News-Times Whidbey
Blue wave rolling into Coupeville A3
SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2013 | Vol. 115, No. 2 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | 75¢
Agency reverses findings on OLF barrier By JANIS REID Staff reporter
Photo by Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times
Brrrrraving the cold
Lilly Goodenough, 10, of Coupeville found the Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day in Oak Harbor to be a chilling experience. About 60 people took the plunge into the lagoon at Windjammer Park in a first-time event organized by Flyers Restaurant and Brewery and the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce. The plunge followed a 5K run along the waterfront. See story and more photos on page A11 of today’s Whidbey News-Times.
A state agency reversed its determination about cement blocks placed at Outlying Field Coupeville, saying that they, in fact, have an “adverse effect” to the historic landscape of neighboring Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve. More than 1,000 cement barriers were installed earlier this month at the Navy’s outlying field, part of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. The Navy uses OLF Coupeville for touch-and-go operations for the EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler. The Navy said it is also planning to install fencing at the entryways. While the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation initially issued a “no adverse SEE AGENCY REVERSAL, A20
N. Whidbey Park & Rec launches search for new director and Recreation District commissioner chairman. Because of the holidays, Merrill said Thursday, the human resource specialist recommended waiting to release the announcement because most prospective employees aren’t looking for jobs at that time of year. The board does hope to have the position filled by mid February, Merrill said. “We want to fill the position quickly, effectively and efficiently as possible so that it’s a good fit for the district and the
By SARA HANSEN Staff Reporter
As a new year begins, so does the search for a new director by the North Whidbey Park and Recreation Board of Commissioners. Bill Walker resigned as director at the end of a commissioners’ meeting Nov. 21. Walker’s last day was Thursday, Dec. 19. The board is working with a human resource specialist to rewrite its job notice, said Sean Merrill, North Whidbey Park
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taxpayers,” he said. The first draft of the timeline, presented during the Dec. 19 meeting, aimed to have five to seven candidates for interviews at the end of January, with two to three finalists scheduled for interviews by the first week of February. The search committee consists of a two board members, three senior staffers and one person from the public. Noela Graham was recommended to be the public representative for SEE PARKS & REC, A20
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