County declares Kindness Week

In a move worthy of a Frank Capra film, Island County Commissioners declared the week of Feb. 7-11 “Random Acts of Kindness Week.”

This benevolent resolution was passed unanimously by the board on Monday, with Commissioner Bill Thorn reading the statement into the public record.

“The purpose of random acts of kindness is to promote goodwill in our schools and communities,” Thorn read. “Acts of kindness benefit both the giver and receiver, and all who live and/or work in Island County are encouraged to practice random acts of kindness whenever possible.”

In an attempt to take immediate advantage of the proclamation, Island County Human Resources Director Dick Toft suggested the commissioners give him the rest of the week off.

Toft got a laugh from the board, though his request was denied.

Taxpayers allowed hospital bill credit

Local property taxpayers who received treatment at Whidbey General Hospital could be eligible for a discount on their hospital bills.

Taxpayers of the hospital district who have been in-patients or out-patients, could receive a dollar-for-dollar credit off their bills, equal to what they annually pay on their primary residence for hospital taxes.

“It’s our way of thanking the taxpayers of the community for approving necessary bonds and levies,” said hospital spokesperson Trish Rose. “Bonds and levies have been essential for the hospital to provide certain key services like EMS and others.”

The credit applies after a patient’s medical insurance has paid its portion of the bill. And the credit can be applied more than once.

For example, if the patient’s portion of the bill is only $50 and they have paid $100 in property taxes directed to the hospital, they end up with a $100 credit they can apply toward their bill. The patient can apply part of the credit toward the $50 bill and the balance of their credit toward a future bill. Only primary residents and their spouses/dependents can use the credit.

The credit will be issued on the current year’s patient bills only. It may not be applied to the previous year’s bills, nor saved for use in future years. The tax credit will only be available for up to four months from the date of service, or insurance has paid their portion of the bill, whichever is last.

For more information, call financial counselors at Whidbey General Hospital, at 678-7656.

Dock work shifts to nighttime

Patrons of the Clinton-Mukilteo ferry will see work going on at night beginning this week and continuing through Feb. 28.

The second half of a new terminal is under construction. Night work is now required to take advantage of the low tides, and will include construction and welding. The work could last from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., according to Susan Harris-Heuther, Washington State Ferries spokesperson.

The main concern is that people who live near the ferry dock will be disturbed by the noise. Nearby residents can call Manson Construction at their Clinton office, (360) 341-3528.

Homeless man faces rape charge

A 22-year-old homeless man accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl is facing a felony charge.

Mark Coram was charged with the third-degree rape of a child in Island County Superior Court. The charge is for an adult having sex with a 14- or 15-year-old child.

According to the affidavit of probable cause by Oak Harbor Detective Teri Gardner, the girl’s mother reported on Nov. 13 that her daughter had run away with Coram. The woman gave the detective pages of the girl’s journal in which she wrote about having sex with Coram.

On Nov. 19, Coram and another man were arrested in Blaine for allegedly bringing marijuana, methamphetamine and 4,000 ephedrine pills across the border. Oak Harbor police sent a teletype to the Whatcom County jail to notify authorities that there was probable cause to arrest Coram for the rape of a child.

On Nov. 20, the girl came home. She said she had been staying at the Queen Ann motel in Oak Harbor with Coram and admitted to having sex with him, court records show.

Gardner wrote that Coram had been court martialed for bad conduct by the Navy in May of 2001 and was sentenced to 120 days in the brig.

Coram is being held on $10,000 bail. His trial is set for Feb. 5.