News: Demonstration Gardens at Hovander. A2
Sports: Ferndale hosts youth 13U, 14U Babe Ruth tournament. B1
Pioneering Families: Border marked out in 1857-62 at Semiahmoo. Insert
JULY 19, 2023
SINCE 1885
Encore: Giving back through tradition. Insert
FERNDALE, WASHINGTON • $1.50
2023 PRIMARY ELECTIONS
22 candidates for six primary races affecting North Whatcom By Bill Helm Editor
WHATCOM — Six races, 22 candidates. That’s what this year’s primary election looks like for North Whatcom County voters. On Aug. 1, voters in the county’s northern sectors will vote for County Executive, County Council District No. 4, County Council At-Large
Position B, Lynden School Board Director 3, Ferndale School Board Director 2 and Everson City Council Pos. 5. County Executive Satpal Sidhu has five challengers for his seat: Barry Buchanan, Sukhwant Gill, Misty Flowers, Dan Purdy and Alicia Rule. For Kathy Kershner to keep her seat in district 4 of Whatcom County Council, she’ll need to beat newcomers Katherine
Probationary deputy fired, arrested, investigations ongoing WHATCOM — On Jan. 15, Austin Case was hired as a Whatcom County Deputy Sheriff. Shortly after he was hired, Case attended and completed the 720-hour-long basic law enforcement academy. Case’s training continued with his assignment to a field training officer. As with all new law enforcement employees, Case was required to complete a 15-month probation period during which his performance and ascription to the values of the organization were evaluated at least daily. It was determined that Case did not meet WCSO expectations and he was terminated from employment on July 12. During his employment with WCSO, Case was “always under the direct supervision of a field training officer and never was released to perform law enforcement duties independently of the direct control of an experienced and specially trained field training deputy,” the WCSO press release stated. On June 29, the sheriff’s office was “notified of social media conversations that caused concerns regarding Case’s adherence to the expectations for sheriff’s office employees,” the press release stated. “On the same day, Case was placed on administrative leave and an internal investigation was commenced.” According to the press release, the purpose of that investigation was to determine if Case violated any rules or regulations governing sheriff’s office employees. That investigation, WCSO stated, is “continuing in adherence to the requirements of law and sheriff’s office policy.” During the internal investigation, it was determined that some of the allegations against Case, if factual, would constitute crimes, WCSO stated. “There is no indication at this point that any of the crimes alleged occurred at a time when Case was on duty with the sheriff’s office,” WCSO stated. WCSO’s general practice “is to request an outside law enforcement agency to investigate allegations of criminal conduct against its employees.”
Orlowski and Mark Stremler. With Carol Frazey not running to keep hear seat, there are four people looking to join Whatcom Council and fill the At-Large Pos. B: Jerry Burns, Atul Deshmane, Hannah Ordos and Jon Scanlon. In Lynden, David Vis looks to keep his seat on the school board. But Vis has two challengers in this primary election: Terry Montague and Jim Venburg. With Melinda Cool not
running to keep her seat on the Ferndale School Board, three candidates are looking to fill the board’s District 2 position: Brent Bode, Antonio Machado and Adrian Sheridan. In Everson, Ashley Brown looks to keep her Pos. 5 seat on council, but to do so she’ll need to resist challenges from Gary Locke and Hadia Seddiqi. Monday, July 24 is the online and mail registration deadline.
According to the Whatcom County website, whatcomcounty. us, new registrations and changes to registration must be done in person. Register to vote or update registration on-person at the voting center before 8 p.m. Aug. 1. Ballot drop boxes close at 8 p.m. Aug. 1. Primary election certification will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15.
Ferndale field games
With temperatures exceeding 80 degrees on July 15, the City of Ferndale hosted a well-needed field games event at Pioneer Park. Family activities included a bouncy house, water balloon toss, tug-a-war, sack and egg/spoon races, as well as a Gel Blaster sponsored by Aim and Game. To end the day, Whatcom Fire District No. 7 arrived with two fire trucks to cool down locals. On July 22 from 2-4 p.m., the city will host Operation Splashmob at Star Park where there will be all things water related: squirt guns and a water slide. Visit ferndalerecord.com for a gallery of photographs. (Taras McCurdie/Ferndale Record)
See Fired on A3
Weather
58 pages • Volume LII • Number 22
Thursday 80°/57° Friday 77°/57° Saturday 76°/56° Sunday 75°/54°
Briefs• A7 Classifieds • B4 Elections • A3
Forum • A4 Legal Notices • B3 News • A2
Obituaries • A5 Puzzles • B5 Sports • B1
El Periódico: For our Spanish-speaking readers Insert