Coupeville News

“We've done that cost-benefit. We know that it is not a good solution”

State ferry officials are scrambling for options after a bid for a new 50-vehicle ferry came in $9 million higher than anticipated. via The Herald

“We're going to review all of our options”

The sole bid to build a new ferry for the Keystone route came in $9 million more than anticipated because the vessel proposed by the state is significantly different from the design originally envisioned.

The vessel was to have been modeled after the Steilacoom II, the Pierce County ferry rented by Washington State Ferries to temporarily operate on the route. But to make the vessel safer and more functional for use on storm-tossed Admiralty Inlet, WSF asked for a number of changes.

The result, according to Todd Pacific Shipyards CEO Stephen Welch, is a much more expensive boat. Read more

A 23-year-old Coupeville man accused of attempting to rob a woman at gunpoint in her home March 11 confessed to the crime and helped a detective gather evidence against him, according to court documents. via Tacoma Daily Index

“I've rarely seen a jury going into that kind of analysis”

The chief criminal deputy prosecutor for Island County plans to retry a 35-year-old Oak Harbor man accused of raping a 4-year-old boy while the child was in daycare. via Tacoma Daily Index

“The rock part . . . stuck out beyond the railing. You could catch your car on it”

The classic hand-built stone and log guardrails that line the highway at Deception Pass just are not safe anymore.

Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935, they were designed to last, but not to protect people traveling in today's bigger and faster vehicles. A decade ago the state Department of Transportation wanted to tear them out, replacing them with standard highway guardrails but were stymied by the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission.

"Deception Pass State Park is the State's finest example of CCC park construction. For those visitors passing through on Highway 20, the guardrails may be the only evidence of CCC work they will see," parks said in a report. They added that the historic railings were eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Read more

“That certainly makes a lot more sense than building a white elephant that we can't use here”

News that the only bid to build a new ferry for the Keystone-Port Townsend route came in $9 million over budget has Washington State Ferries officials scrambling to figure out what to do next.

At the Keystone-Port Townsend Partnership meeting held at Coupeville March 27, Washington State Ferries chief David Moseley did not rule out the idea of repairing a mothballed Steel Electric ferry and putting it back into service rather than building a copy of the Steilacoom II, the rented car ferry currently used on the route. Read more

“I think that's an excellent choice”

The community wants them. Legislators want them. And now the ferry system will get them. via Tacoma Daily Index

“Particularly about purchasing gasoline. Everyone knows most gas stations have cameras.”

Couple is charged on multiple counts Deputies crossed paths with the pair suspected of robbing Freeland businesses at least two times before a stolen credit card led to their arrest a week later. via Tacoma Daily Index

“It's not like we're going to throw the baby out with the bathwater”

At the same time the Port of Coupeville has reached a financial crisis and is planning to ask for a levy increase, it's stepping up plans to turn the Coupeville Wharf into a marine education center.

Several port officials gave a presentation to the Coupeville Town Council, talking about ideas such as installing underwater video cameras, educational displays and possibly even hosting educational events and conferences on the wharf.

The plan to use at least part of the wharf as a marine education center is one of the initiatives outlined in the port's 20-year comprehensive plan. Benye Weber, president of the port's Board of Commissioners, attended the town meeting to show her support. Read more

“The Health Department has done a lot in providing residents protection from communicable disease, environmental hazards and promoting healthy behavior”

The Snohomish Health District's gain will be Island County's loss. Health Services Director Tim McDonald will officially conclude his nearly 28 years with the county April 4. McDonald will begin his tenure as ... via Tacoma Daily Index

“It should have been predictable that there would not be sufficient resources to support indefinitely two 100-year-old properties with venerable wooden buildings and an insufficient and aging infrastructure”

The Port of Coupeville Board of Commissioners has agreed to seek voter approval for a 6-cent increase in the port's operations levy.

At a meeting March 12, the board approved Executive Director Jim Patton's request to get voter approval to increase the port's current levy rate of 15 cents per $1,000 to 21 cents per $1,000. The measure would be on the ballot in November.

If approved, the measure would take effect in 2009 and apply to all property within the port district boundary.

"I've been fighting this since last year," board President Benye Weber said. "I could see the handwriting on the wall that there was an apparent need that we had to make some adjustments...regardless of what we do or say, what we could cut back on, we needed to raise our levy amount." Read more

“Have you ever experienced any homophobic remarks from your peers?”

Whidbey Island teenagers who are struggling with their sexuality can find an emotional safe haven with a new local organization.

The Whidbey Giving Circle is a nonprofit group whose mission is to aid in the creation of programs or support groups for local youth who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or just questioning.

At a time when the challenges of growing up are formidable enough, young people who feel isolated from the heterosexual mainstream may feel lonely and isolated, and may even consider suicide. Read more

“We'll see what happens after the dust settles”

Prosecutors charged two men in a Coupeville home invasion robbery attempt that was thwarted by the gutsy victims last month, according to court documents. via Tacoma Daily Index

VINCE STREANO Weather or Not Think about becoming a volunteer Skywarn Weather Spotter WHOOHOO, we did it! All of you who went out after my last column and shouted to the sky "I want my sunshine back," way to ... via Anacortes American

“I asked Black what they were doing and he told me that they went to get some food”

There's a $5,000 warrant out on a 19-year-old Coupeville man accused of stealing frozen corn dogs. via Tacoma Daily Index

“We have to come and get the Bayleaf mussels”

Coupeville restaurants had the solution for the hundreds of shellfish-starved festival-goers heading into their historic town over the weekend: Pounds and pounds of succulent mussels. via Tacoma Daily Index

“I would like to acknowledge that, while sampling tests have been performed at all three facilities, I have failed to forward those results to Ecology”

' Three Whidbey Island sand and gravel facilities have been fined for not submitting required water quality reports, the state Department of Ecology announced Wednesday. via Anacortes American

“We'll just continue to be proactive. So much of it is being preventative and proactive with our students.”

Several students stopped on their way out of the building after school to say goodbye. via Anacortes American

“There's no energy getting used until you call for the water”

Greg Wilson, Wilmoor Development Corporation, stands in the kitchen of a completed home at the J Avenue Cottages development. via Anacortes American

“Nobody knows where the problem comes from, other than nitrates”

' Freeland incorporation proponents left an Island County Council of Governments meeting Wednesday morning with smiles on their faces. via Tacoma Daily Index