Issuu

SEPTEMBER 2024

IN THIS

ISSUE

www.AllPointBulletin.com

Port to spend money so you’ll like them, page 8

Couch crook! Smile! You’re on Candid Camera, page 9

ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14

FREE

Marina planning sand lift, page 13

Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local

Proposed campground draws mix of reactions B y P a t G r u bb A proposal for a campground located at Mill and Johnson roads is still in the staff reviewing stage at the county planning and development department and is not expected to reach the hearing examiner’s office until October, according to county planner Maddie Schacht. If approved, the project would be built in two stages with the first encompassing 65 camping, yurt and RV sites. There would be five buildings each no more than one story including a caretaker residence, general store and washroom and shower facilities. The second stage would bring the total number of sites to 164, according to the documents filed with the county. According to the developer, Lorne Nielson, the aim is to keep the property as undeveloped as possible. Approximately 75 percent of the property will be kept in natural vegetation with as few trees cut as possible, he told attendees at a July 25 Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC) meeting. Nielson outlined some of the ways that the project would further the goals of the Point Roberts sub-area plan. For one thing, he said, it would encourage the retention of trees and plant cover. “Our goal is to replant trees wherever possible,” he said. Another goal of the plan is to increase transient or tourist housing “and this project does that,” he pointed out. The development will be clustered in the southeastern corner of the property taking up about one-third of the property. While the property is currently undeveloped, it was originally planned to be a continuation of the Dogwood Park development to the west and contains road cuts, fire hydrants and water mains that were installed in the 1970s. It currently has a Point Roberts Transitional Zone designation. Many of the speakers at the PRCAC meeting were neighbors who were against the proposal citing concerns about noise, traffic, environmental degradation and project feasibility. (SeeSystems;C33432;10x2-4c Campground, (24No) page 8) tjohnson;Seattle;Clean Air Comfort

s And away goes the AirLift Northwest helicopter after a visit to the Point Roberts fire department’s annual summer open house. More photos on page 12. Photo by Louise Mugar

Evergreen CO death bring manslaughter charges Striking similarities to 2021 Point Roberts deaths B y P a t G r u bb A case of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in Thurston County that has striking parallels to the 2021 deaths of Murray Church and Gail Amundsen has led to charges against two men accused of improperly installing a gas appliance. A father and son, Frank McCutcheon, 53, and Brett McCutcheon, 32, have been charged with manslaughter in the 2nd degree after a 21-year-old Evergreen State College student, Jonathan Rodriguez, died December 11, 2023, from CO poisoning due to the improper installation of a tankless hot water heater. Two female students, ages 19 and 20, were treated for CO poisoning but

Receive up to $1,700 in rebates when you purchase the Ultimate Comfort System™*

The perfect pair for your air.

PLUS up to $2,600 in Federal Tax Credits^

survived. The two men were service technicians working for Olympia Sheet Metal, a Tumwater-based HVAC company. The charges were laid by the Thurston County prosecutor’s office following receipt of an investigative report issued by the Washington State Patrol (WSP) after a three-month investigation. The WSP hired a Texas-basic forensic engineering firm, Bison Engineering (BE), to examine the modular housing unit occupied by the three students to determine the source of the CO. BE investigators discovered a new tankless water heater inside the unit had not been installed per installation instruc(See Manslaughter, page 6)

Online

allpointbulletin.com facebook.com/allpointbulletin

Inside

Church ............................................. 16 Classifieds ......................................... 16 Coming Up ....................................... 17 Crossings .......................................... 15 Opinion ............................................... 4 Seniors, Sheriff’s .............................. 15 Tides ................................................. 15

OR Qualified buyers make no payments, incur no interest for 12 months when financing a new Lennox® system** $4,000 in utility rebates on qualifying equipment^^

www.CallCleanAir.com 360-398-9400

3/20/24 4:25 PM