Sports
State tournament tickets punched by three Wolverines
Scene
Island art in spotlight in 21 Annual Studio Tour page 9
page 8
Guest Column
How to prevent ‘whooping cough’ outbreak from becoming an epidemic; by state’s secretary of health page 7
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, May 23, 2012 Vol. 105 Issue 21
of the San Juan Islands
Mixed reviews over ‘B-band’
www.sanjuanjournal.com
Catch of the day
OPALCO floats $5 to $10 monthy charge for better broadband
By Scott Rasmussen
By Steve Wehrly
Leaders of Orcas Power and Light Cooperative took a stab at outlining the benefits of its broadband initiative at a pair of public meetings last week on San Juan Island. Not everyone is convinced. “It will put us out of business,” said Randy Lindsey of Windjammer Communications, the local cable television and internet connection affiliate of Time Warner. But the electricity co-op, backed by the San Juan County Economic Development Council, and a contingent of techno-savvy local residents insist no doomsday scenario will ensue for present internet providers. Instead, they maintain the economic, communications and public safety benefits of better broadband and cellphone coverage to 90 percent of San Juan County, with a minimum speed of 10 megabytes per second, will extend to all businesses and individuals. The last of the current round of forums convened Wednesday afternoon at the Roche Harbor Pavilion.In the morning, about 70 people met at The Grange Hall in Friday Harbor. About 30 people, See broadband, Page 4
Plunge proves fatal for boater
Journal photo / Scott Rasmussen
San Juan Island’s Skylar Reynolds, 10, takes delight in netting yet another decorator crab at the UW Labs Open House, Saturday, May 19. The Reynolds family was among 660 people that visited the Labs for the annual event.
Trio of contested council races
Incumbents Pratt, Rosenfeld challenged in SJI Council bids By Steve Wehrly
Superior Court Judge Don Eaton won a second term by simply filling out paperwork and paying the candidate filing fee. Eaton is the only San Juan County official who is unopposed. Because he is unopposed in a non-partisan judicial election, Eaton will be declared the winner after the Aug. 7 primary election and will not appear on the November ballot. This is his first election after being appointed to the job in early 2010 after the death of his predecessor, John O. Linde. The filing fee represents one percent of the annual salary of the elected official. Also filing locally for election before the May
18 deadline were candidates for three County Council positions. In council District 1 (San Juan South), incumbent Lovel Pratt is opposed by Bob Jarman. Two newcomers, Rick Hughes and Scott Lancaster, will compete to replace current District 4 (Orcas West) Councilman Richard Fralick, who is retiring from the council. District 3, representing Friday Harbor, will see a contest between veteran incumbent Howie Rosenfeld and Friday Harbor businessman Marc Forlenza. Because only two candidates filed for each position, after the primary, all six candidates will advance to the Nov. 6 general election. Forlenza announced his intention to run for the council in a May 16 written statement that said, “I am ready to take on the tasks that await a group of See Candidates, Page 5
2011 Special Award; Second Place: General Excellence from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
A 72-year-old Bellingham man died of hypothermia following a boating mishap Friday near Sucia Island. James Ableman and two other Bellingham men, out on the water collecting shrimp pots, had stopped to help a group on a nearby boat dislodge a pot snagged below the surface when their 17-foot Boston Whaler capsized about a quartermile off the southwest shore of Sucia Island, at about 2:30 p.m., according to the San Juan County Sheriff ’s Department. The three men attached a line to See Plunge, Page 4
Early Deadlines for Post Memorial Day Issue Thursday, May 24 due by 2 pm space and copy deadline