Mount Baker Middle School student taken into custody after allegedly threatening school shooting, Bellingham man formally charged with child rape, pleads not guilty, Man arrested following assault and standoff with police in Maple Falls, County considers fee for private boat launches, WSDOT allows City to lower road speed, Police investigating missing medications in Sedro-Woolley schools, Whatcom Chief down for several hours Wednesday (MUST RUN ON 10/20), Gas prices dip slightly, Staff at Skagit Valley College file to unionize, WA joins coalition opposing corporate merger, citing potential widespread spiking of costs to operate playgrounds, F&C 10/24, Public invited to Port of Bellingham open house (Oct 29)
Independent, nonprofit community radio. KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, October, 20. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Mount Baker Middle School student taken into custody after allegedly threatening school shooting
A potential threat ended with the arrest of a middle school student in Mount Vernon yesterday.
Staff at Mount Baker Middle School alerted their school resource officer yesterday morning to a social media post. That post suggested a possible school‑shooting threat.
The officer and school staff immediately launched an investigation. A 14‑year‑old male student was taken into custody in connection with the post. Police believe he acted alone.
Mount Vernon Police say quick reporting and close coordination with the school district helped ensure student and staff safety.
UPDATE: Bellingham man formally charged with child rape, pleads not guilty
A Bellingham man has pleaded not guilty to child rape charges.
The Bellingham Herald reports police arrested 29‑year‑old Andrew James Blessington on October 12th after a multi‑week investigation. Court records say a high school principal contacted Bellingham Police last month after a student disclosed she had been raped.
Investigators say the girl met Blessington on Snapchat in March, when she was 13. She told police he provided her and her friends with marijuana and alcohol. She allegedly met Blessington again in May; police say he gave her alcohol and raped her in his car while she was intoxicated. Court documents note the girl’s mother reported her daughter “has not been herself” since the assault.
Blessington is charged with two counts of second‑degree child rape, and one count of supplying liquor to a minor. He pleaded not guilty and posted bail of $10,000. His trial is set for November 30th.
STORY: Man arrested following assault and standoff with police in Maple Falls
An argument over WiFi between two neighbors escalated into a stand-off in Maple Falls Saturday afternoon.
Investigators said the suspect, a 42-year-old man, smashed a glass bottle over the victim’s head and threatened to kill him.
When police arrived, the suspect was armed with a machete and refused to leave the building.
The victim was taken to hospital with life-threatening head injuries.
The suspect was held in jail without bail. He was expected to be arraigned yesterday.
STORY: County considers fee for private boat launches
Officials are considering a yearly 60-dollar fee for private boat launches on Lake Whatcom.
The charge is part of an effort to prevent the spread of invasive plants and animals. The city already inspects boats launched from public facilities, including Bloedel-Donovan Park. However, officials say about 60 private launch sites around the lake are not currently regulated.
The permit program would require registration and provide education to property owners and their guests. A similar measure is being considered for the portion of the lake under Whatcom County jurisdiction.
The Bellingham City Council is scheduled to consider the proposal, which would take effect after final approval.
Lake Whatcom provides drinking water to about 100-thousand people.
STORY: WSDOT allows City to lower road speed
Bellingham drivers will see lower speed limits on Old Fairhaven Parkway starting next summer.
The Washington State Department of Transportation has agreed to reduce the limit from 35 to 30 miles per hour between 14th Street and Interstate 5.
They will not, however, reduce it to 25. City officials wanted a 25-mile-per-hour limit on a part of the road closer to the Interurban Trail, but the state rejected that request. A state study found most drivers were traveling between about 29 and 40 miles per hour.
City officials say they want speed limits to reflect pedestrian safety, bike lanes, and nearby bus stops — not just how fast people are already driving.
STORY: Police investigating missing medications in Sedro-Woolley schools
Sedro‑Woolley Schools are investigating problems with student medications.
A routine audit first flagged missing medication at one campus. When staff expanded the review districtwide, they found more discrepancies — including liquid medications that appeared diluted. The district has turned the matter over to Sedro‑Woolley Police.
Families whose medications were impacted have already been contacted, and the district is covering the cost of replacements. No medication from the affected supplies is being administered.
The district is now reviewing storage, access, inventory, and accountability procedures. Because the case involves confidential student and personnel information, officials say no further details will be released while police continue their investigation.
STORY: Whatcom Chief down for several hours Wednesday (MUST RUN ON 10/20)
The Whatcom Chief will be offline for several hours tomorrow for terminal maintenance.
Public Works says the ferry will be out of service from 10:10 a.m. to 3 p.m. while crews inspect facilities at both Lummi Island and Gooseberry Point.
The last morning run from Gooseberry Point is 9:50 a.m., and the last run from Lummi Island is 10 a.m. No additional morning trips will be made afterwards, in order to allow crews to complete a full inspection.
The timing is weather‑dependent, and any changes will be posted on the ferry webpage.
STORY: Gas prices dip slightly
Washington drivers are seeing lower prices at the pump, continuing a downward trend.
Triple-A reports the statewide average for regular gas now sits at $5.37, down 8 cents from a week ago.
In Bellingham, the price for a gallon of regular gas has dropped nine cents over the week, averaging $5.18.
Triple-A says the national average for regular gas is $4.33, down slightly from last week, even as crude oil prices remain high.
GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan says most states are seeing lower gas prices thanks to fuel‑tax pauses and markets settling down. He says global
events could still push prices around, and states with tax suspensions may stay somewhat protected from bigger swings.
STORY: Staff at Skagit Valley College file to unionize Professional staff at Skagit Valley College filed to unionize last Friday.
They include about 100 advisors, financial aid managers, IT staff, and program managers.
One of their organisers, Ali Holmes, told the Cascadia Daily News that they hope to have a collective bargaining voice, given the rising cost of living and inflation.
They were also inspired by staff at other colleges around the state who have chosen to unionize.
STORY: WA joins coalition opposing corporate merger, citing potential widespread spiking of costs to operate playgrounds A bipartisan group of attorney generals have joined the Federal Trade Commission to block a merger between the country’s two largest makers of playground equipment.
They say a merger between Power Play and BCI Burke will drive up costs for schools and parks.
The two companies build and maintain about 90 percent of playground equipment.
WX: Rise ‘n shrug
And now for the weather…
Sunnier skies and slightly warmer weather lie ahead of us today, with daytime highs projected in the mid-60s. Expect the skies to remain mostly clear heading into tonight, wherein we’ll likely see things cool down to lows in the upper-30s — bringing the fog back with it.
But expect it all to burn off sometime tomorrow morning, which should leave us with another warm-ish sunny afternoon.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRAH-guh), Kyler Cantrell (can-TRELL), Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), KAI (eye) Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Jenny Lam, Doug Langworthy, and Cheri Cloninger (SHARE-ee CLAWN-in-ger). Tune in to local news on KMRE weekdays at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. For news tips and feedback, send us an email at news@kmre.org or call 360-398-6150. KMRE is a nonprofit community radio station, powered by your donations. To help support our work, check out our Patreon, or Substack, or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________… thanks for listening!
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F&C 10/24
Looking for some Halloween fun this weekend? Whatcom County has plenty of ways to get your spooky season started.
In Bellingham, the Night Gallery’s Monster Club returns Friday night at the Hotel Leo, with monsters, music, interactive theater and live performances.
Fairhaven’s free Spooktacular continues through Saturday at Woodstock Farm, featuring a haunted house, dancing and a spooky séance room.
The Bellingham Circus Guild also opens its Halloween production, the Beastly Frightful Unspeakably Spooky Circus of Doom, with acrobatics, juggling and aerial performances.
On Saturday, Stone Throw Brewery hosts a free pumpkin-carving event from noon to five, and the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center offers a pumpkin patch in the pool from 4:30 to six.
And Halloween festivities continue next week with downtown trick-or-treating Friday, October 30th, followed by food tastings, ghost tours and costume parties on Halloween itself.
The Ferndale Sister City – Minamiboso Japan Sister City Event – 35 Years… celebrates all the Peoples of Ferndale up to our current Minamiboso relationship.
This free, City of Ferndale Partnership event for all ages, offers something for everyone. From pumpkins where it all began…to the Official Opening Ceremony, FSCA/Minamiboso Photo History, the Pearl Divers of Minamiboso, Regional Display, Shells from both Coasts, Honoring Tsow Sum with Minamiboso, The Import Guys BIG surprise, WCLS Japan books to check out, the FSCA Literacy and Growing Program, FSCA Resource Center, the “Peoples of Ferndale Performances”…Blue Lighting Canoe Family, Ferndale Heritage Society Attire, Danza Latina, The JCYG “Eras of Japan” Runway, Wonderland tea and Haggens cookies, Door prize, JCYG Chopstick Seed Game, Youth Art Photo Op/ Mascot Lounge, BIG free raffle, attendees receive a special pearl Anniversary gift (while supplies last).
Much to learn and experience…
Celebrate with us!
EVENT SCHEDULE:
1:00PM to 1:30PM – OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY
– Land Acknowledgement
– “Peoples of Ferndale” Dance – Blue Lightening Canoe Family
– Civic / Municipal Interchange
1:30PM to 3:00PM EVENT ONGOING
– All Event Offerings Listed Above
2:00PM TEA AND COOKIES
– 1ST ROUND FREE RAFFLE DRAWING
2:30PM
– 2ND ROUND FREE RAFFLE DRAWING
3:00PM – PERFORMANCE – “Peoples of Ferndale”
– Ferndale Heritage Society, Historic Attire
– Dance, Danza Latina
– The JCYG/Japanese Cultural Youth Group, “Eras of Japan” Runway
3:30PM – PUMPKIN GIVE AWAY
3:45PM – 4:00 EVENT CLOSING – THANK YOU TO ALL
STORY: Public invited to Port of Bellingham open house (Oct 29) The Port of Bellingham will hold an open house for the public on Thursday, October 29th.
Community members can talk with Port staff and project leaders about the future of the waterfront, airport, harbors, events and community programs, while sharing their questions and ideas.
The free event will include refreshments and information stations. And, while supplies last, anyone who gets a passport stamped at all the stations can take home a rubber Disco Duck.
The event runs from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Squalicum Boathouse.
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