News In Brief

Sonics to host free community practice tonight
The Seattle Supersonics are hosting a free community practice open to the public tonight from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Carver Gymnasium at Western Washington University. Fans can watch the team perform warm-up drills and participate in a full-court scrimmage. Raffle prizes will be on hand including Sonics tickets and autographed memorabilia, with the proceeds benefiting the Sonics & Storm T.E.A.M. Foundation. There is no admission charge to the practice and doors open to the public at 6 p.m. Seating and parking is on a first-come, first-serve basis. The gym is located at 516 High Street in Bellingham.

Public invited to Puget Sound Basin meeting
The public is invited to a presentation about the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP) on Thursday, October 30, held by the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee and Whatcom County Water Resources Division. The PSNERP is a cooperative effort among government organizations, tribes, industries and environmental organizations to preserve and restore the health of the Puget Sound's marine nearshore. The purpose of the project is to identify significant ecosystem problems in the Puget Sound Basin, evaluate potential solutions, and to restore and preserve critical marine nearshore habitat. The meeting will be held from 6 - 8 p.m. at Whatcom County Council chambers. For more information, call 676-6876.

Final two city of Blaine gateway signs to be placed
The city of Blaine recently received approval from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to install the last two gateway welcome signs for Blaine. The signs will be located at the intersection of the truck route and H Street, and volunteers are needed to help landscape the two signs. The signs were designed by Dave Christianson and built by Signs Plus. Two signs have already been placed in the city, one on northern Peace Portal Drive near Marine Drive and the other at the junction of Bell Road and Peace Portal Drive. To volunteer with landscaping, call 332-8311.

Martin Street parklet construction under way
Construction on the Martin Street parklet on Martin Street next to the red caboose downtown has begun and a retaining wall is currently going up. �This is the first step in converting the right of way into another small park, hopefully taking another step to improve the looks and enjoyment of the downtown area,� said community development director Terry Galvin. Three Blaine high school students, Jeff Harger, Tyler Clark and James Ruiz, are volunteering on this project as part of their senior projects.

Man�s death in Marine Park result of a suicide
A 45-year-old Point Roberts man took his own life in Blaine�s Marine Park last Wednesday afternoon. An autopsy performed showed the man died due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound from a semi-automatic handgun. According to police reports, the man left a suicide note that was found at the scene. One brass bullet casing was also found, as well as a wallet, micro-cassette audio tape and currency in both American and Canadian.

Two injured in Marine Drive hit and run
Two people were injured on Thursday, October 16 after a man hit them with his vehicle and dragged them in the 500 block of Marine Drive. Rodney Jacobson, 80, of Ferndale, was apparently at the Harbor Cafe lounge when a man and woman tried to prevent him from driving, fearing he had consumed too much alcohol, according to Blaine deputy chief John Brand. Jacobson hit them with his vehicle�s open door and dragged them about 15 feet � the two individuals received cuts and bruises and were evaluated at St. Joseph�s Hospital. Jacobson fled the scene and was arrested at home, and later released due to his age. Charges have been forwarded to the county prosecutor.

Suspicious bag reroutes northbound border traffic
The Douglas Port of Entry shut down for an hour Saturday evening, after a suspicious package was found. A piece of lone luggage was found at the port, and appeared mysteriously placed to officials. Fearing a possible bomb, traffic was rerouted to the Pacific Highway truck crossing. Washington State Patrol requested the Blaine police department close the northbound I-5 276 on ramp and assist in rerouting traffic for about an hour. The mysterious bag was found to be an abandoned piece of luggage, according to officials, and not a threat to the public.

Blaine resident to compete in Pacific Idol finals
Ibidunni Ojikutu, a 23-year-old Blaine resident, has qualified for the the first annual Pacific Idol fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Ojikutu is one of 10 individuals aged 16-23 vying for the title of Pacific Idol on Saturday, October 25 at the Mount Baker Theatre at 7 p.m. Competitors were involved in two weeks of live performances and will perform two songs in front of a judging panel and live audience at the finals. The winner will receive cash prizes, along with recording time at a local sound studio, head shots by professional photographer and a one-time interview with Academy Award winner Tom Whitlock. For more information, visit www.3rdfloorevents.com or call 738-0432.