County health board meeting erupts following rejection of anti-vaccine applicant

B y I an H aupt

Discussions over Whatcom County Council’s recent refusal to include a vaccine opponent on the public health advisory board raised tensions between councilmembers and staff during a January 31 health board meeting.

Councilmember Todd Donovan abruptly left the mixed online and in-person meeting as councilmembers Kathy Kershner and Tyler Byrd questioned health advisory board chairman Steven Bennett’s reasons for rejecting anti-vaccine activist Misty Flowers and others’ applications to join the board. Four people were selected to fill seven vacancies on the board at county council’s January 10 meeting, while five other applicants were passed over.

Kershner said since the Covid-19 pandemic began county council has heard during the public comment portion of its meetings from a segment of the community that has a differing opinion on how the pandemic was handled and how it’s continuing to be handled.

“How are you planning to incorporate those voices into our public health advisory board, the inputs and the outputs, if we don’t allow a member from that group to join and express their views and be part of the solutions that we have going forward?”

Kershner asked Bennett.

Byrd echoed Kershner and told Bennett that each of the nine applicants had experience that would lend itself to the group.

“In listening to your comments today, it strikes me that there is a thought or an opinion that somehow [the public health advisory board] is separate in what it does, and that – to be honest – [it’s] almost as if the council and the health board is secondary to [the health advisory board],” Byrd said. “And I want to make clear that [the health advisory board] exists to advise us.”

Whatcom County Health Department director Erika Lautenbach interrupted Byrd and said he was out of line.

“This is a committee of volunteers who participate. Do not chastise them in open public comment, in an open public forum,” Lautenbach said. “This is totally inappropriate, totally inappropriate. This is a volunteer. Do you want community input, or do you want to just yell at them?”

Earlier in the meeting, Flowers said during public comment that she wanted to express her concern on behalf of herself and others in the community on why the county’s public health policies do not represent the views of a portion of the population. Flowers said three individuals who oppose the use of the Covid-19 vaccine, including herself, applied for the public health advisory board’s open positions and were blocked.

Flowers is a musician and ran unsuccessfully for county council in the August 2021 primary, where she received 9 percent of the vote. Flowers did not respond to The Northern Light’s request for comment.

WSDOT reinstates unpaid toll late fees and penalties

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will begin charging late fees and penalties for unpaid toll bills on March 1.

Pay By Mail customers with unpaid tolls from June 2021 will be charged late fees again, starting at the beginning of March, acting WSDOT communications manager Chris Foster said in a February 1 press release.

Drivers with an unpaid toll that has a due date before March 1 will be charged with a $5 late fee. Drivers with an unpaid toll that was already charged the $5 late fee will receive a $40 penalty for each unpaid toll.

WSDOT encourages people to make a payment as soon as possible. The department has a onetime penalty forgiveness program to waive fees and penalties if the original toll is paid.

Those unsure if they have an unpaid toll bill can contact Good To Go! at 866/936-8246 and provide their name, license plate number and the address on their vehicle registration. For more information on managing a WSDOT account, visit bit.ly/3lbUuhe.

Whatcom County Health Department changes its name

The Whatcom County Health Department announced on February 3 that it has changed its name to Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) to represent the department’s growing responsibilities.

WCHCS increased its oversight of human and community services last April when the department launched its Response Systems Division. The division serves people in mental or behavioral health crises as well as builds infrastructure to support housing needs, according to a

February 3 WCHCS press release.

“The updated name reflects Whatcom County’s ongoing commitment to providing community-based services,” WCHCS director Erika Lautenbach said in a statement. “Our increased breadth of work, while all associated with health and health outcomes, warrants the inclusion of our community and human services functions.”

Staff email addresses and the website address will remain the same, while signage and other WCHCS materials will change.

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THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM CITY OF BELLINGHAM

Steven Bolster, Plaintiff, v. Mark Gumley, Defendant.

NO. Sc22-117 SUMMONS BY PUBLICA-

TION Judge Angela Anderson The State of Washington to: Mark Gumley You are hereby summoned to appear within sixty days after the date of the first publication of this summons, to wit, within sixty days after the 23rd day of March, 2023, and defend the above titled action in the above titled Court, and answer the complaint of the Plaintiff, City of Bellingham, and serve a copy of your answer upon the Plaintiff, Steven Bolster, at his address below stated. In case of your failure do so, judgment will be rendered against you according to the demand of the complaint, which has been filed with the clerk of said Court regarding fraud, theft and such other items requested. This summons is issued pursuant to crlj4 of the District Court Civil Rules of the State of Washington. Respectfully submitted this 2nd day of February, 2023. CITY OF BELLINGHAM

Steven Bolster

315 prospect st Unit #1521 Bellingham, WA 98227

Judge David E. Freeman

The Administrator named below has been appointed and has qualified as Administrator of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Administrator or the Administrator’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probated proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) thirty days after the Administrator served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c);

The personal representative named below has been appointed as personal representative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the personal representative or the personal representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the personal representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.

Date of First Publication:

February 9, 2023

Personal Representative: Norma Acalin 2115 Huron Street Bellingham, WA 98229

Attorney for the Personal Representative:

Katti Esp 301 Prospect Street Bellingham, WA 98225

Address for Mailing or Service: Katti Esp 301 Prospect Street Bellingham, WA 98225

Court of Probate Proceedings Superior Court of Whatcom County and Cause Number: Cause No. 22-4-00875-37 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.

Notice of First Publication:

Feb. 9, 2023

Estate Administrator: BRIAN H. BEERMAN

Presented by: Whatcom Law Group, P.S. Roger L. Ellingson, WSBA #19292 Casie C. Rodenberger WSBA #54348 Attorneys for Administrator PO Box 1258 / 289 H Street Blaine, WA 98231-1258 (360) 332-7000; Fax: (360) 332-6677

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