News-Times Whidbey
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2012 | Vol. 113, No. 72 | www.whidbeynewstimes.com | 75¢
LIVING: Library holds 50th birthday bash. A11
Letter to the editor leads to criminal investigation By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
Deputies with the Island County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the harassment of an elderly Coupeville woman who wrote a letter to the editor that spawned a
controversy. Deputy Chris Garden said the letter writer, Caralyn Haglund, was in the sheriff’s office crying because of continuous harassing phone calls and cars driving by her home since the letter was
published in the News-Times Wednesday. Garden said the behavior is criminal harassment. He urges people to refrain from calling or going to the woman’s house. “People should grow up
and be mature about this kind of thing,” he said. “It’s OK for people to have a difference of opinion.” Haglund, reached Friday morning, said the situation has been a nightmare for her and her husband. After
Horses gallop into town
By KATHY REED Staff reporter
Staff reporter
Jessie Stensland / Whidbey News-Times
Doc Mishler has crisscrossed the nation on horseback. He’s trying to convince people to work to end childhood hunger. offered to let Mishler and the horses stay on property she owns nearby. “I could not have made it this far without the support of people along the way,” Mishler said, motioning at Collantes. “It’s renewed my faith in the human race. It really has.” Mishler has ridden thousands of miles and crisscrossed the nation on horse-
back on his one-man quest to eradicate childhood hunger. Along the way, he’s depended on the kindness of strangers and the equine stamina of Chief-Free-Spirit, Charity and Justice. A deeply religious man, he is not raising money, but is trying to convince people to change their priorities and follow Jesus’ example. Mishler is obviously practiced in speaking to crowds
and news reporters. He speaks in rehearsed phrases that are sometimes funny, sometimes shocking. “My first journey took me from Choteau, Mont., to Washington D.C. by way of California,” he said, adding that he spoke about the issue of childhood hunger before a Congressional committee. “I’ll stop riding when the See horse, page A8
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“My husband keeps watch during the night. We don’t get any sleep and we are just a wreck,” she said. “This is costing me my health.” A Navy spokesperson said it’s premature for the leadership See letter, page A4
Police chief finalists meet the public
By JESSIE STENSLAND
A horse may be a horse, but it’s not a common sight in downtown Oak Harbor these days. An old cowboy and former bondsman who goes by the name Doc Mishler rode into town on a horse, with two more trailing closely behind. Wearing a cowboy hat and a western get-up to match, he headed down Pioneer Way Thursday afternoon and stopped, naturally, for a beer at the nearest saloon — Jo Jo’s Harbor Light Tavern. A small crowd gathered Thursday afternoon as he hitched his weary horses to a post and left them standing in a parking spot. Al and Kathy Collantes of Angelo’s Caffe brought out a big bucket of water and fresh carrots for the ponies. Kathy even
the letter was published, she received non-stop harassing phone calls, day and night, until she was forced to turn off her phone. She’s getting a new number because she needs to stay in touch with her sister, who is dying.
There are three strong candidates vying for the position of Oak Harbor Chief of Police. That’s the word from Oak Harbor’s interim human resources manager, Cheryl Lawler. An opportunity for the public to meet the three finalists drew approximately 20 people to Oak Harbor Fire Station 81 Thursday evening. Those attending included City Council members, police officers, firefighters and interested citizens. All three men appeared at a forum at the Oak Harbor police department earlier in the day, where members of the police force had a chance to ask questions of the candidates. “We have three really viable candidates,” Lawler said. “The response I got from at least one member of the police department was that they would be happy with any one of these men. That says a lot.” Of 15 original applicants, the field was narrowed to seven. Of those seven, four dropped out of contention for various reasons, said Lawler.
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The three remaining candidates include Andrew “Andy” Reinhardt, from Prescott, Ariz.; Julius “Phil” Schenck, from Sunnyside, Wash.; and Ed Green, from Port Townsend. All have had long careers in law enforcement. Reinhardt has been in law enforcement for 27 years and is currently a police lieutenant for the City of Prescott, Ariz. Due to economic concerns, he said promotional opportunities in his department are few and far between. “I’m looking for other challenges and I think I can serve Oak Harbor in a valuable way,” Reinhardt said. “Our communities share the same concerns, such as bringing up our youth, for example. With proper community policing and community concern, we can reduce problems.” Phil Schenck has been with the City of Sunnyside since 1989 and has worked See chief, page A8
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