Record South Whidbey
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Crafting gratitude for veterans See...A12
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2014 | Vol. 90, No. 101 | WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM | 75¢
Warming center for homeless to open in Langley By KATE DANIEL South Whidbey Record South Whidbey’s homeless may have access to the area’s first warming center come January. The South Whidbey Homeless Coalition is collaborating with the Langley United Methodist Church to establish the center for those in need which will open when the temperature drops below 35 degrees. “We’re shooting to have room at the Inn by Christmas,” said Judy Thorslund. Susan Gilles, a member of the South Whidbey Homeless Coalition who is heading the effort to open the Warming Center, said they still have details to work out concerning insurance and other legal processes and do not have a clear estimate of the opening date, but said it is unlikely they will be ready by Christmas. Gilles said she is hopeful that it will be open in January. Patrons will be served a hot meal of soup and bread in the evening, a morning breakfast and a bagged lunch provided by Whidbey Island Nourishes. Some lined sleeping bags, pillows and cots will be available though individuals are welcome to bring their own sleeping bags as well. There will also be a secure storage area for people to stow belongings. Thorslund said there will be rules and structure in place based on those established by the Methodist Church and Red Cross. Thorslund, who has worked in similar centers, said the space offers more SEE HOMELESS, A20
Justin Burnett / The Record
Freeland residents Fritz Roetman, left, and Ken Gregory take their dogs, Zoe and Katie, for a walk at Freeland Park. Following years of closure, Holmes Harbor is expected to conditionally reopen for shellfish harvesting this spring.
State to reopen Holmes Harbor Shellfish season will be short, however, due to invasive species By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record Clammers will hit Holmes Harbor for the first time in nine years this spring, but their digging
delight will be short lived. State fishery officials have announced that the area will reopen for just six weeks, from April 1 to May 15, pending formal approval by the Washington Fish and WildLife Commission.
The narrow window is largely the result off an unexpected and unwelcome development, SEE CLAMS, A20
County cops score drugs, guns in early morning Scatchet Head raid By JESSIE STENSLAND South Whidbey Record
Contributed photo
Drugs and guns were taken in a raid on a Scatchet Head home this week. Rebecca McCarthy, 49, was booked into Island County jail on suspicion of possession with intent to deliver meth.
Deputies with the Island County Sheriff’s Office seized about $23,000 worth of drugs in an early morning raid at Scatchet Head Thursday. The sheriff’s office Hard Entry Arrest Team, which is similar to a SWAT team, served a narcotics search warrant at a home on the 3600 block of Casey Street in Clinton at about 5:30 a.m., according to Detective Ed Wallace. Wallace said police found a large amount of methamphetamine in the home. The largest bag weighed about 1.5 pounds, plus they
found smaller amounts of the drug elsewhere. In addition, the deputies seized a large quantity of heroin, as well as LSD and psychedelic mushrooms, Wallace said. A handgun and a rifle were also confiscated. He said the resident, 49-year-old Rebecca McCarthy, was arrested without incident. She was booked into the Island County jail on suspicion of possession with intent to deliver meth. Wallace said detectives often execute search warrants early in the morning to help ensure that the defendant will be home and because of safety concerns. He said they want to be done by the time kids start heading out to school.