Monthly Archives: January 2013

Police Blotter: Bikes fall off car, then get stolen

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A bicycle rack carrying two mountain bikes fell off a car at the intersection of Sunrise Drive and Day Road on Jan. 28. The driver continued on to the ferry and called a friend to pick up the rack and bikes, but someone beat the friend to the scene. The rack and bicycles were missing a scant 30 minutes later.

Also this week, a Fort Ward man reported a strange string of mischief, and employees of a High School Road business were mystified when 36 calls to Myanmar showed up on their phone bill.

The blotter is below: Continue reading →

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Search for Bainbridge police chief begins in earnest

Bainbridge Police Chief Position Profile by

Have a decade of law enforcement experience and a bachelor’s degree? The City of Bainbridge Island may have a job for you.

The city is advertising nationwide for a new police chief, with the help of executive search firm Strategic Government Resources.  The job description, posted Monday, asks for applicants with 10 years of “progressively responsible” law enforcement experience, and five years in a senior command position. A bachelor’s degree is required but a master’s degree in administration or criminal justice is preferred. The new chief is required to live on Bainbridge.

SGR consultants were on the island earlier this month to gather input from residents and talk to city officials. They created a glossy brochure for the position, as they did for the city manager search last summer.

As with new City Manager Doug Schulze, the incoming police chief will fill a position with a turbulent history.

Recent controversies at the police department are hinted at in the position profile. Under the header of “Issues and Challenges,” the profile lists trust building between police and community as a top priority. The new chief will need to improve accountability within the department and promote public outreach, especially with schools, the profile says.

The ideal candidate, according to the profile, will need to “facilitate change, while respecting the island’s culture and responding to the needs of the community.”

The deadline for applicants is Feb. 22.

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Island Road History | Grotle Road

Street of the Week: Grotle Road

Location: Off County Park Road

History: Born in Norway, Rasmus and Kawlein Grotle spent more than 30 years on their 3-acre farm, which the family still owns after more than a century.

Source: Bertha, daughter of Rasmus and Kawlein

This occasional Islander series explores the history of island street names, as compiled by Elinor Ringland and fellow Bainbridge Island Historical Society volunteers.  If you have an island road story to share, email Ringland at elinorjoe@msn.com.

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Friday preview: Bainbridge edition

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Here’s the Friday preview: Bainbridge edition for Jan. 25. Feel free to give your own event a plug in the comment section below. Above, a pedestrian strolls down Winslow Way where a bevy of new businesses are breeding optimism. (Meegan Reid photo)

0125_BI_01Weather: Sunshine today is expected to give way to rain by tonight. Showers are likely to continue through the weekend and into next week with daytime highs in the low 40s.

Sports: The swim team is in Queen Anne this afternoon. Gymnastics hosts North Kitsap and Kingston at 6 p.m. for a meeting of local rivals. Girls varsity basketball tips off at home against Rainier Beach at 6:15 p.m., followed by the boys at 8 p.m.

See a full Spartans schedule here and follow the Sun’s Prepzone on Facebook for updates.

Continue reading →

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Gun control resolution on City Council agenda

Update: The city passed the resolution Wednesday with a vote of 5-1. David Ward voted against. Steve Bonkowski was absent. 

The City Council will decide Wednesday whether to add its voice to the national conversation on gun control.

The council is set to consider a resolution advocating the reinstatement of a federal ban on assault weapons, a federal ban of high-capacity ammunition clips, and state and federal legislation requiring criminal background checks for all gun sales. You can read the full resolution here.

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If approved, the resolution will be sent to the island’s state and congressional representatives. It would not change any regulations within the city.

Councilwoman Kirsten Hytopoulos introduced the resolution after hearing from islanders about a need to take action on gun violence issues in the wake of the Newtown, Conn. school shooting. A number of cities have passed similar resolutions, she said.

“I feel pretty confident in the values of the community and what I’ve heard,” Hytopoulos said at a Jan. 9 council meeting. “I feel pretty comfortable bringing this forward, I think it’s not considered controversial by most in this community.”

The council will also consider a resolution supporting a countywide tax to pay for mental health and chemical dependency treatment programs, and a resolution endorsing a letter by regional mayors advocating increased transportation funding at the state level.

The council will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall.

Bainbridge Sportsmen’s Club President Alan Kasper distributed an open letter to the council detailing his stance on the issue. You can read Kasper’s letter here (PDF), and feel free to offer your own thoughts in the comment section.

Photo: Sharla Musabih of North Kitsap holds a candle at a prayer vigil organized at Battle Point Park Dec. 15, in the wake of the Newtown, Conn. shooting. (Tad Sooter photo)

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Island Road History | Henderson Road

Street of the Week: Henderson Road

Location: Runs north/south between Seabold Road and Hidden Cove Road; west of Highway 305

History: Scottish-born John Maurice Henderson wanted to be a doctor. But when his father died, 16-year-old Henderson put a pause on that dream and headed west from his family’s home in London. He was just 18 when he arrived in Oklahoma.

The year was 1884, and Henderson found himself in the midst of the Wild West. Over the years, he made his fortune in cattle and land, eventually sending for his family to come join him in America.

Three years after his arrival, Henderson gave his dream another shot. He entered medical school in New York and graduated four years later. He began practicing out east before moving to Washington State. Once here, he purchased land in the Seabold area.

During World War I, Henderson served at an army hospital in France. He kept working with the government after the war before opening his own practice in Seattle. Dr. Henderson continued to see patients on Bainbridge, braving land and sea when duty called.

More stories of the doctor can be found in his file at the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum.

This occasional Islander series explores the history of island street names, as compiled by Elinor Ringland and fellow Bainbridge Island Historical Society volunteers. More than 180 histories have been compiled so far. If you have an island road story to share, email Ringland at elinorjoe@msn.com.

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Peril and progress at Fort Ward Park

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Park officials are concerned by rapid shoreline erosion at Fort Ward, and it’s easy to see why in this aerial image from Google. The bank has crept unnervingly close to the northwest corner of the barracks, seen in the top left corner of this photo.

The park district says armoring the shoreline would be challenging and very expensive. Moving the building would also cost a bundle and it’s not clear whether the wood-framed structure would survive relocation. Doing nothing is no longer an option however, as winter storms and King Tides continue to eat away at the bank.

“If we’re going to save them, we need a process in place to save them,” park district Executive Director Terry Lande said of the barracks Thursday. Continue reading →

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Friday preview: Bainbridge edition

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Here’s the Friday preview: Bainbridge edition for Jan. 18. Feel free to give your own event a plug in the comment section below. Above, a sunny view from Fort Ward. Dry weather is expected to continue through the weekend.

0118_BI_01Weather: The National Weather Service expects a mix of fog, clouds and sunshine this weekend with temperatures ranging from the high 30s to low 40s.

Sports: Spartans swimming and gymnastics teams are away today. Boys basketball plays at home against O’Dea at 6:15 p.m. The girls host Holy Names at 8 p.m.

See a full Spartans schedule here and follow the Sun’s Prepzone on Facebook for updates.

Continue reading →

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Police Blotter: Police pursue ‘bellicose’ driver through Fletcher Bay

A 65-year-old driver, who described himself as “bellicose,” vehemently denied trying to evade police Jan. 9 after an officer pursued his vehicle at high speed through the Fletcher Bay neighborhood. “No way Jose was I trying to ditch you,” the man told police. He was cited for negligent driving.

Also this week, an $800 bull whip went missing from a vehicle on Miller Road while the Jolly Roger was flown at Wyckoff.

The blotter is below:

Continue reading →

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Police chief forum tonight; fraud prevention workshop Friday

The city will host two police-related outreach programs this week. The first is a forum on the search for a new police chief, as we noted with a brief last week:

Bainbridge seeks input on new police chief

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND — Bainbridge Island is seeking input on its search for a new police chief.

The public can weigh in on the search at a forum from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 15 at City Hall. Comments also can be emailed to cityadmin@bainbridgewa.gov.

The city is searching for a replacement for former Chief Jon Fehlman, who resigned in September. Texas-based firm Strategic Government Resources was hired in December to lead the search for a new chief.

“It’s very important to me that SGR hear directly from island residents about the qualifications and characteristics desired in potential candidates,” City Manager Doug Schulze said. “The consultants will then use this input when developing the police chief position profile.”

SGR also led the city’s search for a new manager, which resulted in the hiring of Schulze last fall.

Fraud prevention workshop

Bainbridge Island Police Department has also organized a fraud prevention workshop for Friday. The program will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Waterfront Park Community Center (a nice opportunity to check out the recent renovation).

A panel of experts will discuss common internet scams, mail scams, and identity theft. The program will include information on how to prevent fraud and resources available to fraud victims.

“The purpose of the workshop is simply to educate islanders about the latest scams and to help them avoid being the victims of fraud,” Interim Public Safety Director Larry Dickerson said in an announcement. “While the workshop will be geared toward the island’s senior citizens, any interested members of the public are welcome to attend.”

The workshop is free and no advance registration is necessary.

 

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Island Road History | Gertie Johnson Road

Street of the Week: Gertie Johnson Road

Location: East off Rolling Bay business district

History: Gertrude Johnson was accustomed to being first. She lived in the first beach house off Logg Road; she helped create the area’s first park; she was Bainbridge Island’s first women legislator.
Outside her accomplishments at the capital, Johnson may be best known for her ties to Fay Bainbridge.

In the wake of the Great Depression, the state was looking for land. Johnson heard the property of a longtime Island family, the Fays, was up for sale. On a hunch it would be a perfect spot for a new park, Johnson picked up the phone.

The state couldn’t afford the $15,000 asking price, she explained. That’s fine, the Fays replied. You can have it for $5,000, just name it after the family. And Johnson did just that.

Source: “A History of Bainbridge Island,” Katy Warner, 1968

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Friday preview: Bainbridge edition

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Here’s the Friday preview: Bainbridge edition for Jan. 11. Feel free to give your own event a plug in the comment section below. Above, a poster of Martin Luther King, Jr. hangs in the Bainbridge High School LGI building Wednesday during a civil rights discussion. A number of island events will honor King in the lead up to MLK day on Jan. 21. (Meegan Reid photo)

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Weather: After a sunny  Friday, the National Weather Service is calling for a chance of snow on Saturday and Sunday, with light accumulations and temperatures in the mid 30s.

Sports: The holidays are definitely over for the Spartans. Swimming hosts Holy Names and O’Dea today at 3:30 p.m. Gymnastics welcomes Nathan Hale and West Seattle for a meet at 6 p.m. Varsity basketball is home against Seattle Prep. Boys tip off at 6:15; girls at 8 p.m. Wrestling hosts a varsity invitational at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

See a full Spartans schedule here and follow the Sun’s Prepzone on Facebook for updates.

Continue reading →

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