July 2 - 8, 2015
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
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Health and Wellness Fourth of July parade closes Peace Portal, page 3 special section, pages 8-9
County weighs options after Bellingham bails on jail
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Photos from Arts and Music Festival, page 9
Getting their kicks
By Steve Guntli Whatcom County Council is taking steps to make the county jail happen, with or without Bellingham’s support. Bellingham City Council voted to reject a 32-year cost-sharing agreement between the county and the six smaller Whatcom County cities at their regular meeting on June 15. The agreement would call for a .2 percent increase on sales tax to help fund the new county jail facility, to be built on a 39-acre tract in Ferndale on Labounty Road. The county and other cities agreed to the increase, but Bellingham demurred over concerns about the tax increase limiting its ability to address its own public safety concerns. The city council voted down the agreement 6–1. At the regular meeting on June 23, Whatcom County Council discussed paring back the jail’s budget so the project would not be dependent on Bellingham’s participation. Mayors representing the Small Cities Caucus have requested the council find a way to move the program forward with or without Bellingham, since the other six cities (Blaine, Lynden, Sumas, Nooksack, Everson and Ferndale) have already signed on for the project. County executive Jack Louws offered the council three suggestions for how to proceed if Bellingham can’t be convinced to come aboard. The first option is to put the .2 percent sales tax increase on the ballot with a goal of building a jail with up to 521 beds, but base the actual size of the facility around the cities that plan to pay for and use the new facility. Louws estimated Bellingham would use about 100 beds, so the jail could now have around 400 beds, reducing the cost of (See Jail, page 7)
s Caylie Sharp, c., helps Olivia Glorioso, l., and Juliana Zuzarte work on their passing during Blaine’s Summer Youth Soccer Camp on June 25. See more photos on page 14.
Photo by Steve Guntli
Woman sentenced for crashing stolen bus in Blaine By Steve Guntli An Everett woman who crashed a stolen school bus in Blaine’s Marine Park in May was sentenced to prison on June 25. Elizabeth Jane Ray, 54, will spend one year and one day in state prison. She was charged with second degree assault
on a police officer, possession of a stolen vehicle and two other felony charges, but pleaded guilty to reduced charges of third-degree assault, possession of a stolen vehicle and attempting to elude police. She must also pay $81,000 in damages. On May 1, Ray stole a small yellow school bus from the Stanwood-Camano School District in Snohomish County and
With Whatcom County and Washington state in the grips of a heat wave, state and county officials are urging extreme caution when using fireworks. Due to the high risk of fires statewide,
(See Crash, page 6)
Online
thenorthernlight.com facebook.com/thenorthernlight
Fire danger leads to tighter fireworks regulations By Steve Guntli
proceeded to drive north toward the Canadian border. Blaine police officer Tim Richardson spotted the bus when Ray stopped for gas in Blaine. Ray drove the
Governor Jay Inslee has declared a state of emergency in Washington. The governor’s office and the fire marshal are encouraging people to not use fireworks purchased privately and only attend public fireworks displays. Washington state law allows fireworks
to be discharged from June 28 to July 5, but many jurisdictions in the county are cutting back on those days to prevent wildfires. On June 23, Whatcom County Council unanimously approved a measure to
Inside
Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Coming Up . . . . . . . . . . 13 Tides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
(See Fireworks, page 6)
Dance Party JULY 25 AT 8 PM NL
Starring John Acosta as Barry Gibb Featuring Bee Gees & Disco Classics
Purchase show tickets service charge free at the Casino Box Office.
800-745-3000
Owned by Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
On I-5 at Exit 236 theskagit.com Must be 21 or older.