Cover Story
Human Trafficking in Whatcom County
Jill LeVasseur remembers everything. The way she got into sex-trafficking, her arrest, the King County police officer who stayed with her and guided her to Engedi Refuge Ministries in Lynden. The programs there included addiction recovery and therapy, and they … Continue reading
Cover Story
The Chuckanut Formation in Our Backyard
by Ron Kleinknecht Fifty million years ago, there were giant, 7-foot-tall chickens wading around palm trees in the subtropical swamp that is now Whatcom County. And the remnants of this geology are still present. (1) Those chickens were Diatryma, a … Continue reading
Beaks and Bills
by Joe Meche If you’ve followed this column for a while, you know that Cindy and I always take a fall trip to the other side of the mountains, and this year was no exception. After spending time tying up … Continue reading
Being Frank
State Should Drop Culvert Case Appeal
Lorraine Loomis We are disappointed to learn that the state of Washington will continue its long-standing efforts to deny tribal treaty-reserved fishing rights by once again appealing a federal court ruling requiring the repair of hundreds of fish-blocking culverts under … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at August 29, 2016 Meeting Shall the council: 134. Authorize the mayor to sign the jail facility use agreement with Whatcom County, choosing Option 1? At the 6/20/2016 meeting, vote #97, the City Council authorized the mayor to … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Barry MacHale Action Taken at September 13, 2016 Shall the council: 153. Authorize the executive to sign a ,085 contract with CH2M Hill Engineers of Englewood, Colo., for the Gateway Pacific Terminal environmental impact statement? In order for … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Andrew S. McBride Action Taken at August 16, 2016 Meeting Editor’s Note: Commissioner Bobby Briscoe participated via communications link from his fishing boat in Juneau, Alaska. Shall the commission: 136. Authorize the executive director to sign a 10-year … Continue reading
Ballot Measure
City of Bellingham Measure Proposition No. 2016-1 A Greenways Levy for Greenways, Open Space, Parks, Park Facilities and Trails. Official Ballot Title For the purpose of funding development, acquisition, and maintenance of greenways, open space, parks, park facilities, and trails, … Continue reading
Ballot Measure
Whatcom County Measure Proposition No. 2016-1 Regular Property Tax Levy for Emergency Medical Services Official Ballot Title The Whatcom County Council passed Ordinance 2016-019 concerning funding for the countywide Emergency Medical Services system. Will Whatcom County be authorized to impose … Continue reading
Ballot Measure
Carbon Tax Initiative On November Ballot
by Rheanna Johnston In the last year, Washington tate has been the center of many environmental efforts — from the governor’s Clean Power Plan to our county fighting to ban fossil fuel exports. Among these many battles against climate change … Continue reading
Campaign 2016
Behind the Veil at the Lynden Rally
by Michael Riordan At first, state Senator Doug Ericksen seemed happy to take credit for bringing the Trump rally to Lynden last May (see September 2016 Whatcom Watch, page 1). But that was before the mounting costs of the massive … Continue reading
Commentary
by Sharon L. Robinson Is America a democracy anymore? Two candidates who many do not respect, trust or want have become the only offerings we citizens have to lead our nation in the most unpopular election in memory. I thought … Continue reading
Commentary
Executives Could Be Tried for Environmental Destruction
A move by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague signals a landmark shift that could reshape how business is done in developing countries, says Global Witness, a nonpolitical organization that works to resolve human rights abuses … Continue reading
Commentary
Looking for Answers: Whatcom County vs Hirst, Futurewise, et al.
by Satpal S. Sidhu November 28, 2016 Researching and learning about the water rights issue in our County and State over the past several weeks has confused me more than it has clarified the options the County Council has to … Continue reading
Election Results
Please use this link to view the 2016 Primary Election results: primary-election-2016 Candidate Results Voting Drop-off Rate Whatcom County Primary Elections Turnout and Voting by Mail Percentages 1956 – 2016 State/Local Election Statistics How Envelopes Are Returned to the Auditor … Continue reading
Fossil Fuels
Letter From the Standing Rock Protectors
by Karin Kraft and Aleta DeBee Hundreds of tribes from the United States and Canada are gathered along the Cannonball River next to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota. They’ve come together to stand as one in opposition … Continue reading
Letter to the Editor
Blanchard State Forest May Be Logged
To the Editor: Bellingham’s proximity to outdoor areas is undoubtedly one our city’s most beloved advantages. Blanchard State Forest, located just south of Bellingham, is one of the most scenic places around. However, this forest is now being threatened by … Continue reading
Marine Life
Invasive Green Crabs Found in Padilla Bay
For the past summer, crab scientists associated with the University of Washington have gathered each month at a tiny lagoon adjacent to the Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in Fairhaven. Their goal: to catch green crabs, an invasive species that … Continue reading
poetrywatch
“When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.” — John F. Kennedy Boris … Continue reading
Recreation
Blanchard Mountain Recreation Area Threatened
Blanchard State Forest is an enormously popular recreation area located south of Bellingham off Chuckanut Drive that is visited by tens of thousands of people every year. Blanchard Mountain features such things as the popular Oyster Dome and bat caves; … Continue reading
Twenty Years Ago
Ballot Issue May Influence Future of County’s Natural Heritage
To celebrate 25 years of publishing Whatcom Watch, we will be printing excerpts from 20 years ago. The below excerpts are from the October-November 1996 issue of Whatcom Watch. Editor’s Note: In 1992, the Whatcom County Council passed the Conservation … Continue reading
Unsung Heroes
by Kathryn Fentress Amy’s Place is a drop-in center on Friday and Saturday nights for homeless youth. Those attending are given a meal and a safe and welcoming place to hang out. Carrie Unick is a volunteer, and her mother … Continue reading
Water
Eric Hirst Letter to Whatcom County Council
by Eric Hirst Dear Whatcom County Council Members, Last week’s council meeting included several rural residents, builders, and realtors opposed to the recent Supreme Court decision on the future of rural permit-exempt wells. I hope attendance at next week’s hearing … Continue reading
