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 20
Residents should avoid drinking water directly from Lake Whatcom after wastewater spill
The Lake Whatcom Water & Sewer District is advising residents to not withdraw their drinking water directly from the lake after a wastewater system spill Thursday, July 20.
Around 7:45 a.m. Thursday, the district received a report of an overflowing manhole on Lake Louise Road. Untreated wastewater reached roadside ditches, which flow to Beaver Creek, a tributary of Lake Whatcom. No estimate of the amount of spilled wastewater is known at this time, according to a news release.
Households that draw water directly from the lake, especially those without a disinfection treatment system, should bring all water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before consumption. Households with a disinfection treatment system should have the system inspected to make sure it is working properly, the release stated.
The district emphasized that all surface water can contain disease-causing viruses and bacteria, and it is strongly recommended that anyone withdrawing water from the lake treat the water at all times.
Wednesday, July 19
I-5 fully blocked near North Lake Samish Road due to collision
A collision that knocked down powerlines across the roadway fully blocked Interstate 5 in both directions Wednesday evening.
The Washington State Department of Transportation announced the closure around 7:15 p.m. July 19.
Northbound traffic was being diverted to Nulle Road, while southbound traffic was being diverted to Samish Road, according to a tweet from Washington State Trooper Kelsey Harding. The WSP did not estimate a time for reopening the lanes.
“There were some non-injury collisions on I-5 after the power lines fell and blocked I-5,” Harding tweeted. “Puget Sound Energy, WSDOT and troopers are diligently working to get the power lines safely removed and I-5 back open.”
Tuesday, July 18
Tampered shower head causes more than $5K in flood damage at Whatcom County Jail
An inmate tampering with a shower head resulted in more than $5,000 worth of flood damages to the Whatcom County Jail, according to a Tuesday, July 18, news release from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
The flooding happened around 4 p.m. Sunday, July 16, after a corrections deputy heard the sound of water flowing from the shower room. The deputy found water rushing under the door and an inmate yelling to be let out.
Deputies discovered water rushing from a shower head that had been tampered with, which began flooding the entire first floor. Water then seeped into the sheriff’s office and administrative space, both located below the jail, causing significant damage to the offices, interview rooms and electronic equipment.
The Bellingham Fire Department was able to turn off the main water line within 15–20 minutes.
“Flooding in the sheriff’s office administrative space from the jail is an ongoing concern,” sheriff’s office spokesperson Deb Slater said in an email. “Over the years, broken pipes, including sewage pipes, and inmate vandalism have led to numerous flooding incidents.”
Slater estimates the total damage at $5,000 and growing. The inmate occupying the shower room at the time was identified as 48-year-old Robert Ravencroft, who has been charged on suspicion of first-degree malicious mischief.
Video of the flooding can be viewed here.
South Whatcom Fire, DNR respond to Galbraith Mountain fire Tuesday
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources and South Whatcom Fire Authority are responding to a fire on Galbraith Mountain that began Tuesday morning, July 18.
No one has been evacuated but officials are urging residents to avoid the area.
The blaze is visible from Bellingham, resulting in a number of 911 calls, What-Comm 911 Training Supervisor Justin Rasmussen said in an email. Rasmussen encouraged the public to stop calling 911 about the fire unless they are directly impacted.
Cascadia Daily News has reached out to South Whatcom Fire Authority for additional information.
Everett’s airport gets a new name to attract travelers
Everett’s Paine Field (PAE) was renamed “Seattle Paine Field International Airport” in a rebranding effort to attract travelers searching for flights to and from the Seattle area.
Propeller Airports, which operates Seattle Paine Field International Airport’s passenger terminal, announced Tuesday, July 18 that Snohomish County had renamed the airport to improve marketing opportunities and “reinforce its geographic proximity” to Seattle. People commuting from downtown Seattle have a similar travel time to Seattle Paine Field International Airport compared to SeaTac (SEA).
“We have always viewed Paine Field as a second gateway to the Seattle metro area and are excited that the county has rebranded the airport,” Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports, said in a news release. “’Seattle Paine Field International Airport’ better captures the market that our airport serves.”
Alaska Airlines will fly to 10 destinations from PAE, including a nonstop Honolulu flight announced in June, and beginning in November. The airline also flies to Anchorage, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orange County, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Tucson.
Monday, July 17
Pedestrian dies Sunday after being struck by BNSF freight train
A pedestrian died after being struck by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) freight train near the 1100 block of Chuckanut Drive Sunday evening, July 16.
South Whatcom Fire Authority responded to the incident around 5:30 p.m., and confirmed the death on scene, said Mitch Nolze, South Whatcom fire chief. Bellingham Fire also responded to the incident.
Deb Slater of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office said BNSF is leading the investigation. The county Medical Examiner took jurisdiction over the deceased, and said Monday, July 17 that no details have been released, including the pedestrian’s name and the cause of death.
Cascadia Daily News has reached out to BNSF for comment.
Friday, July 14
Petrogas Pacific to pay millions to Whatcom County in back taxes
Whatcom County has won a longstanding lawsuit against Petrogas Pacific, a Cherry Point-based petrochemical company, requiring the company to pay millions of dollars in back taxes to the county.
The ruling, issued by the Washington Supreme Court Wednesday, July 12, found the company responsible for back tax owed — plus interest— set by the Whatcom County Assessor’s Office.
Petrogas has been paying a reduced amount of taxes for years, the county assessor told the Bellingham Herald. Though the final sum Petrogas owes to the county has not yet been determined, the county assessor’s office estimated it to be more than $10 million last year.
One lane of northbound I-5 blocked near Burlington
One northbound lane of Interstate 5 near Cook Road in Burlington is fully blocked due to a collision, according to Washington State Patrol (WSP).
A van and a semi-truck collided Friday morning, July 14, after the van made what appeared to be an unsafe lane change, WSP Trooper Kelsey Harding tweeted.
The accident initially blocked both northbound lanes. No time estimate was provided for when the road will fully reopen.
A previous version of the Tuesday, July 18 News in Brief item misstated that Alaska Airlines currently flies to Honolulu from Seattle Paine Field International Airport. The airline will begin flights to the destination in November. The story was updated at 12:12 p.m. July 18, 2023. Cascadia Daily News regrets this error.
