News in brief

A 56-year-old Sedro-Woolley woman was arrested Oct. 5 in connection with a July 27 hit-and-run involving a bicyclist on Birch Bay Drive. According to the Bellingham Herald, the bicyclist was injured after colliding with a vehicle that made a U-turn and abruptly braked. The driver and a passenger allegedly left without exchanging information. Deputies identified the woman through witness accounts and a photograph of the vehicle but were initially unable to locate her. Sedro-Woolley police arrested her after she called to report a separate vehicle ownership issue. She was booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of hit-and-run causing injury. Formal charges were pending.

The Blaine Public Schools Foundation IMPACT online auction is now open for bidding. Through Oct. 28, bid on a variety of items such as a 12-person dining experience at Drayton Harbor Oyster Company, tickets to Flights of Fantasy performed by the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra and tickets to a 2027 Seattle Storm game. This is the foundation’s primary fundraiser, and proceeds will fund student activities, school improvements and more. Register to participate in the auction and see the full list of items at galabid.com/bpsf-impact-online/items. For more information on the organization, visit blaineschoolsfoundation.org. 

The founder of Pittie Project PNW, a Whatcom County dog rescue, is facing 30 counts of animal cruelty after an Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office investigation found 17 dogs in poor health and unsanitary conditions at a property south of Lynden. An additional 13 dogs had already been removed from the home by volunteers at the time of the investigation. Each count of animal cruelty filed against Ashley Georgia is classified as a class C felony. All dogs found at the property have been removed and are receiving treatment with the help of the Whatcom Humane Society, the sheriff's office announced last week.

Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund spoke about the presence of federal immigration enforcement agencies in Whatcom County at an event hosted by Indivisible Bellingham on Oct. 6. Lund’s presentation focused on how the city of Bellingham has joined other municipalities in legal actions taken against the federal government for its unwelcome occupation in cities, and for its threats to cut off funding. Lund said that local governments can’t control federal agencies, so they must focus on the services they can offer to residents, as well as fight to keep their cities safe. Lund said that Bellingham has chosen to take this fight to federal courts.

At its regular meeting Monday, the Blaine City Council approved: 

• An ordinance amending the city’s regulations on accessory dwelling units. The ordinance allows for ADUs to be up to two-thirds the size of the principal dwelling unit, or up to 1,000 square feet. It also requires just one parking space per ADU, rather than one per bedroom. 
• An ordinance that requires every single-residence building, including accessory dwelling units to have its own water meter.
• A $139,000 contract with Lakeside Industries to perform pavement preservation work on H Street and Boblett Street. There will be about 14,800 square feet of pavement being restored on H Street, and about 2,700 square feet on Boblett Street.
• An interlocal agreement with the Port of Bellingham that grants the port the license to use, improve and potentially lease a portion of the city’s Marine Drive right-of-way in the Blaine Wharf District. The agreement states that the port and the city both have a shared goal of improving access to places such as Jorgensen Pier and port properties on Marine Drive.
• Approved a contract amendment, increasing a total contract amount with Surveying and Mapping by $67,200. Under the contract, Surveying and Mapping was responsible for identifying 2,700 of the city’s stormwater structures. After it began its work, it found about 800 additional structures. With the contract amendment, the total contract amount has increased to $764,500.

Whatcom County will open a nightly homeless shelter in downtown Bellingham from December through February, replacing a severe weather shelter that operated only during freezing temperatures. The Whatcom County Council voted 6-1 on Oct. 13 to approve a $585,000 contract with nonprofit Road2Home to operate the low-barrier shelter at 925 N. Forest St. The facility will provide up to 60 beds and operate from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m., with the possibility of extending operations through March if funding allows. During severe weather, the shelter could add 10 beds and extend daytime hours. The facility will provide behavioral health support and connections to services. More than 430 people were counted as unsheltered in Whatcom County in January, 2026. County officials say the nightly schedule will provide greater consistency and reduce reliance on weather forecasts.

Blaine Police Department officers are wearing pink badges throughout October in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The department said the initiative is intended to show support for breast cancer patients, survivors, families and caregivers while encouraging community members to prioritize their health.