INSIDE: New car, new life ... Island Life, A12
Record South Whidbey
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2012 | Vol. 88, No. 81 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
Tempers flare at LaRouche demonstration Passersby trade barbs with pair linking president to nuclear war
An unidentified man and woman (not pictured) associated with the LaRouche Political Action Committee became the subject of controversy in Freeland last week. Many did not welcome their ideas and police fielded complaints from both the public and the couple.
BY JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter A political group that believes civilization is on the verge of collapse became the source of turmoil in Freeland last week. Two people associated with the LaRouche Political Action Committee set up a table on the sidewalk in front of the post office Friday with inflammatory signs of President Barack Obama and seeking donations from the public.
Photo by Jenny Grisewood
One sign read, “A vote for Obama is a vote for nuclear war” while another had in bold, “Impeach, Obama Complicit Libya 9/11.” It contained a large a picture of the president with a superimposed Adolf Hitler mustache. The unidentified man and
woman team quickly became the subject of public ire. Some people called them names while others accused the pair of lacking an education, said Jenny Grisewood, a Freeland resident. “I got into it too,” she said. “Their mere presence was
inciting anger.” Grisewood declined to repeat her comments, saying only that she “wasn’t very nice” and would apologize if given the opportunity. According to Undersheriff Kelly Mauck, there were no reports of violence but the
couple did call the police to complain that people were disrupting their efforts to speak to the public. An officer that was dispatched to the scene did not observe any crimes being committed. Mauck said that wasn’t the first call his office received regarding the couple. Rather, officers had been fielding calls from the general public throughout the day and earlier in the week, he said. Apparently people with the action group made at least one other appearance in Freeland, he said. People complained that they were blocking the sidewalk and traffic, but officers who spent time observing them never witnessed any laws being broken. While people may personally disagree with their mes-
STAY for the VIEW
Freeland resident Don Cannon and his dog Lucky walk on beachfront property adjacent to the Mutiny Bay boat launch. The beach is expected to be donated to the public by Frank Robinson, founder of the Robinson Helicopter Company. Justin Burnett / The Record
South Whidbey man plans to donate 300 feet of beach for public use BY JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
H
elicopter magnate and South Whidbey property owner Frank Robinson is planning to donate nearly 300 feet of shoreline in Mutiny Bay to the public, Island County officials have confirmed. Public Works Director Bill Oakes met with the Island County commissioners last week and briefed the board on ongoing discussions with the Robinson family about the potential beachfront land donation. Oakes said Robinson considered giving the property
to the county three years ago but those talks never materialized. His declining health, however, has brought the discussion back to the forefront. Although it’s not yet clear which public agency the shoreline property would be donated too — several are possible candidates — Oakes said this was an opportunity that should not be ignored. “Public beach access is so limited in Island County, it’s a high priority of the parks plan,” Oakes said. Robinson is the founder of the Robinson Helicopter Company, which manufactures the highly successful R22 and R44. It is one of the worlds leading manufactur-
sage, they were exercising their right to free speech in a legal place and the police had no authority to make them stop or leave, Mauck said. “Really, there was no law enforcement action to be taken,” he said. Grisewood said they may have been within their rights, but she felt their message was an abuse of free speech and twisted its intent. “They were promoting hate,” she said. According to Larouche Political Action Committee’s website, the group is centered on the philosophies and proposed policies of Lyndon LaRouche, who believes civilization worldwide is facing collapse. Calls to the group’s Seattle office for comment Tuesday were not returned.
ers of civil helicopters, having produced 10,000 aircraft as of this past November, according to the company’s website. Robinson, who lives in London, England, could not be reached for comment. The property to be donated is located along Robinson Road just south of the Mutiny Bay boat launch, which is jointly owned by the county, 75 percent, and the Port of
South Whidbey, 25 percent. At just over an acre in size, the property would add 291 feet of shoreline to the approximately 60 feet already under public ownership at the boat launch. The site is already utilized by the public, especially fishermen. According to Oakes, the Robinson family does have a few conditions. The property can only be used as a public, the park’s name must
include the Robinson family name, and the adjacent boat launch must be maintained and remain in public ownership. While public beaches and beach accesses on Whidbey Island are rare and considered by many to be precious real estate, the county parks department is struggling to maintain what it has. In fact, resources are so tight that the county is trying
to pass off stewardship or ownership of some properties to other public agencies, such as South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District. Oakes told the board the hope was to do the same here but the parks district has declined to take on the property. Oakes is now pinning his hopes on the port. Although the port’s board was expected to discuss the matter at a special meeting Tuesday evening, which was after deadline and could not be reported on for this story, Commissioner and board president Curt Gordon said Monday he is wary of accepting property that may not fit with the port’s goals. See BEACH, A10