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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
August 1 - 7, 2024
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Plover ferry rides stalled, page 3
Primary ballots due Tuesday, Aug. 6, page 4
Hearing on Blaine building height, page 6
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Weekend lineup: Blaine festival highlights local artists Sand sculpture contest, Rollback Weekend and Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival By Grace McCarthy
(See Events, page 2)
s Blaine Arts Council opened its art festival with an evening fundraiser at the Blaine Harbor Boating Center on July 26. Guests wore white for the “en blanc” fundraiser as they raised money for the council’s new downtown art gallery. Over 20 local artists had their work featured at Blaine Marine Park and the gallery July 27-28. See more photos on page 10. Photo by Ruth Lauman
Two people arrested in east Blaine in connection to murder in Tennessee By Grace McCarthy Two people were arrested in east Blaine in connection to a murder in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee on July 26 following a multi-agency law enforcement investigation. Michael Amandeus Brooks, 27, was arrested on one count of first-degree murder and Kayla Lynn Brooks, 26, was arrested on one count of accessory after the fact. As of July 31, the pair were awaiting extradition in Whatcom County Jail. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) issued a warrant for the pair’s arrests on July 18. Bond was fixed at $75,000 for Michael Brooks and $5,000 for Kayla Brooks. HCSO then contacted the Whatcom
County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) on July 26 for assistance in locating and arresting the two, who have ties to Whatcom County, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in Whatcom County Superior Court. Hamilton County detectives provided the WCSO with an address they believed to be the residence of Kayla Brooks’ mother, and department of transportation photos of a silver sedan with Tennessee plates connected to one of the suspects, court documents stated. Using a drone, WCSO located the vehicle at a residence near Delta Line Road and West 95th Terrace in east Blaine. (See Murder, page 3)
INSIDE
A weekend full of sand sculpting, classic cars and pirates will be taking over Birch Bay and Blaine during summer events the first weekend of August. Birch Bay Sand Sculpture Competition The weekend will start with the 41st annual Sand Sculpture Competition at Birch Bay Beach Park, 7930 Birch Bay Drive, on Saturday, August 3. The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce, which is putting on the event, is inviting sculptors to the shoreline of Birch Bay to show off their talents – whether that takes form as a castle, mermaid or anything in between. On-site registration for the competition begins at 8 a.m., followed by judging at 12:30 p.m. and an awards ceremony around 2 p.m. The festival will also have a vendor market, treasure hunt, live music, a beer garden, activities at the Birch Bay Vogt Library Express location and family-fun poker run. Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival Blaine’s annual Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival will bring back nautical-themed activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Blaine marina. The Blaine Chamber of Commerce has planned a street fair, food and live music both days near the Blaine Harbor Boating Center at Gate 2, 235 Marine Drive. The first day of Pirate Daze will have a pirate parade and costume contest. Pirate Daze will have a slate of crafts and games from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Blaine Marine Park, across from the marina. Family activities include photos with mermaids, storytime, treasure hunts and Blaine Community Theater’s “Pirates of Penzance” water balloon performance. Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2, which is organizing Pirate Daze, will offer $1 hot dogs and chips. On Sunday, Pirate Daze will have a car show from noon to 4 p.m. across from the boating center and a pet contest at 1 p.m.
Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . 11, 12 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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