chris thew portfolio

Year 106 No. 51

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Essential Reading in Okanogan and Ferry counties.November 10, 2015 $1.00

B5B1

A8

Oroville-area fishand producemarket expands

Mountain Lionsfinish sixth at state

cross country

The Omak-OkanOgan COunTy

Guild honors World War II veteran Picard

Inslee seeks changes to FEMA policy

By Dee CampThe Chronicle

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Insleehas asked the FederalEmergency Management

Agency to change the way itevaluates whether individualbenefits will be given to peopleimpacted by wildfires.

In the meantime,Washington’s congressionaldelegation has asked agencyAdministrator W. Craig Fugatewhat happened to a review ofdisaster declaration policyrequested of the agency byCongress.

Last month, FEMAapproved assistance for publicagencies impacted by the firesbut denied help for individualsand businesses.

Although FEMA providedsome help during response tothe fires, Washington has notgotten all the help it requested“and I believe that FEMAshould consider changes toallow people living in places like

rural Washington to qualify forfederal assistance,” thegovernor wrote in an Oct. 30letter to Fugate.

Washington experienced themost devastating wildfireseason in its history in 2015, theletter continued.

“Between June andSeptember, over one millionacres burned across the state,”Inslee wrote. “At 522,000 acres,

the Okanogan Complex fire wasthe largest in state history,beating out 2014’s CarltonComplex fire, which occurredjust to its south.”

Inslee has combined theacreage of the OkanoganComplex, Tunk Block andNorth Star fires under theOkanogan Complex moniker.

Across Washington betweenAug. 9 and Sept. 10, the

Okanogan Complex and otherfires destroyed 146 homes anddamaged nearly 500 more, two-thirds of which were uninsuredor under-insured, Inslee wrote.

In Okanogan County, thefires destroyed 96 homes, 95cabins, 20 detachedgarages/shops, and 92 variousother outbuildings including

See FEMA A12

BUDDING HERPETOLOGISTS

Chris Thew/The Chronicle

Alexia Cruz, 4, and her brother Gabriel, 3, of Omak, check out a Burmese python during the Reptile Man show at the Omak PerformingArts Center on Thursday. The event was hosted by the Okanogan County Community Coalition.

Communitiesplan VeteransDay events

By Dee Camp and Brock Hires

The Chronicle

OMAK — Students at OmakMiddle School will get a lessonon folding the American flagand the meaning of each foldduring a Veterans Dayobservance today, Tuesday.

An assembly is planned for1:10 p.m. at the school, 14 S.Cedar St. It starts withpresentation of the colors bythe Okanogan American Legionpost color guard.

After the Pledge ofAllegiance, a veteran will give aspeech on the importance ofVeterans Day. Custodian andveteran Joe Rhodes will sing apatriotic song.

Representatives from eachgrade will assist the AmericanLegion in the flag-foldingceremony, as explained by aLegion member. Legion Cmdr.Gene Fritts said he hopes thegroup’s participation in theobservance will become anannual event.

All veterans will be honoredby being invited to the stageand introduced.

After retiring the colors, theveterans and their guests willretire to the library for areception in their honor. Afiring squad salute is plannedoutdoors, Fritts said.

Other Veterans Dayobservances include:

BrewsterA district-wide assembly is

planned for 1:15 p.m. Tuesday

in Champions Gym at BrewsterHigh School, 503 S. Seventh St.

The event is open to bothveterans and the public, withspecial seating offered in chairson the floor.

“We are collecting names forour district veteran family tree,”high school Principal LindaDezellem said. “Since this is aK-12 assembly, we will havepresenters from each of thethree buildings, and both bandand choirs from the differentbuildings.”

The program will be hostedby high school associatedstudent body leaders, withpresenters and a color guardfrom the American Legion.

BridgeportBridgeport School District

plans a Veterans Day assemblyat 9 a.m. Tuesday for allstudents in kindergartenthrough 12th grade.

The event will be in the highschool gym, 1220 Kryger Ave.The public is welcome, highschool Principal Tami Jacksonsaid.

Veterans have been invitedand the American Legion willpresent the colors and playtaps. Bridgeport High Schoolassociated student body willgive a PowerPoint and musicalpresentation honoringveterans.

ChesawThe Chesaw Mercantile, off

Oroville-Chesaw Road will hosta day of coffee and cookies tohonor local veterans. Honor aveteran today at the ChesawMercantile. Come and visit aveteran have a cup of coffee anda cookie.

See Veterans A12

Falling rocks prompt closure of Hart’s Pass Road

The Chronicle

WINTHROP — A rock falllast weekend closed Hart’sPass Road northwest ofMazama for the winter.

Several vehicles weretrapped above the slide atDead Horse Point. No injurieswere reported.

A bulldozer was used toclear a path for vehicles thathad been trapped, the U.S.Forest Service said.

The Okanogan CountySheriff’s Office fielded a callMonday from a manconcerned about two friendswho had been camping in thearea and were trapped abovethe slide.

The gate is now closed,although once there issufficient snow the gate will be

re-opened to allow forsnowmobile traffic, forestofficials said. Snowmobilersare cautioned that the roadsurface will be narrower wherethe rock fall occurred.

The road, which leads toSlate Peak, normally is openuntil the beginning ofDecember.

Hart’s Pass Road will re-open to wheeled vehicles in thespring when the road firms up.

The road travels 26 milesfrom Mazama to Slate Peak. Itis the highest drivable road inthe state, at 6,197 feet.

Along the way motoriststravel beside the rushingMethow River, then up anarrow, switchback-filled roadthat sometimes barely clings tothe mountainsides.

The lure of gold firstbrought travelers to the area,and some thought the routemight serve a railroad acrossthe mountains. Surveysquickly discouraged that idea.

In 1893, persistentprospectors found rich ore in avalley just west of the pass and

the rush was on. By 1900,crews had carved out the first

rocky wagon track, engineeredby Col. W. Thomas Hart. In

1903 the precarious road waswidened to 36 inches. Truckaxels were shortened to fit theroadbed.

The present-day road,widened in 1935 by the ForestService, follows most of theoriginal route to the mines.

A guard station at the passwas used as an outpost of theAir Warning Service duringWorld War II. Later, duringthe Cold War, GroundObserver Corps volunteerskept an eye on the sky from thesite. Every plane was reportedto the U.S. Air Force inSpokane.

Local legend says DeadHorse Point was named whenhorses in a pack stringpanicked and ran down thenarrow trail. More trail-wisemules tried to stop, but thehorses proved stronger andpulled the whole string overthe edge to its death.

Hart’s Pass provides accessto a number of trails, includingthe Pacific Crest Trail.

U.S. Forest Service

Rocks block the road to Hart’s Pass northwest of Mazama in the Okanogan-Wenatchee NationalForest.

Gate is closed, will

re-open for winter

recreation activities

School assemblies,

parade, luncheons

on tap for holiday

Assistance OK’d for

public agencies, but

not for individuals

Year 106 No. 37


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Essential Reading in Okanogan and Ferry counties.September 23, 2015 $1.00

B4B1

Inside

Riverside concertbenefits TunkBlock fire victims

Soccer playersboot theiropponents


Your guide to the 2015 Okanogan County Fair


Showgun and Shotgun, 2,300-pount Texas Longhorns, will perform Thursday through Sunday at the Okanogan County Fair. Legendary Longhorns owner Frank Rendonsaid the beefy behemoths will entertain the crowds and will even have riders taking them around the arena.

Fair takes county by the horns

Effortsturn tofire linerepairs

Burke named Ferry County Prosecutor

The Chronicle

REPUBLIC — Ferry Countycommissioners selected formerDeputy Prosecutor Kathryn

Burke ascountyprosecutoruntil theposition is upfor re-electionin 2016. Thepositioncarries a four-year term.

“I know

it’s going to be a ton of work,but it is something that is veryclose to my heart,” Burke said.“It is not something that Iexpected to happen, but it issomething very important tome.”

Burke, 31, moved toRepublic in 2014 to work asdeputy prosecutor. She workedfor former prosecutor Emma

Paulsen until Paulsen’s death inJuly. Burke was named interimprosecutor at that time.

“I’m very confident in herwork,” Commissioner MikeBlankenship said. “She’s verywilling to help out and I thinkshe has the best interest of thecounty in mind.”

Burke graduated from theUniversity of Washington in

2006 and completed her lawdegree from the SeattleUniversity School of Law in2011. She became a member ofthe Washington State BarAssociation that year.

Burke was born in Tonasket.Her family moved to Republicin 1988 and then to Omak in1996. She graduated fromOkanogan High School in 2002.Burke

Interim prosecutor

selected by county

commissioners

The Chronicle

OMAK – Firefighters areturning their attention tosuppression repair rather thanfire suppression itself assummer turns to fall and areawildfires wind down.

Plumes of smoke still can beseen in the mountains aroundmid-valley towns, but the threebig fires – Okanogan Complex,Tunk Block and North Star –have quieted downconsiderably in the past coupleweeks.

“Suppression repair isprogressing and is the primaryfocus of activities on the TunkBlock Fire,” fire officials saidTuesday morning. “Theseactivities seek to mitigateresource concerns caused byfire line construction and theuse of roads to access the fire.”

The Tunk Block Fire, at165,918 acres, was 97 percentcontained as of Tuesdaymorning. The North Star blazewas 218,098 acres and was 96percent contained and theOkanogan Complex was133,450 acres and 95 percentcontained.

Fire officials said they wantto restore to pre-fire conditionsroads and areas where Tunkfire lines were constructed.

“This work is specifically

Area wildfires

winding down

LifeLineselectedto serveOroville

By Chris ThewThe Chronicle

OKANOGAN — Commis-sioners instructed a newcommittee to negotiate withLifeLine Ambulance to provideambulance services for theOroville EMS District lastWednesday.

The Oroville City Councilvoted unanimously lastTuesday to endorse LifeLine asthe suggested provider overNorthStar Medic One andforwarded the suggestion to thecounty commissioners for finalapproval.

Oroville Mayor ChuckSpieth met with commissionersto give the City Council’srecommendation and discusspossible negotiations withOroville City Planner ChrisBranch.

“We witness the service,”Branch said. “The city wasrecognizing (the decline inservice) and was starting toaddress it.”

After coming up with a planto negotiate with LifeLine priorto an agreement,commissioners named CountyPlanner Perry Huston, Orovillecity planner Chris Branch,Oroville mayor Chuck Spiethand Jim Detro to a committee

Commissioners

considered history,

service in choice

See LifeLine A5

See Fires A10

The Chronicle

OKANOGAN — Folks areputting the finishing touches ontheir entries and saddling up forthe 68th Okanogan CountyFair, which starts its four-dayrun tomorrow.

Entries will be taken to thefairgrounds,175 RodeoTrail Road,today. Muchof the judgingwill betonight.

Among theattractions will be FrankRendon of Sweet Home, Ore.,and his mutton bustin’ eventand longhorn cattle, which herides.

Gates open at 9 a.m. eachday. Admission will be charged,with daily tickets, weekendpasses and family passesavailable.

Thursday is a special day forchildren, and nursing home andassisted living residents. Somearea schools will takeyoungsters to the fair that day,and some will give youngstersFriday off to participate in fairactivities.

This year’s event is twoweeks later than normalbecause the fairgrounds wasbeing used as a fire camp. Since

area fires are waning,firefighters have since eithermoved on to other fires ormoved to East Side Park for thefinal assault on three majorblazes burning in the county.

Despite the delay, fairorganizers promise a fullrange of activities, fromanimal entries and artsdisplays to entertainment,food, horse racing, a truck andtractor pull, children’s games,traditional activities and a fewnew ones.

“We should be full and readyto go,” Fair Advisory CommitteeChairman Mike Egerton said.

Contracts for entertainers,judges, vendors and camperswere rewritten, and most planto attend. A few have droppedout, but others have stepped into take their places, volunteerKim Goodall said.

Members of 4-H got anadvance taste of fair activitieswith a rescheduleddemonstration day and publicspeaking contest lastWednesday.

The countywide contest wasa 4-H pre-fair event at whichmembers used posters andother visual aids to teach otherssomething related to an activityor project area, or showed howto do something, 4-Hspokeswoman Ann Fagerliesaid.

Results will be posted in the4-H Building during fair.

A new fair feature this yearis a head and horns show in theCommercial Building. Show

Superintendent ShelbyHendershot, an Okanogantaxidermist, plans to show avariety of her mounted animalsand those entered by others.

She’s also planning a displayof fire photos and informationfrom all fire districts in thecounty.

“We would love to haveresidents of Okanogan Countyparticipate as well, by bringingfour- by six-inch photos thatthey have taken of fire activityor fire crews this summer,” shesaid.

Fair goers can expect theusual lineup of competitions,including horse, cattle, sheep,swine, cat, poultry, rabbit andother small animals, crafts,sewing, food preservation andphotography; horticulture;Grange; 4-H; Girl Scouts andFFA. An alpaca exhibit also isexpected.

The market stock sale will beat 3 p.m. Saturday in the BergBrothers Pavilion. The fur andfeathers sale is at 1 p.m.Sunday.

Entertainment will runthroughout the weekend on theOkanogan-Omak Rotary Stageat the north end of the grassymidway and food court area.

Other activities includerodeo and other horsecompetitions, Low Rider dograces, a truck and tractor pull,and horse racing.

Queen Lexee Howell willreign over the weekend.

Two local teens, Brisa Leepand Serenity Poletti, are

Rescheduled event

opens for business

Thursday morning

More fair

details:

Magazine

section

inside

Thursday, Sept. 24

7 p.m. Ranch rodeo Rodeo Arena7 p.m. Fair queen pageant Rotary Stage10 p.m. Fairgrounds closed

Friday, Sept. 25

4:30 p.m. Dynamic Duos competition Sheep Barn7 p.m. Bulls and barrels Rodeo Arena10 p.m. Fairgrounds closed to public

Saturday, Sept. 26

11 a.m. Kids’ races/games South endNoon Team roping Rodeo Arena1 p.m. Horse races Grandstands1 p.m. Low rider races Grandstands3 p.m. Market stock sale Berg Brothers Pavilion7 p.m. Truck and tractor pull Grandstands10 p.m. Fairgrounds closed to public

Sunday, Sept. 27

8 a.m. Cowboy church services Rotary Stage10 a.m. Parade of Champions Rotary Stage11 a.m. Horse races Grandstands12:30 p.m. Mutton bustin’ belt buckle finals South end1 p.m. Eating contests South end1 p.m. Camperos dancing horses Grandstands1 p.m. Fur and feather auction Berg Brothers Pavilion2 p.m. Royalty coronation Rotary Stage3 p.m. Fairgrounds closed

Note: Schedule times and acts are subject to change. Gates open at 9 a.m.

seeking the title of 2016 fairqueen.

A pageant is planned for 7

p.m. Thursday, withannouncement of the winner at2 p.m. Sunday.

Fair Highlights

http://issuu.com/omak_chronicle/docs/okanogan_county_fair_2015

Chronicle/Page 4

Keeping pace

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The omak-okanogan CounTy


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Comparing CarltonComplex with thisyear’s wildfires

World/Page A1

FirestormCross country runners

place at TonasketInvitational

68 1 3 2 4 2 0 0 0 2

Year 106 No. 40


County considers health board’s future


OKANOGAN – A publichearing is planned at 1:30 p.m.

tomorrow on a proposal tochange the Okanogan CountyBoard of Health from six to fivemembers and changerepresentation on the board.

The meeting will be in thecommissioners’ hearing roomin the Grainger AdministrationBuilding, 123 N. Fifth Ave.

Commissioners, whocurrently make up half of the

health board’s membership,want to change the districtcharter to reduce health boardmembership from six to fivemembers.

Representatives from citiesand towns within the countywould go from three to one, anda new position would be createdfor representation from themedical community.

During the hearing, peoplecan speak for up to five minutesapiece. Written comments ofany length may be presentedduring the hearing or submittedin paper or electronic form tocommission clerk Lelena Johnsat the commissioners’ office.

Commissioners decidedSept. 14 to have the hearing.They asked Planning Director

Perry Huston to draft a newdistrict charter that includes theproposed five-member healthboard.

About two dozen peopleattended the meeting, butweren’t allowed to askquestions or make comments.One clarifying question wasasked about whethercommissioners were ignoring

recommendations of an ad hoccommittee they appointed inJuly to make recommendationsabout who should serve and forhow long.

Scrutiny of the six-memberhealth board, of whichcommissioners make up half,began when Lee Webster left

Commissioners

plan public hearing

1:30 p.m. tomorrow

See Health 2

HOT WHEELS


Omak Fire Department responds to a vehicle fire at North Omak Elementary on Thursday afternoon. The fire, which engulfed Amber Ramirez’s 2000 Ford Expedition,started in the vehicle’s engine compartment. The vehicle was considered a total loss.

Fairgatedown$25,000

By Brock HiresThe Chronicle

OKANOGAN – Numbers ofpeople attending this year’sOkanogan County Fair are stillbeing tabulated, butpreliminary figures indicate thefair brought in about $56,400in gate admissions.

According to fair officeassistant Kathleen Descoteaux,that number is down about$25,000 from last year becausemore family passes were soldthan individual generaladmission tickets.

In all, the Okanogan CountyFair went off with few glitches,Fair Advisory Committeemembers said Thursday nightat a regular meeting.

Written complaints andsuggestions were read to thesparse audience, and rangedfrom requests for better seniorcitizen accessibility toremoving one particular familyfrom operations of the fair.

“Where were the rides forsenior citizens or disabledpeople?” one response formsaid. It “makes fair unavailablefor some to get from place toplace.”

Much discussion was held

Committee hears

of glitches, gripes

See Fair Page 2

Feds close Conconully resort due to conditions


CONCONULLY — TheConconully Lake Resort haspermanently closed its doors.

“It’s gone,”said KevinMesser, whohas managedthe resort forfive years. “Ithas been gonefor a coupleweeks.”

Kevin, hiswife, Karen,and son, Cole,lived at theresort on the upper ConconullyLake and managed 11 RV rentalspaces, four cabins and anapartment there.

They took over the resort onan interim concessionaire’scontract in 2010. Citingdilapidated buildings, U.S.Bureau of Reclamation officialsdecided not to renew thecontract for the resort that sitson publicly owned landmanaged by the agency.

“The resort is shut down forright now. His contract with usexpired,” Bureau ofReclamation spokeswomanDawn Weidmeier said. “He

moved out last week.”Washington State Parks

officials say they will continueto monitor the boat launch andassociated parking area that sitsin the middle of the resort.However, they have rejectedReclamation offers to take onthe resort, too.

The town of Conconully hasexpressed an interest, MayorSam Martin previously said.

Earlier this year Messersaid he had financial backingto improve the RV area,wanted to add a tent area andimprove or replace the rusticcabins that have been on thesite for years.

Those plans also called forhim to be able to manage theboat launch and parking areascurrently being monitored byConconully State Parkemployees.

He said he contacted amediation firm and federalattorney who were willing tolook into the issue, but laterdecided to drop the case.

“What really bothers me is

the federal attorney didn’t eventry to help us,” Messer said. “Hehasn’t even contacted us.

“I don’t know the truthabout anything anymore,” hesaid. “I’m not going to trustnobody anymore.”

Leases for ConconullyReservoir resorts – Liar’s Coveand Shady Pines – also expiredat the end of 2014, but thelessees were granted 20-year,long-term renewal contracts,federal officials said.

Aside from the loss of theresort, the Messer family is

taking a double whammy. Theyalso own the Tamarack Saloon,which is in danger of closing.

“This town is literally amorgue,” Messer said. “Rightnow we’re just trying to save therestaurant.”

The historic 1946 saloon hasbeen in operation on-and-offthroughout the past year andwas listed with Windermereearlier this year.

The Chronicle

The town of Conconully has expressed interest in taking over the Conconully Lake Resort.

State Parks will

continue to

monitor boat

launch, parking

“Right now we’re just trying to save

the restaurant.Kevin Messer

”

MesserBrock Hires/The Chronicle

The historic Tamarack Saloonsits on Main Street.

Chronicle/

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A differenceBrewster shocksOkanogan in bigvolleyball match

68 1 3 2 4 2 0 0 0 2

Year 106 No. 46


BRAAAINS!


Lexi Painter, 32, Omak, runs from the undead (Nicole Hanford, 15, Omak) during the Zombie Run at Eastside Park on Saturday.

Obama OKs request for some post-fire help


OKANOGAN — OkanoganCounty residents got good newsand bad news this week onfederal fire assistance requests.

On Tuesday, PresidentBarack Obama approved Gov.Jay Inslee’s request for publicassistance to help governmentalagencies, including OkanoganCounty and the OkanoganCounty Public Utility District,with fire losses and expenses.But, late Thursday, Inslee was

informed that individualassistance was denied.

“This is very disappointingnews,” Inslee said. “This is thesecond time in as many yearsthat we’ve been deniedindividual assistance followinga major fire.

“We have homeowners thathave lost everything. Despitethe decision, I’m committed tohelping our fellowWashingtonians and ensuringthey get as much help andassistance as possible. It’s mypriority to get thesecommunities on the road torecovery.”

Inslee said a new WildlandFire Council is being formed toassist recovery of impacted

communities If

individualassistancehad beenapproved,impactedcommunitieswould havehad access toassistancewith therepairs of homes and aid forthings such as rental assistance,replacement of household itemsand business losses.

The fires destroyed 146homes in eastern Washingtonand damaged another 476,Inslee said.

In Okanogan County, the

fires destroyed96 homes, 95cabins, 20detachedgarages/shops,and 92 variousotheroutbuildingsincludingequipmentsheds, haycovers, storage

sheds and other structures.Assessed value of structures lostto the Okanogan County fireswas $11.1 million, AssessorScott Furman said.

Nearly two-thirds of thedestroyed homes statewidewere uninsured orunderinsured, Inslee said.

In addition, residents lostvehicles, farm machinery, hay,crops, timber and livestock.

Inslee said an estimated3,850 head of cattle, worth $7.7million, were lost in theOkanogan County fires.Another 1,400 could starvewithout adequate feed.

“That leaves 5,750 head ofcattle in the county and a $10.5million possible revenue loss toproducers,” his request letter tothe president said. “Virtuallyevery fence line is gone, in someplaces for the second year in arow.”

The Okanogan Complex,Tunk Block and North Star firesburned more than 500,000acres in Okanogan County.

Fires also burned in Chelan,Douglas, Stevens and othercounties in easternWashington.

“As a native of OkanoganCounty, it is hard to overstatethe heartbreak and the sufferingthe people of northeastWashington have gone throughthe past two fire seasons,” saidPeter Goldmark, commissionerof public lands. “By refusing tohelp, FEMA is letting downcommunities that are indesperate need of assistance.”

Last year, in the wake of theCarlton Complex fire, FEMAfunding was authorized forpublic agencies but denied forindividuals and businesses.

Obama Inslee

Assistance for

individuals denied

Inslee overturnsincreased cougarhunting proposal


OLYMPIA — A state Fishand Wildlife Commissiondecision to raise cougarhunting limits in parts ofOkanogan County and otherareas has been overturned byGov. Jay Inslee.

In a letter to the HumaneSociety of the United States,Inslee agreed with the society’scontention that the commissionimproperly applied state law byimplementing a rule “that issubstantially different” from arule proposed earlier by thecommission.

He directed the commissionto amend its administrativerule and restore the harvestrate “to the level in theproposed rulemaking,” he saidin his letter. “I will furtherdirect the commission to open apublic comment period on theamended proposal to increasethe cougar harvest rate, so thatcitizens have a meaningfulopportunity to participate intheir government’s decisions.”

On Aug. 21, the commissionvoted to reject a petition by theWashington office of theHumane Society and severalenvironmental organizationsseeking to rescind acommission decision madeearlier in the year to increaseharvest levels for cougars inareas with confirmed wolfpacks. Other appellants wereWolf Haven International, TheCougar Fund, The LandsCouncil, Predator Defense,Kettle Range ConservationGroup and Gary Koehler, aformer research scientist withthe Department of Fish andWildlife.

The groups appealed thatdecision, leading to thegovernor’s action last Monday.

Inslee, in his letter to theHumane Society, said thecommission’s originalproposed rule included a 12-16percent cougar harvest rate, thesame rate that had been ineffect since the 2012-13 season.

In that proposal, thecommission said the 12-16percent harvest rate wouldmaintain a stable cougarpopulation and an adequateage structure for cougarpopulations equally distributed

across the state.“Harvest rates in excess of

16 percent can result indeclines in core population ofbreeding females, andexcessive male harvest rates,”the commission said.

However, the commissiondecided in April to increase theallowable harvest rate to 17-21percent in 14 areas of the statewith wolf packs. Half the areasare in north centralWashington, includingnortheast Okanogan Countyand the Methow Valley.

Department of Fish andWildlife biologists said theincreased guideline numberscould increase the harvest by15-30 cougars statewide duringthe coming season. In 2014,hunters killed 163 cougarsstatewide from an estimatedpopulation of 3,600 animals.

Commissioner MirandaWecker proposed the increase,saying the change wouldprovide some relief tocommunities “beleaguered bymultiple predatory species,including cougars and wolves,”the commission said in August.

Before the governor’saction, the commission hadsaid it planned to revisit theissue next spring before settinghunting seasons for 2016 and2017.

The Humane Society andother groups appealed toInslee.

“Given the commission’sreasoning for the proposedrule, the public would have hadlittle notice that any final rulewould include a harvest rateexceeding the described‘maximum’ 12-16 percent rate,”Inslee wrote. “Thecommission’s stated reasonsfor the proposed rule imply thatany harvest rate above 12-16percent would threaten thestability of the state’s cougarpopulation, which would becontrary to the commission’sgoals.”

He said transparency andopenness in state governmentare essential to maintain trustof the public.

Because the last-minuteamendment to the proposedrule differed substantially fromthe proposal, he directed thecommission to restore theharvest rate to the 12-16percent figure and to open apublic comment period on theamended proposal.

Commission member Jay

See Cougars Page 2

See Obama Page 2

Wildlife board

directed to open

process to public

Conconully celebrates appreciation

The Chronicle

CONCONULLY — After theOkanogan Complex fire camewithin feet of some localresidents’ doors this summer,the town came togetherWednesday night to payappreciation to local residentsand emergency personnel, andhave a gourmet dinner.

“It was a great night,”Chamber of CommercePresident Janet Warner said.“We had every table and chairout … it was fabulous food.”

The chamber, which hoststhe annual event, dedicated theevening to those who helpedfight the fires and assistedvictims and evacuees.

“We had a good turnout,”

Mayor Sam Martin said. “Itwent well.”

Local groups – including thefire department, chamber,Ladybugs, Mad Hatters,museum, food bank, and towncouncil – shared a briefsynopsis about theirorganizations and appreciationfor fire personnel.

Home Depot was presentedwith a certificate ofappreciation, signed by localresidents, for housing fireevacuees during the height ofthe blaze.

People camped in theparking lot; one veteran wasgiven a bed inside the Omakstore.

“It was really nice,” Warnersaid.

“Then we had a presentationby Pat Holden, called ‘Thunderand Lighting’,” Warner said. Itwas an “English salmon fly (tie)

mounted on like an old branchthat had died in the fire.”

It was presented to theConconully Fire Department.

Community comes

together after fire

Janet Warner/Conconully Chamber of Commerce

Folks dish up Wednesday at the Conconully Community Hall.

The Chronicle

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The U.S. House ofRepresentatives passed a billon Thursday to easepermitting requirements formining on federal land.

The bill, the NationalStrategic and Critical MineralProduction Act of 2015, wouldrequire the Bureau of LandManagement and Forest

Service tosimplify theprocess forobtainingpermits toextractmineralsfrom federallands.

“Mineralsare key toagriculture,health care,technology, national defenseand almost every facet of ourmodern world,” said U.S.Rep. Cathy McMorrisRodgers, R-5th District. “Thefederal government’s broken

regulatory system drivesmining operations into othercountries, eliminating good-paying jobs and relaxingstandards to the mineralsextracted.”

Eastern Washingtonmining, such as the KinrossKettle-River Buckhorn Minein Okanogan and Ferrycounties, are vital to the localeconomy, McMorris Rodgerssaid.

“Families in easternWashington communities likeRepublic, Metaline Falls andNorthport are hurt when jobsare jeopardized bybureaucratic dysfunction,”

she said.“We should have systems

in place that block badprojects and allow goodprojects to move forward,”she said. “Slow andburdensome processes shouldnot obstruct responsibleprojects that will putAmericans back to work.”

The vote was alongpartisan lines, with 246Republicans and eightDemocrats voting in favor,and all 177 no votes comingfrom Democrats. ThreeDemocrats did not vote.

The bill now goes to theU.S. Senate for consideration.

House passes bill for mining on federal landMcMorris Rodgers:

Measure would

simplify permits

McMorrisRodgers

Year 106 No. 61


Essential Reading in Okanogan and Ferry counties.December 16, 2016 $1.00

A5B2

B4

Omak store hiresfirst full-timeemployee

Area basketballteams take

to the courts


Local man lands role in feature film “Octoroon”

CAN’T RAIN ON MY PARADE


Parade goers huddle under awnings and umbrellas in an attempt to stay warm and as dry as possible during a rain-soaked Omak Twilight Parade on Saturday. SeePages A7 and B6 for more photos from holiday happenings around the area.

Department store closing doors after 82 years


OROVILLE — Two historicbusinesses – HughesDepartment Store and HughesWarehouse — will close their

doors next month.“We’re going out of

business,” owner Jack Hughessaid Monday morning. “We feelbad for our employees becauseit’s going to be a big loss tothem” and the community.

Hughes purchased the 100023rd Ave., and 1412 IronwoodStreet businesses in 2011 “andeverything was going prettygood,” he said.

“But this year, with the

Canadian exchange rate at 70cents on the dollar and the fires;it was a terrible summer seasonfor us,” he said. “It was just acombination of a lot of things. Itjust isn’t viable.”

Hughes, and his wife, Mary,purchased the store from thePrince family.

“I think it’s a devastation tothe city,” Oroville Chamber ofCommerce President ClydeAndrews said, noting the

history of the building. “It’s asad day for Oroville.”

“For some of us that needstuff in the evenings it’s beenthe only place that’s open until9 o’clock,” he said. “It’s sad thatthis is happening, putting somepeople out of work…it’s not likewe have a lot of other”employment opportunities.

“We hope the best for Jack,but it is what it is.”

According to Chronicle files,

the Hughes family purchasedthe-then 78-year-old businesses– which included Prince’sDepartment Store, Prince’s AceHardware and Prince’sWarehouse — from the Princefamily in 2011.

Ben Prince Sr. founded thebusiness in 1933 in a storefrontalong Main Street. At the timeit was called “Ben Prince ThriftStore,” a small version of whatthe store is today.

The warehouse store wasthen built in 1958. AfterPrince’s son, Jim, joined, thebusiness it was expanded to twobuildings. In June of 1978, JimPrince opened a 61,000-square-foot shopping center at thenorth end of town, whichoffered customers a full servicesupermarket, department storeand Ace Hardware store under

See Hughes A10

Omak Wood Products may close its doors in 2016


OMAK — The Omak WoodProducts mill likely will closeearly next year.

Company officialsannounced Monday that thecompany “will exit its existingbusiness operation” during thefirst quarter of 2016.

New Wood Resources, themill’s parent company, leasesthe veneer and plywood plantfrom the Colville ConfederatedTribes.

Omak Wood Products, 1100E. Eighth Ave., has committedto working closely with Colvilletribal leaders to determine thebest next course of action forthe mill, including continuedoperation of the facility by thetribe or by another operator, thecompany said late Monday.

If a new operator for theOmak mill is not identified,Omak Wood Products will be

forced to close the facility,company officials said.

“While this was an extremelydifficult decision, we are proudof the partnership we forgedwith the Colville tribe to bringthis mill out of closure andcreate a positive economicimpact on the region,” said KurtLiebich, CEO of parentcompany New Wood Resources.“Many unforeseen conditionshave converged to bring aboutthis decision. We recognize theimpact on the community andour employees, and we willwork with Colville tribal leadersto assist in this transition.”

Colville Business Councilspokeswoman Meghan Francissaid the tribe is working to keepthe mill open and is “reachingout to potential investors.”

“We are working very hard,in concert with (Colville TribalFederal Corp.), to develop a newbusiness plan that will sustainthe mill operations andcontinue jobs for ourcommunities,” said councilChairman Jim Boyd. “This isjust about the worst news youcan get if your family dependson one of these jobs, and this is

just about the worst time of theyear to get it. The tribes arefocused on finding solutions tosustain the operation, includingreaching out to potentialinvestors for assistance.”

Mill employees were notifiedMonday afternoon and Tuesdaymorning of the potential forclosure, said Omak WoodProducts General ManagerDave Niessner.

Word then began spreadingthrough the community, andcompany officials confirmedtheir plans in an announcementlate Monday.

Omak City Administrator

Ralph Malone said he wasnotified of the “WARN notice”for possible closure lateMonday afternoon from acompany official.

WARN refers to the federalWorkers Adjustment andRetraining Notification Act.

“I hope another entity wouldbe interested in stepping in andtaking (the company’s)position,” he said. “Thecommunity needs to recognizehow important that (mill) is tous.”

Omak Mayor Cindy Gagnewas out of town and said earlyTuesday morning that she

hadn’t heard about thecompany’s announcement. Shesaid it has been great to havethe mill open again after aseveral-year closure.

Several factors contributedto the decision, companyofficials said.

Earlier this year, OmakWood Products’ sistercompany, Olympic PanelProducts of Shelton, was sold toOregon-based Swanson GroupMfg. LLC, eliminatingOlympic’s need for Omakveneer. Omak Wood Productsleased the idled Omak mill fromthe Colville Tribal Federal Corp.in 2013, and restarted itprimarily to supply dry veneerfor Olympic Panel Products.

In addition, the uncertainquality and quantity of thetimber supply from the tribeand other suppliers followinglast summer’s wildfires in theOmak region and the downwardtrend of sheathing plywoodprices in the West also impactedthe decision.

The company’s partnershipwith the tribe includes a woodsupply agreement for timberfrom tribal forest lands; as of

last spring, about 80 percent ofits logs came from tribal forests.In addition to tribal timber, thecompany also purchases logsfrom private sources and thestate Department of NaturalResources.

Gov. Jay Inslee, in a requestfor Federal EmergencyManagement Agency assistancethis fall, said 20-25 percent oftribal forest lands burned lastsummer.

That loss “will significantlyreduce tribal revenue for thenext 12 years with adverseeffects expected within a year. Itis expected that the remainingundamaged timber stocks willbe highly susceptible to beetleinfestation, which couldpotentially increase the long-term damage of this event,” hewrote.

Not all lands burned withthe same intensity, but theNorth Star and Tunk Block firestogether damaged hundreds ofthousands of acres on thereservation.

Malone, a former forester,said timber managers generally

Employees told of

possible closure at

veneer, plywood mill

Forest fires,

Canadian exchange

blamed for closure

Burglartrappedby pipesat store

The Chronicle

OMAK — A local man hasbeen jailed on suspicion ofsecond-degree burglary afterbecoming stuck in a cookingexhaust pipe while allegedlytrying to break into an east sidegas station/mini market.

Donny James St. Peter, 23,made a preliminary appearanceMonday in Okanogan CountySuperior Court. Bail was set at$3,500 and arraignment forDec. 21.

He was arrested Saturday atthe Jackpot Foodmart, 414Hanford St.

The Omak Fire Departmentwas called at 7:41 a.m. to areport of a man stuck in thegreasy exhaust pipe for acooking hood, Chief KevinBowling said.

“We had to assist his buttout of there,” he said.

No injuries were reported.Firefighters were on the callabout a half-hour.

The Omak PoliceDepartment has not yetreleased a report of theincident. The probable causestatement was not availablefrom the Okanogan CountyProsecutor’s Office at presstime Tuesday morning.

Manager Dana Dykes saidthe store was closed at the time.

See Mill A10

Al Camp/The Chronicle

Omak Wood Products during its one-year celebration.

Firefighters remove

man from cooking

exhaust system

after greasy entry

• Classifieds• News of Record• Arts• Events

B SectionSeptember 9, 2015 Send stories and scores to [email protected]

view

from

the

sidelinesAl Camp

Greenscores atCarrollRelay team places

first at Waterville

Dylan Green (18-61)scored on a 6-yard run forNo. 4-ranked Carroll College,which beat No. 1 rankedSouthern Oregon, 26-20, onSaturday.

Green’s early secondquarter score tied the game at7-all in the big NAIAmatchup.

Defending NAIA nationalchampSouthernOregon tiedthe gamewith afourth-quarterfield goalbefore a 30-minutelightningdelay.

Greenwas finding bigger holes latein the game for the Saints,which marched down thefield and scored on a 15-yardpass and run by backuprunning back ConnorPaulson.

The Saints broke up a passin the end zone to preservethe victory.

Southern Oregon edgedCarroll 45-43 in the NAIAquarterfinals last season. Theteams were 3-3 against eachother since the Red Raidersjoined the FrontierConference in 2012.

Carroll travels to MontanaTech on Saturday. TheOrediggers opened theirseason Saturday with a 58-14pasting of MSU-Northern.

��The Omak Express horse

relay team took first place in aSunday race at the North-Central District Fair inWaterville on Aug. 30.

Tony Marchand was thejockey for Omak Express.

The Marchand Relay, withjockey Francis Marchand,finished second in Saturdayand Sunday races to claimfirst overall.

The teams along withGrizzly Mountain Express aretrying to earn spots to the AllNations Indian RelayChampionship from Sept. 17to 20 at MetraPark inBillings, Mont.

The relays involve three-person teams. The riderscircle the track three times onthree different horses. Aftereach completed lap, ridersexchange horses with theassistance of three other teammembers.

The championshippunctuates a 16-event series.The teams receive points ateach event they participate inand the Top 30 teams at theend of the season qualify forthe championship in Billings.

The winning relay teamwins a $50,000 purse inaddition to champion jacketsand belt buckles.

��Shannon Boyd will

continue aspresidentfollowing avote by theOwnersandJockeysAsso-ciation,whichcompletedputting onthis year’sWorld-Famous Suicide Race.

Others voted toassociation positionsincluded Vice PresidentMarvin Abrahamson,Secretary Ashley Carden,Treasurer Sandi Buzzard,Sergeants-at-Arms MathewPakootas and V.J. Vargas.

��The Omak Booster Club

will host its annual BlitzNight fundraiser to sell clubcards today from 5:30-8:30p.m. at the high school foyer.

The cards allow the buyerto get discounts at various

See Sidelines B3

The Omak-OkanOgan COunTy ChrOniCle

Oroville upends White Swan

Brewsterbypassedby state

By Al CampThe Chronicle

BREWSTER — Brewsterwill not be one of the sites thisyear where state Department ofFish and Wildlife managers willmeet the public wanting toshare their views on values andpriorities for the department.

The change is part of thedepartment’s new multi-yearinitiative.

“We are using this as our‘regional’”roundtablewith thedirector thisyear,”regionaldirector JimBrown said.“Due to thisinitiative, weencouragefolks from allover theregion to attend but we have notime to have a separate one inBrewster like we have had foryears.”

There are five other meetingbesides this region inSeptember and October.

Brown said he needed tohave the region’s meeting“where a larger cross section ofpublic could attend than justOkanogan County, likeBrewster roundtable draws.

“There is no time for astand-alone meeting in acorner of one region this year.”

Last year’s Brewstermeeting, with then-DirectorPhil Anderson, drew about 60people. Anderson has sinceretired.

“Washington’s Wild Future:A Partnership for Fish andWildlife,” which is an effort tostrengthen the department’srelationships withcommunities, increase supportfor conservation and outdoorrecreation, and help ensurestate Department of Fish andWildlife programs and servicesmeet the public’s needs.

Besides meetings,comments will also be acceptedthrough Oct. 31 on thedepartment’s website athttp://wdfw.wa.gov/wildfuture/ and by email [email protected].

People may also participatein the conversation through thedepartment Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonFishWildlife.

Public comments andproposals willhelpdeterminepriorities forconservingandmanagingWashington’sfish andwildlife in thecoming years,said state Fishand WildlifeDirector Jim Unsworth, whowas hired to lead the agency inJanuary.

“Since I joined WDFW, Ihave been asking people, ‘If youcould tell the director of Fishand Wildlife one thing, whatwould you say?’” Unsworthsaid. “This is a greatopportunity for people acrossthe state to do just that. I wantto hear about what we aredoing right, where we need toimprove, and where we shouldfocus our efforts and ourfunding over the next five to 10to 20 years.”

Unsworth, senior statemanagers, and regional staffare scheduled to attend the

See Wildlife B3

Fish and Wildlife

to meet in big cities

The Chronicle

OKANOGAN – ValleyLumber nailed down the coedsoftball league championship,led by all stars Ryan Laffertyand Kayla Wells.

The league finished its finalgames last week after a coupleweeks of no games due tosmoke from nearby wildfires,league spokeswoman Shirley

Bowden said.And end-of-season

tournament was canceledbecause of smoke.

Final league standingsValley Lumber 17 4Heatstroke 15 6The Club 12 9Farmers Insurance 11 10Leather and Lace 10 11Quik Stop 10 11Valley Lanes 9 12Best Deals 0 21

All stars:Valley Lumber — Ryan

Lafferty and Kayla Wells.

Heatstroke – ShawnIngraham and Nicole Evans.

The Club – ShawnTownsend and Kelsey Speiser.

Farmers Insurance – SteveMarchand and KristiMarchand.

Leather and Lace – TaylorKerr and Terri Mail.

Quik Stop – Rick Bronsonand Kolby Marchand.

Valley lanes – JeremyPalmer and Kelly Lafferty.

Best Deals – John Marshalland Hailey Hauso.

Final games playedQuik Stop 10, Farmers 5

Heatstroke 9, Quick Stop 4Leather and Lace 11,

Heatstroke 5Leather and Lace 6, Farmers

4Valley Lanes 10, Club 0Valley Lanes 13, Best Deals

12Valley Lumber 20, Best

Deals 3Valley Lumber 18, Club 5Heatstroke 17, Leather and

Lace 11Quik Stop 19, Leather and

Lace 18Quik Stop 15, Club 11Heatstroke 16, Valley Lanes

1

Valley Lumber 7, Leatherand Lace 6

Valley Lumber 14, Farmers 5Farmers 9, Valley Lanes 5Leather and Lace 8, Valley

Lanes 7Heatstroke 10, Club 3Farmers 10, Best Deals 9Heatstroke 15, Best Deals 0Quik Stop 3, Best Deals 2Quik Stop 9, Valley Lanes 2Club 7, Valley Lanes 4Club 11, Valley Lanes 6Forfeits:Club over Quick StopClub over Valley LumberValley Lanes over Valley

Lumber


LYNDEN – LyndenChristian came on strong in thesecond half to dispatch Omak,36-12, in a game rescheduled toSaturday.

The Pioneers trailed 13-6 ina game put off a day to allowsome Omak players to get onemore practice to be eligible forthe game. Several Omak playersgot behind because ofevacuations and losses ofhomes in wildfires.

“I thought we played wellmost of the game,” Omak coachNick Sackman said. “We madeplays all over the field, but acouple of penalties andturnovers stalled out three ofour first half drives.

Danny Gomez-Pacheco (6-17) scored on a 3-yard run to tiethe game early at 6-all.

“In the second half, wecontinued to play tough on bothsides of the ball but we gave uptwo big 50-yard touchdownpass plays. But we were unableto get a consistent offense going

after that” first score, Sackmansaid. “Craig Conway played agreat game at offensive tackleopening up holes and ondefense getting in the back fieldand making big tackles.”

Gabe Timentwa (6-9-112, 2INT) found Nolan Springer on a

77-yard pass to the lead to 27-12.

Also on offense, Timentwaran 13 times for 113 yards andBrandon Landers 7 for 38.

Omak (0-1) returns home totake on Brewster (1-0) at 7 p.m.Friday.

“They look to be a great teamand are coming off a big winagainst Chelan,” Sackman said.“We will have to make sure ourdefense is ready for thechallenge and be able to tacklein the open field.

“Offensively, we need to bemore consistent with our runblocking and we must makesome big plays in the passinggame.”

Brewster spotted Chelan 26points before coming back for a38-34 win.

A story on the game, withphotos, appeared in TheChronicle’s Sunday edition.

��ENTIAT — Republic came

from behind to dispatch Entiat,56-44, on Saturday.

Republic fell behind 20-10after one quarter beforewinning the second quarter fora 32-28 half time lead at Entiat.

After both teams scored inthe third quarter, Republic wonthe fourth quarter, 16-8.

Aaron Fritts rushed 20 timesfor 182 yards and two scoresand Trevor Remien ran 24times for 141 yards and twotouchdowns.

See Football B10


Oroville running back Caleb Mills hands the Hornets the first down after being hit — and flipped. Stetson Spears (38) looks on.

Valley Lumber pounds out coed crownLafferty, Wells

named all stars

in softball league

Republic, Liberty

Bell win Saturday


Hornets wingback Seth Miller fights for yardage.

Brown

Unsworth

Green

Boyd


OROVILLE – Oroville goteven scoring in toppingManson, 4-0, in a league soccermatch Tuesday.

The Hornets scored twice inthe first half and two timesagain in the second half. Goalswere by Tori Kindred (7 shotson goal), Yessica Nemecio (2shots on goal), Lindsay Koepke(4 shots on goal) and SydneyEgerton.

“Their goalkeeper playedvery well, with 21 saves,”Oroville coach Tony Kindredsaid after his team outshotManson 29-4 on goal. “TheHornets continue to work ontheir passing game and beingfirst to the ball.

“Communication amongstthe team continues to improveand the ladies are doing a greatjob working together,” thecoach said.

Other Hornets kicking theball toward the goal includedKambe Ripley (6), KatieEgerton (4), Tylynne Watkins(3) and Lilliana Nava (1 shot ongoal).

Oroville goalkeeper XochilRangel had four saves (onlyone shot on goal in the secondhalf).

“We struggled to defendand gave up two soft goals,”Manson coach Jared Mumleysaid. “In the last 20 minutes ofthe game, Manson had acouple chances to score withMagali Leyva putting two shotson goal. Brisa Rivera alsoplayed well.

“The growing pains are

continuing to show as our girlslearn how to work together as ateam. There were small gainsbut there’s still work to bedone.”

��BREWSTER – Emmy Engle

pulled a hat trick by scoring

three goals in Okanogan’s 10-0victory over Brewster onTuesday.

“We possessed the ball verywell both offensively anddefensively and took somegreat shots on goal,” Okanogancoach Dean Klepec said. “We

have been focusing on takinggood shots and getting them onframe. We finally did a greatjob of keeping the ball onframe.”

Engle scored in the sixthminute off an assist fromRachelle Hamilton and in the9th minute on an assist fromJill Townsend.

The Bulldogs led 5-0 athalftime following goals byAlexis Jones on a CaydenDiefenbach assist, Hamiltonon a Townsend assist andMegan Patrick on a BriannaCox assist.

Okanogan scored in thesecond half by Townsend on aJones assist, Jones on aTownsend assist, Taylor on anEngle assist, Engle on aTownsend assist and MyaMoses unassisted.

��TONASKET – Tonasket

started slow before taking outBridgeport, 7-1, in a leaguematch Tuesday.

The Tigers led 2-0 at thehalf then outscored the Fillies5-1 in the second frame.

“This was a good game forus,” Bridgeport coach GabeGonzales said. “We played astrong first half during thisgame.”

Bridgeport’s lone goal wasby Lesly Velasco on an assist byAlba Robles.

Bridgeport goalkeeper FlorMeza finished with 16 saves.

No information wasreceived from Tonasket.

MondayBrewster at Omak

TuesdayBrewster at MansonOkanogan at TonasketOroville at Liberty Bell


WINTHROP – Brewsterpulled out a 3-1 league victoryover Liberty Bell on Tuesday.

The Bears, behind the 21kills and 18 digs of MarquetteMiller, dispatched Liberty Bell25-16, 25-10, 22-25 and 25-20.

“Our girls played well, in thefirst two games,” Brewstercoach Gordon Wright said.“Unfortunately, it was almosttoo easy for those games andthey let their intensity slip a bitin game 3.

“To Liberty Bell’s credit theypicked up theirs and thecombination of the two allowedLiberty Bell to win the game.”

The Bears clawed out a closegame four.

“As a coach it can beconcerning when you see agame go as easily as it did ingame 2,” Wright said. “Playerscan lose their edge and it iscritical to keep that edgethroughout the match.

“Overall, I am pleased withthis team. They work hard inpractice and are committed to asingle cause. Even though ourpassing was not as sharp as Iwould like the work ethic was.”

Brewster stats: Marquette Miller13/14 serving, 4 aces, 18 digs, 21 kills:Stephanie Lewis 16/17 serving, 3aces, 2.25 passer rating out of 3;Vanessa Terrones 23/26 serving, 7aces, 10 digs; setter Maret Miller 24assists, 6 kills; libero Yvette Sanchez21 digs.

��MANSON – Manson picked

up its first league victory of theseason by blanking LakeRoosevelt, 3-0, on Tuesday.

Manson, led by the 15-for-15serving of Celina Mendoza, won25-21, 25-12 and 25-17.

“The team worked hard andmade good things happen,”Manson coach Hayli Libbey-Thompson said. “It was nice to

get a win under our belt.”Other Manson stats:

Maddee Ward 11 kills, 10 digs;Baylee Ward 9 kills, 7 digs;Analexis Manjares 5 digs; DaicyLeyva 23 assists.

“It’s really difficult to win agame when very few athletesshow up mentally to play amatch,” Lake Roosevelt coachKasey Garvin said. “We had astrong warm-up, but that’s allwe were able to muster for theevening.

“Manson was coming off a 0-2 record and took advantage ofour lack of effort. They came inwith a very strong energy andwe had no energy. OnWednesday, we addressedthings that needed to be fixed,then moved on.

“I tried very hard not torehash any of Tuesday eveningin Wednesday afternoon’spractice.”

Lake Roosevelt stats: KayleyDuclos 4 kills, 1 ace; Aianna Picard 7kills, 1 ace; Jocelyn Moore 4 kills, 3assists, 1 dig, 1 solo block, 1 blockassist, 1 ace; Sean Garvin 1 kill, 10assists, 3 aces, 1 solo block, 1 blockassist, 1 dig; Addison Hansen 1 kill.Team totals: 17 kills, 2 solo blocks, 2assisted blocks, 2 digs, 13 assists.

Manson stats: Jasmin Rodriguez,Sandra Diaz and Ofelia Farias allserved 100 percent; Alyssa LaMar13/14 serving, 6 aces; Karina Guzman9 digs; Sandra Diaz 4 kills; AlyssaLamar 4 kills; Brenda Lopez 6 kills.

Manson went 2-1 in a juniorvarsity match – 24-26, 25-19and 25-21.

��TONASKET – Okanogan

blasted Tonasket, 25-8, 25-14and 25-11, in a league volleyballmatch Tuesday.

“Very proud of the girlstonight,” Okanogan coachMichelle Daling said. “Theyplayed strong, point by point,all the way to the finish.

“Sophomore libero TeresitaAragon had a great game.”

Okanogan stats: Jordyn Boesel12 kills; Dallas Heindselman 3 kills;Bailey Hubbard 12/12 serving, 2 aces;Shelby Walker 12/12 serving, 2 aces;Peyton Oules, 20/20, 4 aces;Samantha Butler 2 stuff blocks.

��BRIDGEPORT – Emily

Saucedo finished with 20

assists in leading Bridgeportpast Oroville, 25-19, 25-16 and25-13, in a league volleyballmatch Tuesday.

Also for the Fillies wereShayLee Polvos (10 kills, 3serving aces), Jordan Peart (6kills, 6 serving aces) led theFillies attack and Almendra

Velazquez with 15 digs and 4serving aces, Bridgeport coachHanna Coffman said.

Tuesday matches:Bridgeport at MansonLake Roosevelt at BrewsterOkanogan at Liberty BellOroville at Tonasket

4 • Sports • The Chronicle • Sept. 27, 2015 www.omakchronicle.com

Kam Chancellor, what abobble head.

I can see him sitting athome, staring at his bobbledoll much like DenverBroncos quarterback PeytonManning does in aNationwide insurancecommercial.

Like Manning singing thejingle, “Do I really look likethis?” Chancellor sings, “Dothe Seahawks need menow?”

Chancellor woke upWednesday and realized histeammates needed him.

The Hawks probablywanted Chancellor on thefield, but refused to cave tohis demand of wanting about$2 million more on top of his$7 million-a-year contractover the next three yearsThat saved the team$267,647 in salary for eachof the last two games thesafety sat out.

The boom returning tothe Legion of Boom caughtthe team by surprise. Seattlewas going forward,developing a new safety andmaking every effort to getbetter despite two losingroad trips.

Maybe Chancellor wasspurred to return by the hitto his pocketbook. Or maybehe hustled back after hearingthe odds for teams reachingthe postseason after starting0-2.

Since the NFL expandedto a 12-team playoff formatin 1990, only 23 teams out of204 that started 0-2 (11.2percent) have managed toget to the playoffs.

Since 2009 there havebeen 45 teams that started 0-2 and only 2 (4 percent)reached the postseason.

Seattle should break intothe win column today sincethey are 27-2 at home sinceRussell Wilson took over atquarterback.

Plus the opponent,Chicago, is also 0-2, fightingthe same odds to reachpostseason and struggling tofind a starting quarterbackwho can win – JimmyClausen is 1-10 as a starter.

I’m pretty sureChancellor’s conversationwith his bobble babyincluded some sage insight —“We have tumbled in thefourth.”

That’s right, Seattle lostleads in its last three gamesin the fourth quarter, datingback to the Super Bowl.

I’m hoping that Seattlecan turn it around as a teamand that Chancellor can havea record-setting season.

But then, I know othergood teams fell badly with 0-2 starts including NewOrleans in 2014 (didn’t welose Max Unger for JimmyGraham? I did not seeGraham much last week. Ithink Green Bay’s defenseflooded his side of the field)and even Seattle in 2011.

We could use Unger — 8sacks in the two losses.

I know one thing is forsure, looking at my 25thanniversary Pete Rose bobblehead, only three teams inhistory have made theplayoffs after starting 0-3.

Sports looks more andmore like a soap opera, as in“How the Bobble HeadTurns.”

Al Camp is the sports editor at The Chronicle. Email him [email protected].

view

from

the

sidelinesAl Camp

Kammakesbobble

Okanogan 49

Oroville 24

Tonasket 10

Brewster 47

Kittitas 12

Omak 28

Pateros 36

Waterville 20

Manson 12

Lake Roos. 28

Y. Tribal 20

Republic 70

Friday night football scores:

Bears trap Mountain Lions

Manson knocks down first league victory

Brad Skiff/Special to The Chronicle

Ashlynn Willis of Tonasket takes after the soccer ball whileguarded by Anayeli Trejo of Bridgeport on Tuesday.


Vanessa Pershing of Tonasket attempts to pound the volleyball through the blocks of Taylor Mair,left, and Emilee Beetchenow during match Tuesday.

Graphic by Al Camp/The Chronicle

A created graphic makes itappear that Kam Chancellorof the Seattle Seahawksprofessional football team islooking at his bobblehead.

Engle scores hat

trick for Okanogan

Oroville soccer boots Manson

Brad Skiff/Special to The Chronicle

Lauren Ellis and Almendra Velazquez of Bridgeport dive for a digagainst Oroville on Tuesday. In back is Kaiden Morris.

Chancellor could

make a difference

Commentsought ondeer plan

The Chronicle

OLYMPIA – The stateDepartment of Fish andWildlife is seeking publiccomments through Oct. 31 ona draft plan to guidemanagement of the state’smule deer populations.

“This plan will serve as thefoundation for sustainablymanaging mule deerthroughout their range inWashington,” said JerryNelson, deer and elk sectionmanager. “We encouragepeople to give us feedback onthe management approacheswe’ve identified.”

Key objectives in the planinclude maintaining stablemule-deer opportunities forboth hunters and wildlife-watchers. It also coversstrategies for reducingdamage caused by deer tocrops and personal property.

The plan is available onlinefor review at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/mule_deer/.

The state is planning publicmeetings to discuss the draftplan from 7-9 p.m. at:

• Ellensburg, Oct. 13 —Ellensburg Quality Inn andConference Center, 1700 S.Canyon Road

• Spokane Valley, Oct. 15 —Center Place Regional EventCenter, 2426 N. DiscoveryPlace.

• Olympia, Oct. 29 — RedLion Hotel, 2300 EvergreenPark Drive S.W.


OKANOGAN – Fire activityin Okanogan and Ferry countiescontinues to remain slow astemperatures drop andhumidity increases.

After blackening 133,142acres, the Okanogan Complexfire was estimated to be 95percent contained, as of Fridayafternoon.

“Firefighters continue towork between the fire front andForest Road 42 near CabinCreek, mopping up the fire as itapproaches the road,” officialssaid Friday morning. “Smokewill be visible near the fireperimeter and in the interior asfuels continue to ignite andburn until significant rain orsnow falls.”

The lightning-causedcomplex, which began Aug. 14,has destroyed nearly 100homes, along with outbuildings,livestock, rangeland andtimber.

Estimated containment dateis Sept. 30 for the fire nowburning west of Omak-

Okanogan in timber and brush.“The remainder of the fire

area is in patrol and mop-upstatus, as suppression repaircontinues,” officials said.“Repair activities, includingblading roads, reshaping andcovering dozer lines, buildingwater bars on hand lines,removing slash from roads andtrails, cleaning up drop points,and repairing fences cut byfirefighters, continue.”

Some crews and equipmentno longer needed on the fire arebeing released.

Tunk BlockFire crews assigned to the

Tunk Block Fire are focusingtheir primary efforts onsuppression repairs.

“These activities seek tominimize any resourceconcerns caused byconstructing fire lines and using

-roads,” officials said. “As muchas possible, fire managers want

See Fires 2

Chronicle/Page 4

Going for the goal

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a joint publication of the wenatchee world and the chronicleSeptember 20, 2015 $1.50

Time for businessA roundup of

summer’s leftovers

World/C1


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&ChronICleChronICle

Wenatchee choosesa dog mayor

World/A1

Paw-liticalBridgeport holds off

Brewster, 2-1

6 68 1 3 2 4 2 0 0 0 2

Year 106 No. 36


GOODSTOCK BENEFITS FIRE VICTIMS


Nashville recording artist and Riverside resident, Nicole Unser, performs at the Goodstock Music Festival in Okanogan on Saturday.

Three Devilsfate remainsup in the air


OKANOGAN – A visitingjudge Friday tossed out arequest for a writ of review, butleft open the question ofwhether county commissioners’decision to vacate part of ThreeDevils Road might have beentainted by conflicts of interest,fraud or collusion.

Douglas County SuperiorCourt JudgeJohnHotchkissdirectedattorneys forthe county todraft ordersdismissingChiliwistresidents’request for areview of thedecision, butmade no ruling on whether theroad would be kept open orvacated. For now, it remainsopen under an injunctionissued earlier by Hotchkiss.

Gamble Land and TimberLtd., through Vice PresidentCass Gebbers, asked OkanoganCounty commissioners earlierthis year to vacate a three-milesection of the road so it couldbecome part of company’sproperty. Gamble, which ownsland on either side of the road,argued the road has “no valueto the general public.”

Chiliwist residentsprotested, saying the roadprovides an escape route fromthe valley to the Methow Valleyin case fire or flooding blocksroutes into the OkanoganValley. The valley was heavilydamaged in last summer’sCarlton Complex fire, whichcame into the valley from thewest, and subsequent flashflooding, which washed out themain road eastward into theOkanogan Valley.

Despite a recommendationfrom Hearings Examiner DanBeardslee to keep the roadopen, commissioners cited aconflicting engineer’srecommendation and voted, 2-1, to close the road.

Commissioners SheilahKennedy and Ray Campbellvoted in favor of vacating;Commissioner Jim DeTroopposed giving away the publicroad.

The Coalition of ChiliwistResidents and Friends thenfiled suit, seeking to keep openthe unimproved road linkingNorth Star Road and ForestRoad 41. The group posted a$10,000 bond, required by thecourt, to keep an injunctionagainst the county in placewhile the judge considers thecase.

During Friday’s hearing inOkanogan County SuperiorCourt, Hotchkiss heard fromattorneys for Chiliwistresidents, the county andGamble Land and Timber Ltd.for an hour and a half beforeconcluding state law allowscommissioners to decidewhether to vacate the road.

And, while residents’arguments that the road isneeded as a possible escaperoute from fire is “compelling,”he said he has to follow the law.

“I don’t think the law allowsthis court to review,” he said.

Hotchkiss said he wouldtake under advisement anargument brought by coalitionattorney Barnett N. Kalikow ofOlympia of possible collusionby commissioners and thatCampbell had a conflict ofinterest because he hadprevious business dealings withthe Gebbers family and was apersonal friend of late patriarchDan Gebbers.

Kalikow argued Gebbersemployee Jon Wyss hadcontacted each commissionerindividually after the petitionwas filed but before thedecision was made, that Wysshad advised commissioners oncounty staffing on a contractbasis about two years earlier,and that Planning DirectorPerry Huston advisedcommissioners to haveBeardslee hear the matter inorder to avoid a possibleconflict.

“It’s strange to me thatCommissioner Campbell wouldmake the decisionsCommissioner Campbell hasmade,” Hotchkiss said.

Attorney Sandy Mackie, ofPerkins Coie in Seattle, startedthe hearing by arguing a writ ofreview – sought by Kalikow forthe Chiliwist residents – shouldnot be issued because thecommissioners were acting as alegislative body and such writsapply to judicial or quasi-judicial matters.

Three Devils Road is part ofa county-wide road network,over which commissioners havelegislative control, he argued.

And, althoughcommissioners went againstthe hearing examiner’s

See Hearing 2

Woman pleads guilty to arson


OKANOGAN –An Omakwoman hasbeensentenced to17 in prisonand 18months ofcommunitycustodysupervisionafter pleadingguilty tosetting herex-boyfriend’s Loomis house onfire in the middle of the nightthree years ago.

Shawna M. Barber, 36, alsopleaded guilty to domesticviolence charges of harassmentand telephone harassment

Tuesday in Okanogan CountySuperior Court.

The charges stem from astructure fire at 11:45 p.m. onAug. 1, 2012, at 1003 B Loomis-Oroville Road, OkanoganCounty Sheriff Frank Rogerssaid.

“The fire units requested lawenforcement as the fire lookedsuspicious,” Rogers said lastweek.

“The Okanogan CountySheriff’s Office responded toassist the (Loomis) firedepartment.”

Rogers said the investigatorsdetermined the fire’s origin was“on the deck floor on the eastside of the door and the causewas incendiary.”

Damage to the residence wasestimated at more than$23,300, Rogers said.

“Further investigationdetermined that the sole maleoccupant of the residence, whowas not home when the fireoccurred, had a vengeful ex-girlfriend,” he said, addingBarber “made threats in thepast to kill him.”

Rogers said the week priorto the fire, Barber made a threatto burn down the home ofGuilibaldo Vejar while he wassleeping.

Barber was arrested July 11,2013, and charged with first-degree arson, felonyharassment, telephonicharassment and stalking.

“Barber initially denied anyinvolvement in the fire anddenied being in the area beforethe fire,” Rogers said.

Firefighters continue making progress

Barber

Judge leaves open

question of alleged

conflict, collusion

“I don’t think the

law allows this

court to review.

Judge John Hotchkiss

”

Campbell

Shawna M. Barber

to serve 17 months

in prison for crime

Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office/

The ruins of the Loomis-area home to which Shawna M. Barberpleaded guilty to setting fire in 2012.

Inciweb

A firefighter conducts a burnout operation on the Renner Fireearlier this week. The fire is part of the Kettle Complex burningin Ferry County.

Dee Camp/The Chronicle

Judge John Hotchkiss listensto attorneys’ arguments.

Fire activity slows

as temperatures

drop, humidity rises

Post-fire reviewplanned Oct. 1

The Chronicle

OKANOGAN — A fire after-action review is planned at 6:30p.m. Oct. 1 in the AgriplexAnnex at the Okanogan CountyFairgrounds, 175 Rodeo TrailRoad.

The event, which is open tothe public, will be hosted by theOkanogan County commis-sioners.

They are looking forpeople’s opinions on what wentwell, what can be improved andhow the county response canget better.

Each person will be allowedfive minutes to speak.

“This is not a problem-solving meeting,”commissioners said. “Ideasexpressed at this meeting willbe utilized to develop animprovement plan in the futureto uncover the root causes ofidentified issues.”

B4�•�Sports •�The Chronicle •�November�10,�2015 www.omakchronicle.com

’Dogs run past Raiders

Story, photos by Al CampThe Chronicle

OKANOGAN — TheOkanogan High School footballteam ran past Lake Rooseveltand into the state 2Btournament Friday night on theBulldogs’ field.

Davenport (7-3) is atOkanogan (9-1) for the first-round of state. The time anddate had not been set as ofSunday, The Chronicle’s earlysports deadline because of theVeterans Day holiday.

The winner of the openerplays in the state quarterfinalsagainst the winner of theMabton (8-2) and Lind-Ritzville/Sprague game playedthis week.

The Bulldogs, behind 424yards of rushing (out of 445total offense), scuttled theRaiders 56-0. That included arunning clock all of the secondhalf.

“We executed well on bothsides of the ball,” saidOkanogan coach Erick Judd,whose team held the Raiders to126 yards of offense (78 on theground). “Offense and defenseboth played with intensity.

“Lake Roosevelt playedhard the whole game and werea fun group to play against.Their attitudes were great thewhole game.”

Morgan Poulin (10-98) gotthe scoring started with a 28-yard run in the first quarter.Also scoring in the first periodwere Riley Prescott on runs of40 and 35 yards and JalenMoses on a 5-yard run and aninterception return.

Second quarter scores camefrom Myron Super on a 3-yardrun and Poulin on a 25-yard run.

Julian Cate scored on an 18-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Arnulfo Mercado was 7-for-7 on extra-point kicks.Konstantine Hess kicked thelast extra point.

“We play Davenport next athome, not sure of the time yet,”Judd said. “Davenport beatWaitsburg-Prescott last week,32-19, and is playing goodfootball.”

Okanogan stats:Offense, receivers — Riley

Prescott (1-13), Tyler Wood (1-9),Michael Goetz (1-(-1)). Rushers:Morgan Poulin (10-98), Riley Prescott(4-93), Clay Ashworth (5-72), MyronSuper (4-42), Jalen Moses (4-40),Martin Groomes (4-34), Jordan Jesse(6-20), Julian Cate (1-18), LeithanGillespie (2-6), Joe Esquivel (1-2), AlexNelson (1-1), Sean Park-Epley (1-1),Justin Watts (1-(-3)).

Passing — Clay Ashworth (3-8,21).

Defense (solo, assisted tackles) —Arnulfo Mercado (4,4), Morgan Poulin(4,2), Riley Prescott (3,1), MichaelGoetz (2,1), Lars Wiegel (1,3).

Lake Roosevelt stats:Offense — Receivers: Jesse Louie

(1-31), Nathaniel Hall (3-9), Lucas Bird(1-8). Rushers: Lucas Bird (1-22),Jesse Louie (9-21), Beau Michel (7-17), Steven Flowers (4-11), JosiahDesautel (5-4) Austin Garcia (1-3).

Passing — Steven Flowers (2-12,39, INT); Jesse Louie (3-9, 2 INT).

Defense (solo, assisted tackles) —

Josiah Desautel (7, 1); Jesse Louie(5,3); Nathaniel Hall (3,1), StevenFlowers (2,1).

Davenport�to�play

Okanogan�en�route

to�state�2B�title

Jalen Moses, right, hauls in an interception for Okanogan. MyronSuper, left, follows the play.

Okanogan’s Arnulfo Mercado, left, grabs Lake Roosevelt ball carrier Jesse Louie. Following theplay is Joe Esquivel, No. 9.

John Fannin/Daily Sun News

Oroville quarterback Nathan Hugus, center, keeps his eye on theball Friday night against Mabton. No. 52 Salvador Urbian readiesfor a run against the quarterback.

The Chronicle

MABTON — Oroville’s post-season football dreams werestopped short Friday nightwhen Mabton topped theHornets, 42-20.

Mabton scored with 1:02 togo in the first quarter on a 33-yard run. The two-pointattempt fell short.

The Vikings scored twice inthe second quarter, on a 26-yard field goal at the 1:17 markand a one-yard pass as thequarter ended. The kick wasgood, putting Mabton on top16-o at the half.

The home team scored twicein the third, on runs of 22 yardsat 8:33 and three yards at 1:03.Both PATs failed, leaving thescore at 28-0.

Oroville got on the board at7:27 in the fourth on a NathanHugus pass to Andrew Mieirsfor four yards.

A two-point conversionfrom Hugus to Stetson Spearswas good.

Mabton struck twice more inthe fourth, on a 54-yard run at6:24 and a 38-yard run at 33seconds. The kick after the first

was no good, but the Vikingsmade the two-point conversionafter the second.

Oroville scored at 4:45 in thefourth on a Hugus run for fouryards. A two-point run byLogan Mills was no good. Thatleft the score at 34-14.

The Hornets crossed thegoal line again at 1:38 on aHugus run for two yards. Thetwo-point pass from Hugus toMills failed, leaving the finalscore at 42-20.

Oroville finished the gamewith 254 yards to Mabton’s470. The Hornets had 133 yardspassing and 121 on the ground,while the Vikings had 130 in theair and 340 rushing.

Oroville had one pick andMabton had two. The Hornetshad no fumbles, while theVikings had two – and lostboth.

Hugus was 11-34 throwingfor 133 yards. Mabton threw 23times with 13 completions for130 yards.

Oroville rushers includedHugus, 43 yards and twotouchdowns; Logan Mills, 37;Caleb Mills, 20; ConnorGodwin, 12, and Seth Miller, 9.

Mabton Vikingsstomp Hornets’ride to state

Brewster Bears trample White Swan, 56-12

The Chronicle

BREWSTER — After a stringof first downs against Brewsteron its first drive, White Swanlooked poised to hit thescoreboard first.

But, when the battle turnedto inches, the Bears’ defenseshowed their stuff by stuffingWhite Swan at the goal line andgot the ball back on downs.

After the Bears held backthat threat, defense ate updowns and senior Mitch Boeselpiled on 151 rushing yards,while quarterback Timbo Taylorwas a near perfect 13-14 for 219yards, connecting on four

scores.Stunned, all White Swan

players and fans could do waswatch as their season ended.

Linebacker Nick Perkins ledthe defense for the Bears with 13tackles and an interception.

Brewster will face the AsotinPanthers in Asotin in the firstround of the state 2Btournament at 7 p.m. Friday.

Brewster 56, White Swan 12White Swan 0 12 0 0 – 12Brewster 0 36 13 7 – 56No scoring summary reportedPassing – T.Taylor 13-14-219.

Rushing – Nanamkin 4-29, Sonneman10-48, Boesel 21-151, Garcia 6-33,Smith 2-9, J.Taylor 1-8, Naiera 1-(-2).Receiving – J.Taylor 5-94, Najera 4-60,Smith 3-56, Hammons 1-9.

Tonasket 21, Soap Lake 24

The Soap Lake Eagles

dominated Tonasket Fridaynight, 24-21.

“We got off to a great startwith an early touchdown, “Tonasket coach Jay Hawkinssaid. “We had a tough timekeeping the momentum bygiving up explosive plays.

“I though we reset mentallyat halftime and the team cameout and won a lot of plays.”

Scoring was not received.


Brewster running back Mitch Boesel, No. 5, breaks a tackle on his way to the first of his two rushing touchdowns against White Swan on Friday.

Brock Hires/The Chronicle

Tonasket Tigers try to steal the ball from Soap Lake Friday night at home.

Tonasket�Tigers�fall

to�Soap�Lake

Friday�night

“We got off to a

great start with an

early touchdown

Jay Hawkins

”


OKANOGAN – A judge hasput into writing the decision hemade orally in the Three RiversRoad vacation case: The roadwill be vacated and the propertyturned over to Gamble Landand Timber.

Visiting Judge JohnHotchkiss of Douglas County,in an Oct. 20 written opinion,ordered the county to recordthe final order of vacation.

The Coalition of ChiliwistResidents and Friends, whichchallenged the vacation inOkanogan County SuperiorCourt, is appealing the decision.

In his decision, Hotchkiss:• Determined the decision to

vacate a county road is alegislative decision and notreviewable under writ of reviewstatutes.

• Granted a motion todismiss the complaint.

• Dismissed a motionclaiming fraud and collusionagainst vacation proponentGamble Land and Timber Ltd.,and Okanogan County and itsmembers, agents andemployees. The claims weredismissed with prejudice.

• Denied a request byGamble Land and Timber forsanctions against the coalition’sattorney.

• Lifted an injunctionpreventing closure of the road.

• Ordered the vacation to befinalized.

• Ordered a $10,000 bondposted by the coalition to bereturned.

• Granted the county and

Gamble Land costs and fees.The court lifted the

injunction that preventedclosure of the vacated portion ofthe road and directed thecounty to record the final orderof vacation immediately.

Gamble Land and TimberVice President Cass Gebbersdeclined to comment because ofthe pending appeal.

In a prepared statementissued by Gamble attorneyThomas F. O’Connell of Seattle,the company said the road hasbeen gated “not only topreserve the status quo, butalso to prevent ongoingtrespass, damage and poachingon private property adjacent toThree Devils Road.”

The court decision “affirmsthat Gamble Land and Timberfollowed the public proceduresto legally vacate county roads,while other roads within thecounty have been removed bythe public works departmentwithout going through thepublic process,” the statementsaid.

Three Devils Road wasoriginally constructed, and hasbeen maintained, as a privatelogging road, the company said.

Hotchkiss dismissed thecase Sept. 18, saying thedecision to vacate a county roadis a political one. In a Sept. 24written opinion, he said theresidents failed to provecollusion or fraud on the part ofcounty commissioners andCommissioner Ray Campbell inparticular.

The Oct. 20 order wraps upthe oral and written opinions.

Gamble Land and Timberasked commissioners earlierthis year to vacate a three-mile

Year 106 No. 47


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Essential Reading in Okanogan and Ferry counties.October 28, 2015 $1.00

A5B2

B6


Chance McKinney reigns at Omak Performing Arts Center

TRICK OR TREAT


Harper and Asher Hamilton, 4 and 1, Okanogan, show off their costume entries at the Halloween-Harvest Festival on Saturday at Omak’sCivic League Park. The event was organized by the Omak Chamber of Commerce. For more Halloween happenings see Page B6.

Judge finalizesThree Riversroad vacationOpponents are

appealing decision

Inslee formingnew fire council

The Chronicle

OLYMPIA — A newWildland Fire Council is beingformed by Gov. Jay Inslee tohelp local communitiesimpacted by the 2015 fireseason.

The council will coordinaterestoration and recovery effortsrelated to this year’s fires, andassess plans, policies andresources related to wildfirepreparedness, resiliency,response and recovery inWashington state, Inslee said.

Commissioner of PublicLands Peter Goldmark, stateDepartment of CommerceDirector Brian Bonlender andMajor General Bret Daughertyof the Washington StateMilitary Department will leadthe council.

A preliminary report isexpected from the council byJuly 1, 2016, Inslee said. Thecouncil’s first meeting will be inearly November.

In addition, the stateDepartment of Commerce isjoining with impacted citiesand counties to directcommunity development blockgrant funds for emergencyfacilities, water systemimprovements and disasterrecovery services.

In the wake of the CarltonComplex fire of 2014, Brewsteris receiving funding toconstruct an essential waterreservoir for fire protection and

to address drinking waterneeds. Okanogan and Chelancounties are receiving fundingfor disaster recovery services tobe provided by regionalcommunity action councils.

Douglas-Okanogan CountyFire District No. 15 is getting $1million to expand itsambulance and emergencymedical services facility.

Inslee said the Departmentof Commerce is making anadditional $4 million in blockgrants available for qualifyingcities, towns and counties, andis working with wildfire-impacted cities such as Pateros,Twisp and others to leveragematching funds for essentialfacilities.

Inslee said while he is doingwhat he can to provide stateassistance, he reiterated theneed for the FederalEmergency ManagementAgency and federal officials toreevaluate the criteria used indetermining federal disasterassistance for individuals goingforward.

FEMA funds for individualsand businesses were deniedthis year, as they were last yearfor the Carlton Complex fire.

“Last year I led the 19-state,bipartisan Western GovernorsAssociation in calling for areevaluation of these criteria,”he said. “As our state works tosupport affected communities,I will continue to fight forgreater federal support fordisaster recovery, particularlyas our state encounters hotter,drier and increasinglydevastating fire seasons.”

Group will organize

recovery efforts

See Judge A12

Fire victims asked to contact group

Shooter’s vehicle found near Brewster


OKANOGAN — Peopleimpacted by the recent wildfiresare being asked to contact theOkanogan County Long-TermRecovery Group, even if theythink they don’t need any help.

That’s the message from

Lisa Bauer, who is leading thenew Omak-Okanogan Long-Term Recovery Organization,and Denise Varner, who’sworking with the group ongetting the word out.

The Omak-Okanoganorganization is one of five nowunder the Okanogan CountyLong-Term Recovery Group’sumbrella. The recovery group,formerly the Carlton ComplexLong-Term Recovery Group, isproviding the structure andexpertise for the Omak-Okanogan organization and

similar groups in the Twisp-Winthrop, Tonasket-Oroville,Pateros-Brewster and ColvilleIndian Reservation areas.

They’re helpingcommunities rebuild after thissummer’s Okanogan Complex,Tunk Block and North Starfires, and last year’s CarltonComplex fire. The recoverygroup also is working withsimilar groups in Chelan, Ferry,Stevens and Pend Oreillecounties.

For those impacted by thetrio of mid-Okanogan County

fires, it’s important for the long-term groups to gain a goodpicture of what people’s needsare, Bauer and Varner said.

“Most importantly, everyoneshould make contact with theOkanogan County disaster casemanagement team,” Varnersaid.

Some people may needhousing or clothing, whileothers might need fencing orwinter cover for their hay. Evenif losses were covered by

The Chronicle

BREWSTER — A vehiclebelieved to be involved in aBridgeport shooting waslocated last week hidden intrees near Rat Lake.

The minivan was located

Oct. 20 and seized the next dayby Douglas County detectivesand a warrant was obtained tosearch it. Evidence wasrecovered; the vehicle is beingheld for examination by theWashington State Crime Lab,Douglas County Sheriff HarveyGjesdal said.

According to an OkanoganCounty Sheriff’s Office report,the vehicle’s windows had beenbroken out.

On Oct. 19, a deputyattempted to stop the vehiclenear 17th and Tacoma streets inBridgeport for a noise violationbecause of a loud stereo.

The deputy ran theminivan’s license plate andlearned one of the registeredowners had an outstandingfelony warrant for his arrest.The deputy activated hisemergency lights, but thevehicle did not stop. After a few

blocks, it accelerated rapidly,Gjesdal said.

After running stop signs andcrossing the center line, thevehicle turned from FosterCreek Avenue onto Highway 17heading north into OkanoganCounty.

“The deputy saw flashescoming from the driver’s sidewindow and heard the sound of

Even those covered

by insurance can

assist in process

Suspect still not

identified by police

See Fires A12

See Shooting A12

Football teamsplay final league

games FridayElEcTiOn

2015

The Chronicle

SIMILKAMEEN, B.C. –After years of discussions withFirst Nations Indian Bands,local communities andconservation advocates, theBritish Columbian provincialgovernment has released anintentions paper announcing a60-day public comment periodon proposals for new wildlandprotections in the SouthOkanagan-Similkameen region.

Proposals include a newCanadian national parkbordering northernWashington.

The region is in thetraditional territory of the Syilx(Okanagan) First Nation IndianBands, one of the principaladvocates of the national parkproposal.

Conservation Northwest, aBellingham-based non-profitgroup that advocates forwildlife and wildlandsconservation in bothWashington and BritishColumbia, applauded theproposal, while also expressingconcern that one of three areaspreviously considered forinclusion in a new national parkis now excluded under theprovince’s proposal.

“Conservation Northweststrongly supports a newCanadian national park in theSouth Okanagan-Similkameen,”said Mitch Friedman, who is theorganization’s executive director.“This biodiversity-rich area isessential to afford the highestprotection. We support FirstNations in their pursuit of secureprotections for cultural andnatural resources and traditionalrights and titles.”

The grasslands of Canada’sSouth Okanagan-Similkameenare the northernmost extensionof the arid Columbia Basin. Theregion contains desert andsteppe landscapes andecosystems common in EasternWashington and other parts ofthe American West, but uniquein British Columbia andwestern Canada.

Distinctive habitat in theregion supports a diverse arrayof grasslands plant and animallife, from bighorn sheep andmule deer to badgers andsharp-tailed grouse. The SouthOkanagan-Similkameen ishome to a third of BritishColumbia’s “Red Listed”(endangered) wildlife species

and 47 wildlife species of globalconcern.

Designation of a new SouthOkanagan-SimilkameenNational Park wouldpermanently secure wildlandsprotections and cross-borderhabitat connectivity for wildlifein the trans-boundary area.

“What remains of thisecosystem is being encroachedupon on all sides. Wedesperately need strongprotection to keep it intact andprevent it from beingirreversibly converted to otheruses,” said Peter Wood, directorof terrestrial conservation forthe Canadian Parks andWilderness Society.

“The areas identified forpossible protection in thediscussion paper coincide withthose proposed for inclusion inthe national park under thestudy approved by theProvincial-Federal WorkingGroup in 2011. These areaswere selected to provide habitatfor rare species and ensureconnectivity.”

The South Okanagan-Similkameen region also provideshigh quality outdoor recreationand tourism benefits for cities andcommunities on both sides of the

international border.“We agree with the province

that this area has enormoustourism potential,” said DoreenOlson, coordinator of the SouthOkanagan-SimilkameenNational Park Network.“Having a national park willreally put this area on the mapand give it the recognition itdeserves.”

In April, an independentpoll confirmed that localsupport has surged to three-to-

one in favor of establishing anational park. Recently, anumber of regionalgovernments, tourismassociations, First Nations andeconomic interests have passedformal resolutions supportingthe resumption of talks betweenthe federal and provincialgovernments to establish anational park.

The provincial governmentsaid a number of factors will beconsidered when developingthe final policy including theprotection of First Nationsvalues and cultural sites,expansion of tourism,protection of species-at-risk,recreational activities,agricultural activities andprotection of ranching andexisting grazing tenures.

The public has a 60-dayperiod to provide comments onthe intentions paper with finalresponses due by Oct. 12, 2015.B.C. Parks will review thefeedback and publicly post aConsultation Report along withfinal recommendations in early2016.

A6 • News • The Chronicle • Sept. 9, 2015 www.omakchronicle.com

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Confluence Healthat the Omak Clinic916 Koala, Omak

Optical Outfitters: 826-7919For eye exams: 826-1800

Canada officials seek comment on new park“

We agree with

the province

that this area

has enormous

tourism

potential...Doreen Olson

”


BREWSTER — TheWashington State Auditor’sOffice has scolded the BrewsterSchool District for its oversightof Associated Student Bodyaccounting and record keeping.

During the auditor’s reviewof 2013 and 2014 student bodyactivities and procedures, ittested 10 fundraisers for themiddle and high schools anddetermined documentation wasinadequate or missing.

In response, the district saidit has taken actions to correctthe concerns.

The Auditor’s Office saidsome or all required studentbody approvals were missingfrom seven fundraiser requestforms, expectations of eventrevenues were missing from sixrequest forms and there wereno reconciliation of receipts toexpected revenues for eightevents. The latter “greatlyreduced the district’s ability todetect any potential losses,” theauditor said.

Required signatures werenot always obtained on“management oversight of ASBcash handling” procedureforms, indicating inconsistentadministrative review andapproval of cash handlingprocedures.

The Auditor’s Office alsodetermined the student councildid not document meetingminutes adequately.

Worksheets used todocument minutes were notconsistently competed or used,minutes did not clearly definestudent body activity forapproval and did notconsistently identify sufficientdetails and amounts forexpenditures and fundraisers.

The student councilapproved open purchaseorders, but the minutes oftendid not indicate review andapproval of specificexpenditures made under thepurchase orders.

High school student councilminutes listed previousmeetings, but did not documentthat minutes from thosemeetings were reviewed and

approved, the auditor said.The auditor said the district

did not allocate the necessaryresources and oversight toestablish adequate internalcontrols over studentgovernment activities or toensure all activities werehandled in accordance withstate laws and regulations.

According to the report ofaudit finding, the districtshould improve internalcontrols, provide adequatetraining to staff and studentsinvolved in fundraisers;reconcile fundraiser receipts;prepare, retain and monitorstudent government records;retain all student councilminutes and document formalapproval of activities,purchases and prior minutes.

The district said it allocatedadditional resources andoversight, and implementedprotocols to make sure staffmembers are aware of and heldaccountable for associatedstudent body processes.

A monitoring system wasadded to reconcile fundraisingactivities, and maintainaccurate records of activitiesand minutes.

“In summary, we haveaddressed all of the concernslisted in this audit,” the districtsaid.

The Auditor’s Office said itwould review the newprocedures during the nextaudit.

Brewster schools

scolded by state

Auditor’s Office“

...We have

addressed all of

the concerns

listed in this

audit.Brewster School

District

”

NEW COP ON THE BLOCK


Republic department head and Sgt. Loren Culp poses with his K-9 dog, Isko, last week outside thepolice station. Former Police Chief Jan Lewis retired late last month.

The Chronicle

OKANOGAN — Electricityhas been restored to allcustomers affected by theOkanogan Complex fire.

Okanogan County PublicUtility District line crews andsupport personnel, along withline crews from Douglas andPend Oreille counties’ utilities,“worked tirelessly to make surepower is restored as fast and assafely as possible,” the utilitysaid.

Anyone still without poweris asked to contact the utility.

“The Okanogan PUD wouldlike to thank everyone for theirunwavering support of ourcrews and support staffthrough these devastating fires.We are proud to serve thecitizens of Okanogan County,”utility officials said.

As of early last week, theutility had confirmed that 785poles and 216 miles ofdistribution line were burned bythe Okanogan Complex fire, butit expected the numbers to rise.

Damage ranged from theScotch Creek near Conconullyto Tunk Creek, plus Pogue Flat,Salmon Creek, Spring Coulee,Pleasant Valley, the Sinlahekin,Pine Creek and some areas ofthe Colville Indian Reservationnear Omak.

On Aug. 21, fire knocked outthe Loup Loup transmissionline, leaving most of theMethow Valley withoutelectricity. Malott and PleasantValley service also went down.

Service was restored earlythe next morning.

The Loup Loup line outageaffected around 3,300 utilitydistrict customers and another3,200 customers of theOkanogan County ElectricCooperative. Electricity for theco-op is carried on the Loupline.

The Okanogan Complex firealso affected the utilitydistrict’s fiber optics network.

Nespelem Valley ElectricCooperative experiencedoutages and damage, with theOkanogan Valley portion of theColville Indian Reservation-based utility the hardest hit.

PUDrestoresareapower

• Classifieds• News of Record• Arts• Events

B SectionMarch 16, 2016 Send stories and scores to [email protected]

view

from

the

sidelinesAl Camp

AllstarsshineWaters, Garvin

win 3-point titles

Several area seniorscompeted in an all-state1B/2B/1B basketball gameSaturday at Eastmont HighSchool in East Wenatchee.

Selected to play wereChance Garvin and LachelleBearcub of Lake Roosevelt,Janice Waters of Omak,Micah Klemmeck andConnor Cooley of LibertyBell, Derek Robinson andAshton Steggall of Pateros,and Chance Williams, TimboTaylor, Josh Hammons andMarkie Miller of Brewster.

Waters and Garvin eachwon a 3-point shootingcontest.

Waters qualified for thefinals by hitting 11 treys in30 seconds, which was themost made among boys orgirls in the contest.

Williams qualified withnine 3-pointers in 30seconds.

The 19th annual eventwas hosted by the WenatcheeCentral Lions Club, whichalso had a dinner for playersand families.

Parker Landdeck, now atCashmere but formerly atBrewster, received a $500scholarship.

Emma Stockholm ofChelan received an all-staraward.

��Recent rains flooded

some of the older high schooltracks in the region whilenewer, rubberized tracks,which had water flow off,were available for practices.

One of those tracks withlots of water was atOkanogan High School. Thedistrict is asking voters April26 for approval of $6.5million in bonds to pay forimprovements to athleticfacilities, construction ofthree classrooms andaddition of a variety ofsecurity upgrades.

The track, just one ofseveral proposed upgrades, isused by physical educationclasses in high school andmiddle school as well asextracurricular sports teamsand community members.

Plans also call forrevamping the 62-year-oldfootball field behind the highschool, 344 S. Fifth Ave., soit can accommodate soccer inaddition to football.

��Saturday marked the end

of World Cup cross countryski races with the eight-stageTour of Canada wrapping upin Canmore, Alberta.

Olympian Sadie Bjornsenof Winthrop finished 11thoverall inthe Tour ofCanadaafterfinishing12th in the10K classicpursuitSaturday.She was17th in a10Kfreestylerace Friday and 16th in afreestyle race last Tuesday.

She continues to move upthe World Cup overallstandings – 98th in 2012,54th in 2013, 32nd in 204,23rd in 2015 and now she’sinside the Top 15 in theworld (second best on theU.S. team behind JessieDiggins in eighth in WorldCup standings).

Caitlin Gregg, who hasfamily ties to Winthrop,finished 34th in the tour.

Sadie’s brother and fellowOlympian Erik Bjornsenfinished 42nd overall on thetour and is ranked 97th inthe world.

He was 34th (Top 30 earnWorld Cup points) Tuesday.

U.S. skiers compete infour races at the USSANational Championship thisweek in Craftsbury, Vt.

See Sidelines B10

The Omak-OkanOgan COunTy ChrOniCle

S. Bjornsen

Snow’s gone, bring on soccer season


BREWSTER – Snow isabout gone and soccer teamsare hitting the pitch inpreparation for the firstmatches this week.

“The pitch will soon be greento provide us a great place toplay and some fun soccergames,” Brewster coach JennerSanon said. “This is Bears’soccer and the excitement hasfilled the air. A few practices ina couple of rainy afternoonscauses us to appreciate somehot, sunny days ahead.”

The Bears, already a tight-knit, tough team, welcome backCristian Talavera and EdgarNajera, who will make a bigdifference at midfield.

Luis Orozco, Isidro Najera,Alex Sanabria (goal keeper),Dario Orozco, Ivan Perea,Victor Aparicio, Andres Zepedaand Victor Chacon arereturning seniors.

“Our athletes have beenworking hard to have a greatand productive soccer season,”Sanon said. “Our seniors arededicated to provide leadershipplenty to their teammates eitherin class or on the field.”

Top defenders could beArtemio Pamatz, RicardoGallaga, Pedro Ortega, RodrigoGomez and Julian Medina.

“We have a lot of work yet todo, but we will be ready to facethe challenges ahead,” Sanonsaid.

Brady Busching, CarlosTalavera, Felix Nava, BryanLopez, Jurgen Conejo, Alex Pioalso are returning players.

’Dogs sport 38 playersOkanogan’s soccer team

includes 38 players, 22 of whomare returners and six startersfrom last year.

“We have been working hardand are very excited to get theseason started,” Okanogancoach Dean Klepec said. “Ithink that our league is going tobe very competitive, but I thinkright now Brewster would haveto be the team to beat. They

won the league last year anduntil someone shows that theycan beat them, they are still the

one to beat.“Behind Brewster, I think

that it could be any one of a

number of teams.”

Omak welcomes 22“We have 22 gentlemen out

as of now,” Omak coach ChrisWerner said. “We are returning12 athletes. All four of our all-leaguers are returning this year.I feel we have a good chance ofbeing more competitive thisseason. We are faster as a teamthis year.

“As long as the guys believeand put in the work, we shoulddo well.”

Mustangs return players“We are looking forward to

having a good season,”Bridgeport coach GabeGonzales said. “Our goal thisyear is to be in the Top 3 of theleague. We have about half ofour players from last yearreturning this year, with manynew players joining our team.We are working hard on skills,technique and differentpositions.”

No reports were receivedfrom Tonasket, Liberty Bell orOroville.


Okanogan’s Tony Klepec, right, battles Omak’s Jordan Clickduring the Bulldogs’ Jamboree on Saturday.

VEE IS FOR VICTORY


Penticton Vees forward Scott Conway puts a shot on goal that hit a defender’s stick, bounced off teammate Easton Brodzinski’s faceand made its way into the goal against the Vernon Vipers on Friday. Brodzinski was credited with the goal and Conway received anassist. The Vees closed out the best-of-seven series in five games and move on to face the West Kelowna Warriors in the BCHLInterior Division final. Game 1 is on Friday in Penticton. The Wenatchee Wild, which plays in the BCHL Mainland Division, closed outits series against the Langley Rivermen with a 3-1 win in game 5 on Friday. Dates for the Mainland final against the Chilliwack Chiefshave not been announced.

BaseballstartswithoutOmak


OMAK – Big news inbaseball: No Omak.

“Omak does not haveenough players to field abaseball team this season,”first-year coach Nathan Coveysaid last week.

The Pioneers could notmuster 12 eligible players,which led to the school shuttingdown the program, athleticdirector Nick Popelier said.

Omak had to quit late lastseason due to low numbers.

Popelier said instead of thatoccurring again this year, it wasdecided to not have theprogram.

Area teams will bescrambling to fill dates wherethey had planned to play thePioneers.

New coach at L.B.Mike Wilbur takes over at

Liberty Bell from Don Calvert,who retired last year.

“We have three seniors whoare going to be veryproductive,” Wilbur said.

“Jacob McMillan, who wasrecently a state finalist as awrestler, will be patrollingcenter field this year,” thecoach said. “His speed in theoutfield and on the bases willbe a game changer for us. He isswinging the bat with moreauthority than ever before.

See Baseball B2

Omak powers to firstBy Al CampThe Chronicle

ROYAL CITY – Omak HighSchool’s powerlifting teamswept aside the competitionSaturday.

Alicia Cervantes and DustinThorp each won a Best Lifteraward to help lead the girls andboys to first-place team awards.

“The Best Lifter award isdetermined by a ratio ofstrength to body weight,” Omakcoach Jordan Lesamiz said.

Omak lifters will host thefirst-ever meet in Omak onApril 16.

“This meet will be a statequalifier, and will be a greatopportunity to introduce thecommunity to our sport,”Lesamiz said. “The communitysupport for the meet has beenexceptional. Local businesseshave made large donations tocover meet expenses. The list ofvolunteers is growing daily.

“Because of the relative

infancy of the sport ofpowerlifting east of theCascades, it will most likely be asmall meet. However, it is ourgoal to increase the meet’sparticipation each year.”

Omak sent 12 girls and 12boys to Royal City for the firstmeet of the season, whereteams from all classificationscompete against each other.

“The girls team was lead byreturning lifters Lexi Dawson,Alicia Cervantes, OliviaKnowles, Skylar Stalder andAlexi Mendoza,” Lesamiz said.“The girls’ team had severalstand-out performances led byAlexi Mendoza.”

Mendoza lifted 30 poundsmore than last year’s champion.

“The boys’ team was led byreturning lifters Dallas Joe,Ryan Nilles, Larry Allen andDustin Thorp,” Lesamiz said.“Ryan Nilles, and Dustin Thorpheld the two highest three-lifttotals in the meet. Dallas Joe’stotal exceeded the nearestcompetitor by over 200pounds.”

Thorp, en route to the bestlifter title, finished with a total

of 1,465 pounds in three lifts.“Four-year competitor Larry

Allen capped off thecompetition with a 510-pounddead lift,” Lesamiz said of thepersonal record, which was oneof the highest in the meet at anyweight class.

Boys132 – 1, Dallas Joe, 970 pounds165 – 3, Anthony Rankin, 1,010. 4,

Danny Gomez, 1,005. 6, NavarroNanpuya.

181 – 2, Larry Allen, 1,135. GabeGarcia, 1,130.

220 – 1, Dustin Thorp, 1,465242 – 5, James Avila, 975.Unlimited – 1, Ryan Nilles, 1,435.

4, Solomon Brooks, 1,215. 5, GageCoppock, 830.

Girls101 – 1, Alicia Cervantes, 600.114 – 1, Lexi Dawson, 605132 – 5, Lexi Pfitzer, 535148 – 1, Skylar Stalder, 720. 2,

Amanda Knowles, 620. 5, KayleeCombs, 465.

181 – 1, Olivia Knowles, 785.198 – 2, Olivia Hays, 690. 3,

Juanita Desjardins, 640. 4, NashoniBoyd, 600.

Unlimited – 1, Alexi Mendoza, 955.

Jamboree kicks off

2016 schedule

Cervantes, Thorp

named best lifters

Maggie Cervantes/Special to The Chronicle

Alicia Cervantes, left, and Dustin Thorp were named Best Liftersat a meet in Royal City on Saturday.

Brewster is team to

beat in 2B league

www.omakchronicle.com The Chronicle • March 9, 2016 • Community• A7

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20 N Main, Omak 509-846-4893509-846-3152

Behavioral Health Counseling Children and Family Counseling.

Experienced counselor for people of all ages.

Licensed Mental Health Counseling.

Extensive Training PTSD.

Omak district names excellence winners

OMAK — The Omak School District has named middle schoolteacher Alicia O’Dell and high school librarianTiarha Agee its 2016 Excellence Award winners.

O’Dell, a seventh grade English teacher, hasbeen with the district seven years.

“She is a true leader who cares about othersand shows that with actions and not just words,”said middle school Principal Kathy Miller.

O’Dell is involved in building leadershipteams, advises the associated student body,provides comments for facilities studies, helpswith school events and belongs to the BoosterClub. She works to improve the schoolatmosphere, including being part of a cosmeticmakeover the school received last summer.

“Her positive attitude shows in many ways,”Miller said. “She truly wants what is best for ourstudents.”

Agee is both librarian and media-technologysecretary for the high school. She also managesall facets of the new Chromebooks this year andhas started to redesign the library to make thespace more user-friendly and technology-centered.

She created and advises a book club forstudents.

“Tiarha is a source of knowledge and support for all staffmembers,” said high school Principal David Kirk.

The top certified and classified staff members were chosen bytheir peers at each district building. From there, theadministration selected the top two.

They and their counterparts from other districts in the countywill be honored during a banquet in May.

Building-level winners will be announced on the last day ofschool, June 15.

Eight vie for Miss East Cascades title

WENATCHEE – Eight contestants will vie for the title of MissEast Cascades during a pageant at 7 p.m. March 12 in NumericaPerforming Arts Center, 123 N. Wenatchee Ave.

Miss East Casades represents Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas andOkanogan counties. The program is a feeder to the MissWashington contest and ultimately to the Miss America pageant.

Contestants will compete for scholarships and a tuition waiverfrom Wenatchee Valley College, plus a spot in the MissWashington contest.

Contestants are Kimberly Ramirez, Wenatchee Valley College;Brianna Eddy, Central Washington University; Morgan De Korte,Wenatchee Valley College; Kyelee Bitterman, Wenatchee HighSchool; Shree Shaini, University of Washington; Casey Garrison,Wenatchee High School and Wenatchee Valley College; EmmaPhilbrook, Whitman College, and Rebecca Thomson, graduate ofCentral Washington University.

Admission will be charged.

Upward Bound students give back

TONASKET — Washington State University Upward Boundstudents from Omak and Okanogan high schools gave back to thecommunity during National TRiO Day on Feb. 28.

They prepared and served food, interacted with guests andhelped clean up at the monthly hot meal provided by theTonasket Community Cultural Center.

Students served 20-30 guests. Several students commented onthe friendliness of both the guests and volunteers, noting peoplethanked them and one woman said she was glad to have a hotmeal, organizers said.

TRiO is a national organization funded by the U.S. Departmentof Education to support low-income students and students whowill be the first in their family to attend college in achieving theireducational goals.

Best for Women Fair is March 19

OKANOGAN – The annual Best for Women Fair will offer avariety of booths and topics of interest to women, plus a spud andsalad luncheon.

The Okanogan Valley Soroptimist Club event will be from 10a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 19, in the Okanogan High Schoolcafetorium, 244 S. Fifth Ave. Admission is free, but there is acharge for lunch.

Goody bags will go to the first 200 people through the doors.Offerings include preventive care information, spa services,

jewelry and personal care products, self-defense products, prizedrawings, a silent auction and more.

Emergency animal shelter training offered

OKANOGAN – Volunteers are sought to take emergencyanimal shelter training offered by the Okanogan County Sheriff’sOffice and Department of Emergency Management.

The disaster animal shelter management course will be offeredat 5 p.m. April 2 in the sheriff’s office conference room, 123 N.Fifth Ave.

The training is geared toward setting up and operating anemergency animal shelter.

Registration is sought by March 25 by contacting Deputy DaveYarnell at [email protected] or Glenda Beauregard at509-422-7206 or [email protected].

Six local girls among semifinalists

OKANOGAN – Six teenagers from Okanogan and Ferrycounties will compete Saturday in the semifinals of theWashington State Nashville Country Star competition.

The competition will take place at 6 p.m. at Okanogan HighSchool, 244 Fifth Ave. S.

Local competitors include Melanie Christensen, Tonasket; PieTodd, Oroville; Jenna Buscko, Omak; Trinity Wood, Okanogan;Jaimee Keenan, Curlew; Sarah Bradshaw, Almira/Coulee-Hartline.

Top place vocalists will advance to the finals, which will takeplace March 26 at the Omak Performing Arts Center, 14 S. CedarSt., Omak.

Dinner, auction benefit queen

OMAK — A dinner and auction to benefitMiss Omak Stampede Emily Stevens will be at 5p.m. March 19 at the Omak Elks Lodge, 120 S.Ash St.

Dinner will be at 6 p.m., with a live auctionafterward. Proceeds go toward her travel costs.

—The Chronicle

O’Dell

Agee

Stevens

TAKING AIM


Jeanette Maakad, Tonasket, tosses a dart at a target elk during the annual dinner and auction for the North Cascades chapter of theRocky Mountain Elk Foundation on Saturday. The event raised $103,200 for conserving elk habitat in Washington state. Attendeesbought raffle tickets, participated in live and silent auctions and played games, including darts, for raffle entries. The final tally doesnot include a special surprise auction item that raised $1,100 for the event’s caterer, Twisp River Pub. Organizers added the auctionitem, donated by committee member Rodney Rumbolz, at the last minute to help the owners of the pub that was severely damagedby a Feb. 29 fire.

HEADED TO STATE

Cupp named as acycling all-star

DURANGO, Colo. — CodyCupp, an accounting majorfrom Twisp, was named to USACycling’s Collegiate AcademicAll-Stars spring 2015 class.

Cupp attends Fort LewisCollege in Durango.

The spring 2015 class of ridersis composed of 79 riders from 15different schools; 16 riders arefrom Fort Lewis College.

All collegiate cyclists face thechallenge of balancing schoolwhile racing, and the AcademicAll-Star program seeks torecognize those who go aboveand beyond by achieving topgrades in the classroom whilealso competing at USA CyclingCollegiate NationalChampionships, the college said.

In order to achieveAcademic All-Star status, theathlete must have attended aUSA Collegiate CyclingNational Championship in thespecified term for that honor

and maintained a 3.5 or highergrade point average for thesemester or term during whichthe nationals event falls.

The athletes’ names arepublished by USA Cycling inJanuary and June of each year.

The Fort Lewis Collegecycling team was ranked theNo. 2 Division I team in thecountry after the 2014-15academic year. Standings for2015-16 will be calculated afterRoad Nationals in May.

Martin honoredby Ohio school

COLUMBUS, Ohio. —Elizabeth Martin, Omak, hasbeen named to the autumnsemester dean’s list atColumbus State CommunityCollege.

To be listed, a student mustachieve a grade point average of3.5 or higher and be enrolledfor six or more credit hours ofclasses.

—The Chronicle

Okanogan High School’sKnowledge Bowl team willcompete in the statetournament March 19 atArlington High School. Teammembers are (from left) BlakeChesledon, MatthewLaDouceur, Louis Morrison-Nelson, Mason Duke, ErikBaker and Zach Chilcote.Liberty Bell High Schoolplaced first in the regionaltournament is sending a teamto the state. Team membersare Rowan Post, CoryDiamond, Sebastian Hogness,Skyler Fitzmaurice, DannyRodriguez and Nate Hirsch.Jeff Cheeseman/Okanogan High School

Academic honors

From Okanogan CountyAuditor’s Office

Liliana Garcia Sanchez, 24,and Juan Carlos OliveraMendoza, 24, both Brewster.

Amanda Nichole Reece, 19,

and Michael Brian Broussard,29, both Winthrop.

Mirna Gordillo Hernandez,35, and Fidel Omar Castro Ruiz,34, both Bridgeport.

—The Chronicle

Marriage Licenses

Tigers compete at Tri-StateTonasket and Republic were

scheduled to compete Fridayand Saturday at Tri-State atNorth Idaho College in Coeurd’Alene, Idaho.

“Tri-State was as tough asever,” Tonasket coach DaveMitchell said. “All of our guyswon at least one match, whichwas great.”

The lone Tiger to place in thetop eight was Trevor Peterson,who took sixth at 132 pounds.

Other Tigers at Tri-State

included Vance Frazier at 126,Rade Pilkinton at 138, JorgeJuarez at 145, Zach Lofthus at170 and Isaac Gomez at 182.

Omak polished offOkanogan, 60-18, in a non-league dual meet Tuesday atOmak.

There were only sevenmatches, all won by pins, due tothe Bulldogs not being at fullstrength while awaiting footballplayers to get in enoughpractices.

Omak winners included

Dallas Joe at 126; AnthonyRankin at 160; Tyson Sundustat 170; Gabe Barcia at 182; andNate Bigwolf at 220.

Okanogan winners included

Dwight Belgarde at 152 and JebMintzer at 195.

Omak’s Susie Bevan-Churchwon two exhibition matches byfall.

defeated Oroville ScottyHartvig, who had beaten himthe last two matches) and AlexGarcia at 285.

Javier Rosario was second at106.

Taking second for Okanoganwere Dwight Belgarde (152),Jalen Moses (160) and JulianCate (182).

Third place Bulldogs went toRiley Prescott (145) and TonyKlepec (160). Fourth went toBrenden Warren and JoeMintzer.

Liberty Bell and Tonasketsent many of their bestgrapplers to Tri-State at NorthIdaho College in Coeur d’Alene,Idaho, on Friday and Saturday.

Many area wrestling teamswill next compete Tuesday,Dec. 29, at the PowerhouseTournament at Lake RooseveltHigh School before going to theJeremiah SchmunkTournament on Jan. 2 atWarden.

Team scores: 1, Okanogan184. 2, Kittitas 177.5. 3,Tonasket 127. 4, Brewster 79. 5,Kettle Falls, 70. 6, WCK 70. 7,Selkirk 58. 8, Oroville 55. 9,Liberty Bell 38. 10, Republic 36.11, Eastmont II 35. 12, Pateros29. 13, ACH 29.

106 - Bretz, Ton.; Rosario,Brew.; Vazquez, Oro.; Higgs,ACH.

113 - Issakides, Sel.; Rios-Lopez, Kit.; Walton, Ton.;Zilenski, ACH.

120 - Garcia, Brew.; Volking,K.F.; Edgar, Kit.; Warren, Ok.

126 - Espino, Pat.; Tesch,WCK; Hilderbrandt, Rep.;Freese, Ton.

132 - T. Freese, Ton.; White,L.B.; Magruder, Kit.; Rounds,Oro.

138 – Super, Ok.; James,K.F.; Ott, Kit.; Wood, Ton.

145 - Chantry, Sel.; Prescott,Ok.; Rimestad, Ton.

152 - Peasly, WCK.;Belgrade, Ok.; Flesher, K.F.;Gleason, Kit.

160 - Wallace, Kit.; Moses,Ok.; Klepec, Ok.; Wheaton,Rep.

170 - Eastridge, Ok.;Johnson, L.B.; Hyde, Kit.;Baugher, Ton.

182 - Peebles, Kit.; Cates,Ok.; Olsen, WCK.; Kalma, Ton.

195 - Varelas, Brew.;Hartvig, Oro.; Lael, Kit.;Mintzer, Ok.

220 - Jessie Weitman, Ok.;Jesus Cervantes, Est.; GarretThomas, Ton.

285 - Alexander Garcia,Brew.; Connor Flom, Est.; IanVanatta, Ton.

Omak finishes secondThe Omak High School

wrestling team finished secondat the Cashmere Invitational onSaturday.

The Pioneers finished with

171 points, trailing onlyChewelah at 238.5.

Omak had five finalists withfour winning titles.

Taking first were Dallas Joeat 126, Mathew Pakootas at 132,Navarro Nanpuya at 138 andWalker Osborne at 285.

“Walker Osborne, Dallas Joeand Navarro Nanpuya allpicked up their first high schoolwrestling gold medals at theinvitational,” Omak coachDewy Ives said. “All threewrestlers had greatperformances to win theirweight classes.”

Danny Gomez was second at145, picking up his first highschool medal.

Taking third were TysonSundust at 160, BrandenNewman at 152 and GabeGarcia at 170.

“Branden Newman wonthree matches and droppedone,” Ives said. “He missedmost of last season due to aconcussion. It was great to seehim start to get back to his oldform. Branden is a captain forthe Pioneers and is getting backon track.”

Others Omak wrestlersincluded Brandon Cate fourthat 195; Nathaniel Bigwolf fifthat 193; and Nick Buckner sixthat 182.

“Our team is getting bettereach week,” Ives said.

Omak is at the PowerhouseTournament on Dec. 29 at LakeRoosevelt High School.

The Pioneer girls willcompete the same day atHanford with assistant coachTim Caryl leading them.

“Our girls are lookingforward to the Hanfordtournament and expect to bringhome a couple medals,” Ivessaid.

Omak also is preparing tohost the 1A District 6tournament Feb. 6.

The Chronicle

CURLEW – A generousdonation of rock scaling barsfrom Kinross Gold Corp.allowed members of the FerryCounty Rail CorridorCommittee and the FerryCounty Rail Trail Partners tobegin removing loose rock fromthe trail tunnel.

Rock scaling is the removalof loose rock, in this case from

the sides of the tunnel, usingthe special bars and specifictechniques, trail partnersPresident Bobby Whittakersaid.

“This process is done byremoving loose surface materialpresenting a rock fall hazard byusing the long scaling bars,” hesaid.

Retired mining industryemployees Ron Krausse andKeith Bell scaled off loose rock,letting it fall to the tunnel floor.

“Scaling is a cost-effectivemethod of rock fall mitigationand will make the tunnel safefor all users of the rail trail,”said Bell.

Volunteers broke up thelarger rocks with sledge-hammers, then loadedeverything into wheelbarrowsfor removal.

Krausse has seen a lot ofunderground mines after 37years of mine work and notedthe condition of the rock on thewalls and roof of the tunnelappears very stable.

“This will be the start of ayear-long probabilistic study toevaluate the relative risk of rockfall hazard to future users of thetunnel,” Bell said. “Wecontacted Paul Godlewski, thevice president of the tunnelingdivision of Shannon and

Wilson, Seattle, who provided astudy they used to evaluate thetrails of the Hiawatha Trail inIdaho.

“Based on the fact that verylittle material has come down inthe eight years since the railsand ties were pulled, weanticipate that our study willshow that the tunnel is safe touse.”

The two groups continueto make progress improvingthe rail trail by usingdonations from localcompanies, federal and stategrants, and many hours oflabor by enthusiasticsupporters, Whittaker said.

B4 • Sports • The Chronicle • Dec. 23, 2015 www.omakchronicle.com

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Clip entry form and include with each photoBobby Whittaker/Special to The Chronicle

Ron Krausse (from left), Keith Bell, Bobby Whittaker, Steve Anthes and archeologist Madilane Perry work on the tunnel.

Loose tunnel rocks removedKinross loans

scaling equipment

for rail trail project


Dallas Joe of Omak attempts to pin Paul Luther of Okanogan during a non-league match Tuesday on the Pioneers mat.


Brian Chavez, Pateros, works to get away from Tyson Coleman, Liberty Bell at Oroville.

Wrestling from B1


CONCONULLY – All thatwhite stuff on the mountainsand hillsides translates to adecent amount of snowpack forearly in the winter.

“We are sitting in prettygood shape with statewidesnowpack at 130 percent ofnormal,” said Scott Pattee,water supply specialist with theWashington Snow Survey Officeof the U.S. Natural ResourcesConservation Service.

The upper Columbia Riverbasin is in particularly goodshape, at 133 percent of normalas of Dec. 31.

SNOTEL measuring sites atSalmon Meadows, aboveConconully, and MosesMountain, east of Omak,showed 117 percent and 119percent of normal snowpack,respectively, as of Dec. 31.Hart’s Pass, northwest ofMazama, is the best in thebasin, at 161 percent, he said.

Snowpack measurementscalculate the amount of watercontained in the snow.

The healthy snowpackprompted the state Department

of Ecology to let the statewidedrought declaration expire Dec.31.

Gov. Jay Inslee’s ExecutiveWater Emergency Committeerecommended the declarationnot be extended, althoughanother declaration could beconsidered next year if watersupply conditions change.

Heavy rains and showeliminated the drought inwestern Washington, anddrought conditions are rapidlydisappearing in easternWashington, according to theU.S. Drought Monitor.

“The relentless flow ofmoisture has benefited thedrought-stricken areas of theNorthwest and West Coast,”according to the DroughtMonitor website on Dec. 31. “InWashington the past seven dayshas seen precipitation 150-400percent above normal. Out to 14days, the above normalprecipitation is morewidespread, covering the entirewestern half of the state.”

Precipitation totals are atleast 150 percent of normal inthe past 30, 60 and 90 days, theDrought Monitor said.

“The temperatures are coldenough to support snow at thehigher elevations. Snow waterequivalents are ranging fromnear normal to greater than200 percent of normal,” the sitesaid.

For a state droughtemergency, water supplies mustbe below 75 percent of normaland water users must sufferhardships from water shortageor be expected to sufferhardships, Ecology officials said.

During 2015, Ecology andother state agencies spent $5.6million on the droughtresponse.

The state did caution that

forecasts for January throughMarch 2016 call for warmer,drier conditions as the result ofEl Nino weather patterns. TheWater Supply AdvisoryCommittee will continue tomonitor water supply.

State climatology officialsexpected 2015 to be thewarmest on record forWashington state. Records havebeen kept since 1895.

Chronicle/Page 4

Giant killers


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Katrina’sThirty years ofhelping make

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World/Page C1



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Polar bears take adip in cold, cold

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World/Page A1

Brrrr...Okanogan ends Colton

girls’ 79-gamewin streak

Hundredsarrestedin DUIholidayemphasis

The Chronicle

OKANOGAN – Ramped-up state and local drivingunder the influence patrolemphasis led to more than1,200 arrests statewide sinceThanksgiving.

The state Traffic SafetyCommission is funding local

emphasispatrols, inwhichtroopers fromtheWashingtonState Patrolworkedovertime toprovide extracoverage atthe hourswhen most

DUI-related collisions occur.Since the emphasis patrols

began Nov. 25, troopers made1,205 DUI arrests statewide, asof Dec. 30.

Locally, the Brewster, EastWenatchee and Wenatcheepolice departments, along withthe Chelan, Douglas andOkanogan County sheriff’soffices and the WashingtonState Patrol teamed up andparticipated in the extra patrolsthrough New Year’s.

During December, sevenpeople were booked into theOkanogan County Jail onsuspicion of driving under theinfluence, according to jailrecords.

One was for felony DUI andone was an 18-year-old chargedwith DUI by a minor.

Support for emphasispatrols also came from theChelan-Douglas Target ZeroTraffic Safety Task Force.

“Every impaired driver wearrest and take off the road is apotential life saved,” patrolChief John Batiste said.“Impaired driving accidents arepreventable; the choice beginsbefore you get behind the wheelof a vehicle.”

In the emphasis patrols,officers were guided by datathat helps predict the areaswhere DUIs are most likely tocause a tragedy.

Although enforcement is akey component of changingdriver behavior, seatbelts andother occupant protectiondevices are saving lives as well,the patrol said.

Being a sober driverprotects a driver from him- orherself; buckling up helpsprotect a driver from theirresponsible other driver, thepatrol said.

Also, with winter weatherconditions this holidayweekend, drivers were asked toslow down and keep adequatestopping distances.

Anyone who sees animpaired or dangerous driver isencouraged to call 911 andreport the incidentimmediately.

“We want everyone to enjoythemselves,” Okanogan CountySheriff Frank Rogers said.“People need to also rememberthat is also includes smokingmarijuana and prescriptiondrug use.”

Special patrols ran

from Thanksgiving

through New Year’s

Teckactionamong50-plusin state

The Chronicle

SEATTLE — Anenforcement action againstCanadian mining companyTeck Metals Ltd./TeckAmerican Inc. was among morethan 50 environmentalcompliance and enforcementactions completed by the U.S.Environmental ProtectionAgency’s Region 10 from July 1through Sept. 30.

EPA announced the actionsrecently.

In August, Teck agreed toclean up 15 lead-contaminatedproperties in Northport.

Under terms of theagreement, Teck will excavateand replace soil on 14residential properties and oneColville tribal allotment withEPA oversight. The cleanupaction will addresscontamination in the mostfrequented areas of theseproperties to reduce thepossibility of exposure to toxicsubstances.

The cleanup action wasexpected finish by the end ofOctober. Three other Colvilletribal allotments that qualifyfor cleanup will be addressedby Teck at a later date.

The cleanups were triggeredby two studies, first by the stateDepartment of Ecology in 2012and a second performed byEPA in 2014.

The 2012 Ecology studyfound elevated levels of lead,arsenic and cadmium in soilswithin two miles of the U.S.-Canada border. In 2014, EPAconducted soil sampling at 74properties in the Northportarea, finding very high lead

See Teck Page 2

FRIGID FIRST

Snowpack well above normal — so far

Valley under stagnant air alert

The Chronicle

OKANOGAN – OkanoganValley has been seated undera stagnant air advisory for thepast five days, and may likelybe extended until mid-week.

“Air pollutions will have atendency to increaseespecially during theovernight and early morninghours when temperatureinversions are often thestrongest,” meteorologists

from the Spokane office of theNational Weather Servicesaid. “It may be the middle ofnext week before we see anysignificant increase in ourwinds.”

The advisory remains ineffect until 10 a.m. tomorrow.

The service remindspeople with respiratoryillness to follow theirphysician’s advice for dealingwith high levels of airpollution.

On Tuesday, the stateDepartment of Ecologyannounced that a stage oneburn ban for Okanogan,Ferry, Douglas andsurrounding counties until 10a.m. tomorrow, at which time

the ban could be called off orextended.

Under a stage one burnban, all outdoor burning isprohibited includingresidential, agricultural andforest burning.

Use of uncertified woodstoves, fireplaces, inserts andother uncertified wood-burning devices is prohibited,unless they are the home’sonly adequate source of heat.

Certified wood stoves,pellet stoves and othercertified wood-burningdevices are allowed.

Kittitas, Chelan, Stevens,Pend Oreille, Asotin andWalla Walla counties are alsounder the ban.

Hart’s Pass site

shows 161 percent

of normal pack

State could extend

pollution alert

until mid-week

Batiste

68 1 3 2 4 2 0 0 0 2

Year 106 No. 66


EPA announces

quarterly actions

in Northwest region


Several hear ty soulsbraved incredibly icy

waters and coldtemperatures — inshor ts — and doveinto the ColumbiaRiver at the boat

launch in Pateros onFriday. GeorgePearson, 62, of

Pateros was the onlypar t ic ipant spor t inga personal f loatat iondevice at the secondannual Pateros Polar

Plunge .

chris thew portfolio

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