Missing Whatcom County Man with Stroke History Found Safe After Multi-Day Search

Happy Thursday, Bellingham. It is July 30 and we have a busy one today — a public safety alert resolved, a new property tax tied to the Lummi Island ferry, a knife-threat robbery at Barkley Village, road closures heading into the weekend, and some genuinely sobering data on the Nooksack River. Coffee in hand? Let's get into it.

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Today’s Weather: Sunny skies today with a high near 67. South-southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Overnight mostly clear, low around 54. A nice dry stretch to close out July. Full forecast from the National Weather Service.

Public Safety

Missing Whatcom County Man with Stroke History Found Safe After Multi-Day Search

Good news from the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office: Adam Cooper, 61, has been located and is safe. Cooper had been missing since 4 a.m. on July 27 after leaving his residence in the 2600 block of Willeys Lake Road near Custer. He suffered a stroke and is non-verbal, and relies on supplemental oxygen from a portable tank he carries over his shoulder.

The Sheriff's Office issued a public alert Wednesday after nearly two days with no word on his whereabouts. By midday, he had been found. No additional details on the circumstances of the recovery were released, but the family and WCSO confirmed he is safe. Full details here.

Public Safety

Four Juveniles Arrested After Armed Robbery at Bellingham Regal Cinema Complex

Bellingham Police arrested four juveniles Monday night after an online clothing sale in the Regal Cinema complex at Barkley Village turned into a knife-threat robbery. Police Lt. Claudia Murphy said the victims had arranged a sale at the complex around 8 p.m. on July 27. Three boys, ages 13 to 16, grabbed the clothing and ran. When the sellers gave chase, one of the boys threatened to stab a victim with a knife. A fourth boy acting as a lookout implied he had a gun and claimed gang affiliation.

Officers set up a perimeter and located all four boys on a nearby trail with help from a drone and K-9 teams. The stolen clothing was recovered. No knife was found. All four were booked into the Whatcom County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of felony harassment, robbery, and theft. Read the full story.

Quick note for anyone arranging buy-sell meetups: Bellingham Police recommend using designated safe exchange zones, typically at police station parking lots, for in-person transactions with strangers.

Roads & Traffic

Chip Seal Work Hits Five More Whatcom County Roads Starting Monday

Whatcom County Public Works is wrapping up its 2026 chip seal program with one final week of work starting Monday, August 3. Expect travel delays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Thursday, August 6 on these roads:

Garrison Road (north of SR-9), Nooksack Road, Northwood Road (south of Lynden city limits), Slotemaker Road, and Timon Road.

If you park along any of these routes, move your vehicle out of the public right-of-way before 6 a.m. on work days. Loose gravel will be on the roadway during and after sealing — slow down and leave extra following distance. Bicyclists and motorcyclists should use alternate routes. More information here.

Events & Roads

Downtown Ferndale Closes Streets This Weekend for Annual Block Party

If you are heading into downtown Ferndale this weekend, plan ahead. The City of Ferndale will close two downtown streets starting around noon on Friday, July 31 for the annual Ferndale Block Party, with closures remaining in place 24 hours a day through Sunday, August 2.

The closed sections are Alder Street between CVS and Second Avenue, and Third Avenue between WaFd Bank and Pioneer Center. Both WaFd Bank and Ferndale Pharmacy drive-through access will remain open throughout the event. Full closure details here.

Civic

Whatcom County Sets $5.7 Million Budget for New Lummi Island Ferry District

The Whatcom County Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday night to approve a $5.7 million initial budget for the newly created Lummi Island Ferry District. With it comes a property tax levy of 8.7 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value — roughly $52 per year for the owner of a $600,000 home. The council chose the highest of three levy rate options presented, after nearly 30 minutes of public comment.

The ferry district was approved in May to relieve pressure on the county road fund, which is paid entirely by residents in unincorporated areas and currently covers 45 percent of ferry operating costs. Council member Kaylee Galloway, who voted yes despite reservations, said freeing up the road fund would allow the county to move forward on overdue infrastructure projects. Read the full breakdown.

Out and About

Bellewood Farms Farmtunes Concert Series Runs Every Friday Through August

It is still summer, and Bellewood Farms and Distillery in Whatcom County is making the most of it. Their Farmtunes outdoor concert series continues every Friday night through August, from 6 to 9 p.m. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, along with food options and access to Bellewood's award-winning apple distillery — Washington's first true farm-to-glass operation.

It is a genuinely lovely way to spend a Friday evening before the apple-picking season kicks in. Check the full live music calendar at bellingham.org, or read more about Farmtunes here.

Environment

Nooksack River Summer Flows Have Fallen Up to 40 Percent, Threatening Salmon Survival

A new analysis published this week by Salish Current paints a stark picture of the Nooksack River watershed. Summer streamflows in the mainstem Nooksack and its three major forks have declined by 20 to nearly 40 percent from 2006-2015 to 2016-2025, what state ecologists called a "stunning loss of streamflow." Over the past 15 years, flows have been dropping at 4 percent per year — five to ten times faster than in earlier decades.

The causes point to a combination of less snowpack, shrinking glaciers, earlier snowmelt, and land-use practices across forestry, farming, and urban development. Low summer flows mean higher water temperatures, reduced dissolved oxygen, and diminished habitat — all conditions that can be lethal for salmon. The author, writing in Salish Current's Community Voices section, is direct: leadership from the Department of Ecology, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Whatcom County, and the local Watershed Management Board has not moved fast enough to address the problem. Read the full analysis.

Civic

Whatcom County's 2026 Homelessness Snapshot: 840 People Counted, $13 Million Funding Gap

Whatcom County Public Health released its annual Snapshot on Homelessness this week, and the numbers reflect a community making real progress in some areas while running headlong into serious funding constraints in others.

The Point in Time count for January 2026 showed 840 people experiencing homelessness — a 3 percent increase from the prior year. More striking is the funding picture: local organizations have requested $27 million for housing and support programs in 2027, but the county's available housing budget is around $14 million — 20 percent less than 2026. The housing pool, a quasi-wait list for people needing housing support, shows supply meeting only about one in five requests.

On the positive side, several new affordable housing buildings have opened in recent months, rent price growth has started to slow, and the county's 2026-2030 Homeless Housing Plan prioritizes both new units and expanded emergency shelter beds. Full details on the report here.

Community

Bellingham Fire Department Now Accepting Applications for Its January 2027 Academy

Know someone who has been thinking about a career in firefighting? The City of Bellingham is now accepting applications for both Experienced Firefighter and Experienced Firefighter/Paramedic positions ahead of the January 2027 Fire Academy. The department is looking for candidates who want to join its mission of helping people every day.

Applications are open now through the City of Bellingham's job portal. Full information on the application process here.

The Upcoming Week