Two arrested following high-speed chase through Bellingham, Ferndale councilmember must pay up, Canadian resident of Point Roberts passes away amid fears of crossing border to seek medical assistance, MIPA issued in Ferndale, Local brewers join Hall of Fame, WSP seeking information on recent rash of police impersonators in Skagit County, WA job count and unemployment rate both continue to fall, Governor issues statement on unanimous budget approval by state worker unions, State launches veterans website, Seattle-based Uawajimaya to expand, Have you voted?, F&C 10/24, Public invited to Port of Bellingham open house (Oct 29)
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STORY: Two arrested following high-speed chase through Bellingham
Police used a Grappler device to stop a high-speed chase through Bellingham.
The pursuit began around 11:35 p.m. Monday when a Whatcom County sheriff’s deputy tried to stop a black Kia without license plates. The vehicle traveled onto I-5 and through downtown Bellingham and residential streets, reaching speeds of 80 miles per hour on the freeway. Washington State Patrol troopers and Bellingham police joined the pursuit.
Officers deployed the Grappler, which uses a net to catch a vehicle’s rear wheels, ending the chase at the on-ramp near Sunset Drive at around midnight. The Kia’s two occupants were taken into custody, and southbound I-5 lanes were temporarily closed.
State Patrol says this was the first field deployment of the Grappler device in Whatcom County.
STORY: Ferndale councilmember must pay up
A Ferndale city council member is facing legal fallout from a partnership dispute.
The Whatcom Business Journal reports a Superior Court judge found Robert Pinkley and two former general managers operated Leader Block Wine Co. & Eatery as an implied partnership rather than an employer‑employee setup.
The ruling came after former general manager Amberleigh Brownson sued, saying Pinkley promised her an ownership stake but later reclassified her as an employee and fired her in 2022. After a two‑day bench trial, the court determined she was entitled to one‑third of the restaurant’s value — a judgment totaling $333,333.33 — based on Pinkley’s earlier offer to sell the business for $1 million.
Pinkley denied the claims, saying Brownson was simply one of several managers he employed. The judge cited shared signature authority on the business bank account and public representations that the three were partners.
Pinkley has 30 days to appeal.
A second lawsuit, filed by former manager Brett Wiltse, is still pending.
STORY: Canadian resident of Point Roberts passes away amid fears of crossing border to seek medical assistance
A recent border detention involving a Point Roberts resident has ended in tragedy.
Cascadia Daily News reports 61‑year‑old Paige Adamson — a Canadian citizen and U.S. permanent resident — had been afraid to cross the border for medical care in the days before her death Sunday.
Adamson had been held and questioned for six hours by U.S. border agents in September and given a notice to appear for a deportation hearing. Friends and a Blaine immigration attorney said she had recently fallen at home and was in pain but refused treatment, fearing she wouldn’t be allowed back into the U.S. because of the pending case.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office said she died of what appeared to be natural causes.
Federal agencies recently requested Washington’s voter files amid increased scrutiny of alleged election violations. Public records show Adamson had voted in past elections — something permanent residents are not allowed to do.
She is survived by two sons.
STORY: MIPA issued in Ferndale
A Missing Indigenous Person Alert has been issued for a 13 year old Ferndale girl.
Victoria Mervine was last seen Tuesday evening, October 20th, between 6 and 7 p.m. near South Red River Road. She’s described as five-foot-one, weighing about 115 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black shirt, black shorts and possibly sandals.
Anyone who sees Victoria or has information about her whereabouts is asked to call 911.
STORY: Local brewers join Hall of Fame
Two longtime Bellingham brewing pioneers are being inducted into the Washington Brewers Guild Hall of Fame.
According to My Bellingham Now, Ed Bennett and Janet Lightner—co-founders of the original Boundary Bay Brewery— are among this year’s inductees. The couple opened Boundary Bay on Railroad Avenue in 1995, serving craft beer for 30 years before the brewery closed last year after the property was sold.
They now own Boundary on State, which is operated by Lightner’s daughter and a local brewer. Bennett and Lightner join Mari and Will Kemper of Chuckanut Brewery in the Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony is November second at the Washington Craft Beer Summit in SeaTac.
STORY: WSP seeking information on recent rash of police impersonators in Skagit County
Washington State Patrol is asking for the public’s help identifying police impersonators in Skagit Valley.
Troopers are looking for information about people posing as law enforcement officers, including anyone driving a Ford Crown Victoria equipped with push bars. State law makes it a crime to falsely claim to be a police officer or act in a way intended to make others believe you’re an officer.
If you encounter a suspected police impersonator on state highways in the Skagit Valley, contact the State Patrol.
STORY: WA job count and unemployment rate both continue to fall
Whatcom County’s job market showed some encouraging movement last month.
State labor officials say jobs held steady from August to September, but about 11-hundred fewer people reported being unemployed. That pushed Whatcom’s unemployment rate down a full point to 3.5% — its biggest drop since September 2024.
Skagit County saw a similar shift, with its jobless rate falling a full point to 3.7%. Both counties are slightly below last year’s levels.
Statewide, Washington’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 4.8%, even as employers cut more than 15-thousand jobs in September — the second straight month of losses.
Washington’s broader U 6 measure — which counts not just unemployed workers but also people stuck in part-time jobs or who’ve stopped actively looking — is at 9.7%. That’s almost double the official unemployment rate, and higher than the national average, showing more people are struggling in the job market than the headline numbers suggest.
STORY: Governor issues statement on unanimous budget approval by state worker unions
Washington state employee unions have unanimously approved new labor contracts covering through 2029 biennium.
The agreements cover ten union groups representing state workers in general government, higher education, health care and other fields. Governor Bob Ferguson says the contracts were negotiated amid significant budget challenges. He says the state has faced multibillion-dollar budget shortfalls and made spending cuts to balance its budget. Ferguson expects another difficult budget year ahead, citing uncertainty around state revenues and federal funding cuts.
STORY: State launches veterans website
The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a new self‑service website for scheduling benefits appointments.
Veterans and their families statewide can now book virtual or in‑person appointments through WDVA’s central service center.
The portal offers three appointment types: initial or follow‑up visits, VA claim filing, and a state and federal benefits overview for Veterans already receiving VA benefits. WDVA has also added a documents checklist to help Veterans prepare what they need before filing a claim.
Veterans can still get support from county and Tribal Veterans Service Officers who provide accredited claims assistance. The new scheduling site is available at dva.wa.gov/appointments.
WX: Funnel-cloud sunemia
And now for the weather…
Look for continuing partial sunshine this afternoon, though we seem to be seeing less of it each day. Highs today are projected in the mid-60 degrees, dropping into the low 40s later this evening.
The cloud cover should ramp up throughout the evening, setting the stage for a largely overcast sky tomorrow with highs in the upper 50s. And setting us up for rain this weekend.
OUTRO:
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STORY: Seattle-based Uawajimaya to expand
Seattle-based Asian grocery store Uwajimaya will open a new location next spring.
The store will occupy a former Rite Aid space in Town and Country Square in Issaquah and cover about 23-thousand square feet. Uwajimaya CEO Denise Moriguchi says the Eastside’s growing population has increased demand for Asian ingredients and fresh seafood.
The new store will offer everyday groceries, produce, seafood and prepared foods. Uwajimaya is also opening a location in Tacoma, bringing the 98-year-old company to six stores.
STORY: Have you voted?
Washington voters will decide this November whether to ban transgender girls from competing in girls’ K-through-12 school sports.
Initiative 638 would prohibit transgender students and other students assigned male at birth from competing in school sports designated for girls. It would also require all girls seeking to participate in school sports to obtain medical verification of their biological sex, based on anatomy, genetics or naturally produced testosterone levels. Supporters say the measure would ensure fairness in girls’ athletics. Opponents argue it discriminates against transgender students and creates additional barriers for all girls who want to play sports. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association says current sports physicals do not require genetic or hormone testing. Ballots must be returned by November third.
F&C 10/24
Looking for some Halloween fun this weekend? Whatcom County has plenty of ways to get your spooky season started.
In Bellingham, the Night Gallery’s Monster Club returns Friday night at the Hotel Leo, with monsters, music, interactive theater and live performances.
Fairhaven’s free Spooktacular continues through Saturday at Woodstock Farm, featuring a haunted house, dancing and a spooky séance room.
The Bellingham Circus Guild also opens its Halloween production, the Beastly Frightful Unspeakably Spooky Circus of Doom, with acrobatics, juggling and aerial performances.
On Saturday, Stone Throw Brewery hosts a free pumpkin-carving event from noon to five, and the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center offers a pumpkin patch in the pool from 4:30 to six.
And Halloween festivities continue next week with downtown trick-or-treating Friday, October 30th, followed by food tastings, ghost tours and costume parties on Halloween itself.
Pumpkin Patch in the Pool – $10 at the door
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 4:30 – 6 p.m.
Arne Hanna Aquatic Center
The Ferndale Sister City – Minamiboso Japan Sister City Event – 35 Years… celebrates all the Peoples of Ferndale up to our current Minamiboso relationship.
This free, City of Ferndale Partnership event for all ages, offers something for everyone. From pumpkins where it all began…to the Official Opening Ceremony, FSCA/Minamiboso Photo History, the Pearl Divers of Minamiboso, Regional Display, Shells from both Coasts, Honoring Tsow Sum with Minamiboso, The Import Guys BIG surprise, WCLS Japan books to check out, the FSCA Literacy and Growing Program, FSCA Resource Center, the “Peoples of Ferndale Performances”…Blue Lighting Canoe Family, Ferndale Heritage Society Attire, Danza Latina, The JCYG “Eras of Japan” Runway, Wonderland tea and Haggens cookies, Door prize, JCYG Chopstick Seed Game, Youth Art Photo Op/ Mascot Lounge, BIG free raffle, attendees receive a special pearl Anniversary gift (while supplies last).
Much to learn and experience…
Celebrate with us!
EVENT SCHEDULE:
1:00PM to 1:30PM – OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY
– Land Acknowledgement
– “Peoples of Ferndale” Dance – Blue Lightening Canoe Family
– Civic / Municipal Interchange
1:30PM to 3:00PM EVENT ONGOING
– All Event Offerings Listed Above
2:00PM TEA AND COOKIES
– 1ST ROUND FREE RAFFLE DRAWING
2:30PM
– 2ND ROUND FREE RAFFLE DRAWING
3:00PM – PERFORMANCE – “Peoples of Ferndale”
– Ferndale Heritage Society, Historic Attire
– Dance, Danza Latina
– The JCYG/Japanese Cultural Youth Group, “Eras of Japan” Runway
3:30PM – PUMPKIN GIVE AWAY
3:45PM – 4:00 EVENT CLOSING – THANK YOU TO ALL
STORY: Public invited to Port of Bellingham open house (Oct 29)
The Port of Bellingham will hold an open house for the public on Thursday, October 29th.
Community members can talk with Port staff and project leaders about the future of the waterfront, airport, harbors, events and community programs, while sharing their questions and ideas.
The free event will include refreshments and information stations. And, while supplies last, anyone who gets a passport stamped at all the stations can take home a rubber Disco Duck.
The event runs from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Squalicum Boathouse.
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