Everett man arrested following chase with Whatcom deputy, Holly Street bike lanes altered for safety once again, PSE reports over 2,000 customers lose power in Ferndale, Whatcom County Search and Rescue to stay in current facility, Three candidates vying for vacant Whatcom County Council seats (Changed to encompass all multi-candidate races), Free and cheap, Whatcom County student vaccination rate falls below state average, Free or Cheap (Kill 9/12)
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, July 25th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Everett man arrested following chase with Whatcom deputy
A high-speed chase through Whatcom and Skagit counties ended with a dramatic spinout and an Everett man in jail.
The Bellingham Herald reports the 23-year-old driver was arrested on Sunday after leading sheriff’s deputies on a pursuit that began on Baker Lake Road, where he was clocked going 60 in a 35-mile zone.
According to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, he refused to stop, sped through no-passing zones, and later slammed on the brakes near Highways 20 and 9, causing a deputy’s car to crash.
Despite the collision, he kept going — driving over sidewalks and through a parking lot — until deputies used pursuit intervention techniques to spin his car out and force a stop.
He was booked into Whatcom County Jail on several charges, including DUI, hit and run, eluding police, and driving with a suspended license.
His arraignment is set for August 1st.
STORY: Holly Street bike lanes altered for safety once again
Holly Street’s bike lanes were redesigned once again this week.
What was once a parking-protected bike lane – that is, a bike lane separated from traffic by the parking spots along the road – is now protected by buffers.
This change comes to the Holly Street corridor —from Ellis to Broadway — as part of a pilot project that began last year.
The parking-protected bike lanes were implemented in 2024. Bikeriders and car drivers alike criticized how parked cars obscured bikers from the drivers’ view, making collisions more likely whenever cars made a right-hand turn at intersections.
Now, at intersections, bikes are led by bumpers to the crosswalk to continue going straight.
Feedback for this change is mixed. Many agree that a change was necessary, but some believe this will confuse drivers and increase the likelihood of collisions between cars and bicycles.
A survey to give suggestions for the final design of this project will be open on Engage Bellingham’s website until September 30th.
STORY: PSE reports over 2,000 customers lose power in Ferndale
A car-versus-pole crash on Northwest Drive was the likely cause of a power outage in Ferndale that knocked out power to over 2,000 PSE customers on Tuesday afternoon.
Business was disrupted, traffic signals went dark, and medical centers were briefly affected. Crews moved quickly, rerouting electricity through a process called field switching. The outage was first reported at 12:35 p.m. and by 1:40 p.m. power had been restored to most customers.
Repairs continued through the evening, with the last homes and businesses back online around 8:20 p.m.
Puget Sound Energy encourages residents to visit its website for updates on outages and planned maintenance.
STORY: Whatcom County Search and Rescue to stay in current facility
Plans for a new Search and Rescue facility in Everson are off — Whatcom County Search & Rescue will stay put.
Cascadia Daily News reports the county has paused redevelopment of the Northwest Annex, allowing WCSAR to remain in its building on Smith Road, which it owns but leases from the county.
The nonprofit spent nearly a year planning the Everson site, but financing fell through when the county could not finalize a lease. In July, WCSAR treasurer Gwynne Gruizenga-Top (GRAY-zin-guh TOP) told officials the group was officially scrapping the project.
The lease now remains in effect through 2034 unless terminated, and WCSAR will use its raised funds to repair the current facility and update equipment.
The all-volunteer group includes about 200 trained responders across six specialized units.
STORY: Three candidates vying for vacant Whatcom County Council seats (Changed to encompass all multi-candidate races)
The race for Whatcom County Council is heating up ahead of the August 5th primary.
In District 2, covering north Bellingham neighborhoods like Columbia and Silver Beach, three candidates seek the seat being vacated by Todd Donovan next January. Elizabeth Boyle is a 25-year resident and business owner active in community volunteering; Maya Morales (moh-RAH-less) is an LGBTQ+ advocate focused on affordable housing and government accountability; and Mike Cullum is a teacher and Civil Service Commissioner with strong local education ties.
District 3 covers Everson, Nooksack, Sumas, parts of Bellingham and surrounding communities. Incumbent Tyler Byrd is running for a third term. Challengers include Kyle Christensen, director of the Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group and former sheriff’s deputy; and Daniel Probst, who helped secure conservation lands and maintains public trails.
Finally, for the at-large seat, Barry Buchanan, a lifelong public servant and musician, is running against Misty Flowers, a longtime resident and performing musician who values the community’s outdoors and diversity.
Under Washington’s top-two primary system, the two candidates with the most votes advance to the November 4th general election.
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.
EVIL Bikes in Fairhaven will host this year’s Fourth Corner Punk Fest tomorrow from 1-to-10 p.m. The all-ages event will feature two stages; one will be reserved for Guttermouth, Teenage Bottlerocket, and other bands headlining the festival, while the other will feature local punk bands such as Lipstitch and Boxcutter. A free shuttle will take fans to the 21 and over after-party at Bar 211. Tickets can be purchased at the festival’s website; general admission tickets for the actual festival go for about $50 before taxes, while after-party tickets go for about $12.
Tomorrow will also see Bellingham’s York neighborhood host this year’s York Yard Crawl from 4-to-8 p.m. Organizers describe it as a neighborhood-wide art walk, yard sale, and music festival. It’s a family-friendly event open to everyone! More information, as well as a printable map, can be found at yorkyardcrawl.fun.
Finally, Birch Bay State Park in Blaine will host its 42nd annual Sand Sculpture Competition tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contestants will be divided into five categories, including a non-judged category for kids aged 6 and under. The event includes live music, food vendors, and a beer garden! More information can be found at birchbaywa.org.
WX: Shikamaru’s dream job
And now weather:
Today we get a break from the sunshine of recent weeks, with mostly cloudy skies and highs in the mid-to-upper-60s. Some sunlight may re-emerge later in the afternoon, though the max U.V. index rating is still projected at a modest 5. Nighttime lows are projected in the mid-50s.
The sun returns this weekend with temperatures ascending into the 70s.
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, Kai Blais-Schmolke (KAI BLAZE-SHMOLE-kee), Nate Landi (LAND-ee) and Hailey LeRoy (luh-ROY). 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: Whatcom County student vaccination rate falls below state average
Student vaccination rates in Whatcom County have dropped below Washington’s average.
New data from the state Department of Health shows that roughly 86% of the county’s K-12 students were up to date with required immunizations during the 2024-2025 school year, while the state average stood at about 90%. This was also the lowest vaccination rate for Whatcom County in the past five years; it’s reflective of a trend seen across the state, which has seen student vaccination rates drop for five consecutive years.
Overall, the data shows Whatcom County had the 15th-lowest immunization rate in Washington during the past school year. Washington requires students to be fully vaccinated against measles and at least 10 other diseases; however, state law allows parents or guardians to claim exemptions for religious, medical, or personal reasons.
STORY: Free or Cheap (Kill 9/12)
https://www.whatcomcd.org/run-with-the-chums — Sat, Sept. 13
Mark your calendars for the 13th Annual Run with the Chums on September 13th at BP Highlands in Birch Bay.
This free, family-friendly 5K fun run celebrates salmon, clean water, and community. All ages and paces are welcome, and the scenic course offers stunning views of Whatcom County’s shoreline.
Kids 10 and under can enjoy the Smolt Sprint obstacle course starting at 9:30 a.m., with the 5K kicking off at 10.
Check-in opens at 8:30 a.m.—arrive early for a free T-shirt while supplies last. Leashed pets are welcome!
https://www.whatcomwin.org/whatcomwaterweek – Sept 13 – 21st
