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Examiner The Whidbey
News from the Heart of Whidbey Island
THURSDAY, July 26, 2012
VOL. 17, NO. 51
Spending, Rain, rain, go away public safety debated at forum By Elisabeth Murray Staff Reporter
In a few short weeks, the five candidates vying for the Dist. 1 commissioner’s seat will be whittled down to two. At the three primary forums held during the past week, the candidates had the opportunity to sway potential voters to their cause. In the July 19 forum in Freeland organized by the League of Women Voters of Whidbey Island, the candidates responded to questions that they knew about in advance. With about a minute to respond, they spoke about such issues as the role and function of government, the environment and water quality, and when they would support a tax increase. Democrat Helen Price Johnson, the incumbent, spoke of her experience serving Island County residents as the current commissioner. “When I first ran for county commissioner in 2008, the quality of life I enjoyed here was being threatened,” Johnson said. “Now serving in this role for four years, I have the experience, knowledge, and proven record of leadership and smart solutions.” Johnson said she brought to the job her 25 years of small business experience as well as her family experience as the mother of four children, now adults. Jeff Lauderdale, one of Johnson’s two Republican challengers, said his experience as a Navy commander managing the $21 million Trident missile program has primed him for the position. Lauderdale, who has been attending commissioner meetings on a regular basis for about three years, said learning more about county government also peaked his interest in serving in elected office. “Whidbey Island is the place I want to take my last breath,” Lauderdale said. “I’ll work very hard to protect it.” Ensuring that the county’s law and justice departments are well funded is a part of that effort, he said, adding that See FORUM, page 5
Elisabeth Murray / The Whidbey Examiner
Clark Bishop of Ebey Road Farm bales hay last week ahead of rain forecasted to set in the next day. This summer’s cool, wet weather has damaged hay grown at a number of Central Whidbey farms.
Farms impacted by summer rains By Elisabeth Murray Staff Reporter
Farmer Clark Bishop grabs a fistful of hay grown at Ebey Road Farm just outside Coupeville, looking closely to evaluate its quality. Fog and the recent heavy rains – unusual for this time of year – have wreaked havoc on the alfalfa and grass and put a significant dent in its market value to this family farm in the heart of Ebey’s Prairie. Originally destined for the bellies of alpaca, goats and sheep, the second cutting of hay mown in the family’s fields is now fit only to be used as bedding or as “feeder hay” for less-discriminating herbivores such as cows. Bishop estimates the financial loss has been between $50,000 and $70,000. “It is what is is,” said Bishop, whose family owns 535 acres and
farms about 650 acres just south of Coupeville. The alfalfa was cut on July 4 and left to dry in the fields, where it would later be baled and delivered to the farm’s customers. To get the highest quality hay, a stretch of sunny weather – about a week – is needed. But for weeks now, fog has shrouded the fields, adding moisture to the hay. And then heavy rain and hail during the July 13 thunderstorms, followed by more rain the next week, slowed the drying process. Moisture leaches out the nutrient content and can cause the hay to mold.
Trying to save the hay, Bishop went out into the fields on his tractor to pick it up and fluff it – a way to help dry it faster. The effort was time consuming and used a lot of fuel, Bishop said. “This has been an abnormally wet year,” he said. “The question is if it is going to stop or keep going.” So far this year, the Bishop farm has gotten about 16 inches of rain. This is fast approaching last year’s record rain fall: almost 18 inches for the entire year. But after six generations of farming See FARMS, page 9