News in Brief

Fourth youth arrest in drug smuggling case
A fourth juvenile has been arrested in connection with a February 20 pot smuggling incident on the Point Roberts school bus. The 16-year-old Tsawwassen, B.C. youth turned himself in to Whatcom County authorities last week and was charged with delivering drugs. He is currently being held on $15,000 bail and is scheduled for trial on May 24 in Whatcom County juvenile court.

A 16-year-old Point Roberts girl was arrested in February at the Blaine border crossing after she allegedly attempted to bring eight pounds of pot across from Point Roberts to the mainland U.S. Subsequently, a Point Roberts youth and a Tsawwassen teenager were arrested before the latest arrest.

According to Whatcom County deputy prosecutor Tom Verge, the case remains open. “The investigation is ongoing,” he stated.

Police out in force
Extra patrol officers began hitting the streets this week in a statewide crackdown on unlawful drivers, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office announced. The extra officers will be patrolling the streets between May 10 and June 6, looking for speeders, aggressive drivers, drunk drivers and unbuckled motorists.

Extra law enforcement patrols from Whatcom County and about 150 police and sheriff offices, as well as the State Patrol, will be working the traffic patrols. In Whatcom County alone, there will be 322 extra law enforcement man-hours working traffic patrols. The extra hours are being funded by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

“We need to send a clear message that dangerous driving behavior won’t be tolerated in Washington,” said Steve Lind, acting director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. “By focusing law enforcement activity and by publicizing this campaign, we hope to drive down the traffic deaths and injuries caused by drunk driving, aggressive driving and speeding.”

Blaine company wins publishing award
Ad-Ventures Publishing, a Blaine telephone directory publishing company, captured a number of Gold Book Awards for excellence from the Association of Directory Publishers recently. The numerous awards resulted in the company being awarded 2004 Publisher of the Year.

The company, which has been in existence for three and a half years, but has over 20 years of publishing experience, publishes directories in eastern Washington along with their award winning Hawaii phone books.

Ad-Ventures received several first and second place honors for their Hawaii phone directories including an award for the “Big Island Directory” which feature a 3-D version of the cover with a volcano painting by local artist Clint Sloan, which erupted when moved back and forth.

Blaine seniors work on projects
Seniors have been challenged with the task of completing a senior project, passing a reflective writing essay, creating a thirteenth year plan, and participating in a senior board. The purpose of the senior board is to give the students an opportunity to speak in front of a committee and share with them what they have learned on their journey through high school, what they did as their senior project, and what they are planning to do in the future. The committee of adults consists of a teacher and two or three community members.

These boards will take place between 1. and 3 p.m. on Monday, May 17 and Tuesday, May 18. All Blaine high school students will be dismissed at 12 p.m. on these days.

Habitat for humanity continue efforts

The Habitat for Humanity group is throwing another work party this Saturday at 702 E Street in Blaine. Volunteers will be insulating the interior of the latest house being built in the city. The work party will be led by Clark Casey of Northwest Insulation beginning at 8 a.m. If you’d like to volunteer, please, call 360/715-9170.