NEWS-TIMES ISLAND LIVING
WHIDBEY
Raising kids is a job
A11
SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2014 | Vol. 115, No. 24 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | 75¢
A fourth candidate enters race for county commission
OH inks bank building deal By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
BAGLEY: “I think you’d have something to say … I’ll make sure I’ll have something to say.”
Oak Harbor city leaders purchased a parking lot with a bank on the side Tuesday night. Following a due diligence investigation, the Oak Harbor City Council voted
The 35,000-square-foot building came as a extra in the deal. “At this point we are looking at the building as an addition, as a bonus,” Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley said. SEE PURCHASE, A11
THE HOMECOMING
By JANIS REID Staff reporter
Camano Island resident Kelly Bagley is the third Republican to file for candidacy in the Island County Commissioner District 3 race later this year. One Democrat has also filed to run. The candidates say their desire to run for the seat is fueled by a desire to do things differently than the current leadership. Bagley, a quality assurance technician for Amazon, said he was encouraged by a few Camano precinct committee officers to run. Bagley said he is interested in how the county is planning for future growth, infrastructure needs and water availability. Bagley managed a federal smoking cessation program and has served as a missionary in Africa 1990-92 and 1993-97. He settled on Camano in 1997. After watching a recent county commission meeting online, Bagley said he was surprised when Commissioner Kelly Emerson, District 3’s current representative, made no comments. “I think you’d have something to say,” Bagley said. “I’ll make sure I’ll have something to say.” Emerson was criticized over the past year for missing meetings or excusing herself early. In some cases, problems stemmed from a poor connection by phone or teleconferencing. Emerson’s attendance in the new year has been better, and an updated teleconferencing system installed on Camano has made it easier for her to be involved. During an interview Thursday, Emerson said she received no complaints from constituents regarding a lack of involvement in her job. Emerson said she is familiar with all three Republican candidates, but has no comment on who she supports. Democratic candidate Karla Jacks said Thursday that she believes that Emerson’s performance is “a huge issue” and has heightened interest in the election. Camano Republican Marc Hennemann said during a recent interview that, if elected, he intends to purchase a boat so he can attend each meeting in person. “I’m not criticizing Kelly,” Hennemann said. “That’s just the way she does it.” North Whidbey Republican Richard Hannold said Friday that while he doesn’t take issue with any one commissioner, it is his desire to bring some “common sense and civility” to county commission meetings. “There’s an awful lot of arguing,” Hannold said.
unanimously to move forward with the $2.6 million purchase of the Whidbey Island Bank property on Pioneer Way. City officials want the parking lot in the back of the building, which is adjacent to Windjammer Park, for the future sewage treatment plant.
Photo by Michelle Beahm/Whidbey News-Times
Descendents return to tour family farm By RON NEWBERRY Staff reporter
K
athy Lunsford didn’t want to leave. She had never been to the old farmhouse and barn steeped in her family’s history. Now that she was there as an invited guest to tour the home built by her great-great-grandfather Henry Riksen, the gravity of the experience made her stop and reflect. She thought back to the difficult choices Riksen SEE FAMILY FARM, A11
Photo provided
Dennis Riksen, upper right, and others discuss an old photo while on tour of the Riksen farm located on Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. The Navy is trying to sort out what to do with eight farmhouses once owned by farmers. The Riksen farm is shown in a shot prior to 1941.
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