Karina Andrew reports that Public Health Director Keith Higman announced the Island County Community Health Advisory Board (CHAB) will begin meeting again in June after a six-month hiatus. In January, the CHAB unilaterally decided to take this hiatus citing staffing difficulties and the unavailability of some board members as primary...
Counties
Douglas “Bernie” Upchurch has been appointed by the Island County Commissioners to serve out the term of Mary Engle, who resigned as assessor earlier this year to become the planning director for Island County. Following state law, the Island County Republican Central Committee presented the commissioners with the names of...
Running Start is a program that allows up to 250 high school juniors and seniors in Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties to enroll in Skagit Valley College to earn college credits or even associate degrees. The program has been available for decades but under a new pilot program, is...
Candidates who are running for election to a long list of Island County positions must file during the week of May 17 – 21. The Election in November is in an off year for federal and state races, but many positions in county, city and special districts will be on...
The just completed Legislative session has provided money for some Island County needs. Among the funded items are body cameras for Sheriff Deputies, funds for the Human Services Department and funds for expanding the Didgwalic Wellness Center. Jessie Stensland has the story with all the details.
Earlier this year the Island County commissioners created a community panel to address the lack of equity in vaccine distribution. In response to a panel recommendation, a clinic for Black, indigenous and people of color, or BIPOC, will be held on May 6 at Island Drug in Oak Harbor. No...
Kira Erickson reports in the South Whidbey Record that a professor from the University of Washington is proposing a tunnel between Clinton and Mukilteo. He submitted his research and calculations to the Island County Commissioners. Rep. Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor) comments on the proposal.
Jessie Stensland writes in the Whidbey News-Times about a Washington State Supreme Court ruling overturning the state’s felony drug possession law as unconstitutional. The ruling vacates the convictions of inmates who were found guilty of this crime, and those who were in custody on such charges are being released. Sheriff...