Whatcom man charged with 14 felonies related to child pornography and sexual abuse, Lummi Police name person of interest in case of missing elder, Bellingham medical and hygiene center for the unhoused far exceeds service projections over first six months, Bellingham community housing organization intent on purchasing old public school district office, Whatcom County, Sandy Point, and Lummi Island Stage 2 burn bans go into effect today, Dept of Health urges kids to get shots before school starts, Trial of Whatcom man indefinitely detained at McNeil Island pushed back to 2026, Part of Bellingham’s South Bay Trail set to close for 18 months of construction, Data shows WA-BC border crossings continuing to steadily increase across recent months, Blaine City Council confirms new member to short-term seat
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KMRE brings you local news for Monday, July 21st. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Whatcom man charged with 14 felonies related to child pornography and sexual abuse
A Nooksack teen faces child sex abuse charges after a months-long investigation.
According to The Bellingham Herald, 18-year-old Salomon Perez-Villegas (vee-YEH-gus) pleaded not guilty on Friday at the Whatcom County Superior Court to 14 felony counts, including child rape and possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
His arrest came after a five-month investigation led by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. It began when the social media platform X flagged a chat containing suspected child pornography. The report was forwarded to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, triggering a series of cyber tips.
Investigators traced several online accounts back to Perez-Villegas, and searched his home earlier this month. Court documents say they found more than 50 explicit videos on his phone — some involving toddlers.
He allegedly confessed to sharing and even creating child sexual abuse material, including footage involving a 4-year-old child.
Perez-Villegas remains in jail on a $100,000 bail. The trial is scheduled for September 2nd.
STORY: Lummi Police name person of interest in case of missing elder
A person of interest has been named in the case of a missing Lummi Nation elder.
Seattle’s KING 5 News reports that Lummi Nation Police have named Terry Bowman as a person of interest in the disappearance of his girlfriend, 62-year-old Besalynn James. James has been missing since January 21st of this year; Bowman says she left her home around 2 a.m. to go for a walk, but never returned. Four days passed before Bowman reported James’ disappearance.
The Cascadia Daily News reports that the FBI — another agency investigating the case — said it could not discuss details of the case, and that Lummi Nation Police weren’t immediately available for comment. The Lummi Nation, however, released a poster on Facebook late last month which stated that James is, quote, “believed to be a victim of homicide” unquote.
Anyone with information on James’ disappearance is asked to either call Lummi Police or the FBI, or submit a tip at www.tips.fbi.gov.
STORY: Bellingham medical and hygiene center for the unhoused far exceeds service projections over first six months
A new hygiene and medical respite center in downtown Bellingham has seen far more use than expected in its first six months.
The Way Station, which opened in late 2024 to support people experiencing homelessness, has already served over 1,000 individuals — far surpassing its first-year projection of 750. Operators say it’s a sign of a growing crisis.
In a press release, Unity Care Northwest said the surge in demand highlights the urgent need for basic hygiene and healthcare access for unhoused residents.
Run in partnership with the Opportunity Council, PeaceHealth, and Whatcom County Health and Community Services, The Way Station offers a range of services, including medical care, behavioral health, substance use treatment, showers, meals, and laundry.
Unity Care Northwest CEO Jodi Joyce says the facility is “not a solution to homelessness,” but plays a critical role in stabilizing lives and restoring dignity.
The Way Station is expected to expand services as demand remains high.
STORY: Bellingham community housing organization intent on purchasing old public school district office
Bellingham Public Schools have signed a letter of intent to sell the site of its former central offices at Dupont Street to 4th Corner Commons, a new collective hoping to establish the city’s second cohousing community.
4th Corner Commons’ website lays out their vision for a community of private residences built around shared community spaces, all designed, created, and managed collaboratively by the people living there.
The building currently occupying the site opened in 1908 as Roeder Elementary School. It housed the District’s central offices from the 1970s until January of 2024, when freezing temperatures caused pipes to burst and the building to flood, forcing its closing. However, administrators had already enacted a plan to relocate to new offices on Barkley Boulevard by then.
The potentially long process of negotiating a final purchase and sale agreement remains, but 4th Corner Commons already has the location posted on their website as the community’s future home. They’re inviting anyone interested to attend a scheduled Zoom meeting or to take a guided tour of the site later this week.
STORY: Whatcom County, Sandy Point, and Lummi Island Stage 2 burn bans go into effect today
A full burn ban goes into effect today across parts of Whatcom County, as fire danger reaches extreme levels.
The Whatcom County Fire Marshal, along with Fire Districts 17 and 11, announced a Stage 2 outdoor burn ban, which prohibits all outdoor burning — including recreational campfires and beach fires.
The ban started this past Saturday in unincorporated Whatcom County and today on both Lummi Island and Sandy Point.
Propane fire pits and BBQs are still allowed, but officials warn to use caution — charcoal and ashes must be fully extinguished and stored safely for 72 hours. The Fire Marshal’s Office says the move aligns with statewide burn bans already in place on state-protected lands and in national forests.
Violators could face a minimum $250 fine, and may be held liable for any fires that escape.
Officials say the ban will remain until fire danger levels drop.
STORY: Dept of Health urges kids to get shots before school starts
As students get ready to head back to class, the Washington State Department of Health wants to make sure kids are up to date on required vaccinations.
The rules apply to all students — including those in child care or remote learning.
State officials say immunizations protect children, prevent illness outbreaks, and help keep kids in school.
Childhood vaccination rates have been struggling statewide since the pandemic. In 2024, whooping cough cases jumped 25-fold amid a drop in DTaP (DEE-tap) vaccine coverage.
The Health Department says now is the time to check with your doctor and get caught up.
WX: Sun nights, I stay up cashin’ in my bad luck
And now for the weather:
Today will feature a mixture of clouds and sunshine, with a slight chance of evening showers. Daytime highs should stay in the low-70s, with a max U.V. index rating of 8. The evening will see partly cloudy skies and lows in the upper-50s, with chances of some thunderstorms and heavy rains late at night.
The rain and thunderstorms may spill over into tomorrow morning, before gradually giving way to another day of warm sunshine.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Cody Mills,
Aidan Larson, Glen Hirshberg (HERSH-berg), Kathi O’Shea (o-SHAY), Bella Mae (BELL-uh MAY), Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Nate Landi (LAND-ee) and Hailey LeRoy. 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 _________, and thank you for listening!
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STORY: Trial of Whatcom man indefinitely detained at McNeil Island pushed back to 2026
The trial of a Whatcom County man held at a special facility for sex offenders on McNeil Island has been delayed nearly a year.
According to court documents, a Superior Court judge ruled on Thursday that Jake Unick (yoo-NICK) will now face trial next April, as the state seeks to civilly commit him indefinitely as a “sexually violent predator.”
The 39-year-old Unick was convicted in 2014 for kidnapping and harassment charges involving multiple victims, including a 2-year-old girl. Though Unick has completed his prison sentence, the Attorney General’s Office argues he still poses a danger to the public.
The trial, expected to last at least a month, will not re-examine Unick’s past crimes; instead, it will determine whether he meets the legal definition of a sexually violent predator. If the jury agrees, Unick could be committed to the island facility indefinitely.
STORY: Dirty Dan Harris’ Steakhouse set to reopen this fall
Bellingham’s Dirty Dan Harris Steakhouse is set to reopen this fall.
The restaurant has been closed since the historic Terminal building fire in 2023. The steakhouse announced its plans to reopen in a Facebook post on Wednesday; another post stated that applications for staff positions will open in late August. Dirty Dan’s plans to serve brunch, lunch and dinner, as well as hiring bartenders.
No reopening date or hours have yet been announced.
STORY: Part of Bellingham’s South Bay Trail set to close for 18 months of construction
STORY: Data shows WA-BC border crossings continuing to steadily increase across recent months
STORY: Blaine City Council confirms new member to short-term seat
