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THURSDAY, MArch 14, 2013
VOL. 18, NO. 32
Island mourns three killed in Prowler crash The Whidbey Island community is mourning the loss of three crew members aboard a Whidbey Island Naval Air Station EA-6B Prowler who were killed Monday when the aircraft crashed in Eastern Washington. They were identified Tuesday evening as Lt. Valerie Delaney, 26, of Ellicott City, Md., Lt. William McIlvaine III, 24, of El Paso, Texas and Lt. Cmdr. Alan Patterson, 34, of Tullahoma, Tenn. The Prowler crashed during routine training 50 miles west of Spokane. The aircraft was assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 129. “I understand they were training out there,” said Mike Welding, public affairs officer for the Naval Air Station. “We have training routes in Eastern Washington and Oregon.” The community quickly rallied in support of the fallen airmen, organizing a candlelight vigil Monday evening. More than 100 people attended. “It’s hard. These families are going through hell,” resident Andy Mahoney said during a prayer he offered. “They’re going to need their community to rally around them.” Matt Oliver, minister at Oak Harbor Church of Christ, also offered a prayer. “I give thanks for being of a community that would lift these folks up to you,” he said. Capt. Mike Nortier, the commanding officer of NAS Whidbey Island, released a statement thanking the community for the outpouring of support. “This is a time for reflection and understanding,” he said. “These young aviators selflessly served their nation and its citizens. They were truly among our nation’s best and brightest. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their friends, fellow squadron members and especially their families.” While the community grieves, Navy investigators are looking into the cause of the accident. Lt. Aaron V. Kakiel, a public affairs officer, said there’s an automatic safety investigation, plus the squadron commanded may ask for a parallel “JAG manual investigation.” He said the safety investigation will likely take a couple of months. He said it won’t be made public. “It’s about what happened and what he can learn from it,” he said. “It’s not about assigning blame.”
Justin Burnett photo
Curt Christensen, with Harmsen and Associates in Oak Harbor, conducts surveys along North East Front Street in February in the wake of rapid erosion of the bluff. A later study by a geotechnical engineering firm has determined that the area will continue to erode and is recommending stabilization.
Front Street erosion could be costly By Justin Burnett Staff reporter
Steady erosion over the next 50 years may damage portions of Front Street as well as dent the town’s pocket book. Fixing a problem area of about 400 feet now may cost Coupeville as much as $260,000, according to a town-hired consultant. Associated Earth Sciences, a Kirklandbased geotechnical engineering firm, recently released a geologic hazards assessment of the entire North East Front Street marine bluff area. The report was initiated following sudden erosion between North East Clapp and Gould streets this past January. Along with an explanation of why the area is eroding – largely the result of wave action – the analysis noted cracks in the street’s pavement at five points along the street, some of which “are suggestive of possible deeper-seated slope movements in those areas.” The firm estimated bluff erosion at about five centimeters a year. That tabs out to more than eight feet by 2063, but damage to the street will most likely be the result of a series of small slides, according to the report.
“Given the historical and projected bluff retreat rate for the project area and the presence of relatively weak fill soils along much of the bluff, it is our opinion that the risk of landslide-related damage to the roadway within a 50-year time period is moderate to high,” the report said. “As previously discussed, bluff retreat is not typically a gradual process, but rather occurs as a result of episodic landslide events,” it said. In January, a section of bluff between North East Clapp and North East Gould streets began to rapidly erode and threaten a gravel sidewalk. The consulting firm was hired to evaluate the situation, determine why the erosion was occurring and come up with possible solutions.
Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard said Monday the report made clear several things; it’s unlikely the bluff will collapse tomorrow but the unexpected headache will be a longterm problem. “There is no question erosion is going to continue,” Conard said. The firm recommended the problem be tackled with a stabilization technique that uses soldier piles. Basically a retaining wall, long “H” beams are pounded vertically into the ground and boards are stacked horizontally between the trees of the posts. The report also suggests the installation of eight monitoring stations along that section of Front Street. They would provide statistical evidence and early warning of pending See Erosion, page 16