Record South Whidbey
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Falcons fall to Lady Knights See...A8
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2014 | Vol. 90, No. 8 | WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM | 75¢
Republican throws in hat for Emerson’s District 2 seat
Fire destroys trailer Officials confirm none injured in morning blaze
By JANIS REID South Whidbey Record North Whidbey Republican Richard Hannold says he will run for Island County commissioner for the same reason he joined the Navy. “I feel like maybe I can make a difference,” Hannold said Friday. Hannold filed with the state’s Public Disclosure Commission to run against Democrat Karla Jacks for Island County District No. 3, the position currently held by Kelly Emerson. Emerson said in December that she will not seek re-election in 2014, citing the toll the commute has taken on her personal life. Jacks, a Camano Island resident, announced in August her intent to run. Hannold, a retired Navy chief, said he’s been “very fortunate” to have been stationed at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station for his entire 21-year career. “I love it here,” he said. Hannold said he joined the Navy relatively late in life — at 29 — because “he felt he had missed something important,” namely serving his country. Now a self-employed contractor, Hannold worked on the EA-6B Prowlers during his Navy career and has a background training new recruits on maintenance procedures. He was also elected to the Oak Harbor Christian School board and served three years. Hannold said he decided to run for District 3, which comprises North Whidbey Island and Camano Island, for two SEE HANNOLD, A14
South Whidbey ponders homeless at annual count By CELESTE ERICKSON South Whidbey Record
Ben Watanabe / The Record
Will Piepenbrink and Mari St. Amand steady the hose as they douse a trailer engulfed in flames off Honeymoon Bay Road near Highway 525 in Freeland Friday morning.
By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record Fire ripped through and destroyed a 20-foot trailer off Honeymoon Bay Road on Friday morning. Flames licked high above the trailer before firefighters with South Whidbey Fire/EMS knocked it down, sending a massive plume of smoke stretching into the sky,
though it was mostly shrouded by a thick fog in the area. South Whidbey Fire/EMS Deputy Chief Mike Cotton said a passer-by on the Freeland road reported the flames. No injuries were reported, and the property owner was not home at the time. The greatest concern for firefighters were four propane tanks, two of which were deep inside the
blaze and not discovered until they were poking through the wreckage searching for hot spots. Cotton said the two tanks inside the trailer were charred black and “hissing” when firefighters stumbled upon them. The hissing, Cotton said, was the tanks’ pressure valves releasing SEE FIRE, A13
Congressman tours SW fire boat By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record Congressman Rick Larsen spent much of Thursday on Whidbey Island, making stops in Langley, Central Whidbey and Oak Harbor. The Second District Democrat started off the day touring South Whidbey Fire/EMS’s new emergency response vessel. The nearly $500,000, 32-foot aluminum catamaran was built primarily with federal grant funds, which Larsen helped secure. “I think they’ve done a great job,” said Larsen, referring to the vessel’s builder, North Cross Aluminum in Freeland. “Of course the proof is in the pudding, but the
pudding looks like it’s settling quite nicely.” Larsen arrived to a contingent of awaiting fire district, Port of South Whidbey and North Cross Aluminum officials and employees. He surprised a few by stepping out of the car and into crutches. The federal lawmaker recently fell from a roof and broke his ankle. His handicap didn’t stop him, however, from hopping aboard and taking a ride on the new vessel. Powered by twin 450-horsepower engines, the boat performed nicely and brought Larsen and the throng of officials safely back to South Whidbey Harbor. SEE LARSEN, A13
For some in Island County, finding a home and a safe place to live is a struggle. The issue of homelessness on South Whidbey was front and center on Thursday, Nov. 23, at Bayview Hall during a national event to count the homeless. The event provided much-needed resources for these community members such as hot meals, toiletries and clothes for people who participated. For Tracey Corradini, 53, finding a place to stay has been difficult this month. “It hasn’t been easy,” she said before looking through the jacket rack. Corradini has been staying at a temporary apartment provided by Calvary Chapel Whidbey Island in Clinton, which is in high demand. Corradini has searched for an affordable place to stay, but has been declined because of her credit. In two weeks time her place in the apartment will be up. She will be homeless and looking for a new place to stay for herself and her three boys. “It’s tough,” she said. “But I’m not the only one.” When Corradini sees others who are homeless in the community, she wonders “What about the other SEE HOMELESS, A14