A Pacific storm will bring snow to the mountains on Christmas day... with snow possible even on the lowlands. The mountains will generally pick up 4 to 8 inches of new snow. Snowfall amounts across the lowlands are expected to be less than 2 inches but there could be localized higher amounts.

Police are investigating the theft of a gold nugget pendant valued at over $5,000 from a business in the 600 block of Commercial Ave this week. On Monday, Dec. 17, while the owners had been in their office momentarily, a woman entered the store, opened a jewelry display case and stole the pendant. The investigation is ongoing.

Six members of Washington’s Congressional Delegation have called on federal investigators to complete their investigation into the April 2010 explosion at the Tesoro refinery that claimed seven lives.

As 2012 nears an end, the Anacortes Arts Festival, with Board members Lisa Kuhnlein and Teresa Kolp, remind us of the good the Arts Festival does for the community, including these art kits donated to the Salvation Army.

The city has let a contract to further expand the plaza around the old railroad Depot, as well as pave a short distance of Market Street.

After Jan. 1, new driver exams will no longer be offered at state Department of Licensing offices in Anacortes or Mount Vernon. Instead, driver training schools and school district driver training programs across the state will conduct driver knowledge and skills testing for new driver license applicants.