“…home to beautiful views of the water, campgrounds, B&B’s, city parks, county parks, national parks, RV parks, state parks, farmers markets, fishing, scuba diving, golfing – all of the things!”
Yes, be sure to plan to enjoy the national and state parks you’ll find situated in Oak Harbor.
The Welcome to Oak Harbor sign is located miles south of Deception Pass State Park. Why not move it north to the Deception Pass Bridge so visitors will know that Oak Harbor includes a stunning state park?
National Park? Really more of a Coupeville thing.
Welcome sign placed way down by the shore of Penn Cove:
People who live here pay property tax into the Coupeville school district.
Oak Harbor is several miles in the rear view mirror by the time you arrive at this point.
There is no possibility that I would tell curious family members, friends, visitors, etc., that Oak Harbor is home to a state or national park.
Heroin crisis: A situation involving illegal product moved from outside the US into local communities. The US Dept. of Homeland Security has jurisdiction at the border, border crossings & ports of entry.
With a budget of $40.6 billion- how is the US Dept. of Homeland Security doing at keeping heroin away from local communities?
Opioid crisis: Term favored by the press & politicians to describe the abuse of product which may be stolen from Grandma’s medicine cabinet- also a very serious issue.
Accurate reporting allows people to learn how to prevent future incidents.
Anytime there is a plane crash- a thorough investigation takes place. Lessons learned are used to prevent future accidents.
Was the aircraft fueled with opioids before it crashed? Was it running on heroin?
Recovery, rehab, treatment, & addiction are important parts of this story.
What part of the story is missing?
Has anyone ever seen the press question the US Dept. of Homeland Security/CBP on their role in keeping heroin away from the Puget Sound area?
The basics:
Strict post 911/War on Terror security protocols, a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security, and verification of passports/enhanced & Real IDs- are unable to keep heroin out of local communities.
Prescription drugs may become more restricted, but cartels will ship more product.
Meth is a good example here. It used to me made with ingredients people could obtain locally. Those ingredients became restricted- now cartels move meth in from Mexico:
“A July 2015, intelligence report released by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency showed the connection of Mexican Drug Cartels in each U.S. state. The report linked the Sinaloa Cartel, Cartel Jalisico Nueva Generacion-Los Cuinis and the Beltran-Leyva Organization with drug trafficking ties in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.”
“Police said the Mexican drug cartel is bringing in a purer form of meth which is why officers said people in Springfield are making less meth at home.”
Welcome Home Troops
We’d like to see more from newspeople who are up to asking questions. Get away from posting the press release handed down from whatever agency was involved in the latest big bust.
More than 52 kilograms of cocaine and 45 kilograms of heroin:
Federal agents swing into action after more than 52 kilograms of cocaine and 45 kilograms of heroin move past federal agents manning a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security- then on into Chicago and western suburbs.
Questions that go unasked:
When additional restrictions are placed on prescription drugs- what will prevent heroin-trafficking cartels from moving more product into local communities?
If drug dogs are effective at the border- how are large quantities of heroin, cocaine & meth moved into US communities?
Have these highly successful drug operations created any shortage of heroin, cocaine or meth anywhere in the US?
Why are local law enforcement agencies rewarded when the US Dept. of Homeland Security fails to keep heroin out of the US?
A few months back there was a discussion about NAS Whidbey jets training over the Olympic Peninsula.
A question came up:
Why are NAS Whidbey jets not doing their training over a military reservation in Eastern WA, California, Nevada, etc. The federal government has set aside huge amounts of land for this purpose.
Answer:
It would take too much jet fuel to move aircraft back & forth over a long distance.
But wait:
Jet fuel available for round trip flight to Indianapolis to “wow race fans.”
I have no problem with the US Navy on Whidbey Island.
No problem with hearing jet noise on Whidbey Island.
Please- just don’t stroke me about budgets for jet fuel or claims that decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas are somehow linked to American rights and freedoms.
Recommendation for budget savings: Phase out failed wars that never end.
Huge amounts of cash already spent on these facilities:
“Police said they found a large amount of drugs and two rifles inside the vehicle.”
Sorry- no time for newspeople to ask what sort of drugs were involved here.
Why does it matter?
The Drug War is based on public policy.
What methods are working? What methods are failing?
Some “drugs” are domestic, such as marijuana and maybe meth.
Some drugs, like heroin or cocaine must get past strict post 911/War on Terror security protocols, a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security, and verification of passports/enhanced & Real IDs before they arrive in local communities.
“Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”
If public meetings were held on Whidbey Island & people were asked to state their top law enforcement priorities- would a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat show up anywhere on the list?
If the Sheriff was interviewed & asked for his wish list- is there any possibility that it would include a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat?
Took a quick look on the web to see if there is a post 911 history of maritime “cross-border activity” on Whidbey & could not find anything. If anyone has info, please post in comments.
Recommendation-
Let the Sheriff & the people he serves set funding priorities for the Island County Sheriff’s Department.
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been able to intercept any inbound heroin?
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been involved in any arrest or seizure related in any way to the US/Canada border?
Still trying to figure out how a highly advanced surveillance state & sending troops to Iraq and Afghanistan works to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.
Federal agents swing into action after more than 52 kilograms of cocaine and 45 kilograms of heroin move past federal agents manning a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security- then on into Chicago and western suburbs:
Towns and communities have their local sign ordinances, but that’s not good enough.
Children might wander into a retail shop and pose as someone over 21- then buy product?
The freedom talk is just for federal holidays & overseas military operations.
Will the Joint Chiefs of Staff send The Troops to safeguard American freedoms?
Why do people believe The Troops are defending American rights and freedoms– as if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?
It took a constitutional amendment to prohibit the sale of a glass of wine- why no constitutional amendment to authorize a federal war on drugs, drug czar, prohibition of marijuana, etc.
Same country that put a man on the Moon in 1969- unable to keep drugs out of prison.
In the case of heroin & meth from Mexico– we’re still trying to figure out how sending US troops to Iraq and Afghanistan was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.
Imagine yourself at a Marine unit at Camp Pendleton, or Camp LeJeune, NC. Every so often- drug dogs are run through the barracks at 0330, or vehicles moving on or off base are sniffed by drug dogs. A zero tolerance policy in place.
Love to see newspeople go and ask the people who run prisons why all this works on a Marine base- but not in their facilities.
A Navy or Marine CO would be removed if Mexican Mafia drug trafficking was taking place in their unit. Ditto for any person of any rank found to be involved in using or trafficking illegal drugs.
Any high-ranking authorities getting yanked over at the prison for failing to effectively screen for drugs entering the facility? Looks like the three-year investigation may be seen as some sort of success story.
Heroin Racket Rolls On-
Local law enforcement agencies may benefit when strict post 911/War on Terror security protocols, a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security, and verification of passports/enhanced & Real IDs- fail to keep heroin out of the US.
Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.
One alternative would be to remove the federal monopoly & allow the airlines to handle security -similar to the way Las Vegas casinos do.
This would maintain an incentive to create a safe and comfortable situation for customers.
Elsewhere on the US troops in distant lands keeping us safe scene:
Law enforcement authorities swing into action after strict post 911 security protocols, a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security & screening for passports/enhanced & Real IDs fail to keep 87 pounds of heroin out of Michigan apartment complex.
Recovery, rehab, treatment, & addiction are important parts of this story.
What part of the story is missing?
Has anyone ever seen the press question the US Dept. of Homeland Security/CBP on their role in keeping heroin away from the Puget Sound area?
If the State Patrol was awarded many additional millions of dollars each year to go after drunk drivers- & the problem got worse- would newspeople ask questions?
Would any investigation take place?
Any word on how heroin continues to move past strict post 911/War on Terror security protocols, a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security, and verification of passports/enhanced & Real IDs- then, on into local communities?
Newspeople remain silent.
Welcome Home Troops
2014-
Island county to purchase new patrol boat to help with Puget Sound security:
“Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”
If public meetings were held on Whidbey Island & people were asked to state their top law enforcement priorities- would a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat show up anywhere on the list?
If the Sheriff was interviewed & asked for his wish list- is there any possibility that it would include a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat?
Took a quick look on the web to see if there is a post 911 history of maritime “cross-border activity” on Whidbey & could not find anything. If anyone has info, please post in comments.
Recommendation-
Let the Sheriff & the people he serves set funding priorities for the Island County Sheriff’s Department.
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been able to intercept any inbound heroin?
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been involved in any arrest or seizure related in any way to the US/Canada border?
Tax money- which some people intend to be used to help others via public assistance programs– also goes for bombing Iraq and Afghanistan. US bombing of Iraq goes back to 1991.
Helping others by donating to churches or private charities, food banks, etc. can avoid these conflicts.
Donors are free to opt out if a charity misbehaves.
People could keep more of their own money to donate to causes of their choosing if the federal government was not taking it to pay for failed wars that never end. The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.
Are federal public assistance programs working?
Summer feeding programs have been set up to provide meals when school is out.
Love to see newspeople ask: If a family qualifies for free and reduced price school breakfast and lunch- wouldn’t they also qualify for year-round public assistance to provide meals at home? Would this reduce the need for summer feeding programs?
USDA Federal School Lunch Program- Virgin Islands:
“Drugs that flow across the Southwest border, like heroin, are primarily transported through existing border checkpoints via cars and trucks. Those checkpoints will be there whether the wall gets built or not.”
“Mexican drug cartels “transport the bulk of their drugs over the Southwest border through ports of entry (POEs) using passenger vehicles or tractor trailers,” the DEA writes in its 2015 National Drug Threat Assessment.”
In the News: World War II veteran finally receives his high school diploma nearly 80 years later
“Henry’s dedication to his family, community and country is what Superintendent Dr. Shaun Nelms says they’re trying to teach the students as East High.”
Yes, Dr. Nelms, great lesson for the rest of your students- go ahead and blow off getting your diploma. Looks like it wasn’t really relevant to his success since he was able to earn a two year degree- no high school diploma required.
Wonder what he and other WWII veterans think about failed wars that never end?
As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.
Left the above comment here and here. Both comments have been deleted- though they contained no hate speech, insults, threats, foul language, attacks on other commenters, etc.
“Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”
If public meetings were held on Whidbey Island & people were asked to state their top law enforcement priorities- would a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat show up anywhere on the list?
If the Sheriff was interviewed & asked for his wish list- is there any possibility that it would include a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat?
Took a quick look on the web to see if there is a post 911 history of maritime “cross-border activity” on Whidbey & could not find anything. If anyone has info, please post in comments.
Recommendation-
Let the Sheriff & the people he serves set funding priorities for the Island County Sheriff’s Department.
Let the community keep more of the cash that goes to the federal government to be wasted on failing programs.
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been able to intercept any inbound heroin?
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been involved in any arrest related to the US/Canada border?
If you run a government operation- these are the reporters you want to see on interview day:
US Border Patrol, Port Angeles, WA-
A new, $11.9 million, 50 agent facility, secret arrest statistics, denied FOIA requests, heroin in the community & a Border Patrol whistleblower investigation Re: fraudulent overtime that resulted in further suppression of information- keep the focus on asking questions in these areas.
No cross-border USBP arrest has happened here in more than 7 years.
Have these highly successful drug operations created any shortage of heroin or cocaine anywhere in the US?
Meanwhile, back at Port Angeles-
Massing US Border Patrol agents at the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca fails to keep heroin-trafficking cartels from moving product into town:
What role do 1,200-horsepower Border Patrol Interceptor boats play in keeping heroin away from Port Angeles?
If you run a government operation- these are the reporters you want to see on interview day:
US Border Patrol, Port Angeles, WA-
A new, $11.9 million, 50 agent facility, secret arrest statistics, denied FOIA requests, heroin in the community & a Border Patrol whistleblower investigation Re: fraudulent overtime that resulted in further suppression of information- keep the focus on asking questions in these areas.
No cross-border USBP arrest has happened here in more than 7 years.
Please consider doing a story/asking questions about why heroin continues to move past strict post 911/War on Terror security protocols, a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security, and verification of passports/enhanced & Real IDs- then, on into local communities.
Newspeople,
Why did the Blaine Sector Weekly US Border Patrol blotter go extinct?
Has the Port Angeles Border Patrol been able to intercept any inbound heroin?
When is the last time the Port Angeles Border Patrol made an arrest of any kind?
Any arrests connected to the US/Canada border?
Any arrests connected to a Homeland Security mission?
Are fraudulent overtime claims still the norm at Port Angeles?
If you run a government operation- these are the reporters you want to see on interview day:
US Border Patrol, Port Angeles, WA-
A new, $11.9 million, 50 agent facility, secret arrest statistics, denied FOIA requests, heroin in the community & a Border Patrol whistleblower investigation Re: fraudulent overtime that resulted in further suppression of information- keep the focus on asking questions in these areas.
No cross-border USBP arrest has happened here in more than 7 years.
“From Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma to Montana, Wisconsin and Minnesota and all across the South, inexpensive methamphetamine is flowing in from Mexico, fueling what police and epidemiologists say is an alarming increase in the number of people using the drug, and dying from it.”
Still trying to figure out how sending US troops to Iraq & Afghanistan was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.
If the good guys can tell what the bad guys will do before they do it- surely, these powerful crime fighting tools will be used to shut down gang and cartel activity, heroin trafficking, bank robberies, mall shootings, child abduction, etc.
It took a constitutional amendment to prohibit the sale of a glass of wine- why no constitutional amendment to authorize a federal war on drugs, drug czar, prohibition of marijuana, etc.
Recommendation: Phase out failed wars that never end.
Stop telling us that undeclared/unwon wars overseas are somehow linked to American rights & freedoms.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our physical security. That’s as good as it gets.
In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
Many veterans claim to have served to protect American rights & freedoms.
How does this work?
Do the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?
Black people were still riding at the back of the bus after the big WWII victory.
Women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI.
Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?
Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?
Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?
Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs personnel during Operation Macho Swagger– a ride-along to let us know what is being done to keep the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca safe from B.C. incursions.
What role do 1,200-horsepower Border Patrol Interceptor boats play in keeping heroin away from Port Angeles?
Have these Port Angeles based Homeland Security patrol boats made any arrest related to the US/Canada border?
Have these boats been used to intercept any inbound heroin?
Newspeople remain silent.
Why pick on the Port Angeles Border Patrol?
Secret arrest statistics and denied FOIA requests do not enhance agency credibility.
Newspeople, reporters and journalists are free to ask basic public policy questions and post updated reports at any time.
Has anyone ever seen the press question the Port Angeles Border Patrol/CBP on their role in keeping heroin out of the Puget Sound area?
US Border Patrol, Port Angeles, WA-
A new, $11.9 million, 50 agent facility, secret arrest statistics, denied FOIA requests, heroin in the community & a Border Patrol whistleblower investigation Re: fraudulent overtime that resulted in further suppression of information- keep the focus on asking questions in these areas.
No cross-border USBP arrest has happened here in more than 7 years.
Pre-911 staffing & infrastructure levels got the job done. How many US Border Patrol agents were stationed at Port Angeles in 1999?
Before the US Border Patrol increased staffing to 42 agents at Port Angeles- how many people attempted to cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca to illegally enter the US?
How many people have attempted to make the trip with 42 USBP agents on staff at Port Angeles?
Has the Border Patrol at Port Angeles stopped any Latin American immigrants from illegally entering the US?
Has the Border Patrol at Port Angeles stopped any heroin from entering the US?
Newspeople remain silent.
Operation Macho Swagger-
Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs personnel during Operation Macho Swagger– a ride-along to let us know what is being done to keep the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca safe from B.C. incursions:
What role do 1,200-horsepower Border Patrol Interceptor boats play in keeping heroin away from Port Angeles?
A new, $11.9 million, 50 agent facility, secret arrest statistics, denied FOIA requests, heroin in the community & a Border Patrol whistleblower investigation Re: fraudulent overtime that resulted in further suppression of information- keep the focus on asking questions in these areas.
No cross-border USBP arrest has happened here in more than 6 years.
“Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”
If public meetings were held on Whidbey Island & people were asked to state their top law enforcement priorities- would a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat show up anywhere on the list?
If the Sheriff was interviewed & asked for his wish list- is there any possibility that it would include a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat?
Took a quick look on the web to see if there is a post 911 history of maritime “cross-border activity” on Whidbey & could not find anything. If anyone has info, please post in comments.
Recommendation-
Let the Sheriff & the people he serves set funding priorities for the Island County Sheriff’s Department.
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been able to intercept any inbound heroin?
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been involved in any arrest related to the US/Canada border?
Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs personnel during Operation Macho Swagger– a ride-along to let us know what is being done to keep the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca safe from B.C. incursions:
What role do 1,200-horsepower Border Patrol Interceptor boats play in keeping heroin away from Port Angeles?
“Drugs that flow across the Southwest border, like heroin, are primarily transported through existing border checkpoints via cars and trucks. Those checkpoints will be there whether the wall gets built or not.”
Mexican drug cartels “transport the bulk of their drugs over the Southwest border through ports of entry (POEs) using passenger vehicles or tractor trailers,” the DEA writes in its 2015 National Drug Threat Assessment.
Law enforcement feels more empowered after strict post 911 security protocols, a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security & passports/enhanced & Real IDs fail to keep cartel operatives from moving product throughout the southwest.
Wonder what was happening at border crossing inspections during the 16 months these folks were under investigation. Do the good guys who made the local bust notify the good guys at the border about the weak links in their process?
Law enforcement authorities roll into action after strict post 911 security protocols, a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security & passports/enhanced & Real IDs fail to keep large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico out of New Mexico, Texas and three other states.
“Among the restrictions is limiting prescriptions for opiates to no more than seven days for first-time users unless a doctor feels there’s good reason to go beyond that.”
How will heroin-trafficking cartels react to the new restrictions?
Drug Take Back Day 2017 – A huge success for the legal drug dealers- they sold more than 3,500 tons of drugs to people who did not need them.
“Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”
If public meetings were held on Whidbey Island & people were asked to state their top law enforcement priorities- would a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat show up anywhere on the list?
If the Sheriff was interviewed & asked for his wish list- is there any possibility that it would include a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat?
Took a quick look on the web to see if there is a post 911 history of maritime “cross-border activity” on Whidbey & could not find anything. If anyone has info, please post in comments.
Recommendation-
Let the Sheriff & the people he serves set funding priorities for the Island County Sheriff’s Department.
Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs personnel during Operation Macho Swagger– a ride-along to let us know what is being done to keep the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca safe from B.C. incursions:
What role do 1,200-horsepower Border Patrol Interceptor boats play in keeping heroin away from Port Angeles?
“Loyalty Day was designated a holiday in 1958 by then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It is meant to celebrate loyalty to the United States and the heritage of American freedom.”
With all this talk of freedom- would it be OK to grow a marijuana plant in the back yard?
Can I take my 20 year old girlfriend (a responsible adult) down to the bar to order up a few beers for freedom?
Should we check with the Joint Chiefs of Staff first?
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our physical security. That’s as good as it gets.
In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
Many veterans claim to have served to protect American rights & freedoms.
How does this work?
Do the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?
Black people were still riding at the back of the bus after the big WWII victory.
Women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI.
Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?
Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?
Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?
In the news: Border Crossings Down 70 percent, or various percentages. Several reports here.
When will we hear of reduced supplies of heroin in local communities? Surely the press would advise us as soon as they had new information to share?
Note: The press seems to be committed to not asking questions about why a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security is unable to keep heroin out of hometown, USA.
Heroin crisis: A situation involving illegal product moved from outside the US into local communities. The US Dept. of Homeland Security has jurisdiction at the border, border crossings & ports of entry.
Opioid crisis: Term favored by the press & politicians to describe the abuse of product which may be stolen from Grandma’s medicine cabinet- also a very serious issue.
Accurate reporting allows people to learn how to prevent future incidents.
Anytime there is a plane crash- a thorough investigation takes place. Lessons learned are used to prevent future accidents.
Was the aircraft fueled with opioids before it crashed? Was it running on heroin?
Recovery, rehab, treatment, & addiction are important parts of this story.
What part of the story is missing?
Has anyone ever seen the press question the US Dept. of Homeland Security/CBP on their role in keeping heroin away from the Puget Sound area?
“Drugs that flow across the Southwest border, like heroin, are primarily transported through existing border checkpoints via cars and trucks. Those checkpoints will be there whether the wall gets built or not.”
Mexican drug cartels “transport the bulk of their drugs over the Southwest border through ports of entry (POEs) using passenger vehicles or tractor trailers,” the DEA writes in its 2015 National Drug Threat Assessment.
Taking a look around-
$485 million in federal grant money to assist states after federal agents manning a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security fail to keep heroin-trafficking cartels from moving product into local communities: Indiana gets nearly $11M to combat heroin, opioid abuse
Law enforcement authorities roll into action on heroin bust after strict post 911 security protocols, a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security & passports/enhanced & Real IDs fail to keep product out of anytown, USA. Frequent news updates here.
Any team that cannot fully participate in White House events should suffer a loss of DOD funding for giant flag rituals, halftime ceremonies honoring decades of failed wars that never end, etc.
Oak Harbor Chamber:
