Hands-free cell law goes into effect this week

Police can now issue traffic citations to drivers operating a vehicle while talking on a hand-held phone if they are pulled over for a primary traffic violation, such as speeding.

The new law took effect July 1. If you talk on a cell phone while driving, use a single in-ear device, a voice-activated system or a hands-free speaker system, which are legal.

Under Senate Bill 5037, passed in 2007, the infraction is a secondary offense. People will not be pulled over solely because they are driving while on a hand-held cell phone, but if they are pulled over for swerving or speeding, drivers may receive an additional fine under this law.

City solid waste division on holiday schedule

The city of Anacortes solid waste division will not serve customers on Friday, July 4 due to the holiday.

The department is asking residential customers with a Friday pickup day to hold their garbage and recycling until the next service day.

For more information, call 293-1909.

Customers will be able to put out extra garbage and recycling equivalent to the normal service. The extra refuse should be in a standard garbage can or plastic garbage bag tied off with at least a 4-inch tag to be used as a handle.

Prepaid city garbage bags are not required.

For more information, call 293-1909.

Ferry system offers extra holiday runs

Washington State Ferries has added extra ferry runs from Anacortes to the San Juan Islands to cover the busy holiday weekend.

An extra sailing to Lopez Island and Friday Harbor is 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, July 2 and 3.

The system will be on a regular schedule Friday and Saturday, July 4 and 5.

On Sunday, ferries will run a regular Sunday schedule but with a larger boat for the 8:25 p.m. sailing July 6.

Canceled inter-island sailings for Sunday are the 11:35 from Friday Harbor, 12:30 p.m. from Orcas, 12:45 p.m. from Shaw and 1:05 p.m. from Lopez.

Added inter-island sailings are an 11:25 a.m. from Friday Harbor stopping at Lopez and a 12:10 p.m. sailing from Lopez to Anacortes.

Another added sailing is at 1:30 Monday, July 7 from Anacortes to Lopez Island.

Hear report’s findings about PSE sale

Two reports offer wildly different predictions about the potential impact of forced sale of Puget Sound Power’s assets to Skagit Public Utility District.

A study commissioned by PSE found costs would rise 20 percent, while the one commissioned by the utility district predicted small initial savings followed by larger long-term savings.

The first public presentation on the utility district’s findings is 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 8 at the Steelworker’s Union Hall, at the corner of Fifth Street and Commercial Avenue.

Interested parties are invited to come voice their questions, concerns and objections.

Huckleberry Island meeting canceled

A meeting to discuss the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission’s proposal to transfer ownership of Huckleberry Island to the Samish Indian Nation has been canceled.

The meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 2 at the Anacortes Public Library, was intended to gather public comments on the proposal for the state parks department.

The commission has internal questions it needs to address before another meeting is scheduled, said commission planning and research manager Bill Koss. Biological information obtained from the island by parks department staff also needs to be reviewed.

The commission did not want the island sold into the private sector, but Koss said it does not fit with the commission’s 2003 vision of a “premier destination of uncommon quality.”

The Samish have a vested interest in the island because of Samish artifacts discovered to have originated from the island, said Samish Chair Tom Wooten. The tribe intends to maintain the island for public use and cultural education opportunities.

For more information, contact Koss at or (360) 902-8629.

School Board agendas, information online

Anyone can now see the Anacortes School Board’s agenda and related items online.

The district recently added a new Web site that includes policy manuals, board meeting packets, contact information for board members, upcoming board events and other announcements. Visit http://board.asd103.org.

The new site is in addition to the School District’s Web site at http://www.asd103.org.

Discuss Highway 20 traffic at town meeting

The South Fidalgo Community Council hosts a town meeting to discuss traffic issues relating to Highway 20, Deception Pass Bridge and a proposed bridge from Whidbey Island to the mainland from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 9 at the Mount Erie Fire Station, 14825 Deception Road.

Fielding questions will be state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-10th District, and Todd Harrison, Washington State Department of Transportation assistant regional administrator.

People are asked to register questions prior to the meeting at http://www.southfidalgo.org. Click on “Contact Us” and enter the question in the message box.