NEWS-TIMES WHIDBEY
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2011 | Vol. 120, No. 99 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | 75¢
Playhouse celebrates Christmas A13
State parks lose half their staff By NATHAN WHALEN Staff reporter
Justin Burnett / Whidbey News-Times
A man looks over the edge of Ebey’s Bluff at a plane that crashed into the hillside Thursday afternoon. A single occupant perished.
Pilot dies in fiery crash By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
A man was killed Thursday when the small aircraft he was piloting crashed into a bluff on Whidbey Island. Authorities identified the pilot late Friday as Michael Heaton Sr., 59, a six-month resident of Whidbey Island. The crash occurred on Central Whidbey at Ebey’s Bluff, between Perego’s Lake and the parking lot at the northern end of Hill Road, at about 4 p.m. The area is a popular spot for hiking and bird watching. First responders, including police and firefighters, arrived to find the aircraft engulfed in flames about one-third of the way from the top of the bluff. The blaze burned unchecked for about 30 minutes before
being extinguished. Kimberly Martin, public affairs officer for Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, confirmed the plane is a Whidbey Island Navy Flying Club aircraft and had been checked out by a member of the Civil Air Patrol. Coupeville resident Linda Wandro was sitting in her car at the beach and saw the accident happen. She said the plane was flying low and was clearly in trouble as the pilot appeared to be trying to land in the fields above the bluff. She watched in horror as the plane collided with the hillside and burst into flames. Jumping out of her car, she began running up the bluff toward the accident but quickly realized there was little she could do. SEE PLANE, A4
Justin Burnett / Whidbey News-Times
A man rushes to the scene as the airplane burns on Ebey’s Bluff.
Budget cuts announced this week will decimate staff at state parks on Whidbey Island and elsewhere. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission said the parks system will be restructured to emphasize seasonal help during the summer. Because of that change, about half of the park employees working at Whidbey’s state parks could lose their jobs. Pink slips are scheduled to go out Dec. 19. Deception Pass Park Manager Jack Hartt said staffing levels at his park will dive from 15 employees to eight and the other manned parks on the island will suffer in the same fashion. “Every park on the island will be affected similarly,” Hartt said, adding that some of the employees whose positions will be cut have 30 years of experience. The park manager jobs at Fort Ebey, Fort Casey and South Whidbey state parks will be consolidated into a single position. The restructuring means 160 park employees statewide were notified their positions are at risk, said Virginia Painter, spokeswoman. Hartt said instead of the permanent employees, seasonal staff will be hired to five-month positions and will likely be students rather than the experienced, permanent staff. The state parks system is currently changing the way it receives money. Rather than being reliant on the state Legislature for funding, the Discover Pass was instituted last summer. Park users pay a vehicle fee of $10 per day or $30 per year.
“We’re still reeling from the effects.” -- Jack Hartt, manager Deception Pass State Park
The Legislature projected the fee would bring in $65 million, which would benefit the Washington State Parks, Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources. The park system would receive $54 million. The Legislature provided $17 million as bridging money until the Discover Pass gains in popularity. By the next biennium, the park system must be reliant on income received from fees and donations. Unfortunately, only $7.2 million in Discover Pass revenue was collected through October, which obviously isn’t on pace to bring in the projected $65 million. The park system has been working for months to develop a contingency plan should revenues fall short. Park closures are not being considered. Officials say parks need to remain open to encourage people to purchase the Discover Pass. To help make ends meet, the commission also approved lowering operating reserves to $8 million from $12 million, which is enough to fund two months of operations. Downsizing staff during SEE PARKS, A4