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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015 | Vol. 91, No. 47 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
Hospital, agencies run afoul with state auditor
Charges pending in Valentine’s Day fatal crash By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record The Clinton woman involved in a fatal two-car collision on South Whidbey in February was drunk, according to documents released by the Washington State Patrol. Blood samples taken from Michelle Nichols, 46, several hours after the crash revealed her blood-alcohol content was .11, which just exceeds the state limit of .08. And while aspects of the investigation are still wrapping up, authorities say there is enough evidence for a vehicular homicide case. “She’s going to get charged, we just want to make sure we have everything,” Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said this week. Nichols is the survivor of a Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day crash on Highway 525 that killed Tim Keil, a Freeland man. Nichols was southbound in a 1988 Ford Van and had just passed the intersection at Coles Road when her vehicle collided with the guardrail on the right side of the state route. The van then crossed the centerline and struck a northbound vehicle, a silver 1993 Honda Accord, driven by Keil, the Washington State Patrol reported. Keil, 61, died at the scene and Nichols was severely injured and airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Keil, children and grandchildren. Mary Jo Keil said Monday the months since his death have been difficult. Her birthday was Sunday, and the celebration just wasn’t the same without SEE NICHOLS, A7
By JANIS REID South Whidbey Record
solution that we documented a need,” Davolio said. The option of pursuing a transit service that could circulate around downtown and perhaps to the Clinton Ferry Terminal on weekends was supported by three city council
Despite firing off a warning shot in January, the Washington State Auditor’s Office has still not received required financial data from Whidbey General Hospital and other local entities. It is the fourth year in a row that Whidbey General Hospital has failed to file documents on the state auditor’s website as part of an initiative to increase public access to information. Those filing the documents complain that the process is arduous and redundant and, for the moment, noncompliance carries no penalties so it tends to fall low on the priority list. “I know of no penalty for not doing it other than you’re not compliant with the law,” said Adam Wilson, communications manager for the state auditor’s office. However, Wilson mentioned there has been talk recently by legislators about placing some kind of penalty for non-compliance in the future. The Auditor’s office released a list in January of the non-compliant which listed 11 Island County agencies, as a friendly reminder to file. Wilson said that Whidbey General has begun the process for 2014 but had not completed it at press time. The three previous years were never submitted. Whidbey General Hospital board member Georgia Gardner, a certified public accountant, said that on top of all the other financial documentation required by
SEE MARINA ACCESS, A12
SEE HOSPITAL, A12
Ben Watanabe / The Record
Ben Brager and his dog take in the sunshine briefly at his family’s Freeland home. The 24-year-old has two autoimmune diseases and is in need of a kidney transplant.
$45,000 raised for Brager Community pours out for kidney donation fundraiser By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record It took members of the Brager family less than a second to start rattling off descriptions of what happened at a fundraiser Saturday for one of their own. Just a few: “Huge,” “Awesome,” “Overwhelming.” About 275 people filled the room at South Whidbey Assembly of God. All of them were there to support Ben
Brager, 24, as he seeks help to pay for a life-threatening kidney transplant and the related tests and procedures. And boy, did they. In all, $45,000 was raised through the dinner and auction. Several items soared past their retail value. A $225 necklace donated by Linds Jewlery was bought for $1,000; a cord of SEE BRAGER, A12
Langley officials back off long-term marina access plans to identify community need By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record Heeding public comments from an April charrette in Langley, city leaders are once again taking a step back on plans to improve access the marina. Specifically, Langley Director of Community Planning Michael Davolio said this week that a need
must be identified before the city can decided on a longterm and permanent solution. Davolio presented his report to the council with the understanding that he’s asking the planning advisory board to forward a similar recommendation to the council. “We wanted to be sure before we spent a lot of money on a permanent