RECORD SOUTH WHIDBEY
INSIDE
Athletic chief takes helm A8
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013 | Vol. 89, No. 66 | WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM | 75¢
Fun around the fair
Celeste Erickson / The Record
Attendees of the 89th annual Whidbey Island Area Fair enjoy the Yo Yo ride on opening day Thursday, Aug. 15.
CELESTE ERICKSON South Whidbey Record The aroma of the corn dogs, elephant ears and kettle corn beckoned people from all over South Whidbey on Thursday for the opening of the 2013 Whidbey Island Area Fair.
Diane Divelbess, president of the Island County Fair Association, opened the 89th annual event to a scarce audience at the Eva Mae Gabelein Midway Stage, though a long line of people waited for ride tickets. Divelbess reminded fair-goers of new additions this year
including a revamped fiber arts area, the opening of the Pole Building and for those of age, a beer garden. SEE FAIR, A13
Langley barge tips, crane still on bottom CELESTE ERICKSON South Whidbey Record
Celeste Erickson / The Record
Workers tend to a barge that partially sank Wednesday, Aug. 14 at South Whidbey Harbor.
The marina expansion project at South Whidbey Harbor hit a snag Wednesday after the barge used to install the pilings took on water and dumped a crane overboard. As crews from Neptune Marine prepared to install
the second piling in the expansion project, a slip collar around a temporary piling got caught. To remedy the situation and avoid tipping over, crews cut the piling off. The cut released the weight and the 80-foot barge tipped partially into the water. A crawler crane onboard fell into the
40-foot deep water. Jon Beck, deputy fire chief with South Whidbey Fire/ EMS responded to the call around 9 a.m. One crew member fell into the water but was quickly retrieved. No injuries were reported, Beck said. The barge is owned by Neptune Marine, a marine
construction, environmental and transportation services company based in Anacortes. It is subcontracted by Mike Carlson Enterprises, the main contractor for the expansion project. “Honestly, as far as I’m SEE BARGE, A17