January 5 - 11, 2017
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Ring of Fire and Hope takes place in Birch Bay, page 4
2016
Top high school sports stories of 2016, page 6
A look at Birch Bay’s Polar Bear Plunge, page 15
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Hundreds take the Polar Bear Plunge in Birch Bay
year in
REVIEW
A LOOK BACK
Best of Blaine Police Reports, Part 1
(See Police, page 12)
s A crowd donning swimsuits and costumes brought in the New Year by taking the Polar Bear Plunge in Birch Bay on January 1. The local tradition draws a large crowd each year and got its start in 1982. For more photos, see page 15. Photo by Chuck Kinzer
2016
year in
REVIEW
A LOOK BACK
2016 Year in Review, Part 1
January • State senator Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale) called to repeal rules that would grant access to locker rooms and restrooms based on an individual’s gender identity. The Washington State Human Rights Commission adopted the rules in December in an effort to reduce discrimination against the transgender community. The discussion aligned with a contentious conversation taking place between LGBTQ activists and lawmakers nationwide. Ericksen planned to work with lawmakers to repeal the rule once the legislative session began. • Hundreds celebrated the New Year in icy waters by joining together to take part in Birch Bay’s Polar Bear Plunge. • Loss in tax revenue driven by a drop in crude oil prices halted two environmental improvement projects in Blaine’s harbor. Despite the state allocating $28 million for cleanup projects in Blaine and Bellingham, the decline in prices was predicted to cut a total of $14 million in funding. The cost to clean up the Blaine Marina and Westman Marine sites was estimated to have cost a combined $6.2 million over the span of five to eight years. • Top-ranking Canadian analyst David
Doyle predicted the loonie would decline in value to an all-time low of 59 cents on the US dollar by the end of the year. In January, the Canadian dollar had dipped to 69.9 cents on the dollar – the last time it fell below 70 cents was in 2003. The loonie hit an all-time low in 2002 at 61.1 cents on the dollar. • At age 103, legendary outdoorsman, activist and engineer, Wolf Bauer, passed away. In 1935, Bauer was the first to trek up the north side of Mount Rainier. He later went on to teach renowned courses on mountaineering and pioneered the introduction of foldboat kayaking to the United States. Bauer was known as the mind behind Birch Bay’s longstanding berm project, which is still ongoing. He left behind a close core of family and friends. February • Drayton Harbor Oyster Company started serving wine and beer. Following a months-long closure due to commercial harvesting restrictions, owners of the Peace Portal Drive eatery reopened with an announcement to partner with Blaine’s only commercial brewery, Atwood Ales. Staff with the brewery planned to supply beer for the restaurant from their farm lo-
cated southeast of Blaine. • The 5,000-square-foot pavilion at the Blaine community center was finally unveiled to the public. Located at 763 G Street, the pavilion was built to allow for use by a variety of community clubs and organizations year-round. • Special election voters overwhelmingly supported the renewal of a school district levy, which would continue the collection of $1.98 per $1,000 of (See In Review, page 2)
INSIDE
January 9, 5 p.m.: A motorist on D Street overtook the car ahead of him and began tailgating the auto, which was traveling the speed limit. Perhaps because one of his headlights was out, the aggressive driver did not realize that the guy in front of him was wearing a uniform and driving a marked police vehicle. When the officer contacted the hurried man to discuss the irony of the matter, the driver of the speeding, tailgating, one-eyed car said he did not have his driver’s license with him. This brought to light the fact that his driving privilege in Washington was suspended. A mandatory court appearance is scheduled. March 4, 1:59 p.m.: Police socially contacted two pedestrians on Pipeline Road and one man fled the area. Officers soon learned that the bashful runner had several warrants, including one for felony escape. Blaine Police, U.S. Border Patrol K9 and U.S. Border Patrol agents assisted with a search, but the felon eluded the searchers. Police continued their lookout and early the next morning found the gentleman. He was exhausted, wet and bedraggled, and accepted transport to the warm jail cell and food which he’d worked all night to avoid. March 12, 10:47 a.m.: Blaine police received multiple 911 calls about a 5-yearold walking alone on Bayview Avenue wearing only a diaper and rain boots and clutching a pair of men’s pants. The child walked to a neighbor’s home and said he was cold and didn’t know where his mom was. The good neighbors allowed the child to come inside their home and warm up while they called police. Officers arrived and gave the very excited young man a ride to the police department where he was reunited with his mother, who insisted she had been home when her son wandered away. The matter was referred to Child Protective Services for follow-up. April 9, 7:21 a.m.: A Customs and Border Protection enforcement team working at the Peace Arch port requested that Blaine Police respond when the facility perimeter was compromised and entry to the secure federal facility was made by a single upset suspect who refused to comply with lawful demands that he leave. A Blaine officer responded to protect the port and its personnel. Evaluation determined the several Customs Officers and one Blaine officer could manage the threat level presented without calling for additional resources. A multi-agency unified command was established and inter-agency protocols and directives were reviewed to ensure the planned resolution was in
Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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