Jessie Stensland

Whidbey cop accused of rape quits job after internal inquiry

The report was unsparing in its allegations against John Nieder, who is set to go to trial May 6 in Skagit County Superior Court on two counts of rape in the second degree.

 

Mr. Pumpkin

Mike Case-Smith remembered as ‘Mr. Pumpkin’

A man remembered as “Mr. Pumpkin” by generations of Oak Harbor families recently passed away.

 

A Freeland woman was killed in a trailer home. Her son is accused of her murder. (Photo by David Welton)

Whidbey Island man accused of murdering mother, held on $1M bail

Justin Wiener, 32, of Freeland, is accused of murdering Brenda Wiener, 53. The motive for the crime is unclear.

 

Tevon Dubois and Chanel Jost pose in front of their house as it is loaded onto a truck at a Possession Point dock on Oct. 13. (Photo by David Welton)

Whidbey couple moves house from one island to another

Tevon Dubois and Chanel Jost had their 1,700-square-foot home transported from Bainbridge Island to Whidbey.

Tevon Dubois and Chanel Jost pose in front of their house as it is loaded onto a truck at a Possession Point dock on Oct. 13. (Photo by David Welton)
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)

Driver sentenced in 2021 crash that killed Everett couple

Danielle Cruz, formerly of Lynnwood, gets 17½ years in prison. She was impaired by drugs when she caused the crash that killed Sharon Gamble and Kenneth Weikle.

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)
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)

Judge orders new Growler jet study on Whidbey Island

The Navy must redo an environmental study on the impact of expanded EA-18G Growler operations.

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)
Photo by David Welton
A federal grant will help pay for the cost of adding a charging station to the Clinton ferry terminal.

Federal money to help electrify Clinton ferry dock

The Federal Transit Administration awarded state ferries a $4.9 million grant to help electrify the Mukilteo-Clinton route.

Photo by David Welton
A federal grant will help pay for the cost of adding a charging station to the Clinton ferry terminal.
Photo provided A Greenbank man was killed in a garage fire Dec. 23.

Garage fire in Greenbank on Whidbey Island kills man

The detached garage was fully engulfed in flames and collapsing when firefighters arrived

Photo provided A Greenbank man was killed in a garage fire Dec. 23.
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Judge asked to cut number of Growler flights on Whidbey Island

The state Attorney General’s Office is asking a judge to require the Navy to cut number of flights.

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

Island County sheriff’s sergeant accused of drugging, raping women

Investigators believe Sgt. John Nieder mixed a date rape drug into drinks of two women before sexually assaulting them.

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

Driving school owner killed in Whidbey Island motorcycle crash

Edward C. Taylor of Burlington was killed in a motorcycle crash in Central Whidbey on Oct. 14.

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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)

Talks break down over ‘remedy’ in Whidbey Island Growler lawsuit

“From the get-go, everyone recognized that it was probably going to end up in the court’s hands.”

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)
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Island County settles sexual harassment lawsuit with deputy

The county will pay Deputy Mike Adrian a total of $105,000.

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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)
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
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)
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)
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)
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Hospital to hire management firm and interim CEO

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

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

Langley’s offer of $50K to settle records lawsuits is rejected

Eric Hood sued the city over public records in 2016, 2019 and 2021. All three are unresolved.

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