Journal
The
NEWS | Assault conviction on Lopez [2] ARTS | ‘We Are Monsters’ Family Theatre [9] SPORTS | Swim team makes it to state [20] CULTURE |A look at this year’s Friday Harbor Film Festival [20]
WEDNESDAY, November 18, 2015 n VOL. 108, NO. 26 n 75¢
Council says no to harmful spraying
When the justice system fails Larsen on trade By Anna V. Smith Journal reporter
By Leslie Kelly
Special to the Journal
After a weekend of answering phone calls and emails from residents who oppose the use of herbicides on island right-ofways, the San Juan Island County Council opted Nov. 9 not to allow them to be used. The matter came to the council from the noxious weed board, appointed by the county, and the public works department. Council members were asked to approve changes to an existing ordinance that would allow the use of herbicides to eradicate or control noxious weeds along these right-of-ways. Noxious weeds are defined by the Washington State Department of Agriculture as nonnative plants that have been introduced here via humans. Because they grow aggressively, the species can be highly destructive and are difficult to control. Among them is the notorious scotch broom. According to San Juan County Public Works Director Brian Vincent, the noxious weed board requested that he take up the issue with the council. But for many, the idea of possible changes to the ordinance came as a surprise. Mark Anderson, longtime resident, said when he learned that the topic was on an agenda for Nov. 9, he began contacting people who he thought would be interested and urged a campaign to council members during the weekend prior to the meeting. In his email to supporters, Anderson said he didn’t support the “efforts by the noxious weed board to solve a small plant problem by creating a large scale public health problem.” San Juan County has not used chemicals or herbicides on noxious weeds for more than 20 years, Vincent said. There has been a prohibition against the use of herbicides since 1998, and it was the See COUNCIL, Page 5
Ian Terry / The Herald
Family and friends link arms at an October vigil six months after Farris’ death. Commemorative shirts include a quote from Keaton and money raised from their sale is being used to refurbish an outdoor basketball court near his Lopez home. By Diana Hefley
Everett Herald reporter
(Editor’s note: This is part one of a four part series from our sister paper. This is an excerpt from a longer article found at www.sanjuanjournal.com.)
Keaton Farris was seven miles from home and he was dying. He was alone and naked, dehydrated and starving, locked up in the Island County Jail for forging a $355 check. Keaton, 25, had attended Coupeville High School, less than a mile from the jail. He played football and basketball and ran track. His dad, Fred, is a mailman in the small town. Keaton returned home last year to rest and find his footing after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. His parents believe he was in the throes of a manic episode before he died on April 7. Keaton was behind bars for 18 days, shuffled among three other jails before he was sent to Island County. The Coupeville jail didn’t get his medical records. He didn’t arrive with any medication even though he had a new prescription in his pocket when he was arrested. Fred Farris and Tiffany Ferrians weren’t allowed to see or talk to their son. They frequently called to check on him and told corrections officers he was bipolar and needed his medication. The Island County Jail chief later claimed his staff didn’t know Keaton was mentally ill. The chief ’s statements and details about Keaton’s incarceration are part of the 700-page report compiled by Island County’s veteran detective Ed Wallace. His investigation found that corrections officers documented how Keaton refused water and meals. They reported that he talked to himself, cried in the corner of his cell, ate crumbs off of the floor and wiped his face with his underwear. He ate a bar of soap and dumped water on his head. He was found naked on the floor of his cell pretending to swim in a half-inch of cold water.
After that, officers shut off the water to his cell’s sink and toilet. They didn’t do hourly checks. Because there are gaps in the records, it’s hard to know how often the officers gave Keaton water when they did check on him. No one noticed him wasting away, though he lost about 20 pounds. Corrections officers didn’t make him drink water and they didn’t weigh him even though he repeatedly refused meals. A supervisor didn’t monitor the officers’ notes. One corrections officer said she’d never seen another inmate act like Keaton, yet no one called for a mental health professional. His parents were assured their son was being seen by a nurse. That wasn’t true. A nurse didn’t see Keaton until the day before he died. He’d been there 12 days. Keaton told the nurse he needed medical help. She stood outside his cell for two minutes, peering at him through a window. She didn’t touch him or take his temperature or check his skin’s elasticity for dehydration. She told staff his color looked good and he was breathing fine. The next day, on April 7, Keaton was dead. It took nearly a full shift for corrections officers to notice. Keaton died because he was labeled a behavioral problem, a danger, and an inconvenience. He died while he was in a mental health crisis and unable to care for himself. He needed help from the people paid to care for him in the jail. He needed water, food and medical attention. He was denied those things. Two corrections officers forged records and lied about when they’d last checked on Keaton. They were put on leave and later resigned. The Whatcom County prosecutor is investigating to determine if someone should be charged with a crime. The FBI also is reviewing Keaton’s death. Island County Sheriff Mark Brown, who oversees the jail, fired a corrections lieutenant. The jail chief retired and the nurse left her job in the midst of a See JUSTICE, Page 4
Congressman Rick Larsen came to San Juan Island to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed trade agreement between 12 Pacific Rim countries that make up 40 percent of the world’s economy. The town-hall style meeting was attended by islanders from San Juan, Lopez and Orcas, including Lopez councilman Jamie Stephens. This was the fifth and last stop for Rep. Rick Larsen in a tour of meetings around the district. To begin the meeting, Larsen stated that he had not finished reading the more than 5,000 page document, though he plans to, and doesn’t know yet which way he will vote. He also addressed first-off two major concerns of TPP mentioned at the other meetings: that foreign corporations will be able to use TPP to challenge and undermine local laws, and that TPP may create a “race to the bottom” of wages and labor standards. Larsen said that foreign corporations are already challenging local laws on some fronts and that See LARSEN, Page 5
Real Estate in the
San Juan Islands November 2015
Published the third Wednesday of each month by the Journal of the San Juan Islands, Islands’ Sounder and Islands’ Weekly
Staff photo
PO Box 171 Eastsound, WA 98245 360.376.2145 www.orcasislandrealty.com
Low Bank Waterfront Home
Doe Bay Views
Private 5 acres with big marine views to the Peapod Rocks. Pond & areas for gardening. Well built 3841 sq ft.,Pella Windows, alder floors & cabinets, metal roof, open plan kitchen with bar, 2 walk-in pantries. Radiant heat, central vac, commercial fire sprinkler system, attached 2+ car garage, main floor master with double closets & vanities, hot tub, private suite upstairs, views from lower level office, Doe Bay water. Seller owns 2 more adjoining 5 acre lots with another water membership.
Hear the sound of water rippling through beach stones from nearly every room of this well-maintained Orcas waterfront home w/views of Waldron, Sucia & beyond. Over-sized windows face the water, letting in the outside light to fill this home. 3 bed, 2 bath with decks and lawn to the waters edge. Spacious master suite w/sitting area & private view deck. Covered porch entry, 2 car garage w/bathroom, fireplace, jetted tub, oak & tile floors & fenced gardens. Currently a well-rented vacation home.
MLS#742973
MLS# 700042
$795,000
Wendy Thomas Kathryn Sherman photo
Lisa Botiller Wolford
$1,095,000
Mary Clure
Locally Owned and Operated
Victoria Shaner
Asya Eberle
Real Estate Read more inside this edition