Tag Archives: a community mourns
Community mourns young lobsterman lost at sea
Tylar Michaud’s boat, F/V Top Gun, was found Friday, July 21, southwest of Petit Manan Bar, with its engine running but no one on board. “The whole community is shaken by this,” said state Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham, a Winter Harbor resident and himself a lobsterman. “I don’t think there’s anyone in this community that isn’t somehow connected to Tylar by family or friendship.” Michaud, a Steuben resident, was fishing alone, which carries inherent risks, but relative Michael Faulkingham said Tylar had fished for about five years on his own. He had also worked on Michael’s boat last year. “I know how careful he was and how smart he was on the boat, and how vigilant he was about paying attention and being careful,” Michael said. “He’s been a part of our family for about 11, 12 years. He was exceptionally responsible and wise on the water beyond his years.” >click to read< 08:59
A community mourns loss of Yakama fisherman Simon Sampson and wife, Diane
With his wife by his side, Simon Sampson fought for his Yakama treaty hunting and fishing rights until he died on June 14. He was 71. Two weeks later, on June 28, his wife of 50 years, Diane Sampson, died from COVID-19 complications. She was 69. Their deaths have left somber clouds over their hometown of Toppenish on the Yakama reservation and along the Columbia River, where the Yakamas have fished since time immemorial. In town, the Sampsons were community activists working to improve public safety, education and good will to others. On the river, Sampson known as the Slammin Salmon Man, was a voice for tribal fishermen and their indigenous fishing rights preserved in the treaty. Sampson was fighting a federal conviction in the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Ninth Circuit when he died. >click to read< 10:30
