No-contact order violation leads to seven-hour standoff with Blaine PD, one arrest, Fatal fire in Mount Vernon under investigation, WWU to contract out 9-1-1 calls, First Harcourt Waterfront Condominium units to open in October, Bellingham Bells Playoff run continues tonight, Department of Natural Resources opens comments on 90-acre lumber sale in Whatcom County, Wildfires spotted near Mt. Baker and in North Cascades National Park
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, August 12th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: No-contact order violation leads to seven-hour standoff with Blaine PD, one arrest
A Blaine man was arrested last Friday after a seven-hour standoff with law enforcement officers.
According to a news release from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, on July 29th, 35-year-old Tristen Alexander violated a no-contact order made against him after he forced his way into a Blaine residence and physically assaulted the person who filed for protection. The victim was able to escape in a vehicle to a nearby gas station where Alexander allegedly followed and blocked the road with his own vehicle.
Deputies charged Alexander after the incident was reported to the sheriff’s office on August 2nd. A search warrant was authorized after Alexander did not respond to deputies’ attempts to contact him at his residence. SWAT and crisis negotiators were deployed to the scene due to the suspicion that Alexander had access to firearms and the severity of the charges. The standoff began around 8am and ended nearly 7 hours later when law enforcement used less-than-lethal and chemical munitions to stun him.
Alexander was taken into custody on suspicion of nine domestic violence charges including: first-degree burglary domestic violence, felony order violation, felony harassment, and third degree assault, among others. He was treated for minor injuries.
Alexander was also arrested back in May by the Blaine Police Department for allegedly sending a threatening photo to the same person, which resulted in the no-contact order.
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges against Alexander are pending.
STORY: Fatal fire in Mount Vernon under investigation
Police are investigating a deadly fire that destroyed a house in Concrete on Friday morning.
Officials from the Skagit Valley Sheriff’s Office responded to the blaze at a two-story residence on State Route 530. According to a news release by Mount Vernon Police, several victims were located at the scene, and the house was completely destroyed. Recovery efforts may last days due to the collapsed structure, and the MVPD did not state how many victims were found.
Mount Vernon Police are requesting anyone with information to call them during business hours, or at their 24-hour dispatch information number.
STORY: WWU to contract out 9-1-1 calls
Western Washington University (WWU) announced that it will switch its emergency dispatch services to What-Comm 911 starting this January.
Western’s police department is currently the only in the county not being dispatched by What-Comm 911. According to reporting by the Cascadia Daily News, Western’s chief of police Katy Potts said the decision came after many conversations about campus safety, as well as the rising costs of upgrading Western’s dispatch center’s technology, which was estimated to cost over half a million dollars.
The switch will result in the lay off of four employees at Western’s dispatch, but according to Potts they will have the opportunity to apply for jobs at What-Comm 911.
Potts also stated the switch will enhance Western’s emergency response capabilities, as well as streamline their communication with other local law enforcement.
STORY: First Harcourt Waterfront Condominium units to open in October
The Waterfront Condominium project overlooking Bellingham Bay is finally set to welcome residents in October––four years past the original deadline.
The condo complex, spearheaded by Irish developer Harcourt and brokered by Chris Erdmann of eXp Realty, includes luxury condos priced from $535,000 to $1.85 million. The project has faced numerous delays and controversies, including missed construction deadlines and legal disputes with the Port of Bellingham. Despite the setbacks, about 35% of the 28 units in the first building, Block A, are already under contract. Block B is expected to open in April 2025, with the completion date for the final building still uncertain.
The project, which began in 2018, aims to transform the former Georgia Pacific paper mill site into a key residential area in Bellingham’s downtown. Though the relationship between Harcourt and the port has soured over time, Erdmann remains optimistic about the development’s future and is hosting tours to showcase the nearly completed units.
STORY: Bellingham Bells Playoff run continues tonight
It’s baseball playoff season–– and the Bellingham Bells play tonight in the deciding game of their best-of-three opening playoff series.
After last night’s 2-0 home shutout win over the Edmonton Riverhawks, they could advance to the West Coast League (WCL) North Division Championship with another home win tonight.
The game starts at 6:35 p.m., and tickets are currently available on the Bells website.
STORY: Department of Natural Resources opens comments on 90-acre lumber sale in Whatcom County
The state Department of Natural Resources is seeking comments on a proposal to sell just over 89 acres of forest on the Van Zandt Dike plateau.
Conservation non-profit, RE Sources, said in a news release that it opposes the sale. According to RE Sources, members of the Whatcom Forest Watch coalition have identified the four stands of trees that are part of the so-called Little Lilly sale as being made up of mostly mature, naturally regenerated forest. RE Sources argues that mature forests are more resilient to wildfire, regulate water flow, and filter pollutants and therefore should not be logged. The group also notes that the sale units are located near buffer zones of marbled murrelet nesting sites–– a seabird that nests in old-growth forests and is classified as an endangered species by the state.
According to Washington State law, the revenue generated by timber sales on publicly owned property, like Little Lilly, goes toward local schools, rural libraries, emergency responders and local universities. Following the sale, DNR says it plans to replant the area with native conifer.
More information can be found at DNR.wa.gov. Comments on the proposed sale must be received by 4:30 p.m. this Thursday and should include the file name. Submit comments via email to sepacenter@dnr.wa.gov.
STORY: Wildfires spotted near Mt. Baker and in North Cascades National Park
Several new wildfires in and around Whatcom County ignited on Friday.
According to the app Watch Duty, new fires are active in North Cascades National Park, the Mount Baker wilderness, and Sumas (soo-MASS) Mountain. According to the National Weather Service, thunderstorms across the North Cascades, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds, likely contributed to these fires, and prompted a Red Flag Warning.
In addition, three smaller fires were reported near Glacier, while the Ruby Fire in the North Cascades has grown to 107 acres and is being actively suppressed with aerial resources. The Easy Fire, now at more than 1,700 acres, caused the ongoing closure of the North Cascade Highway due to falling trees and poor visibility from smoke.
WX: Partly sunny
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
This week’s weather is projected to be cooler than last, with today’s highs expected to stay right around 70. The skies will be partly sunny, with a 25% chance of precipitation, and a persistent haze from the wildfire smoke. Nighttime lows will be in the high 50s. Tomorrow’s weather is expected to be largely overcast, with similar daytime temperatures.
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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