The following are segments of stories taken from the front page of the Whidbey Island Record 50 years ago, Thursday, Nov. 19, 1964.
Final tally has Christoe as winner by 70 votes
“Nearly 85 percent of Island County’s registered voters went to the polls in the general election, according to County Auditor J W. Libbey, who said this was a record number as was also the number of voters — 7,074 including absentees.
“When the official canvass was completed Monday morning, Dick King, Democrat, stood ahead of Jack Metcalf, Republican incumbent state representative, by a total of 234 votes in South Snohomish and Island and Ellsworth E. Christoe, Democrat, led C. F. (Andy) Andrews, Republican incumbent commissioner, by 70 votes.”
Gambling policy remains unchanged say officials
“Island County Prosecutor Richard Pitt and Island County Sheriff Arnold Freund said this week that they plan no change in policy toward gambling, regardless of the outcome of Initiative 34 in the recent election.
“The prosecutor said that his position is that he will prosecute anyone the sheriff or other law enforcement officers might arrest on gambling charges, but that he does not contemplate initiating any action.
“’I don’t think it is my job to investigate crime or make arrests,’ he said.
“Sheriff Arnold Freund also said he does not plan to initiate any new action in the county but indicated he isn’t too happy about the situation.
“’I am placed in the position of a hypocrite,’ he said. ‘Under 1909 law, pinball machines, bingo, raffles and card games are illegal in the state. However, we have allowed them in this county for many years and we will probably continue to allow them. At the same time, we will not relax our vigilance on other types of law-breaking in this county.’ ”
Local board seeks state support for school ferry rate
“South Whidbey school board members heard reports, decided to sell about 50 used desks, decided to make some changes in counseling service and voted to place a proposal before the State School Directors’ Association when they met Monday night at the school.
“Three persons reported on various meetings they had attended. Jack Floyd reported on a science conference he attended in Portland Oct. 23 and 24; Fred LaFreniere told some of the things he learned at a math conference in Oregon Oct. 16 and 17 and Superintendent Bill Davis reported happenings at the Yakima Superintendents meeting. …The board, which with school officials has for some time sought free ferry fares for school children on field trips, decided to lay the proposal before the State School Directors’ Association and seek its support.”
