Stanwood

A stretch of the dike that runs along Skagit Bay on Friday, May 13, 2022 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

If this dike fails, Stanwood goes underwater

The levee is over a hundred years old. And it shows. But efforts have lagged to fix it before it’s too late.

A stretch of the dike that runs along Skagit Bay on Friday, May 13, 2022 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
People gather for a color throw at Stanwood and Camano’s first-ever Pride celebration on Saturday, June 4, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

First-ever Pride celebrations draw hundreds in north county

“We didn’t expect this could happen here,” said Sall Hutson, 76. “In little towns a long time ago, you could hardly come out at all.”

People gather for a color throw at Stanwood and Camano’s first-ever Pride celebration on Saturday, June 4, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jason Toner (Snohomish County Sheriff's Office) 20220601

New Stanwood police chief lives there and has worked there

Snohomish County sheriff’s Lt. Jason Toner will begin work on Wednesday.

Jason Toner (Snohomish County Sheriff's Office) 20220601
The Lenz composting facility borders. (Google Earth)

Firm calls rules for expanded composting near Stanwood ‘unlawful’

Among other things, Lenz Enterprises claims a condition barring odors from its composting is “unreasonable.”

The Lenz composting facility borders. (Google Earth)
Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Stanwood in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

Man accused of kidnapping is arrested after high-speed chase

“It was like a scene out of Mario Kart,” a Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy wrote. Speeds reportedly reached 100 mph.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Stanwood in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Clockwise from top left: Mill Creek Fire Station 76 (Mill Creek Fire Department); Liberty Elementary School (Marysville School District); Sultan schools Superintendent Dan Chaplik (right) and mechanic Dan Erdman in the bus barn (Olivia Vanni / The Herald); Cascade Elementary School (Marysville School District); Lakewood High School locker room (Olivia Vanni / The Herald); Granite Falls High School (Granite Falls School District).

School levies failing in Marysville, Stanwood-Camano, Lakewood

Granite Falls and Sultan were passing their levies. And in Mill Creek, voters approved joining South County Fire.

Clockwise from top left: Mill Creek Fire Station 76 (Mill Creek Fire Department); Liberty Elementary School (Marysville School District); Sultan schools Superintendent Dan Chaplik (right) and mechanic Dan Erdman in the bus barn (Olivia Vanni / The Herald); Cascade Elementary School (Marysville School District); Lakewood High School locker room (Olivia Vanni / The Herald); Granite Falls High School (Granite Falls School District).
Rebecca Mertzig (Stanwood Police Department)

Stanwood chief picked to lead Bellingham Police Department

“She has been a rising star in the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office,” Bellingham’s mayor said.

Rebecca Mertzig (Stanwood Police Department)
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Man, 22, identified after crash into power pole near Lake Goodwin

Jordan J. A. Miller, of Stanwood, died after he lost control of his car on West Lake Goodwin Road on Saturday.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Stanwood in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

Man, 22, dies after crashing into power pole near Lake Goodwin

He lost control of his car on West Lake Goodwin Road, police say. A 15-year-old girl had minor injuries.

A large puddle of water forms on the floor of the Lakewood field locker rooms on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Schools eye fixes to leaky roofs, aging boilers, old tech

The Lakewood and Stanwood-Camano districts are seeking voter approval for capital projects and technology needs.

A large puddle of water forms on the floor of the Lakewood field locker rooms on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lei Wiley-Mydske, co-owner of Stanwood Tattoo Company, stands with the Autism Acceptance Library that is installed at her shop on Friday, March 25, 2022, in Stanwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Meet the woman behind Stanwood’s autism acceptance library

In Lei Wiley-Mydske’s tattoo shop, “neurodivergent narwhals” are educators and advocates uplifting autistic voices.

Lei Wiley-Mydske, co-owner of Stanwood Tattoo Company, stands with the Autism Acceptance Library that is installed at her shop on Friday, March 25, 2022, in Stanwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Citron-crested cockatoos at the Cockatoo Rescue and Sanctuary near Stanwood. (Cockatoo Rescue and Sanctuary via Facebook) 20150000

Stanwood parrot sanctuary owner dies, along with dozens of birds

Lori Rutledge oversaw a bird paradise at Cockatoo Rescue and Sanctuary. No one knows what happened before her death.

Citron-crested cockatoos at the Cockatoo Rescue and Sanctuary near Stanwood. (Cockatoo Rescue and Sanctuary via Facebook) 20150000
The McClinchy Mile Camano Climb Bike Ride is back after a two-year hiatus. (B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County)

McClinchy Mile Bike Ride back after two-year pandemic hiatus

Cyclists new and experienced can find a route between 15 and 50 miles in Camano Island and Stanwood.

The McClinchy Mile Camano Climb Bike Ride is back after a two-year hiatus. (B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County)
Election

Voters to act on school funding measures, fire district annexation

Granite Falls, Marysville, Stanwood and Sultan all suffered levy defeats in February. They’ll try again April 26.

Election
Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Stanwood in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

Driver identified in fatal Stanwood crash

Bryan Michels, 39, was driving on Highway 532 on Monday when he crashed head-on into a Ford F-150.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Stanwood in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Design rendering of the planned 16-bed mental health treatment center north of Stanwood. (Washington State Health Care Authority)

Neighbors air concerns on proposed psychiatric center near Stanwood

A forum offered the community a first look at what the facility for involuntary mental health treatment may look like.

Design rendering of the planned 16-bed mental health treatment center north of Stanwood. (Washington State Health Care Authority)
Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Stanwood in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

Man dies at hospital after head-on crash in Stanwood

He was driving a Volkswagen Jetta when he crashed into a Ford F-150 on Highway 532, according to state patrol.

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At least 1 serious injury in head-on crash on Highway 532 in Stanwood

The highway was blocked off late Monday afternoon and was expected to be closed for an extended period of time.

Jack Archibald, who has worked with stained glass for decades, stands in the main entrance of Stanwood High School, which now features four of his colorful stained glass windows on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Stanwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Camano Island artist’s stained glass murals brighten Stanwood High

Jack Archibald got “totally hooked” on glass art at the high school in the 1970s. Now, four of his pieces hang there.

Jack Archibald, who has worked with stained glass for decades, stands in the main entrance of Stanwood High School, which now features four of his colorful stained glass windows on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Stanwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The proposed location for a 32-bed psychiatric treatment center north of Stanwood. (Snohomish County Planning & Development Services)

Near Stanwood, neighbors oppose proposed psychiatric center

The state wants to build the facility to address a severe shortage of beds for involuntary mental health treatment.

The proposed location for a 32-bed psychiatric treatment center north of Stanwood. (Snohomish County Planning & Development Services)