Kmart bankrupt, but remains open
The famous BlueLight Special of Kmart went code blue on Tuesday, as the national discount retail chain with an outlet in Oak Harbor filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Employees at the Oak Harbor Kmart located on Hwy 20 refused to comment about the immediate local effects of the bankruptcy filing, referring all media questions instead to the corporate office.
For now, the Oak Harbor outlet remains open.
There are no plans to shut any of its 2,114 stores, Kmart CEO Chuck Conaway said on Tuesday. Rather, the company, which has taken heavy financial hits from a poor holiday retail showing and vigorous competition from chains like Wal-Mart and Target, plans to reorganize “on a fast-track basis” with the hopes of emerging from Chapter 11 in 2003.
How to avoid Salt Lake terror
Whidbey Islanders who plan to travel to Salt Lake City for the Winter Olympics should rest assured that unprecedented steps are being taken to prevent a terrorist event, said Island County Emergency Services Deputy Director T.J. Harmon.
“It occurred to me that there might be people here purchasing tickets to that event,” Harmon said on Tuesday, “and if they have some information, perhaps they’ll feel a little more comfortable.”
The information to which Harmon refers is a pamphlet called “Preparing for the World: Homeland Security and the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics,” which details the massive security preparations being enacted by such federal agencies as the FBI, FEMA, EPA and the Dept. of Defense.
“This is a period of global heightened awareness about terrorism,” Harmon said in reference to widespread public concern following the attacks of Sept. 11. “It’s good to have as much information as possible to protect yourself and to share with other people.”
Anyone wishing to obtain a copy of the pamphlet or discuss concerns about terrorism may contact Harmon at Island County Emergency Services. The phone number is 679-7370.
Out-of-staters get SVC break
Out-of-state students at Skagit Valley County can now pay reduced in-state tuition.
The college’s board of trustees recently approved a pilot policy for the 2002 winter and spring quarters, waiving the added tuition fee for out-of-state students.
Navy personnel in Oak Harbor may particularly benefit from the policy change because the former one-year residency requirement for lower in-state tuition has been eliminated. “These newcomers are penalized for their first year in Washington, and the trustees felt SVC should try to help them out,” said Bruce McBane, public information director.
Out-of-state students will now pay less than one-third of what they used to pay. Former, a full-time non-resident student paid $2,342. Total tuition and fees for the 2002 winter and spring quarter for full-time, non-residents will be $767. For more information, call 360-416-7600.
AARP offers tax assistance
It’s income tax time, and Whidbey Islanders can find help through AARP Tax Aide, offered by the American Association of Retired Persons.
The program is the nation’s largest, free, volunteer run tax preparation service. Assistance is available to all taxpayers, regardless of age, wit middle-to-low incomes.
Tax preparation will be available at the following locations between Feb. 1 and April 15: Coupeville Library, Friday, 1-4 p.m.; Oak Harbor Library, Thursday, 5-8 p.m; Oak Harbor Senior Center, Monday, 1-4 p.m.; Bayview Senior Center, Friday, 9 a.m. to noon; Freeland Library, Wednesday, 1-4 p.m.
Rotary gives city new sign
Oak Harbor Mayor Patty Cohen and the city council unveiled a new and improved city hall sign prior to the council meeting last night.
The North Whidbey Sunrise Rotary and P & L Contractors donated the spiffy signage to the city. It was fabricated at the construction company’s Oak Harbor workshop.
The large “Oak Harbor City Hall” sign includes the city’s new mission statement. It covers over the older, less conspicuous city hall sign.
