July 21 - 27, 2022
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Blaine man arrested in Bellingham shooting, page 3
County under stage 1 burn ban notice, page 5
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
County council discusses Covid-19 review, page 6
Blaine man gets Library system celebrates Pride in the Park at least 25 years for sexual abuse of children
(See Kovalenko, page 3)
s Friends of Blaine Library volunteers Sandra Bogen and Carol Macmillan welcomed participants to Pride in the Park on July 16. Whatcom County Library System hosted the event celebrating the LGBTQ+ community at Blaine Marine Park. The event offered storytimes, jewelry, crafting, karaoke and other family-friendly activities. Photo courtesy Jonathan Jakobitz
Birch Bay man threatens to kill neighbors and security at Birch Bay Village By Ian Haupt A Birch Bay man is suspected of threatening to kill his neighbors and an on-duty security guard while carrying a knife at Birch Bay Village July 9. He stabbed the security podium, cut camera wires and later allegedly tried to avoid Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies, according to the affidavit of probable cause (APC).
WCSO booked Birch Bay Village resident Scott Brandon Peterson, 50, into Whatcom County Jail July 9 on suspicion of harassment, carrying a weapon, reckless driving and third-degree malicious mischief, according to jail records. Around 3:40 a.m. July 9, WCSO deputies responded to Birch Bay Village for a report of felony harassment. Witnesses reported a man, later identified as Peterson, walked up to the security podium
Rollback Weekend, Birch Bay Sand Sculpture Contest to return July 30-31 By Grace McCarthy Birch Bay will have something for everyone during its annual sand sculpture contest and Rollback Weekend car show on Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31. New this year, Rollback Weekend participants have the chance to win two Las Vegas trips. The 39th annual Birch Bay Sand Sculpture Contest will start off the event-filled
weekend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 30. Sand sculpture participants can pre-register for the free contest at birchbaychamber.com or register 9-11 a.m. on July 30 at the Birch Bay library property, 7968 Birch Bay Drive. In years past, sculptures have ranged from classic cars to detailed sea creatures. Sculpture judging will take place 1-3 p.m. before the 4 p.m. award ceremony at the library. Sand sculpture prizes will include a mini surfboard.
“I love the sand sculptures. There’s always creative designs,” said Danielle Gaughen, Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce executive director. “I think it will be big this year and I’m excited to see what people have in store.” Local vendors and Friends of Birch Bay Library’s book sale will be outside of the library from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Live music (See Events, page 3)
and told the on-duty security guard he was going to kill his neighbors. “You could be one of them,” Peterson said, according to the APC. Peterson allegedly held a folding-style knife in his hand while he made the threats and stabbed the outer wall of the podium. He also cut a surveillance camera wire, damaging it beyond repair, (See Threats, page 2)
INSIDE
A Blaine man who sexually abused children for nearly two decades will spend at least 25 years in prison, with the possibility of life. Sergey Andreevich Kovalenko, 60, was sentenced July 12 in Whatcom County Superior Court to a minimum of 25 years in prison and up to a maximum of life. A jury convicted Kovalenko April 21 of first-degree rape of a child, two counts of first-degree child molestation, five counts of second-degree child molestation and three counts of third-degree child molestation, according to court records. The felony charges spanned almost two decades, from 1996 to 2015. Kovalenko was given an indeterminate sentence, which means the Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board will decide whether more time will be added to his 25 years. The board will review his offenses, behavior in prison and whether it would be safe to release him back into the community late into his sentence. The standard sentencing range is 20 to 26.5 years, according to a Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Facebook post. The state recommended 26.5 years, but Whatcom County superior court judge Robert Olson sentenced Kovalenko to 25 years. According to court records, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Kovalenko in 2016 for suspicion of sexually assaulting multiple children known to him over a nearly two-decade period. It found he had sexually assaulted three girls from 1996 to 2015. The girls ranged from five to 15 years old. Kovalenko was arrested in June 2016 at a Ferndale elementary school where he worked as a janitor and later released on $20,000 bail. He had worked for Ferndale school district for 20 years, 19 of which were at the same elementary school, according to court records. One of the survivors said Kovalenko sexually assaulted her from the time she was six or seven years old until she was 17, and if she refused, he would threaten to
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