Three sentenced in child fentanyl death, Full closure of Electric Avenue bridge beginning today, projected to last until the 20th, Other road closures, Birchwood Food Desert Fighters nearing goal of owning and operating food delivery truck, Bellingham waterfront climbing gym and housing project announces construction timeline, Authorities offering cash reward for information leading to arrest of suspect in August’s Concrete fire, Lynden School Board petitioning for review of policies regarding transgender inclusion in school sports, 100 complaints of sex abuse against state juvenile detention centers filed
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, September 9th. Good afternoon, I’m ______.
STORY: Three sentenced in child fentanyl death
Three Whatcom County adults have been sentenced in the fentanyl-related death of a child.
Cody Curtis Craig, Michael Wayne Doane, and Melissa Ann Welch pled guilty to charges related to the death of Welch’s and Doane’s 5-year-old daughter in March 2023 and were recently sentenced in Whatcom County Superior Court.
Craig was found guilty of unlawful delivery of controlled substances and sentenced to 30 months in prison (served concurrently) and 12 months of community custody.
Michael Wayne Doane was found guilty of 2nd-degree manslaughter, and sentenced to 48 months in prison and 18 months of community custody.
Melissa Ann Welch was also found guilty of 2nd-degree manslaughter. She was sentenced to 48 months in prison and 18 months of community custody.
All three were originally charged with 1st-degree murder after the death of the child was investigated by Ferndale Police on March 8th.
STORY: Full closure of Electric Avenue bridge beginning today, projected to last until the 20th
Starting Monday the Electric Avenue bridge over Lake Whatcom will be closed while the road is reinforced to allow for travel on both traffic lanes.
According to the the city of Bellingham website, Woburn Street will be the north-south detour route during the closure, which will last from Monday until September 20th. Bicycle and pedestrian access will be limited during construction hours. According to the city of Bellingham, the sidewalk will stay open for pedestrians outside of construction hours on evenings and weekends
About 10,500 cars and trucks cross the bridge daily, according to a city of Bellingham traffic count from last year. In June, city officials identified “critical structural failures” during an inspection of the bridge which led to its closure for several days. Plans for reconstruction of the bridge are included in the city’s five-year transportation plan for 2024-2029.
STORY: Other road closures
In other road closure news, the Washington State Department of Transportation has scheduled fish passage rehabilitation work on the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20) from now till Friday. A section of the highway at Olson Creek near Ranger Station Road will be closed to all traffic.
Also starting today, the intersection at Northwest Avenue and West Illinois Street in Bellingham will be closed again– this time for a week, including the sidewalks. A detour is in place, and travelers are advised to use caution. For more information, visit the West Illinois Street Multimodal project page.
STORY: Birchwood Food Desert Fighters nearing goal of owning and operating food delivery truck
The Birchwood Food Desert Fighters, a group addressing food insecurity in Bellingham’s Birchwood neighborhood, has announced they are seeking community funding to support a newly donated food truck.
Formed in 2016 after the closure of the neighborhood’s only grocery store, the group organizes food distribution and garden-sharing networks, delivering 1 to 1.5 tons of food weekly to 100-150 households. According to recent reporting by the Bellingham Herald, the Ferndale Food Bank donated a truck to the Food Desert Fighters, which means they no longer have to use multiple cars for food deliveries, however, now the group is trying to raise about $4,500 on GoFundMe for insurance, maintenance, and other expenses.
Albertsons was recently forced to remove a non-compete clause that prevented other grocery stores from opening in the area, however members of the BFDF emphasize that their efforts to ensure access to quality, culturally appropriate food for residents who face economic challenges continue to be vital.
STORY: Bellingham waterfront climbing gym and housing project announces construction timeline
A multi-story, 45,000-square-foot climbing gym and housing project is set to begin construction in downtown Bellingham next spring.
According to a recent release, The Chalkboard will be Bellingham’s first large rope climbing facility and will feature 55-foot-tall climbing walls, bouldering areas, a fitness and training area, yoga studio, and community spaces with rooftop views. In addition to the gym, the development will include 36 market-rate apartments, known as the Arête (AR-ett) Lofts.
According to the release, the gym has been developed by Gabe Rogel, will emphasize community, and will offer classes, youth programs, competitions, and events. Rogel says he envisions the space as a place for personal growth, connection, and adventure. The building is expected to be completed by winter 2026-27 and will be located at 315 West Holly Street, across from the Old Town Cafe.
STORY: Authorities offering cash reward for information leading to arrest of suspect in August’s Concrete fire
Law enforcement is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Jason Birman, a suspect in an August 9 homicide near Concrete.
Birman, a 50-year-old man, is wanted for questioning in the deaths of his wife, Erin Birman, her son, Taylor Dawson, and Taylor’s girlfriend, Jillian Whitney Van Boven. All three were killed by gunshots before a fire destroyed their residence. He is known to frequent Whatcom County and may be driving a blue 1994 Chevrolet pickup truck (license plate C67636L). Anyone with information should contact the U.S. Marshals or Crime Stoppers. If encountered, call 911 immediately and do not approach.
STORY: Lynden School Board petitioning for review of policies regarding transgender inclusion in school sports
Lynden School Board members have approved letters that urge legislators and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) to review current law and policies regarding transgender athletes.
Current WIAA guidelines state that any trans, non-binary or other gender-diverse student can compete with the gender they most commonly express. However, at the school board meeting last Thursday, the Lynden school board approved letters that advocate for legislative measures to quote “allow all athletes to participate in high school sports while also implementing necessary safeguards to ensure fair competition.”
According to school board records, in June the board directed Lynden Superintendent David VanderYacht to pursue an amendment to the Association’s gender participation guidelines, after controversy arose when a 16-year-old transgender athlete won a state track championship.
According to reporting by the Cascadia Daily News, VanderYacht says the concern is that a young trans athlete may follow all the guidelines but still end up becoming a “lightning rod” for national conversations. In addition, he says their intention is to protect the integrity of girls’ sports.
STORY: 100 complaints of sex abuse against state juvenile detention centers filed
A lawsuit has been filed against the State of Washington, alleging decades of sexual abuse and negligence in state-run juvenile detention facilities dating back to the 1960s.
The complaint, filed in King County Superior Court, includes 188 plaintiffs who claim they were sexually abused as minors in facilities such as Green Hill School and Echo Glen Children’s Center. The lawsuit accuses over 100 state employees, including guards, counselors, and medical staff, of participating in or facilitating abuse and claims the state ignored the abuse and failed to protect children in its custody.
It also alleges retaliation against those who reported abuse, including solitary confinement and threats. Some staff allegedly used drugs, bribes, and threats to coerce children and trafficked illicit substances like fentanyl in exchange for sexual acts.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for the trauma they suffered, citing a systemic failure of oversight by state agencies such as the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). The lawsuit claims little was done to prevent or address the misconduct despite awareness of the abuse.
WX: O save us, ye blessed overcast
And now for your Whatcom County weather:
An influx of clouds is expected to significantly drive temperatures down this week, beginning today with A.M. sunshine eventually giving way to overcast skies. Expect daytime highs floating right around 70, calm southwestern winds, and nighttime temps in the low 50s.
Expect much of the same tomorrow.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman (COOL-mun), Carlee Schram (CAR-lee SHRAM), Tristan Trudell, Kyler Cantrell, Anna Vickers, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, 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 listener donations. Check out our Patreon page or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m ________________, and thank you for listening.
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