INSIDE: Students skim the waves. A20
Record South Whidbey
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012 | Vol. 88, No. 62 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
Bluff erosion woes continue By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
Record file photo
Sean DeMerchant pleaded guilty to assault charges in Island County Superior Court.
Freeland man who stabbed his parents pleads guilty By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
A Freeland man who stabbed both of his parents at their Bush Point Terrace home last October has entered guilty pleas in connection with a plea bargain. Sean DeMerchant pleaded guilty in Island County Superior Court July 30 to attempted assault in the second degree and assault in the second degree. Both charges are domestic-violence related. DeMerchant is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 24. Under the plea bargain, prosecution and defense will recommend a sentence of eight years and eight months in prison. The judge lifted a no-contact order so that DeMerchant’s parents can go see him in prison. The ordered had been modified earlier to allow them to correspond in writing. The Department of Corrections will conduct a presentence investigation before sentencing, which will also include a sentence recommendation. Such investigations are unusual in cases that don’t involve sexual assault, but was ordered in this case because of DeMerchant’s history of mental See guilty, A9
The sudden and catastrophic erosion that began claiming large chunks of high-bank property from a Langley couple in late July appears to have finally ceased, though the final toll is high and may not be over. Last week, it was recommended that Roy and Rosalie Ballinger begin emptying their two-story workshop due to its proximity to the edge of the massive hole — about 150 feet by 50 feet — that used to be their backyard. While their home remains safe, having to abandon the workshop was a terrible blow for the couple, especially for Roy. Up until last week, he spent a lot of time in the building working on various projects. “I feel very, very sad for Roy,” Rosalie said. The Ballingers’ lives turned upside down about two weeks ago when an underground spring began eroding their backyard. Within a week, they had lost a massive amount of property and their plight was splashed across headlines across the country. Their heart-rendering story even appeared on the ABC television broadcast, Good Morning America.
Justin Burnett / The Record
Langley resident Rosalie Ballinger waves hello to one of the many boats passing by her South Whidbey home. The huge portion of the high-bank property has been consumed by erosion from an underground spring. Things have since begun to calm down; their telephone isn’t ringing off the hook but their property is still the subject of intense public curiosity. During a 40-minute inter-
view with a Record reporter, a small plane continually buzzed overhead and several boats came in close to shore for a better view of the land slide.
The event has been financially taxing as well. It appears their See erosion, A9
Parking changes hit pub owner again By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
Parking changes coming down from Langley City Hall are once again causing a fuss on Second Street. Last week, the gravel parking along the north side of the road, between Anthes and Park Avenue, was temporarily closed to address problems from storm water. Although the issue was discussed at a July City Council meeting, Mo’s Pub & Eatery owner Maureen Cooke said she was not informed. She learned of the closure by showing up for work on Wednesday to find a series of “no parking” signs posted in spots that had been utilized by her customers the day before. The move came just weeks after the
city approved a new parking zone on the same block that requires permits after 4 p.m. “They’ve taken the whole street away,” Cooke said. This is one of her busiest times of the year and the loss of parking has been hard on her business. During the first week of the closure, Cooke said she saw her sales receipts tumble “a whopping 28 percent.” Although customers have begun to adjust and are now utilizing parking along Anthes and at U.S. Bank and the Langley Methodist church, Cooke is worried about her elderly customers and questions the See parking, A9
Justin Burnett / The Record
Maureen Cooke, owner of Mo’s Pub & Eatery in Langley, makes light of a parking closure on Second Street with a play-pouty face. Although she was having fun, the parking loss has not been easy on customers.