City of Lynden announces Bradley Road project
WHATCOM — Through the end of August, Bradley Road will be fully closed between Vinup Road and Bradley Meadows Lane for the City of Lynden’s Bradley Road improvements project.
According to the City of Lynden, local impact will also include temporary traffic control and limited sidewalk closure as workers widen Bradley Road and construct striped road shoulder on the north side, as well as a planter strip and shared use path on the south side.
The City also announced that Phase II of the project, from the end of August until mid-October, will close Bradley Road between Bradley Meadows Lane and Line Road.
Sheriff, FSD superintendent meet after June 13 SWAT training
WHATCOM — Community members raised concerns following release of video showing Whatcom County’s Specialized Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team training on June 13 at a school bus on Ferndale School District property.
According to a June 16 joint news release from the Ferndale School District and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, this training “was approved by a Ferndale School District employee who was not authorized, and the request and approval did not follow the District’s established facilities use protocols.”
In a June 13 email to parents, Superintendent Kristi Dominguez wrote that “had she received the SWAT training request, she would not have authorized it to happen during a school day.”
“These exercises support the overall safety of our community,” Dominguez wrote in the email. [However] “we would not have approved a training of this nature during school hours.”
Dominguez also wrote that it is “not uncommon for first responders to use our facilities for training purposes,” although such trainings are typically outside of school hours.
Over the weekend, Dominguez and Whatcom County Sheriff Donnell “Tank” Tanksley talked through the miscommunication, the news release stated. Their discussion laid the groundwork for updated facility request protocols in the future.
“As the superintendent noted, training exercises prepare emergency responders for critical situations,” Tanksley said. “Our mutual goal is the protection of community members and especially school children. That requires specialized training and preparation.”
Representatives of the school district and the sheriff’s office “will meet next week to reestablish a jointly recommended process for submitting WCSO training requests and use of Ferndale School District facilities that is more comprehensive ensuring our commitment to community transparency remains intact,” the news release stated.
New Family Care Network clinic opens in Blaine
BLAINE — Family Care Network has opened a new primary care clinic in Blaine on the former Gateway site.
The network’s Birch Bay Family Medicine has closed and all providers and staff have moved into the space under a new name, Blaine Family Medicine.
Located at 861 Grant Ave., the 5,800-square-foot clinic has 12 exam rooms, a procedure room, triage room, on- site lab services and behavioral health services. The clinic’s phone number will remain the same.
The new location adds enough space for Blaine Family Medicine to welcome two new physicians this fall, Roma Nagin, MD and Zafir Khan, MD. Both doctors have family in the area.
On accepted insurance plans, Blaine Family Medicine will begin to schedule new patients for doctors Nagin and Khan in mid-August, or new patients can choose to establish now with other open providers at Blaine Family Medicine.
Call 360-371-5855 for more information.
No. Whatcom students named to George Fox dean’s list
NEWBERG, ORE. — One dozen North Whatcom County residents were among those who earned dean’s list recognition at George Fox University for the spring 2025 semester.
The following Lynden residents were named to the list: sophomores Haley De Young (studying interior design) and Madison Kooy (nursing); juniors Sam LaFantasie (biochemistry), Tommy Meyer (biology and biochemistry) and Katherine Rorvig (nursing); and seniors Kati Pinardi (psychology and mental health studies), Ari Rader (business administration) and Katie Roetcisoender (nursing).
The following Everson residents were named to the list: junior Eliza Kamphouse (nursing) and seniors Clara Lind (English) and Kylie Russell (English).
Nooksack resident Jordyn Relethford, a senior, studying English, also made the list.
Traditional undergraduate students must earn a 3.5 grade point average or above on 12 or more hours of graded work to earn a spot on the dean’s list.
Northwest Professional Services welcomes new ownership
LYNDEN — Recently, Northwest Professional Services announced new ownership when Terell and Colby Weg took over the company.
Joining the Wegs in leadership is Julie Price, who will serve as the new general manager.
According to a news release from NPS, Price brings “fresh, trustworthy energy to the day-to-day operations of the company.”
“What makes this transition especially meaningful is that all three: Terell, Colby and Julie, were born and raised in Lynden,” the news release states. “Their deep roots in the community give them a unique perspective and an unwavering dedication to serving the people and places they’ve always called home.”
This transition comes with heartfelt gratitude for the incredible foundation laid by former owner Doug Broersma, who led the company for the past 50 years.
His steady leadership and deep commitment have built a legacy of trust that continues to shape the company’s values and vision. “We’re also pleased to share that Doug will remain on the team as a manager, bringing his invaluable experience and insight to support the next chapter of growth and service.”
In addition to the leadership change, Northwest Professional Services will undergo a rebranding phase over the coming months.
Customers can expect updates to the company’s branding and communications as it evolves better to reflect its values and vision for the future.
For more information, visit northwestprofessionalservices.com.
First measles case of 2025 confirmed in Whatcom County
WHATCOM— Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) has confirmed the first measles case of 2025 in Whatcom County.
According to a June 20 news release from WCHCS, the individual is “currently isolating at home and is not believed to pose a continued risk to the community.”
Exposed individuals are being contacted through WCHCS, and the risk to the public is considered low at this time. WCHCS will share more details as this case develops.
WCHCS is working closely with the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), PeaceHealth and Family Care Network to investigate this case. WCHCS is working to identify possible locations that the individual may have visited and reach out to anyone who might have been exposed.
Any questions or concerns about measles, contact your health care provider or visit the WA DOH’s measles page.
Lynden resident graduates from Iowa State
AMES, Iowa — Nearly 4,600 graduates received degrees from Iowa State University this spring. One of those graduates is Lynden resident Olivia Grace VanderVeen.
VanderVeen earned her Bachelor of Science degree in animal science, Magna Cum Laude, as graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies were held May 15-17.
Lynden resident earns UW degree
SEATTLE — Lynden resident Brielle Lamphere Olson recently earned a Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Washington, graduating with distinction, as a select participant in the Child Welfare Training and Advancement Program (CWTAP).
Olson is employed by the state’s Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and works as an advocate for children and families in Seattle.
Gas prices up another 8-plus cents in past week
Average gasoline prices in Washington have risen 8.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $4.39/g on June 23, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 2,666 stations in Washington.
Prices in Washington are 2.0 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 13.3 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 16.1 cents in the past week and stands at $3.649 per gallon.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Washington was priced at $3.27/g on June 22, while the most expensive was $5.69/g, a difference of $2.42/g.
The national average price of gasoline has risen 9.7 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.18/g on June 23. The national average is unchanged from a month ago and stands 23.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.
“With Israel and Iran trading attacks over the past week, oil prices have continued to climb — and gasoline prices are following suit, rising at a pace we haven’t seen since last summer,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Few pumps have been immune, with nearly all states seeing gas prices rise over the last week. Additionally, average diesel prices recorded their largest weekly jump since August 2023. Now, with the U.S. launching attacks on Iran, oil prices are likely to continue trending higher. That said, I do not expect the apocalyptic spikes being circulated by some so-called influencers on social media — many of which are wildly inaccurate. For now, motorists should anticipate a continued steady climb in prices, with the national average likely to increase another 7 to 15 cents this week, while diesel could rise by 10 to 20 cents. These forecasts remain fluid and could shift quickly depending on global developments, so we encourage motorists to stay tuned to GasBuddy for the latest updates and insights.”
GasBuddy’s averages, graphs, maps and historical pricing data covering the U.S. and Canada is available 24/7 at http://prices.GasBuddy.com.