Journal
The
NEWS | San Juan County Sheriff’s Log [2] ARTS | School gets $30k art grant [10] CULTURE | Celebrate New Year’s safely [9] ENTERTAINMENT | Film Fest People’s Choice Winter Film Series begins [7]
WEDNESDAY, December 30, 2015 n VOL. 108, NO. 52 n 75¢
Top stories of 2015 Journal staff report At the end of the year, the Journal takes a look at the biggest headlines of the past 12 months. We choose the top 10 from our most read online stories as well as events we feel impacted and shaped our community.
1. Hospital commissioners’ race sparks debate
San Juan County found itself embroiled in a contentious public hospital board election this year, with three of the six board positions open. Seven candidates joined the race in spring, which an Aug. 4 general election narrowed to six, including Bill Williams, William Hancock, Jenny Ledford, Barbara Sharp, Monica Harrington and Michelle Loftus. Two candidate forums were held on San Juan Island, as well as one on Orcas and Lopez hosted by the League of Women Voters. The election was polarizing, as issues like PeaceHealth’s policies on end-of-life directives and abortion were consistently brought up in the forums and in candidate’s statements in favor or opposed of the Catholic ministries ideologies. Letters to the editor flooded the Journal in the months before the election, and not a few rude remarks were traded in the comment sections online. Harrington, Williams and Sharp were voted in Nov. 3, and were sworn into office Dec. 30.
2. Howard Schonberger passes away
Howard Schonberger, longtime
Journal columnist and sales rep passed away Oct. 23 at the age of 94. He liked to called himself a “newsie” even into his 90s. Howard was a man who could recall the golden moments of the past, but he was also a forward thinker - a man ahead of his time. He fought for equal rights, inspired to make changes after seeing discrimination to black students as a kid in Omaha. Even though he never stopped loving his typewriter, he advocated for technology in the pursuit of knowledge, was a huge supporter of community events and served on many service groups - all done with a smile on his face and a skip in his step. He will forever be missed.
3. WSF Reservations have a bumpy start
The Washington State Ferry system began operation of the ferry reservation system on Jan. 5 of this year. The new system was met with resistance, particularly from the island communities. Islanders had grown accustom to being limited by the ferry schedule, but some felt that the reservation system added more of a burden to islanders, and pandered to tourists. The WSF administration has had several meetings to hear from islanders about how they feel the reservation system is doing, and is asking for feedback or comments.
4. Keaton Farris dies in jail
Keaton Farris, 25, of Lopez Island, died of dehydration and malnutrition in the Island County Jail on April 8. Prior to his death
Contributed photo Courtesy Of The Burke Museum
Above: Dr. Christian Sidor, Burke Museum curator of vertebrate paleontology, and Brandon Peecook, University of Washington graduate student, shows the size and placement of the fossil fragment compared to the cast of a Daspletosaurus femur. Right: J-50 jumps for joy in the Salish Sea. This calf was born this summer, one of eight born this year.
he was shuffled among three jails before being booked into the Coupeville lockup. He was in the throes of mental health crisis when he was taken into custody March 20 in Lynnwood. He missed court that day, and a San Juan County judge issued a$10,000 warrant. Farris was charged with identity theft for forging a $355 check in San Juan County. Outcry from Farris’ family, friends and community have raised questions about how the justice system deals with mental health. The family has reached a $4 million settlement with three counties.
other agencies the department works with. This resonated with voters, who elected him by 64 percent. During a survey taken in March 2015, voters reiterated their concern about relationships between the public and deputies. “My goal is to change that quickly,” Krebs said. “There is absolutely no reason that our deputies should not be professional and friendly in our community.”
5. New county sheriff
One week after John Geniuch, Chief Building Official at Community Development and Planning Department, filed a whistleblower complaint with human resources and the San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, he was put on leave. At
Sheriff Ron Krebs was sworn in Jan. 1, 2015. He is San Juan County’s 18th sheriff. Running on improving communication, professionalism and strengthening moral within the sheriff ’s department, and improve communication with the public as well as
6. County whistleblower put on leave
See TOP TEN, Page 5
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Office: 378-5696 Fax: 1-888-562-8818 Editor: editor@sanjuanjournal.com