June 6 - 12, 2024
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Initiative petition to repeal Healthy Children’s Fund, page 5
Scottish festival photos, page 6
Blaine’s badminton champion, page 16
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Runners participate in Birch Bay 5K Fun Run
Class of
2024
page 7
No injuries in Custer train derailment By Nolan Baker
(See Train, page 5)
s The Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 held its Birch Bay 5K Fun Run on May 31. Dozens of runners left the Birch Bay Activity Center and made their way to Beach Cat Brewing on Birch Bay Drive. Photo by Grace McCarthy
Increased illegal crossings cause tighter restrictions at Peace Arch Historical State Park By Grace McCarthy The U.S. Border Patrol has new restrictions for people from Canada visiting the Washington side of Peace Arch Park in response to an increase in people attempting to cross the border illegally at the park. Jason Givens, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, wrote in an email to The Northern Light that U.S. Border Patrol, which is part of CBP, had seen a “dramatic increase” in illegal border crossings in and around Peace Arch Historical Park since 2022. CBP was unable to provide data on the number of people who attempted to illegal-
ly cross the border through the park. However, CBP data shows a significant increase in illegal border crossings along the northern land border in the Blaine sector. In 2021, U.S. Border Patrol had 112 encounters in the Blaine sector area. That number grew to 407 in 2022, 1,489 in 2023 and is at its highest with 1,732 encounters so far in 2024, according to CBP data. “The U.S. Border Patrol is dedicated to preserving the legacy and traditions of Peace Arch Park while also preventing transnational criminal organizations from exploiting the park to gain illegal entry into the United States,” Givens wrote. The park is located on both sides of the
Three arrested at Luxury Spa in Blaine By Nolan Baker One woman and two men were arrested on May 29 after officers from the Blaine Police Department executed a search warrant at the Luxury Spa, located at the Blaine International shopping center, 1733 H Street, Suite 800. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Bellingham Police Department assisted. Law enforcement vehicles entered the parking lot just after 1 p.m. and arrested
Jie Deng, 39, of Renton, on a charge of second-degree rape, which she is suspected of committing at the spa, according to a May 29 Blaine PD press release. Blaine PD also arrested two patrons who were present, Todd Aric Berge, 57, of Blaine, and Ankhjargal Jargalsaikhan, 38, of Corona, California, on preliminary charges of patronizing a prostitute. Berge and Jargalsaikhan were booked into Whatcom County Jail around 4:20 p.m. May 29 and released about 5 p.m. the same day, according to jail booking data.
Deng’s bail was set at a $25,000 bond or $2,500 cash, and she was released May 31. According to an affidavit of probable cause, on April 25, Deng sexually assaulted a female customer who reported the incident to police on May 10. The victim also told Blaine PD that, while paying, Deng attempted to cover up a screen that showed multiple camera views inside the location, including the room where the victim had been assaulted. According to court documents, Deng (See Spa, page 2)
U.S./Canada border, split as Peace Arch Historical State Park in Washington and Peace Arch Provincial Park in B.C. The park previously allowed people from the U.S. and Canada to meet anywhere within it without going through customs, making it a rare and popular location for loved ones to meet when the border was closed to non-essential travel during the pandemic. Canadians were previously able to enter the U.S. side of the park in Washington from 0 Avenue in B.C., but Givens wrote that Border Patrol agents are telling people attempting to enter the park along 0 Ave(See Peace Arch, page 3)
INSIDE
A Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) train derailed near Custer on the 7700 block of Portal Way between Arnie and Valley View roads around 10:45 p.m. June 4. The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) didn’t report any loss of life or injury due to the derailment. No materials were spilled from the six cars that derailed, and there is currently no risk to the public, according to BNSF Railway. WCSO’s Division of Emergency Management was notified about the train derailment about 11:45 p.m. June 4, and North Whatcom Fire and Rescue (NWFR) and BNSF Railway responded to the incident. BNSF railroad officers “had full control” of the derailed train by 1 a.m. June 5, according to WCSO. WCSO announced Portal Way between Valley View and Arnie roads would be closed for the remainder of June 5 as the division of emergency management, NWFR and BNSF cleared the railroad and surrounding area. “Our Division of Emergency Management has processes in place to support first responders in events such as this,” Sheriff Donnell Tanksley said in a statement. “Our priority is always life safety, and it is gratifying that there was and is no risk to the public from this event.” BNSF public affairs director Lena Kent
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Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . 11, 12 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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