NEWS-TIMES WHIDBEY
SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2012 | Vol. 113, No. 4 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | 75¢
Living: Shanty Fest comes to Greenbank. A11
Woman, 90, donates quarter-mile Oak Harbor beach for public use By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
Justin Burnett / Whidbey News-Times
Longtime Oak Harbor resident Beatrice Morgan sits at a public beach access on West Beach Road. She recently donated 16.5 acres of beach and tidelands near there to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust.
An Oak Harbor woman with an eye for public access has donated a beach to a land conservation group. In a recently hammered out land agreement, Beatrice Morgan signed over 19 undeveloped tideland lots, which extend more than a quarter mile along the Strait of Juan de Fuca near West Beach and Fort Nugent roads, to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust. The 90-year-old Scenic Heights resident began set-
ting her assets in order for her two sons last year. It was through that process that she decided it would be best if the 16.5 acres of beach and tideland were left for public use. Morgan has owned the shoreline property since 1954 but it has seen little use by her family in recent years. She said she doesn’t see why her donation would be cause for a fuss but was glad that others might enjoy it. “I just wanted to get it out of the way,� Morgan laughed. “But if people can use it, I’d like it to be maintained for the
Staff reporter
It’s all about hope for Pastor Fannie Dean and House of Prayer, especially as they invite the community to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a man who never lost hope. “Our biggest word this year is hope. Don’t lose your hope. No matter what you go through, do not lose your hope,� Dean said. In the 1960s, the civil rights activist worked and hoped for unification among all people. “It wasn’t just a normal day in U.S. history. It wasn’t just
special for the black community but for everyone because it was about bringing everyone together as one. We all share the same dreams,� said CS2 Kenya Charles, who will take part in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. Students from all Oak Harbor schools, Skagit Valley College and the Christian School, plus members of the military and the community will sing and dance to “Champion� Sunday, Jan. 15 at 3:30 p.m. They invite the community to come to SEE MLK, A2
vation associate with the land trust, said the donation of a beach and tidelands is likely the first for the 26-year-old nonprofit group. It’s also an especially important property because it links two existing publicly owned tideland tracts. Collectively, the three pieces form just over two miles of continuous beach protected for public use. Morgan’s donation ensures that no future owner could restrict access and separate that connection. SEE BEACH, A2
Police chief, fire chief fall as mayor adds to Oak Harbor’s purge
Community celebrates with hope and unity By REBECCA OLSON
public.� The donated land is located below high-bluff properties in the Sea View subdivision. The area was developed in the early 1970s by Morgan’s late husband, Hubert, a longtime and respected surveyor. He passed away in 2003. Morgan said she isn’t sure why, but Hubert separated the beach and tidelands from the above residential lots. It turned out to be a great decision, however, as it can now be protected and benefit many, she said. Danielle Rideout, a conser-
By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
Rebecca Olson/Whidbey News-Times
Paul Glazis, Jessica Vester and Quintin Raines rehearse for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration at House of Prayer, set for Sunday, Jan. 15 at 3:30 p.m.
Hourly DRAWINGS
More Than
The close of newly elected Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley’s second week on the job has resulted in two more major changes in city leadership. Indeed, with Dudley at the helm, senior-level employees at City Hall are dropping like flies. On Friday morning, the mayor announced that he had fired longtime Fire Chief Mark Soptich and that his last day on the job will be March 6. Also, Dudley said he met with Police Chief Rick Wallace and it was mutually agreed it would be best if Wallace retired in June. Dudley let go City
Administrator Paul Schmidt and City Attorney Margery Hite late last week, following through with hints of staff changes he made while on the campaign trail. He declined to say why either was fired and said it would be inappropriate to comment on such personnel matters. The same is true for Soptich, who has led the fire department for more than 15 years. The mayor would not SEE PURGE, A4
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