Mark Reimers
Tribune reporter

Working in their back yard Saturday, Dee Apodaca pauses with daughter Rachael to throw a handful of leaves into the air.

LYNDEN -- Three families in Lynden are putting their names to a lawsuit that could impact the way special education services from the federal government are distributed in Washington state.

Mark Reimers
Tribune reporter

Lynden High School senior Lindsey Langstraat works with her creation on a potter's wheel.

LYNDEN -- The Lynden High School art department will host a fund-raiser art show in the
school cafeteria with at least 30 vendors on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Mark Reimers
Tribune reporter

Skyler Hamilton, center, gives two students an up-close view of leg braces during his presentation in Amy Miller's fourth grade classroom at Bernice Vossbeck Elementary School. The Thursday presentation was part of an effort by the Arc of Whatcom County to increase disability awareness.

LYNDEN -- The Arc of Whatcom County conducted “disability awareness” last week at Bernice Vossbeck Elementary School in an effort to educate children about the challenges some of their fellow students face.

Calvin Bratt
Tribune editor

Celebrating knowing they're in the finals round are, from left, Tara Magrath, Amanda Kayser, Megan Schiffman, Alayna Kramme and Averyl Shindruk.

LYNDEN -- The Lynden High School FFA Agricultural Communication team won its national contest in Indianapolis last week, achieving a first for the school in FFA.

Mark Reimers
Tribune reporter

  NOOKSACK -- The Nooksack Elementary and Nooksack Valley Middle schools were named Schools of Distinction by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction last week, landing them in the top 5 percent of schools in Washington.
  The honor pertains to improvement in statewide math and reading scores.
  Nooksack Valley School District Superintendent Mark Johnson said the awards are a testament to the values that are implemented throughout the district.

Mark Reimers
Tribune reporter

  LYNDEN -- Students at Lynden High School sent hundreds of teddy bears to St. Joseph Hospital on Saturday as part of a service project on Make a Difference Day.
  The students, who are enrolled in Bob Carson’s RISE class, didn’t stop with teddy bears. They also put together a spa day for abused mothers helped by New Way Ministries of Lynden.

Mark Reimers
Tribune reporter

  LYNDEN -- Times have changed since Lynden Christian High School was built in 1965. For example, girls sports were hardly on the radar screen, said longtime teacher Harlan Kredit.
  The result of this once minor detail is that the athletic facilities and locker rooms at LCHS are woefully inadequate to support the number of sports for both genders now being offered, said Kredit, who was on the original design team for the high school building and spent 30 years as athletic director.

Mark Reimers
Tribune reporter

Meridian's cheerleaders practice a routine.

LAUREL -- Cheerleaders from Meridan High School impressed representatives of the National Cheerleaders Association in June at Western Washington University -- enough to earn a trip to the national competition in Dallas, Texas.

Mark Reimers
Tribune reporter

Leon Tolchinsky and Sophia (right), played by Brian Beede and Kristen Castillo, discuss how to break the curse of stupidity with Dr. and Mrs. Zubritski, played by Daniel Schmidt and Bethany Struiksma.

LYNDEN -- Lynden Christian High School is readying its next drama production, a slapstick comedy about a tiny Russian hamlet, cursed with foolishness for 200 years.

Mark Reimers
Tribune reporter

Darlene Brink receives flowers from her grandchildren Isaiah and Elexia at a farewell event Friday.

LYNDEN -- Darlene Brink, a long-time employee in the Lynden School District, is retiring after 25 years.