Issuu

March 21 - 27, 2024

FREE

Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer

IN THIS

ISSUE

Opioid death at Whatcom County Jail, page 3

Downtown Blaine zoning, page 5

BHS golf starts season strong, page 6

PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230

City of Blaine Wings Over Water brings birding to Blaine area names police chief candidate By Grace McCarthy

(See Police chief, page 3) tjohnson;Seattle;Clean Air Comfort Systems;C33432;10x2-4c (24No)

s The Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival celebrated its 21st annual event in Blaine, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo March 15-17. The weekend event had activities for all ages, from an all-day birding expo to bird watching tours and youth activities. See more photos on page 15. Photo by Ruth Lauman

School board appoints Swinburnson, Galbraith By Nolan Baker Ryan Swinburnson and Steve Galbraith were appointed to the Blaine school board during a March 15 special meeting. The two newest members of the five-person board will be sworn in at the next board meeting on Monday, March 25. The school board was forced to search for new directors after former members Ryan Ford and Donald Leu both resigned from their positions within hours of each other before the board’s February 26 meeting, both citing personal and health-related matters. Swinburnson was appointed to represent District 4, vacated by Ford, and Galbraith will hold Leu’s former District 5 seat. The newly appointed members will serve until the next local election in November 2025, when they can run for reelection.

Receive up to $1,700 in rebates when you purchase the Ultimate Comfort System™*

The perfect pair for your air.

PLUS up to $2,600 in Federal Tax Credits^

Six candidates ran for the two open positions, with November’s general election candidate Derrick Bovenkamp applying for the District 4 position, and Susan Lottimer, Paul Berg and former District 5 board member Charles Gibson applying for the District 5 position. Galbraith attended Blaine public schools from kindergarten through high school, received his pharmacology degree from Washington State University and worked at a Blaine pharmacy. He served on Blaine City Council from 1989 to 1990, and served six years on the city planning commission prior to council. He currently serves as council president for Grace Lutheran Church. “The school board needs to work cohesively,” Galbraith said. “It doesn’t mean (See School, page 3)

INSIDE

The city of Blaine has extended an employment offer for its next police chief. Rodger Funk, chief inspector at the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) professional standards office, has been offered the Blaine police chief position, city manager Michael Harmon wrote in a March 20 email to The Northern Light. Funk has 28 years of law enforcement experience at the WCSO, holding various high-ranking positions within the sheriff’s office. He earned his bachelor’s degree in law and justice and holds a master’s degree in management. Funk, who grew up in Whatcom County, said it’s been a career goal of his to be a police chief. “To be able to serve as a chief of police in a Whatcom County agency is a dream come true,” Funk said in a phone call. “I’ve been up there for the past few months getting to know community members and business leaders and I’m excited to get to know the entire community on a greater level.” The city of Blaine received 16 applicants from across the U.S., including from within the WCSO and Blaine Police Department. A committee made up of three panels interviewed four finalists and provided the city manager with their recommendation. “We had a lot of strong interest from all over the country, which is very exciting for the city of Blaine,” Harmon said. “We had a strong candidate pool of both internal and external candidates and ultimately I think any of the finalists would be a good fit for the city. We made a decision based on a number of factors and I think we’ll end up with a good chief.” Harmon did not provide The Northern Light with the names of the other finalists. The three panels involved in the hiring process were a panel of three Blaine citizens, a panel of three city of Blaine elected and appointed officials, and a panel of three law enforcement leaders in Whatcom County. Each panel also had one city staff member. Harmon and mayor Mary Lou Steward selected who would serve on the citizen panel. Among panelists were business owner Sarbie Bains, former mayor Bonnie

Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . 11, 12 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Sports . . . . . . . . 6, 7 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14

TheNorthernLight.com TheNorthernLight

@TNLreporter

ThisFLYERS Week’s

@TheNorthernLightNews

FSI Save

OR Qualified buyers make no payments, incur no interest for 12 months when financing a new Lennox® system** PLUS, ask aboutrebates local $4,000 in utility utility rebates that may be on qualifying equipment available^^

www.CleanAirComfortSystem.com www.CallCleanAir.com 360-398-9400

3/19/24 10:40 AM