Latest Headlines from Coupeville and Central Whidbey

The Port of Coupeville is proposing to create an Industrial Development District that will encompass all the land in the entire port district. The creation of this district will allow the board members to raise taxes without going to the ballot. See the story by Karina Andrew in the South...

Whidbey Hospital District board president Ron Wallin responds to a recent News-Times article about a negative report from the State Auditor.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Arlington, visited Whidbey Island on Tuesday to stop by the sites of two local projects for which he has earmarked nearly half a million dollars in federal funding. The appropriations bill has passed the House and is awaiting review by the Senate. If passed, the bill...

Mayor Molly Hughes announced last week that the town will not be renewing its lease for the restrooms in the Chamber of Commerce building, meaning they will no longer be publicly accessible. She cited several reasons for this. The main reason being that the restrooms are not built with public...

The State Auditor’s Office issued two findings against the Whidbey Island Hospital District in a just-released audit report covering Jan. 1 2019 through Dec. 31, 2020. The audit found that the hospital district is two years behind in submitting complete and accurate annual financial reports and that the hospital district...

U.S. Rep Rick Larsen, D-Arlington, announced that included in a draft House Appropriations Committee bill is $136,000 for a new water and sewer pipe for the Coupeville Wharf and $346,625 for the Goosefoot Community Fund is working on with the Port of South Whidbey at the fairgrounds in Langley. According...

Three current Island County elected officials and former Island County Superior Court Judge Vickie Churchill were fined by the Public Disclosure Commission last week for failing to file F-1 reports that cover personal financial information. The Island County officials are Whidbey Island Hospital Commissioner Nancy Fey, Oak Harbor Councilmember Erica...

Whidbey Island will soon receive millions of dollars of American Rescue Plan funding. Oak Harbor was allotted $6,578,122. Coupeville was allotted $550,480 and Langley was allotted $318,229. Island County will get $16,500,000. Half the money will be received in 2021 and the other half in 2022. The respective city councils...

Island County Commissioners voted to approve the Port of Coupeville’s application for funding through the State’s Rural County Economic Development Fund. This year, the commissioners decided to focus on funding projects related to broadband. Commissioner Melanie Bacon said this is a “huge priority” for the board. See the story by...

According to Karina Andrew’s story in the Whidbey News-Times, the Coupeville Town Council has approved, in a 4-1 vote, a conditional special event permit for the Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival for this August. There are certain conditions attached concerning spacing of artists but there will be at least 5...