Remote Surveillance Trailer in Bellingham, WA

Firefighters rescued the operator of a tractor in Whatcom County after the vehicle dropped 12 feet off an elevated silage storage bunker wall.

Firefighters from Station 69 in Laurel responded around 11:55 a.m. Sept. 24 to assist the partially flipped John Deere 8300 on a property along Beebe Road in Lynden. The tractor had gone over the wall and came to rest at a steep angle with its rear wheels perched on the edge, Capt. Tye Thompson with Station 69 told The Herald.

The operator remained in the cab of the tractor, as the unstable position had created a risk of further shifting, which would be dangerous to the operator and rescuers, Thompson said.

During the fall, the operator was thrown forward, breaking the front windshield. Due to the tractor’s positioning and instability, the operator was not able to exit the vehicle without help from rescuers, according to Thompson.

Rescue crews were able to extract the operator within 10-12 minutes. Rescuers had worked with farmhands at the top of the wall to stabilize the rear of the tractor by chaining it to an additional tractor, Thompson said.

Once the tractor was secured, firefighters worked with a telehandler operator to position a basket near the operator trapped inside the tractor. The operator was able to climb into the basket from their position and was safely removed from the tractor, according to Thompson.

“Credit belongs equally to the workers on the farm,” Thompson said in an email to The Herald. “Their skill and ingenuity expedited the stabilization of the tractor and made it possible to retrieve the operator without introducing additional instability through the telehandler operation. It was a genuine display of calm problem-solving and community partnership that made all the difference. Made me proud to work in the county.”

Planning a dinner date in Bellingham? You might have a harder time booking a table at some local restaurants than others.

In early September, OpenTable released the latest edition of its monthly Diners’ Choice rankings for northwest Washington.

The online reservation platform highlighted the local restaurants with the most bookings — and the best reviews — in August, focusing on popular eateries in Whatcom County and the surrounding area.

OpenTable said it analyzes nearly 500,000 new global diner reviews each month and sorts the results by location to “help you discover new favorite restaurants.”

The website offers reservations for diners at about a dozen Whatcom County restaurants.

Here’s a look at the Bellingham restaurants where it’s hardest to find a reservation:

Most-booked restaurants in Bellingham? Anthony’s in Bellingham on list

Headquarted in Kirkland, Anthony’s Restaurants serves a range of seafood dishes at locations across Washington, Oregon and Idaho, many with waterfront views.

Anthony’s Squalicum Harbor had an average OpenTable rating of 4.5 stars out of five? as of Wednesday, Sept. 10.

“Always excellent, Anthony’s offers friendly and skilled service coupled with tasty food and a lovely atmosphere,” one OpenTable reviewer wrote in July.

Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill has seafood, waterfront views

Another Anthony’s location, Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill also offers views of the Bellingham waterfront. It uses an open kitchen and its menu focuses on hearthfire-cooked dishes.

As of Wednesday, the Bellingham restaurant had an on OpenTable, with one reviewer saying the Anthony’s offers “wonderful food, (a) great view and service.”

Bellingham restaurant Roe serves up ‘elevated comfort food’

Roe, on the north side of downtown Bellingham, serves a rotating menu of “elevated comfort food” centered on seasonal ingredients.

“Everything about it was great ... with the right level of sophistication to make it not your average meal but something better,” an OpenTable user wrote in a review.

The restaurant had an average rating of as of Wednesday.

Carnal grills meat, fish in wood-fired oven

Downtown Bellingham’s Carnal is known for meat, seafood and other foods cooked over an open flame. The restaurant was for sale as of August, The Bellingham Herald previously reported.

As of Wednesday, the restaurant had a, with reviewers highlighting the unique experience and dishes.

“Carnal works magic in their wood-fired oven,” one OpenTable reviewer said. “Fish, beef, veggies — all done to perfection and accompanied by memorable sauces.”

Estelle among most booked Bellingham restaurants

Esquire magazine named Fairhaven’s Estelle was in the country in 2023.

The French-influenced restaurant and cocktail bar serves a variety of small plates along with meat and seafood options.

OpenTable reviewers gave it an of 4.7 stars, with one praising the “exquisite food, adventurous cocktails and lovely ambiance.”

Most-booked restaurants in northwest Washington

While five of the restaurants on OpenTable’s list are located in Whatcom County, the other five are in Skagit, San Juan and Snohomish counties.

Here’s where to find them

Looking to get outside? You can explore Washington’s national parks — and dozens of other scenic spots — for free.

The U.S. National Park Service is offering no-cost admission to must-visit sites across the United States in celebration of

“National Public Lands Day is special because it provides all lovers of the environment – old and new – an opportunity to show our appreciation for these unique places,” the National Parks Service said on its website.

Here’s what to know:

How can I get free admission to national parks in Washington?

The National Park Service said it’s offering free admission at “all national parks that charge an entrance fee” on Saturday, Sept. 27.

That includes all 63 national parks in the country, as well as other sites run by the National Park Service that typically charge admission.

Entrance fees typically cost $5 to $35, according to the National Park Service.

When is National Public Lands Day?

National Public Lands Day is celebrated on the fourth Saturday in September.

The annual event, which started in 1994, is organzied in partnership with the

In addition to free admission, several parks invite volunteers to “roll up their sleeves to help restore and preserve public lands of all types and sizes – from iconic national parks and rivers to local urban green spaces and everything in between,” the National Park Service said on its website.

The 2024 event drew 7,600 volunteers across 130 sites, the federal agency said.

Which Washington national parks can I visit for free?

You can visit any of the three national parks in Washington state — Mount Rainier National Park southeast of Puget Sound, Olympic National Park on the Olympic Peninsula and North Cascades National Park in northwest Washington— for free on Saturday, Sept. 27.

The National Park Service also operate several sites in Washington state:

Which Washington state parks offer free entrance?

You can also get free admission at dozens of Washington State Parks locations on Saturday to mark National Public Lands Day.

It’s one of 12 days in 2025 when visitors can access state-owned public recreation lands in Washington without paying a parking fee.

“On these days, visitors will not need a Discover Pass to park a vehicle at a Washington state park or on lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife,” Washington State Parks said on its website.

Passes cost $11.50 for the day or $35 for yearlong access to millions of acres of state land.

According to Washington State Parks, the most visited state-run parks in 2024 included Deception Pass State Park in Oak Harbor and Lake Sammamish State Park near Seattle.

You can find information about the closest state parks to you .

Is there another way to access national, state parks for free in 2025?

If you miss National Public Lands Day, don’t worry.

You’ll have another opportunity to get into national and state parks for free. In 2025, all National Park Service sites that charge entrance fees will offer free admission to everyone on Tuesday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day, the federal agency said on its website.

You can also visit Washington State Parks sites without a Discovery Pass on Veterans Day.