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WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 | Vol. 91, No. 39 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
Old dynamite found in basement closes Cultus Bay Road By JUSTIN BURNETT and BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record The discovery of old dynamite in the basement of a Clinton home
Monday resulted in a temporary closure of a portion of Cultus Bay Road. The street between French and Bailey roads was closed to traffic for hours following the 11 a.m. discovery. An explosive ordinance disposal
Property clutter poses problems for county regulators
(EOD) team from NAS Whidbey safely destroyed the box believed to hold more than 30 sticks of dynamite. “It was relatively old, so old they used a robot to move it,” Island
County Sheriff’s Office Detective Ed Wallace said. Dynamite sticks sweat nitroglycerin, which over time crystallizes and becomes sensitive to shock, friction and temperature. Wallace said
the Navy team soaked the box and burned it without any explosions. According to Mike Welding, pubSEE DYNAMITE, A11
PHASE 3 YIELDS PROMISE
By DEBRA VAUGHN Whidbey News Group One man’s trash may be another’s treasure. But what happens when a neighbor’s “treasures” become an eyesore or worse — a threat to public health and safety? People make around 200 complaints every year to the Island County planning department for a variety of code violations, for things such as junked cars, garbage in the yard and improper storage of hazardous materials. The majority of complaints are resolved in a few months. But a few properties — about eight a year countywide — receive multiple complaints, and the owners are unable or sometimes unwilling to do anything about it. “It’s something we and every other jurisdiction struggle with,” said David Wechner, director for Island County Planning and Community Development. In April a woman died in an early morning fire in the Dugualla Bay Heights neighborhood. County officials had a long history with the property, which was subject to multiple complaints for health department and county code violations. An overloaded extension cord caused the fire but the accumulation of newspapers and other items in the home likely contributed to the speed and heat of the fire, officials said. Afterward, some people questioned why officials couldn’t have done something. It’s difficult for county officials to do much about problem properties, Wechner said. The biggest challenge is money. In almost every case, owners need to haul away junk cars, garbage, boats, hazardous materials and the like. That takes manpower, trucks and the dollars to pay for disposal fees. Often, the reason the property falls into bad condition to begin with is because the owner doesn’t have the means to take care of it. SEE COUNTY, A11
Justin Burnett / The Record
Dawn M. Chapel, a hydrogeologist with Pacific Groundwater Group, marks down drainage rates at one of several test pits on a property off Highway 525. It’s being considered for purchase by the Freeland Water and Sewer District, and the consulting firm was on site Monday and Tuesday conducting the third and final phase of testing — measuring drainage capacity. “It’s perking pretty good,” said Chapel, adding that this pit was draining about four gallons a minute. The district is hoping the entire site can handle up to 200 gallons a minute, and according to district manager Andy Campbell (center) the property is looking promising.
Wood turner opens flagship store, cafe, kids play space in Clinton By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record Janae Cameron can point out a long list of benefits from behind the coffee counter at her new store, cafe and children’s play space in Clinton.
Yes, Clinton. Cameron is spinning off from her and husband Kelly Cameron’s successful woodturning company, Turnco Wood Goods, to open a new business: Make Whidbey. The shop opens May 22 and
has everything an emerging shop owner could want, from a water view and high traffic visibility to ample parking. How the business will fare is an SEE MAKE WHIDBEY, A10