INSIDE: Rocco retires ... Island Life, A10
RECORD SOUTH WHIDBEY
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013 | Vol. 89, No. 50 | WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM | 75¢
‘We are defined by what we have overcome’ Traditions live on with academy grads By BEN WATANABE Staff reporter
S
tarting and finishing South Whidbey Academy’s graduation a little late was in classic fashion. A technical problem with Thomas Berry Hall’s microphone left the 11 alternative school graduates waiting just outside the hall in the baking sun June 17 about 10 minutes past the scheduled start. That was fine for many of them who needed more than the standard four years to graduate from high school. On that bright Monday, however, they walked across the stage, shook hands with Director David Pfeiffer, the superintendent and school board, grabbed their diplomas and officially became high school graduates. “This school is a vessel for transformation,” said graduate Colleen Klock, who was chosen as the faculty-choice speaker as the top student with a 3.98 grade point average. A common theme for the graduates’ stories was how and what they have overcome. Klock, in her
Ben Watanabe / The Record
Norah Helley hugs Charlene Ray, her advocate at South Whidbey Academy and a former Bayview School counselor, during graduation June 17 at Thomas Berry Hall. speech, mentioned that they are defined not by what they did, but
what they overcame. That was a personal message for her, as her
father died when she was younger. Other students had similar stories
of growing up quickly once they lost parents or made decisions that separated them from family. “They will go out and they will change the world because they showed up … almost every day,” Pfeiffer quipped. On graduation day, the hall was filled with family, friends and other supporters of the 11 graduates. Even the teachers were among the group of supporters, and not solely because it was their job. “It wasn’t your job to go through the stuff we put you through,” said Anthony Banks, the student-choice speaker. In his speech, Banks praised the teachers and tutors who spent hours helping them through school work and life in general. Tom Rowland, a volunteer tutor, was chosen by students to speak at graduation. He reflected on his time with the graduates and offered some simple advice. “They demonstrated to me cell phone addiction, being a little too social and taking too many potty breaks,” Rowland said, evoking laughter from the students and teachers. “Help when you can, and take help when you need it.” SEE ACADEMY, A11
Freeland man drifts off road, needs airlift to Harborview By NATHAN WHALEN Staff reporter
A Freeland man was airlifted to Harbor view Medical Center in Seattle after crashing his car Wednesday morning on Highway 20. As of June 21, a Harborview spokesperson said Edward Sawyers was listed in serious condition in the intensive care unit. At approximately 11:20 a.m., Freeland resident Edward Sawyers, 74, was driving a Mercury Villager north on Central Whidbey Island when he veered off the road just south of the
intersection at Libbey Road. The minivan went partway down an embankment and crashed into some trees. “He just drifted off the road. I’m not sure why,” said Howard Bledsoe, who lives near Libbey Road and witnessed the accident. Bledsoe said wood and debris was flying in the air when he drove by the scene. Firefighters from North Whidbey Fire and Rescue responded to the crash. They worked more than 30 minutes to extricate Sawyers from the minivan. Once pulled from the wreckage, paramedics
transported Sawyers to Whidbey General Hospital. Later he was airlifted to Harborview. Troopers are still investigating the accident. One lane of Highway 20 was closed while emergency personnel worked and troopers investigated. The Wednesday morning wreck took place yards away from a location of a similar accident that occurred in May. In that crash, a 30-yearold Clinton woman fell asleep and drifted off the roadway.
Nathan Whalen / The Record
Emergency responders from North Whidbey Fire and Rescue and Washington State Patrol pull a Freeland man from a minivan that drifted off Highway 20 and crashed in nearby woods.