August 16 - 22, 2018
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IN THIS
ISSUE
Senior center hosts its ‘Golden Anniversary Hoedown,’ page 2
See heavy equipment in action at the ‘Roadeo’
Home Farm opens in Birch Bay, page 8-9
Photos from the Birch Bay Rollback Weekend, page 15
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Hundreds of visitors peruse classic cars in Birch Bay
Staff from the Blaine Public Works Department to offer demonstrations and prizes B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e
s Rollback Weekend visitors admire a 1946 Chevy on August 11. The two-day event was hosted by the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce and featured live music, a beer garden and car competitions. See photos on page 15. Photo by Mathew Roland
Hearing on budget for school year set for August 27 By Oliver Lazenby The Blaine school district board of directors plans to adopt a budget for the 20182019 school year at their Monday, August 27 school board meeting. The district will hold a public hearing during the regularly scheduled board meeting and attendees will have the opportunity to speak for or against the budget. The board will the vote after the hearing.
In the budget’s draft, the district projects that its general fund – the fund that accounts for most district operations – will receive $33.7 million in revenues. Expenditures are expected to be $33.2 million. The general fund has a projected beginning balance of $1,574,414 and a projected ending balance of $1,994,646. General fund revenue comes from property taxes, state funds and federal grants
Majority of Blaine, Birch Bay voters favor Republican candidates B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e Despite a countywide surge in support for Democratic candidates running for key federal, state and county positions in the August 7 primary election, the majority of voters in Blaine and Birch Bay came out in favor of Republican candidates. Here’s a look at how locals voted on candidates running for legislative positions in District 42: Precinct data shows that incumbent state senator Doug Ericksen (R) received notable support from local voters with 53 percent (3,874 votes) of the vote. His
rivals, Pinky Vargas (D) and Tim Ballew II (D), received a combined 47 percent (3,375) of the vote. Countywide, 46 percent (19,054 votes) of residents voted Republican, while 54 percent (22,405) voted Democratic in the senatorial race. Ericksen will compete against Vargas in the general election. Ballew II endorsed Vargas in a statement released on August 8. Precinct data shows that voters in Blaine and Birch Bay also came out in support of Republican candidates running for state representative positions in District 42. Running for position 1, candidates Lu-
anne Van Werven (R) and Dean Berkeley (R) received a combined 58 percent (4,138 votes) of the vote while Justin Boneau (D) received 42 percent (3,061 votes) of the vote. Countywide, 49 percent (20,367 votes) of local residents voted Republican, while 51 percent (20,928) voted Democratic in the legislative race. Incumbent state representative Van Werven will compete against Boneau in the general election. Berkeley received just under 5 percent of the vote countywide. (See Election, page 7)
and funds. A hard copy of the draft budget summary is available at the district administrative office at 765 H Street. It can also be viewed online at bit.ly/2B5SU93. A complete draft of the budget will be posted on the school district’s website before the hearing on Monday, August 27. More information on the budgeting process is available on the school district’s website at blaine.wednet.edu.
INSIDE
The heavy equipment used to maintain city utilities and improve city streets will be on display, and may even perform a few tricks, at the third annual Roadeo in Blaine this Friday, August 17. The event is hosted by the Blaine Public Works Department and will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at the parking lot located behind the Blaine Library at 610 3rd Street. All ages can attend the event for free. Donning hard hats and safety vets, staff from the public works department are set to display an excavator, loader, tractor, vactor waste truck, bucket truck, line truck and street sweeper, said public works director Ravyn Whitewolf. Staff will also demonstrate how to use the equipment. “We do a lot of amazing things,” Whitewolf said. “But we do our jobs silently.” During the event, onlookers will have the chance to view an excavator demonstration and learn how a robotic camera identifies sewer backups and failures. Whitewolf said the public can also see how a thumper device finds faults in underground circuits by emitting a miniature explosion. Exhibits will also offer trivia, prizes and lessons on water and power conservation. “The all-important and ever so memorable” water event will also return to the Roadeo, Whitewolf said. Staff perched up high in a bucket truck and kids down below will receive water balloons to toss back-and-forth. The impromptu water exchange started at the first Roadeo and looks to became an ongoing tradition. “[The Roadeo] is an opportunity for our staff to interact with the public we serve,” Whitewolf said. She said she hopes the event will inspire kids to consider a career in public works. To learn more about the Roadeo, visit bit.ly/2w5uvL4 or call 360/332-8820.
Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Classifieds . . . . . 11
Coming Up . . . . . 14
Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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