Whidbey News-Times, July 06, 2013

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News-Times

SPORTS: Little League heads to district.

Whidbey

SATURDAY, JULY 6, 2013 | Vol. 114, No. 54 | www.whidbeynewstimes.com | 75¢

Island County rejects speed limit petitions By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter

The Island County Board of Commissioners rejected this week community requests to lower the speed limits on two rural roads. On Monday, the board agreed to support the recommendations of traffic engineers and not reduce the speed limits on Classic Road on South Whidbey and Patmore Road south of Coupeville. Residents from each community submitted separate but formal petitions this past December to lower the existing limits from 50 mph to 35 mph for safety reasons. News of the rejection was mixed from disappointment and anger. “Are they nuts?” said Cynthia Ellison, the organizer of the Classic Road petition. Eighteen people put down their names, making it clear they believe 50 mph is too fast for the area, she said. “Honest to God, it’s like a raceway,” Ellison said. She lives on Resort Road, the intersection at the eastern end of Classic Road. Sight distance is poor, she says, and the posted limit makes overshooting the “T” intersection very dangerous. “If they run the stop sign, they will go over the cliff and into peoples’ homes,” she said. On Central Whidbey, 36 people signed the Patmore Road petition. Resident Gail Allen said the decision was not what she was hoping for but will have to live with the county’s ruling. “I guess there is nothing that can be done if they did a study,” Allen said. According to Devin Joslin, a traffic engineer with Island County Public Works, both roads were examined using nationally accepted engineering standards to see if a See Speed, A5

A Festive Fourth

Photo by Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times

Spectators show their patriotism as they wave flags along Bayshore Drive to celebrate the Fourth of July grand parade in Oak Harbor Thursday. Weather was ideal for the occasion with sunshine and temperatures in the mid-to-high 60s and continued to be pleasant into the evening for the fireworks show.

Thousands gather to celebrate Independence Day while after the grand parade ended. The day was capped by a captivating fireworks show witnessed by a huge crowd at Windjammer Park under cooler temperatures and a cloudless sky. The firework show’s grand finale drew loud cheers at 10:45 p.m., culminating a city celebration that had begun roughly 12 hours earlier with a grand parade. “That was nice, huh?” Craig Devonshire told his family as they hurried to their car to beat the rush after the fireworks. “It gets better every year.” The party wasn’t over. Oak Harbor’s skyline continued to light up with fireworks through the night and fireworks could still be discharged in Island County until July 5. The carnival at Windjammer

By RON NEWBERRY Staff reporter

Dave Cadwell couldn’t have scripted a better Fourth of July. He grabbed a patio chair from home and sat comfortably on the side of the street, wearing a straw hat with two small American flags poking out from the sides. Under almost perfect weather conditions, he enjoyed a front row seat of Oak Harbor’s Fourth of July parade with the city marina and Puget Sound serving as a backdrop. He figures it was the 10th Independence Day parade he’s attended since living in the waterfront town. “I grew up in Southern California where everything’s big and busy,” said Cadwell, a school bus driver for the Oak Harbor School District.

Comedian

Tom PaPa

July 19 & 20 at 8 pm • The Pacific Showroom

For more Fourth of July pictures see Living page 11

“This is kind of why I like to live in Oak Harbor. I don’t think I’m ever going to leave.” Oak Harbor’s 2013 Fourth of July celebration might serve as the blueprint for years to come. Not only was the weather ideal with sunshine and temperatures in the mid to upper 60s, the thousands of visitors downtown enjoyed more entertainment options this year, which kept the masses around for a

Host of NBC’s

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Park remains open through July 7. Some familiar sights and a familiar face were missing from Thursday’s celebration such as a Navy flyover and Oak Harbor mayor Scott Dudley. The Navy jets weren’t scheduled this year because of federal cutbacks due to sequestration. However, there was a strong presence from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. Participating in the parade, while standing in the backs of pickups, were Capt. Michael Nortier, base commander; Capt. Darryl Walker, deputy commodore of the Electronic Attack Wing; and Capt. Edward D. Simmer, commander of Naval Hospital Oak Harbor. Dudley missed Oak Harbor’s celebration because of a family See Celebrate, A5

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