NEWS

MOUNT VERNON – Northbound and southbound State Route 9 will alternate for three days next week beginning Monday, Oct. 26, east of Mount Vernon as a fish passage project along a tributary to Nookachamps Creek nears completion. Flaggers will alternate traffic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 26-27, and again at the same time Friday, Oct. 30, just south of Mount Vernon Big Lake Road (milepost 49). A fourth day of alternating traffic is scheduled for the same time Friday, Nov. 6, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. People should expect delays during work hours and     (read more)

(MOUNT VERNON)– Beginning Sunday, Nov. 1, the State Route 536 Skagit River/Division Street Bridge will close in both directions to all passenger and freight vehicles for at least two weeks. The full closure will allow contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation to speed up completion of an ongoing painting and preservation project on the historic bridge linking Mount Vernon’s downtown and West Mount Vernon. Once work is finished, the bridge will fully reopen to eastbound and westbound traffic, according to a news release from WSDOT. WSDOT’s goal is to reopen the bridge in both directions     (read more)

(LACEY)– Snowplows are tuned up. Salt sheds are stocked. The Washington State Department of Transportation has geared up for another winter of snow, ice and changing road conditions. For WSDOT, winter operations are a year-round effort. Every fall, maintenance technicians, mechanics and area superintendents inspect and repair equipment, order supplies, train crews and plan for the winter storms ahead. About 1,500 highway maintenance workers statewide help keep highways passable through the winter months, according to a news release from WSDOT. But even the most prepared crews can’t do it alone. WSDOT is asking the public to do their part to     (read more)

(MOUNT VERNON)— On Tuesday, Oct. 20, the Skagit Valley College Board of Trustees announced the selection of three finalists who will be considered for the college’s next president. A national search has been in process since spring of this year, according to a news release from SVC. The finalists are: - Dr. Thomas Broxson, Vice President for Instruction and Chief Academic Officer, Clover Park Technical College - Dr. Monique Guillory, President, Dillard University - Dr. Christine Moxam Vice Chancellor of Students Affairs, St. Louis Community College Dr. Thomas A. Broxson has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, including     (read more)

(SKAGIT COUNTY)- The Washington Supreme Court has issued a unanimous decision finding recall petitions and the appeals pursued by Cody Hart, Derrill Fussell, Timothy Garrison, Larry Jensen, Kathy LaFreniere, and Kevin Ewing were frivolous, according to a news release from Skagit County. The petitioners sought to recall Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney Richard Weyrich, County Commissioners Peter Browning and Ron Wesen and retired Commissioner Lisa Janicki for claimed defects in oaths of three superior court judges, a district court commissioner, and two deputy prosecutors. The petitioners’ same claims had been rejected in multiple prior cases. The Supreme Court opinion found:     (read more)