After taking second place at tri-districts last week, the Lady Vikings softball team is heading to the state championship playoffs in Yakima on Friday, May 28.

The newly formed Orcas Park and Rec District is still nailing down its priorities, but it looks like Buck Park is at the top of the list.

Sidelined by financial constraints the past two years, San Juan County’s derelict vessel removal program is poised to make a comeback.

On Tuesday, the County Council backed a recommendation by the Marine Resources Committee and agreed to consider placing the nuts and bolts of its mothballed pollution prevention program into private hands. The council voted without dissent in directing the county administrator to prepare a “request for proposals” as the first step in seeking out a marine salvage company or qualified individual willing to run the program under contract with the county.

Those stories and photos make up page 1 of this week’s Islands’ Sounder, available at newsstands and stores Wednesday morning.

Also in this week’s edition: Bite of Orcas preview, local concerts and events, county news, guest columns, letters, obituaries, classifieds, and public notices.