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Big Whatcom fentanyl seizure, new medics, and your weekend guide

Big Whatcom fentanyl seizure, new medics, and your weekend guide

B’ham Friday: Big news, new medics, and rainy Sundays

March 27, 2026

Today's Weather - Partly sunny this Friday with a high near 55 and a calm westerly breeze picking up in the afternoon. Tonight brings mostly cloudy skies and a low around 38. A chance of rain arrives Sunday, so enjoy the dry stretch while it lasts. Full forecast from the National Weather Service.

Happy Friday, Bellingham. It is March 27 and we are wrapping up the week with some big local news, a reason to cheer for a Whatcom County robotics team, and a few things to put on your weekend radar. Coffee ready?

Before we get into it.. some reader emails:

“Any word on what will happen with the Labounty Property?”

- Colleen M.

If any readers have the scoop on the Labounty property (the parcel chosen in 2013 for the new jail), please reply (email me) or drop me a line using the button below.

Your article on the landslide is incorrect. It says allow extra time if traveling south. It’s the northbound lane that is blocked.

-Kurt P

Thank you, Kurt! It’s a lot to try to cover, and I missed that one. Always let me know if I make a dopey mistake!

Major Drug Ring Taken Down: 741 Grams of Fentanyl Seized in Whatcom County Investigation

The Whatcom Regional Drug Task Force, working alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration's Bellingham Residence Office, wrapped up a major investigation this week that resulted in two arrests and the seizure of a significant haul of drugs tied to a fentanyl and cocaine trafficking operation supplying Whatcom County.

On March 25, investigators executed search warrants at multiple locations and vehicles in the Seattle area. During one search, 33-year-old Arnulfo Chapa-Urgiles of Seattle was arrested after admitting to trafficking drugs. In a second search warrant, 49-year-old Dario Misacango Gutama of Seattle was arrested. Cell phones found at his residence contained multiple messages requesting drugs, and vehicles associated with him turned up heroin and methamphetamine.

All told, investigators seized approximately 741 grams of fentanyl, 222 grams of methamphetamine, 124 grams of cocaine, and 13 grams of heroin, along with over $7,000 in suspected drug proceeds. The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, Bellingham Police Department, and Seattle Police Department all assisted.

Both suspects face charges including delivery of controlled substances and possession with intent to deliver. The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office says more arrests are expected.

Bellingham Fire Department Welcomes Five New Paramedics

After eighteen months of intensive training, Bellingham Fire Department has five new certified Advanced Life Support paramedics ready to serve Whatcom County. The newly certified medics are Emily Thompson, Andrey Baydak, Hunter Stopenhagen, Benson Laurie, and Trey Davis.

The road to certification required thousands of hours of coursework, clinical experience, rigorous exams, and on-shift evaluations. These five met every requirement and are now qualified ALS providers for the county.

The announcement from Bellingham Fire Department called out their hard work and dedication. Congratulations to all five.

City Council Approves Civic Athletic Complex Master Plan

Bellingham's long-term vision for its recreation and sports hub is now official. City Council approved the Civic Athletic Complex Master Plan at its March 23 meeting, laying out a roadmap for changes the city says will benefit the community for generations.

The plan also touches on the I-5 situation: with approximately 50,000 extra vehicles a day routing through city streets due to the ongoing North Lake Samish landslide closure, the city is actively monitoring traffic and adjusting signal timing to manage the load. That detour traffic is expected to continue while WSDOT works on the slide.

Want this to be the content for next Wednesday's Special Edition Newsletter?

You can read more about both items in the City of Bellingham's latest Inside Bellingham newsletter.

Emergency Drill at Bellis Fair Mall This Saturday

If you are heading to Bellis Fair Mall this weekend, do not be alarmed if you see some unusual activity. Whatcom County's Division of Emergency Management (Whatcom Ready) is running a training exercise there on Saturday as part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup events this summer.

It is a drill. No emergency. The county is doing the behind-the-scenes preparation work to make sure Whatcom is ready when the games arrive.

More details are in the Whatcom County Sheriff's post.

Library Winter Reading Challenge Ends Tuesday

Quick reminder: Bellingham Public Library's Winter Reading Challenge for adults wraps up on March 31. If you have attended a library program, read a book from a display shelf, or caught the Whatcom READS event with author Javier Zamora at Mount Baker Theatre this year, you may already qualify.

Complete three qualifying activities and check in at any branch by 6pm on Tuesday, or join the celebration from 4 to 5:45pm at the Central Library's SkillShare Space with hot cocoa, tea, and a top-10 book list from Adult Services Librarian Katie Bray. Details at the library's Facebook post.

The Upcoming Week

Day	What's Happening
Sat, Mar 28	World Cup Emergency Preparedness Drill at Bellis Fair Mall. It's a training exercise; no cause for alarm. \| Bellingham Farmers Market opens for the season at Depot Market Square, 10am-3pm.
Sun, Mar 29	Rain expected by late morning through the afternoon. Good day for an indoor project. Check the full forecast before heading out. \| Weekend events calendar at Bellingham.org.
Mon, Mar 30	Siddle Street in Ferndale reopens today after a multi-week closure. \| Check the Whatcom County website for this week's council and board meeting agendas.
Tue, Mar 31	Last day for the Bellingham Public Library Winter Reading Challenge (deadline 6pm at any branch). Celebration with hot cocoa at Central Library, 4-5:45pm.
Wed, Apr 1	Lummi Island Ferry goes offline for scheduled maintenance today. Plan alternate routes if you are crossing to Lummi Island this week. \| Whatcom County board and commission meetings resume mid-week.
Thu, Apr 2	Rain likely through the end of the week. Keep an eye on the National Weather Service forecast for any advisories. \| Bellingham Public Schools calendar for upcoming spring break and events.