News in Brief

Christmas Tree Pick-up scheduled for January 3
The annual Christmas tree pick-up sponsored by Boy Scout troop 16 will be held Saturday, January 3, 2004. The tree, minus the stand,�should be in front of the house by 8 a.m. Following pick-up, a donation envelope will be provided if you wish to support the troop. To have a tree picked up, please call 733-9517 or 676-4588.

Dive into the polar bear swim in Birch Bay
The 20th annual Birch Bay polar bear swim is set and ready to take off on Thursday, January 1. Special prizes will be awarded for the following categories: best costume, least dressed, most dressed, funniest costume and crowd favorite. Swimmers also will receive certificates of achievement in recognition of their taking the polar bear plunge. To pre-register, visit online at www.birchbaychamber.com or email local_photog@alphahunt.com. The event will take place across from Stephani�s Restaurant at 7878 Birch Bay Drive.

One injured in four-car collision on truck route
Four vehicles � two from Washington state and two from British Columbia � were involved in a Friday night accident along the truck route, just south of the H Street junction. The driver of one of the vehicles, a 77-year-old male, was injured and transported to St. Josephs Hospital. Following an investigation of the collision, a 67-year-old Langley resident was cited by summons for negligent driving in the second degree.

New Year�s party planned at Senior Center
The Blaine Senior Center is inviting the community to attend a New Year�s Day open house party from 10 a.m. until the party stops. The community is encouraged to bring leftover goodies from the holidays, and participate in games and dancing. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, call the senior center at 332-8040, located at 763 G Street in Blaine.

Christmas bird count set for Friday, December 19
Audubon invites local birders and nature enthusiasts to take part in the 104th annual Christmas bird count, Audubon�s longest-running winter-time tradition. The bird count is open to birders of all skill levels and will be held on Friday, December 19 aboard a ferry run from Anacortes, WA to Sidney, B.C. At the close of the count, Audubon will analyze the population status and trends of the birds of the boreal forests to see how these species are faring. Boreal species that appear to be declining that are commonly seen on Christmas bird counts include belted kingfisher, northern flicker, white-throated sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, purple finch, pine siskin, and especially rusty blackbird. The registration fee is $5. For more information, contact RB Porter at 332-6799 or email rbdemo2@worldnet.att.net.

Cherry Point terminal plan moving forward
Homeport Properties, Inc. announced this week that they had concluded the purchase of over 3,000 feet of industrial waterfront from Puget Sound Energy at Cherry Point. The land will be the foundation of Gateway Pacific Terminals, a multi-user deep-water port development at Cherry Point State Aquatic Reserve. The project has been underway since 1991, and received approval from environmental, labor and state agencies in 1999. The project involves areas of both private and public terminal access, as well as upland development. The facility will serve both present and future industrial development at or near Cherry Point, Whatcom County�s main heavy industry area.

NWFRS board terminates Campbell
Mike Campbell, a former North Whatcom Fire and Rescue Services (NWFRS) division chief, was terminated from NWFRS at a board of directors meeting held last Monday in Point Roberts. Campbell, who had been on administrative leave, recently plead guilty to rape of a child in the second degree and is currently being held at the Whatcom County Jail. He will be sentenced next month, and could serve a maximum of 10 years. Campbell was arrested October 8, 2002, after a girl told a school counselor she was raped by Campbell in Point Roberts while staying at his home during a visit in 1999. At that time, Campbell was the NWFRS division chief for Point Roberts.

Public comment extended for cogen proposal
On November 7, 2003, the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) issued a preliminary determination on the Draft Prevention of Significant Deterioration/Notice of Construction (PSD/NOC) permit for the proposed 720 MW electrical cogeneration facility planned for BP facilities at Cherry Point. The comment period on this draft permit has been extended through January 9, 2004. To be considered, new or additional comments must be received in the EFSEC office by 5 p.m. on Friday January 9, 2004.
The draft approval of the permit and a supplement to the permit to provide more detailed information, as well as the November 7 notice of issuance for public comment, are available for review during the public comment period at the following locations: Energy Facility, Site Evaluation Council, 925 Plum Street SE, Building 4, Olympia, WA, 98504-3172, www.efsec.wa.gov; Blaine Library, 610 Third Street, Blaine, WA 98230; Bellingham Library, 210 Central Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225-4421. For more locations or further information, call 956-2047 or visit online at www.efsec.wa.gov.