News-Times Whidbey
CLASS OF 2013 Saluting this year’s Oak Harbor High School grads
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013 | Vol. 114, No. 45 | www.whidbeynewstimes.com | 75¢
Phoned in threat clears OH Walmart
Second boat in a week lands on beach
By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
By JIM LARSEN Record editor
A large boat went aground at Lagoon Point on Central Whidbey Tuesday at 4 a.m., about an hour before the sun rose to create a glorious day on Whidbey Island. The boat, named the Neahkahnie, wasn’t leaking oil or gas and did not appear to be an environmental threat, according to the Coast Guard. The vessel contained 100,000 pounds of farmraised salmon. It was the second boat to run aground on Whidbey Island the past week. Ray Kellison, a commercial fisherman from Coupeville, took photos of the 60-foot vessel Baltic Sea after it was beached at Snakelum Point near Coupeville May 28. Kellison said the boat captain steered on the wrong side of the buoy as the tide was heading out. The Baltic Sea was able to float off after the tide came in. Kellison was also on hand to see the beached Neahkahnie Tuesday. His boat, the Alsea, is moored in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. He plans to leave in five days for Dutch Harbor. Kellison said one of his
Coupeville’s Daniel Leavitt, dressed in pink, was a crowd favorite and wound up winning the Mr. Rockin’ Relay competition that was part of the Relay for Life of Whidbey Island. Leavitt represented theWhidbey General Hospital team.
Serving up a message Whidbey residents determined to beat cancer
By RON NEWBERRY Staff reporter
Since being diagnosed with bone cancer last August, sleep doesn’t come easily for Gail Seelow. Yet, she surprised herself Saturday morning, nodding off in her car. The early morning quiet didn’t last, replaced instead by the sounds of heavy machinery. “They came to clean the Porta Potties,” Seelow said, breaking into laughter. “I got maybe 10-to-15 minutes of sleep, but I don’t sleep well anyways. For some reason, this (cancer) has affected my sleeping. The doctor gave me some sleeping pills but they just really aren’t doing it for me.” SEELOW WAS one of hundreds of people from Oak Harbor, Coupeville and other points on Whidbey Island who came to North Whidbey Middle School over the weekend to wage a fight against cancer. The sun shined on the Relay for Life of Whidbey Island, helping lift spirits and provide an almost festive atmosphere during an event in which people came to celebrate
Oak Harbor’s Gail Seelow is in her second fight against cancer after being rediagnosed last August. cancer survivors in remission, encourage those still fighting and remember those who lost their battles. An estimated 2,000 people attended the 20-hour event that is a major fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. It started Friday night and didn’t stop until Saturday afterSee RELAY FOR LIFE, A4
See STORY, A27
Open house to honor Schulte
An open house honoring Oak Harbor’s longtime schools superintendent is set for Friday, June 14. Rick Schulte, Oak Harbor School District superintendent for 20 years, is resigning to become the new superintendent for the Richland School District. His leaves Oak Harbor at the end of this month. Assistant Superintendent Lance Gibbon was selected to replace Schulte. The open house for Schulte is 4-6 p.m. at the administrative service center on Oak Harbor Road. An open mike begins at 5 p.m.
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See boat aground, A5
Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times
The Walmart store in Oak Harbor was evacuated for about an hour Saturday after an unknown person made a bomb threat. Nothing suspicious was found inside the store, according to Oak Harbor Police Chief Ed Green. A Walmart employee reported the bomb threat just before 5 p.m. The employee said a man had just called in the threat to the store. “Male subject started conversation by mumbling — then clearly states there was a bomb in the store — then