Island News
Local headlines from around the San Juans
No jurors needed for October 19-23
JURY DUTY: OCTOBER 19-23, 2026 All jurors summonsed for Jury Duty beginning October 19th, are excused. Thank you.
Orcas Island Fire & Rescue bonds available to local investors | Sponsored content
Submitted by Orcas Island Fire & Rescue.
San Juan County receives $660k Public Safety Grant
SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA – October 14, 2026 – San Juan County has received a $660,000 grant from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) to increase staffing in the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. On September 29, CJTC notified the County of its grant award funded by the state’s relatively new Public Safety […]
San Juan County receives $660k public safety grant
The grant program, administered by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, was introduced into state law in 2025 as part of an effort to increase public safety funding across the state San Juan County has received a $660,000 grant from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) to increase staffing in the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. On September 29, CJTC notified the County of its grant award funded by the
Jeff Asher is write-in candidate for San Juan County Sheriff
Wow! I am truly taken aback by the outpouring of support encouraging me to run for Sheriff. Thank you all for the calls and texts requesting my participation in the upcoming Sheriff’s election. When I was first asked to consider this opportunity, I was hesitant, as it is not something I take lightly. As many […]
Covenant-smuvadent: The deforestation of Decatur Island | Letter
It’s a funny thing about islands. They tend to stay put. The trees stay put, too—quiet, hardworking citizens who ask for nothing except a little rain and the chance to stand upright for a century or two. On Decatur Island, where I grew up and now live, those trees have been doing their job faithfully, keeping the hillside from wandering off, shading the deer, and sheltering the owls. Did I mention they’re holding the soil in place so the rest of us don’t slide into the Salish Sea?
Protecting your vote | Letter
Many people have shared their concerns about election security with me and how election officials can address those concerns. I believe the biggest issues are cybersecurity, ballot security, chain of custody, staffing, and misinformation.
Letter to Editor | Ron Krebs shares his commitment to community
To the Citizens of San Juan County, As we approach the upcoming election, I want to share my priorities for the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office and my commitment to the community we serve. Having served as your Sheriff from 2015 to 2022, and with 19 years of experience in the Sheriff’s Office, I understand the challenges facing our organization. My priorities moving forward are straightforward: rebuilding our staffing, […]
Resource Center presents October Orcas Talks Money workshops
Submitted by the Orcas Community Resource Center Communications Team.
Larsen continues to hold ICE accountable at Ferndale HSI facility
FERNDALE, WA – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “I am committed to getting answers for the people I represent about immigration operations in Northwest Washington. Today, I went to ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) facility in Ferndale. This visit is a follow-up from my visit to ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) facility in July. “I will continue to conduct robust, close oversight
KIRO News reports WSF meltdown was years in the making
Washington’s ferry meltdown didn’t start with this week’s sick-out. Charles Prestrud of the Washington Policy Center traces it back to Inslee’s vaccine mandate, which pushed 132 experienced ferry workers — engineers, captains, essential crew — into termination or early retirement right when the staffing cliff was already approaching.
SJC sheriff’s log
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office responded to the following calls.
Burn Permits Now Local on Orcas Island
Orcas Island, WA – Orcas Island Fire and Rescue (OIFR) will begin issuing burn permits for Orcas Island. Permits will be available starting October 12, 2026, if weather and conditions allow. The process is online. Apply and pay at orcasfire.org. The site also has burn safety rules and requirements. You may also come to Station 21 at […]
Washington residents urged to oppose Pacific Link pipeline and supertankers in Salish Sea
Petition calls on Governor Ferguson and state agencies to fight the Canadian pipeline and supertanker project and secure enforceable, fully funded protections for Washington state A new petition being circulated by Friends of the San Juans is calling on Washington state to oppose Canada’s proposed Pacific Link pipeline (formerly called the West Coast Oil Pipeline) and the supertanker traffic it would bring to the Salish Sea. The pipeline woul
Larsen | New B.C. oil pipeline is ‘not ready for prime time’
Last Friday, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) commented on the news that Canada is fast-tracking a new oil pipeline project that would increase oil tanker traffic in Larsen’s district: “This project is not ready for prime time, and speeding up the review process will only make that worse,” said Rep. Larsen in the Washington State Standard. “Canada’s plan to fast track this new oil pipeline project puts sensitive marine habitats […]
Washington residents urged to oppose Pacific Link Pipeline and supertankers in the Salish Sea
Petition calls on Governor Ferguson and state agencies to fight the Canadian pipeline and supertanker project and secure enforceable, fully funded protections for Washington state. Friday Harbor, WA—October 7, 2026—A new petition being circulated by Friends of the San Juans is calling on Washington state to oppose Canada’s proposed Pacific Link pipeline (formerly called the […]
Jurors to report for duty beginning October 18
JURY DUTY: OCTOBER 13-23, 2026 All jurors summonsed for Jury Duty beginning October 13th, are required to report to the San Juan County Courthouse for Jury Duty on Wednesday, October 18 at 8:30 AM. Jurors should check here or call the Jury Hotline at 360-378-9407 to see if there are any changes prior to travelling on Wednesday morning. Thank you.
Civic engagement goes beyond the ballot box | Letter
During the course of my campaign for County Council, I have had countless conversations with people across the islands and have learned a great deal about their concerns. These conversations have given form to how I will, as councilmember, approach the budget.
Candidate’s dreams are spendy | Letter
I read Katherine Ingman Bryant’s goals to improve health care services in San Juan County and was struck by one glaring omission: How much will all of this cost—and where will the money come from?
After hung jury, Friday Harbor man pleads guilty to assault in the fourth degree
A 44-year-old Friday Harbor man charged with first-degree child molestation pleaded guilty on Sept. 21 to lesser charges after his August trial ended in a hung jury.
Washington lawmakers, colleagues demand transparency after U.S. Forest Service coordinates with ICE on public lands
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen (D, WA-02), Emily Randall (D, WA-06), Kim Schrier, M.D. (D, WA-08), Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Jared Huffman (D, CA-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Adriano Espaillat (D, NY-13), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Andrea Salinas (D, OR-06), Adam Smith (D, WA-09), Val Hoyle (D, OR-04), Marilyn Strickland (D, WA-10), Suzanne Bonamici (D, OR-01), and P
WSF: Regular ferry service for San Juan Islands Tuesday, Oct. 6
Most routes are operating regular service Tuesday, Oct. 6. Current service status is as follows: Anacortes/San Juan Islands, including interisland: Regular service. Port Townsend/Coupeville: Regular service. Mukilteo/Clinton: Regular service. Edmonds/Kingston: Regular service. Seattle/Bainbridge Island: Service will begin with the 6:20 a.m. departure from Bainbridge Island. Seattle/Bremerton: Regular service. Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth: Operating the two-boat schedule. The third, […]
Islands’ Oil Spill Association utilizes eyes in the sky
||| FROM BILL SYMES and ELAINA THOMPSON || Wednesday morning, September 16, was glorious in Deer Harbor: bright sunshine glinting on the water, color from early-turning leaves, light breeze out of the north, pleasant temperatures. In short, a perfect day for…an oil spill response drill! Islands’ Oil Spill Association (IOSA) trains monthly throughout San Juan County. On this mid-September morning, IOSA Deputy Director Rick Winings supervised eight Tier One (response-trained) volunteers from Orcas
Guest Opinion | Open letter to County Council
Beheading the Department of Environmental Stewardship In the State of Washington, responsibility falls on the local and Tribal governments to execute Salmon habitat conservation and restoration projects, which is a focused way of saying projects addressing marine health in general. This mission dovetails nicely with the clean water utility function of keeping pollution out of the stormwater and surface water. The solid waste utility is also clearly a part of attempting