Vol. 125, No. 46
News-Times Whidbey
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2015
Saluting our grads
INSIDE
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Mayoral candidate donated to rival
THE FUTURE
By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
Martha Yount, the surprise third candidate in the race for Oak Harbor mayor, didn’t decide to run for the office until the final day of the filing period. In fact, she contributed to a challenger’s c a m paign before m a k ing the decision. S h e said she gave a YOUNT check to Councilman Bob Severns before deciding to run herself. “I’m not running against anyone,” she said. “I’m running for our city.” Severns said he was a little surprised when she announced. He said she’s always been a big supporter of his. “I’m happy for her,” he said. “I know she stays involved and she’s a nice person.” Severns and Councilman Jim Campbell announced their candidacy for the office prior to Filing Week. Mayor Scott Dudley isn’t running for reelection. Yount’s candidacy means that the race is headed to the Aug. 4 primary. The top two vote-getters will continue to the general election. Yount, a retired businesswoman and Navy widow, said her priorities as mayor would SEE MAYOR RACE, A11
State may study IT bus fares Any change would be months away By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
turf. When it came time to award diplomas, the students came in pairs down
It’s unlikely that Island Transit will be able to abandon its fare-free model anytime soon, according to board members. But the state Department of Transportation may help the agency study the issue. Ken Graska, interim director of Island Transit, said that he learned that WSDOT was doing an analysis of fare-free transit systems. In addition to Island Transit, the transit system in Mason County is fare-free within the county and Okanogan County just started a fare-free service. He asked a WSDOT official if Island Transit’s fare feasibility study could be incorporated into the analysis and found the agency to be very receptive to the idea. “I felt it would be more objective if someone outside of Island Transit did the study,” he said. “I thought it might be better if it had someone else’s name on it.” In addition, it would save Island Transit the cost of doing its own study. Ryan Warner, a community liaison with WSDOT, presented the proposal to the Island Transit board during a workshop Monday. An outside consultant would conduct the study and it would be free to Island Transit, he said. The Island Transit board
SEE GRADUATION, A11
SEE FARES, A11
Photos by Debra Vaughn/Whidbey News-Times
Above: Once principal Dwight Lundstrom proclaimed the seniors as official graduates, this senior couldn’t wait to celebrate. Below: Coupeville’s graduated 61 seniors Friday night, the high school’s 115th graduating class.
Oak Harbor, Coupeville seniors head to the future By DEBRA VAUGHN Staff reporter
A purple sea of 360 students graduated from Oak Harbor High School on a warm summer evening Monday. They queued up in the too-hot Student Union Building, snapping photos, chatting, hugging and waiting. Oak Harbor doesn’t allow its students to decorate their mortarboards,
but many of the seniors got creative with leis made of flowers, folded dollar bills and even candy. “Happy but kind of sad,” said senior Michael Laningham. “I’m finally done with school. I probably won’t see any of these people again.” Finally, it was time for their teachers and principal to lead them through campus to the stadium. The home stands were packed
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with family and friends, their cameras ready. They clapped and hooted as the long stream of purple snaked its way to the seats assembled on the football
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