Whidbey Examiner, April 16, 2015

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Thursday, April 16, 2015

VOL. 20, NO. 36

Science team heads to state By Ron Newberry Staff Reporter

As a middle school science teacher, Terry Welch can tell you what’s the matter with matter and is crystal clear in her understanding of rock formations. But interpreting a message on her iPhone can sometimes still be an adventure. So when an email came into her phone during a school bus ride back to Coupeville, an eager student peeked over her shoulder, intercepted the message and shouted the news. Coupeville’s Science Olympiad team was headed to the state tournament. Welch laughed this week as she recalled the events that unfolded Feb. 28, leading to an eruption of electronic messages throughout the bus and ultimately to what will be an early wakeup call this Saturday. Donning new white lab coats, 15 Coupeville High School students are headed to the state tournament at Highline College in Des Moines.

See SCIENCE, page 13

Dehydration suspected in jail death By Jessie Stensland Co-editor

The cause of death for a 25-year-old inmate at the Island County Jail may be dehydration, according to Island County Coroner Robert Bishop. Corrections deputies reported finding Keaton Farris dead in his jail cell at 12:20 a.m., Wednesday, April 8. “At this time, there is nothing to indicate that this could be a homicide or suicide,” Bishop said this week. Initial laboratory testing indicates that Farris may have died from dehydration but that the determination of the cause and manner of death may not be completed for another four to six weeks, according to Bishop. Island County Sheriff Mark Brown said

See JAIL, page 13

Megan Hansen photo

Freeland resident Patti Stallone, left, walks her three Australian Shepherds and border collie with friend Diane Bertram, also of Freeland, Tuesday at Greenbank Farm.

Farm management continues By Megan Hansen Co-Editor

After nearly six months of negotiating, a contract for management of the Greenbank Farm was approved last week, dispelling rumors the publicly owned farm was at risk. Prior to the meeting, speculation circulated about the farm’s fate. More than 20 members of the public spoke of their strong connection to the farm and their desire to help and support the Greenbank Farm community and pleaded with Port of Coupeville commissioners to approve an agreement. During the meeting, Greenbank Farm Management Group President Mike Stansbury pushed to present his proposal to the commissioners and asked that a decision be made that day. “The arrangement and management needs stability,” Stansbury said Thursday. “Once it drags out, it leaves it open for rumors and speculation. Our objective was to put an end to that. There has never been a proposal to boot tenants or close the farm.” The new, five-year agreement between the Port of Coupeville and The Greenbank Farm Management Group initially extends the cur-

rent contract terms through the end of 2015. The port and management group came to a stalemate last month after the two parties discussed cutting the management group’s $50,000 fee. Due to limited revenue and increasing maintenance costs, port officials are struggling with balancing budgets. Port Commissioner Marshall Bronson explained to the crowd how the port has struggled since assuming the cost of purchasing the farm, a voter-approved transaction. The port brings in roughly $300,000 annually and pays $105,000 each year on the bond for the farm. The bond will be paid off in 2018. “We’ve had an obligation to pay $100,000 a year and did not raise the tax base,” Bron-

son said. The port manages historic structures on the farm as well as the Coupeville Wharf. Both are aging and need considerable maintenance and repairs. “We’re faced with considerable opposition,” Bronson said. “Most people want the farm and not a lot care about the wharf. Both have to balance its books.” REPRESENTATIVES FROM both sides met multiple times in the last month in an attempt to find ways to cut both the port and Greenbank Farm budgets. Under the new proposal, the management group identified several items it can assume responsibility for, including the repair or re-

See FARM, page 5


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