The following are segments of stories taken from the front pages of the Whidbey Island Record 50 and 15 years ago on  Saturday, April 14, 1966 and Saturday, April 21, 2001.

50 years ago

Editor: Lana Townsend

Parachute jumps, egg hunts brought ‘acres of kids’

“Close to 500 children turned out at this Saturday’s Easter egg hunt in Freeland. Freeland Merchants President Bill Yeakel called this year’s hunt bigger and more successful than any previous year.

“The star attraction of the day, however, was parachute jumping by three members of Whidbey Island Parachute Club.”

15 years ago

Editor: Jim Larsen

Smaller classes likely next year in schools

“An initiative approved by voters will translate into seven additional teachers and smaller class sizes beginning next fall in the South Whidbey School District. The school board held a public hearing Wednesday on initiative 728, the class size initiative. Administrators from each school attended, as did a handful of parents.  I-728 designates certain state revenue to schools to reduce class sizes and provide additional teacher training.”