The first issue of Cascadia Weekly, founded by Tim Johnson and several former Bellingham Weekly staffers, will hit the streets on March 15, according to an article in the Bellingham Business Journal (not available online.)

The new publication will include local arts and entertainment, but will cover more news than BW did, Johnson said. He will have full editorial control and will continue his long-running editorial column, “The Skinny.”

Johnson had struggled with Publisher Douglas Tolchin for control of Bellingham Weekly, and the battle moved to a courtroom in December 2005 after Tolchin fired Johnson and the editorial staff. Tolchin, who appeared to be the majority owner, was granted temporary control of the newspaper by Whatcom County Superior Court.

In January, Tolchin released a “Hibernation Issue” of Bellingham Weekly, suggesting that a new and improved version of the paper would be launched in spring 2006.

Johnson told the BBJ that after BW’s demise, several investors came forward who “believe the community needs a local voice and [who] believe the media is best served when there’s a multitude of them.”

Johnson is joined on the staff of the new paper by Emily Weiner, former reporter for Bellingham Herald, as well as BW veterans Carey Ross and Amy Kepferle. “One of the most exciting things about this is being able to employ some talented people again,” Johnson told the BBJ.