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News

County residents twice as likely to have seasonal affective disorder

For some Whidbey residents, winter means headaches, irritability and low motivation.

Island County Planning Manager Michael Jones (left), Health Director Shawn Morris (back) and Board Clerk Jennifer Roll (right) carry an actor during an earthquake demonstration at the commissioner's meeting on Wednesday. (Photo by Sam Fletcher)

News

Tabletop exercise by Island County officials looks at earthquake readiness

An earthquake can devastate the entire county, with water, power and roadways gone in minutes.

Longtime Whidbey diver Jan Kocian examines some plumose anemones off Whidbey Island. (Photo courtesy of Jan Kocian)

Life

Whidbey diver-turned-citizen scientist provides ongoing data

Kocian started diving rivers and freshwater quarries in Czechoslovakia in 1964.

Officer Claire Herrera (left) talks with Asia James (middle), mother of William Belanger (right), whom Herrera saved, on Monday. (Photo by Sam Fletcher)

News

Oak Harbor officer earns life-saving award

Apolice officer was awarded the department’s life saving award on Monday for saving an infant’s life.

Eastern Washington cattle breeder Duane Mickelsen (left) and actor Carl Weathers (right) showing cattle at the Yakima County Fairgrounds. (Photo courtesty of Duane Mickelsen)

News

Residents remember Carl Weathers, actor and Whidbey cattle rancher

Weathers passed away peacefully in his Los Angeles home on Feb. 1.

Photo by Sam Fletcher

Business

Northwest Wildlife Sanctuary offers up-close visits

Life’s greatest joy for Dave Coleburn comes from interacting with animals.

News

Syphilis on the rise in Island County

In Island County from 2017 to 2021, syphilis is up 137%.

Oak Harbor resident Dennis Kjargaard points to his property at the PFAS public meeting on Thursday, which is 30 feet from the original PFAS sampling area. (Photo by Sam Fletcher)

News

Navy expands testing of wells for ‘forever chemical’

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island will expand testing for groundwater contamination

Shavers

News

Oak Harbor Rep. seeks to regulate Artificial Intelligence in Washington Legislature

State Rep. Clyde Shavers is concerned that artificial intelligence has the potential to discriminate

On January 11, 2024, the City of Oak Harbor Public Works Department in partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation completes repairs on the City’s 1971 water transmission main that hangs from the Deception Pass Bridge. The water main provides drinking water to the City as well as to the Navy base. The repair was to the air vacuum valve which allows large volumes of air to be exhausted from or admitted into a water pipeline preventing loss of pressure or possible pipeline damage. (Photo courtesy of City of Oak Harbor Public Works)

News

Public works employees are unsung first responders

Whether it’s ice, windstorms or failure of sewer, public works is on the frontlines of emergencies.

Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Magi Aguilar (left) and Economic Development Coordinator Steve McCaslin (right) meeting businesses in downtown Oak Harbor. (Photo courtesy of the City of Oak Harbor)

News

New city employee is dedicated to economic growth

Oak Harbor has a new economic development coordinator after a 7-year vacancy.

Surveillance footage of an Oak Harbor subject who was identified by police after he used a stolen credit card to put gas into his also-stolen motorcycle. (Photo courtesy of the Oak Harbor Police Department)

News

Surveillance footage becoming increasingly useful for Whidbey policework

Oak Harbor police are investigating a number of cases where surveillance footage has been pivotal.