Here’s a thought…
“Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”
READER BOARD
Letter to Editor | In support of technology capital projects levy
||| FROM TOBY AND SARAH COOPER ||| We are pleased to stand with our many Orcas friends in support of the 2021 Tech Levy. For me, as a student up through graduate studies at Michigan, technology was defined as a Smith Corona manual typewriter, period. Those early Texas Instruments pocket
Responding paramedic, enroute to another call, comes across fatality accident
||| FROM SHERIFF KREBS for SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| On Monday April 12 at 2:30 a.m. an Orcas Fire and EMS Paramedic, while enroute to another call, came upon a motorcycle accident at the 1000 block of Crow Valley Road. The motorcycle rider appears to have lost control
Occupants rescued from plane in water off Blakely Island
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF RON KREBS ||| On Sunday, April 11 at 4:38pm a 911 transfer from Skagit County came into the Sheriff’s Office of a possible plane in the water off the south end of Blakely Island. The Sheriff’s Office, San Juan Fire, San Juan EMS, Orcas
New wine bar and café is coming to Orcas Island
Two island-raised entrepreneurs partner to open wine bar and café in the heart of Eastsound ||| FROM COLE SISSON ||| This summer, Cole Sisson and Shea Sasan will open the doors to their new business in the heart of Eastsound, Roots Orcas Island, on the premier corner of Main St
Friends of San Juans achieves victory for southern resident orca in court
||| FROM LOVEL PRATT for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS ||| On April 6, Whatcom County Superior Court Judge David Freeman delivered a court victory both to Friends of the San Juans and to the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. “We’re very excited about this ruling,” said Brent Lyles, Friends’
Statement on recent Roadmap to Recovery announcement from state Secretary of Health
||| FROM UMAIR A. SHAH, MD, MPH for STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| "When we see increased rates of cases and hospitalizations, we need to act fast and do the right thing county-by-county to prevent more serious consequences from COVID-19 in our state. That is why the tough decisions are
Orcas Library to host upcoming poetry reading
||| FROM RHETT ARISTON for ORCAS ISLAND LIBRARY ||| Join Orcas Island Library for a family-friendly poetry gathering! Read one of your poems or one from a favorite poet. Visit our Facebook or Website for updates. Time: Apr 15, 2021 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
Memory, mental health, sleep are Island Hospital upcoming class topics
||| FROM RACHEL LAMBERT for ISLAND HOSPITAL ||| Island Hospital offers free improving memory class Join Island Hospital speech-language pathologist Libby Lewis, MA, MEd, CCC-SLP, to learn strategies and activities to improve your memory and keep your mind sharp. Wednesday, April 21, from 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. This is a free, online class.
COVID-19 data show concerning increases in disease activity
||| FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ||| OLYMPIA – [Thursday] the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released the latest statewide situation report on COVID-19, which shows increasing transmission and daily case counts. The trends highlight the need to continue prevention measures like wearing masks and maintaining physical distance while vaccination
Inslee’s week included a tour with Second Gentleman Emhoff
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Inslee tours FEMA vaccination site in Yakima with Second Gentleman Emhoff Gov. Jay Inslee visited Yakima Tuesday and joined Second Gentleman of the United States Doug Emhoff for a tour of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's community vaccination center. Inslee and
EDC, 4H offering hands-on masonry project kits to kids
||| FROM MICHELANGELO (MICKEY) VON DASSOW for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ||| Kids from all over San Juan County have a chance to do a free, fun masonry project put on by the Economic Development Council (EDC) and WSU Extension’s San Juan County 4-H Program. Dave Koch, retired stonemason, is very
Inslee updates Healthy Washington criteria for county phases
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ||| Gov. Jay Inslee [on Friday] updated and clarified the criteria for counties to stay in Phase 3 of the state's Healthy Washington pandemic reopening plan. Under the plan that took effect March 22, counties are individually evaluated every three weeks. The first
Sheriff’s Report | March 31 – April 6, 2021
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ||| WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31 21-002633 Animal Noise 11:03:20 03/31/21 An Orcas Island Deputy responded to a noise complaint in Eastsound. An investigation was conducted and a report was written. 21-002634 Mental Health 11:28:07 03/31/21 San Juan Deputies responded to a report of a
Rep. Lekanoff’s Friday update highlights honoring of Billy Frank Jr.
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF ||| Happy Fantastic Friday! A worthy honor for Billy Frank Jr. I am very excited to share that on April 14, Governor Inslee is scheduled to sign House Bill 1372, my bill to authorize putting a statue of Billy Frank Jr. in the National Statuary Hall collection in
Inslee signs bill restoring voting rights to Washingtonians with felonies upon release from prison
||| FROM GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE ||| OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday signed a bill restoring the right to vote for Washingtonians convicted of felonies automatically upon their release from incarceration. Under House Bill 1078, roughly 20,000 people would regain their right to vote, according to the state Department
Latest statewide Coronavirus status report points out increase in disease activity
Statewide Response Updates Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 348,431 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on April 7. There have been 5,316 COVID-19 deaths in Washington. For the most recent tally of cases by county, demographics, and more, visit the Department of Health's dashboard and
