Okanogan County, WA

SPOKANE – A second resentencing has been ordered for convicted murderer Shalin Alltus to correct a mistake in recording discretionary costs levied against her at the initial resentencing. The state Court of Appeals for Division 3 ordered the resentencing in an unpublished decision filed June 15. In October 2014 Alltus,...

CONCONULLY – Fifth-graders from Tonasket Elementary School recently visited the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area to learn about state-endangered sharp-tailed grouse. North Central Educational Service District, with funding support from ClimeTime Proviso, joined with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the school to introduce the 63 students to the wildlife area in April.

Last week I wrote about summer camps in the valley being mostly full and I neglected to include the valley’s oldest summer camp, Methow River Camp, which turns 31 years old this year. You may not have been aware that the camp was even running, since it filled within an hour on Feb. 1, when it opened for registration.

OLYMPIA – Trips to Chopaka Lake will take longer than usual this summer because the state Department of Natural Resources has closed nine miles of Chopaka Road for three months. The closure began June 17. “The same route will be closed as it was in May and will be clearly...

A section of a well-used Twisp River trail that crosses private property in the wilderness has been closed by the property owner. Hikers on the South Creek Trail, which leads to the Cascade crest and the isolated community of Stehekin, are encountering a rope across the trail and “no trespassing” signs where it traverses the private land.

With already dry conditions and a forecast of triple-digit temperatures this week, the Okanogan County commissioners have imposed a ban on burning yard waste and other vegetation on all private and county land. The commissioners enacted the ban on Monday (June 21) after consultation with the county’s fire chiefs and emergency manager.

Washington state will completely reopen for business and recreation in just one week, on June 30 – or even sooner, if 70% of people 16 and older are vaccinated. Most places – restaurants, bars and grocery stores – will be fully open. “People who are vaccinated can go along with their regular lives, for the most part,” the Washington Department of Health (DOH) said.

Fireworks sales for the July 4th holiday are scheduled to begin June 28 in Washington and last until July 5, the state Fire Marshal’s Office announced — but it is not legal for an individual to discharge them in much of the Methow. Okanogan County has already banned the discharge...

OMAK – A recording of Jessica Heinlen performing Liebestraum No. 3, by Franz Liszt, will be posted online to recognize her as the Okanogan County chapter of Washington State Music Teachers Association representative for the state conference honors recital. Heinlen, 16, Tonasket, was chosen in March during the music teachers’...

OKANOGAN – Barrel racers spent Saturday evening, June 12, racing the cloverleaf pattern during the Barrel Racing Boogie at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds. “Saturday night was picture perfect” for the Northwest National Barrel Horse Association race, said spokeswoman Rhonda Colbert. “We are so fortunate to have such great ground now in the new and improved Okanogan County Fairgrounds. A lot of people were responsible for improving the facility. It is truly an asset for Okanogan County.”

OKANOGAN - Work should begin in mid-July on rebuilding the Okanogan-Brewster steel transmission line damaged in last September’s Cold Springs Fire. Okanogan County Public Utility District commissioners June 14 approved a $3.6 million contract with Michels Power for the work. A large portion of the approximately 20-mile transmission line was...

OLYMPIA — A federal judge has partially dismissed defenses of Crown Resources and Kinross Gold in a water pollution lawsuit brought by Okanogan Highlands Alliance and the state over closure of the Buckhorn Mine near Chesaw. In the suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the eastern district of Washington,...

OKANOGAN – Several recent Okanogan County graduates plan to continue athletic competition in college. Okanogan leads the pack with three seniors planning college athletic careers. Lexi LaDoux earned a cross country and track scholarship to Montana Technological University in Butte. Jenna Radke plans to play softball at Whitworth University in...

John T. Fancher of Quincy, Wash., better known as "Jick", passed away June 14, 2021, one month shy of 92 years old. He was born in Tonasket, Wash., July 14, 1929 to Robert and Wanda Fancher. He was raised on the family cattle ranch known as the Pilot Wheel Ranch. In 1945, at the age of 16, Jick and 10 other young men from the Tonasket/Oroville area were asked to go on a trip to Poland on a Victory ship with a load of 700 bred draft mares to help the Polish people recover from the devastation of World War II.

TONASKET – Local apple and pear growers are seeing their fruit stay fresher longer, thanks to major efficiency upgrades at the Blue Bird warehouse. The facility recently earned an $80,000 check for energy savings through the Okanogan County Public Utility District. Until last year, old refrigeration and scrubber equipment -...

An additional 25 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in local towns in just over a month. There have been 48 COVID-19 cases in the Grand Coulee and Electric City areas of Grant County since the pandemic began over a year ago, with nine of those cases coming in the past month.

OKANOGAN – The Spokane office of the National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch for nearly all of Washington state, calling dangerous and potential record-breaking heat through at least Tuesday. “Dangerously hot conditions Friday through at least Tuesday,” meteorologists said in a statement Wednesday. “Triple digit heat will...

OMAK, WA --- If you are interested in, or have experience with, community behavioral health services, Okanogan Behavioral HealthCare (OBHC) is seeking volunteers to serve on its community advisory committee. Committee members will meet to share their input and ideas to help maximize the quality and availability of behavioral health...

Some state pandemic relief grants are coming to local art and cultural organizations. The Nonprofit Community Relief grant program was designed to provide critical funding to nonprofit arts, cultural, science, and heritage organizations; neighborhood associations; sports and recreation nonprofit groups; and veterans service organizations impacted by the pandemic. More than 700 non-profits in 34 counties are getting more than $10.5 million dollars through ArtsFund and the Washington State Department of Commerce.