News-Times Whidbey
INSIDE: Giving back warms the heart. A10
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2013 | Vol. 114, No. 2 | www.whidbeynewstimes.com | 75¢
Police seek info on attempted rape By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
Nathan Whalen/Whidbey News-Times
Rick Abraham, chairman of the Greenbank Farm Executive Planning Group, highlights recommendations the group made concerning the future management of the Greenbank Farm.
Group recommends selling farm By NATHAN WHALEN Staff reporter
A majority of volunteers examining the future of the Greenbank Farm voted this week that the Port of Coupeville should explore selling the publicly owned farm. The Greenbank Farm Executive Planning Group released its report this week after spending six months researching the farm’s operations, interviewing leaders from the farm and Port of Coupeville and developing recommendations about how the farm should be operated after a current lease with the Greenbank Farm Management Group
expires March 31, 2013. The eight-member volunteer group, which was appointed by commissioners for the Port of Coupeville, voted 5 to 3 in favor of a proposal that the Port of Coupeville should pursue a conditional sale of the Greenbank Farm with restrictive covenants. The volunteer group consists of Rick Abraham, Janet Burchfield, Fran Einterz, Val Hillers, Gordon McMillan, Robert Pelant, Jim Phay and Kyle Waterman. Abraham, chairman of the volunteer group, said the vote was expressing frustration over what members saw
Management questioned By NATHAN WHALEN Staff reporter
A group of eight volunteers spent the last six months figuring out recommendations on how the publicly owned Greenbank Farm should be operated. The group, known as the Greenbank Farm Executive Planning Group, recommended that the Port of Coupeville
shouldn’t extend the current contract with the Greenbank Farm Management Group, which is set to expire March 31, 2013. In addition, the group recommended that the port should solicit requests for proposals for the selection of future management for the group. The volunteers also stated that the port, as it curSee Port, A13
See Farm, A13
Whirl-WIN Hot Seat Drawings! For ALL Reward
Seniors
Oak Harbor police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who tried to sexually assault an employee at a local business while armed with a gun Wednesday, Jan. 2. The man entered Whidbey Tropics, a tanning salon on SW Bowmer Street, at about 9:45 p.m. and displayed a handgun to a female employee. The store was closed at the time, but the door was inadvertently left unlocked, according to Detective Sgt. Teri Gardner with the Oak Harbor Police Department. The man forced the woman to the ground; he attempted to sexually assault her and repeatedly kicked and hit her. The woman, however, fought him off and he eventually left.
Gardner said the man had been in the business earlier and asked the woman questions, then immediately returned with the gun and forced his way in. The man is described as a white male, 6-foot to 6-foot-2, with dark hair in “a military cut” style, Gardner said. He may have scratches or other injuries on his neck, face or other parts of his body. The suspect’s vehicle is described as a newer Dodge Ram crew cab, darker in color and two-toned, with a chrome grill and chrome side mirrors. Gardner urges anyone who may have information to call 360-279-4600 and ask for a detective. If it’s after hours, call the ICOM dispatch center at 360-679-9567 and request to speak to an officer.
Emerson vies for top spot with commission By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
Until the issues surrounding her Camano Island home are settled, including the $37,000 she owes in planning department fines, Island County Commissioner Kelly Emerson’s future as chairwoman remains cloudy. During Wednesday’s work session, the board’s first meeting of the year and the first ever for freshman Republican Commissioner Jill Johnson, Emerson nominated herself to be appointed chairwoman for 2013.
“I am ready, willing and anxious to take my turn as chair,” Emerson said. But the Tea PartyRepublican faced a tough public crowd and luke-warm support from her colleagues, despite the recent tipping of the political scales from a Democrat-led board to one See EMERSON, A8
Seniors, Show Your Rewards Club Card at the Market Buffet for:
s Club
Mondays,11 am Members - 5 pm 2 Winners Each
Hour
* age Rewards Club Members
50 and Over WNT-ST
*Must be a Rewards Club Member. Membership is FREE! Must be present to win
Get For
Must play full redeemed value of buy-in offer; limit one per customer per day.
Lunch
Dinner
Owned by Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
On I-5 at Exit 236 • theskagit.com • 877-275-2448 Casino opens at 9 am daily. Must be 21 or older with valid ID.