News in Brief is published online every Friday, and updated throughout the week with bite-sized news from across Whatcom and Skagit counties. Read a roundup of the week’s news in print the following Friday.
Thursday, July 6
1 dead, 1 injured in July 4 fire north of Bellingham
One person died and one was injured in a residential fire off of Guide Meridian Tuesday morning, July 4, North Whatcom Fire Chief Jason Van der Veen said.
Four people lived in the residence — the other two occupants and a dog were able to escape, unharmed. The structure, a stick-built home with an attached mobile home, is a total loss, Van der Veen said.
Firefighters arrived on scene around 6 a.m. Tuesday and left around noon. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Whatcom County Fire Marshal.
Guide Meridian was closed for about three hours while crews battled the blaze, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Bellingham Fire Department and Whatcom County Fire District 7 also responded to the fire.
Bus rollover near Burlington results in minor injuries
A bus carrying adults and students taking part in Skagit Valley Family YMCA’s Y Kids Summer Day Camp rolled over near Burlington Wednesday evening, July 5, resulting in multiple minor injuries.
The driver of the bus, 77-year-old Jacob Eisses of Mount Vernon, was traveling south on Interstate 5, took an exit, and “failed to negotiate a turn,” resulting in the rollover, according to a news release from Washington State Patrol.
Two passengers were transported to United General Medical Center in Sedro-Woolley with non-life-threatening injuries. Youth riding the bus were reunited with their families at Burlington High School.
The cause of the rollover is being investigated. Skagit Valley Family YMCA in a Facebook post said it is cooperating with Burlington Police Department and Washington State Patrol.
Wednesday, July 5
Whatcom County delays reopening of Plantation Rifle Range indoor facility
Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Department has delayed the reopening of Plantation Rifle Range’s indoor facilities, which have been closed off and on for years due to health and safety-related upgrades.
The department initially reported it would reopen in June after a time-consuming and costly repair to the roof and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
In April, parks director Bennett Knox said renovations were “98 percent finished,” but additional delays and negotiations have pushed the reopening. On Wednesday, July 5, Knox estimated the indoor facility would likely reopen in early fall.
The outdoor facilities, including the high-power range and the pistol range, remain closed indefinitely while lead reclamation and cleanup occur after more than 50 years of operations.
Inmate attempts to escape Whatcom County Jail after door lock fails
A Whatcom County Jail inmate escaped his cell Tuesday, July 4, after he kicked his cell door causing a mechanical failure in the lock.
Christian Dillard, 23, escaped to the outer security area, and began kicking the lock on the hallway door, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded and attempted to convince Dillard to return to his cell for more than an hour. Eventually, the Corrections Emergency Response Team was able to move Dillard to a safety cell.
Dillard is incarcerated on suspicion of burglary, malicious mischief, assault and criminal trespass.
The Whatcom County Facilities Department will inspect all the locking mechanisms in the building, Sheriff Bill Elfo said in a Wednesday, July 5 release. All public tours and visits to the jail have also been suspended until the locking mechanisms and doors “can be secured,” Elfo said.
Ecology issues drought advisory across Washington state
The Washington State Department of Ecology issued a statewide drought advisory Wednesday, July 5, after an unusually warm May and an “abnormally dry spring.”
After the warmest May on record, most streamflows in the state are projected to be below 75% of normal, though Ecology will continue to monitor water supply conditions.
“As we head into the hottest weeks of the summer, we want people to use water wisely and be aware of our water supply situation,” Ecology’s Jeff Marti said in a news release. “This drought advisory will help us get that message out.”
Already, irrigators in the Skagit Basin and in the Yakima Basin are facing challenges due to a lack of water, and earlier this summer, Ecology said junior water rights holders in Whatcom County may be asked to restrict their water usage over low streamflows.
Tuesday, July 4
Whatcom Community College hosts express enrollment days
Whatcom Community College will host three express enrollment days over the summer, when new students can meet with advisers to receive financial and academic guidance.
The first enrollment day will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, July 13, in Orca Central at the Heiner Center. The next two enrollment days will have the same schedule and location on Aug. 10 and Sept. 7.
No appointment is necessary. Students are encouraged to complete their FAFSA/WAFSA and admission applications prior to attending an enrollment day. Students should also come prepared with a list of any college credits they have from other colleges or universities.
Work on Skagit County fish habitat expansion begins July 6
The Washington State Department of Transportation will begin work Thursday, July 6 to expand fish habitat in an unnamed tributary to Carpenter Creek under State Route 534 near Conway, Skagit County.
The $4.6 million project will remove a concrete pipe under the roadway and replace it with a structure fish can pass through.
Work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until late fall. Shoulders in the work zone will be closed during weekdays, and some single-lane closures will be marked by flaggers.
For up to five days in August, State Route 534 will be closed at milepost 0.5. A detour will take travelers along State Route 538, Interstate 5, State Route 9 or State Route 530. Drivers should plan for extra travel time.
Monday, July 3
‘Credible reports’ of bear charging people near Deming
The Nooksack Indian Tribal Police Department has asked residents to use extreme caution in the Rutsatz area near the north fork of the Nooksack River after reports of a female bear and her cubs charging visitors.
Bears, especially those with young cubs, can be particularly aggressive, and the police department has asked visitors to call 911 if they come in contact with the animal.
At this point, no injuries have been reported.
Traffic restrictions on Cornwall for rainbow crosswalk installation
Traffic on Cornwall Avenue in Bellingham will be reduced to one lane between Magnolia and Holly streets, starting at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, July 5, for the removal of the existing mid-block crosswalk. Flaggers will direct traffic on the downtown city block as workers prepare the site for installation of a rainbow-colored crosswalk.
The same block will be fully closed to traffic at 7 a.m. Thursday, July 6, for installation of the rainbow crosswalk. The Bellingham City Council approved the new crosswalk design in June, to honor Pride Month.
Sunday, July 2
Text-to-911 now available in all Washington counties
Text-to-911 is available in all Washington counties as of Friday, June 30, although many adopted the service years ago, including Whatcom County in 2021.
The texting service should be used in instances when it may be dangerous or impossible to speak, such as a home invasion or personal medical emergency.
To use the service, create a new text and enter the numbers 911 in your phone’s “To” field. Texts to 911 should include location information and the type of emergency aid needed (medical, fire or police).
Calls to 911 are still preferred, the state Emergency Management Division said in a Friday release.
Friday, June 30
WWU dining workers laid off amid switch to new provider
Nearly 400 employees will be laid off from Aramark at Western Washington University amid a switch to its new dining service provider, Chartwells Higher Education.
A Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification (WARN) was sent out after Aramark filed 386 permanent layoffs with the Washington State Employment Security Department.
Western said in an online FAQ it is working to transition current Aramark employees to Chartwells. They expect staffing levels to remain relatively the same.
