Bellingham accepts fault in lawsuit of teenager injured while crossing street in 2022, Two skiers rescued from tree wells on Mount Baker, Site chosen for proposed Civic Athletic Complex redesign, Whatcom Habitat for Humanity receives $10K grant to combat housing insecurity, Frito-Lay recalls over 6,000 bags of Original Lay’s chips containing undisclosed milk sold across WA and OR
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, December 23rd. Good afternoon, I’m Theron Danielson.
STORY: Bellingham accepts fault in lawsuit of teenager injured while crossing street in 2022
The City of Bellingham has settled a lawsuit for $325,000 related to a February 2022 crash that seriously injured a 14-year-old boy in the Barkley neighborhood.
The boy was crossing Barkley Boulevard on his bicycle when he was struck by a government vehicle driven by an ICE (I-see-ee) employee. The crosswalk’s flashing light system was partially malfunctioning at the time, and a pedestrian sign was covered, contributing to the accident.
The lawsuit, filed by the boy’s parents, Matthew and Lyndsey Stodola (stow-DOUGH-la), accused the city, ICE, and the driver of negligence. The settlement was approved unanimously by the City Council. Officials acknowledged multiple factors in the incident, including the non-functional crosswalk signal, which the city was aware of but failed to address adequately.
The federal government has also agreed to a settlement, though further details were not immediately available. Initially scheduled for a bench trial in September, the case will no longer proceed to court following the settlements.
STORY: Two skiers rescued from tree wells on Mount Baker
According to Gwyn Howat, the President and CEO of the Mount Baker Ski Area, two people were rescued from tree wells at the resort on December 14th.
The rescues were separate incidents that occurred near Chair 6 in the expert area. The skiers were saved without serious injuries, thanks to prompt rescue responses.
Tree wells are voids in deep snow around tree bases, and pose a significant risk of snow suffocation if individuals become trapped and are unable to remove themselves. Howat emphasized that 90% of people in tree well incidents cannot free themselves. In one case, a skier’s partner called ski patrol after hearing cries for help. In the other, bystanders were directed by people on a nearby chairlift to assist.
Howat praised the Mount Baker community for their awareness and quick actions, which she said were lifesaving. Skiers and snowboarders are advised to stick to groomed paths to reduce risks.
The dangers of tree wells have been underscored by two recent fatalities at Mount Baker: Ferndale firefighter Capt. John DeVenere (du-vu-NEER) in 2023 and snowboarder William Kamphausen (CAMP-how-zen) in 2022.
STORY: Site chosen for proposed Civic Athletic Complex redesign
Bellingham has selected a site plan for the Civic Athletic Complex redesign, and will move forward with plans to expand indoor recreation.
Located in the Puget neighborhood, the current complex houses many of the city’s recreational facilities, including the Arne (ar-KNEE) Hanna Aquatics Center and the Sportsplex. City staff presented the public with four options for redevelopment back in November, and it was announced last Thursday on Engage Bellingham that “Option 1” was the public’s favorite. That option includes moving Carl Cozier (CO-zhur) Elementary School to the complex’s northeast corner and repurposing its current site at Lincoln Street and Lakeway Drive for future community recreation facilities.
The redesign also features plans for an interpretive wetland park, multi-use sports fields, and potential expansions to the Sportsplex for additional ice sheets or indoor soccer fields. A formal master plan will be presented to the public next year.
The city and Bellingham Public Schools are finalizing an agreement for the school’s relocation, which will also serve as a temporary space for students from other schools undergoing reconstruction. Community input will be sought for the conceptual community recreation center, and a business plan is being developed to address funding and operational needs.
This project is part of broader efforts by multiple groups in Bellingham to improve access to indoor recreational facilities.
STORY: Whatcom Habitat for Humanity receives $10K grant to combat housing insecurity
Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County received a $10,000 grant from the Washington Federal Foundation and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (duh-MOYN).
The grant was a significant increase from the originally planned $2,500 donation thanks to matching donations, and will be used to address housing insecurity. Elle (EL) England, Habitat’s communications coordinator, stated the grant will help build an energy-efficient, ADA-friendly single-family home in Custer.
STORY: Whatcom Sheriff’s Dept receives $125K for gun buy-back and storage programs
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office has received $125,000 from the Washington Attorney General’s Office for a gun buy-back program and firearm storage in the county.
According to Deb Slater, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Office, some of the funds will go toward buying gift cards in exchange for surrendering firearms and reducing the number of firearms in circulation. As part of the agreement, the Sheriff’s Office will keep track of how it spends the funds and follow reporting requirements set by the Attorney General’s Office.
In total, nearly $2 million were awarded to 12 law enforcement agencies across the state. The funds come from a 2023 lawsuit where a King County judge ruled that a Federal Way gun store had broken state law by selling thousands of high-capacity magazines — the sale of such magazines is banned in Washington state. As a result, the store agreed to pay $3 million to resolve the claims. Attorney General and governor-elect Bob Ferguson says the money is being invested in communities to quote “help law enforcement prevent gun violence” unquote.
More information will be provided by the Sheriff’s Office this spring about the location of the gun buy-back program, date, time and eligibility.
STORY: Frito-Lay recalls over 6,000 bags of Original Lay’s chips containing undisclosed milk sold across WA and OR
Frito-Lay recalled over 6,000 bags of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips in Washington and Oregon last week due to unlisted ingredients.
The affected bags may contain milk, are 13 ounces, and have a “Guaranteed Fresh” date reading of February 11th, 2025. Frito-Lay states that those bags, which were available for sale as early as November 3rd, were distributed to certain retail stores and online distributors in Washington and Oregon.
While no allergic reactions have been reported yet, those with a milk allergy or severe sensitivity to it are being advised to throw away any recalled bags.
WX: I’m in Dallas right now, somebody tell me if this is accurate
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
Enjoy the sun while you can today, for it’s expected to give way to clouds and rain as the day wears on. Daytime highs are projected in the low 50s. Calm winds are forecasted for the majority of the day, though speeds will likely increase later on, with gusts topping out around 28 mph this evening. Nighttime lows are projected in the mid-upper 40s.
And expect the blustery weather to persist throughout tomorrow.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Riley Weeks, Brodey O’Brien, Paloma Ortiz, Anna Hedrick and Miguel Garduño (MEE-gel gar-DOO-ño). 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 Theron Danielson, and thank you for listening.
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