Community gathers for Sanborn memorial

   Cars, vans and bicycles crowded into
every available parking spot in and around
Pioneer Park on Wednesday, March 20, for 
a memorial potluck for the late Clyde Sanborn.
   Sanborn, 47, was found dead Saturday 
morning, March 15, on a sand spit near the 
south end of the Swinomish Channel. He was 
the victim of an apparent drowning accident.
   Tears filled the eyes of many of the
hundreds of mourners, others laughed and 
talked about pleasant memories of Clyde. 
Artwork and poems, written by what locals 
believe was the last "River Rat" in LaConner, 
were on display.
   One mourner brought several poems
written by Clyde. The cherished gifts, written
many years ago, were handwritten on yellowed
scraps of paper. They were given tearfully to 
Clyde's mother, Gwen Wilson, who attended
the vigil with several family member from
California.
   Clyde, a poet and artist, was known
to always have had an interesting tidbit
to add to any conversation.
   He once wrote: "One should always
carry a pen. One never knows when one
may run into a poem."
   According to his close friend, Jim Smith,
the Skagit County Sheriff's office is trying
to determine Clyde's whereabouts in the
days prior to his death. A daily visitor to
town, he had not been seen around
recently. Anyone who may have seen or
spoke to him in the days preceeding his
death is asked to contact the Sheriff's
office at 336-9450.