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, Sept. 7
COVID-19 hospitalizations increasing locally, statewide
COVID-19 hospitalizations are increasing locally and statewide, but Whatcom County numbers remain near the lowest levels in the last three years, according to county Health and Community Services.
Hospitalizations have been increasing in Washington since late July, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the past week, Whatcom County saw 15 new COVID-19 hospitalizations. Currently, the county is at a low COVID-19 hospitalization level. Advice may change should the level reach medium or high, according to a county news release.
“Fall is typically when we see an increase in the ‘big three’ respiratory viruses — COVID-19, flu, and RSV,” the release stated.
The county’s general advice regarding these viruses is to stay home if you are sick, test for COVID-19 if you have symptoms, isolate for five days following a positive test and proceed to wear a mask for six to 10 days after isolation.
While the free in-mail test program has ended, COVID-19 tests are still available for purchase at local stores through care providers.
“High-quality masks like N95 or similar are a great option if you must be around others while you are sick and want to avoid spreading the illness — regardless of whether you have COVID-19 or a different respiratory illness,” according to the release.
Wednesday, Sept. 6
Bellingham International Airport to conduct emergency exercise
Bellingham International Airport will conduct a regular emergency response drill on Friday, Sept. 8, according to the Port of Bellingham. The drill will take place east of the runway 16/34 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
People traveling on Airport Way, Airport Drive and Mitchell Way during the exercise may see emergency vehicles participating in the exercise.
The purpose of the drill is to “give the airport, mutual aid partners and emergency responders the opportunity to train for a real aircraft emergency in a safe and controlled environment,” according to a port release.
Participating organizations include the Whatcom Transportation Authority, Bellingham Fire Department, American Red Cross, local community members role-playing as emergency victims and more.
“This live exercise will be conducted in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration requirements,” according to the release. Federal laws require that BLI’s emergency response plan be tested every 36 months.
Tuesday, Sept. 5
Millions in grant funds coming to farmers, businesses
Almost $6 million from the Inflation Reduction Act will help Washington’s farmers and small business owners tackle renewable energy projects, Sen. Patty Murray announced Tuesday, Sept. 5.
Those funds will support more than 30 projects across the state, including eight in Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties.
Those projects will help small businesses and farms like the Empyrean Farm in Deming to purchase and install solar arrays, Custer’s Farm Power Lynden to purchase an anaerobic digester, and Willow Bridge LLC, a memory care facility in Mount Vernon, to install a solar array.
Overall, eight projects in Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties received a total $1.93 million for renewable energy projects.
“These grants are going to make a big difference for farmers, growers, and rural small businesses across Washington state,” Murray said in a news release. “This program is truly a win-win — we’re building new clean solar energy, lowering energy costs, and putting more money back into the pockets of small business owners and local producers who power our rural communities.”
Friday, Sept. 1
Whatcom County offers emergency tips, info for National Preparedness Month
Throughout September, National Preparedness Month, Whatcom County will offer “practical ways” to prepare for emergencies through the county’s new website, WhatcomReady.org.
The site is the county sheriff’s new emergency management info page, where the Division of Emergency Management staff can update residents about ongoing disasters like floods and fires.
“It is our hope that Whatcom Ready can be a one-stop site for residents to find information about current incidents, preparedness and response plans,” Whatcom County Undersheriff Doug Chadwick said in a news release about the site.
Chadwick said the site will help inform community members about ongoing issues, and it’s important that “community members know what is being done and how they can be better prepared to protect themselves, their families and neighbors.”
