Sounder The Islands’
Vikings sports coverage
Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County
WEDNESDAY, May 2, 2012 n VOL. 45, NO. 18 n 75¢
Page 9 Viking Shelbi Rogers.
Chris Gill photo
www.islandssounder.com
Economists Orcas Island rounds out its police force cautious about fiscal recovery by COLLEEN SMITH ARMSTRONG Editor/Publisher
by Steve Wehrly County reporter
Flanked by a dozen charts and graphs typical of any fiscal forum, economist Dave Wallace of the Washington Department of Employment Security last week relied on visuals and detailed analysis to describe the effect the recession has had on the state and on San Juan County. San Juan Island’s Mark Anderson, founder of Strategic News Service and a frequent technology conference contributor, followed with big picture insights and strategy recommendations for the future. But the real buzz in the room – economically speaking – started before the San Juan County Economic Development Council’s April 25 Economic Forecast Luncheon even began. It was delivered by realtors Steve and Sam Buck of Coldwell Banker. “Thirty real estate deals are in escrow,” was Steve Buck’s economic recovery report. “The most at one time since August 2006,” chimed in Sam Buck, Jr., as the two joined a crowd of about 60 people check-
See EDC, Page 6
Orcas Island’s newest additions to the police force have connections that go way back. Jack Wilsey and Steve Johns have known each other for decades, working in the same Reno, Nev. department. Now the friends have relocated to Orcas, where they are filling two empty deputy positions. “We’re both easy going,” Johns said. “We don’t sweat the small stuff.” Wilsey was hired as an Orcas deputy last year, but left in fall 2011, fearing a lay-off. He jumped at the chance to return to the island, especially since his friend and coworker was interested as well. The pair share an easy rapport, swapping jokes and telling stories. “We both wanted the quiet, rural life,” said Wilsey, who spent 31 years on the Reno force, primarily as a detective handling sex crimes, auto theft, drug offenses and burglary. His most memorable case involved investigating a cult leader who was sexually abusing children. The man is now serving a life sentence. Johns put in 22 years in Reno, working patrol and on the downtown enforcement team. He also has experience in mental health crisis intervention. He was featured in a 2006 story called “Million-Dollar Murray” in “New
Colleen Smith Armstrong/Staff Photo
Jack Wilsey (left) and Steve Johns are friends and colleagues from Reno, Nev. They are the newest additions to the Orcas Island police force. Sheriff Rob Nou says they will “do absolutely fabulously” on the island. Yorker” magazine. It profiled Murray Barr, a homeless alcoholic man. Two police officers, Johns and Patrick O’Bryan, tracked chronic inebriates for six months and found that just one of them ran up a bill of $100,000 at a single hospital. For the 10 years Murray had been on the streets, he had a medical bill as large as anyone in Nevada. Both officers say their favorite
part of the job is “helping people and making a difference.” Wilsey and Johns are joining Orcas deputies Bruce Distler, Herb Crowe and Doug Maya. There are also two reserves: Dennis McKinney and Raymond Harvey. “They’ll do absolutely fabulously on Orcas,” said Sheriff Rob Nou. “They’ll be a good fit both for the agency and the community. I’m excited to have a full crew going
Five times is the charm
Orcas High wins state excellence award
The Orcas Island High School class of 2013 celebrating the school’s award.
For the fifth year in a row, Orcas Island High School has received the Washington Achievement Award for excellence, This year it received special recognition in both math and language arts. Schools are identified in seven categories: overall excellence, language arts, math, science, and extended graduation rate, improvement and closing the achievement gap. According to the office of the superintendent of public instruction, “lifting up our most successful schools the Washington Paul Evans photo Achievement Award shines a light on some of the best practices that are making that success possible.”
into summer.” Nou expects the Orcas/Lopez sergeant position, recently left vacant by long-time officer Steve Vierthaler, to be filled in early 2013. In the meantime, four officers will share the title on a 90-day rotation: Distler and Crowe on
See DEPUTIES, Page 6
Sounder deadlines Display advertising: Friday at noon Classified advertising: Monday at noon Legal advertising: Thursday at noon Press releases, Letters: Friday at 3 p.m.
How to reach us Office: 376-4500 Fax: 376-4501 Advertising: advertising@ islandssounder.com Classified: 1-800-388-2527, classifieds@ soundpublishing.com Editor: editor@ islandssounder.com