September 2025
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Ex-health head seeks million-plus, page 7
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Family raise questions about USCG response in drowning By Grace McCarthy The family of a 38-year-old Lummi Nation member who died after the commercial fishing vessel he was on sank off Point Roberts is questioning the U.S. Coast Guard’s delayed response. Kevin Charles Finkbonner, 38, was aboard the 25-foot skiff with his brother, Brad, when it began taking on water just before 4 p.m. on August 11 south of the Point. Steve Strohmaier, a public affairs specialist at the U.S. Coast Guard, said one of the brothers called his wife, who called 911. The U.S. Coast Guard received the information from 911 dispatch at 3:52 p.m. The U.S. Coast Guard called the Canadian Coast Guard, which deployed a hovercraft from Richmond, and issued an urgent marine information broadcast requesting assistance from any nearby boaters. The U.S. Coast Guard sent personnel from Bellingham and its Port Angeles air station. Weather was reported to be twofoot seas and 15-knot winds. A Canadian search and rescue vessel was the first to arrive at 4:18 p.m., Strohmaier said. At 4:38 p.m., a good Samaritan found the brother, who was wearing a life jacket. Several minutes later, the good Samaritan located Finkbonner unconscious, who was not wearing a life jacket, Strohmaier said. The Canadian Coast Guard recovered Finkbonner and attempted to revive him. Strohmaier declined to say when the U.S. Coast Guard arrived on scene, but said the Canadian Coast Guard transferred Finkbonner to a U.S. Coast Guard boat after attempting to save his life. EMS declared Finkbonner deceased at Blaine Harbor. Whatcom County Medical Examiner Dr. Aldo Fusaro confirmed in an email that Finkbonner died from drowning. Finkbonner’s family credited the Canadian Coast Guard for attempting to save his life in a statement that Lummi Nation Chairman Anthony Hillaire read via Lummi Communications on August 14. In their statement, Finkbonner’s par(See Drowning, page 6)
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WEEKLY NEWS BULLETIN
s The parks district’s annual summer kids camp program was another success with about 30 kids participating and led by six counselors. They had beach days, wheel days, walked in the parade and put on a BBQ for friends and family. Photo by Bob New
Library levy passes handily with 57 percent By Grace McCarthy Final results for the August 5 primary election show clear winners headed to the November general election and one upset at county council. The election is a top-two primary, meaning the two candidates with the most votes advance to the November 4 general election, regardless of party affiliation. Races that did not have more than two candidates were not on August ballots and will move automatically to the November election. About 43,640 ballots were counted across Whatcom County by August 18, constituting 31.5 percent of currently reg-
istered voters. Point Roberts Hospital District In the race for Point Roberts Public Hospital Commissioner Position 2, Allison Calder placed first with 105 votes (22.9%), followed by Alyssa Clark with 104 votes (22.7%), Alison Strombom with 98 votes (21.4%), Jen Olson Kurcz with 89 votes (19.4%), and Solomon Loop with 58 votes (12.7%). There were three write-in votes for a total vote count of 457 votes. Whatcom County Council The Whatcom County Council District 2 race, which represents north Bellingham, saw Elizabeth Boyle come out ahead with 54.2 percent (5,475 votes). Maya Morales
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Inside
Church ............................................... 9 Classifieds ......................................... 11 Coming Up ....................................... 12 Crossings, Seniors, Tides ................. 13 Garden .............................................. 10 Library................................................ 9 Obituaries ......................................... 14 Sheriffs ............................................... 9
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