Smokey plane lands safely

A fire on board a P-3 COrion was extinguished before the aging aircraft landed safely at the Ault Field base of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Thursday.

Kim Martin, Navy spokesperson, said the 16-member crew was conducting normal operations when smoke filled the maritime patrol airplane at about 12:30 p.m.

“The electrical fire of unknown origin” was put out before the P-3 landed ten minutes later, she said. An ambulance from the base responded to the runway to treat the crew.

“Some of the people were feeling ill from the smoke,” Martin said, adding that none of the crew members were sick enough to be taken away by ambulance.

Martin said the cause of the fire is being investigated.

The P-3C Orion is a land-based, long-range, anti-submarine-warfare patrol aircraft.

Search for boy ends happily

Deputies, firefighters and others searched Central Whidbey Thursday afternoon for a 17-year-old boy who was possibly suicidal.

The effort ended happily at about 5:10 p.m. The boy’s uncle reported seeing him at the Greenbank Store. Soon afterward, a detective located the young man near the store.

Island County Sheriff Mark Brown said the boy initially fled from his mother’s house south of Coupeville and she was worried he might hurt himself.

Brown said searchers scoured the area and even brought in “air scent dogs” to help with a grid search of a wooded area. Just before the boy was found, Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue put out a call for all available personnel to gather at the “command center” at Race Road fire station to aid in the search effort.

Brown said the boy would be transported to Whidbey General Hospital for a mental health evaluation.

Festival, cars, highlight weekend

Hundreds of artists are showing their creations at the Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival, which continues today and ends Sunday afternoon.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 9 and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 10. Approximately 200 artisans will man booths throughout the town’s historic downtown selling their crafts to festival goers.

In addition to the artists, there is an eclectic offering of bands performing throughout the weekend.

Meanwhile, Oak Harbor’s Windjammer Park is filled Saturday, Aug. 9, with vintage and custom automobiles for the annual North Whidbey Lions Club Car Show taking place all day. Peruse the vehicles, enjoy the park, and hang around until 4 p.m. for the awards presentations.