NEWS

(MOUNT VERNON)- Skagit Valley College recently named Kathleen Petrzelka as the executive director of SVC Foundation. She began her role on January 2, according to a news release from SVC. “Kathleen's brings a wealth of expertise and a deep understanding of the intricacies of philanthropy," said Anne Clark, vice president of college advancement. "Kathleen embodies the spirit and mission of Skagit Valley College, and we are honored to have her join us in this vital leadership role.” Before starting her current position, Petrzelka served as the director of philanthropy for the SVC Foundation. Prior to joining SVC in 2022, she held     (read more)

(SKAGIT COUNTY)- The International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IACME) has announced the Skagit County Coroner’s Office has received accreditation by the association. Skagit County will be the 39th office in the nation and the 7th coroner’s office in Washington State to be accredited by the IACME. Coroner offices self-submit for accreditation to ensure the operating policies, procedures, and practices are within international guidelines. IACME accreditation endorses the quality, integrity, and credibility of an office, according to a news release from the county. The Coroner’s office was subject to review of 288 standards including administrative, forensic,     (read more)

(OLYMPIA)– The Washington State Transportation Commission will hear about a wide range of developments in transportation electrification at its Feb. 14-15 virtual meeting, including a presentation on a pilot program for an in-road, wireless inductive charging system, an update on electric vehicle charging infrastructure and work to reduce the freight sector’s carbon footprint, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. The public is invited to attend the virtual meeting, which takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14, and from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, on Zoom. Those     (read more)

(PORTLAND, OR)- The third meeting of the Northwest Forest Plan Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) was held from Jan. 30 – Feb. 1 at the University of Oregon in Eugene. The meeting focused on public testimony, forest manager presentations, and a review of subcommittee findings and perspectives on the plan’s update. The Federal Advisory Committee is focused on providing input to improve the Northwest Forest Plan’s ability to reduce wildfire risk to communities and forested landscapes, conserve mature and old growth forests, support sustainable communities, incorporate more Indigenous knowledge in land management decisions, and address climate change impacts, according to a     (read more)

(SKAGIT COUNTY)- Skagit County is seeking applicants to fill two vacant seats for a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) to serve in an advisory role in making recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners regarding land use, planning, programs, and policy decisions relating to agriculture. The Commissioners seek to fill the positions with someone who lives, works, or serves customers in District 3. The current terms for the vacant positions end on December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2026. The Skagit County Agricultural Advisory Board makes recommendations on policy and planning issues related to agriculture and represents the diversity of the agricultural economy, various agricultural     (read more)