December 14 - 20, 2023
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IN THIS
ISSUE
The Ridge division receives approval, page 2
City council considers expanding restaurant zoning
Blaine utility rates to increase, page 5
Borderites sports, page 6
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
New Blaine school board members sworn in
By Grace McCarthy
(See Zoning, page 3)
s From l.; Blaine school board members Ben Lazarus, Don Leu, Erika Creydt, Ryan Ford and Cliff Freeman were sworn in by superintendent Christopher Granger during the December 12 school board meeting. All of the school board members were elected during the NoPhoto by Nolan Baker vember general election, with Lazarus, Ford and Freeman being new faces on the board.
Blaine PD gets wellness room, gym with grant By Grace McCarthy Blaine Police Department now has fitness and wellness rooms at its station, thanks to a state grant focused on promoting officer physical and emotional health. The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission awarded the police department $30,000 to renovate two rooms at its station and provide counseling services. Officers began using the rooms at the beginning of December. The police department’s wellness room, which models a counseling office,
was once an evidence room. Officer Jeremiah Leland, who serves as the department’s wellness liaison, used input from other Blaine officers about where they would like to decompress after a traumatic call to design the room. The former evidence room’s white walls and lockers were transformed into a space with dimmed lighting, an electric fireplace and two armchairs. “We have a lot of newer officers so if one of the newer officers experiences a hard call they may have not been exposed to, it can be overwhelming,” Le-
Tanksley announces sheriff’s office leadership By Grace McCarthy Sheriff-elect Donnell Tanksley has announced who will head the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office under his leadership. In a December 8 news release, Tanksley wrote that he assigned Steve Harris as undersheriff. Harris’ most recent experience was as a field training officer and a part of the marine patrol. He has worked as a lead detective for major crimes against persons and financial crimes, and oversaw
checks on 500 registered sex offenders in Whatcom County. Harris also spent 14 years as president of the Whatcom County Deputy Sheriff’s Guild. Erik Francis will be promoted from detective to chief civil deputy/chief of investigations and support services. Francis has spent the past 11 years as a detective for homicides, sexual assaults and crimes against children. He has served as a detective on the Northwest Regional Drug Task Force, was on the SWAT Team for a decade and worked
with federal agencies on criminal border control cases. Jason Gum will stay in his position overseeing field operations as chief criminal deputy/chief of field services. Rodger Funk, previously chief deputy of investigations and support services, has been assigned as chief inspector/office of professional standards. Caleb Erickson will remain overseeing Whatcom County’s corrections facilities as (See Sheriff, page 2)
land said. “This serves as a good opportunity for someone to come in and think about what they went through and make sure they have their mind and emotions in check before taking more calls.” The police department purchased gym equipment to fill a space formerly used as an auxiliary communications service radio room. The room contains an elliptical, weight machine and other workout equipment. “It encourages a healthier lifestyle, which is important,” Leland said. “A lot (See Blaine PD, page 3)
INSIDE
Blaine City Council will consider approving a zoning change at its January 8 meeting that would allow restaurants along Peace Portal Drive south of the central business district. The residential office zoning district roughly runs west of the Salishan neighborhood to Albert Street, extending a few blocks east of Peace Portal Drive. Lizzie’s Café and Ocean Bay Chinese Restaurant, which both closed in spring 2020, had grandfathered rights that allowed them to operate before zoning laws changed in the ’90s. “Because restaurants are not a permitted use, once they close for 90 days, they are not allowed to reopen,” said Alex Wenger, director of the Community Development Services Department. “We have a number of buildings in this district with commercial kitchens in them that can no longer be used as restaurants.” Mandeep Sran and Shamsher Sran applied for the zoning text amendment in August so they could open a restaurant at the location of Lizzie’s Café, at 1700 Peace Portal Drive. If council approves the zoning change, the restaurant would likely serve a new menu, Mandeep Sran said. The city of Blaine’s comprehensive plan designates the residential office district as a commercial district and supports commercial land use along major roads. The only operating businesses within the district are Anchor Inn Motel, Bayside Motor Inn and Foreign Auto Clinic. Blaine Planning Commission unanimously approved recommending city council approve the zoning amendment during its November 9 meeting. Planning commission had wanted city staff to research whether the city could prohibit restaurant chains from the district, but ultimately decided to approve the recommendation without the clause, Wenger said.
Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . 11, 12 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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