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March 28 - April 3, 2024

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Easter services, page 2

NWFR to put levy City council approves Blaine police chief, page 13 proposal on ballots, page 13

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Historic Plover ferry repair work sailing along Blaine school district planning another round of teacher, staff cuts By Nolan Baker

(See School, page 5) tjohnson;Seattle;Clean Air Comfort Systems;C33432;10x2-4c (24No)

s From l.; Plover shipwright Steve Alaniz, U.S. Coast Guard civilian marine inspector Chris Schilling and U.S. Coast Guard marine inspector Rick Hill look at restoration work to the 80-year-old Plover ferry on March 20. Schilling said with already 60 percent of the work done, he anticipates the Plover could be in the water sometime in May. Read more on page 5. Photo by Richard Sturgill

Court evaluating Blaine man’s competency to stand trial for first-degree murder By Grace McCarthy Whatcom County Superior Court is currently evaluating whether a 77-year-old Blaine man is competent to stand trial for first-degree murder after allegedly shooting his neighbor last October. Judge Evan Jones presided over a March 26 hearing in which defense and prosecuting attorneys interviewed two forensic psychologists who had separately evaluated the defendant, Wayne Harold Mahar Sr., and came to similar conclusions that he had an unspecified neurological disorder that likely included dementia, lacked requisite capabilities and his cognitive impairment was unlikely to improve. Another hearing is

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scheduled for the afternoon of Friday, March 29, where the attorneys will give closing arguments before Jones makes a decision on how the case will proceed. The defense attorneys said Mahar could not assist in the case and did not understand the legal proceedings against him, while the prosecutor argued Mahar did not meet case law standards to be considered incompetent and could improve with medication. Mahar attended the court proceeding remotely from Western State Hospital. “This is not completely clear cut,” said Alexander Patterson, one of the forensic evaluators. “In the early stages of demen(See Court, page 3)

INSIDE

The Blaine School Board swore in new members Ryan Swinburnson and Steve Galbraith to begin its March 25 meeting, in front of a packed crowd in the district boardroom. The two new members, who replaced District 4 representative Ryan Ford and District 5 member Don Leu after abrupt resignations last month, were immediately charged with the task of approving a resolution to direct superintendent Christopher Granger to prepare a reduced education plan for the 2024-25 school year in anticipation of a $2.5 million budget deficit. Granger told the board that letters to staff members will be sent Thursday, March 28, warning of the possibility that their positions will be terminated in an effort for the district to remain solvent. State funding models reward higher enrollment with more funding, and Blaine school district has seen a consistent drop in enrollment since the 2019-20 school year. With the passing of a levy measure in the February special election, the district was able to recoup roughly 17 percent of its operating budget, avoiding even steeper cuts, but still face a $2.5 million deficit. State law requires school districts to balance its budget every year. The state legislative session provided some nominal funding relief for special education, material costs and some classified staffing, but according to a March 25 district business office report, won’t make a big enough difference by next month’s board meeting. “While these revenue adds are welcome and helpful,” the report read. “They do not address the extent of the district’s funding shortfall.” District 2 board member Ben Lazarus, in attempt to find “creative solutions” to the impending budget cuts, sought a vote to authorize the superintendent to renegotiate contracts with the teacher’s union and the classified staff union (Service Employees International Union) to voluntarily pause its raises. Lazarus cited $1.6 million in scheduled raises for teachers, classified staff (custodial, maintenance, paraeducators, cafeteria and transportation) and administrators. Of those

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

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3/20/24 4:25 PM