News - Journal of the San Juans

Review shows lack of follow-up on San Juan County dock permits

When Tom Cowan served on the San Juan County Commission from 1982-94, the county had two code enforcement officers to make sure projects were developed as approved in the permits. But of the Community Development and Planning Department’s 25 employees today, only one is devoted to code enforcement. The Policy Group reviewed 19 dock permits in Mitchell Bay, Garrison Bay, the east side of West Sound, east side of Stuart Island and the northeast corner of Lopez Island. The group found that half of the docks did not match conditions of their permits. Eight dock floats were, on average, 52 feet larger than allowed.

Quick Schedule of Fourth of July Events

A quick glance at Friday's island events.

Rough landings at Roche

No one was hurt in two separate incidents at Roche Harbor Airport — a wheels-up landing Friday afternoon and an aborted takeoff by a San Juan Airlines flight Saturday afternoon.

Profile: Jane Hutchison, F.H. Fire Department

Name: Jane Hutchison

Adventuress hits rock in Wasp Passage

The 133-foot schooner Adventuress ran aground in Wasp Passage Monday, forcing the evacuation of 27 passengers and crewmembers.

Political Notebook

The Waldron Community Meeting will host a forum July 12, 2-4 p.m., for candidates for County Council, District 4; and Superior Court judge.

Airlift Northwest stations crews on San Juan Island for summer

Airlift Northwest regional manager Jeff Richey is working with local EMS officials to post an air ambulance on San Juan Island for the summer.

Puget Sound 'recovery' meetings come to Friday Harbor July 21

The Puget Sound Partnership is hosting another round of public workshops, this time to solicit input on local priorities for an action agenda to restore and protect Puget Sound. One of the meetings is scheduled in Friday Harbor: July 21, 1-4 p.m., Friday Harbor High School, 45 Blair Ave.

San Juan waits on PeaceHealth to proceed with hospital study

The San Juan Hospital District Commission voted unanimously to accept and sign a non-binding letter of intent with PeaceHealth to further explore building a new integrated medical center on San Juan Island. The letter of intent must be approved by PeaceHealth’s Whatcom region Board of Directors as well as the system’s Board of Directors prior to taking effect. That approval is not scheduled until late July.

Do you know the men in this World War II-era photograph?

Peggy Cantrell of Friday Harbor saw the man take something out of the wallet he had just purchased at the Thrift Store, and toss it into the trash.