Top stories of 2024

by Colleen Smith Summers, Heather Spaulding, Declan O’Malley and Joanna Massey

Staff report

At the end of the year, we take a look at the biggest headlines of the past 12 months. This is part one. We chose the top stories from our most-read online articles and events we feel had the most significant impact on our communities. Watch for part two in our next edition.

1. Orcas Vikings make history

It was a successful year for several Orcas Island High School teams, as golf, baseball, track and soccer all had strong showings in their respective state tournaments. Soccer and golf even brought home state championships.

Soccer

It was a historic season for Orcas Island High School on the soccer field, as the Vikings finished with a 21-2 record and claimed the 2B State Championship. In the regular season, the Vikings went on a 15-game winning streak, with their only loss occurring in the first game. Their only other loss came in the Bi-District Championship game against Lopez Island High School. However, the Vikings avenged that defeat by defeating Lopez 2-0 in the State Championship game.

Golf

The Orcas Island golf team sent four boys — Josh Spinner, TJ Liblik, Joe Anderson and Sam Sutton — to the State Tournament. The girls’ team was also well-represented, with Lili Malo, Celia Groeninger and Alina Daoust competing in the postseason.

The boys team won the state championship, highlighted by a stellar performance from Anderson. Over two rounds at the State Tournament, Anderson shot scores of 75 and 73 for a combined score of 148. Spinner placed sixth at state, Sutton finished 25th and Malo was the 10th-place finisher in the girls competition.

Baseball

The Orcas Island High School baseball team had an outstanding season, reaching the state’s quarterfinals before losing to Naselle. The Vikings also claimed a league title for the first time in nearly 30 years, finishing with a 10-2 record in league play and a 17-6 overall record. This year’s team made history as the first to win a game at the State Tournament, defeating Pomeroy 12-0.

Track

For the first time since the 1960s and 1970s, Orcas Island High School fielded a Track and Field team, and 2024 proved to be a stellar year for the sport. At the state meet, the Vikings took home the state title in the discus, with Bethany Carter capturing the championship, as well as the 4×100 relay, won by Romero Lago, Ethan Moss, Lauro Quintero-Carrion and Andrew Garcia.

2. 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.

3. Rosario Resort sells

Orcas resident Chris Robison, owner of Empower Investing, purchased Rosario Resort this past spring.

After 16 years of ownership, the Barto family listed the resort in March 2023 for $15 million plus $2.5 million for water rights. The estate is centered around the 116-year-old Rosario mansion built by shipbuilder Robert Moran. The property officially opened as a resort on April 1, 1960, and has undergone several expansions. The resort is listed on the Historic National Register. In 2007 the San Juan County Council approved Rosario Resort’s Master Plan for future development. It can be viewed at https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1212/Chapter-5.

Now-renamed Rosario Village, it has been a difficult time for the property after very few of the 47 laid-off employees were rehired after the sale. On Dec. 3, Robison announced his investment firm’s 2025 plans for the historical property, along with a new partnership with the Hartland Hotel Group. Plans include reopening the Moran Mansion before next summer and beginning construction on new waterfront guest rooms and luxury homes, located between the mansion and the marina, by the end of next year.

The announcement came soon after press about the resort’s imminent foreclosure and auction, scheduled by trustees for February. Robison has until Feb. 3 to pay $3.75 million that was due in July, along with interest and fees, in order to stop the public auction.

4. OIFR turmoil

Orcas Fire and Rescue faced a leadership crisis as Fire Chief Holly vanSchaick and two commissioners, Tim Fuller and Jim Biddick, resigned during a June 17 board meeting. VanSchaick’s resignation stemmed from disputes over her contract’s validity and allegations of workplace hostility. Though an independent investigation found no evidence to support her claims of discrimination against Commissioner Randy Gaylord, vanSchaick finalized a separation agreement, including severance pay and benefits. The board approved the agreement 3-2, prompting Fuller and Biddick to resign amid public outcry.

VanSchaick, chief since August 2023, significantly increased volunteer numbers and improved financial planning during her tenure. However, her resignation followed a period of tumult, including failed levy initiatives, union votes of no confidence and criticism from volunteer officers. The remaining commissioners vowed to maintain emergency services while seeking replacements for leadership positions.

Orcas Fire’s leadership challenges trace back to 2016 with issues of financial mismanagement and subsequent leadership turnover. Efforts to stabilize operations included appointing vanSchaick as chief and securing a five-year tax levy in April 2024 to maintain staffing and services. Despite the upheaval, the department’s commitment to public safety remains steadfast as new leaders are sought to guide the organization forward.

There was some good news, however. In early August, the Orcas Island Community Foundation received a gift of $250,000 from an anonymous donor for OIFR. The gift was unrestricted and can be used for equipment, repairs, operations or elsewhere.

5. Lawsuits against EWUA

The Eastsound Water Users Association faced internal conflicts and legal challenges involving board members and governance issues. In June, EWUA Board President Teri Nigretto accused directors Ron Claus and Carol Ann Anderson of breaching their fiduciary duties by coordinating with opposing counsel in a lawsuit against the association. This alleged misconduct involved sharing confidential documents to support a recall effort against fellow board members.

In July, San Juan County Superior Court Judge Kathryn Loring heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by Mike Parnell under Farm to Market LLC, which contested the validity of EWUA’s November 2023 director election due to procedural errors. The lawsuit sought to invalidate the election results and subsequent board decisions. Judge Loring ruled in favor of EWUA, granting its motion for summary judgment and denying plaintiff Farm to Market’s motion for summary judgment.

In August, EWUA’s leadership issued a call to action, urging members to support the association amid ongoing legal disputes and internal strife. The lawsuits have cost EWUA over $100,000 in legal fees and staff time.

A special meeting on Sept. 28 allowed members to vote on the recall, which saw directors Nigretto, James Nelson, Leith Templin and Michael Cleveland retained. Directors recalled from the board were Jim Cook, Claus and Anderson. About the decision, Nigretto said, “It’s just so unfortunate that such a small number of people can cause so much damage to the Association and our community. We are glad this is over so we can get back to the business of running a water company.”

6. 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% 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% of the vote while Stephanie O’Day came in at 36.37%. For the District 2 position, Justin Paulsen earned 52.95% of the vote while Rick Hughes came in at 46.73%.

“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!”