Family of fisherman who drowned off of Point Roberts questions efficacy of Coast Guard response, Blaine man found guilty of attempted murder, Bellingham purchases two new parcels of land around Lake Whatcom, New data shows average price of Bellingham rentals up significantly from August of last year, Vaccination rates for kindergarteners down in Whatcom and Skagit counties compared to 2020, Anacortes police warn residents of ongoing cryptocurrency scam, WA fire officials seeking amendments to state building codes amid surge of cramped new dwellings, WSP dealing with increasing backlog of forensic firearms investigations, Free or Cheap (Kill 9/12)
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, August 19th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Family of fisherman who drowned off of Point Roberts questions efficacy of Coast Guard response
The U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards are facing criticism after a Lummi Nation fisherman drowned off Point Roberts last week.
Kevin Finkbonner was in the water for more than an hour before rescuers arrived. His brother survived after being pulled out by a Good Samaritan boat. In his obituary, Finkbonner was described as an avid fisherman and outdoorsman who also worked as a commercial fisherman, among other trades.
In a video message to members, Lummi Nation Chairman Tony Hillaire read a statement from Finkbonner’s parents, Ronnie and Alena Finkbonner.
The statement said even as they mourned their son, they found it deeply troubling that when tragedy struck, quick and effective response was not there. The family says the response was too slow, noting Kevin was less than two miles from Point Roberts Harbor.
Coast Guard officials say the first distress call went through 911 instead of marine radio, which added delays.
Lummi Nation Police are conducting an investigation.
STORY: Blaine man found guilty of attempted murder
A Blaine man has been found guilty of trying to kill his girlfriend.
A Whatcom County jury convicted 42-year-old Clayton Dubois (dew-BWAH) of first-degree attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms. According to court documents, prosecutors say he struck Caroline Higgins in the face with propane tanks last August after claiming she had put a spell on him.
Higgins suffered devastating injuries that required multiple surgeries, including facial reconstruction.
Dubois, who already had a felony record, will be sentenced September 18th. Attempted murder in Washington carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
STORY: Bellingham purchases two new parcels of land around Lake Whatcom
The City of Bellingham has purchased nearly 12 acres of land around Lake Whatcom.
The City Council announced on Monday that two underdeveloped plots — of almost six acres each — will now be part of Bellingham’s project to protect the lake.
Lake Whatcom is the source of drinking water for more than 100,000 people. According to The Bellingham Herald, the city has protected nearly 4,000 acres, having acquired 1,025 acres in 2025 alone.
STORY: New data shows average price of Bellingham rentals up significantly from August of last year
According to data from Zillow, average rental prices in Bellingham are up 328 dollars since last August. Average prices this month are down by 7 dollars compared to last month.
The average rent for all types of rentals is 2,195 dollars, which is 5% higher than the national average.
STORY: Vaccination rates for kindergarteners down in Whatcom and Skagit counties compared to 2020
Fewer Whatcom and Skagit County kindergartners will start school with all their required vaccines, raising concerns about preventable disease outbreaks.
According to state health data, less than 82 percent of Whatcom kindergartners and just over 86 percent in Skagit were fully vaccinated last fall — both below the state average and down from five years ago. According to Dr. Meghan Lelonek (lih-LON-neck), Whatcom County’s co-health officer, 86% of Whatcom and nearly 90% of Skagit kindergartners have the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine — well short of the community-level goal of 95% compliance for measles. Health officials say that leaves many schools vulnerable to illnesses like measles and whooping cough, which saw a 25-fold increase statewide last year.
Officials say some families claim exemptions or face barriers to access, while others are simply missing paperwork. Local schools say they are working with parents to get students into compliance, often before considering exclusion from school.
STORY: Anacortes police warn residents of ongoing cryptocurrency scam
Cryptocurrency scams are hitting Anacortes hard — and locals are losing big.
Anacortes Police say they’re seeing a spike in reports involving crypto scams. In a recent Facebook post, the department says residents have lost tens of thousands of dollars in recent weeks.
Scammers are demanding payment in cryptocurrency — a digital currency that’s hard to trace and nearly impossible to recover once sent. Some victims were even told they had outstanding warrants, and needed to pay up in crypto to avoid arrest.
Police warn that if someone demands crypto, it’s almost certainly a scam.
They advise residents to pause, verify, and never act under pressure. Call a friend, do some research, or better yet — call the police. They would rather talk to you before money changes hands than after it’s gone.
STORY: WA fire officials seeking amendments to state building codes amid surge of cramped new dwellings
More housing means less room for rescue — and Washington firefighters say it’s putting lives at risk.
As Washington lawmakers push for higher housing density to ease the crisis, fire officials warn it’s creating dangerous access issues. According to the Washington State Standard, homes packed too tightly are leaving firefighters with just three feet of space to reach doors — not wide enough for a gurney or ladder.
Fire marshals want the state to require at least a five-foot-wide path to any new home that does not face a street or alley. They say it’s a growing safety concern for both emergency crews and residents.
The state’s Building Code Council did not adopt the emergency rule on Friday — instead, it’s sending it to committee for further review.
The building industry is pushing back, saying the proposal could block construction of backyard units like mother-in-law cottages, which are key to boosting affordable housing.
Both sides agree on one thing: they’re open to compromise, and the conversation is not over.
WX: Emotionally unavailable
And now for the weather:
Today will be a predominantly cloudy one, with temperatures remaining solidly where they’ve been: highs in the mid-to-low 70s. The overcast skies may break somewhat as the afternoon rolls on, though don’t hold your breath on the sun coming out for any length of time. We should see continuing cloudy skies as we head into the evening, and temps are expected to drop to lows in the high 50s.
Our little dreary spell will likely break tomorrow, with some partial morning clouds giving way to sunny skies that should linger for a good few days.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THARE-un) Danielson, Cody Mills, Aidan Larson, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Bella Mae, Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Nate Landi (LAND-ee) and Hailey LeRoy (luh-ROY). 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. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thank you for listening!
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STORY: WSP dealing with increasing backlog of forensic firearms investigations
STORY: Free or Cheap (Kill 9/12)
https://www.whatcomcd.org/run-with-the-chums — Sat, Sept. 13
Mark your calendars for the 13th Annual Run with the Chums on September 13th at BP Highlands in Birch Bay.
This free, family-friendly 5K fun run celebrates salmon, clean water, and community. All ages and paces are welcome, and the scenic course offers stunning views of Whatcom County’s shoreline.
Kids 10 and under can enjoy the Smolt Sprint obstacle course starting at 9:30 a.m., with the 5K kicking off at 10.
Check-in opens at 8:30 a.m.—arrive early for a free T-shirt while supplies last.
