PUD vs. PSE

at COG meeting

The Island County Council of Governments will hold a special meeting Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 5 p.m. at the Coupeville High School Commons to hear about the pros and cons of bringing electricity service on Whidbey Island under the auspices of a Public Utility District.

In addition to members of the Council of Governments, city council members from Langley, Coupeville and Oak Harbor will also attend the meeting.

Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard, who is also chair of the Council of Governments, said representatives from both Puget Sound Energy and the pro-PUD group will be on hand to give presentations and answer questions from elected officials.

Although the meeting is open to the public, there won’t be a public comment period scheduled. Rather, Conard encourages residents to submit questions to their elected officials to ask during the meeting.

Get orientated then go dancing

An important morning orientation for freshmen entering Oak Harbor High School takes place next week. The next day, a dance will be held for all high school students.

The freshman orientation is set for Wednesday, Aug. 27 in the high school gym. The dance follows Thursday, Aug. 28 from 8 to 11 p.m. in Parker Hall.

The annual freshman orientation helps ninth-graders understand how high school works and gets them off to a good start, said Bill Weinsheimer, associate principal. Upper classmen will lead the morning events. Freshmen will learn the ins and outs of high school, take part in fun activities and tour the main campus.

This helps students meet each other and make connections with leaders in the junior and senior classes, Weinsheimer said.

Woman dragged

by SUV dies

A 60-year-old woman who was injured after being dragged under a runaway SUV on North Whidbey died Aug. 16.

Estrella Santos was trapped underneath her own vehicle in the Aug. 1 accident. Firefighters from North Whidbey Fire and Rescue used hydraulic jacks to free her. She was later airlifted in critical condition to Harborview Medical Center.

Island County Sheriff Mark Brown reported that Santos was visiting a Feather Lane home and parked a SUV in the driveway. She got out of the vehicle after putting it into reverse and it started traveling backwards down the driveway.

She tried to stop it, but got dragged underneath.

Santos’ obituary is on page A7 of today’s Whidbey News-Times.