Latest Curated Headlines from Oak Harbor and North Whidbey

Our complete coverage of the Feb. 2022 election, with lots of info to help you decide.

Jessie Stensland reports from the Oak Harbor City Council: Oak Harbor residents may get the chance to vote on whether to raise taxes to fund a series of public safety improvements, including a second fire station that was first identified as a need in 2006. The proposed levy lid lift,...

Oak Harbor School board member Erik Mann, Oak Harbor Superintendent Karst Brandsma, Coupeville Superintendent Steve King, and South Whidbey Superintendent Jo Moccia Karina Andrew reports that the League of Women Voters of Whidbey Island hosted a forum consisting of Oak Harbor Schools Superintendent Karst Brandsma and Board member Erik Mann,...

Four school districts and a parks district have submitted measures for the February 8, 2022 ballot in Island County. The Oak Harbor School District is asking voters to approve Capital Improvement and School Construction General Obligation Bonds in the amount of $184 million. According to the text of the measure:...

Karol Pulliam, Co-President of the League of Women Voters of Whidbey Island, conducted interviews with the three superintendents of the school districts on Whidbey Island: Oak Harbor Public Schools’ interim superintendent Karst Brandsma (along with school director Erik Mann); Coupeville School District Superintendent Steve King; and South Whidbey School District...

WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES EDITORIAL: A tale of two road projects illustrates how things are amiss in Oak Harbor when it comes to spending priorities.

In a story by Jessie Stensland, Oak Harbor City Councilmember Jeff Mack has resigned from the Oak Harbor City Council effective 30 Dec 2021. “Mack cited personal issues and his decision to retire from his jewelry business as reasons for leaving office, according to a statement from the city.“ State...

Jessie Stensland reports that Councilmember Jim Woessner stated he was “absolutely shocked” to learn that the water bill to operate the city’s water park for two months last summer came to $100,000. Apparently, the high cost is due to the fact that the water park does not recirculate the water...

In a story by Jessie Stensland, the City of Oak Harbor is facing a tough decision concerning the funding of an access road for a U-Haul facility currently under construction on the north end of town. The proposed small section of a road off Fakkema Road, which would provide access...

Oak Harbor City Councilmembers have raised questions as to why the city is planning to pay an estimated $700,000 for the Fakkema Access Road project. The road is about 2,000 feet of a public road that will provide access to 7 different parcels that front Highway 20 and access to...