4 drug trafficking arrests made across Bellingham and Ferndale, Galbraith Mountain hiking trails closed for logging operation, Whatcom County Council moves to confirm interim M.E. to full-time position, Whatcom County examining smaller, hybrid vessels to replace Lummi Island ferry, WA pertussis cases spike again, Free and Cheap
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, November 8th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: 4 drug trafficking arrests made across Bellingham and Ferndale
Four individuals were arrested on probable cause for alleged drug trafficking on Wednesday.
According to Deb Slater, the public information officer for the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, two search warrants were executed – one on Valencia Street in Bellingham, and the other at a building on Main Street in Ferndale. The two Ferndale suspects failed to exit the building when law enforcement ordered them to, and were observed crawling into the attic, and attempting to conceal evidence, but were ultimately apprehended. The subsequent search uncovered cocaine, fentanyl-laced powder, drug distribution paraphernalia, and firearms.
One suspect, a 41-year-old from Oak Harbor, was arrested for possession with intent to deliver. He’s suspected of supplying cocaine to a 32-year-old from Sedro-Woolley, who was also detained. The Sedro-Woolley suspect had previously evaded law enforcement and was found hiding with a 19-year-old woman. Another suspect, a 48-year-old from Bellingham, was arrested at the Valencia Street location, where cocaine and repackaging materials were found.
All four are being held at the County Jail and are expected to appear in court soon.
STORY: Galbraith Mountain hiking trails closed for logging operation
Most trails near Galbraith Mountain’s south entrance will be closed for several weeks while 20 acres are logged.
Originally scheduled for December, Janicki (JAN-ih-kee) Logging Company began work on October 29th, temporarily closing trails such as the “Last Call/Gate and Switch.”
Janicki purchased most of Galbraith Mountain in 2017 from Polygon Financial 05, which retained about 650 acres. Although Bellingham purchased a recreation easement in 2018 to secure public access, the mountain remains a working tree farm, and the easement does not restrict logging. This year, around 40 acres owned by Polygon and 65 acres of Janicki land have been logged.
Eric Brown, executive director of the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition, addressed public concerns in a video, and emphasized the Coalition’s strong partnership with Janicki, which grants the group significant autonomy and trust regarding trail access.
STORY: Whatcom County Council moves to confirm interim M.E. to full-time position
The interim Whatcom County medical examiner, Aldo Fusaro (foo-SUH-row), is set to be appointed to the full-time position next month.
The County Council voted unanimously Wednesday to accept Fusaro’s confirmation.
Fusaro started as the interim medical examiner in September following the termination of Allison Hunt, whose office came under scrutiny after improperly stored human remains were discovered at a local funeral home. An investigation followed, and the subsequent report stated that the ME’s office also repeatedly failed to keep records of the locations of bodies after their autopsies.
Fusaro has worked as an associate ME for King County from 2005 to 2017, and for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office in Illinois. Recently, he has been splitting his time between duties as interim medical examiner for Whatcom County and deputy medical examiner for the state of Montana.
Fusaro is scheduled to start the new full-time position in December, and will help lead the transition of the ME’s office from an independent contracted entity to a county-run department.
STORY: Whatcom County examining smaller, hybrid vessels to replace Lummi Island ferry
The County Council recommends replacing the aging Lummi Island ferry, Whatcom Chief, with a smaller, more affordable 20-car hybrid diesel-electric ferry.
The choice was approved unanimously on Wednesday and is a shift from the original plan for a 34-car fully electric vessel. The hybrid option is estimated at nearly $43 million, significantly less than the $93 million all-electric model. Although it carries fewer vehicles per trip, the smaller ferry’s ability to make three trips per hour (compared to the larger ferry’s two) would allow it to handle nearly 80% of peak traffic.
A $25 million federal grant contingent on hybrid technology is potentially applicable, though it’s unclear if it can be used to fund the diesel-electric vessel.
Further funding discussions are set for December, and County Executive Satpal Sidhu plans to meet with ferry users in January.
STORY: WA pertussis cases spike again
Washington faces its worst year for whooping cough in over a decade, with almost 1,200 cases reported across 31 counties– up from just 51 cases last year.
The U.S. has also seen a spike, with over 20,000 cases nationwide. High infection rates are reported in Whitman, Clark, and Chelan (chuh-LAN) counties, with Clark County logging in over 400 cases.
State health officials stress the importance of vaccination, particularly to protect infants, who are most at risk. Public health experts link the rise in cases to declining confidence in childhood vaccinations, which has led to lower immunization rates, especially among kindergartners. Pregnant women are encouraged to get the Tdap vaccine to help protect newborns, and the CDC recommends booster doses for adolescents to address waning immunity.
The Department of Health says it’s closely monitoring the situation and supporting local health teams.
STORY: Free and cheap
It’s Friday, and here are some free or cheap things to do around the community.
Tonight at 6pm, it’s Open Roller Skate at Depot Market Square. Bring your own skates; helmets and pads are recommended. The event is free, no registration needed, and great for kids.
Saturday morning from 9:30 to 11:30, why not put on your rain jacket and go bird watching along the ASB Trail? The Trail surrounds the old Georgia Pacific stabilization basin on 3 sides and juts into Bellingham Bay alongside the Whatcom Creek Waterway. Registration is required, check out the North Cascades Audubon Society website for more information.
Also tomorrow at 2pm, it’s Makerspace Craft Time. Enjoy a make-along craft demonstration, with materials provided to members and guests. Bring your creation home or make something as a gift. Suitable for all skill levels, the event is free, kids 12 and under are welcome with an adult assistant.
WX: Rain againe
And now weather:
Today, expect rain, with light southeastern winds, and daytime highs in the mid-50s. Evening lows are expected to drop into the high 40s.
Drizzles and mild temperatures are expected throughout the weekend with winds becoming quite breezy Sunday into Monday. Public Works wants you to know that you can help prevent flooding on your street by making sure the storm drains are clear of debris.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman (COOL-mun), Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, 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 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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