis and barge services beginning soon for the San Juan Islands    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of April 2, 2025    - Funhouse celebrates 25 years of nurturing island kids    - Lightning strikes the San Juans    - Wolverines' and Vikings' golf teams go head to head    - Lopez track shines at La Conner    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of March 26, 2025    - Orcas Fire hires new chief; more staffing news    - The Whale Museum welcomes new executive director    - Raccoons: Crafty night burglars    - Lobos track is filled with expertise    - Old and new faces for golf    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of March 19, 2025    - Orcas Shelter rescues pregnant dog from California    - Hospital district seeking levy increase on April ballot    - Islanders become ‘indivisible'    - Hybrid-electric conversion of ferries delayed    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of March 12, 2025    - Orcas Island High School wins state chess competition    - Orcas Wrestlers play in State Tournament in Tacoma Dome    - Protect Our Parks national protest held at American Camp    - Annual Knowledge Bowl - Raising funds while having fun    - Lawmakers propose $50 million for passenger ferries    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of February 26, 2025    - Amazon cuts UPS out of delivery on San Juan Island    - Armed Coast Guard performs routine ferry ride along    - Holly B's Bakery rolling pin passes to new owner    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of February 19, 2025    - Legal actions targets Feds delay on Endangered Species Act protections for Alaska Chinook    - Joe Stephens reaches 1,000 point goal in HS career    - A partnership for school history    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of February 12, 2025    - County Fair receives backlash over AI poster    - Thespians recognized at state level    - I got you, babe - Valentine's Day interview with the Kraushaars    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of February 5, 2025    - A love that keeps getting sweeter - Valentine's Day interview with Bridget Meyer and Collen Newberry    - The Martins' love story    - First Island Baby of 2025: Sophia    - San Juan County Sheriff's Office statement on immigration issues    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of January 29, 2025    - Businesses come together at job fair    - County crime coverage    - Washington state takes the lead on blocking Trump's birthright citizenship ban    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of January 22, 2025    - Chess Champs - Orcas Chess Club is off to state finals in February    - Community Treasures reopens as Treasure Chest    - Friday Harbor swimmers make waves    - The humble shrew hiding in your island garden    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of January 15, 2025    - Washington state makes history: First in the world to permanently ban commercial net pens    - Friday Harbor Minecraft Club brings kids online gaming to life for island kids    - County publishes 2024 Year in Review    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of January 8, 2025    - Washington State Ferries cracking down on pet policy    - San Juan County swears in new elected officials    - Nail-biter Wins for Lobos Basketball    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of December 18, 2024    - Island kids and seniors share in the joy of community    - SWISH girls' team finishes season undefeated    - Help name Kwiaht's snakes     - Lopez boys team is packed with seniors    - Continuity for Lobos girls' basketball team    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of December 18, 2024    - Orcas Preschoolers are first participants in WSU study on outdoor time, childhood obesity and stress    - Friends take Mullis Center seniors for a swim with salmon!     - A fast start for Lobos basketball    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log  

Headlines from the week of December 11, 2024    - New Rosario Resort owners announce sweeping plans for 2025    - Vikings gear up for 2B challenge in new b-ball season    - Vessel sinks at Shipyard Cove Marina    - Artwork to last a lifetime: Tattoo shop opens on Lopez Island    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of December 4, 2024    - Orcas Vikings win soccer state championship; Lopez Lobos earn second place    - SJC celebrates completion of Lopez Skate Park and calls for inaugural skaters    - Lions Spree benefits winners and students    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of November 27, 2024    - The pesticide footprint    - Immigration: the nuts and bolts of a complex issue    - County recognizes Native American Heritage Month with proclamation and new Tribal Engagement Framework    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of November 20, 2024    - Vikings soccer poised for final four match at state    - Elementary school holds its first annual Fun Run    - Legion sues Town of Friday Harbor    - The Hamlet of Lopez Island: Preserving a legacy of supporting seniors    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of November 13, 2024    - Orcas Vikings, Lopez Lobos, and Friday Harbor Wolverines all head to state soccer tournament    - Preparing for the Trump era    - McVeigh, Paulsen win council races, REET approved    - Catching up with Lopez graduates: Isara Greacen     - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of November 6, 2024    - New OICF director on ‘discovery tour'    - Viking Joaguin Shanks-Morales named WIAA soccer player of the week    - Wolverines head to playoffs    - DCD leadership provides fall update     - Youth conservation corps: A growing legacy in San Juan County    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of October 30, 2024    - LopezDeVictoria is top speller    - Homecoming brings school spirit and sports    - The future of Community Treasures is up in the air    - Lopez girls soccer in a heartbreaker    - Film on landmark tribal fishing rights    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of October 23, 2024    - Helping produce be affordable for all    - Soccer continues winning streak    - Council candidates in home stretch - Forum coverage    - Volleyball notches 5th win    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of October 16, 2024    - Vikings' soccer on eight-game winning streak    - Awareness starts with asking ‘Are you safe?'    - Lobos' Boys soccer go to 4-0    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of October 9, 2024    - Carla Shanks Morales named ‘School Employee of the Year' by Washington state    - Pegi Groundwater honored for volunteer work with seniors    - LIMESTONE An Island Smoke Stack Industry    - Whettens receive Spirit Award    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of October 2, 2024    - Celebrating 10 years of ground-breaking films on Orcas    - North Shore Preserve opens for public access    - ‘Our Town' - the story of rural America    - Lopex Soccer History!     - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of September 25, 2024    - La Belle Sauvage - Orcas teen builds boat with her dad    - All elementary students to receive free meals this year    - New baby born in L pod    - County receives $1.5 million from Governor for transportation    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of September 18, 2024    - Education is a passport to the future    - PSA from Sheriff for Orcas community about child safety    - Remembering former Mayor Boothman    - Farm tours of the San Juans begin on Sep 27     - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of September 11, 2024    - OPAL to build new rentals with supportive services    - The best prop: Gratitude    - Savor the San Juans    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of September 4, 2024    - ‘Black Dancing Bodies Project' to perform hip hop on main stage    - The fluid, transformative identities of Genesis P-Orridge - Film Showing    - Farewell Elwha, thanks for the headlines    - Construction begins on the Lopez Swim Center    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of August 28, 2024    - Hilary Canty leaves OICF after nearly two decades    - Judge Loring rules in favor of Eastsound Water Users Association    - Love is in the Fair    - Boxes of drugs seized from local business    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of August 14, 2024    - Every farm has a story - Order food online from local growers    - Update from Superintendent Fred Woods    - San Juan County welcomes new County Manager and thanks interim team    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of August 14, 2024    - Samish ferry crew welcomes newborn    - Primary election results    - Orcas family welcomes surprise foal    - A rare art opportunity    - WSF commits additional crews to inter island route to ensure service during County Fair Week    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of August 7, 2024    - Former Orcas woman charged with fraud    - FH man charged with four counts of possessing explicit images of minors    - Injured, entangled Humpback sighted off Lopez Island    - Eligible electricity customers can receive $200 energy credit through the state    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of July 31, 2024    - State Rep. Ramel learns the wonders of Orcas transfer station    - Council talks to Inslee policy advisor about ferries    - All Islands Read unites San Juans    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of July 24, 2024    - Dental clinic brings smiles to community    - Salmon caught in Southeast Alaska no longer ‘ocean wise'    - Mr. Garson goes to Brazil    - Where it goes when it ‘goes away'    - CWMA student scholarship awards    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of July 17, 2024    - Salish Sea Wild continues to delight    - Carbon removal startup to work at Friday Harbor labs    - ‘Renew Land Bank' campaign    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of July 10, 2024    - Chad Kimple appointed Acting Fire Chief    - July 4th Festivities Recap    - Island Stage Left celebrates 25 years    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of July 3, 2024    - Pea Patch to be community services hub and provide supportive housing    - Orcas Teens return from 750-mile boat race to Alaska    - County purchases Shaw property    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of June 26, 2024    - Caps off to the graduating class of 2024    - Fire chief and two commisioners resign    - New trail open on Cady Mountain Preservation    - Community Scholarship Foundation makes three academic awards    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log

Headlines from the week of June 12, 2024    - Astronaut Bill Anders dies in plane crash off Jones Island    - Graduation 2024    - Jesse Visciglia reflects on the adventure of fatherhood    - Nationwide shipbuilder search begins for five hybrid-electric ferries    - plus excerpts from the Sheriff's Log