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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
March 9 - 15, 2023
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IN THIS
ISSUE
County council discusses Birch Bay stop signs, page 3
Birch Bay school update, page 6
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Sports schedule, page 10
Daylight saving begins March 12
Teenager and adult injured in Blaine Road crash By Ian Haupt
s A Blaine Police Department vehicle blocks Blaine Road on March 7. Photo courtesy BPD
20th Annual
s Blaine basketball takes third in the Class 1A state tournament March 4 in the Yakima Valley SunDome. From l.: head coach Nate Sullivan, AJ Bennett, Josiah Weeda, Conner Dalry, Beckum Bleazard, Noah Tavis, Carson Lehnert, Lawrence Creasey Pulphus, Ethan Koreski, Mathew Russ, Lucas Smith and assistant coaches Jordan Malarz and Derek Vance. Front: manager Eligha Munoz, Alex Censale, Jesse Deming and Josh Audette. WIAA representatives on the outside. Photo by David Willoughby
Blaine boys basketball takes third in state tournament, first state placing since 2004 By Ian Haupt The Blaine boys basketball team took home third place from the Class 1A state tournament after beating Toppenish High School 70-60 March 4 in the Yakima Valley SunDome. The third place is Blaine boys basketball’s first trophy since it took fifth place in 2004 and the team’s best finish since 2000, when Luke Ridnour, who would go on to play for 13 years in the NBA, led Blaine to its second consecutive 2A state championship. First-year head coach Nate Sullivan said it was an earned third place. No. 7 Blaine beat fourth place team Zillah High School and sixth place team The Overlake School on its road to the third place game where it beat fifth place Toppenish.
“The kids were focused and engaged, and they were confident,” Sullivan said. “And the results spoke for themselves the way the kids went into it. We kept saying this was a business trip and the kids certainly made it one.” The Borderites opened the tournament with an upset 61-58 win over No. 2 Zillah to advance to the quarterfinals. There, they overran No. 8 Overlake 80-52 to make the Class 1A state semifinal the following day, March 3. Playing for the second day in a row at 9 p.m., Blaine couldn’t keep its momentum going. No. 5 King’s Senior High School held Blaine to only 17 points in the first half. Blaine was able to keep the game with(See Sports, page 6)
INSIDE
Two Blaine residents were sent to the hospital after a car heading southbound on Blaine Road struck two concrete barriers around 5:30 p.m. March 7. According to a Washington State Patrol (WSP) press memo, the driver was ejected from the vehicle and a motorcyclist involved in the crash fled the scene. A 2007 Mazda was headed southbound on Blaine Road near the intersection of Drayton Harbor Road when a motorcycle attempted to pass the Mazda. According to WSP, this caused the Mazda driver to overcorrect to the right shoulder. The vehicle then struck two concrete barriers, and the driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle, which came to rest on the right shoulder. The driver, a 33-year-old Blaine woman, and her 13-year-old passenger, who was wearing a seatbelt, were transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham for serious injuries. PeaceHealth spokesperson Beverly Mayhew said the driver was in critical condition as of March 8. The passenger’s condition was unable to be released because she is a minor. Both directions of Blaine Road at the intersection of Hall Road were blocked while emergency crews were on scene. Washington State Department of Transportation announced around 9:45 p.m. that the roads reopened. The WSP report says the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
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ALL DAY BIRDING EXPO SATURDAY MARCH 18 • 10AM - 5PM Blaine Pavilion • 635 8th Street
FREE Family Fun For The Entire Family!
Kids’ Activities • Wildlife Exhibits/Cruises • Wildlife Speakers • Art-Craft Vendors & More!
Northwest Birding Festival
MARCH 17, 18 , 19
DETAILS PAGE 2