All Stories - Whidbey News Times

Fort Ebey fire claims three acres of grassland

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:58 PDT

Trillium Woods victory near for Land Trust

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:58 PDT

The Whidbey Camano Land Trust is on the threshold of its greatest achievement ever — raising $4.2 million over seven months to purchase 664 acres of forested land on Whidbey Island.

Deadliest Catch crew expected to reel in crowds this Saturday

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:58 PDT

Threatening phone calls lead to arrest

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:58 PDT

A 29-year-old Oak Harbor man is accused of violating a court order by calling his ex-girlfriend at least a half dozen times and threatening to kill her, court documents indicate.

Oak Harbor councilmen deny conflict

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:58 PDT

More than a week after Oak Harbor City Councilman Scott Dudley publicly implicated a fellow council member of wrongdoing for voting on the SE Pioneer Way improvement project, it is still unclear whether Councilman Bob Severns actually has a conflict of interest.

Investigators track foot found in Greenbank

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:58 PDT

Investigators are looking at a number of missing persons cases in the Puget Sound region, including the high-profile disappearance of a Silverdale woman, to find a possible match with a human foot that washed up on the east side of Central Whidbey Island near Greenbank last Friday.

Level 2 sex offender to live in Oak Harbor

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:58 PDT

A Level 2 sex offender being released from jail today will live at an Oak Harbor home on Highway 20, according to the Island County Sheriff’s Office.

ACLU hits proposed Oak Harbor High School cell phone policy

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:58 PDT

Watched by FOX and KIRO TV television cameras, the Oak Harbor School Board Monday night unanimously approved the second reading of its revised cell phone policy, which allows school administrators to confiscate and search a student's cell phone if they have a reasonable suspicion, based on objective and articulable facts, that such a search will reveal a violation of school rules.

Stranded crabbers rescued from Saratoga Passage Friday night

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:58 PDT

Two men were unharmed after spending Friday night adrift in a boat on Saratoga Passage.

Former altar boy accuses Oak Harbor priest of sexual abuse

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:58 PDT

Another former altar boy has come forward to accuse a now-defrocked Oak Harbor priest of sexually abusing him 30 years ago.

Sinchak selected for all-star football game

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Oak Harbor High School sophomore Dakota Sinchak was recently selected by Offense-Defense Football Camps as one of its youth all-Americans.

Fall preview: Oak Harbor High School volleyball

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Experience won’t be a problem for the Oak Harbor High School volleyball team as it heads into the 2010 season.

Fall preview: Oak Harbor High School football

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

It will be a season of unknowns for the Oak Harbor High School football team when it begins league play this year.

Fall preview: Coupeville High School football

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

A new era starts for Coupeville football this fall as Jay Silver takes over the program headed by Ron Bagby the past 26 seasons.

Fall preview: Swim and dive

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Coming off its best season ever -- undefeated Wesco North champs -- the Oak Harbor High School girls swim and dive team is aiming to repeat its success in 2010.

Fall preview: Cross country

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

The Oak Harbor High School boys cross country team is young but experienced and the girls team returns the core of last year’s state-qualifying squad as the Wildcats head into the 2010 season.

Fall preview: Oak Harbor High School cheer

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

The Oak Harbor High School cheer squad will feature two teams this fall.

Fall preview: Coupeville High School volleyball

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

In spite of her team’s youth, coach Toni Crebbin expects the Coupeville High School volleyball team to challenge the league’s best this year.

Fall preview: Coupeville High School tennis

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

The Coupeville High School boys tennis team is looking to repeat as league and district champions this fall.

Fall preview: Oak Harbor High School tennis

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Eight lettermen, heading by six seniors, will lead the Oak Harbor High School boys tennis team in 2010.

‘Chicago’ benefits Coupeville Soroptimists

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

The new production of “Chicago” at Whidbey Playhouse in Oak Harbor has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz; one show-stopping-song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen.

Wind power needed for Whidbey orchestras

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Whidbey Island Orchestras is pleased to announce its 2010-2011 concert season. Its two orchestras, Whidbey Island Youth Orchestra and Whidbey Island Community Orchestra, welcome back returning members and invite new members.

Live radio on stage

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Lions serve salmon barbecue

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

The Coupeville Lions Club will serve a Samish Native American style Salmon Barbecue with all the fixings on Sunday, Sept. 12, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Last tours of the Trillium Woods scheduled

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Tours of the Trillium Woods have been so popular that the Whidbey Camano Land Trust has scheduled three more.

Meerkerk grass turns blue

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Meerkerk Gardens Summer Arts Series presents the Whidbey Island Bluegrass Festival Saturday, Aug. 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Photojournalist receives Ruby Award

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Freelance photojournalist and writer Lee Karen Stow will receive Soroptmist International of Coupeville’s Ruby Award for her work documenting the struggles of the women and children in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

Five days to perfect the princess

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

On Saturday, Aug. 21, “The Princess and the Pea” will be performed at the Whidbey Playhouse with the help of dozens of local kids. The impressive backstory: They only have this week to rehearse.

Whimsical Greenbank kitchen featured in Dream Tour

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

One of the eight kitchens that will be featured in this year’s self-guided Dream Kitchen Tour belongs to Diane Billingsley and Bob Reik.

Human trafficking?! Excuse Me Please!

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Kim Bralens heads Oak Harbor bank branch

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

'Deadliest Catch' crew members to return to Seabolt's Smokehouse Sept. 4

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Seabolt’s Smokehouse is bringing crew members from the Deadliest Catch back to Whidbey Island for a fun and entertaining event to help raise money for the Seattle Fisherman’s Memorial.

Lagasse directs building accounting

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Mark Lagasse has joined the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County staff in the position of accounting director.

Mind Your Business

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Births

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

'Back to School Project' is under way

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Volunteers from the Readniess to Learn Foundation are collecting donations for the “Back to School Project” in order to provide school supplies, clothing vouchers and shoes to eligible families.

Oak Harbor graduates wrap up basic training | In the military

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Gluten Free Foodies

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Faithful Living: Find a way to help the world

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

It was five years ago that I watched my TV screen in horror as the lives of thousands of families were dismantled by Hurricane Katrina.

President of VFW Ladies Auxiliary visits Oak Harbor

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Cortina Barnes, newly elected National President of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, will visit Oak Harbor Thursday, Sept. 2.

Religion Notes

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Religion notes

Sock it to Ugandan orphans

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Hair Happenings is collecting 1,005 pairs of socks at sylviaschildren.org for a Mbiriizi Primary School and Orphanage in Masaka, Uganda.

Five decades together

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Dr. Frank and Sharon Schufletowski recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married August 11, 1960, in Columbia Falls, Mont. They have lived in Oak Harbor for the past 10 years. Frank works for Delex, Inc., and Sharon recently retired from Whidbey Island Bank.

Oak Harbor graduate cruises to marriage

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Former Oak Harbor residents Lyle and Cindy Caplinger are pleased to announce the engagement of their son, Matthew Allen Caplinger of Bellingham, to Megan Frances Robb, a lifelong resident of Bradford, Ontario, and daughter of Darlene Robb.

It’s probably OK for an adult to eat a Lunchable | Editor's Column

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Older folks can take advantage of the back-to-school sales by reliving not their youth, which is too far back in the murky past to be relevant in today’s world, but the youth of our children. Thus I found the temptation of on-sale Lunchables at Prairie Market too tempting to resist.

Editorial: New Coupeville homes are nothing to complain about

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

A 20-home development in Coupeville remains controversial several years after it was given the go-ahead by town planners. But it shouldn’t be attracting so much criticism at this late stage of the game, particularly in light of the present economy.

Editorial: Dudley tosses the gauntlet

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Oak Harbor City Councilman Scott Dudley entered unexplored territory earlier this week when he asked Island County leaders to consider taking back $1 million in development money earmarked for the big Pioneer Way improvement project downtown.

Editorial: City promotes bridge planning

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

The city of Oak Harbor doesn’t have a lot of influence in the Legislature, but at least it’s trying to make its voice heard. In 2011, pending council approval, a city contingent will go to Olympia to ask that planning begin for the possible failure of the Deception Pass Bridge.

Editor's Column: U.S. Congress finally tracks down its liar

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Viewers of C-SPAN have watched in awe in recent months as a steady stream of deceivers, equivocators and prevaricators testified before Congress. They’d take a sip of water, gulp it down nervously past the knot in their silk tie, and set about trying to fool Congress about what they had done to inadvertently destroy America.

Editorial: No doubt about voters’ message

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Voters in Island County sometimes go for Democrats, sometimes for Republicans, sometimes pass money issues and sometimes defeat money issues. But usually the vote is fairly close. Not so on Tuesday, when the county’s proposal was blasted out of the water like a fishing boat that annoys an attack submarine.

Editorial: Keep Conservation Futures special

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Anyone with a pot of money these days has plenty of suitors, and Island County is no different with its Conservations Future Fund. It’s been around since 1992 when three Republican county commissioners saw the need to protect special places and imposed a tiny property tax to fund it.

Editor's Column: Island County Fair’s desperate for a grand marshal

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Scraping the bottom of the cracker barrel, yours truly was selected as this year’s Island County Fair grand marshal. It’s a history- making decision in several ways. First, no newspaper editor has ever been grand marshal; second I’ll be the first to have to wear a catcher’s mask to ward off the rotten fruit thrown in my honor; and third, I might be walking because I don’t have a horse, a convertible or a tractor.

Sound Off: Response to a critic on Island County’s budget claims

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

I recently viewed a video that Mr. Strowbridge aired on YouTube of himself driving 98 miles per hour on Whidbey Island in his yellow Corvette. He now complains that there are not enough deputies. He claims that the county spent over $8 million on land purchases since 2007 because it appears he searched and linked all “Island County” prefixed purchases with the county. It was really closer to $250,000 for one purchase from a dedicated land conservation fund and a small land transfer of $25,000 both in 2008. He seems to have trouble getting the road project funding and the current budgetary matters straight. I will attempt to dispel some of these false claims.

Editorial: Primary election is worth a vote

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Island County’s primary election that finishes Aug. 17 is important, so voters should make sure they participate and get their ballots in on time.

Asphalt sidewalk in Oak Harbor prompts questions

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

On the Oak Harbor Street resurfacing project, it would be interesting to learn why, after mistakes forced the crew to dig up the concrete sidewalk on the west side, we wound up with a cheap-looking black asphalt sidewalk that doesn’t match anything. Who’s responsible for that, and how did it happen?

To do or not to do is the question

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Now that Proposition 1 has been rejected, the hard work begins. Will department budgets be cut across the board? Or will some (such as the Sheriff’s Department) be given priority?

Island County jail’s no place for an older woman

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

I am embarrassed to live on an island that would put a 68-year-old woman in jail (Whidbey News-Times, Aug. 28) for a month for running into a transformer (the power was shut off) that was on her own property.

New Camano Island house, not Dean, caused tax hike

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Camano Islander Dale Smith, in an Aug. 20 letter to the editor (“All was fine before John Dean”) reported that, before I was elected, his property taxes were half what they are today.

We’ll work to stay the best

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

It was such a pleasant surprise to be honored as the Best Accountant by the Whidbey News-Times’ “Best of Whidbey” voters at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Time card buck stops at the top

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

Officer Horn (Whidbey News-Times, Aug. 14) is “working his way back into a position of trust with the officers in the office,” said Chief Wallace.

Anyone can give to the county

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

I was dismayed to read that Proposition 1 was voted down by my fellow Island County residents. I fear deeply for the future of our islands and am willing to do my part to protect vital services. I have taken the amount of money that I would have been taxed had this proposition passed and donated it to Island County.

A new bridge won’t be cheap

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

I fear your recent story on the need for a new Deception Pass bridge may have misled readers as to the current condition of the bridge and the need for a replacement.

Provide charts, listen to taxpayers

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

First, print in the Whidbey News-Times in organizational chart format, the breakdown of every department in the county, then the position descriptions along with the position’s hourly pay or salary or contract wage and yearly totals for that position.

How about the Quest ferry dock?

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:29:59 PDT

How much would Quest or Safeco pay for the naming rights to a ferry terminal? You, the taxpayer, paid at least $41,000 in Obama money so the town of Coupeville could have the honor. The terminal, formally known as Keystone, had a name with cachet, a ring, but it didn’t have a champion to fight to keep its name.