Whatcom County terminates contract with medical examiners over mishandled cadavers, New Bellingham roundabout to open tomorrow, Bellingham Public Works Department announces next phase of creek restoration plan, Bellingham Senior Activity Center to relocate to newly acquired building, Continuing probe into Whatcom County council’s handling of sexual harassment suit, State confirms first case of chronic wasting disease in deer
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, August 6th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Whatcom County terminates contract with medical examiners over mishandled cadavers
A new 24-page report by a Bellingham law firm has revealed procedural gaps that contributed to the mishandling of bodies by the Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The office, operated by Hunt Forensics, faced criticism for losing track of the remains of two individuals. The incident, which occurred between May 10th and 13th, sparked both county and state investigations, and led to the dismissal of ME Allison Hunt. The report, by Kristofer Bundy of Bundy Law Group PLLC, identifies miscommunication and procedural failures as contributing factors to the improper storage. As a result, the contract with Moles Farewell Tributes & Crematory Center was terminated, and a new contract was established with Simple Cremations. County Executive Satpal Sidhu acknowledged Dr. Hunt’s contributions during challenging times but emphasized the need for a new ME.
The search for her replacement is expected to take several months; the state’s investigation into Moles is still ongoing.
STORY: New Bellingham roundabout to open tomorrow
Just in time for the Fair– the new roundabout on Smith and Hannegan Roads is expected to reopen by the end of tomorrow.
According to a news release, drivers are warned that the intersection looks completely different as it’s now a multi-lane roundabout–– vehicles should slow down and use caution when traveling through the intersection for the first time.
The County says construction site clean up is scheduled for Thursday, and crews will return next month to install lights and hydroseed the project site.
For more information and future updates, visit the Whatcom County website.
STORY: Bellingham Public Works Department announces next phase of creek restoration plan
The restoration of Padden Creek enters a new phase this month as work begins on the section from 30th to 24th Streets in the Happy Valley Neighborhood.
According to Craig Meuller (MEW-ler), project engineer with the Department of Public Works, the stream will be re-routed into a more natural pattern that will help native fish survive by providing deep pools and fallen trees where they can rest and hide from predators. The restoration will also change the way water is displaced and improve flood-control in the area, Councilman Michael Lilliquist said at a City Council committee meeting in June where the project was discussed.
The creek does not meet current Clean Water Act standards for dissolved oxygen, temperature, and fecal coliform. The Padden Creek restoration project is one of many undertaken by the city and state over the past decade according to the City of Bellingham website. The work done to-date aims to improve water quality, restore fish habitat, reduce flood risks, and open upstream habitat for fish and other animals that have been blocked by human construction.
The second and final phase of the fish passage project is estimated to cost $31.2 million and is funded by the Clean Water Act.
STORY: Bellingham Senior Activity Center to relocate to newly acquired building
The Bellingham Senior Activity Center is getting a new home.
The Whatcom Council on Aging (WCOA) announced the purchase of the former WECU office building on East Bellis Fair Parkway. The current Senior Center sees around 400 people coming through its doors every day. According to reporting by the Cascadia Daily News, a lack of air conditioning and open spaces have caused the senior center’s popular fitness classes to be canceled when the weather gets too hot. The new location is bigger, has central air conditioning and a spacious open floor plan for dedicated activities.
In addition, the nonprofit distributes 270,000 meals a year for homebound seniors, and right now those meals are mostly purchased from a vendor. The new building has a large outbuilding that they plan to convert into a commercial kitchen, to bring its ‘Meals on Wheels and More’ program fully in-house.
The building also has a large parking lot and is served by public transit, to provide easy access for the growing Whatcom County senior population.
The Council on Aging says it plans to fundraise for the $10 million needed to renovate and operate the new senior activity center.
STORY: Continuing probe into Whatcom County council’s handling of sexual harassment suit
Three months ago, Whatcom County started an investigation into the handling of a sexual harassment settlement, and the update at last night’s council meeting was… there are no significant updates.
The investigation was initiated in April after a harassment complaint against former Public Works Director Jon Hutchings was brought to light by investigative reporting at Cascade PBS. In November of last year, a settlement of $225,000 was paid to a female employee who brought a complaint against Hutchings. Hutchings then resigned in lieu of termination and was later given a glowing letter of recommendation by County Executive Satpal Sidhu. The sequence of events came as a shock to County Council members after Cascade PBS broke the story in April, and the situation sparked broad public outcry.
The Council says its investigation aims to address systemic issues in reporting and transparency. However, despite their efforts, the investigative subcommittee– composed of council members Ben Elenbaas, Barry Buchanan, and Todd Donovan– says progress has been slow due to scheduling conflicts. According to records, about a dozen interviews have been conducted, with a few more pending.
At last night’s Council meeting, member Mark Stremler expressed frustration over the delays, and emphasized the need for timely answers. Buchanan suggested the County hire an outside consultant to further examine the issue, but the idea did not gain immediate traction with the council. Executive Satpal Sidhu acknowledged the thorough approach of the committee and said he continues to support their work.
STORY: State confirms first case of chronic wasting disease in deer
Washington State has confirmed its first case of chronic wasting disease– also known as zombie deer disease– in a white-tailed deer found in Spokane.
This makes Washington the 36th state to detect the fatal brain disease, which affects the nervous system of deer, elk, and moose. The disease is caused by misfolded prions (PRY-ons). Similar to Mad Cow Disease, CWD leads to erratic behavior and emaciation in animals, and is always fatal.
Although Chronic Wasting Disease is not known to affect humans, health officials advise against consuming meat from infected animals. CWD was first identified in Colorado in the 1960s and has since spread across North America. Washington has tested for the disease since 1995, and expanded efforts after Idaho’s first case in 2021.
WDFW’s management plan includes the restriction of carcass movement, the establishment of a response team, and a focus on testing within a 10-mile radius of detection sites. Details on changes to testing and carcass transport rules are still being developed, but in its recent release, DFW says testing will be crucial. Hunters and salvagers are encouraged to submit samples, and Fish and Wildlife officials say rule changes that would require samples from any harvest may be necessary.
The agency is meeting this week to determine next steps.
WX: Sun (What the heck I have my jacket on)
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Today our cloudy skies should burn off by the afternoon and leave us with sunny skies and sparse cloud cover, with a high in the low-mid 70s. Expect mild south-southwest winds throughout the day, gusting up to 18 mph. The evening will see those winds slow slightly, as well as temperatures dropping to the upper 50s. The forecast for Wednesday– expect highs in the low-80’s and sunny.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman (COOL-mun), Carlee Schram (CAR-lee SHRAM), Tristan Trudell, Kyler Cantrell, Ikumi Mashiko (ih-KOO-me muh-SHE-ko), Anna Vickers, and Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson. 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. Check out our Patreon page or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thank you for listening.
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