The Bellingham Herald from Bellingham, Washington • A1

TheBellinghamHerald.com Wednesday, March 4, 2009 50 cents Business Classifieds Comics Horoscope Lottery Movie times Sports TV listings Whatcom INDEXNEWS TIPS WEATHER HIGH 48 LOW 38 Full report inside on A9. ONLINE bellinghamherald.com Become a registered user of The Bellingham Herald online to post comments on our stories or join forums. CREATE your own persona page and blog. Send news and event information to ham herald.com Customer Service: 676-2660 Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. DEAL OF THE WEEK! www.homesteadnw.com NW Number One Home Builder 2239 sq.

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A6 KIE RELYEA THE BELLINGHAM HERALD BELLINGHAM The Mount Baker Theatre got a new copper top Tuesday, March 3, after a wind- storm damaged the one that was original to the historic building. The octagon-shaped cap has a seven-foot radius and was hoisted to the very tip-top of the Belling- ham theater in three sepa- rate pieces via a 120-foot lift. There on top of the red tower the pieces were bolted together. Andgar Corp. of Fern- dale fabricated the new copper sheeting and frame.

The total cost of the project is $7,572, which will come from the city of maintenance funds, according to Myron Carlson, the facilities man- ager for the Public Works Department. The replacement is sep- arate from the second phase of theater renova- tions, which were com- pleted in December for a little over $5 million. The old copper top had a hatch torn off in a wind- storm this winter because its hinges had rotted away, Carlson said. The copper sheeting was damaged as a result, and the tower was no longer weatherproof. Mount Baker Theatre was built in 1927 as a vaudeville theater.

Reach Kie Relyea at kie.relyea@bellingham herald.com or 715-2234. City landmark gets new cap JOHN STARK THE BELLINGHAM HERALD BELLINGHAM Nine local architects will present a plan Wednesday, March 4, that they hope will resolve differences between the city and Port of Bellingham over waterfront redevelopment issues. are optimistic that this report will enable the final pieces of a master plan to reach a successful conclu- the report states. At the meeting of the Bellingham City Council and Port of Bellingham commis- sioners it may become appar- ent whether the recommendations will help port and city officials reach agreement on issues that have divided them on rede- velopment of 220 acres of mostly-idle waterfront indus- trial land on the central waterfront. Much of that land had been occupied by Geor- gia-Pacific pulp and paper operations.

Some highlights: Street alignment: Archi- tects suggest that existing streets could be extended straight into the eastern por- tion of the site, as Mayor Dan Pike has favored. But they should then be angled to an east-west alignment, as the port prefers, for better solar energy opportunities and views. Old brick buildings: The architects urge that streets be routed in a way that does not force destruction of buildings that could be converted to new uses, as the city prefers. Plan balances city, port preferences, adds ideas Architects blend waterfront proposals SAM TAYLOR THE BELLINGHAM HERALD Why Everson and Nooksack combined to be- come one small city yet? To some in those munici- palities, the answer often appears to be a sort of said Everson City Councilman Andy Rowlson. Now, Rowlson and a group of other leaders and citizens have formed an inde- pendent study group to research whether 2,100 residents should com- bine with the 900 in Nook- sack to form a merged, new city.

In about four to six weeks, the group, which includes Everson Mayor Jaleen Pratt, Nooksack Mayor Jim Acker- man, other council members and some residents, will bring their conclusions to both councils to let leaders and the public know what they think, Rowlson said. Rowlson spoke with Nook- sack City Council members during their council meeting Monday, March 2, and will also speak with his peers in Everson at their City Council meeting Tuesday, March 10. very early in the process, and nothing is guar- anteed, but Rowlson said the group wants to give the com- munity a heads up. No mat- ter what, state law requires a vote of the residents of both cities to approve what is known as a not the first time the idea has come up to combine the two cities, which touch at east boundary Everson, Nooksack residents discuss merging Adjoining towns share police, fire sewer services PETER JENSEN THE BELLINGHAM HERALD FERNDALE Police are investigating the Dairy Queen on Riverside Drive after two men purchased malts that apparently had been inten- tionally contaminated with a chemical cleanser. The men reported burning in their mouths and on their tongues after drinking the malts Feb.

25, Lt. Bill Hatch- ett said. One man went to St. Joseph Hospital for treat- ment, while the other did not require it, Hatchett said. Police examined the malt dispenser and saw that it was contaminated, Hatchett said.

Police do not know what the cleanser was but have sent samples of the contami- nated malt and all the cleansers in the store to a Washington State Patrol crime lab for testing, Hatchett said. They are investigating the incident as a crime because they believe someone added the cleanser on purpose, Hatchett said. appear to be Hatchett said. Police believe an employee was most likely responsible, since that person would be the only one with access to the malt, Hatchett said. The Whatcom County Health Department conduct- ed an inspection after the tainted malts were sold and has determined the restau- rant is a safe place to eat, Health Officer Greg Stern said.

Owner Scott Whitman said Ferndale Dairy Queen poisoning is alleged Two customers reportedly were burned by malts See WATERFRONT, A10 See SINGLE CITY, A10See PROBE, A10 ATTEND MEETING WHAT: Joint Bellingham City Council and Port of Bellingham Commission meeting where local archi- tects will present a waterfront development plan designed to settle many city-port differences. WHEN: Noon Wednesday, March 4. WHERE: City Council chambers, 210 Lottie St. Andgar Corp. workers Josh Lee, in lift, and Mike Smale install the new copper top on the Mount Baker Theatre tower on Tuesday, March 3.

The old top was damaged in a windstorm. Philip A. Dwyer The Bellingham Herald Mt. Baker Theatre copper top restored.