Sex offender won’t live here
A convicted Level 3 sex offender has changed his mind and decided not to live in Island County, where he would have been homeless.
The Island County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday that Johnny Alan Goff, Sr., 45, will not be coming to Island County. He was released from prison in Monroe on Tuesday and would have had to register in Island County within 24 hours. Instead, according to Sheriff’s spokesperson Jan Smith, Goff decided to live in King County.
Goff plead guilty in Island County Superior Court on Aug. 18, 2000 ,to child molestation in the second degree. Upon learning that Goff planned to return to Island County, the Sheriff’s Office determined he was a high risk to reoffend, and labeled him a Level 3 threat. A community meeting was held Monday in Coupeville to discuss Goff’s impending presence, but two days later notification came that he had decided to live in King County.
Get ready for disaster
What should the average Whidbey Island resident do in case of an earthquake, terrorist attack or other emergency? What plans do local officials have in place for a major crisis?
To help answer these questions, Oak Harbor resident Debbie Fine has put together a free disaster preparedness meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 27. Speaking at the meeting will be Oak Harbor Mayor Patty Cohen, American Red Cross Disaster Education Instructor William Waite and Oak Harbor Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Mark Soptich.
Fine said she decided to put together the meeting after the attacks of Sept. 11 made her realize she didn’t know what to do in a disaster and how to be prepared.
“I felt it was really, really important information to know,” she said. “I thought if I didn’t know what to do, a lot of other people wouldn’t know either.”
The meeting is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. at the community center of Parkwood Manor, which is at 700 NW Crosby Avenue.
In 2001, OSC donated $8,000 in scholarships; and $6,000 in donations to organizations.
Garbage truck takes a holiday
Due to Presidents’ Day on Monday, the Oak Harbor garbage collection system will come to a halt.
According to Debbie Mueller of the Public Works Department, garbage and recycleables usually collected on Monday, Feb. 18, will instead be collected on Tuesday, Feb. 19. There will be no change in Tuesday’s collection routine. Anyone with questions may call 240-6443.
Monday will also be a holiday for schools, banks and government offices.
North Whidbey Demos turn 5
The North Whidbey Democratic Club will celebrate their 5th anniversary at Best Western Convention Center on Saturday, March 2, at 6 p.m.
The program will include the Oak Harbor High School Color Guard and Drill Team. Speakers will be Grethe Cammermeyer, a Langley resident and former candidate for Congress; and Eron Berg, mayor of LaConner.
For reservations or further information call 675-3503 or e-mail Nwdc0I@hotmail.com.
