Coverage of Eric Kulp's arrest, trial and sentencing

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SOUNDER THE ISLANDS’

Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County

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2018-19

Supplement to The Journal of the San Juans, Islands' Sounder, & Islands' Weekly

Wednesday, April 18, 2018  VOL. 51, NO. 16  75¢  islandssounder.com

Inside this edition H O M E

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NURSERY

Aerial silks are back for another year FOR ALL YOUR

HOME & GARDEN NEEDS

WINDOWS

Serving the San Juan Islands since 1947

by Colleen Smith Armstrong

Erin Bennett photo

A scene from Island Aerial Acrobatics’ recent performance, “Connected.”

to financial reasons. Bullock decided to put CABINETS on the show herself, and volunteers began fundraising with an online silent and bake sale. A total of $6,000 was raised.

“We really couldn’t do it without the community’s care and support. It fueled us to keep going,” she said.

“We felt very recognized for what we are doing.”

On March 30 and 31, Bullock’s students presented “Connected” on the center’s main stage to soldout audiences. The pieces revolved around humans’ obsession with cyberspace and the importance of reconnecting with nature.

“It’s been done so many times, so how do you make it different?” said Bullock.

She chose to base each performance on one of the following: fire, water, earth, mineral, animal, senses, spirit, celestial and love. In choreographing the routines, Bullock chose a theme that would meet the needs of each class and its students. What she loves most is facilitating growth and inner strength within her students.

“It’s not about the movement. It’s about the person,” she said.

Many parents are in tears after the performances and thank Bullock for the classes’ positive impact.

“Parents will say, ‘I can’t believe my daughter could do that. I see her happy, engaged and confident, and it’s from the experience of this,’” she said.

“Connected” is the last show that Bullock will direct, and while she will still teach on a scaled-back basis, next year the entire program will be led by a partnership of instructors and volunteers, including Hailey Averna, Stephie Mac, Jennifer Wood and Jamie Donatuto.

“It’s too big for me to do it myself,” she said. “I’m excited to have my team. … It makes me feel good that the program affects so many people. We all want to have a positive imprint on the world.”

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A beloved island program will be back for another year.

Island Aerial Acrobatics founder Maria Bullock and staff of Orcas Center have reached an agreement that will allow silks classes to continue for 2019.

“It feels fantastic to know that the program will continue and keep affecting so many island lives,” said Bullock. “I am grateful to the wonderful Island Aerial Acrobatics team that has emerged this year and all the support we give each other.”

The future of the program, which has offered sessions in hoops and silks from late fall to April for the past nine years, was unclear after the center announced it would be increasing the rental fee for next year and that the regular rehearsal space might not be available. The center is the only location able to host the classes because of ceiling height, hanging capabilities and heat.

The newly signed 2019 contract includes the same cost in rent as previous years ($5,400) but has a shorter season of January to April in order to accommodate the center’s in-house production schedule.

A free recital will be presented at the conclusion of the season.

Orcas Center has offered to be an umbrella organization for Island Aerial so that it is eligible for grant money and all donations can be tax deductible.

“It will be very helpful for us,” said Bullock.

Bullock originally taught herself aerial acrobatics and started classes because her kids were interested in learning the skill. It began as just a few offerings but has grown each year and now boasts 120 students ages 1 and older. Bullock’s daughter Naya, now 13, is one of the program’s advanced students.

In previous years, Orcas Center produced the silks’ biennial production but declined this year due

Deadly rabbit Shaw man detained disease hits Canada after police standoff

by Mandi Johnson Staff reporter

The bunnies of the San Juan Islands are in danger. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is spreading across Canada’s Vancouver Island and has even made its way to Richmond, British Columbia, south of the city of Vancouver, and it may be headed to the islands.

“To the best of our knowledge, it only causes death in European rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, which is the species that was introduced into the San Juan Islands.

It seems to spread easily, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it moved

from Vancouver Island into the San Juans,” said SeaDoc Society Science Director Joe Gaydos, VMD, Ph.D. “From an ecosystem perspective, this virus could really knock back the introduced population of European rabbits in the islands, permitting recovery of soils and native plants that rabbits can decimate. From the pet rabbit owner or rabbit farmer’s perspective, this is a scary disease.”

According to The Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University, RHD is a highly contagious viral disease

SEE RABBITS, PAGE 8

by Colleen Smith Armstrong Editor/Publisher

Shaw Island resident Eric Kulp, wanted in connection with the death of his wife, was taken into custody in the Marblemount area of Skagit County on April 13.

He was detained by the Skagit County Sheriff ’s Office with the help of the Whatcom County Sheriff ’s Office after a brief standoff.

According to San Juan County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord, Kulp suffered serious self-inflicted knife wounds to his neck and abdomen during the incident and is cur-

rently being treated at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The San Juan County Sheriff ’s Office developed probable cause to arrest Kulp, 44, formerly known as Eric Tubbs, for second-degree murder in the death of his wife Abigail Finney, 38.

The prosecutor’s office is preparing to file charges of murder in the second degree and unlawful imprisonment.

Finney was reported missing by her mother in November 2017 and the sheriff ’s office obtained a search warrant for Kulp’s Shaw

SEE STAND-OFF, PAGE 3

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Wednesday, April 18, 2018 • The Islands’ Sounder

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San Juan County Sheriff’s log The San Juan County Sheriff ’s Office responded to the following calls.

April 4 • A Friday Harbor deputy responded to a report of an animal problem on San Juan Island. The deputy spoke with witnesses, obtained statements and issued a dog-atlarge citation to the dog’s owner.

• An Orcas deputy responded to a local business regarding a suspected shoplifter.

Attempts are being made to locate the suspect.

• A Lopez Island deputy stopped and ticketed a local woman for speeding 61 mph in a 45 mph zone on Center Road.

April 5 • A Lopez deputy investigated a theft of deer fencing.

• Department of Social Health Services reported a San Juan Island child under its care was a runaway.

April 6 • An Orcas deputy responded to a report of a theft.

• An Orcas deputy responded to a possible attempted burglary.

• An Orcas deputy issued a parking citation to a vehicle illegally parked in Eastsound.

• A deputy responded to a Lopez Island residence for a vandalism complaint. The reporting person stated an unidentified person shattered one of her home windows with a rock. The matter is under investigation.

• A deputy initiated a traffic stop in Friday Harbor and issued the driver a citation for failure to follow a traffic device.

• An Orcas deputy issued a citation for abandoning a vehicle at a local towing establishment.

• A Lopez Island deputy stopped a motorist on Fisherman Bay Road after he saw him speeding. The deputy issued the driver a ticket.

• A deputy initiated a traffic stop in Friday Harbor, and the driver was issued a citation for failure to follow a traffic device and warned for failing to change their address on a driver’s license.

• A deputy stopped a vehicle for lane travel issues. The driver was found to have a suspended driver’s license. The driver was cited and released for driving with a suspended license and issued a citation for having expired vehicle registration.

April 7 • A deputy on Orcas stopped a vehicle for an obstructed license plate. The driver was issued a citation for not having a valid operator’s license with ID. • A deputy conducted a traffic stop in Eastsound, and the driver was issued a citation for failure to wear a seat belt.

• A Lopez Island deputy investigated a

residential burglar alarm and found a door standing ajar and the home unsecured.

Nothing appeared amiss inside. The wind is believed to have blown the door open, setting off the alarm.

• A Lopez Island deputy issued a citation for an unlawfully moored vessel on the county dock at Mackaye Harbor.

• Lopez Island deputies responded to a report of death threats made toward a local family. A Lopez man was arrested on a harassment charge as well as two outstanding San Juan District Court warrants. The man was lodged in jail in Friday Harbor pending a court appearance.

April 8 • A deputy on Orcas stopped a vehicle for expired tabs. The driver was issued a citation for expired vehicle registration over two months.

• A deputy on Orcas stopped a vehicle for speeding, and the driver was issued a citation for speeding 45 mph in a 25 mph zone.

April 9 • A deputy on Orcas had an abandoned vehicle impounded after it was posted for 24-hour removal.

• A Lopez Island deputy stopped and ticketed a Mountlake Terrace man for speeding 44 mph in a 25 mph zone on Fisherman Bay Road.

• Deputies on Orcas Island conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by a driver with a suspended license. The driver was arrested, cited and released on scene.

He was later issued a citation for not having vehicle insurance.

• A deputy responded to a walk-in report of a welfare check in Friday Harbor. The deputy spoke with the parties involved and completed an informational report.

• A Lopez Island deputy was called to a local business regarding suspicious activity occurring in the parking lot. The involved vehicle and subjects had left the area before the deputy arrived.

• An Orcas deputy handled a complaint about a boat abandoned on property off Old Cemetery Road.

April 10 • A deputy responded to a welfare check in Friday Harbor. The deputy made contact with the involved party, who was transported to the hospital for a medical evaluation.

A report was forwarded to CPS. • Orcas deputies located a wanted person driving a vehicle. The subject was also found to have a suspended driver’s license.

The subject was arrested. Drug paraphernalia was located within the vehicle, and a search warrant will be applied for in order to search the vehicle further.

• A San Juan Island deputy initiated a traffic stop on two vehicles, and both drivers were issued citations for failure to follow a traffic device.

NEED HAY OR ANIMAL FEED?

Page 3

STAND-OFF FROM 1 property on Blind Bay Road in early April of this year. Her body was found Thursday, April 5 in a vehicle on the property, where she lived with Kulp.

Gaylord, who is also the county coroner, said a determination of Finney’s cause of death will await the completion of an autopsy and toxicology report in a few weeks.

Kulp’s name, photograph and physical description were released to the media

after Finney’s body was found. Gaylord said the public provided tips to law enforcement, which played an important role in locating the suspect in Skagit County.

According to Gaylord, Kulp cannot yet appear before a judge due to his medical condition. In the meantime, the prosecutor’s office is preparing its case.

“We have a good deal of detail about the history going back to the spring – bits and pieces of the relationship between the two

Contributed photo

Above: Eric Kulp.

as well as additional facts about the death of Abby,” Gaylord said.

Veterans to receive oneon-one help with benefits

by Meg Massey

For the Orcas Community Resource Center

The team at the Orcas Community Resource Center welcomes all veterans in the islands of San Juan County to the Veteran’s Assistance Event to be held on Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. in the Orcas Island Public School’s cafeteria and library.

Ten highly trained specialists from the Veteran Navigators Program will be on hand, ready to assist veterans applying for benefits which match their individual eligibility. Reservations are not necessary; veterans need only sign in when they arrive at the public school’s cafeteria.

Veterans: please bring a copy of your DD-214.

The DD-214 helps the navigators track down benefits which can vary among

veterans. For instance, veterans of different age groups are sometimes eligible for different permanent benefits. Understanding the present financial circumstances of each veteran can also help navigators identify applicable assistance.

The volunteer veteran navigators are true experts, very familiar with a broad range of permanent benefits, pensions and stipends.

With a deep understanding of both programs and the standards of eligibility, navigators have been exceptionally successful at finding additional aid for veterans.

Some veterans will learn for the first time about lesserknown programs that provide supplemental income.

The navigators will meet with veterans one-onone in the school library.

Applications completed and signed on May 19

will receive the navigators’ attention again, the following week, when they assemble to prepare each application for submission. The service of the navigators goes further. They will also keep tabs on each veteran’s applications, contact veterans if more documentation is needed and follow the progress of each application right through to resolution.

The veteran navigators are making a special trip to Orcas to assist veterans here in our county and will not be able to return soon.

However, veterans who miss this local opportunity can seek the assistance of the veteran navigators at their monthly gatherings in Whatcom County.

If you’d like more information or if you’d like to let the OCRC team know that you plan on coming, please call them at 360-376-3184.

It’s time to order your firewood.

AXE & wedge the island firewood company

prices are listed on website and we havean easy online firewood form at www.axeandwedge.com or call Edward at 360-376-3938

ORCAS FREIGHT 360-376-2303

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Email editor@islandssounder.com.

It’s on the ferries, the Anacortes terminal

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Wednesday, April 25, 2018  VOL. 51, NO. 17  75¢  islandssounder.com

Like us on CRIME | San Juan County Sheriff ’s Log [3] ENVIRONMENT | Don’t touch the seals [8] SPORTS | Viking updates [9] BRIEFS | Community news briefs [11]

Help the whales, help the humans Fishing fun for kids

By Mandi Johnson Staff reporter

Jackie Hildering is passionate about whales, and she wants to educate everyone on the importance of protecting the killer whales for both their sake and humanity’s.

Hildering, co-founder of Marine Education and Research Society, was the presenter for SeaDoc Society and Camp Orkila’s Marine Lecture Series talk on April 19.

“I think right from the start you should be questioning what my expertise is,” Hildering said. “I’m an escaped biology teacher from the Netherlands.”

Hailing from Port McNeill, British Columbia, Hildering explained that she was born and raised in Canada but had moved to be a teacher and school administrator in the Netherlands for more than a decade. On a visit home to Canada, her friends took her on a whale watching tour and changed her life forever.

“It was a slap upside the head that I think probably many people in this room have experienced,” Hildering said. “I realized I had drifted off course. I was talking about nature as if it were somewhere else.”

Hildering explained that she left her job overseas and came to work for the company that had taken her on that first tour. She ultimately started the Marine Education and Research Society.

Though the nonprofit primarily researches humpback and minke whales, Hildering’s lecture that night was “Lessons Learned From Killer Whales.”

“Through orca, the whale that we call killer … not only are there common solutions to environmental problems, there are common solutions to social problems because how can you separate the two?” She asked. “They are indicators of the health of the ocean for which our lives also depend on. … This is all about how wrong we can be, how quickly we can change and how do we extrapolate that toward the future?”

Hildering said that First Nations peoples – or Native Americans, as they are called in the United States – had a good connection to nature. For the most part they honored the whales. However, when Dutch immigrants moved in, she explained, they feared the whales. They called the orcas they encountered “marine beasts” and said they spread terror and were

intent on finding things to destroy and devour. Even as recently as the late 1960s, orcas were feared, and killed because of this fear.

The name Orcinus orca, explained Hildering, even means “demon from hell.”

“The perception was because there were frequent sightings of killer whales, there must be thousands of them,” Hildering said.

“But, of course, you could be seeing the same ones over and over again This started the gold rush on the capture of killer whales.”

A live orca was worth up to $25,000 to aquariums like Seaworld, she explained. There was no consideration about how many whales were being captured and how many died in the process. She said that the practice peaked in the 1970s with a total of 92 whales captured.

Everything came to a head in 1976, said Hildering, when, while attempting to capture whales near the shore of Olympia, researchers, advocates and a journalist saw the whole process and it was front page news. The state of Washington sued Seaworld but they dropped the charges under

SEE WHALES, PAGE 4

Bill Yarlott Derby this weekend – page 7

Court documents reveal more details in the death of Shaw resident Abigail Finney

by Colleen Smith Armstrong Editor/Publisher

The San Juan County Prosecutor’s office is preparing to file charges of unlawful imprisonment and murder in the second degree against Shaw Island resident Eric A. Kulp, 44, for the death of his wife, Abigail Jane Finney, 38.

Her body was found April 5 in a vehicle on a Shaw property where she lived with Kulp, whose whereabouts were unknown at the time.

His name and photograph were released to the media and law enforcement in the surrounding areas. Kulp formerly had the last name of Tubbs.

Kulp was detained by the Skagit and Whatcom County officers after a brief standoff in the Marblemount area of Skagit County on April 13.

According to San Juan County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord, Kulp suffered serious selfinflicted knife wounds to his neck and abdomen during the standoff and is at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He is in critical but stable condition and is heavily sedated. He is

unable to speak because he received a tracheotomy as a result of his injuries and is on a ventilator.

Due to his medical condition, Kulp is unable to be transported for a preliminary appearance before a judge and is no longer in the custody of San Juan County law enforcement.

It is unknown when he will be physically able to appear in court.

Gaylord, who is also the county coroner, said a determination of Finney’s cause of death will await the completion of a toxicology report and an autopsy by a medical examiner.

Timeline of events According to the certification for determination of probable cause, on Nov. 29, 2017, Finney’s mother called the sheriff ’s office to request a welfare check (when officers visit a home to assess the wellbeing of someone) for her daughter after she did not join her family as planned for Thanksgiving on Nov. 23. Family members reportedly received text messages from Finney’s phone after the missed dinner, but they were skeptical that she had sent them

due to the content and that she normally had daily contact with her mother, who lives on San Juan Island. Finney’s regular conversations with her mother “abruptly” ended after Nov. 22.

A special deputy went to the Blind Bay Road property on Shaw to check on Finney on Nov. 29. Kulp, who was home, allegedly told him that his wife had gone to an unknown rehab facility.

On Jan. 22, 2018, Finney’s family requested an additional welfare check because they still had not heard from her. On Jan. 23, a deputy and sergeant went to Finney’s residence, where they walked through the house but found nothing amiss. They met Finney’s brother at the property, and he told them Kulp had allegedly threatened to harm Finney in the past and that Kulp had told him he had not heard from his wife.

On March 21, a detective spoke with Kulp’s stepfather, who lives in Arizona. He said he

SEE FINNEY, PAGE 8

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Don’t touch the seals

FINNEY FROM 1 was speaking with Finney on Nov. 22 when their conversation was cut short. He reportedly heard her arguing with someone and then the phone went dead. He had not heard from her since, and they historically had spoken four to five times per day.

On March 23, the detective spoke with the owner of the property where Kulp and Finney lived. The landowner said Kulp sent her a text message on March 13 that stated he’d had a brief conversation with Finney and she was “doing well.”

On March 27, the detective contacted Kulp’s last known employer, Rosario Assisted Living in Anacortes. The administrator showed him a text message from Kulp’s phone on Nov. 23 at 12:13 p.m. that stated his wife had killed herself earlier in the day.

On April 5, the sheriff ’s office executed a search warrant at the Shaw property. Deputies found a body concealed in a vehicle registered to Kulp. An examination the following day confirmed the remains were those of Finney.

Background on the case According to the special deputy’s follow-up narrative, he has known Finney for 15 years and interacted

Wednesday, April 25, 2018 • The Islands’ Sounder

Facebook photo

Photo courtesy of the SJC Sheriff’s Office

Above: Abigail Finney.

Above: Eric Kulp.

with her regarding vehicle accidents, reports of DUIs and domestic abuse and welfare checks.

In 2016, he learned that Finney was living with Kulp. The deputy responded several times that year to the Blind Bay Road property after Finney’s family called with concerns of domestic violence and coercion by Kulp. In early 2017, the deputy heard the two had married in Las Vegas.

In the spring of 2017, he transported Finney to a safe house after receiving a call from her family that Kulp was keeping her in the home against her will.

On Oct. 2, 2017, the deputy received a call from Kulp, who was on the mainland but concerned Finney may have overdosed on pain medication. He performed a welfare check, and Finney appeared to be fine. When Kulp later called

the deputy, he said Kulp appeared “unconcerned” about his wife’s health and began asking if Finney was having an affair.

The officer visited the property again on Nov. 29 after Finney’s mother called for a welfare check. He found no one home and saw no signs of habitation. To his knowledge, the vehicle behind the house has not been moved since October 2017.

Since November 2017, the deputy has passed Kulp on the road and made a civil service call to the house for debt collection. The report reads, “On each occasion, I have asked him if he has heard from or seen Finney.

His response is always nonchalant and unconcerned.

He says she ‘left’ him and went to rehab for drug and alcohol treatment.”

Whale Watching Whale Watching in The Valley Isle in The Valley Isle

Submitted by The Whale Museum As residents prepare for the busy season in the San Juan Islands, The Whale Museum’s San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network is also getting ready for the busy marine mammal stranding season.

Local residents and visitors can help us by following important precautions to ensure that our human activities do not negatively impact their well-being.

The islands are lucky to have one of the world’s healthiest stocks of harbor seals.

From June–August, visitors can anticipate about 2,000 pups being born around the islands. Prematurely born harbor seal pups — easily distinguished by their fine, white fur — can be seen as early as May. Nursing pups remain with their mothers for 4-6 weeks and are then weaned to forage and survive on their own.

If you come across a harbor seal pup that is alone on the beach, the best thing you can do to maximize their survival is

to keep your distance and stay at least 100 yards away. If the pup is being nursed by its mother, she is unlikely to come on shore if people or other disturbances are close by.

It is also possible to come across Northern elephant seals molting on our shoreline.

Molting seals may appear unhealthy as large patches of fur come off along with the top layer of skin; however, molting is a completely natural process that can take up to 4-6 weeks to complete. Hauling out on the shoreline warms up the skin and speeds up the process. They do not need food or water, nor does their skin need to be wet.

This can be a very draining time period that puts the seal in a vulnerable position.

Keep your distance, do not pour water on the animal and alert the stranding network.

Remember: disturbing, feeding or interfering with a marine mammal’s ability to hunt, feed, communicate, socialize, rest, breed or care for its young is considered harassment under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and is punishable by a $10,000 fine by the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement. If you come across a marine mammal on shore, follow these guidelines: - Do not touch or move it.

- Do not feed it.

- Do not pour water on it.

- Do not try to force it back into the water.

- Maintain a 100-yard distance between you (and your dog) and the animal.

- If you notice that the seal is sick, injured or is being harassed by humans, please call the Marine Mammal Stranding Network Hotline at 1-800-562-8832 or 1-866-7676114.

Christian School ‘test drive’ day All are invited to the Orcas Christian School’s test drive day on May 8. This is your chance to make new friends, catch up with old friends and connect with teachers at OCS. Students will move up to the grade they will be in this next school year, get a free t-shirt, lunch, and experience life at OCS. Kyrah O’Neal, a current OCS student said, “I love OSC because it’s is a safe place, the campus is the best, and I my teachers help me succeed.”

RSVP with your student’s shirt size and any dietary restrictions to ocs.officedesk@gmail. com or 360-376-6683.

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Eric Kulp charged with murder in second degree

by Heather Spaulding Journal reporter

A courtroom full of more than 50 family and friends of Abigail Finney gathered to watch Eric A. Kulp’s first court appearance on Friday, May 18.

The San Juan County Prosecutor’s Office has charged the 44-year-old with unlawful imprisonment and murder in the second degree for the death of his wife, Finney, in November.

Finney, 38, was found concealed in a minivan at the couple’s Shaw Island home on April 5. A determination of her cause of death will await the completion of a toxicology report and an autopsy by a medical examiner. Kulp’s last name was formerly Tubbs.

Kulp suffered serious selfinflicted knife wounds to his neck and abdomen during a brief standoff with police in the Marblemount area of Skagit County on April 13. Kulp was released from Harborview Medical Center on May 16. He has no previous criminal history according to court documents.

Superior Court Judge Katie Loring disclosed before the court that her previous law partner had represented the victim, Finney, five years ago, but that she did not believe that event would impact

her ability to serve in the case.

Kulp was represented by public defender Colleen Kenimond.

Kenimond will not be representing him in the future, since murder cases tend to require a longer time period and they are not in Kenimond’s public defender contract. Loring explained that Kulp has a right to hire a private attorney since Kenimond would not be representing him further. If he cannot afford one, a different public defense attorney will be provided for him.

The last murder case in San Juan County was handled by the Snohomish County Public Defender’s Office, according to San Juan County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Teresa Bennett. No plea was entered, though, an arraignment hearing is set for 9 a.m. on June 1. According to Barnett, it is likely that Kulp will have an attorney by then and a plea can be entered.

The court upheld the prosecutor’s requested bail for $1 million for charges of murder in the second degree. For the charges of unlawful imprisonment, bail was set at $200,000. The court found that based on the alleged standoff and other statements and actions during the time of Kulp’s arrest in

SEE KULP, PAGE 7

Like us on CRIME | San Juan County Sheriff ’s Log [3] THE BURNED | CD release rock concert at Sea View [7] MEMORIAL DAY | Honoring our fallen heroes [8-9] ARTS | ‘Blackbird Fly’ at Orcas Center [10]

Lady Vikings are state-bound Baseball competes at state after winning district championship

by Marty Zier

Sports contributor

The Lady Vikings softball team advanced to the 2018 WIAA 2B State Softball Tournament as one of the top 16 teams in the state.

The games will be held May 25-26 in Yakima at the Gateway Sports Complex. The girls qualified by beating La Conner 12-2.

“Flora Lister pitched six innings allowing two runs, five hits, three walks and five strikeouts,” said Coach Kevin White. “As ,a team we had 11 singles, two doubles, two triples and drew four walks over six innings. Astasia Monahan led the way scoring four runs along with four hits, including a double. Katy Minnis drew two walks and had two hits, Jessie Nichols had two hits including a triple, Alyssa Johns, Nichols and Emma Rodgers led the way with two runs batted in each.”

The Vikings lost to Friday Harbor 15-5 after the La Conner win.

“The Wolverines were rested, but we couldn’t hold them close for more than three innings,” said White. Despite the loss, the Vikings move on to state but have their work cut out as they will play the 2017 State Softball Champions, the Pe Ell High School Trojans.

The Vikings baseball team ended its successful season as

Colleen Smith Armstrong/staff photo

It was hugs all around after the Vikings beat La Conner to advance to state.

District Champions after a 11-1 loss to the Central 2B Rainer High School Mountaineers in the 2018 WIAA 2B State Baseball Championships at Wheeler Field

Slow summer ahead for San Juans’ ferries

by Mandi Johnson Staff reporter

It’s going to be a slow summer with the M/V Yakima running at half-speed.

The 144-car vessel that services the San Juan Islands sustained a damaged propeller when it hit something underwater, possibly a log, on the morning of April 22.

“While it was out of service, we were able to make underwater repairs necessary to get the Yakima back in service,” said Washington State Ferries spokesperson Broch Bender. “These underwater repairs were not complete, however, so the vessel can only operate within specified speed restrictions to ensure passenger comfort.”

Bender said the Yakima is scheduled to enter dry dock for full repairs on July 30. Until then, the vessel will continue to run slower, which dominoes throughout the route, causing each ferry to arrive and depart later than scheduled.

Karleena Pickering photo

The Yakima will continue to operate with a damaged propeller through the end of July.

Bender said WSF encourages riders with reservations to still arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure to avoid losing their reserved space. WSF also added a 1:55 p.m. departure from Anacortes to Orcas Island on Thursdays for the remainder of the spring schedule. This scheduled sailing was previ-

ously only available Fridays and Saturdays.

“We have no available service-relief vessels because of the unplanned maintenance on the Elwha,” Bender said. “The current [estimated time] for the Elwha returning to service is early September. If it’s not complete by then we’ll have to keep the Elwha out of service until repairs are completed.”

The Elwha, another San Juan Island route regular, is in dry docking to repair steel corrosion under the deck, said Bender. San Juan County Councilman and Ferry Advisory Committee member Rick Hughes said the damage to the Elwha is roughly $11 million that was unplanned. With the Elwha out of commission, only one ferry – the Chelan – is able to take the route to Sidney, British Columbia.

“If something happens to the Chelan or

SEE WSF, PAGE 4

in Centraila on May 19.

“I am very proud of my guys,” said coach James Segault.

“Friday Harbor won the League

SEE VIKINGS, PAGE 2

Sounder deadlines Display advertising: Friday at 10 a.m.

Classified advertising: Monday at noon Legal advertising: Thursday at noon Press releases, Letters: Friday at 10 a.m.

How to reach us Office: 376-4500 Fax: 1-888-562-8818 Advertising: advertising@ islandssounder.com Classified: 1-800-388-2527, classifieds@ soundpublishing.com Editor: editor@ islandssounder.com

Wednesday, May 23, 2018 • The Islands’ Sounder

WWW.ISLANDSSOUNDER.COM

Page 7

‘The Burned’ presents CD release concert at Sea View

by Colleen Smith Armstrong Editor/Publisher

Against a backdrop of colorful visuals and a sea of moody lights, a group of seasoned musicians took to the stage last October and brought the house down.

“We are a legitimate rock band right here on Orcas Island,” said Kurt Baumann, founder of The Burned.

The group has just released a record of four songs called “Dark Red Sun” and is playing two nights of concerts to celebrate: May 25 and 26 at the Sea View Theatre. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m.

On Friday, Bloodshot-NThe Fox (Isaac Frausto and Dustin Fox) will open the show with their conscious hip-hop music. Singer Josh

Clauson of Flowmotion will open the Saturday performance.

Tickets are $15 online at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3381099.

The band’s last concert on Orcas sold out quickly.

Baumann’s solo work is under the title “The Burned,” and he describes it as the bridge where Johnny Cash and Pink Floyd meet.

After taking a break for a handful of years to create music with his partner Katie Gray, Baumann was inspired to write music again as a solo artist. He gathered Kevin Colomby on bass, Bruce Harvie on guitar and Jeffrey Horton on drums to round out the group.

“Every time we rehearse we are super energized and

PHD FROM 4 election, and we can’t forget that the community needs to know what we’re doing,” Miller said. “We have to allocate time for communication at the beginning. We need to send that message that we know how important that is.”

The commission also discussed researching and potentially applying for the county’s public facilities financing assistance program.

“Anything we can do to lessen the expense to the district would be just fine,” Lange said, urging the commission to decide how it defines preventive and urgent care. “I would just want to make sure that we understand exactly what [UW Medicine’s] model is and [Orcas Family Health Clinic]’s too, for that matter, even though they’re not part of a system. What do we want for this community?”

Heather Spaulding/staff photo

Eric Kulp with public defender Colleen Kenimond.

KULP FROM 1 April, Loring said there is reason to believe that the defendant may either commit a violent crime, seek to intimidate witnesses or unlawfully interfere with the administration of justice.

Kulp did not post bail, and he will be transferred to Island County Jail in Coupeville. If he posts bail, Kulp is to remain in the San Juans unless he gets permission from the court.

Loring asked if Kulp understood the charges and conditions, to which the defendant stated he did.

pumped, which to me is a sign that something good is really happening,” said Baumann. “I surround myself with great musicians.

It’s amazing to have these guys. ... It’s been eight years since I’ve released music with The Burned so it’s really exciting.”

“Dark Red Sun” was produced by John Adair in Los Angeles and is available on iTunes and Amazon.com.

Visit www.theburnedmusic.com for more information and https://youtu. be/6Cj5iGo-TWc for a promotional video about the record. A music video for the song “Numb” can be viewed at https://vimeo. com/269888239.

“Nobody buys records anymore. You put heart and soul into a 12-song record

The Burned performing at Sea View Theatre last October. and then people just skim it online and buy one or two songs,” said Baumann. “So we are doing a series of EPs, which are shorter records of four or five songs. This is the first, and we’ll release another one in September.

The first is psychedelic rock.

It tells deep stories with texture. The next EP will dig

further into the psychedelic western side. We like a lot of reverb. The songs take you on these journeys and then when it’s time to rock, we rock.”

After its big performance on Orcas last fall, The Burned has toured in Portland and Seattle. It’s set to play several festivals this

Katie Gray photo

summer and will perform at the Imagine Festival on Orcas in September.

“My goal is to build an audience. Going on a tour is a quick way to burn your band out, so I want to work on releasing music and playing locally,” said Baumann.

Orcas Park and Rec hires new director The following was submitted by Orcas Island Park and Recreation District.

After months of interviewing and vetting candidates, Orcas Island Park and Recreation District is pleased to announce the selection of Terri Rodgers for the position of director.

Rodgers, a native Texan, moved to Orcas Island from Austin with her family in June 2017 after serving the Texas Facilities Commission as Director of Facility and Property Management Services for seven years.

With extensive experience in facility and grounds maintenance, her most recent portfolio encompassed approximately 18.8 million square feet of stateowned and managed facilities. Rodgers joined TFC in 2010, bringing extensive knowledge from more than 20 years of real estate management experience in the private sector, where she held senior property and lease management positions with Trammell Crow Company, Endeavor Real Estate Group and Whole Foods Market.

Rodgers comes to the island offering vast professional experience in all aspects of recreation and property management including day-to-day operations, budgeting, financial analysis and reporting, contract management, lease

management, and asset lifecycle planning. Her local community activities include volunteering for the Orcas Island Booster Club and serving on the program committee for the Orcas Island Garden Club. While in Austin she served as president of Western Hills Girls Softball Association and was a member of both the Texas and Travis County Master Gardeners Associations.

Rodgers and husband Cal are the parents of two athletic daughters. Lillian, 19, is completing her freshman year at Oregon State University, where she studies civil engineering and plays on an intramural softball team. She will return to Orcas this summer to work as a dockhand at Rosario Marina. Emma, 15, is a freshman at Orcas Island High School. A member of the varsity Lady Vikings softball team, Emma has enjoyed making new friends and adjusting to island life.

In her upcoming position, Rodgers will manage all aspects of OIPRD’s recreational programs, facilities and staff; serve as the main public contact and spokesperson for the organization; represent OIPRD in all professional business capacities; create and operate annual budgets; and work strategically through six-year funding cycles. Rodgers’ first official day transitioning to

Contributed photo

Above: New Park and rec direcrtor Terri Rodgers and her husband Cal with Lillian (left) and Emma (right). director is May 29. Take a moment to stop by the OIPRD office located at the Funhouse, introduce your-

self and welcome her to our organization. We are happy to have Rodgers join the OIPRD family!

WE HAVE EARLY DEADLINES! The Sounder is going to press early for the edition of May 30.

All materials are due no later than May 24 at 9 a.m.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018 • The Islands’ Sounder

WWW.ISLANDSSOUNDER.COM

Page 7

Voters to decide on REET for affordable housing

by Hayley Day

Journal reporter

Purchasers and sellers of county real estate may pay more to help others live in the San Juan Islands.

This November, San Juan County residents can decide whether to approve a tax on the sale and purchase of county real estate to develop and preserve local affordable rentals and home ownership.

On May 22, San Juan County Council members unanimously approved to send a measure to enact an affordable housing Real Estate Excise Tax, or REET, to the November ballots. If passed, it would add $2,688 more to the sale and purchase of a median-valued county home ($537,500).

County staff would collect 0.5 percent of the selling price of county real estate, with the buyer paying 99 percent and the seller paying 1 percent. They would then decide which applicants would be awarded the revenue, based on set requirements.

Prior to the vote, seven San Juan County

residents spoke in favor of the tax, including the former director of the San Juan Community Home Trust Nancy DeVaux, who noted that working residents cannot afford to live in the islands.

“People who are doing the essential jobs in our community are being priced out,” she said.

Anne Marie Shanks of Deer Harbor added that business owners struggle to hire because employees cannot find housing.

“Businesses in my community have to be wealthy enough when they start or buy a business to buy housing [for employees],” she said.

If the measure passes, funds would purchase, build, rehabilitate and maintain housing for those with low to moderate incomes, as well as special needs.

The measure comes after years of firsthand accounts of local residents feeling the housing pinch, as well as recent reports by county staff outlining the crisis.

According to one county report, about

half of the islands’ residents cannot afford to live in nearly 80 percent of the county’s total houses. The majority of houses are affordable for those who earn between $75,000 and $149,000 a year, which accounts for about 25 percent of the population.

Affordable housing is defined by the county as equaling no more than 30 percent of an occupant’s gross monthly income.

If passed, the tax would be implemented 30 days after the Nov. 6 election is certified, and projects are estimated to be awarded funds by winter 2019. Recipients of the funds could include nonprofits, public agencies, housing authorities and forprofits.

Priorities for the funds are set by the county’s strategic plan on affordable housing, which was adopted in 2017 and is approved annually. Current priorities include creating long-term rentals from $0-$940 a month and homes that sell from $80,000-$275,000.

If approved, the tax would be imple-

mented through 2030 and is expected to generate $15.2 million over that period. San Juan County Council members will have the final say on the projects funded. Projects must restrict affordability for a minimum of 30 years, but projects that create perpetually affordable housing would be given the highest preference.

The majority of funds would support projects that meet the aforementioned requirements, while leftovers could support low-interest loans — for the same type of projects — that would be expected to be paid back within five years.

Councilmen also unanimously voted to adopt a plan for the collection of the tax, if it passes, as well as to amend the county code and add a new code chapter to implement the tax.

Ballots for November’s election will be delivered no later than Oct. 25, and ballot boxes close at 8 p.m., Nov. 6.

Visit www.sanjuanco.com/341/CountyCouncil to watch the May 22 meeting.

Coalition hails passage of affordable housing ordinance work by elected officials, community leaders and small businesses across the county. The measure is not a property tax, reflecting the coalition’s goal to avoid a financial burden on homeowners with fixed incomes.

“This is an incredibly exciting moment,” said Mallory Hagel, a spokesperson for the Yes for Homes San Juan County Coalition.

“We’re proud that our county council recognizes the need to keep vulnerable

Kulp pleads not guilty

by Colleen Smith Armstrong Editor/Publisher

workers, health care providers, educators and those on fixed incomes.

“We’ve heard a lot from local businesses, from cafés to health care providers, that their employees are unable to find housing,” Hagel said. “This isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s absolutely crucial for our economy, too.”

Now that the council has approved the ordinance, the next stop is the ballot.

If approved by a majority of San Juan County voters, the measure will go toward the maintaining and con-

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A Shaw Island man accused of murdering his wife has pleaded not guilty.

The San Juan County Prosecutor’s Office charged Eric A. Kulp, 44, with unlawful imprisonment and murder in the second degree for the death of Abigail Finney, 38. On May 31, Kulp entered a plea of not guilty on both charges. His next court appearance is Aug. 3.

Kulp has not posted his $1.2 million bail and is in custody at Island County Jail in Coupeville. He is being represented

by Snohomish County Public Defender Robert O’Neal.

On April 5, the body of Finney was found concealed in a minivan at the Shaw Island home that she shared with her husband, Kulp, whose whereabouts were unknown at the time. A determination of Finney’s cause of death will await the completion of a toxicology report and an autopsy by a medical examiner.

Kulp was detained by police officers after a brief standoff in the Marblemount area of Skagit County on April 13.

He suffered serious self-inflicted knife wounds to his neck and abdomen during the apprehension. Kulp was released from Harborview Medical Center on May 16 and made his first court appearance on May 18. Kulp formerly had the last name of Tubbs. He has no previous criminal history, according to court documents.

families in safe, affordable housing.”

The move comes after years of booming property values in the county.

The median home value in San Juan County is now approaching $600,000, a figure that has increased 8.2 percent over the past year, according to real estate analysts at Zillow. With a tight rental market, local affordable housing experts are concerned about insufficient workforce housing. Populations especially at risk for displacement include service industry

V

Local housing activists are hailing the passage of a San Juan County ordinance meant to tackle the county’s growing affordable housing crisis.

The San Juan County Council unanimously approved Ordinance 11-2018 on Tuesday, May 22. The ordinance authorizes the county to collect a 1/2 of 1 percent real estate excise tax on the sale of real property. The initiative was crafted after years of

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struction of housing for those with very low, low and moderate incomes. The measure is similar to plans previously passed in other Washington locales, including Bellingham, Seattle and Vancouver, although organizers crafted the San Juan County measure to “reflect the county’s unique local needs and character.”

For the Yes for Homes coalition, a November vote means the next step is getting the word out. The coalition is gathering volunteers, with campaign committees formed on Lopez, San Juan

and Orcas islands. Right now, the campaign plans to focus on voter outreach and education.

“In a year sure to be full of partisan acrimony, it’s so good to know there will be something on the ballot that can make a meaningful difference for our San Juan neighbors,” Hagel said.

“This is a really important, exciting opportunity for our community.”

For more information, visit www.YesForHomes.net or email info@yesforhomes. net.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018 • The Islands’ Sounder

WWW.ISLANDSSOUNDER.COM

Page 3

Eric Kulp changes plea to guilty in wife’s murder case

by Hayley Day

Journal reporter

A Shaw Island man charged with the murder of his wife changed his plea to guilty on Friday, Aug. 3.

Originally, Eric A. Kulp, 44, pleaded not guilty to unlawful imprisonment and murder in the second degree for the death of his wife Abigail Finney, 38.

At the Aug. 3 hearing, San Juan Superior Court Judge Katie Loring said Kulp, who was represented by Robert O’Neal, provided “factual basis for the plea” in his written statement to the court. Kulp’s statement

included that “On or between Nov. 22-23, 2017 … I did assault and thereby cause the death of Abigail Jane Finney.”

Kulp is scheduled to be sentenced at 9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 17. Murder in the second degree is a class A felony in Washington, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The county prosecuting attorney’s office suggests he serve 190 months of full confinement, with 36 months in community custody. Kulp has no previous criminal history, according to court documents.

On April 5, Finney’s body was found

SJC Sheriff’s Log The San Juan County Sheriff ’s Office responded to the following calls: July 25 • A Friday Harbor deputy issued a driver a citation for speeding and a warning for not having proof of insurance.

• A San Juan deputy arrested a subject on a San Juan County warrant. The suspect was transported to the local holding facility to wait for their arraignment.

• An Orcas deputy confirmed that a derelict vessel on a trailer was parked at the Obstruction Pass Marine Facility. An investigation is being conducted to locate the owner and remove the vessel.

• A San Juan deputy issued a driver a citation for failing to yield to the right of way and issued a warning for not having proof of insurance or registration documentation in the vehicle.

• A deputy arrested a Friday Harbor resident on an active warrant issued out of San Juan County District Court. The resident was booked into jail and is awaiting court.

• San Juan deputies were dispatched to a report of a hit-and-run collision on Warbass Way. The incident was investigated, and a report was generated.

• An Orcas deputy was dispatched to a hit-and-run accident that occurred in the Deer Harbor area. A report was taken, and the investigation is ongoing.

• An Orcas Island deputy responded to a domestic disturbance in the Eastsound area. Upon investigation, it was determined that no crimes had been committed.

• Deputies on San Juan responded to a local bar regarding an unruly patron.

The patron refused to leave the area and was taken into

custody.

July 26 • A San Juan Island driver was cited for failure to stop/ yield at an intersection, and issued a warning for not having proof of insurance.

• A deputy was dispatched to a report of an animal-at-large on San Juan Island. The dog’s owner was issued a dog-at-large warning letter.

• Odlin Park staff detained a large dog on Lopez. A deputy collected the dog and located the owner a short time later. A dog-at-large warning letter was issued.

• A Lopez deputy was contacted regarding suspicious behavior that resulted in a disturbance at a private residence. Both parties were issued a trespass warning letters.

July 27 • A deputy issued a citation to a driver for failing to stop or yield at an intersection in Friday Harbor.

• An Orcas deputy learned that a person with two felony warrants was inside a local business in Eastsound. The person was located, arrested and transported to jail.

• A driver was issued a citation for failure to yield at a Friday Harbor intersection.

• A deputy was dispatched to a report of a juvenile problem in Friday Harbor. An informational report was taken.

• Deputies were dispatched to a report of domestic violence in Friday Harbor. The suspect was not located.

• Deputies responded to a reported boating accident near Orcas Island.

A large recreational vessel ran aground on a submerged rock; none of the five occupants on the vessel was injured. The operator is required to complete a

boating accident report.

• A deputy on Orcas Island took a report of a phishing scam email using Apple, Inc. The reporting party was advised to watch for fraudulent activity with their accounts.

• A Lopez deputy was called to a business for an animal problem. All involved parties were contacted and the issue was resolved.

• A vehicle was stopped for speeding on Orcas Island. The driver received a citation for driving 47 mph in a 25 mph zone.

• An Orcas deputy stopped the driver of a vehicle that ran a stop sign and proceeded to accelerate up to 45 mph in a posted 25 mph speed zone. The driver was issued citations for both violations as well as a verbal warning for not having the vehicle’s registration.

July 28 • An Orcas deputy cited a driver in Eastsound for traveling 45 mph in a 25 mph zone.

• San Juan deputies responded to a report of evidence of trespassing on False Bay Road. No crime appeared to have been com-

concealed in a minivan at the Shaw Island home that she shared with Kulp, whose whereabouts were unknown at the time.

Kulp was detained by police officers after a brief standoff in the Marblemount area of Skagit County on April 13. He suffered serious self-inflicted knife wounds to his neck and abdomen during the apprehension. Kulp was released from Harborview Medical Center on May 16 and made his first court appearance on May 18. Kulp formerly had the last name of Tubbs.

Publisher Colleen Smith contributed to this story. mitted, and items were collected for safekeeping.

• A Seattle woman was stopped and ticketed by a Lopez Island deputy for speeding 42 mph in the 25 mph zone along Fisherman Bay. • Deputies were dispatched to a domestic dispute in Friday Harbor. One of the parties left before deputies could make contact.

• In Friday Harbor, a deputy was dispatched in reference to found property. The reporting deputy located the item and placed it in evidence.

• Deputies responded to call in the San Juan area in reference to an overdose. The reporting deputy arrived and discovered a verbal domestic dispute.

• Deputies responded to a residence on San Juan Island to investigate a suspicious circumstance.

• An Orcas Island deputy stopped a vehicle on Mt. Baker Road. The driver was subsequently cited for speeding 43 mph in a 25 mph zone.

July 29 • A Lopez Island deputy was sent to investigate an audible alarm sounding at

Hayley Day/staff photo

Above: Eric Kulp at his Aug. 3 appearance.

a local business. Everything was found secure when the deputy checked the premises.

• San Juan deputies responded to a report of a nude sunbather at Jackson’s Beach.

• An Orcas Island deputy responded to an order violation in the Eastsound area. A report was taken.

• An Orcas Island deputy stopped a vehicle on Mt. Baker Road. The driver was subsequently issued a citation for speeding 43 mph in a 25 mph zone.

• A deputy was dispatched to San Juan Island on an agency assist call.

The reporting deputy contacted the coast guard, and one person was arrested for Boating under the Influence. Report to follow.

• A Lopez resident reported the theft of one crab pot. The deputy followed up on a lead but no further information was developed.

• A deputy on Orcas stopped a suspended driver.

The driver was arrested for driving with a suspended license in the third degree, and for not having a valid driver’s license. He was also

issued a citation for having no insurance.

July 30 • A deputy was dispatched to a single-vehicle accident on San Juan Island.

One person was arrested for Driving under the Influence and a report was taken.

• An item was booked as found property in Friday Harbor and a report was taken.

• A Lopez Island man was arrested and lodged in jail pending a court appearance on a charge of Assault IV-Domestic Violence after an argument escalated into a physical altercation.

• A deputy was dispatched to a possible theft in Friday Harbor. A report was taken.

July 31 • Two reports of thefts in Friday Harbor were reported. There are no suspects in either incident.

• An Orcas deputy issued a driver a citation for speeding 41 mph in a 25 mph zone.

• Two vessels were found on the Westsound county dock overnight. The vessels were issued citations for overnight mooring.

August 16

Farm to Cafeteria program

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2018 Senior Resource Guide

Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County

Wednesday, September 26, 2018  VOL. 51, NO. 39  75¢  islandssounder.com

of San Juan County

Inside this edition

Orcas saw player performs with Kulp to serve close to Seattle Symphony in opening gala 16 years for murder Supplement to the Journal, Sounder & Weekly publications

Aloysia Friedmann photo

by Colleen Smith Editor/Publisher

A saw from Island Hardware and Supply made its way from Orcas Island to the stage of Benaroya Hall for the Seattle Symphony’s opening season gala.

Anita Orne, who has played on

the same musical saw for more than 20 years, was asked to perform with the symphony after a last-minute instrument change.

“Most of the second half is a piano concerto, and the maestro decided shortly before the concert that it needed to be a saw player

At left: Anita Orne with her saw and very own dressing room.

Journal reporter

for the flexitone portion,” said Orne.

She was recommended by one of the symphony’s percussionists, who is a good friend of hers.

Orne’s part was only 90 seconds so she was able to learn it in a short time period. The concert took place Sept. 15.

“It was very surreal. I played at the chamber music festival, but that’s with people I know in a place I know. It was very different being part of a real symphony orchestra. Everyone was so nice and enthusiastic,” said Orne, who is also executive director of the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival.

Orne performed alongside piano soloist Jean-Yves Thibaudet in composer Aram Khachaturian’s “Piano Concerto.”

Seattle Times contributor Melinda Bargreen wrote, “Adding to the colorations of the score, an otherworldly second-movement passage incorporated the eerie,

A Shaw Island man, who pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife, was sentenced on Sept. 17.

Eric A. Kulp, 45, received just under 16 years in prison from San Juan Superior Court Judge Katie Loring. Kulp will receive credit for time served. When he is released, department of corrections staff will supervise Kulp for three years.

Abigail Finney, 38, was missing for almost four months before her body was located last April, on the Shaw Island property she shared with her husband. An autopsy showed she had been dead since November.

Kulp’s whereabouts were unknown when the body was found, but eight days later, deputies detained him after a standoff in Skagit County.

According to court documents, Kulp has previously been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and involuntarily committed several times.

Kulp pleaded guilty to one count of seconddegree murder on Aug. 3 as part of a plea agreement, which dropped an unlawful imprisonment charge. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors requested the sentence he received. He was represented by Robert O’Neal of the Snohomish County public defenders’ office. Originally, Kulp, who formerly had the last name of Tubbs, pleaded not guilty to both charges. However, court documents from the defense state “He never seriously entertained… challenging the evidence.”

Senior Deputy San Juan County Prosecutor Teresa Barnett explained that his sentence is close to the maximum duration Kulp could have received if convicted of the original charges in a trial. In Washington state, murder in the second degree carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, but the state sets sentencing lengths by individuals’ criminal history. Kulp’s clean criminal record placed him in the 123- to 220-month range, which means he could not receive more than 220 months – or about 18 years – for his charge.

SEE ORNE, PAGE 8

SEE KULP, PAGE 8

by Hayley Day

Port of Orcas master plan progresses

by Mandi Johnson Staff reporter

The Port of Orcas’ master plan is approximately two-thirds of the way toward completion.

Leah Henderson from Alaskabased civil engineering company Dowl hosted two public houses and gave a presentation to the port board of commissioners on Sept.

19 and 20.

“The master plan study is just that, it’s a study, it’s not a physical project, we’re not building anything out of this. It’s a plan that’s going to develop the purpose of need moving forward, (and) determine how we can or cannot comply with FAA design standards and safety standards,” Henderson told the board. “We’ll

make any changes prior to any design project happening and, obviously, prior to any construction taking place.”

The master plan is a Federal Aviation Administration requirement that is reviewed every five to 10 years; the last update for Orcas came in 2008. The airport, currently deemed a B1 airport, is likely to be re-categorized as a B2 airport. Airport size categories are dependent on the wingspan of aircraft the facility accommodates. Because the Port of Orcas gets many Cessna Caravans – like those owned and operated by Kenmore Air and FedEx – it will need to be retrofitted to suit its purpose.

Henderson is the manager of aviation planning and design for

Dowl, which has been tasked with composing the document.

“The overall project is on schedule,” Henderson said. “We will present the alternatives chapter to them, hopefully by early November at the latest, but we need to get through this public meeting. … Get the draft preferred alternative turned into a preferred alternative, then we can finalize the chapter, send it to Tony [Simpson, port manager] then onto the FAA for final review.”

The presentations given by Henderson at both the board meeting and the two open houses are on the port’s website. They are still accepting public comment on the firm’s design decisions. When the draft preferred alternatives are published, the public will also

have 30 days to comment on those suggestions as well.

Changes to the draft alternatives include references to resolution accepted by four of the five commissioners – one, Brian Ehrmantraut, was unable to attend the meeting. The board unanimously agreed – Ehrmantraut signed later – stating that the board does not have any interest to pursue eminent domain to acquire property from port neighbors.

This includes Brandt’s Landing Marina to the northeast of the airport. Many feared it would be purchased and removed.

“It’s a permanent record. It’ll end up in the state archives. That, I think, is a value that it provides

SEE PORT, PAGE 9

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Wednesday, September 26, 2018 • The Islands’ Sounder

Man wanted for alleged rape Submitted by the San Juan County Sheriff ’s Office.

The San Juan County Sheriff ’s Office is looking for a man who is wanted for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old.

Sean Michael Hunter, also known as Sunshine, has been known to visit Sunken Park in Friday Harbor and Moran State Park on Orcas Island. Hunter, 24, commonly camps in the woods

ORNE FROM 1 exotic sounds of the musical saw — beautifully rendered here by Anita Orne.”

Typically, a saw is held between the player’s knees and played with a bow – much like a cello. Orne also made a clip of what a saw sounds like for the Seattle

KULP FROM 1 “I understand that this is low. I agree that it is low, but it is the range that he had to be sentenced at [by the state],” said Barnett.

Details of the case On Nov. 29, 2017, Finney’s mother requested deputies check on her daughter when she did not join her family as planned on Thanksgiving, Nov. 23.

Kulp allegedly told a special deputy, who visited their Shaw Island residence on the day of the request, that Finney had gone to an unknown rehab facility.

According to Barnett, investigators determined that Finney died on the

and could be using a small grey pup tent.

Hunter has brown/red hair, blue eyes and five dots

tattooed down the bridge of his nose. He is reportedly 6 feet tall and weighs 180 pounds. He is homeless, with recent history in Nevada and California.

If you have any information or see him, call the sheriff ’s office at 360-3784151 or 911.

If located and arrested, contact Detective Buchanan at 360-378-7324 or the sheriff ’s office at 360-378-4151.

Symphony’s social media pages.

“It’s an eerie, haunting sound,” she said.

Orne began making music on the unusual instrument two decades ago after grabbing a saw from her mudroom and playing it with her violin bow. Orne also performs on the guitar, bass, banjo,

mandolin and ukulele in her groups JP and the OK Rhythm Boys and The Olga Symphony, and she is the music director of the Shaw Island School District. Her classical-saw debut came last summer with the Miro Quartet at the chamber musical festival.

“I now have classical music cred,” Orne laughed.

evening of Nov. 22 or the following morning. She said the autopsy could not determine the cause of death because the body was too decomposed and “there were no injuries we could visibly see.” However, Barnett said the investigation determined Finney was murdered.

Police documents show that Finney’s regular conversations with both her mother and stepfather ended after Nov. 22.

Finney’s stepfather told police he was talking to her on the phone that day when he reportedly heard Finney argue with someone and the call went dead.

A former employer in Anacortes also showed

police a text message sent from Kulp on Nov. 23, stating his wife killed herself earlier that day. Last January, Finney’s family, having not heard from her, requested the police check on her again. That March, Kulp told police that he had spoken to his wife and she was “doing well.”

On April 5, Finney’s body was found concealed in a minivan at her and Kulp’s home. Kulp was detained by police officers after a brief standoff near Marblemount of Skagit County on April 13. Court documents from the defense state Kulp “stabbed himself repeatedly in the abdomen and neck… in a sincere effort to die.”

He was charged in San Juan Superior Court on May 18, after he was released from the hospital.

Kulp did not provide a confession, but at the Aug. 3 hearing, he presented a statement that read “On or between Nov. 22-23, 2017. … I did assault and thereby cause the death of Abigail Jane Finney.” Court documents state that Kulp understands there are “unanswered questions” about the case but it is “intensely painful and disturbing” for him to discuss the details.

According to the documents, “He is ashamed of what he did. Not merely for unjustly ending his wife’s life, but for a significant degree of deception in the aftermath.”