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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
July 27 - August 2, 2023
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IN THIS
ISSUE
Vehicle pursuit ends in fiery crash, page 3
Make the most of Rollback Weekend in Birch Bay
August 1 primary deadline nears, page 4
School district solicits budget feedback, page 6
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Canoe journey stops in Birch Bay
By Madisun Tobisch
(See Rollback, page 4)
s Three canoes from the Nooksack Indian Tribe, six canoes from First Nations in Canada and one from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community landed in Birch Bay on July 22 in a stop on the Paddle to Muckleshoot Canoe Journey. The canoe journey, which is returning for the first time since the pandemic, will end with over 100 canoes landing at Alki Beach in Seattle. This year’s canoe journey theme is honoring warriors, past and present. More on page 10. Photo by Ruth Lauman
Two people arrested in connection to Custer, Blaine and Ferndale drive-by shootings By Grace McCarthy An 18-year-old man and teenager have been charged in relation to early morning drive-by shootings in Custer, Blaine and Ferndale that injured one person on July 24. Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies responded to the first drive-by shooting report about 1:15 a.m. July 24 on Willeys Lake Road near Custer after a bullet struck a female victim’s leg while she was in her bedroom, according to a WCSO release. WCSO deputies found two bullets in the victim’s bedroom window and a third on the home’s siding. The victim received treatment for her injuries at St. Joseph Medical Center.
Blaine Police Department (BPD) then received a call about 1:30 a.m. from a resident who heard three gunshots near the 1600 block of Bayview Avenue, near Mary Avenue. Two officers responded and spoke with other witnesses who heard gunfire, but couldn’t find evidence of a shooting, according to a BPD news release. Shots were fired shortly after in the Eastgate Loop area of Ferndale about 1:45 a.m. Bellingham Police Department identified the suspect’s truck from a neighbor’s surveillance video and arrested Bellingham resident Alejandro Villa Herrera, 18, and a 17-year-old male at about 2:15 a.m. Herrera admitted to driving the truck (See Drive-by, page 6)
INSIDE
Birch Bay is preparing for its 40th annual Sand Sculpture Competition on Saturday, July 29, with the ninth annual Rollback Weekend Car Show the following day. An early alarm clock and pre-registration are advised to make the most of this weekend packed with annual events. Sand Sculpture creators can begin making their way to the Birch Bay Vogt Library Express, 7948 Birch Bay Drive, at 7 a.m. for day-of registration and to ready their 20-foot-by20-foot sand canvases. The first 50 sculptures will receive sand pails with gifts and refreshments from the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce, said event coordinator Sacha Sanguinetti. Friends of Birch Bay Library will be fundraising with coffee and muffins available at the future library site for those arriving in the morning. As the sculptors work on their creations, spectators can browse the vendors and food trucks set up outside the library on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vendors will return Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Remember to head back to the sand before the tide comes in around 1 p.m. when the judging begins. Results will be announced from the library site at 3 p.m. While the judges decide which sculpture is the winner, teams on golf carts and bicycles will participate in the fourth annual family-friendly poker run, beginning at 2 p.m. Teams will depart from the library and travel the 2.4-mile route to six checkmarks where they will pick up a playing card. The three teams to return with the best poker hand will win prizes. Sanguinetti said the event was so popular when it started during the pandemic, it now has a yearly spot among the other community favorites. “Events move to the next level each year,” he said. Sunday welcomes more community events for the Rollback Weekend Celebration. Once again, showing up early pays off as Friends of Birch Bay Library will serve a pancake breakfast at the library site starting at 6 a.m. Those hoping to enter the car show must register by 8 a.m. Cars will be displayed
Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . . 11,12 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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