Driver escapes serious injuries
The driver of a 1991 Toyota MR2 crashed his car at the corner of Cultus Bay Road and Jewett Road Sunday morning but escaped serious injuries.
The driver was touring Whidbey Island as part of a Toyota MR2 car club and headed toward Possession Point State Park, a Fire District 3 official said.
“One of them went around a corner too fast and lost control and rolled the car,” said Fire District 3 Deputy Chief Jon Beck. “The man had cuts and bruises, mostly minor injuries, and was transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure.”
The driver was part of a group that included at least eight other MR2 sports cars.
Schools get audit results from state
The South Whidbey School District received a clean bill of financial health from the Washington State Auditor’s Office on Monday.
The state audited the district for the period from September 2006 through August 2007, and found that internal controls were adequate to safeguard public assets and the district had followed its policies and procedures and complied with state laws.
The district’s budgeted general fund expenditures for fiscal year 2005-2006 were $16.6 million.
Troopers endorse Larsen for Congress
The Washington State Patrol Troopers Association has endorsed U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-2nd District, for a fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Endorsing Congressman Rick Larsen again was an easy decision for the Troopers Association board,” said Tom Pillow, president of the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association in a press statement Monday. “He has been a friend with an open ear and open door during his entire tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, always supporting public safety issues that are critical to every officer’s personal and professional lives.”
This is the third time the organization has supported Larsen.
Larsen is running for re-election against Republican Rick Bart, the former sheriff of Snohomish County who is making his first-ever bid for Congress.
Friends host their benefit plant sale
The Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund will hold its annual plant sale the day before Mother’s Day.
Some of South Whidbey’s most creative gardeners and landscapers donate their favorite plants – many of them special plants from award-winning private gardens – to the annual sale held at Tilth Farmer’s Market on Thompson Road. The sale will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10.
Proceeds will support the Friends of Friends fund, a nonprofit, community-funded medical safety net that offers financial help to South Whidbey residents who have uncovered health-related expenses.
Last year, the fund helped
243 people and contributed $76,000 to their medical
expenses.
Night seat belt patrols will return
In an effort to continue to reduce accident fatality rates, police will conduct nighttime seat belt patrols across Island County.
The “Click It or Ticket” special emphasis patrols will begin May 19 and run through June 1.
The extra patrols are funded by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
According to the commission, a recent analysis of accidents in 2007 showed that fatal accidents dropped by 13 percent during the night, while day time deaths lowered by 21 percent, compared to the previous decade. The commission partially attributes the drop in numbers to the “Click It or Ticket” campaign.
Island County will be one of 46 agencies conducting the emphasis patrol during the month of May. The Island County Sheriff’s Office, the Oak Harbor Police Department and the Washington State Patrol will conduct special “Click It or Ticket” patrols in Island County.
Bones found on beach not human
There was more than sand and shells on a beach near Bush Point last month when a woman walking along discovered what she thought might be human bones.
The bones were discovered the morning of April 13. Later, a sheriff’s deputy arrived and collected the bones and brought them to the Island County Coroner.
Coroner Robert Bishop evaluated the bones and determined they were not human but likely a marine mammal, such as a seal.
IDIPIC sees 317 people in first year
More than 300 people have attended Impaired Driving Impact Panel of Island County meetings in its first year on South Whidbey.
IDIPIC recently wrapped up its first year of DUI panels on South Whidbey. Over the past year, attendees included 60 DUI or underage drinking offenders, 101 driver’s education students, 85 parents of driver’s education students, 55 guests and 16 prospective speakers for a total of 317 attendees.
The Glaser Foundation of Bellevue and the Community Bank Employee Giving Fund of Greater Everett Community Foundation provided funding and jump started the panel expansion. Other financial supporters included Whidbey Telecom, Soroptimist International of South Whidbey, Trinity Lutheran Church, South Whidbey Assembly of God and The Clyde Theater.
South Whidbey will continue to see IDIPIC panels with continuing funding support from renewing partners.
For information on IDIPIC or how an organization can partner with IDIPIC, visit www.idipic.org.
Clinton paving project starts
Work began Monday morning on improvements along Highway 525 in Clinton.
The shoulder along Highway 525 in Clinton will be closed as part of a state paving project. From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day through May 9, crews will be installing sidewalks and sidewalk ramps.
This week’s work should have a minimal impact on traffic, transportation officials said.
The repaving project will cover Highway 525 from the Clinton Ferry Terminal to Bob Galbreath Road and sidewalks, guardrails, lane markings and signs will be upgraded to improve driver and pedestrian safety.
