A long, pointless battle

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• Civic Agenda: How rights of way work in Whatcom County

  Civic Agenda: How rights of way work in Whatcom County

  Last month I wrote to you about the bridges of Whatcom County. This month I'm going to focus on an aspect of county government about which citizens commonly have questions. That is the public right of way (ROW), associated roads and how they relate to their adjoining properties. Let's start by understanding what ROW is, and isn't, how it came to be, and how it is separate from the physical roadway.

  The modern concept of ROW dates back to English common law where the king had only right of passage over his subject's property. This common law rule was soon recognized and applied by American courts, including the Supreme Court in 1832, establishing that when a public road is created the owner parts with the right of passage for the public but does not part with the ownership of the underlying property and associated rights (timber, mineral, grazing, etc).

  The county is the steward of the public trust for this right of passage. The corridor of this public right of passage is commonly called the "right

• Property, politics and pot — here are 2012’s top local stories

  Property, politics and pot — here are 2012’s top local stories

  Property rights, political change and pot legalization were among the biggest issues affecting Thurston County residents in 2012. Following is The Olympian’s list of the top 10 stories of the year, in reverse order.

• Proposed state budget cuts jeopardize court services

  Proposed state budget cuts jeopardize court services

  Several years ago, judges statewide began urging the Legislature for more stable funding for the trial courts so that we could provide equal and accessible justice across our state. At that time, our great state of Washington was dead last – 50th out of 50 states – for the money the state spent on our trial courts. Even worse, the money the state spent on the entire judicial branch of government was only three-tenths of 1 percent of the state operating budget.

  Beginning in 2005, the Legislature deserves much credit for responsibly starting down the path to provide adequate and stable funding for the trial courts of our state. The state’s contribution to the trial courts rose from three-tenths to seven-tenths of the state operating budget. Even with that increase Washington was still 50th out of 50 states in its funding for trial courts – the courts that ordinary citizens rely on daily to handle felony criminal cases, dissolutions of marriage, disputes involving real property, businesses and personal injury

• Florida land-use case at Supreme Court may have national impact

  Florida land-use case at Supreme Court may have national impact

  Coy Koontz Sr. had a plan when he bought 14.9 acres east of Orlando, Fla. It did not include having his son end up at the U.S. Supreme Court, however.

• Property values finally up, as county mails tax assessments

  Property values finally up, as county mails tax assessments

  Thurston County property valuation notices, also known as assessment notices, were mailed Friday, and for the first time in a long time, they brought some welcome news: Property values have gone up rather than down.