New ferries to bolster fleet still years away
Ferndale participates in Bedlington Invite
Currently, 19 ferries serve the state’s island communities. — State, A2
Next track & field meet is at 10 a.m. April 6 at Civic Field, Bellingham. — Sports, B2
MARCH 27, 2024
SINCE 1885
FERNDALE, WASHINGTON • $1.50
Investigators seize fentanyl, firearm Five people arrested in connection to suspected large drug trafficking organization Staff Reports
WHATCOM — Following a focused investigation, on Wednesday, March 20, members from the Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Washington State Patrol (WSP) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air served search warrants on two locations and two vehicles in Whatcom County. According to a press release from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the search warrants resulted in five arrests and the seizure of approximately 3.24 pounds of suspected powdered fentanyl and more than $6,000 in cash. The two locations were in the 6000 block of Neevel Road, east of Ferndale, and the 5300 block of Guide Meridian in Bellingham. “At the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, we continue to be dedicated to eliminating deadly drugs from our community,” Whatcom Sheriff Donnell “Tank” Tanksley. “We are grateful to have partnerships on the local, state and federal level who share this dedication. I encourage our community members to report suspicious and criminal activity to law enforcement authorities.” These search warrants and subsequent arrests and seizures were the culmination of an investigation led by the Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force. This investigation was spurred by reports of increasing opioid overdoses and open-air drug use occurring in the city of Bellingham. According to a query of overdosecoded emergency services requests to the What-COMM Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, there were 24 overdose-related calls generated in 2023 between Jan. 1 and March 10 in the downtown Bellingham business district. That same search in 2024 for Jan. 1 through March 10 showed 63 overdose-related calls, WCSO reported. In response to reports of this increase in drug activity, the Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force and the
DEA Bellingham Resident Office began surveillance in that area and discovered connections between a known Mexican Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) and local drug re-distributors suspected of selling large quantities of fentanyl in the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County. In addition to the suspected fentanyl and cash seized, investigators found a sawed-off (illegally modified) shotgun, multiple cell phones, suspected drug ledger notes, multiple empty baggies, a scale with residue, and shotgun shells, WCSO reported. While investigators were at the Neevel Road location conducting the search warrant, they witnessed a vehicle drive by that location. The vehicle had originated from another address linked to the DTO. Carlos Monreal Ceballos, a person of interest, was identified as a passenger. A plastic container was found under the seat in this vehicle containing white powder, suspected to be fentanyl, WCSO reported. After the search warrants were executed, 35-year-old Victor Alcala Arellanes, 24-year-old Jesus Garcia Covarrubias, 23-year-old Carlos Ramos Navarrette, and 29-year-old Carlos Monreal Ceballos admitted to some level of involvement with owning and/or delivering the drugs, WCSO reported. Probable cause was established for the following: For Arellanes: two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, fentanyl; and possession with intent to deliver, fentanyl. For Covarrubias, Navarrette and Ceballos: delivery of a controlled substance, fentanyl; possession with intent to deliver, fentanyl; unlawful firearms, short barrel shotgun, and alien in possession of a firearm. These individuals were all transported and booked into the Whatcom County Jail on March 20 without incident. Probable cause was also developed to arrest 48-year-old Theron Chin of Bellingham for two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, fentanyl. Chin was already in custody at the time, WCSO reported. This case was investigated by the Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and DEA Bellingham with assistance from HSI, WSP, CBP Air and the Bellingham Police Department. Investigators are seeking the arrest of three more co-conspirators who will be identified at the time of arrest.
In 2021, the band Southbound, pictured above, performed at Pioneer Park in Ferndale. Below, this year’s Summer of Fun series includes movies, food, live music and activities in Ferndale’s parks almost every weekend throughout the summer. (Ferndale Record file photos)
Ferndale announces 2024 Summer of Fun parks activities FERNDALE — The City of Ferndale has announced a full slate of summer parks activities for 2024, including everything from acrobats to Space Band. Participants can enjoy movies, food, live music and activities in Ferndale’s parks almost every weekend throughout the summer. This year, Ferndale’s parks events are made possible in part by the support of WECU, a local credit union serving Whatcom County for more than 80 years. Food Truck Fridays Second Friday of each month in Pioneer Village. Friday, June 14 – Space Band Friday, July 12 – Bellingham Circus Guild Friday, August 9 – Jim Buk Tu Music in the Park Live concerts on Pioneer Village stage. Friday, July 19 – Baby Cakes Saturday, Aug. 17 – Lemon Creek Flicks in the Park Fridays in Pioneer Village: June 21, June 28, July 12 and Aug.23 inside Pioneer Pavilion with an earlier start time. More activities with dates to be announced soon, including Yoga in the Park, Wee Ones Nature Hunt, and Tie Dye Your T-Shirt. As always, Ferndale parks events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Communications and Community Relations Officer Megan Juenemann at 360-685-2353 or meganjuenemann@cityofferndale.org.
Ferndale Public Schools Foundation starting off year strong Ferndale School District
FERNDALE — The Ferndale Public Schools Foundation is only a few months into its existence, but the team has already found many avenues to bridge the gaps for local students. This is thanks to the hard work of the Foundation team, as well as the generosity of the Ferndale community, who have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the organization already. “We are fueled by the overwhelming support from our community partners and donors
who share our belief in the potential of our students,” said Foundation board member Dr. Sislena Ledbetter. “Thanks to these partnerships, we’ve already provided vital financial support to numerous students, covering expenses such as test fees, clothing, food, and other essential student items.” The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that is separate from Ferndale School District, was founded this summer with the goal of helping Ferndale students in need of additional support by removing fees, offering scholar-
ships, and paying for necessary materials. Its mission is “Removing financial barriers so students can soar.” One specific way the Foundation has helped is by covering the cost of sports physicals for students at FHS. “These are kids that have never been able to enjoy playing, and really wanted to learn, but all these barriers were lingering,” said Andrea Tafoya, the Latinx Student Support at FHS. “Fortunately, the Foundation took away that barrier for us and they’re able to now play.” Individual Board
members also covered the fees for three students to attend the CASHE (Children of Aztlan Sharing Higher Education) Conference at Washington State University last month. This is a leadership conference for Latinx students, and an opportunity for them to gain access to higher education, said Tafoya. “To see other students of color at a university, the impact is really big,” she said. “This shows the extent of how much the Foundation Board members are See Foundation on A5
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50 pages • Volume LIII • Number 5
Thursday 40°/54° Friday 39°/57° Saturday 39°/58° Sunday 40°/58°
Calendar • A6 Classifieds • B5 Forum • A4
Legal Notices • B3 News Briefs• A5 Obituaries • A3
The newly created Ferndale Public Schools Foundation was founded in summer 2023 to help Ferndale students by removing fees, offering scholarships and paying for necessary materials. (Photo courtesy Ferndale School District)
Puzzles • B5 Sports • B1 State • A2
Whatcom County Spring Sports Preview: Insert www.ferndalerecord.com