Tempers flared during a public hearing Monday as several residents expressed their dislike of a proposed six-month moratorium on new marijuana distribution and production businesses.

As a result, Island County commissioners voted to table the action until a work session Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Several business owners, some of whom are already producing medical marijuana, told the commissioners they believe that the proposed moratorium on new businesses would put Island County behind the rest of the state, causing them to miss out on key application deadlines.

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Dick Johnson, his father, his son and his grandson all have bricks placed at the Island County Veterans Memorial Plaza in downtown Coupeville.

Each of the bricks details the branch of service, years served and the rank of each of his family members. Johnson said that while he is proud of his family’s military service, it’s also important for the community to be aware of those who have served.

“It’s important, not so much for me, but it’s important to show people we are defending this country,” Johnson said.

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Residents can weigh in on the public participation plan for the county’s fish and wildlife conservation efforts at the Island County commissioners’ regular Monday board meeting.

Public comment will begin no earlier than 6:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28.

Senior Planner Brad Johnson said the update to the Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas was originally supposed to be completed in 2005 as part of the state-mandated Comprehensive Plan update.

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In 1945, Laurin “Bud” Zylstra brought home dozens of American, German and Japanese artifacts upon returning from his service during World War II.

Zylstra, of Oak Harbor, is one of many Whidbey Island residents who donated items that now comprise the PBY Memorial on Seaplane Base in Oak Harbor.

The growing memorial is hoping to continue expanding with the help of additional donations from the Whidbey Island and surrounding communities.

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An admirer of the region’s beautiful waterfalls, William “Billy” Wolf set out alone July 5 on his motorcycle.

That afternoon, Wolf lost control of his bike, slid into a ravine, hit a log or rock and went over his handlebars. He broke his neck, injuring his spine which rendered him paralyzed.

As he lie paralyzed face down somewhere in the North Cascades, Wolf said he prayed that God would either take him, or someone would find him.

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Island County Budget Director Elaine Marlow has relinquished her role as clerk of the board after 12 years of service.

She will continue to serve as the county’s budget director and general services director.

The clerk role will go to Deputy Clerk Debbie Thompson, who was groomed the past several years to succeed Marlow.

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Maxwelton Farm on South Whidbey has filed a land-use petition against Island County claiming Planning Director David Wechner acted outside his scope of authority.

Wechner sent a cease and desist letter dated Aug. 30 to Maxwelton Farms.

He ordered them to stop work on water-filled agricultural ditches “as a result of agricultural ditch maintenance without a SEPA environmental checklist,” according to court documents.

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Island County commissioners opted to delay the adoption of the 2014 budget Monday to allow the public to review and comment on the final presentation.

Budget Director Elaine Marlow showed a Powerpoint presentation to the board at Monday’s budget public hearing, and broke down the county’s revenues and expenditures in graphs and pie charts.

The presentation had not yet been posted on the county’s website at the time of the hearing and Commissioner Helen Price Johnson, who made the motion, said she felt the public might like a chance to review the Powerpoint prior to adoption.

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