Rhan Rha, the Sammamish woman found dead on a powerboat off the west side of Orcas Island on Wednesday, died from strangulation, San Juan County Coroner Randall K. Gaylord said today.
Children get unlimited rides from noon to 5 p.m. for $20. Buy a wristband and get a free cotton candy from Paradise Amusements with the coupon in today’s Daily Fair, available at the fair gates and The Journal booth.
A Bellevue man identified as 39-year-old Albert Beutler was found dead onboard a boat in President Channel off Orcas Island Wednesday in an apparent murder-suicide. San Juan County Sheriff’s Office reported finding Beutler’s body along with an apparent female murder victim, 39-year-old Rhan Rha from Sammamish.
A diver reported missing off Orcas Island Wednesday has been identified as Michael Scherner, 40, of Bellingham, the San Juan County Sheriff’s Department reported today. “Mr. Scherner is described as a ‘very experienced diver’ and is believed to have been a diver in the U.S. Navy,” Sheriff Bill Cumming reported today in a press release. “Family members were notified of his disappearance by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.”
Maddy Anderson and Sarah Ayre of the Palace Theater had handed out about 150 free season passes to children by 8:30 a.m. on opening day of the fair, Wednesday. A sizable crowd lined up outside the theater and employees started handing out the passes at about 8:25 a.m. Tickets are available Thursday and Friday; preference will be given to children from other islands Saturday.
The U.S. Coast Guard, including a HH-65C Dolphin Helicopter from Port Angeles and vessels from Station Bellingham, and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report from the Bellevue Police Department that a possible murder suspect was traveling in the San Juan Islands. Bellevue Police reported that friends of the suspect had been notified by the suspect by text mail that he had killed his girlfriend and he was planning on killing himself. Bellevue Police approximated his position by “pinging” his cell phone.
The Coast Guard suspended its search for a missing diver east of Orcas Island at 9:32 p.m., Wednesday. The Coast Guard and the San Juan County dive team ended their efforts after searching an area about 46 square nautical miles for more than five hours.
Maddy Anderson and Sarah Ayre of the Palace Theater had handed out about 150 free season passes to children by 8:30 a.m. on opening day of the fair, Wednesday. A sizable crowd lined up outside the theater and employees started handing out the passes at about 8:25 a.m. Tickets are available Thursday and Friday; preference will be given to children from other islands Saturday.
Bob Buzzell and Steve Nightingale made the most out of back-to-back days on the course to claim first place this weekend in the San Juan Golf and Country Club Member/Guest Tournament. The newly-minted champs edged out Jim Cox and Bill Jennings by two strokes to capture both the crown and club bragging rights.
As a tennis coach, Dick Barnes of Friday Harbor has helped many young players exceed their expectations and he’s coached many Wolverines to championships. As an advocate for tennis, he’s introduced many people to a healthy game that they can play for the rest of their lives. He’s done it for no reward other than to be connected to a game he loves. But the last week of July at Vancouver Island’s South Cowichan Lawn Tennis Club — where Barnes has mowed the grass courts just for fun for several years in preparation for tournament play — the long-time coach and player came away with a well-deserved honor: a doubles title.
PeaceHealth and Mount Baker Imaging have reequipped the mammography room at Inter Island Medical Center with digital mammography equipment. The result, according to Amy St. Cloud of St. Joseph Hospital: “It’s a quicker exam and easier to work through. The images are digital, so they are more clear and detailed.” On-island digital mammography will “save residents an off-island trip for this advanced and potentially life-saving procedure.”
The San Juan County Fair is Aug. 18-21. The theme is “Locally Grown.” The fair features four days of competition, live entertainment (the headliners are bluegrass/Celtic rock group Clumsy Lovers), equestrian events, exhibits, rides and shows.
A 16-year-old girl said she was injured Aug. 10 when her horse got spooked and knocked her down. The girl responded to an earlier SanJuanJournal.com story that a 15-year-old girl had fallen from, and was stepped on, by a horse at the San Juan County Fairgrounds Aug. 10. That information was received as medical personnel were being dispatched to the scene.
