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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 | Vol. 111, No. 38 | WWW.BAINBRIDGEREVIEW.COM | 75¢
Island copper theft
NO IMPAC T WEEK
Construction begins for PSE New power line will bolster electric reliability; 51 trees remain at risk
BY JESSICA HOCH
By JESSICA HOCH
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
On a national scale, copper theft has been deemed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a threat to national infrastructure. On a local level, the thievery is causing its own set of headaches for Bainbridge law enforcement, city personnel and local homeowners who find themselves victims of criminals who wreak havoc by cashing in on a metal at the core foundation of homes, buildings and government infrastructure. A puttering economy and near-record prices for copper, platinum and other metals have triggered an increase in theft of items such as wire and piping, which are melted down and sold to scrap yards by the pound for quick cash. “It can be a big score for
The fate of 51 trees still remain in jeopardy, but Puget Sound Energy has decided to reroute its planned construction project in the Winslow area after a community backlash of questions and frustration. PSE has said that a new distribution line running from the Murden Cove substation off Sportsman Club Road down to the intersection of High School Road and Madison Avenue would improve electric reliability and relieve a heavily loaded power line. The proposed construction, however, was met with anguish among neighbors who feared losing the trees lining their neighborhood along the right-of-way. During an August council meeting, several North Town neighbors came forward to speak against the project, and several council
SEE COPPER, A9
Connie Mears/Staff Photo
Islanders Rebecca Rockefeller and Liesl Clark harvest vegetables Wednesday from Rock Farm Community Garden in conjunction with Bainbridge-based YES! Magazine’s “No Impact Week” challenge to reduce their carbon footprint. Vegetables from the garden also are shared with Helpline House. Story on page A13.
members also raised concerns. In response, PSE has decided to use an east-west route along Sportsman Club Road as opposed to construction solely on the east side of the road. The new route will begin on the east side of Sportsman Club and cross the street just before the North Town Woods neighborhood to the west side of the street, where it will continue down the road just past Woodward Middle School. “North Town Woods residents are happy with the rerouting and see it as a positive step by PSE,” said Lynn Long, president of the North Town Woods Homeowners Association. “We are happy about the decision, except that it would be nice if we didn’t have to take the trees down. It would be nice to avoid that, but the only way to do so is to go right down SEE PSE, A16
Islander presumed drowned after kayak flips Kayaker missing since Sept. 17 off Bainbridge. By DENNIS ANSTINE Staff Writer
The father of the 28-yearold Bainbridge Island man who is believed to have drowned in a kayak accident off Blakely Harbor said that the friend who was kayaking with him did all he could to save his son’s life. Brandon Thompson has been presumed drowned
after his kayak turned over about 200 yards off the south shore of Rockaway Beach around 9:45 p.m. on Sept. 17. According to authorities and a long-time friend who was kayaking with Thompson at the time, after Thompson’s kayak capsized he shed his lifejacket and attempted to swim ashore against the tide. The extensive search began at about 10:45 p.m. Friday and was called off at noon Saturday after Thompson’s body was not recovered. His kayak, paddle and lifejacket were
found after some 45 square miles of shoreline and water was searched by six boats and two helicopters, police said. Island resident Tim Thompson, Brandon’s father, said Wednesday that he and his wife Eva had a long conversation with their son’s friend about the accident. Tim Thompson said the friend, who owned both kayaks being used, described the accident as follows: “They went out from Blakely Harbor after 9 o’clock or so as the tide was
going out. They wanted to be on the water during a full moon. Brandon was a little ways behind and [his friend] heard a splash and turned around to see Brandon in the water. Brandon tried to right the kayak but it took in a lot of water. He got back into it to see if he could still row it, but it was too far down in the water. Then they tried to put Brandon’s kayak over [the other kayak] to get the water out of it, but they couldn’t get enough leverage to do that. “Brandon then tried to swim for shore but his pile
jacket a n d lifejacket inhibi t e d h i m so he decided to Brandon Thompson t a k e them off. Then he held onto the tail of the kayak, kicking as [his friend] tried to paddle. But the tide was too strong and they weren’t going anywhere. He then tried to swim along on the side of the kayak, but he
couldn’t keep up with the current going out.” Thompson said the friend tried to give Brandon his lifejacket, but he wouldn’t take it because he still thought he could swim ashore. “But then Brandon was beginning to shiver so [his friend] told him he’d paddle to the shore and get help. He went to the first house he saw and they called the police, then he went back out to find Brandon but he was gone. He said it took about 15 minutes between SEE KAYAKER, A16