Aug. 15, 1918
I.H. Barbie of Anacortes, a member of Company F when it went to Europe, has been gassed, according to word received by his family. The dose of mustard gas that he received was enough to send him to the hospital, where he is recovering from the effects of it. He had the experience after being in the trenches for five days.

Aug. 19, 1948
Seven gunnery areas which are now in virtually constant use in the areas surrounding Anacortes were announced this week by the U.S. Coast Guard, in warning all boats to stay clear of the areas. The Coast Guard stated that previous warnings had been issued for limited periods, but it has now been determined that the areas will be used so often that the warning to stay clear will be kept in effect continuously.

Aug. 21, 1958
Sales totaling $26,048.03 were recorded at the Washington State Liquor Store in Anacortes last month. Of the total, $21,026.23 went for retail sales. Also purchased were $870 worth of liquor permits.

Aug. 15, 1968
An enrollment of 2,540 students is expected for the 1968-69 school year in the Anacortes School District. This is a similar enrollment to that of last year and against the statewide trend. More than 819,000 students, an increase of 33,000 from last year, will be entering public schools of the state this year, according to figures released today by the office of State Superintendent Louis Bruno.

Aug. 16, 1978
Cecil Little, the man selected from outside the Anacortes Fire Department as fire chief, said this week he would be very disappointed if another “outsider” were named someday as his successor. Little, who assumed his new duties, on Aug. 1, said it is always preferable for leadership to come from within the ranks of that department. However, he acknowledged that his own hiring as chief by the city resulted in considerable controversy because of his position as an applicant outside the department.

Aug. 17, 1988
It was yet another delay for the Sunset Cove developers at the public hearing Aug. 15. This time, the city’s recording equipment failed, necessitating a rescheduling of the hearing to Aug. 29. But the audience of about 70 Anacortesans stayed in their seats to hear council members discuss a possible new land swap, one that might allow the city to consolidate its Forest Lands.

Gary Hart, attorney for the Ship Harbor Inn’s developers, has proposed a trade of approximately 40 city-owned acres between Cranberry Lake and the Anacortes Airport for a 160-acre parcel within the forest lands midway between Heart and Whistle Lakes. The Cranberry Lake parcel, according to Hart, is to be developed into a golf course.

Aug. 19, 1998
A majority of the Anacortes City Council finally found a way to open the door for a grocery store south of 22nd Street by inserting it into a motion to accept the Fidalgo Bay draft plan. It passed by a 5-2 margin with councilors Jeanne Robinette and Bud Rock opposing the move.

— From the archives of the Anacortes American