The following are segments of stories in the July 23, 1964, edition of the South Whidbey Record, then the Whidbey Island Record.
Herman Walters dies Sunday eve of heart attack
“A sudden and unexpected heart attack which struck Sunday evening at his home took the life of Herman C. “Butch” Walters, a Langley resident for the past 24 years and an employee of the town for the past 15 years.
“Herman had planned to retire in August from his work for the town. He was the town superintendent for water, street and sanitary departments, in addition to serving as town marshal. He had undergone major surgery two years ago, but had recovered from that and appeared in at least fair health and continued to work until the day of his death.”
New course record set in Around-the-Island race
“Going full-bore all the way and helped by perfect racing water, Tom Adkins of Seattle Advance Outboard set a new course record Sunday in the 10th annual running of the Around-the-Island Outboard Marathon.
“Adkins, with twin 100 horsepower Mercs pushing his boat at top speeds, whipped around the Island in one hour, 49 minutes and 42 seconds. The old course record was two hours, 27 minutes, set by the Frei brothers of South Whidbey in 1962. There were faster times before, but on courses that were not as long as that of ‘62 and ‘64.”
Two banks ask OK of Freeland office
“Two Whidbey banks have made application within the past two weeks to establish a branch office at Freeland, it was learned this week.
“The applicants are the Langley State Bank at Langley and the Whidbey Island Bank at Coupeville.
“E.E. Noble, president of the Langley Bank, said this week that if their application is accepted, a branch office would be located in a new building to be constructed for that purpose on the site of the old Harbor Center Grocery.”
$10,000 paid for site of new hospital
“The H.J. Meng homestead was ordered to be purchased for the hospital site Thursday night when the hospital commissioners held their regular monthly meeting. Cost of the 6.8 acres was $10,000.
“The Meng property is on Main Street between the Courthouse and the Coupeville school on the east side of the road.”
