Skagit County has eased its total burn ban, allowing recreational fires in unincorporated areas beginning Sept. 1 as moisture levels improve. Recreational fires must be contained in approved enclosures no wider than 3 feet, with water immediately available. Fires must be kept at least 25 feet from combustible materials, timber and overhanging branches, and an adult or someone age 16 or older must remain present. The statewide ban on burning residential yard debris and land clearing remains in effect through Sept. 30, and fires remain prohibited on Washington Department of Natural Resources-managed recreational sites in Skagit County.
Soroptimist International of La Conner has provided Amazon gift cards to all 43 K-12 classrooms in the La Conner School District to help teachers purchase supplies and enrichment materials. The gifts were funded with proceeds from the Vintage La Conner Non-Profit Thrift Shop and reflect the organization’s mission of strengthening communities through education. Soroptimist member Megan Lisser coordinated the distribution. “I received so many hugs and heard remarkable stories,” Lisser said. “This community has happy teachers ready for a great school year!”
Skagit County commissioners have delayed a decision on recalculating past Guemes Island ferry fare increases after a judge ordered the county to revisit the fares. The county has raised fares several times in the past two years as operating costs increased. In July, Superior Court Judge Kathryn Loring ordered the county to provide a detailed accounting of 2025 ferry operating expenses, exclude capital costs from its calculations and make it easier for riders to convert old emergency ferry punch cards to electronic passes. Commissioners voted Aug. 31 to allow those conversions by phone with no deadline. Commissioners are now scheduled to consider the fare recalculation on Sept. 14. The county also appealed the judge’s order to the state appellate court and is separately considering another 14% fare increase for 2027, with a public hearing set for Sept. 22.
Skagit County commissioners have approved $610,000 in opioid settlement funds to help New Earth Recovery purchase a recovery home at 1203 E. Section St. in Mount Vernon, according to the Skagit Valley Herald. The property, currently operated as the nine-resident Stark Oxford House, will become New Earth Recovery’s ninth recovery home. The nonprofit plans to keep the Oxford House model in place and act as landlord. A deed restriction will require the property to remain recovery housing for at least 50 years.
Washington health officials are warning consumers about several recent food recalls, including products with undeclared allergens and possible foreign-material contamination. Recent recalls include Donutful Chocolate Dipped Vanilla Cake Donuts for undeclared milk, Momchipz broccoli and cauliflower veggie chips for undeclared wheat, and Prolon Apulian Almond & Cocoa Spread for undeclared tree nuts. Dreyer’s also recalled select batches of Outshine Strawberry, Watermelon, Grape, Tangerine and Black Cherry fruit bars because they may contain glass. Other recalled products include Rooted in Rare aquafaba powder, Maple Leaf Foods bacon, Peter Rabbit Organics banana and strawberry pouches, black sesame glutinous rice balls and certain Korean halibut and flounder sashimi products. Consumers can find details and affected lot information on the Washington State Department of Health food recall page.
