In brief...

Witnesses wanted

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) is looking for anyone who may have witnessed the February 28 crash on Interstate 5 that killed Blaine residents Kailey Walter and Brittney Armstrong, both 17, and injured three others.

“We’re still looking for any and all witnesses who may have been in that area, seen the accident, or seen the vehicles on the roadway at any point,” said detective Craig Cardinal of the WSP.

The crash occurred at approximately 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, February 28 on Interstate 5, just south of the Samish Way exit in Bellingham. Walter and Armstrong were passengers in a white 2004 Subaru Impreza traveling in the northbound lane. Two other Blaine boys involved in the crash were also traveling northbound, driving a blue 1992 Subaru Legacy. The third vehicle was a small pickup driven by Judith Olson of Mount Vernon. She was traveling southbound when her vehicle collided with the spinning Impreza. Individuals who witnessed any of the vehicles or events should call 360/757-2008.

Brown and Cole petition SEPA review
A public hearing for a proposed Brown and Cole store at Birch Bay-Lynden and Blaine roads scheduled earlier this month has been postponed until a later date after Douglas Robertson, an attorney for Brown and Cole stores, appealed an addendum to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review issued by Whatcom County planning department. Robertson wrote that changes made to the stipulations of the SEPA review would create an “enormous” expense and make it “impossible for the project to proceed.”

Current mitigation measures for traffic impacts imposed on the development include new turn lanes, a new traffic signal or roundabout, and $100 per additional estimated vehicle trip per day. A traffic analysis submitted by Brown and Cole, estimated an additional 6,900 vehicle trips per day. Whatcom County officials believe this will cause those roads to function below the county’s minimum acceptable level of service.