Journal of the San Juans, January 14, 2015

Page 1

Local

It’s one a day; limit lowered on salmon catch PAGE 3

Island Scene

Students star in a ‘curious’ production; watch out Mr. Downey Jr. PAGE 9

As I See It

Paradise lost: former marijuana farm employee laments demise of would-be, winning enterprise PAGE 7

Journal

The 75¢ Wednesday, January 14, 2015 Vol. 108 Issue 2

Body found in ruins of fire

New sheriff vows swift change By Scott Rasmussen Journal Editor

By Scott Rasmussen Journal editor

Authorities found human remains inside a Lopez Island home in the aftermath of a fire and series of explosions that lit up the Mud Bay Road neighborhood in the early morning hours of Jan. 5. Although the body was burned beyond recognition, according to the San Juan County Sheriff ’s Department, the remains are believed to be that of the homeowner. “The only thing we can say for sure right now is that there was a fire and that there was a person inside,” Sheriff Ron Krebs said. “It was a very hot fire.” Krebs said the home was completely destroyed. He described the building, at 3146 Mud Bay Road, as a two-plus bedroom home that’s somewhat larger in size than a cabin. The owner of the home is John Robert Droubay, according to county assessor records. Krebs said that officers are working with presumed family members of the deceased so the body can be properly identified. DNA samples are being provided to aid in the identification, he said. Firefighters, deputies and emergency medical personnel to the scene after receiving a 911 call at about 1:30 a.m. Monday. The caller reportedly alerted dispatchers about the fire and series of loud explosions. See FIRE, Page 5

Journal photo / Scott Rasmussen

Deadlines are nothing new at the assessor’s office. But the responsibility for ensuring those deadlines are met is now in the hands of someone new. John Kulseth, an 11-year department veteran and former chief appraiser, took over the reins at the first of the year with the endorsement of his predecessor and nose to the grindstone, and knowing all too well that whatever changes he’d like to make will have to wait. At least until the first 60 days of 2015 have come and gone. “We have to calculate the levies for all the taxing district by Jan. 15,” said Kulseth, who began a first-ever foray as an elected official at the start of the year. “We can’t do that until we have all the property values and the final assessments are done. People can change the ‘nature’ of their property and make real estate transactions all the way through December 31. And, there’s always a flurry of activity in December.” Property tax statements must be mailed by mid-February. The assessor’s office must first

Newly elected San Juan County Sheriff Ron Krebs takes the oath of office, administered by Superior Court Judge Don Eaton, Jan. 5 at the county courthouse.

Pot farm folds under opposition

San Juan Sungrown owner David Rice inspects the progress of a budding crop inside a greenhouse at the embattled marijuana production facility on San Juan Island’s westside.

By Scott Rasmussen Journal editor

At the height of production, San Juan Sun Grown had as many as 16 employees. Now, it has none. Besieged by lawsuits and faced with a new round of regulatory hurdles, the embattled marijuana producer shutdown “active operations” at its westside facility on San Juan Island in mid-December. Company owner David Rice said the cost of looming legal battles

See CHANGE, Page 4

Journal file photo

and weight of regulatory uncertainty proved too much for the fledgling enterprise to overcome. “We are in the process of transition and have laid off our San Juan Island production staff,” he said. Meanwhile, the San Juan County Council on Monday held

the first of two workshops in which it will gather information to consider whether to impose a six-month “emergency” moratorium on the processing of land-use and building permits See OPPOSITION, Page 5

Winner of six 1st place awards in Washington Newspaper Publishers Association 2014 BNC, 17 in all

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