REVIEW BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
ACHTUNG, BABY! BPA brings a lively ‘Hänsel and Gretel’ to the stage. A10
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2012 | Vol. 112, No. 49 | WWW.BAINBRIDGEREVIEW.COM | 75¢
Special delivery: Baby born on ferry sailing to Seattle BY RICHARD D. OXLEY Bainbridge Island Review
The ferry M/V Tacoma had to break out its “Baby on Board” sticker when an unexpected passenger arrived last week. A baby was born onboard the Tacoma during the 1:10 p.m. sailing Thursday, Nov. 29 from Bainbridge to Seattle. Ferry crews knew they had a special passenger on board when they cast off out of Eagle Harbor.
“They drove on and we knew she was expecting; we transport a lot of expecting mothers,” said Mark Gripp, second mate on the Tacoma. Gripp estimates that the ferry transports about 10 expecting mothers each year, but they usually have time until they reach the other side. This baby, however, wasn’t so patient. “I told them to lay on the horn if
there is a problem,” Gripp said. “As soon as the lines were cast off, I hear the horn go off.” Gripp helped the mom- and dadto-be to the elevator and then to the ferry’s first-aid room. “One thing you don’t want is a baby on the car deck,” Gripp said. “It has exposed air and it’s dirty.” While en route to the first-aid room, Captain Ty Anderson made an announcement asking for volunteers who had baby delivering
skills. They were in luck. An OB/GYN and a midwife answered the call. In the first-aid office, Gripp broke out an OB/GYN kit. “Here’s the apron, here’s the gloves and then putting out the towels and blanket,” Gripp said. “I was just trying to do the best to facilitate them helping her.” “My portion of it was really just a support role to the midwife and OB/GYN,” he added.
Gripp said he was impressed with how smooth the delivery went. He’s seen the birth of four of his own children and knows the complications that can arise during a delivery. The midwife really knew her stuff, he said. Baby Lucy then arrived. Medics met the family at Colman Dock in Seattle and rushed them to SEE FERRY, A8
Complaint about top cop came from inside
Hey, seniors!
BY BRIAN KELLY Bainbridge Island Review
Brian Kelly / Bainbridge Island Review
Bainbridge High cheerleaders lead the Spartans’ home crowd in a “Shake Your Booty” chant during the girls basketball teams’ thrilling home win Saturday against South Kitsap. The cheerleaders pictured are (left to right) Mary Boynton, Katja Tunkkari, Maddie Agosta, Ariana Felkey, Emily Schneider and Bailey Starbuck.
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The complaint that led to Police Commander Sue Shultz’s suspension in mid-November came from a fellow city employee, the city acknowledged Wednesday. Shultz was put on paid administrative leave on Nov. 19, but officials have said little about her suspension since then. Earlier this week, however, City Manager Doug Schulze said the city’s top commissioned officer was suspended after an internal complaint prompted an investigation into the allegations. Shultz is scheduled to attend a pre-disciplinary hearing with the city manager on Monday, Dec. 10. The city manager said an outside consultant was hired to look into the allegations against the police commander. Schulze said Seabold Group, a Seattle-based consultant company, was contacted in August or September to handle the investigation. The firm, which is led by a former special agent for the IRS and a form assistant U.S. attorney, specializes in workplace and litigation-related investigations, according to the company’s website. The city has declined to release the report until after the pre-disciplinary hearing. “It’s a pending personnel matter and until I’ve completed the process of doing my fact-finding, it would be inappropriate for me to release the report,” Schulze said.