Three of four suspects arrested in downtown Bellingham assault and mugging, Man arrested in connection with Mount Vernon shooting, Whatcom County woman reports losing $14,000 to scammer, National Weather Service warns of dangerous weather hazards lingering in Whatcom County, Bird flu kills 20 big cats in Shelton, Free and Cheap, Bellingham nonprofit introduces barnyard therapy for hospice patients and families, Mandatory food and yard waste collection to come to Bellingham in 2025 in advance of statewide adoption
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Friday, December 27th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Three of four suspects arrested in downtown Bellingham assault and mugging
Three men were arrested after a robbery in downtown Bellingham Sunday morning.
The incident occurred on Cornwall Avenue at 8:30 a.m., when four suspects assaulted a man before stealing his wallet. According to Bellingham Police, they were able to identify the suspects after reviewing video footage and arrested three of them the same day – 30-year-old Austin James Elkins, 26-year-old Kyle Michael Koop, and 29-year-old Justin Thomas Lee Smith. They remain in custody without bail at Whatcom County Jail.
Authorities are still searching for the fourth suspect.
STORY: Man arrested in connection with Mount Vernon shooting
Also on Sunday 49-year-old Sean Paul Shelley was arrested after a shooting that injured two men in a Mount Vernon home.
The men, aged 50 and 53, were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Police responded to a report of gunshots at a residence on South 3rd Street around 9 a.m. and found the suspect outside with a firearm. A witness stated the suspect, who knew the victims, also threatened him with the gun.
The suspect was charged with two counts of first-degree attempted murder and one count of first-degree assault and booked into Skagit County Jail.
STORY: Member of Whatcom drug ring sentenced following plea deal
Edwin Vite-Delgado, a convicted member of a drug ring operating in Whatcom County, has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison, followed with three more years of community custody as part of a plea deal.
He was among five individuals arrested earlier this year in connection with the ring, which operated out of two Everett apartments where over 71 pounds of narcotics were seized.
The 27-year-old Vite-Delgado pled guilty to three counts of drug possession and distribution on December 19th. Last month, another member, 34-year-old Austin Grimme, received over 18 years on unrelated charges, including burglary and firearm possession, after manufacturing firearms charges were dismissed in a separate plea deal.
The remaining three suspects are still being held in Whatcom County Jail.
STORY: Whatcom County woman reports losing $14,000 to scammer
Authorities say a Whatcom County woman lost $14,000 in a phone scam that involved a caller posing as a sheriff’s deputy.
The scammer falsely claimed she had missed jury duty and faced an arrest warrant, pressuring her to pay him in order to “resolve” the issue. No suspects have been identified. Deb Slater, a spokesperson for the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, emphasizes that law enforcement will never ask for money to resolve warrants and advises individuals to hang up immediately if they receive such calls.
Residents can verify the details of jury duty by contacting the Whatcom County Courthouse directly at 360-778-5400.
STORY: National Weather Service warns of dangerous weather hazards lingering in Whatcom County
Coastal Whatcom County may have escaped the worst of last week’s windstorm, but dangerous weather hazards remain.
As another storm in a series of atmospheric rivers hits Western Washington, the National Weather Service says that rainy weather will persist in the lowlands around Bellingham, with snow falling above 3,500 feet. A winter weather advisory is in effect today and tomorrow.
Officials from Mount Baker Ski Area said that over 2 feet of snow has fallen there since Christmas Eve, while heavy snowfall was reported yesterday on the Mount Baker Highway by the state Department of Transportation.
STORY: Bird flu kills 20 big cats in Shelton
Bird flu has caused significant losses at the Wild Felid (FEH-luhd) Advocacy Center of Washington, with more than half the sanctuary’s population dying in the last few weeks.
The sanctuary in Shelton announced a total of 20 deaths, which began around Thanksgiving and included African servals, cougars, bobcats, and a tiger.
The virus, which spreads through respiratory secretions and bird-to-bird contact, can infect carnivorous mammals that ingest infected birds. Cats are particularly susceptible to the disease. The sanctuary suspects bird droppings from migratory birds may have been the source. Affected animals exhibited rapid-onset symptoms like lethargy, low appetite, and pneumonia-like conditions.
Bird flu cases are increasing in Washington state, with additional cases in cougars as well as domestic cats. While human infections are rare, the CDC warns of potential risks with prolonged exposure to infected animals.
STORY: Free and cheap
It’s Friday – if you’re looking for something free or cheap to do this weekend, here’s a bit of what’s going on around the county.
The New Prospect Theatre at Prospect Street will host The Upfront Theatre’s White Elephant show tonight and tomorrow night. The comedy show centered on the game will see gifts from audience members and improvisers worked in. While you don’t have to bring a gift, those who do will receive 50% off their ticket price. Tickets starting at $10.25 can be purchased at the Upfront’s website.
Meanwhile, The Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon will be hosting its own comedic offering tonight. The Pacific Northwest’s own Gabriel Rutledge will headline a show at 7:30 p.m. Rutledge is a past winner of both the Seattle International Comedy Competition and The Laughing Skull Comedy Festival in Atlanta; his Drybar special, released earlier this year, has already garnered millions of views. Tickets starting at $25 can be purchased at the Lincoln Theatre’s website – they are going fast, so get them while you can.
Finally, The Band of Havilah (HUH-vih-luh) will be performing at Stones Throw Brewery on Larrabee Avenue tomorrow at 6 p.m. Led by singer-songwriter Havilah Rand, their repertoire includes a mix of originals and covers of songs from artists like Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, and Joni Mitchell. Entry is free, and the venue is family, pet, and outside food friendly.
WX: Bueller, Bueller, Bueller
And now weather:
Expect overcast skies and rain today, with daytime highs in the mid-high 40s and wind gusts up to 32 miles per hour. Temperatures will be steady with evening lows also in the mid-40s.
Blustery rains are expected throughout much of the weekend.
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 your donations. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _David Korb_______________… thanks for listening.
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STORY: Bellingham nonprofit introduces barnyard therapy for hospice patients and families
Bellingham nonprofit Animals as Natural Therapy (or ANT) has launched a mobile farm animal therapy to hospice patients in Whatcom County.
According to a recent announcement, the Rainbow Bridge program brings volunteers to care facilities with animals like bunnies, chickens, and horses to comfort hospice patients, grieving families, and staff.
The program, offered in partnership with Whatcom Hospice and PeaceHealth, began visits on December 4th and will expand biweekly in January, including potential home visits. Services are free for patients, supported by donations and grants. Volunteers receive specialized training to assist with end-of-life care.
ANT was established in 1999, and provides animal-guided mental health programs for youth, veterans, and seniors.
STORY: Mandatory food and yard waste collection to come to Bellingham in 2025 in advance of statewide adoption
Starting next year, single-family households in Bellingham will be required to use the FoodPlus collection service for food and yard waste.
According to the City of Bellingham, the move aims to align local law with Washington state goals to reduce landfill organic waste by 75% by 2030. FoodPlus, offered since 2005 by Sanitary Service Company as a voluntary service, collects organic materials biweekly, including food scraps, yard debris, and compostable packaging. Currently, 8,000 households participate—- an additional 12,000 homes will be added by next May. The program will not initially include multi-family residences.
According to the City, FoodPlus costs $13.69 per month but residents can save money by reducing trash service frequency. Exemptions for at-home composters are unavailable; however, FoodPlus accepts materials like meat and dairy that are unsuitable for backyard composting because of its high-heat processing.
Processed locally by Green Earth Technology, the compost supports landscaping, agriculture, and public works while reducing emissions and cost from long-distance waste transport. The compost is also sold locally.
Bellingham joins Seattle as early adopters of mandatory composting.
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