INSIDE: Kids make crazy veggie critters. A20
Record South Whidbey
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012 | Vol. 88, No. 63 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
A reason to race
Price Johnson dominates By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
Justin Burnett / The Record
Freeland resident Lila Haynes and her two Chihuahuas, Copper and Ava, navigate the mass of organic debris on the beach near Freeland Park in Holmes Harbor. The debris, known as wrack, may be a contributor to high levels of fecal coliform bacteria found in water samples from the bay.
Ben Watanabe / The Record
Pedro DeGuzman kisses his daughter after crossing the finish line of the Whidbey Triathlon at South Whidbey Community Park. DeGuzman, 42, finished in 1:35:52.8 for 13th place overall. A new competitor from Anacortes shattered the old course record. See sports on page A7 for details.
Wrack may be polluting Emerson leaves meeting, Holmes Harbor claims lack of ‘sunshine’ By JUSTIN BURNETT
By JUSTIN BURNETT
Staff reporter
Twice a day, Lila Haynes and her two Chihuahuas take a walk along the beach at Freeland park. It’s a walk they all love. Little Copper and Ava get the chance to investigate countless curiosities and irresistible smells and for Haynes, it’s a chance to stretch her legs and enjoy the waterfront. They do it so often, it’s become something of a ritual. So too has the exercise of carefully wiping down their paws after each walk. As if the no swimming and shellfish harvesting signs See Holmes, A6
f
Coupeville estival
Staff reporter
Disagreement over a recent executive session has sparked an Island County commissioner to request a review by state sunshine law experts. In a news release Wednesday, Commissioner Kelly Emerson charged fellow commissioners Helen Price Johnson and Angie Homola with abusing tenets of the Washington Open
Public Meetings Act. The board held a closed meeting concerning real estate transactions, one of several topics that can be discussed in secret, this past Wednesday. Emerson boycotted the meeting, saying the topic may have been real estate but the discussion did not meet the intention or standards of the state rules. “I am asking the Attorney General’s Office to review this potential abuse of
our sunshine laws,” said Emerson, in the news release. “The public has a right to know what its local government is doing.” Board Chairwoman and Commissioner Helen Price Johnson said there isn’t anything illegal about discussing real estate behind closed doors. It’s an allowed practice under state law and
AUG 11 & 12
See emerson, A6
It appears voters in Island County Commissioner District 1 are quite satisfied with the status quo. The first batch of primary election results were released Tuesday evening and incumbent Democrat Helen Price Johnson has pulled ahead with a commanding lead, securing 3,286 votes, or 57.18 percent. Republican challenger Jeff Lauderdale is the runner up, but is trailing far behind with 1,377 votes, or 23.96 percent. Tuesday, Price Johnson said she believes the numbers will begin to even out with later counts, but was very pleased by the strong showing of voter support. “District 1 voters definitely showed their preference,” Price Johnson said. “I’m pleased and very honored.” Independent candidate Curt Gordon is in third, securing 13.28 percent of the vote while Republican Wayne Morrison has claimed 4.4 percent. Independent Ed Jenkins came in last with 1.18 percent. In the District 2 race, Republican Jill Johnson is narrowly leading over Democratic incumbent Angie Homola with 1,005 votes, 33.86 percent. Homola has 969 votes or 32.64 percent. Republican Jim Campbell is in third with 22.84 percentwhile Republican Phil Collier is last with 10.68 percent. The EMS levy passed easily with more than 70 percent of the votes. The measure will renew the property tax levy for another six years.
For ALL the
fabulous, fun time info about the Festival visit
www.CoupevilleFestival.com