Family finds live pipe bomb
A father and his two young daughters found a live pipe bomb in the ditch while cleaning up garbage along Tolo Road Monday afternoon, Bainbridge Police say.
Police and a multi-agency bomb squad were called in, and the homemade explosive device was secured and detonated without incident.
The device was fashioned from eight inches of PVC pipe stuffed with black powder, Bainbridge Police Detective Scott Anderson said. A fuse in the device showed that it had been lit but failed to ignite the powder.
The device was handled by several family members before they realized what it was and called police, Anderson said. The device was dangerous even without a lit fuse, he said.
“With black powder, you never know how unstable it is,” Anderson said.
While there haven’t been any recent reports of homemade explosives being detonated on the island, the device was consistent with evidence found at the scene of porta-potties that have been blown up in the past.
It was not known who made the explosive or left it in the ditch.
– Douglas Crist
History’s march slows to stop
Plans to move the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum building into Winslow this morning have fallen through, because of problems getting around overhead utility lines.
“The mover needs to have reps from Comcast, Qwest and Puget Sound Energy all go along to lift their various wires out of harm’s way,” said Jack Swanson, interim museum director. “They couldn’t get a Comcast person to commit to going along to lift their wires.”
Project manager Tom Shields believes the building move will be delayed from one to three weeks.
The historic schoolhouse is being moved to a site just east of the BPA Playhouse off Ericksen Avenue, where the museum will reopen later this year. The museum’s small annex has already been relocated.
– Douglas Crist
Sunken boat could be yours
Another great opportunity in maritime restoration presents itself next week, as the city auctions off another sunken vessel.
The 25-foot Puffin, a 1936 vintage wood pilothouse schooner, has been submerged in Eagle Harbor since Christmas. It is being raised and auctioned off under the city’s derelict removal program, harbormaster Tami Allen said.
The vessel will be raised and tied up for viewing at the city dock this Saturday, and will be moored offshore in the vessel impound area early next week.
Bidding closes at 4 p.m. Feb. 18. Submit bids and a letter of agreement to remove to Tami Allen at City Hall.
