Sports
Scene
Swan song: Fishaut named league ‘Coach of the Year’
Bill Ament’s hip replacement has given him back his groove
PAGE16
Editorial In this season of giving, ‘Friends and Neighbors’ is a worthy cause and could use some help PAGE 6
PAGE 11
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, December 7, 2011 Vol. 104 Issue 49
of the San Juan Islands
Wilson tapped for FH’s top job
www.sanjuanjournal.com
Volunteer aid program in peril By Scott Rasmussen
By Scott Rasmussen
Sometimes things simply fall into place. Just ask Friday Harbor Mayor Carrie Lacher. Early Friday, Lacher announced that she selected Duncan Wilson, administrator of the city of North Bend, to replace long-time town Administrator King Fitch, who only two months ago handed in a letter of resignation and plans to leave the post he’s held for nearly 25 years at the end of June. “I didn’t actually think it would be easy,” she said of finding someone to replace Fitch and manage the town. “The more I researched Duncan, and researched his background and his skills, the more I liked him.” Lacher said she began looking for a replacement for Fitch almost Duncan Wilson immediately after receiving his resignation and decided early on that it would be a task she would try to accomplish on her own, as opposed to following the frequent path of forming a search committee. She said she relied heavily on advice from town attorney Adina Cunnigham, however, while weighing the merits of See WILSON, Page 4
Journal photo / Scott Rasmussen
Jim Stegall, left, considers the options as Friends and Neighbors volunteer Rita O’Clair reads a list of audio books that may potentially captivate Stegall’s interest. That’s Amelio, Stegall’s guide dog, at center.
Six years ago when he needed to get to Seattle in a hurry for an operation scheduled at the last minute, Jim Stegall knew he would have to have some help getting there. So Stegall, legally blind and unable to drive himself, called the senior center hoping a program that he had only heard about at that time, Friends and Neighbors, might have a solution. Turns out he not only got that ride, but Stegall stumbled onto a program that since that time has provided the help in taking care of all those “little things” and allows him to remain mostly independent and living on his own. He also relies heavily on Amelio, a specially trained guide dog. “It works as a big bridge that stabilizes things for me,” Stegall said of the Friends and Neighbors program. “My blindness was getting to the point where it was quite difficult. Without my dog and the help of Friends and Neighbors I probably wouldn’t be able to live at home.” Though his ailment may be unique, Stegall is not alone. Not by a long shot. In fact, the backbone of the Friends and Neighbors program, is its team of volunteers, See NEIGHBORS, Page 4
Solid waste changes are months away Public Works Director Frank Mulcahy predicts county residents should see changes in the solid waste system around the end of August. The changes follow the Nov. 8 election when voters rejected a proposal for a parcel fee to help fund the financially troubled county solid waste utility. The rejection was construed as a vote for “Plan B” — which ends the county’s operation of solid waste facilities and moves to roadside
nal of t
ews n i r e e i v v e l r W Spoorts P The Jour
Changes to the solid waste system, including ason roadside pickup tough se ady for a re le tt for almost all a b nes get residential trash Wislaotorlvs heeardridetails details Leg tails de ls tai de details and recycling, will take place around the end of August. WINTER
nesday,
Journal file photo
pickups for almost all residential trash and recycling. Since the vote, Public Works, a council subcommittee, and Administrator Pete Rose have worked to flesh out Plan B and create a time table. “It’s not quite as easy as just throwing a switch,” Mulcahy said.
“We want to make sure we have a smooth transition to the new system, which means we have to coordinate with a lot of agencies and entities.” Major stakeholders in the transition include the Port of Lopez, which may take over the See SOLID WASTE, Page 5
2011 Special Award: Second Place; General Excellence from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
Decembe
SPORT
S PREV
IEW
r 7, 2011
line. The veterans des just two up inclustarting point les seniors, ota Rosa guard Dak up guard and backon, and only Nick Cott ch junior 2-in a 6-foot Galt was Donald t starter a consisten Seven sophoyear ago. two freshof the mores and the bulk r. men are an roste team's 13-mbe playin o"We'll n this yea ch soph 6-foot 5-in y in the young agaibull, addi turn to Kell iamson e Steven said Turne is an ups n for mor post when Will t Rasmusse that ther youth, ho By Scot are looking up low to that s group Things That's up… needs a rest.ch Rod Turnbull, at verines. ever. "Thi Still, Coa 10th year other the Wol ht. each his the bor be with le of yea as in heig Friday Har will now in , assures that ihelm next coup be dom The etball team the the verines won't use of a Wh ile will b boys baskthe court for es with Wol g anyone beca the size Wolverin leagu take to 2 season natin the it boost in ps in ning for need to 2011-201 tallest lineu little extra Turnbull said its they will wins fact, with department. put the team one of of er help e of years. In couple recent tion of newcom ot will only few mor 1A W with a wise, their the addi iamson, a 6-fo s, sizeon par rivals, nent from Will County n, M sfer Collin their oppo than junior tranChristian, Christia ksac 4-inch that is. a little bigger "But Life Noo ssen both . 're at and "We Tacoma's sive thre / Scott Rasmu th ," he said offen Journal photo Donald to achieve and from in the past sort of relative. and an adva low post e's no one n Demaris, r over o for us is tions of son in the left, Dyla Rosales, Sergi ay big e not going towe e the range, ther ta row from post-sea , 3-point feet among Frid We'r dominat ity). Back aris. Front, Dako y. or (vars six Kelle ne n er ultimately five. und anyo etball team on, Levi DemCotton, Steve starting es can s boys bask Gabe Laws their tick , Nick Harbor's Wolverin Wolverine Cooper-West, red, Ryan Allen dule 1A st g to And the y Harbor Otis pictu accordin ll Sche a Division Yakima ds. Not The Frida n Williamson, Which, could prove C.J. Woo ment in Basketba d six Galt, Colli ent Carter, , will es com es bull been are rin Vinc It's in bol TIME verines ing sea- Turnh task. The Brav seven Trujillo, Wolve verine games The Wol toug winn the Wol 4:30 p.m. their top Home R NT What it ing off another hed the 2010- have five of a year ago back ance at State. OPPONE bey 4:30 p.m. our size. kind Whid They finis ers from 0 overall, nothing 12:45 p.m. South paint with e us more DATE ll son. season at 11-1 thwest play court. all like mak that 3:00 p.m. Concrete 2011 does is al for a basketba Dec. 3 in Nor They on the those five are replicate p 6:00 p.m. at 11-3 Orcas . of his "And Dec. 6 play. of norm ," he said count year the t 4:00 p.m. bull and B League of second Darrington on Christian ones ." Dec. 10 Turn can of p.m. Vern team size, 1:30 of 1A/2 ed a share d- good Wolverines bit more rest Mount Dec. 13 ue stan The Rather thanthe hallmark that priz a 1:30 p.m. Coupeville Valley m d and they on well claime in the leag Shoreline that Dec. 16 d as p.m. tty ves spee sack coul side "Pre 5:30 on belie Nook g plac their g with Dec. 20 nd 's team ame Baker tian (TBD) 's goal the seco be height on another 20-g Mount this year to be somethin k ings, alon Dec. 22 Chris n, for (TBD) dule. team stian Shoreline turn out its height."I thin is Christia a row and will ck embark season sche is a Rosales sa Dec. 27 Park Chri (TBD) Cedar ressive gular ar in to kno Jan 3 't have ther than d it "
Winter Sports See what’s happening with this season’s Wolverines in the Sports Preview, pages 8 and 9.