Fatal motorcycle crash stalls southbound I-5 traffic in Mount Vernon, Dump truck crashes into ten parked cars off Hannegan Road, WCC Outgoing President honored by State, Widow of late Whatcom fishing magnate seeking to sell business empire, Department of Health to expedite sex change designations on birth certificates, FREE AND CHEAP: Bellingham Valentine’s Day events / free and cheap?, Grants to Ports of Bellingham and Anacortes hit by federal funding freeze, Remains of missing Marblemount man identified
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, February 14th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY 1: Fatal motorcycle crash stalls southbound I-5 traffic in Mount Vernon
A motorcyclist died early yesterday on I-5 near Burlington while fleeing from law enforcement.
State Patrol attempted to stop the 43-year-old Mount Vernon man for speeding near Bow Hill around 3 a.m. The rider exited I-5 at Bow Hill, then immediately reentered the interstate heading southbound. He continued south, exiting at College Way in Mount Vernon, where the trooper ended the pursuit.
Another trooper spotted him in Mount Vernon and attempted another traffic stop. The cyclist fled a second time, reentering I-5 at College Way traveling north in the southbound lanes. As he neared the Skagit River, the motorcycle struck part of the bridge, and he was ejected then hit by an oncoming semi.
EMT pronounced him dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
The Skagit and Island County Multiple Agency Response Team is investigating.
STORY 2: Dump truck crashes into ten parked cars off Hannegan Road
First responders were summoned to Hannegan Road on Wednesday after reports that a dump truck crashed into multiple vehicles in the DeWaard and Bode (da-WARD and bow-DEE) parking lot.
Bellingham Police Lieutenant Claudia Murphy told Whatcom News the driver had a medical emergency, causing the vehicle to veer off the road into the parking lot. The truck collided with 10 unoccupied parked vehicles.
No injuries were reported, and investigators ruled out speed and alcohol as factors. Authorities issued the driver an infraction for failing to maintain control of the truck.
STORY 3: WCC Outgoing President honored by State
The state House of Representatives honored outgoing Whatcom Community College President, Dr. Kathi Hiyane-Brown (CATHY hee-YUN-nee BROWN) with a resolution recognizing her achievements.
Representatives Joe Timmons and Alicia Rule introduced the resolution, highlighting WCC’s growth in academic programs, community engagement, and student success. Since becoming president in 2007, Hiyane-Brown led efforts to expand certificate and associate degree programs and launch applied baccalaureate degrees. Under her leadership, the college gained national recognition as a Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity Education and Training, among other awards.
Hiyane-Brown thanked lawmakers for the honor and credited faculty, staff, and the community for their role in supporting students.
She plans to retire in March.
STORY 4: Widow of late Whatcom fishing magnate seeking to sell business empire
Erin Vitaljic (vee-TAH-leech) is preparing to sell the Bellingham-based seafood empire built by her late husband Andy. The third-generation Croatian fisherman, who transformed Whatcom County’s seafood industry, died last September at the age of 91.
Andy Vitaljic began his career as a teenager, working as a deckhand on his uncle’s boat. After his father died in a boating accident in the late 1950s, he left the water and founded multiple seafood businesses, including American Canadian Fisheries.
According to Cascadia Daily News, Erin plans to sell American Canadian Fisheries, the transportation and logistics company Hannegan Express, the real estate firm Hannegan Properties, and the pet food company Fat-Cat Fish.
Andy, who wished to help feed the hungry in his own community, first donated fish through Christ the King Community Church’s food pantry, then set aside land at Hannegan and Hemmi Road for the CTK Farm. The farm grows produce for local food banks and has expanded to include large greenhouses and hundreds of volunteers. Last year, CTK donated 121,000 pounds of produce to the Whatcom County Food Bank Network.
According to Erin, Moles Farewell Tributes reported Andy’s funeral was among the most well-attended in its history. She also said people in the seafood industry often described him as a towering figure in the business.
STORY 5: Department of Health to expedite sex change designations on birth certificates
Washington state has significantly accelerated the process for residents who wish to change the sex designation on their birth certificates.
The State Department of Health announced on Wednesday that it will now process all requests within three business days, a drastic reduction of the previous wait time of up to 10 months.
State birth certificates offer three sex designation options: male, female, and X. According to the Department of Health, “X” represents a gender that is not exclusively male or female, including transgender, nonbinary, and genderfluid identities.
Governor Ferguson praised the decision on social media, and noted that department staff worked through a weekend to clear a backlog of more than 500 pending requests.
Although processing now takes just three days, certificate mailing and delivery can still take up to two weeks. The announcement follows several executive orders by President Trump that affect transgender people.
FREE AND CHEAP: Bellingham Valentine’s Day events / free and cheap?
If you forgot to make Valentine’s Day plans, here are a few options:
The B’ham Bop is hosting a Valentine’s Day swing dance lesson and social dance at The Nest on North Forest St. The event starts at 7 p.m. tonight, and no experience required. Online registration is closed, but those interested can still register at the door.
Tonight at 9:30 p.m., the Upfront Theatre on Prospect Street will present Fifty Shades of Velvet, a love-themed improv show. Tickets starting at $10 can be purchased at the Upfront’s website.
Mammoth Mini Golf, inside Bellis Fair Mall, is offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal on rounds of mini golf both today and tomorrow. The venue is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Jay Irwin’s acoustic group will perform tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Stones Throw Brewery on Larrabee Avenue. The event is free, all-ages, and requires no reservations.
Finally, Carrie Jennings and Tara Chugh will perform at Aslan Depot on State Street. The free concert begins at 8 p.m., for people aged 21 and over.
WX: The most romantic weather of all, gray.
And now weather:
Overcast, with a chance of sunshine and showers late in the afternoon. Daytime highs are expected in the low-40s, with a calm, variable wind throughout. Temperatures will drop to the 30s this evening, with a chance of rain and snow.
The weekend is expected to be consistently rainy, with temperatures climbing slightly higher into the mid-40s.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Paloma Ortiz, and Stevie Sjogren (SHOW-gren). Our news director is Staci Baird. 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: Grants to Ports of Bellingham and Anacortes hit by federal funding freeze
Expected funds promised to the Port of Bellingham and the Port of Anacortes for job creation and energy transition projects are on hold.
According to a recent announcement, both ports are working with Washington’s federal delegation to resolve the issue while their projects remain stalled. The Environmental Protection Agency awarded the grants in October 2024 through its Clean Ports Program. The Port of Bellingham received $1.5 million to develop an energy transition plan. The Port of Anacortes secured $63.8 million to support a public-private maritime partnership.
President Trump’s executive order on his first day in office halted grant disbursements and environmental programs. A federal judge later ruled the funding freeze unconstitutional and ordered the administration to restore the funds. However, uncertainty continues.
During a Feb. 5th House subcommittee hearing, Representative Rick Larsen criticized the freezes, calling them “a dumb move” and “disastrous.”
Mike Hogan, public affairs administrator for the Port of Bellingham, said the port received notice on Feb. 4th that the funds were frozen. Then, the grant portal reopened three days later, but faced another freeze on Feb. 11th. A separate $500,000 EPA grant for diesel emission reduction was also paused. However, other federally funded projects, including the Bellingham Shipping Terminal and rail reconnection project, remain unaffected.
According to recent reporting by Cascadia Daily News, the Port of Anacortes Executive Director Brett Greenwood said his staff checks the federal funding portal every few hours, waiting for funds to be released. The freeze has stalled hiring plans for private partners who planned to hire 50 employees. It also prevents the port from advancing its electrification project, replacing diesel equipment, and purchasing new machinery. Greenwood worries inflation could increase project costs if delays continue.
STORY: Remains of missing Marblemount man identified
The Skagit County Coroner’s Office identified human remains found in November as those of Justin Spaeth, a suspected murder victim who disappeared nearly a year ago.
Spaeth, 45, went missing on Feb. 28, 2024, after leaving his home on Rockport Cascade Road in Marblemount to visit a friend two miles away. Three weeks later, Skagit County Sheriff’s deputies arrested James Kelly, 31, of Concrete, on probable cause of first-degree premeditated murder. Investigators determined Kelly had played a role in Spaeth’s death and took him into custody after a two-day search.
On Oct. 18, hunters discovered skeletal human remains in the 54000 block of Concrete Sauk Valley Road south of Rockport. The remains required examination by Washington state’s forensic anthropologist, and DNA testing later confirmed the identity as Spaeth. The coroner’s office has not released the cause or manner of his death.
Court documents indicate that Kelly allegedly shot Spaeth following an argument where Kelly accused him of speaking to law enforcement about a case where Kelly was a suspect. Witnesses stated Kelly threatened Spaeth, saying he would put a “bullet in his head” at a nearby creek.
Law enforcement found blood by the creek where the murder reportedly occurred and discovered burnt clothing during their search of the property.
Kelly faces multiple charges, including first-degree premeditated murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, moving/disturbing human remains, and attempting to elude police. He is scheduled for a status conference in Skagit County Superior Court on March 17 and could face life in prison if convicted of murder.
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