Whatcom County establishes flood debris drop-off centers, Team Rubicon lands in Whatcom, Governor Ferguson amends emergency proclamation, Calls to improve dangerous Deming intersection continue to mount, Whatcom jury reaches verdict in child molestation case, Recent survey shows widespread drops in rental prices across Whatcom, Skagit dump rates rise
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KMRE brings you local news for Wednesday, December, 17th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Whatcom County establishes flood debris drop-off centers
As cleanup around the county continues, officials want you to know that residents can drop off flood-damaged debris at no cost.
Stremler Yard, on Swanson Road in Sumas, will accept drop-offs until 5 p.m. daily. In addition, debris can be brought to either of two Ferndale locations: RDS Disposal on Labounty Drive, and Republic Services on Slater Road. Both also close at 5.
Residents need to sort debris during drop-off, and separate appliances and hazardous household waste. Accepted items include wet furniture and flooring, carpet, insulation, and drywall, as well as fluorescent bulbs, cleaners, and lawn chemicals.
Asbestos, tires, trees, household trash, and vehicles are among items that cannot be deposited at these sites.
For a complete list of approved debris, residents should consult Whatcom County’s hazardous waste webpage.
STORY: Team Rubicon lands in Whatcom
A veteran-led disaster response group, Team Rubicon, has deployed volunteers to help flood-affected residents in Sumas.
Dozens of Team Rubicon “Greyshirts” from across Washington and the Pacific Northwest have come to assist homeowners with debris removal, home muck-outs, and flood mitigation.
This marks the third time Team Rubicon has responded to flooding in Whatcom County. The deployment is being coordinated with the Whatcom County Long Term Recovery Group, the county Emergency Operations Center, the City of Sumas, and local partners, as recovery efforts continue in the region.
STORY: Governor Ferguson amends emergency proclamation
Governor Bob Ferguson amended Washington’s emergency proclamation to speed up help for communities hit by historic flooding across the state.
The amendment lists impacts in 14 counties, activates state assistance programs, and directs 3-point-5 million dollars in emergency funding for relief and recovery. Ferguson also announced the state is setting up Disaster Case Management and will work with FEMA to unlock additional federal aid.
State officials say more than 1,200 rescues and evacuations have already taken place, with thousands still under evacuation orders. Ferguson urged residents to stay alert and follow local evacuation notices as recovery efforts continue.
STORY: Calls to improve dangerous Deming intersection continue to mount
In other news, Whatcom County Council has asked state lawmakers to step in and push for safety improvements at the intersection of Mount Baker Highway and Mitchell Road in Deming.
Council members say the intersection is dangerous, especially for students headed to Mount Baker High School, who must turn across fast-moving traffic traveling 45 miles per hour or more. Since 2015, there have been ten crashes at or near the intersection, including a fatal crash in 2010 that killed a Mount Baker High sophomore.
At a recent County Council meeting, parents and residents pleaded for changes like better lighting, lower speeds, or a roundabout, and say they fear for young drivers as they wait for action from the state.
However, because the highway is officially State Route 542 WSDOT (WASH-dot) has jurisdiction. The Council sent a letter yesterday to state legislators to ask for help in making safety upgrades at the intersection.
STORY: Whatcom jury reaches verdict in child molestation case
A Whatcom County Superior Court jury has found a Bellingham man guilty of second-degree child molestation.
Fifty-seven-year-old Dominic Del Castillo (ca-STEE-yo) was convicted Friday after jurors heard testimony earlier this week. Prosecutors say Del Castillo inappropriately touched a young girl during a sleepover at his home, with the incident reported several years later. He was arrested in December of 2021.
Del Castillo was taken into custody without bail following the verdict. Sentencing is scheduled for February, with prosecutors seeking 15 to 20 months in prison, followed by three years of community custody.
STORY: Recent survey shows widespread drops in rental prices across Whatcom
New rental data shows average prices have eased slightly across much of Whatcom County.
According to Zillow, the average rent in Bellingham across all unit sizes and property types was about two thousand dollars in early December. That’s down one hundred dollars from November, though still about seventy-five dollars higher than this time last year. Zillow says Bellingham’s average rent now matches the national average.
Looking countywide, average rents dipped in several communities, including Sumas (SOO-mass), Everson, Point Roberts and Deming (DEMM-ing). Bellingham and Birch Bay held steady or declined slightly, while Lynden, Blaine and Ferndale saw modest increases compared to last month.
STORY: Skagit dump rates rise
Solid waste disposal rates at Skagit County transfer stations will rise starting January 1st.
According to the County, a 2024 rate study found annual increases were necessary to cover rising costs for long-haul transport and operations. New rates include $141 per ton for general solid waste at the Skagit County Transfer and Recycling Station as well as the Sauk Transfer Station, with a $28 minimum charge for the first 380 pounds. Appliance and freon-item fees remain at $13 and $34, respectively. Recycling and household hazardous waste drop-off remain free for residents.
Rates are scheduled to continue to rise 2–3% annually through 2030.
WX: A brief reprieve
And now for the weather,
We should get a moment of respite (REH-spit) from the rain today, though winds will still be blustery. Precipitation should stay under a tenth of an inch, and wind speeds are expected to reach up to 36 mph. Daytime will drop into the high 40s, with evening lows only dipping into the low 40s. We might see more rain in the evening, but just up to a quarter-inch. Take advantage of the dry day, if you can, because the wet comes back tomorrow with up to half an inch of rain expected.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), and Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee). 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. To help support what we do, check out our Patreon, Substack, or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _________, and thanks for listening!
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