Emma Fletcher-Frazer

1 week ago | thenewstribune.com | Emma Fletcher-Frazer

The Skagit County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to deny an appeal against a battery energy storage facility permit in Bayview Ridge near the Port of Skagit. In January, a hearing examiner approved NextEra Energy's special use permit for the facility in the Bayview Ridge Heavy Industrial Area zone. The 22.55-acre project would include the construction of a new utility-scale battery energy storage system that would store up to 200 megawatt-hours of energy.

1 week ago | thenewstribune.com | Emma Fletcher-Frazer

The Skagit County Board of Commissioners approved on Monday $6.2 million in awards for economic development, public facility and affordable workforce housing projects. The funding comes from the state sales tax rebate. This is the first year the county will distribute its awards for housing projects. The county retained $3 million throughout a series of years to be distributed for housing projects, said Commissioner Lisa Janicki in a May 30 meeting.

1 week ago | thenewstribune.com | Emma Fletcher-Frazer

Celebrants gathered Friday, June 13, at the Swinomish Casino & Lodge to recognize the first graduating class of a new dental therapy program. The program, which began in September 2022, is a partnership between the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and Skagit Valley College. The dəxʷx̌ayəbus SVC Dental Therapy Program began as an effort to make dental care and preventative oral care more accessible to underserved communities, including tribal nations.

2 weeks ago | thenewstribune.com | Emma Fletcher-Frazer

The Skagit County Board of Commissioners approved on Monday the sale of a 0.6-acre property in Marblemount. In September 2022, the county first purchased a nine-acre property next to Pressentin Park, which included a one-story house to maintain access to the area near the Skagit River. The county has since created a trail on the property that connects to Pressentin Park. The county split the house from the rest of the property in a boundary line adjustment, and will now sell the house section.

2 weeks ago | thenewstribune.com | Emma Fletcher-Frazer

LA CONNER - The La Conner Town Council passed an ordinance Tuesday amending its fireworks policy. The policy adheres to state law, which states that people can only discharge legal fireworks from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4. Commercial firework sales are banned within town limits, and it is a misdemeanor to possess, use or discharge fireworks in town parks. The policy adds that the fire chief may outright prohibit fireworks during periods of extreme fire danger.