May 16 - 22, 2019
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Arnett announces bid for county council, page 2
New seafood shop to open in Blaine, page 3
Yacht club holds opening day ceremonies, page 17
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Public participation plan approved by Whatcom County By Jami Makan Whatcom County Council has approved a public participation plan that lets residents know how they can get involved in discussions about important public projects. Whatcom County Council approved its 2019 public participation plan on May 7. The plan, prepared annually, is required by state law. It is intended to identify “procedures providing for early and continuous public participation in the development and amendment of comprehensive land use plans and development regulations implementing such plans,” according to the state’s Growth Management Act. The public participation plan lets residents know how they can stay informed about, and provide comments on, various projects taking place throughout the county. The plan lists different projects and categorizes them as either level 1, level 2 or level 3 projects. According to the plan, residents can learn about a level 1 project through a staff report and notice in a newspaper. The project proposal will also be posted on the county’s website, and information about it will be sent to the county’s email list. There will also be two public hearings about a level 1 project, one before the planning commission and another before the county council, prior to final council action. Level 2 projects require all of the above, plus the development of project alternatives and review by an advisory committee, agency, county department or city. Projects categorized as level 2 are those that tend to attract more public interest and sensitivity. These are projects that have seen public opposition or support in the past, justifying a higher level of review. Finally, level 3 projects allow for even greater public participation, by including a town hall meeting in the process. A town (See Plan, page 8)
s Dating back more than a century, the “C.T. Goff” sign in downtown Blaine was removed on May 2. The sign was painted onto bricks that became structurally unstable over time, creating a safety hazard.
Photo by Louise Mugar
Historic Goff building to get new lease on life By Jami Makan The historic “C.T. Goff” sign in downtown Blaine was recently taken down during the redevelopment of the building, which will reopen this summer with a new tenant. The historic black-and-white sign, believed to be more than a century old, also featured the words “Dry Goods” and “Ready to Wear.” The sign was painted onto the bricks that formed the façade of the building, which is located at 674 Peace Portal Drive.
The building used to house the former Goff’s department store, which was operated for over 56 years by lifelong Blaine resident Murray Goff. Murray Goff succeeded his father, C.T. Goff, who bought the dry goods business in 1915. The store closed on Murray Goff’s retirement in 2009, and he passed away in 2017. While efforts were made to save the sign, the bricks underneath the sign were becoming dislodged, posing a safety hazard. The entire sign therefore had to be taken down. “The brick on the top was ready to fall
down,” said Phil Esau, speaking for Wild Bird Charity. “It was a safety issue. A minor shake could have caused some serious injuries.” The Wild Bird Charity operates the Wild Bird Treasure Nest boutique, which will be moving into the Goff building this summer from its current location at 442 Peace Portal Drive. “We had an engineer look at the sign and he said it’s got to go,” added Esau, who noted that some of the historic bricks will be repurposed as part of the building’s redevelopment. “We’re going to use some (See Goff, page 8)
By Jami Makan Three Mexican nationals were taken into custody in Blaine after they were discovered hiding on a southbound train. Officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) were performing routine inspections of a freight train on May 5 when they discovered the trio hiding under garbage bags at the end of a grain hopper railcar. The three men were discovered after the train was screened by non-intrusive technology similar to an X-ray. It is unknown
how long the men had been hiding on the train. They came from Canada and were attempting to find work in the U.S., said a CBP spokesperson. CBP officers, with assistance from border patrol agents, apprehended the men for illegally entering the U.S. without inspection. The individuals, whose names were not disclosed by CBP, were detained while they were still on the train. They did not flee and were taken into custody without incident, said the spokesperson. The three men, ranging in age from 24 to 33, were processed by CBP officers for
removal from the U.S. They were transported to the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. From there, they will then be transported back to Mexico. “This arrest is an excellent example of our officers’ vigilance and an outstanding example of teamwork with the border patrol to secure our border,” said area port director Kenneth Williams. When asked whether it is common for officers to find stowaways on trains, the CBP spokesperson said, “It happens.” However, the spokesperson was unable to provide specific enforcement numbers.
INSIDE
Three individuals caught hiding on southbound train
Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . 15 Coming Up . . . . . 18 Sheriff . . . . . . . . . 18 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 18
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