October 16 - 22, 2025
FREE
Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Blaine officers receive life-saving awards, page 4
Belarmino leads freshmen goal scorers, page 6
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Candidates on Blaine, Birch Bay, page 10
Blaine City Seaside Bash and OysterFest bring fall fun Council: UGA swap proposal, Bell Road project, town hall By Grace McCarthy
(See City council, page 3)
s The Blaine Seaside Bash and OysterFest provided an opportunity for the community to come together to celebrate the fall season and local harvest on October 11 in downtown Blaine. The event kept downtown buzzing all day with a vendors fair, live music, oyster shuckPhoto by Ruth Lauman ing competition and more. See more photos on page 9.
Man sentenced to over 15 years for murder attempt Judgement follows leniency request after stage 4 cancer diagnosis By Grace McCarthy Birch Bay resident Clayton Edward Dubois, 44, was sentenced in Whatcom County Superior Court to over 15 years in prison after attempting to “mercy kill” his former partner while high on methamphetamine in August 2024. During a September 13 sentencing hearing, Judge Evan Jones handed down a 15.6-year sentence for the attempted
first-degree murder charge with a domestic violence enhancement and an eight-month sentence for unlawful firearm possession in the second-degree. Dubois will serve 1.5 years of community custody following his release. A Whatcom County jury found Dubois guilty of the charges in August. Jones sentenced Dubois with the minimum of the sentence range for first-degree murder, which is 15.6 to 20.8 years
November 4 general election ballots mailed By Nolan Baker The 2025 general election season is here, with ballots due to arrive at the homes of Whatcom County voters as early as October 15 for the November 4 general election. Voters may cast their votes immediately upon receiving their ballots, and ballot processing will begin on October 15, according to the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office. Ballots may be returned to any of the 24 official drop boxes in Whatcom County by
8 p.m. Election Day, Tuesday, November 4. Ballots returned by mail and postmarked by November 4 will also be accepted, thought the auditor’s office cautions voters to check the last pickup time on their mailboxes. Stamps are not needed to return ballots either by drop box or by mail. Online and mail voter registrations must be received by Monday, October 27. Prospective voters can also register in person any time before 8 p.m. on Election Day by visiting the auditor’s office at 311 Grand
Avenue, suite 103, in Bellingham from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The auditor’s office can assist people registering to vote and updating their registration address. It also has accessible voting units for those who require visual or audio aids. For more information about the general election, call the auditor’s office at 360/778-5102 or email elections@co.what(See Election, page 8)
in prison for the charge and Dubois’ criminal history. Dubois was given the maximum of the three- to eight-month sentencing range for unlawful firearm possession. On September 29, Dubois’ defense counsel requested the court give Dubois an “exceptionally low sentence of two years” because he had been diagnosed (See Court, page 3)
INSIDE
The latest news from the Blaine City Council meeting on October 13. UGA alternative City council unanimously approved a resolution allowing the planning department to revise its urban growth area (UGA) proposal. Alex Wenger, director of Blaine’s Community Development Services, said he planned to bring a revised UGA proposal to Blaine City Council after the November 4 election. The new proposal would be based on the outcome of the de-annexation proposition and an updated land capacity analysis. The ballot measure will go before Blaine city voters in November asking whether they would like for 573 acres of incorporated UGA land in east Blaine to be de-annexed. If voter-supported, the city would then seek approval to “swap” that UGA land with unincorporated UGA land near Semiahmoo as well as UGA land in southeast Blaine. The city hopes to include the change in the county’s comprehensive plan update, which is due by the end of the year. Wenger said there were “technical” issues that needed to be worked out with the county, including possibly changing the name from “swap” to “UGA reduction and addition.” He added the city needed to talk more with Birch Bay residents about the proposal. By approving the resolution, council also approved removing a proposed UGA reserve near Semiahmoo that was in the original plan because UGA reserves are not required in the comprehensive plan update. Bell Road-BNSF Railway Grade Separation City council unanimously approved a roundabout with an I-5 terminal relocation as its preferred alternative for the Bell Road-BNSF Railway Grade Separation Project. The grade separation is a long-range
Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . . . . 12 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Sports . . . . . . . . 6, 7 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
TheNorthernLight.com TheNorthernLight
@TNLreporter
@TheNorthernLightNews