Flood warnings issued to parts of Whatcom County, Port building Osprey nesting platform, Annual seedling sale raises funds for educational programs in Whatcom County, Annual seedling sale raises funds for educational programs in Whatcom County, Whatcom County Health Announces Vaccine Clinic for next week in Bham, WA WDFW employee dies while working at Jefferson County fish trap, First Boeing 737 Max 9 with passengers flies after three-week grounding, The Federal Trade Commision is sending letters to funeral homes in Washington and across the country warning against illegal business practices
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Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Monday, January 29th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Flood warnings issued to parts of Whatcom County
Flood warnings were issued in parts of Whatcom County yesterday after heavy rains raised the water level of the Nooksack River to the minor flood stage.
Water level warnings for the Nooksack were active at Ferndale, Everson, North Cedarville, and Saxon Bridge. While those warnings are now over, some road closures still remain, as well as a general flood warning in Ferndale. Slater Road in Ferndale and Hannegan Road in Lynden were both closed yesterday due to water on the roadway, and have yet to re-open.
The National Weather Service has urged the public to stay off roads affected by potential flooding.
full list of closures are available at WhatcomReady.org.
STORY: Police identify suspect in downtown Bellingham assault
A suspect was arrested in connection with an assault in downtown Bellingham earlier this month.
According to the Bellingham Police, the assault victim appeared to be intoxicated and carrying a gun while walking through an alley off Holly Street on January 13th. Two men began assaulting the victim when 23-year-old Austin Ruiz first attempted to break up the altercation. After pushing the two attackers away, Ruiz himself began assaulting the victim, then stole his gun and shoes.
Ruiz was booked into Whatcom County Jail on Thursday, where he remains without bail on charges of first-degree robbery and possession of a stolen firearm. The two other men involved in the fight, Shea Eydel and Christopher Parsons, both 27-years-old, were identified shortly after the incident and face lesser charges.
The assault victim will be charged with carrying an unlicensed firearm.
STORY: Port building Osprey nesting platform
The Port of Bellingham is in the process of building an Osprey nesting platform amid concerns of the bird nesting on waterfront cranes.
According to recent reporting from The Bellingham Herald, the port has applied for permits to construct the new 47-foot-tall platform in Marine Park.
Audubon member Jamie Donaldson is concerned that the bird’s tendency to survey prey from tall platforms would be dangerous on movable cranes.
The nesting platform will cost an estimated $13,000. Donaldson says that he hopes this to be the first of many platforms in the area.
Similar projects have proven this solution to be effective for the species. Puget Sound Energy has built 65 Osprey platforms since 1979 in an effort to conserve the species and discourage nesting in undesirable locations.
STORY: Annual seedling sale raises funds for educational programs in Whatcom County
Whatcom County Farm Forestry Association has announced its 65th annual Tree Sale event.
Money from the event will help educate family forestland owners, students, and the public on sustainable forest practices, as well as provide seedlings to school children and support numerous other forestry-related projects.
According to the group, in past years they have sold 20 to 23 thousand seedlings annually and have distributed a total of 1.3 million trees throughout Whatcom and adjoining counties.
Online seedling pre-orders from a selection of 15 species of trees starts on Feb. 1 and runs until March 14. Seedlings are being sold for 1.25 each.
STORY: Whatcom County Health Announces Vaccine Clinic for next week in Bham
Whatcom County Health and Community Services will hold a series of vaccine clinics starting through April.
No-cost vaccines will be available for eligible individuals In Bellingham and Whatcom County. Two clinics, one located at 2030 Division Street, in Bellingham, and the other at East Whatcom Regional Resource Center, Maple Falls, will distribute vaccines to different age groups on a first-come, first-serve basis. The East Whatcom clinic also offers Narcan kits, blood pressure checks, and glucose checks.
The Health Department says local grocery stores, pharmacies, and healthcare facilities may also have vaccines, though they may require insurance or out-of-pocket payment.
The next clinic will be held next Tuesday, February 6th at 2030 Division Street. Pre-registration is available at WhatcomCounty.us.
STORY: WA WDFW employee dies while working at Jefferson County fish trap
A Department of Fish and Wildlife employee died last week while working on a fish trap in Jefferson County.
Mary Valentine, who worked as a seasonal scientific technician with the WDFW’s fish program’s science division, was working a smolt trap in the Duckabush River last Tuesday. After Valentine failed to check in with her team members that evening, she was reported missing to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office the following morning. First responders recovered Valentine’s body from the water shortly after.
The department has temporarily suspended smolt trapping at the Duckabush River. Valentine’s death is now being investigated by the Jefferson County Coroner.
STORY: First Boeing 737 Max 9 with passengers flies after three-week grounding
Boeing’s 737 Max 9 model returned to service after a three-week grounding by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Alaska Airlines Flight 1146, departing Friday afternoon from Seattle to San Diego, marked the first commercial flight of the plane after a Max 9 door plug popped off on a previous Alaska flight. In a release, Airline COO Constance von Muehlen (MEW-len) expressed confidence in the aircraft, emphasizing the rigorous testing the plane has undergone. Alaska and United Airlines, the two U.S. carriers operating the Max 9, both expressed confidence in the plane’s status, stating that inspections and clearance procedures have been refined to ensure the safety of passengers.
WX: Rain
There is a 30 percent chance of rain today, with a high of 64 degrees and gentle winds. More rain will come late tonight, with lows of around 50 degrees and gusts of winds as high as 36 mph. Winds will calm down by tomorrow, with temperatures remaining steady.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers AnThu Nguyen (ANNE-two new-WIN), Carlos Braga, Connor O’Boyle, and Tristan Trudell. 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. If you would like to help keep local news accessible, check out our new Patreon page at patreon.com/kmrenews or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thanks for listening.
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STORY:
The Federal Trade Commission is sending letters to funeral homes in Washington and across the country warning against illegal business practices.
In a recent release, the FTC announced that Mountain View Funeral Home and Crematory did not provide accurate information during undercover calls in February and August 2023. The funeral home gave materially different prices for the same goods and services on each call, violating the federal Funeral Rule.
A federal rule in effect since 1984 mandates the disclosure of itemized price information for general funeral services, including caskets and burial containers, and prohibits unauthorized fees, and the misrepresentations of legal requirements or ‘required’ purchases.
Although FTC staff does not currently plan formal legal action, Mountain View Funeral Home and Crematory has been advised to take immediate action to ensure accurate information is provided over the phone about prices and offerings.
