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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
February 20 - 26, 2025
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IN THIS
ISSUE
Blaine Harbor fueling, page 3
Wrestling sends 15 athletes to state, page 6
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Man sentenced for border smuggling, page 10
Rock barrier added along U.S./Canada border in Blaine By Grace McCarthy
(See Border, page 3)
s O’Reilly Auto Parts opened its Blaine store at 1631 H Street in the Blaine International Center on February 8. See story on page 2.
Photo by Grace McCarthy
Birch Bay Community Advisory Committee to hold first meeting By Grace McCarthy The Birch Bay Community Advisory Committee (BBCAC) plans to spend its first meeting discussing how it can best represent the voice of the community. It meets at Birch Bay Bible Church at 6 p.m. Thursday, February 27. The meeting will be open to the public, though there won’t be a remote option for the first meeting. Roland Middleton, special projects manager at Whatcom County Public Works Department, will provide a report on public works activity in Birch Bay and will serve as chairperson until the committee elects that position, committee member Doralee Booth said. Overseen by the Whatcom County government, the advisory committee was approved by Whatcom County Council in December 2024 to serve as a conduit for Birch Bay residents to provide input to Whatcom County. The BBCAC is a separate organization from the Birch Bay Incorporation As-
sociation, which is evaluating the pros and cons of Birch Bay becoming its own city. Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu appointed, and Whatcom County Council approved, committee members Doralee Booth, Daniel Mead Smith and Sheila Wood to represent residents of the Birch Bay Urban Growth Area. They also approved Stephen Nelson as a resident and/or worker within the Birch Bay community, Danielle Gaughen as a representative for the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce, Bruce Ansell as a representative of North Whatcom Fire and Rescue, and David Wilbrecht as a representative of BlaineBirch Bay Park and Recreation District 2. Meetings are tentatively scheduled for the fourth Thursday of every month, though Booth said this could change. The committee will follow the Open Public Meetings Act, which requires meeting minutes and recordings to be posted on the county’s website. Oral public comment will be included at each meeting.
Birch Bay Bible Church is located at 4460 Bay Road. For more information about the Birch Bay Community Advisory Committee, visit bit.ly/3QmWVcX.
INSIDE
U.S. Border Patrol has recently added another layer of rock to prevent people from driving illegally across the U.S./Canada border in Blaine. According to CBP spokesperson Jason Givens, the federal agency placed 275 feet of rock along 99th Street in Blaine on January 27 and January 30. The barrier reinforces rocks placed there at least 15 years ago that have sunk into the ground. The U.S. Border Patrol Blaine Sector has had 85 drive-throughs since 2023, according to its Facebook page. Givens said the Border Patrol has been installing rock, concrete and block barriers in high-traffic areas to deter unauthorized vehicle crossings and mitigate risks to people living nearby, which is part of a broader strategy to address security along the U.S./ Canada border. U.S. Border Patrol also installed concrete barriers along the border in Maine, according to media reports. “We are committed to safeguarding the residents of northwest Washington while ensuring the integrity of our border,” wrote Rosario Vasquez, chief patrol agent of Blaine Sector, in a statement. “These measures are designed to enhance security and protect our communities from the potential dangers posed by these incidents.” The U.S. Border Patrol installed a cable barrier near Lynden in 2020 after people were illegally driving across the border. The International Boundary Commission (IBC) is a joint U.S./Canadian organization that oversees the border, which includes approving permanent structures added within 10 feet of either side of the boundary. J.T. Moore, deputy commissioner for the U.S. section of the IBC, said the rock, concrete and block barriers that the U.S. Border Patrol has deployed don’t need IBC approval because they are considered non-permanent structures. The IBC recently investigated a chainlink fence that garnered international attention after the city of Delta put it along the U.S./Canada border in Point Roberts and Tsawwassen, B.C. on January 16. The
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