With first election returns in for Skagit County, it looks like Republican Ron Wesen, with 50 percent of the votes, and Democrat Bill Turner, with 37 percent, will face each other in the general election for the County Commissioner, District 1.
News
The City has chosen Ryan Larsen, the brother of Congressman Rick Larsen, as the new City Planning Director for Anacortes, replacing Ian Munce.

The City Council is considering a request to give up (or vacate) a right-of-way for 30th St. between Commercial Ave. and Q Ave, the area shown here.

The Chamber of Commerce wants the city to pick up some of the cost of city beautification that has been funded by the Chamber.

The state Transportation Department says it is justified in not having pedestrian crossings on Highway 20 in the March Point area.
The144-car Elwha had been set to return to service Saturday morning, but it will not happen. The 90-car Sealth will continue to fill in for the Elwha.

The 144-car ferry Elwha returns to service in the San Juans on Saturday morning. The Elwha was pulled from service more than a week ago and temporarily replaced by the smaller ferry Sealth.

Anacortes real estate sales continue to be soft. Sales through the first seven months of this year reflect a soft real estate market, but we are doing much better than the most of the rest of the country.
Four major books by four great authors are on on this week's Northwest Bestsellers list. Again, Garth Stein's The Art of Racing in the Rain leads off the list. Also in the top ten: Damage Control by J.A. Jance, Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk and The Other by David Guterson. Week ending August 10, 2008.