Burglary suspect finally arrested by Bellingham PD after nearly 16 months, Carjacker who fled police at Canadian border charged in Whatcom County, WSDOT awards $7 million grant to increase crossing speeds at US-Canadian border, Work on Whatcom bridge and culvert project to commence next spring, Work on Whatcom bridge and culvert project to commence next spring, Events, services and businesses affected by New Year’s, Public comments open on amendments to Northwest Forest Plan, Public comments open on amendments to Northwest Forest Plan, PeaceHealth Lynden Clinic earns LEED certification for sustainable design, Bellingham nonprofit introduces barnyard therapy for hospice patients and families
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KMRE brings you local news for Tuesday, December 31st. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Burglary suspect finally arrested by Bellingham PD after nearly 16 months
Carl Ellis Woods, a burglary suspect who evaded law enforcement for over a year, was arrested by Bellingham Police on Friday.
The 36-year-old Woods is wanted for multiple felonies, including a 2023 burglary in Blaine that involved assault and several counts of eluding police.
According to police, officers found Woods in a car with stolen plates on Xenia (ZEE-nee-uh) Street. When he refused to exit the vehicle, officers broke a window with a bean bag launcher and used a chemical irritant. After the arrest, police discovered signs of fentanyl use, a firearm, BB guns, and additional stolen plates in the car.
Earlier that day, Woods had evaded WWU officers during a high-speed chase, and was also linked to an attempted burglary on Lakeway Drive. He is now in Whatcom County Jail on over a dozen charges, including first-degree burglary, with bail set at over $300,000.
STORY: Carjacker who fled police at Canadian border charged in Whatcom County
42-year-old Shawn Bergstrom has been charged in Whatcom County following a December 12th carjacking at the Canadian border that led to a high-speed chase through Whatcom County.
Authorities allege Bergstrom used a bladed weapon to steal a pickup truck at the border, after which he rammed another vehicle and nearly struck Border Patrol officers. He now faces multiple charges, including second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a stolen vehicle.
According to police documents, the chase began at the Blaine border crossing and extended south on Interstate 5. It ended in Skagit County near the Bow Hill rest area, where State Patrol troopers stopped the vehicle using a PIT maneuver. After a standoff, Bergstrom surrendered by discarding a machete and climbing onto the vehicle’s hood.
The stolen truck was confirmed to have been taken from a Canadian business earlier that day. Bergstrom, identified as an unhoused individual from British Columbia, remains in custody.
STORY: WSDOT awards $7 million grant to increase crossing speeds at US-Canadian border
The Washington State Department of Transportation received nearly $7 million in federal funding to enhance border wait-time systems at the U.S.-Canada crossings in Blaine, Lynden, and Sumas.
According to a release by Senators Cantwell and Murray, the grant is funded through a program from the U.S. Department of Transportation, and will go towards a project aimed at modernizing outdated systems and improving traffic management during border surges.
In the release, Cantwell and Murray emphasized the importance of the project, noting that current wait-time notification systems are over 20 years old and unreliable. The upgrades will provide real-time and more accurate information, helping travelers and commercial vehicles navigate the busy crossings more efficiently.
Blaine’s crossings are among the busiest on the U.S.-Canada border, with nearly 3 million passenger vehicles and over 356,000 commercial trucks crossing into the U.S. in 2023—a significant increase from 2022.
STORY: Work on Whatcom bridge and culvert project to commence next spring
Work is set to begin this Spring on a $160 million, three-year project to improve salmon passage under Interstate 5 (I-5) south of Bellingham.
The Washington State Department of Transportation says its goal is to replace and widen culverts at several salmon-bearing streams, to fulfill a court order recognizing tribal rights. The project will occur in three phases, with significant traffic disruptions expected, including detours and lane closures.
Locations for Culvert and Bridge Replacements will occur at:
● The I-5 at tributaries to Friday and Lake creeks;
● The I-5 and Old Samish Road at Chuckanut Creek, and ● Lake Samish Road at tributaries to Friday Creek.
Work is expected to begin next Spring on the crossings at Friday and Lake creeks, with temporary bypasses and phased lane closures. Southbound I-5 is scheduled to close for 15 days, followed by a 12-day northbound closure, reducing traffic to one lane in each direction.
In 2026, construction on the Chuckanut Creek crossings will use temporary bypasses, and Old Samish Road will be closed as a detour. A new bridge over Chuckanut Creek will permanently close Old Samish Road.
In 2027, restoration of salmon habitat under the new bridges, as well as work at North Lake Samish, will require nightly lane closures and a reconfiguration of on- and off-ramps.
WSDOT has warned of potential delays and significant backups during construction. Timelines and detour plans may change as design and permitting progress.
STORY: Events, services and businesses affected by New Year’s
It’s New Year’s Day tomorrow, and here’s a rundown of local business closures, as well as some fun things to do around Whatcom County.
Expect many businesses and services— including U.S. Post offices, WTA bus service, banks, and libraries— to be closed tomorrow. Many grocery stores and some retailers will remain open, but others may have modified hours.
If you are looking to ring in the new year with a celebration, here are some local options:
Enjoy a Masquerade Party at Galloway’s Cocktail Bar. The event, which will take place from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., will include masks and raffle prizes, with room for limited walk-ins.
There’s an 80s Ballroom Bash at Chuckanut Bay Distillery from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. with music, a photo booth, prizes, and a champagne toast.
The Firefighters Community Ball at Hotel Leo is a country-themed event that supports local charities and includes snacks, drinks, and line dancing.
There’s the Family Party at Birch Bay Activity Center from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The early celebration will feature snacks and a photo booth.
And finally, another early New Year’s Eve celebratory event, Live Music at Old City Hall, will take place from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
If you’re looking to start the New Year doing something new or adventurous, there will be free local polar plunges happening New Year’s
Day. The Lake Padden Polar Dip & Resolution Walk/Run starts at 11 a.m., with the polar plunge happening at noon. Additionally, the Birch Bay Polar Plunge event, which starts at 10 a.m., will include live music, hot drinks, and a donation drive.
WX: Where’s the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds? And now for your Whatcom County weather:
We’re set to close the year out with a groundbreaking day of increasingly cloudy skies with occasional showers in places around the county. Daytime highs will be in the mid-40s, alongside mild eastern winds. Evening lows will be in the mid-30s.
The New Year is expected to kick off with some late-night snowfall, though little-to-none is expected to stick. From there, you can expect another day of overcast skies and light rain… and so we ring in the New Year.
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.
The KMRE newsroom will be going on a short holiday break, but we’ll be back on Friday. From all of us here at KMRE News, we thank you for listening and wish you a Happy New Year.
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STORY: Public comments open on amendments to Northwest Forest Plan
The U.S. Forest Service has proposed amendments to the 30-year-old Northwest Forest Plan that will impact nearly 800,000 acres in Skagit and Whatcom counties.
Adopted in 1994, the original plan focused on habitat protection for threatened species, but now requires updates to address evolving climate impacts, science, and social conditions. Along with local forests, the update will impact 16 national forests in the West Coast. The Forest Service says the changes aim to integrate Indigenous knowledge, improve climate and wildfire resilience, protect ecosystems, and ensure predictable timber yields.
A draft environmental impact statement (EIS) from November 2023 outlines their recommendation that combines active management with habitat protection. The EIS also differentiates between “moist” and “dry”
forests, with most forests in Skagit and Whatcom counties classified as moist. It suggests opening some local forestlands to harvest and active fire management while preserving ancient stands, except in the case of cultural use or fire risk.
Public feedback on the draft EIS is open until March 17th, with meetings planned, including one in Everett on January 15th.
STORY: PeaceHealth Lynden Clinic earns LEED certification for sustainable design
PeaceHealth’s Lynden Clinic is now the first PeaceHealth facility to become LEED-certified after earning a LEED Silver Certification for its sustainability features.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building rating system that promotes strategies to reduce environmental impact, enhance human health and support economic development.
The award, given by the U.S. Green Building Council was announced in a PeaceHealth news release last Friday.
The 22,500-square-foot, single-story Lynden Clinic, located at 8844 Benson Road, opened for patient care in April 2024. The building meets high standards for air quality, energy efficiency and for using locally sourced materials.
The Lynden Clinic features rooftop solar panels, on-site EV charging, a stormwater runoff system, landscaping with native and drought-resistant plants, water-efficient irrigation, and other sustainable details.
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.
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