Whidbey Island

The Victorian home sits on Whidbey Island. (Alyse Young for The Washington Post)

Whidbey couple thought they found their dream home — then came the bats

The couple had no recourse after unknowingly buying a home infested with thousands of bats.

 

An aerial view of Camp Casey. The YMCA of Snohomish County has bought the property from Seattle Pacific University. (Photo provided by Seattle Pacific University via Whidbey News-Times)

Whidbey’s Camp Casey, campground and conference center, sold to YMCA

Seattle Pacific University owned the site for decades. The nonprofit plans to bring new programs to the site.

 

From left to right, Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay Evans and Lt. Serena Wileman. (Photos provided by the U.S. Navy)

Remains of Whidbey Island pilots to return this week

Lt. Cmdr Lyndsay Evans and Lt. Serena Wileman died in a crash on Oct. 15.

 

The Washington state Capitol building in February. (Bill Lucia / Washington State Standard)

Voters are about to remake WA Legislature. Here are 7 races to watch.

Democrats hope to grow their majorities in the state House and Senate. The path may be through a local race.

The Washington state Capitol building in February. (Bill Lucia / Washington State Standard)
From left to right, Ron Muzzall and Janet St. Clair.

Costly campaigns: Where money is flowing in WA’s elections

More than $100 million has been spent statewide, including nearly $3 million in a race covering Snohomish and Island counties.

From left to right, Ron Muzzall and Janet St. Clair.
From left to right, Ron Muzzall and Janet St. Clair

Muzzall, St. Clair face off in expensive state Senate race

Democrats hope to turn this purple district blue by ousting Republican state Sen. Ron Muzzall.

From left to right, Ron Muzzall and Janet St. Clair
From left to right, Lt. Cmdr. Lindsay Evans and Lt. Serena Wileman. (Photos provided by the U.S. Navy)

Navy crash victims from Whidbey, both 31, identified

On Tuesday afternoon, Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay “Miley” Evans and Lt. Serena “Dug” Wileman crashed near Mount Rainier.

From left to right, Lt. Cmdr. Lindsay Evans and Lt. Serena Wileman. (Photos provided by the U.S. Navy)
A Growler with VAQ-130 Zappers flies near Outlying Landing Field Coupeville. (Joe Kunzler / Simple Flying)

Aviators declared dead after crash of Navy jet from Whidbey

On Sunday, the Navy announced it had switched its mission from search and rescue to a recovery for the two crew members.

A Growler with VAQ-130 Zappers flies near Outlying Landing Field Coupeville. (Joe Kunzler / Simple Flying)
A Growler with VAQ-130 Zappers flies near Outlying Landing Field Coupeville. (Joe Kunzler / Simple Flying)

Searchers reach crash site of Navy Growler from Whidbey

Searchers on Friday continued looking for two unidentified crew members in a remote, steep and heavily-wooded area.

A Growler with VAQ-130 Zappers flies near Outlying Landing Field Coupeville. (Joe Kunzler / Simple Flying)
A Growler with VAQ-130 Zappers flies near Outlying Landing Field Coupeville. (Joe Kunzler / Simple Flying)

Wreckage of Navy jet from Whidbey found near Mount Rainier

The two crew members from the crash remained missing after the wreckage was found Wednesday afternoon.

A Growler with VAQ-130 Zappers flies near Outlying Landing Field Coupeville. (Joe Kunzler / Simple Flying)
The T46s travel between Whidbey and Camano while a team of scientists collects health data and refines remote health tools. (Photo courtesy of NOAA)

Whidbey Island floating clinic hopes to save orcas

Scientists have transformed a dinghy into a mobile health clinic to assess the health of orcas.

The T46s travel between Whidbey and Camano while a team of scientists collects health data and refines remote health tools. (Photo courtesy of NOAA)
Carrie R. Kennedy, left, and Clyde Shavers

Whidbey Island candidate: US Rep deserves ‘firing squad’

Carrie Kennedy, a Republican running in the purple 10th Legislative District, has a long history of problematic posts.

Carrie R. Kennedy, left, and Clyde Shavers
Sea Life Response, Rehabilitation and Research staff release three seal pups off City Beach on Monday. (Sam Fletcher / Whidbey News-Times)

‘Keep them wild’: Rehabilitated pups reintroduced to Whidbey beach

Gnome from Ferndale, Kelpie from Blaine and Hippogriff from Whidbey returned to the seas Monday.

Sea Life Response, Rehabilitation and Research staff release three seal pups off City Beach on Monday. (Sam Fletcher / Whidbey News-Times)
From left to right, Planning & Outreach Manager Bill Windler, Acting Director Craig Cyr, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and Vice Chair Jenny Bright stand outside Island Transit’s electric van. (Selene Muldowney-Stratton / Island Transit)

Larsen tours Whidbey Island transit facility with eyes on expansion

Island Transit recently received a $14.96 million federal grant for 12 hydrogen fuel cell buses and infrastructure.

From left to right, Planning & Outreach Manager Bill Windler, Acting Director Craig Cyr, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and Vice Chair Jenny Bright stand outside Island Transit’s electric van. (Selene Muldowney-Stratton / Island Transit)
A big brown bat. (Larry Meade)

Rabid bat bites Whidbey Island wildlife rehabilitator

This the fourth case of reported bat rabies in the state this year, officials said.

A big brown bat. (Larry Meade)
Janet St Clair, left, Ron Muzzall, Denny Sandberg

Muzzall, St. Clair in a contentious, expensive race for state Senate

Ron Muzzall and Janet St. Clair have combined to raise over $700,000 as the incumbent looks to fend off a strong challenge.

Janet St Clair, left, Ron Muzzall, Denny Sandberg
Mona Newbauer, 62, pours caramel into a machine inside her store Sweet Mona's Chocolates on March 21, 2024 in Langley, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Sweet Mona’s Chocolates in Langley stirs up treats for all tastes

Chocolate slugs, whales, truffles and caramels are among sweets in the shop Mona Newbauer founded in 2006.

Mona Newbauer, 62, pours caramel into a machine inside her store Sweet Mona's Chocolates on March 21, 2024 in Langley, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Trees and foliage grow at the Rockport State Park on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 in Rockport, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

When you get lost in WA, what’s the cost to get rescued? Surprisingly little

Washington’s volunteer search and rescue teams save lives without costly bills.

Trees and foliage grow at the Rockport State Park on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 in Rockport, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Homeowner Ryan Anderson sits on the bunk beds in the ferry quarters at Ferry Cove, the latest feature in the 5-bedroom waterfront vacation rental in Clinton. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

This Whidbey rental is like walking onto a state ferry

This 5-bedroom beachfront Airbnb has rooms patterned after “The Parent Trap,” “The African Queen” and the ferry Tokitae.

Homeowner Ryan Anderson sits on the bunk beds in the ferry quarters at Ferry Cove, the latest feature in the 5-bedroom waterfront vacation rental in Clinton. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Aurora Echo, owner of Wildly Beloved Foods, begins making cavatelli pasta with one of her Bottene pasta machine on Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Clinton, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Whidbey artisanal pasta maker shares her secrets

For Aurora Echo of Wildly Beloved Foods in Clinton, “sharing food is so ancient; it feels so good.”

Aurora Echo, owner of Wildly Beloved Foods, begins making cavatelli pasta with one of her Bottene pasta machine on Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Clinton, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)