Top stories of 2024

by Colleen Smith Summers, Heather Spaulding and Joanna Massey

Staff report

At the end of the year, we take a look at the biggest headlines of the past 12 months. We chose the top stories from our most-read online articles and events we feel had the most significant impact on our communities.

1. Lobos win second at state

The Lopez Lobos soccer team has had an incredible season, earning second place in the 2B/1B State Championship. On Nov. 23, Lopez played the Orcas Island Vikings team, which came away with a 2-0 victory to take the state title.

The 2024 Lopez soccer season has been the most successful in decades. The team earned the bi-district championship for the first time in 30 years on Nov. 9 after beating Orcas 1-0. With the win, Lopez secured a higher seeding in the state tournament, playing Evergreen Lutheran the next week. After that win, the team then played Orcas Island in the battle for state.

After the match, Lopez Coach Mycha Kraushaar reflected on the significance of her team’s performance in the title game.

“I wouldn’t change a thing about how we played the game, and I know they’re feeling pretty proud of how they represented their community, too,” Kraushaar said.

2. Skate park opens

On Dec. 1, the new Lopez Island Skate Park opened. It was the culmination of a multiyear project that started in 2022 when the San Juan County Parks received a grant of $600,000 to replace the failing plywood park that Shawn O’day of the Richlite company donated in 2013. Over the years, the plywood park had deteriorated.

The new park is a cast-in-place park designed and constructed by Grindline Skatepark. During the design process, two community meetings were held to solicit input from the Lopez Community. The new park is about 50% larger than the previous one and is approximately 6,300 square feet.

It’s open to use by skaters, bikers, rollerbladers and community members of all ages. Grindline specifically designed the space to include elements for all skill levels. The park, located on Community Center land, is managed by the San Juan County Parks.

3. Lopez Swim Center breaks ground

In early September, the construction of the Lopez Swim Center, a long-anticipated project on 2.5 acres near Center Road, began, marking a milestone for the Lopez Island community. Featuring a four-lane lap pool and a warmer-water wellness pool, the center will offer year-round recreation, fitness and therapy for residents and visitors. Construction, led by Sage Building Solutions with local contractors and architects, is expected to finish by fall 2025.

The pools, open-air in summer and enclosed with a cost-effective heated structure in winter, promise diverse activities such as exercise classes, family movie nights and outdoor BBQs. The nonprofit center will sustain operations through user fees, class tuition and rentals, with scholarships and discounted memberships ensuring accessibility for all.

Final fundraising efforts are ongoing alongside construction. The project has already secured key materials, including steel-framed Myrtha pools, stored onsite. The Friends of Lopez Island Pool continues to engage the community by recruiting lifeguards and volunteers for upcoming events and the center’s launch. A lifeguard training informational session was held on Sept. 10 at Lopez Library.

The Swim Center aims to become a hub of health and connection, fostering inclusivity and enriching the island’s quality of life. Visit FLIP’s website at https://www.lopezislandpool.org/ volunteer/ for more details.

4. Mike Thomas retires, Jessica Hudson hired

In August, San Juan County welcomed Jessica Hudson as its new County manager, following a period of interim leadership after Mike Thomas retired. Hudson, who previously led Fairfax County Public Library in Virginia, started with key projects such as the comprehensive plan update, budget amendments and capital projects. She brings extensive experience in managing large teams, budgets and strategic initiatives. Hudson expressed her excitement about joining the community and was looking forward to supporting important County initiatives.

During the leadership transition, the County was supported by dedicated staff. Mark Tompkins, the Health & Community Services director, served as interim County manager, providing steady leadership and playing a key role in the recruitment of Hudson. Tompkins, with 25 years of service, was praised for his problem-solving approach. Kyle Dodd, HCS deputy director, and Brandon Andrews, Parks and Fair director, also took on critical roles, supporting departments and leading major initiatives. Dodd’s 10 years with the County and Andrews’ contributions to key projects like the 32-hour work week and capital improvements were highlighted. The County expresses gratitude for all staff’s dedication and looks forward to continued collaboration in providing services to the community.

5. Elwha officially retired

The Elwha had been decommissioned several years ago, and became one of two vessels sold for salvage to a clean, green steel mill facility owned by businessman Nelson Armas of Ecuador.

The 144-car Elwha was named for the Lower Elwha Kallam Tribe. She is a Super-Class vessel built in 1967 in San Diego, California. It made worldwide headlines after running aground on a submerged rock near Orcas Island on Oct. 2, 1983. The collision was thought to be caused by a failure in the steering component, but later, it was found to have been caused by the ferry captain going off course to give a visitor a view of her waterfront home. The Ferry Captain and the Ferry Chief were fired after concluding the investigations. This incident caused $250,00 worth of damage, and the ferry was out of service for several weeks. After the incident, the rock was named “Elwha Rock.” In 1989, the Island City Jazz Band wrote and performed their song “Elwha on the Rocks.”

In September 1999, The Elwha made more headlines after a computer glitch led the ferry to ram into the Orcas Island ferry dock—that accident cost $3.8 million. A quote from the Seattle Times article, “Ferry Loaded With Passengers Slams Into Orcas Island Dock” Sept. 8, 1999, said “People at the dock were yelling for everybody to get off the dock. Then it just rammed the dock, and the pilings started cracking,’ Patty Cunningham, who worked at the nearby Orcas Hotel.”

In July 2019, according to a Journal article, a ferry employee found a suspicious note in the woman’s bathroom inferring information about a bomb. U.S. Coast Guard and K-9 bomb detection teams boarded the vessel. Several hours later it was determined to be clear of any explosive hazards and ferry service continued.

Right on brand for the Elwha, the original sale to Armas was first postponed due to towing equipment issues, and then, collapsed altogether after media reports regarding poor conditions faced by the crew aboard Wycliffe, another vessel involved in the attempted tow. Although Armas denied these claims, Steve Nevey, WSF Assistant Secretary, reaffirmed WSF’s commitment to seafarer welfare.

6. Bill Anders dies in plane crash

William Anders, a pioneering astronaut and longtime Orcas Island resident, tragically died in a plane crash on June 7 at the age of 90. The incident occurred off Jones Island in the San Juan Channel. Authorities reported that the older-model aircraft sank after crashing, and Anders was the sole occupant.

Renowned for his contributions as a U.S. Air Force major general, electrical and nuclear engineer, and NASA astronaut, Anders achieved global recognition as part of the Apollo 8 mission — the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the moon. Alongside astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, Anders circled the moon 10 times, delivering the iconic Christmas Eve broadcast featuring the Genesis reading. During the mission, he captured the famous “Earthrise” photo, hailed as a transformative environmental image.

In addition to his space exploration legacy, Anders was celebrated for his philanthropy. He and his wife, Valerie, founded the William A. Anders Foundation and the Heritage Flight Museum. His numerous honors include inductions into prestigious halls of fame, including the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

At the time of his passing, Anders resided in Anacortes. He is survived by Valerie, his wife of many years, and their six children.

7. Big year for elections

San Juan County had 86.89% of registered voters casting a ballot. The average voter turnout was 78.94% statewide.

An overwhelming number of voters approved the Real Estate Excise Tax that funds the Land Bank: 67.34 percent voted yes while 32.66 voted no.

There will be two new council members next year. For San Juan County Council district 1, Kari McVeigh received 63.22 percent of the vote while Stephanie O’Day came in at 36.37 percent. For the district 2 position, Justin Paulsen earned 52.95 percent of the vote while Rick Hughes came in at 46.73 percent.

“I am humbled and honored by the amazing support I’ve received these past nine months and promise to apply my skills, my energy and my heart to serving all San Juan County people equitably,” McVeigh said. “I am grateful to my stellar team and the positive, grassroots campaign we ran through thick and thin. And I look forward to working with all islanders – from the towns to the shores to the farms – as we work together to secure the islands’ future. Thank you so much for your amazing work throughout this campaign season!”