Sept. 29 - Oct. 5, 2022
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Court dismisses harassment case, page 2
$6.5 million Birch Point home for sale, page 10
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Upcoming fall festivities, page 15
Blaine man killed Full day of festivities at Gate-Oberfest in Skagit Valley motorcycle crash By Ian Haupt
s Attendees at Gateway 1890 Taphouse’s ‘Gate-Oberfest’ participated in a beer stein race on September 24. The all-day festival had keg rolling, a night market and live music. View more photos on page 15. Photo by Ruth Lauman
Council approves proposed voting ward boundary to move ahead for public hearing By Grace McCarthy Blaine City Council approved a draft ward boundary to be reviewed by the public during a Monday, October 10 public hearing. The boundary map would have the first ward, which covers east Blaine, extend south to the city limits east of I-5. This area is currently included in the second ward, which encompasses much of downtown. “This plan meets all the criteria,” said Bob Schweitzer, of Sammamish Data
Systems, during council’s study session. “It’s a very simple adjustment.” The city of Blaine must evaluate its voting ward boundaries after U.S. Census population numbers are released every decade. The city hired Redmond-based Sammamish Data Systems to manage the redistricting process, which needs to be complete by November 15 to be compliant with state law. Even if housing development increases the city’s population, the city will not be able to adjust its ward boundaries again
Canada border restrictions to be dropped B y P a t G r u bb The Canadian government has announced that effective Saturday, October 1, it will be dropping its Covid-19 vaccination requirement and end random Covid-19 testing for people entering the country. The current Covid-19 emergency order in council is set to expire at midnight on Friday, September 30. Effective October 1, 2022, all travelers, regardless of citizenship, will no longer have to:
• Submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website; • Provide proof of vaccination; • Undergo pre- or on-arrival testing; • Carry out Covid-19-related quarantine or isolation; • Monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of Covid-19 upon arriving to Canada. Transport Canada is also removing existing travel requirements. As of October 1, travelers will no longer be required to undergo health checks for
travel on air and rail; or wear masks on planes and trains. Although the masking requirement is being lifted, all travelers are strongly recommended to wear high quality and well-fitted masks during their journeys. Cruise measures are also being lifted, and travelers will no longer be required to have pre-board tests, be vaccinated, or use ArriveCAN. A set of guidelines will remain to protect passengers and (See Canada, page 3)
until after the 2030 census. The city has three voting wards with two councilmembers for each ward and one at-large councilmember. The first ward runs west of 6th Street to city limits and between the U.S./Canada border and H Street; the second ward encompasses the downtown core west of Odell Road and runs south near the Bell Road intersection; and the third ward has Semiahmoo, a section west of Peace Portal (See Council, page 3)
INSIDE
A Blaine man died after another motorcyclist failed to stop at a red light and struck him while on his motorcycle. Robert C. Bray, of Blaine, died at Island Health hospital in Anacortes following a two-vehicle crash around 2:44 p.m. September 26 near the intersection of State Route 20 and Laconner Whitney Road, according to a Washington State Patrol (WSP) news release. He was 64. Michael E. Icenhour, 30, of Snohomish, was riding a 2019 Yamaha MT-07 westbound in the right lane of State Route 20 before the crash. When Icenhour approached the Laconner Whitney Road intersection, WSP investigators found he changed into the right turn lane and failed to stop at the red light. Icenhour’s motorcycle hit Bray’s 2018 Yamaha FJR1300, which was traveling northbound on Laconner Whitney Road. Both men were wearing Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) compliant helmets, according to the release. Bray was taken to Island Health, where he later died. Icenhour was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle to receive treatment for his injuries. According to WSP, the cause of the crash remains under investigation, and it’s unknown whether drugs or alcohol were involved. The 39th Oyster Run, a free ride around the Anacortes area with no official starting point, schedule or route, was September 26. According to the event’s website, it’s the largest motorcycle run in the Pacific Northwest and has anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 riders per year. The fatal crash is the 17th involving a motorcycle this year in Washington’s northwest region, which encompasses Whatcom, Skagit, Island, Snohomish and King counties, according to WSDOT’s crash data portal. There were 13 motorcycle-related fatal crashes in 2021.
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