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Sports
Scene
Roy Taylor shines in Lewis & Clark’s ‘Cinderella Season’
SJCT’s brings singing, dancing and giggles to the stage
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Editorial Find out what islanders are thankful for this year PAGE 6
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, November 16, 2011 Vol. 104 Issue 46
of the San Juan Islands
www.sanjuanjournal.com
Federal trial ends in $1 fine
Sailor drowns in wake of brawl
Islander, arrested at American Camp, found guilty of ‘inteference’
By Scott Rasmussen
By Cali Bagby
Two San Juan Island men were handcuffed and put in the back of a police car by National Park Ranger Barry Lewis. The arrests were made at different times and locations, but both arrests started with dogs off leash. Karl Mueller paid $75 for one count of dog off leash and was found guilty in Federal Court for one count of interference with an agency function, which is a class B misdemeanor — he was fined $1. “It was like a 500 pound chunk of cement lifted off my shoulders,” Mueller said. Garrett Holmes settled out of court by paying a fine and the count of dog off leash and count of interference with an agency function were dropped. “What is most frustrating is that I’m not going back there until he’s [Lewis] gone,” Holmes said. For the Acting Superintendent of San Juan National Park, Steve Gibbons, it’s reassuring that the National Park’s actions were upheld at Mueller’s trial, but he is disappointed that things — from the initial incident to the trial — escalated to this outcome because most of the time the park offers a positive experience. “We would prefer to not have See TRIAL, Page 2
Journal photo / Cali Bagby
San Juan Island’s Steve Barnes, says ‘better late than never’, as he drops off a Nov. 8 election ballot with a good four hours to spare.
Luster off the Land Bank? When all votes are tallied, Prop. 1 will pass, but not by much By Scott Rasmussen
Landslide? Not even close. This time around the Land Bank will emerge from a countywide election with its principal funding source intact for 12 more years, but with a public relations problem on its hands as well. When all the votes are tallied, Proposition 1, which sought renewal of the 1 percent real estate excise tax that for 20 years has fueled the Land Bank’s ambitions, will have passed by earning roughly 53 percent of total ballots cast in the Nov. 8 election. With about 30 ballots still remaining to be counted, the number of “yes” votes for Prop.1 exceed “no” votes by 4,134 to 3,708, a difference of only 426 votes. Land Bank Director Lincoln Bormann concedes that’s a margin of victory that’s disturbingly small. “Obviously, we all were very surprised by the
result,” Bormann said. “I don’t think any of us expected an overwhelming ‘yes’ vote, but that’s very tight. I think there’s a clear message there and that now we have to figure out what that message is.” Despite its pending victory at the polls, Prop. 1’s results reveal a large drop in voter support, if not for the Land Bank itself, then at least for its funding mechanism. In 1990, roughly 70 percent of voters cast a ballot approving the creation of the Land Bank and its principal funding source as well. Nine years later, when the Land Bank sought a 12-year extension of its 1 percent excise tax, about 73 percent of local voters favored that renewal. San Juan Island’s Ron Whalen believes the message of Prop. 1 is no mystery. And although he expected it would pass, Whalen, chief spokesman of the campaign against Prop.1, maintains the Land Bank has lost touch with community priorities and is out of tune with the current economic See LAND BANK, Page 4
2011 Special Award; Second Place: General Excellence from the Washington Newpaper Publihers Association
A Bellingham man who intended to compete in Saturday’s countywide sailing competition drowned after he went missing at a Blakely Island marina in the predawn hours on the day of the race, according to local authorities. The body of Donald Mierzeski, 42, was discovered by divers under several feet of water, not far from the location where his 35-foot sailboat was moored. Mierzeski and his eight teammates had docked at the marina in anticipation of the annual “Round the County” sailboat race. See DROWNING, Page 5
Coming into the world in style Jaydin Rivers Angel was born on 11-11-11 to Jacob and Kristi Angel of Orcas Island.