Initial election results, Fire District 4 levy lid lift seems to be passing, Officials access fire threat to Whatcom town, Farmer fined for illegal watering, New Youth resource center opens in Eversen, Free Entrance to the Fair with Food donation, Rep Rick Larsen host app competition
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, August 2nd. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Initial election results
The initial results of the Whatcom County primary races are in, and although the races won’t be certified until August 15th, there are some clear leaders.
Leading the Bellingham mayoral race are Seth Fleetwood and Kim Lund.
The competition for the top position in Whatcom County government– the County Executive– seems likely to be between the incumbent, Satpal Sidhu, and Republican-endorsed challenger Dan Purdy.
Longtime county council member Kathy Kershner faces strong competition from challenger Mark Stremler, who positioned himself to Kershner’s political right. Currently, Stremler is leading by about 220 votes.
Russ Whidbee, who previously lost a close race for Bellingham City Council, will have another chance and seems likely to face 24-year-old Jace Cotton to replace Kristina Michele Martens on the council.
Martens, who ran for mayor instead of her incumbent City Council position, finished fourth in the primary.
Joe Scanlon will likely face Hannah Ordos in the Whatcom County Council At-Large Position B.
Hannah Stone will face off against Eamon Collins (A-mun CALL-ins) in Bellingham Ward 1.
6,600 ballots are left to count, with an estimated 25.5% voter turnout. The next ballot count is scheduled for 5 pm tomorrow. The winners of the primary races will advance to the November 7th ballot.
Other significant races in November include the selection between current Sheriff Bill Elfo’s undersheriff, Doug Chadwick, or Blaine Police Chief Donnell Tanskley for the next Whatcom County sheriff. Additionally, voters will consider a 0.2% sales tax increase to fund a new jail and related social services, a measure that has previously failed twice in the past eight years.
STORY: Fire District 4 levy lid lift seems to be passing
In more election news, early results show that voters are likely to approve the levy increase to fund Fire District 4.
About 70 percent of voters approved the measure, with 14 percent of the ballots left to count. The levy rate would increase by 36 cents per 1,000 dollars of property value, costing owners of a 550,000 dollar home an additional 200 dollars per year. The funds would allow Fire District 4 to maintain 24/7 staffing, and pay for repairs and replacement of aging equipment. Call volumes to District 4 have increased by 63 percent since 2019. Higher demand for service and inflation have made around-the-clock service more costly.
STORY: Officials assess fire threat to Whatcom town
As a 25-acre fire burns on Sourdough Mountain in North Cascade National Park, officials are preparing to protect the nearby town of Diablo in the event that the fire spreads.
Additional wildland fire crews are headed to the steep terrain where the fire currently burns.
Hikers are advised that part of the Sourdough Mountain trail has been closed, and officials warn drivers not to pull over on the nearby two lane road to take photos.
STORY: Farmer fined for illegal watering
A farm on 3 parcels of land in Lynden and Sumas (SUE-mass) was fined $12,000 for illegally watering blueberries.
The 40-acre area was not permitted for irrigation and despite a cease and desist order filed against RAN General Partnership last summer, blueberries fields were still planted.
According to recent court filings, the company never attempted to get permits to water the crops.
STORY: New youth resource center opens in Everson
A new Youth Resource Center is opening in Everson this month.
The local practice Touchstone Counseling Group will provide services for teens and children including group therapy and after-school activities. The Resource Center includes a Youth Crisis Triage Unit for kids experiencing acute mental health challenges. It will also offer basic resources like food, clothing, toiletries, and showers to disadvantaged children and families.
Caregivers saw a huge need for youth crisis care after Covid, according to Community Outreach Coordinator Becky Rainey.
The current triage unit will treat children for up to 24 hours before referring them for longer term care. Touchstone has applied for a grant to build a 16 bed unit where patients can receive treatment for up to 90 days.
The new facility is at 103 West Main Street next to the Everson Police Department.
STORY: Free entrance to the fair with food donation
The Northwest Washington Fair, which starts in Lynden in a little over a week, is offering free admission in exchange for food donations on Friday, August 11th.
Brown & Brown, the sponsors of ‘Food Drive Friday’, are asking for donations of canned proteins, pasta, dry pinto beans, and rice. A total of four items has to be brought in by guests in order to qualify for free admission. Brown & Brown are also accepting donations at their offices in Lynden and Seattle through August 10th. The food will be donated to the Whatcom County Food Bank Network.
STORY: Rep Rick Larsen hosts app competition
Yesterday, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen announced the launch of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge.
The challenge seeks to encourage middle and high school students to learn coding and gives students living in Washington’s 2nd congressional district an opportunity to create and submit their own original apps for mobile devices, computers and the Internet. The 2nd congressional district includes all of Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan Counties, as well as part of Snohomish County.
Deadline for applications is November 1st, with Representative Larsen announcing the winner in December.
WX: Partly cloudy
It’s sunshine all day, with overnight lows around 55 degrees and temperatures in the mid-70s. Expect things to get a bit warmer tomorrow and through the weekend as we get closer to 80 degrees. And of course, things are warmer in the county– likely in the mid-80s.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Myles Weber, Emma Toscani and Carlos Braga. 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 listener donations. I’m ________________ and thanks for listening.
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