News-Times Whidbey
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Wildcats, Wolves prep for winter sports Pages A9-12
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2013 | Vol. 114, No. 97 | www.whidbeynewstimes.com | 75¢
Navy says it will limit OLF touch-n-goes COER: Field is not as essential as claimed
By JANIS REID Staff reporter
A Coupeville-based group that sued the Navy in July over jet noise is claiming that Outlying Field Coupeville is not as essential as the Navy claims. The Navy suspended touch-and-go operations at OLF Coupeville in May, but plans to resume in January in a more limited capacity than in recent years. The landing practice field is part of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.
After temporarily suspending practices at OLF Coupeville, the Navy shifted some training for the EA-18G Growler to Ault Field and El Centro Naval Air Facility in California. “Although the Navy has insisted that its outlying field next to Ebey’s National Reserve in Coupeville is an ‘essential adjunct’ of Whidbey Island’s Naval Air Station, the controversial World War II runway is not as essential as the Navy claims,” Michael Monson said in a news release this week on behalf of the Coupeville-
based Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve, or COER, the group that filed the lawsuit. “Clearly, the Navy can conduct its noisy practicing at an ‘elsewhere’ OLF.” The Navy is in the beginning stages of conducting a new environmental study on the impacts of the Growler, which is replacing the Navy’s EA-6B Prowler. Public meetings started Tuesday night in Coupeville, and continue 4-8 p.m. tonight at the Oak Harbor High School Student Union Building, and 4-8 p.m. Thursday at Anacortes Middle School. COER members say that the Growler is louder than See olf coupeville, A16
OLF ops by numbers 1970 - 37,218 1980 - 12,190 1990 - 32,080 2000 - 6,378 2010 - 6,476 2011 - 9,378 2012 - 9,668 2013 - 6,972* *Operations suspended in May
Developer files claim against OH By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
Downtown lights up for the holidays
Photo by Sara Hansen/Whidbey News-Times
See claim, A16
• YOUR LOCAL GOLD BUYER • YOUR LOCAL GOLD BUYER • YOUR LOCAL GOLD BUYER • YOUR LOCAL GOLD BUYER • YOUR LOCAL GOLD BUYER • • Diamonds & Bridal Jewelry 830 SE Pioneer Way • Gold, Silver & Fine Jewelry Oak Harbor • Vintage & Estate Jewelry 360-679-3700 • Buy & Trade Jewelry Holiday Hours: Est 1991 • Repairs & Consignments Mon-Fri 11-5:30 • Sat 10-5 Sun 12-5 • Layaway for the Holidays 22 years at the same location • YOUR LOCAL GOLD BUYER • YOUR LOCAL GOLD BUYER • YOUR LOCAL GOLD BUYER • YOUR LOCAL GOLD BUYER • YOUR LOCAL GOLD BUYER •
YOUR LOCAL GOLD BUYER
YOUR LOCAL GOLD BUYER
The Grinch came to entertain children waiting in line to visit Santa Claus after the tree lighing in downtown Oak Harbor. The line stretched from the inside of the building to across the street. Stores on Pioneer Way stayed open later so community members could get a start on their holiday shopping. See story on page A16.
Partners who built a development that includes the new Island Drug store have filed a $499,000 claim for damages against the city of Oak Harbor. Dry Lake Land Stewardship, LLC, alleges in a Nov. 18 claim that city staff misapplied state and city laws, resulting in a delay of the project and the alleged damages. The claim documents identify Oak Harbor residents Chris Anderson and Aaron Syring, owner of Island Drug, as members of Dry Lake Land Stewardship. In a phone interview, Anderson said the main obstacle in the development was that city staff members refused to recognize the company’s purchase of a portion of a lot from Kenneth Manni in 2006. “We definitely had quite a time with the city,” he said. “The bright side is, we got our project done.” The 91-page claim for damages states that the company sustained damages from holding costs from the