A homeless man is facing assault and theft charges after he allegedly attacked a security guard at Walmart in Oak Harbor. That attack was thwarted by an armed retired sheriff’s deputy.
Prosecutors charged Addison Cody Vernon April 17 with assault in the second degree and theft in the third degree.
An improved budget and a community backlash is prompting Coupeville School District officials to lower its fees on facility rentals.
The facility use fees were increased in 2011 as officials scrambled to find new revenue when they cut more than 10 percent from the budget. The increase was criticized by some who argued it could alienate residents who have been long-time supporters of the school district.
The Coupeville School District is once again in line to partner with an online school that specializes in career classes.
Ignite Education Group wants to partner with the Central Whidbey school district to offer an online school that emphasizes health sciences, business, technology, engineering and digital media. The Oregon-based business originally chose a small school district in the Columbia basin. That deal apparently fell through and Superintendent Patty Page announced during Monday’s school board meeting that Ignite approached Coupeville again to see if there was any interest in partnering for an online academy.
After more than a month of receiving bids, a winner was named for the rights to Oak Harbor Liquor Store.
Brazil, Indiana, businessman Kulbir Singh earned the rights to the state-owned liquor store operating across from the movie theater in Oak Harbor. He won the auction with a $53,100 bid.
The Washington State Liquor Control auctioned its 167 liquor stores to meet requirements of voter-approved Initiative 1183, which required the state to get out of the liquor business. Stores greater than 10,000 square feet will be able to start selling liquor beginning June 1.
The North Whidbey Park and Recreation District board named a new commissioner Thursday night.
The board appointed Lori Clark to join the five-member panel of elected officials. She will replace Ron Rhinehart, who is resigning because he is taking a job on the East Coast.
Clark was one of four people competing for the position to fill Rhinehart’s term that expires at the end of 2013. In addition to Clark, Justina Baldwin, Allan McDougall and Bob Wilson applied for the position. Clark, Baldwin and McDougall were interviewed Thursday evening during a public meeting. Wilson wasn’t able to attend.
Despite misgivings from one commissioner, the Port of Coupeville is continuing its annual support of the Whidbey Island Farm Tour.
Swimmers, runners and parents will have to wait a while longer before learning who will be the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District director.
The efforts of a retired but armed Island County Sheriff’s deputy prevented an assault with a broken wine bottle and knife from becoming something much worse.
At approximately 2:40 p.m. Thursday, Oak Harbor police officers responded to a call at Walmart of a man trying to stab another man.
It turned out to be a struggle between a security guard and a suspected shoplifter.
Lovers of fresh and natural food are in heaven as the farmers market season has arrived on Whidbey Island.
The Coupeville Farmers Market began last week and continues today and every Saturday through the middle of October, while others start later this month or in May.
Wedged between a beach and an environmentally sensitive lake are slabs of concrete that are a magnet for vandals.
A committee that examines historic preservation projects in Ebey’s Landing could see its powers grow.
Island County is thinking about tapping the recently created Historic Preservation Commission to administer a special valuation required by state law.
After two evenings of interviews, the decision to name a new executive director for the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District has been delayed for a week.
Commissioners are putting off the decision because of some confusion coming from the public notification process. Commissioner meetings this week didn’t explicitly mention a decision would be made after the meeting Thursday night, said Ron Rhinehart, president of the park board.
The Bassett family built a nice home for their chickens and they want everybody to see it. Their light blue chicken coop, complete with a large observation window, will be one of the coops featured in the third annual Whidbey Island Coop Tour, which is sponsored by the Rock’n Doodle 4-H Poultry Club.
