Whidbey Island

Photos by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times 

The Jacob and Sarah Ebey House will open to public visitors Memorial Day weekend.

A landmark steeped in 19th century history reopens on Whidbey

Beginning May 28, you can venture inside one of the state’s oldest buildings: The Jacob and Sarah Ebey House, which dates from the 1850s.

Photos by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times 

The Jacob and Sarah Ebey House will open to public visitors Memorial Day weekend.
A fatal accident the afternoon of Dec. 18 near Clinton ended with one of the cars involved bursting into flames. The driver of the fully engulfed car was outside of the vehicle by the time first responders arrived at the scene. (Whidbey News-Times/Submitted photo)

Lynnwood woman accused of killing 2 in 2021 Whidbey crash

A judge found probable cause existed to believe Danielle C. Cruz committed vehicular homicide in December.

A fatal accident the afternoon of Dec. 18 near Clinton ended with one of the cars involved bursting into flames. The driver of the fully engulfed car was outside of the vehicle by the time first responders arrived at the scene. (Whidbey News-Times/Submitted photo)
A pod of transient orcas, known as T124As, surfacing near Tacoma. (Craig Craker/Orca Network)

Sightings of mammal-eating orcas increasing in Puget Sound

The killer whales enjoy a diet of harbor seals, sea lions, porpoises and the occasional bird or squid.

A pod of transient orcas, known as T124As, surfacing near Tacoma. (Craig Craker/Orca Network)
Dwight Henline (San Juan County Sheriff’s Office)

Whidbey man accused of setting fire to Friday Harbor stores

The April 6 fire caused millions of dollars in damage and destroyed multiple businesses.

Dwight Henline (San Juan County Sheriff’s Office)
Randy Tharp and his 6-year-old son hang by the railing of a dock and count ducks at Lake Goodwin Community Park on Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Stanwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

‘Whole new demon’: Fentanyl deaths soar, and recovery is harder

“I don’t think society realizes how big a problem it is,” said Randy Tharp, an ex-dealer in Snohomish County. Doctors agree.

Randy Tharp and his 6-year-old son hang by the railing of a dock and count ducks at Lake Goodwin Community Park on Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Stanwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Deborah Palmer

Oak Harbor girl’s murder remains unsolved after 25 years

Police hope advances in forensic science can help break case of the 7-year-old’s killing.

Deborah Palmer
Renee Boyce
Boyce uses a technique called dotillism to create elaborate and colorful patterns on flat rocks.

Hundreds upon thousands of dots add up to dazzling works of art

Creating intricate mandalas on flat rocks is an emotional process for this Whidbey Island artist.

Renee Boyce
Boyce uses a technique called dotillism to create elaborate and colorful patterns on flat rocks.
An EA-18G Growler taxis down the airstrip on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island during the squadron’s welcome home ceremony in August 2017. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Scott Wood/U.S. Navy)

Whidbey Growlers fly to Germany to ‘bolster’ NATO against Russia

Six EA-18G Growler jets and 240 Navy personnel from NAS Whidbey headed to Europe on Monday.

An EA-18G Growler taxis down the airstrip on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island during the squadron’s welcome home ceremony in August 2017. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Scott Wood/U.S. Navy)
Ferries pass on a crossing between Mukilteo and Whidbey Island. (Andy Bronson / Herald file)

Island County officials decry subpar ferry service

The Mukilteo-Clinton route has mostly been operating with one boat instead of two since last fall.

Ferries pass on a crossing between Mukilteo and Whidbey Island. (Andy Bronson / Herald file)

Langley building moratorium not making comeback

Councilmember Rhonda Salerno withdrew her motion for a moratorium for new development proposals.

Chieko and John Durham’s Oak Harbor home was foreclosed and sold at auction after a reverse mortgage company mistakenly assumed neither person still lived at the house. (Karina Andrew / Whidbey News-Times)

Elderly Oak Harbor woman loses house in mortgage confusion

A lender foreclosed and sold the home after mistakenly assuming the occupants no longer lived there.

Chieko and John Durham’s Oak Harbor home was foreclosed and sold at auction after a reverse mortgage company mistakenly assumed neither person still lived at the house. (Karina Andrew / Whidbey News-Times)
Writes the photographer, Ukrainian artist Anatoly Melaniy: "The photo was taken in June 2020. This is the entrance of our house. I went up to the apartment and saw pigeons cooing on the windowsill against the backdrop of the same house as ours. I was also happy about this bird's joy of love. It's been exactly a year since we moved into this house, to a new apartment. I asked them to wait so that they don't fly away until I get the phone. You rarely have time to photograph such shots. And everything turned out."

What you see from your window is seen by 3.1 million viewers

Facebook’s “View From My Window” launched early in the pandemic continues to connect people worldwide.

Writes the photographer, Ukrainian artist Anatoly Melaniy: "The photo was taken in June 2020. This is the entrance of our house. I went up to the apartment and saw pigeons cooing on the windowsill against the backdrop of the same house as ours. I was also happy about this bird's joy of love. It's been exactly a year since we moved into this house, to a new apartment. I asked them to wait so that they don't fly away until I get the phone. You rarely have time to photograph such shots. And everything turned out."
Steven Schuller

Snohomish’s ousted city administrator hired by Oak Harbor

Steven Schuller will be the town’s new public works director.

Steven Schuller
A ferry worker gazes back at the Mukilteo ferry terminal as the vessel departs the dock. (Photo by David Welton)

Mukilteo-Clinton ferry a high priority for restored service

Each route has to go through several stages before service is restored to pre-pandemic levels.

A ferry worker gazes back at the Mukilteo ferry terminal as the vessel departs the dock. (Photo by David Welton)
Hank Nelson

Hank Nelson, 84, leaves behind 450 sculptures at Whidbey park

The 20-acre Cloudstone Sculpture Park in Freeland will continue tours of Nelson’s art and workshops.

Hank Nelson
Michelle Kuss-Cybula

New school superintendent named in Oak Harbor

Michelle Kuss-Cybula has led the Cle Elum-Roslyn School District since 2019.

Michelle Kuss-Cybula
Whidbey Health officials told Island County commissioners the hospital barely has enough money to make one more payroll. (WhidbeyHealth)

Island County turns down WhidbeyHealth request to co-sign loan

The hospital says it is running out of money, with barely enough to make one more payroll.

Whidbey Health officials told Island County commissioners the hospital barely has enough money to make one more payroll. (WhidbeyHealth)
Responders hoist Blaze out of the well with an excavator. (Photo provided)

Horse rescued after falling into century-old well on Whidbey

The team effort to save “Blaze” included local and Navy firefighters, public works, and neighbors.

Responders hoist Blaze out of the well with an excavator. (Photo provided)
Ron Telles (Whidbey News Group)

Study suggests WhidbeyHealth CEO was paid too much

Ron Telles earned $430,000 a year, while many of the hospital’s employees made less than $20 per hour.

Ron Telles (Whidbey News Group)
Logo for news use featuring Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington. 220118

Hospital to hire management firm and interim CEO

Michael Layfield, who will temporarily take over, has dealt with his own controversies and financial woes.

Logo for news use featuring Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington. 220118