Council OKs hearing examiner Following a public hearing devoid of members of the public, Blaine City Council opted to replace the city board of adjustment with a professional hearing examiner.

Border Patrol makes record coke seizure On January 23 Blaine border patrol agents found 76 pounds of cocaine lying in a ditch separating the U.S. from Canada. The cocaine, found shortly after midnight, was packed into 31 laundry soap boxes...

Rules tightened for southbound plants There will be a few more hoops to jump through for gardeners who want to buy their plants in Canada. New federal rules prohibit any live plants, bulbs and seeds from crossing the border without a bill of clean health....

2001 IN REVIEW
The city of Blaine 2001 was a very busy and productive year for the city of Blaine. The following are the major accomplishments of your city government:
Whatcom County Our community experienced tremendous challenges in 2001. The exceedingly rapid and precipitous increase in energy costs, the permanent closure of the pulp mill at Georgia Pacific when 420 workers have lost their jobs.
Washington House of Representatives This is the time. This time, this day, this new year before us – maybe more than any time and day and year in our history – is right for considering the qualities it takes to be a good family member.

Will it get clean enough to eat? Hundreds of oyster fanciers and clean water fans came to the Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection District Advisory Committee’s open house last weekend to try and learn more about the tangled web of possible sources of and solutions to pollution in the harbor.

Council dodges transit tax issue Blaine city council members hemmed and hawed but narrowly decided to sidestep the issue of a tax increase to support county transit.

Fishing boats hold family, community history The Westman family has sold their fishing vessel Rosella to Richard Parker, her captain of about 25 years.

BHS entry heads to flower show “With thousands of people walking by we want our window box to make them stop,” said Blaine high school advanced horticulture student Beth Winters.

New degrees, honors for Blaine students The Westman family has sold their fishing vessel Rosella to Richard Parker, her captain of about 25 years.

Take a bite of this! After converting even the skeptics in a crowd of 250 at last year’s Bite of Blaine event, organizers of this years event are expecting more people and more variety for them to sample.

Nestlebush retires Diane Nestlebush has been selling insurance in Blaine for more than 20 years. This week, she’ll have her last day on the job and head off on the open road with her husband.

BUSINESS BRIEFS