Al Camp photographer of the year BNC 2023

Okanogan’s team total of 89. Teammate Afton Wood had three second-place finishes and a third in running events.

In 1A, Omak sent two girls – Alyssa Davis and Sedeaju’ Michel – to the meet.

For the boys, Tonasket finished 11th, Okanogan was 15th and Liberty Bell was 19th.

The Brewster High School baseball team takes first in 2B baseball with two come-frombehind wins at the state tournament at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex. Almira/Coulee-Hartline tied for third in 1B with DeSales. Okanogan nearly qualified for state play, but bowed out after losing to Jenkins (Chewelah) in the last round of regionals.

7

Oroville High School boys finish fifth at state golf, with Will Moreau tying for 12th individually. He was the highest-placing Central Washington 2B League competitor. Teammate Kane Booker placed 24th while Finn Kenner failed to make the second-day cut.

Okanogan sent Ryley Moore and Darton Wood and Lake Roosevelt was represented by Terek Bush.

For 1B/2B girls, Oroville’s Aurora Kenner also made state.

In the 1A boys’ tournament May 24-25 at Incian Canyon Golf Course, Spokane, Blake Sam was Omak’s highest-placing finisher in 31st place. Brady Tonasket and Josaya Sloan also competed.

Omak also sent Coley Christoph, who tied for 29th, and Halley Richter and Kinsey Christoph.

8 Brewster High School boys

finish second to Liberty (Spangle) in state 2B basketball, while the Okanogan girls finish third. Also participating at state were Lake Roosevelt boys and girls, and ACH boys. Liberty (Spangle) topped Brewster, 64-55, in the finale March 5 in the Spokane Arena. The Bears led for the first two quarters, but the Lancers poured in the buckets during the final two periods. Brewster won the title in 2020. There was no state

Brewster placed third in 2019; there were no state championships in 2020 or 2021 because of COVID-19.

The Bears’ last championship was in 2006 during a 57-game win streak, including a 2005 title finish. Coach Todd Phillips has experience at state as a player himself – playing on the second-place Brewster team in 2000 (Okanogan won), the championship team in 2001 (against Okanogan) and on the third-place team in 2002.

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY

AL CAMP | Special to The Chronicle

Johnny Swartsel (32), Okanogan, runs through Tonasket defenders and a referee.

Sockeye fishing expands as returns top expectations

OLYMPIA — Sockeye salmon are returning to the Columbia River in numbers well above the preseason forecast, so the state is expanding fishing opportunities.

Sockeye fishing will open from the Astoria-Megler bridge on the lower river to the Highway 395 bridge at Pasco, and daily limits increased from Pasco to Chief Joseph Dam near Bridgeport on the upper river, said the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The U.S. v. Oregon Technical Advisory Committee, which forecasts and monitors salmon and steelhead returns to the Columbia, last week upgraded the 2022 forecast for sockeye returning to the river to 426,000, more than double the preseason forecast of 198,000 fish.

Through June 29, the preliminary total sockeye count at Bonneville Dam was 343,953 fish, the highest count to date in the last 10 years.

As a result, fishery managers determined that sockeye retention could open starting July 1 on many portions of the lower river, and limits could increase in other sections previously scheduled for sockeye retention.

Sockeye fishing also opened July 1 on the Okanogan and Similkameen rivers.

Following a one-week opening in mid-June, further allocation is available given the recently updated summer Chinook return expectation of 66,800 to the Columbia River mouth. Anglers will also have an additional 13 days to fish for summer Chinook below Bonneville Dam.

More information on the rules for specific section of river is on the department’s emergency rules website. Permanent regulations for the river are in the Washington sport fishing rules pamphlet.

With the improved sockeye run, Lake Wenatchee is likely to have surplus fish for harvest later in the summer, the department said.

Bruton earns high score in pinochle

OKANOGAN — Bill Bruton earned the highest score in pinochle play June 30 at the Okanogan Eagles Club.

He scored 9,080 points. Others with high scores were Debbie Nuehring, 7,530; Marilyn Schieffer, 7,510, and Tim Norman, 7,420. Partners with 300 pinochle were Bruton and Jennifer Shaul; Bruton and Gail Norman; Bruton and Tim Norman; Bruton and Pat Byrd; Ken Chaplin and Schieffer; Nuehring and Mike Serles; Nuehring and Joe Shaul, and George Dunckel and Diana Sauceda. Byrd & Roy Gleason also had a round robin.

Summer swim meet season begins

Coco Cronin (left, foreground), Brewster, takes a breath during the 50-meter freestyle event for girls ages 13-14 at a dual meet June 30 in Okanogan between the Okanogan Bullfrogs and Brewster Bearacudas. Emily Alan (below), Okanogan, competes in a heat of the 50-meter girls’ 11-12 freestyle event.

Youth swim teams from Brewster, Okanogan, Omak and the Methow Valley began their competitive season last week. Competitions, usually on Tuesdays and Saturdays, run through July.

Ironman tourney draws 27 teams

By DEE CAMP The Chronicle

OROVILLE — More than two dozen teams competed in the VIP Insurance Ironman Tournament on June 26 at the Oroville Golf Club.

The event drew 27 two-person teams to play 27 holes – nine holes each of best ball, Chapman and scramble formats, said club Manager Bruce Perisho.

Flight winners were:

Flight 1

Gross — C. Boyer-J. Thornton, 100; B. Glover-C. Field, 110.

Net — M. Bordner-B. Lewis, 98.6; P. Ash-T. Weeks, 101.9; B. Castro-B. McCormack, 102.7.

Flight 2

Gross — C. Morrison-K. Morrison, 116; J. Click-L. Swaren, 119.

Net — C. Hughes-J. Spieker, 102.1; J. Heskett-R. Rounds, 103.5; A. Allie-C. Mathews, 104.7; B. Rise-J. Rounds, 104.7.

In upcoming play:

• Okanogan Cup matches between

Youth racer stamps name in top spot

Morgan wins Stateline Speedster Main Event

Okanogan Valley Golf Club and Oroville Golf Club will be June 16-17. The event features two-man teams with Ryder Cup-style scoring.

Two nine-hole team matches will be at Okanogan Saturday and one nine-hole team match and one ninehole singles match will be Sunday at Oroville.

Entry deadline is July 10. A portion of the entry fees will go to the winning team’s charity of choice.

• The Ralph Parks Memorial tournament began June 21, two-man teams playing over a two-week period.

• Okanogan Valley Golf Club will host a benefit golf scramble at 8:30 a.m. July 30. A shotgun start is planned.

Prizes will be given for the longest drives and closest to the pin. The winning team gets four rounds of golf at Gamble Sands, Brewster, and the top three teams will win additional prizes.

The event is a fundraiser for the Omak High School football program.

More information is available from Nick Sackman, 509-429-4703, or omakfootball@hotmail.com.

POST FALLS, Idaho — Malott native Jaxon Morgan, 11, secured a first-place finish and a $1,000 cash prize during the Stateline Speedster Main Event on June 25.

Morgan’s win came off the back of a second-place finish the day before, in the same location. The two days of racing for Morgan’s age group, 8-14, were sponsored by Angel’s Bail Bonds.

Morgan currently participates, at least at Stateline Speedway, the Bandoleros class which utilizes “miniature” stock cars.

The cars have relatively mild acceleration and top speeds of 30-40 mph with the addition of a motor restrictor plate.

The speedway itself is one-quarter mile, banked oval track with pavement. The venue hosts a variety of race events, including bump-to-pass, pro late models and even nostalgia modified, for those who miss the classics.

What began as family fun on snowmobiles turned to a passion for racing and bass fishing, according to Morgan’s father, Dave Morgan. Inspiration and love for the sport came from within the family, which had a few

racers in it already.

The podium-topping finish was Morgan’s second all time, rounding out his 100 percent rate of finishing in the top 10 in his second year of racing.

For the June 25 race, Cole Dasenbrock, Deer Park, came in second, followed by Carsyn Murphy of Spokane, according to myracepass.com.

Morgan’s next local race will be in

Wenatchee at the Super Oval on July 9. Okanogan residents Emerson “Emmy” Goetz, 11, and brother Evan, 14, also plan to compete, said their father, Bryon Goetz.

Evan races in the pro late model class while Emmy races in the Bandoleros with Jaxon Morgan. The Wenatchee track is also a quarter-mile, paved oval.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Cole Dasenbrock (from left), “trophy girl” Kinsley, Jaxon Morgan and Carsyn Murphy gather front of Morgan’s vehicle with their plaques and award checks.

Photos by Al Camp | Special to The Chronicle

Swimmers take off in heat 2 of the the boys’ 11-12 freestyle event.

New board tackles healing, CEO hiring

Some administrators complain to county commissioners

By DEE CAMP

The Chronicle

OMAK — Mid-Valley Hospital’s three new commissioners got some governance education during the board’s July 14 meeting and also stepped into the fray left behind by their predecessors’ resignations.

Commissioner Brent Yusi resigned

Police disbanding finalized; Tonasket will sell equipment

Council decides guns, vehicles no longer needed

RED MILLER The Chronicle

TONASKET — The city is making disbandment of its police department final by deciding to eliminate the civil service commission and sell department assets, including several firearms.

During the city council’s July 12 meeting, the council decided to disband the three-member commission, made up of Steve Kriner and Phil Christy. One position is vacant.

In May, the city entered contract negotiations with Okanogan County Sheriff Tony Hawley to continue providing police services.

The police department was dissolved in January 2019. At the time, the council said the action was temporary.

On July 12, the council also declared police equipment to be “surplus to the city’s needs.”

Firearms and police vehicles are housed with the sheriff’s department. Firearms include six Glock pistols, three AR-style assault rifles, one Mini 14 .223-caliber rifle and one Mossberg 12-gauge pump action shotgun. Police vehicles will be repurposed or sold.

In other business, the council:

• Decided to readvertise for new doors for city hall. The doors are 40 years old and cannot be fixed.

The city has $60,000 that was budgeted for the project, but some council member said the lone bid received — for $35,793.82 — was too much and wanted to see if other options or better pricing could be had.

• Discussed installing security cameras at the skate park. Greg Gardiner was present to answer questions about cameras.

• The cost of installing one solar-powered camera is $4,587.93. The council tabled the project to look into other options, from solar power to bringing power in from the wastewater treatment plant

See POLICE, page A3

June 21; Chairman Gary Oestreich and Vice Chairman Jerry Bowes left June 28.

Remaining board members Evon LaGrou and Ellen Delaney appointed former Mid-Valley nurse Rebecca Christoph to one of the positions June 28 and the three of them then named Becky Corson to another post. Corson, who retired from Mid-Valley Clinic July 1, was sworn in during the board’s July 6 special meeting. Following state law, the four commissioners then appointed retired school superintendent Richard

Johnson to the fifth seat. The full board met for the first time July 14 and watched a “Governance 101” video. From there, the board began dealing with a rift between hospital administration and the board, and also continued the process of hiring a chief executive officer to succeed Alan Fisher, who recently retired. LaGrou and Delaney have come under fire for filling the vacancies so quickly, without throwing the positions out for applications from the general community.

Splashdown!

A contingent from the hospital administration, including interim CEO Winnie Adams, went to the county commissioners July 11 to complain.

LaGrou, board secretary until becoming de facto chairwoman after Oestreich and Bowes’ departure, said the district’s attorney has reviewed and endorsed all of the board’s actions.

She and the county commissioners agree that the county commissioners have no statutory authority over the hospital board, although

National parks bring economic boost

State’s three parks draw 8.2 million visitors

SEATTLE — A new National Park Service report showed $530 million in spending from 8.2 million visitors to national parks in Washington in 2021.

That money supported 5,790 jobs and an economic output of around $729 million, according to the park service.

Washington is home to three national parks — North Cascades, Mount Rainier and Olympic.

The spending analysis conducted by economists at the park service and the

U.S. Geological Survey showed $20.5 billion of direct spending by more than 297 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park.

That spending supported 322,600 jobs nationally; 269,900 of those jobs were found in gateway communities. The report shows that national parks created a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $42.5 billion.

National visitor spending shows the lodging and restaurant sectors contribute the greatest direct economic impact at $7 billion and $4.2 billion, respectively, in national economic output.

Commissioner Chris Branch said during his board’s July 11 meeting that junior and special taxing districts, such as hospital districts, have interesting, weak rules in state law.

Branch, who sent an email July 6 to Adams urging the board to slow down the process, said he’s had calls from constituents about the hospital district situation.

LaGrou said all three new board members are well known in the community and have management

Goetz will leave Okanogan district

New educational service district job will allow more family time

OKANOGAN — Okanogan School

District Superintendent Ashley Goetz is leaving the district to take a job with North Central Educational Service District.

“The new position will allow me to be more present with my own family and that is incredibly important to me,” she said.

The school board released her from her contract during a July 7 special meeting. Goetz requested release after four years in the position.

The board immediately sought help from Northwest Leadership Associates, a superintendent search firm specializing in eastern Washington. Interviews are planned this week, with the goal of filling the job on Aug. 1.

Northwest Leadership Associates presented the district with three candidates for interviews for a two-year, interim position, Goetz said. The plan is for each candidate to spend a day in interviews and touring the district.

Candidates are Steve Quick, superintendent of Harney County School District in Burns, Ore., and a former Oroville superintendent; Sunshine Pray, former Soap Lake School District superintendent, and David Perkins, Insight K-8 assistant elementary principal and former Sunnyslope Elementary principal in Wenatchee.

There would be the opportunity for the person selected to gain a permanent contract, but the board still would have the option to conduct a thorough search, Goetz said.

She said her new job will be as associate director of student success and learning for the ESD.

“I will be providing support to the 29 school districts within thee North Central Educational Service District, focusing on school improvement efforts, mentoring and content specialists,” she said.

She will be based in Okanogan, with travel to Wenatchee, Olympia and individual districts as necessary.

“My new position begins on Aug. 1,” she said. “However, I plan to support the incoming superintendent in the transition. Continuing to be located

AL CAMP | Special to The Chronicle

Youngsters react with glee as they’re hosed down by a Pateros water truck at the end of the Pateros Apple Pie Jamboree parade. For more on the jamboree, see Pages A5, B1 and B3.

DOUG CAMP | Special to The Chronicle North Cascades National Park is home to towering peaks.

High school rodeo finals ride into Okanogan

The Okanogan County Fairgrounds played host to the Washington State High School Rodeo Finals on May 26-30. Events for junior high competitors also were held.

Brit Egbert and Wyatt Egbert, Grand Coulee, compete in team roping at the Washington State High School Rodeo Finals on May 29.

Davey McMillan hangs on in saddle bronc.

Photos by Al Camp | Special to The Chronicle

Raycee Marchand rounds a barrel on May 29.

Jade Ramon, Tonasket, prepares to tie up his calf.

Bears top Liberty Bell, eye baseball playoffs

By JOSEPH CLAYPOOLE

The Chronicle

BREWSTER — The last home game of the regular season for the Brewster Bears was bittersweet.

“Had to say goodbye to some quality kids,” said coach Todd Phillips. “Bittersweet day every year. I’ve known these seniors since they were little kids and I’m glad that I’ll hopefully get three more weeks with all of them” as playoffs begin.

The May 3 win against Liberty Bell, 12-1, marked the third straight year the Brewster baseball team has gone undefeated in the regular season. Its conference record is 13-0 and 20-2 overall following the May 4 match against Tri-Cities Prep.

The team’s two losses came via a single-game matchup against Chelan on April 14 and during the second game in a doubleheader against Othello on April 23. Brewster beat Chelan in a rematch later in the season on April 28.

According to Phillips, this group of players has racked up a record of 71-19 along with three league titles, a district title and two state tournament appearances. This also marks the school’s sixth North Central B League title win in as many seasons.

The match against Liberty Bell started strong for the Bears, who scored five in the bottom of the first after leaving the Mountain Lions with nothing.

Liberty Bell scored a run in the second inning, but Brewster ran away with the game by answering with another two before holding the visitors scoreless for the rest of the game.

Brewster pitching — Tyson Schertenleib, 6IP, 6K, 4H, 1R, 0ER, 4BB.

Brewster hitting — Eric Ramirez, 1-2, 2B. Reese Vassar, 1-2, 2R. AJ Woodward, 4-4, 4RBI, 4R. Tyson Schertenleib, 1-2, 3RBI, HR. Arnie Arevalo 1-2, 2B.

Brewster 11, Tri-Cities Prep 1

Brewster closed out its regular season a day later on May 4 in a match against Tri-Cities Prep, a team coach Phillips said he believes the Bears may see at least once more.

“Great opportunity to pick up a game with someone we may see again in the playoffs,” Phillips said.

Brewster won 11-1 against the non-conference team.

The Bears’ schedule has

BRIEFS

from page B1

did better.”

Water temperatures likely impacted the angling and should improve over the next three weeks, he said.

Rainbow trout were the primary species caught and typically ranged in size from 11-18 inches. A few kokanee were caught at Alta Lake as well.

At 8 a.m., more than 100 shore anglers were counted on Pearrygin Lake and 25 on Alta Lake. No creel counts were done in Ferry County.

2IP, 6H, 1K, 6R, 2ER, 2BB.

Game 2 Tonasket hitting — Ryan Hamlin, 2-3, 2B, 2R. Joe Thornton, 2-4, 3B, 2RBI. Ben Good, 2-2. Jake Terzi, 1-2, RBI. Bradon Prock, 1-3, RBI, 1R. Samuel Spangler, 1-3, 2B, 2R, 1BB.

Scores

Quincy 8, Omak 2 Quincy 7, Omak 0

Central Washington 1B/2B

1, Riverside Christian, 6-3

2, Moses Lake Christian Academy, 7-4

3, Waterville-Mansfield, 6-5

4,

Burgett, 1-2. Okanogan 21, Omak 12

The score in the Omak-Okanogan game was zero indication of the fight spectators got to watch between rivals during their May 3 faceoff on the diamond.

Omak jumped to a quick lead, yielding just one run to Okanogan by the bottom of the second with four runs of their own.

The teams exchanged a run apiece in the third before battling through the fourth, all to end up with a tied game at 8-8 after the fifth inning.

on May 10 for the first round of playoffs.

Okanogan highlights – Tucker

Pritchard, 2-6, 2RBI. Brennen

Smith, 3-7. Carson Boesel, 2-4.

Carter Kuchenbuch, 3-6. Manny

Rodriguez, 2-3. Lane Fingar, 2-5. Brad Ingram, 2-4.

Okanogan 3, Tonasket 1

Okanogan 7, Tonasket 6

Okanogan won both ends of a May 7 doubleheader, 3-1, 7-6.

Game 1 Okanogan – Lane Fingar, 1-3. Brennen Smith, 1-3. Carter Kuchenbuch, 1-2. Manny Rodriguez, 1-2. Carson Boesel, 7IP.

Game 1 Tonasket pitching — Isaiah Spangler, 6IP, 4H, 3K, 3R, 1ER, 2BB.

BRAD SKIFF | Special to The Chronicle Bridgeport senior Alonzo Garza swings during his team’s baseball victory over Waterville-Mansfield on May 3. The Mustangs won the senior night game, 13-3. Garza is the team’s only senior. been helpful for getting the team ready for the postseason, according to Phillips. They’ve had seven games against Tri-Cities Prep’s league’s top 10, and nine games against their division’s top 20.

“Tri-Cities Prep isn’t bad; I think they just got a little stunned and didn’t know how to stop it. Good message to send across the state,” said Phillips.

Pitching and hitting were

Fun run set as scholarship fundraiser

OMAK — A fun run to raise money for Wenatchee Valley College scholarships is planned

Saturday, May 14.

Registration starts at 9 a.m. in East Side Park, with the run at 10 a.m. on the walking path at East Side Park.

A similar event is May 21 in Wenatchee, with a virtual run going through May 22.

More information is available at www.wvc.edu/funrun.

high-quality across the board with no earned runs from the Tri-Cities team and a smattering of doubles and a triple for the Bears.

Brewster pitching — AJ Woodward, 5IP, 9K, 2H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB.

Brewster hitting — Eric Ramirez, 2-2, 2RBI, 2B. Reese Vassar, 2-4, RBI, 2B. AJ Woodward, 3-4, 3RBI, 2B. Tyson Schertenleib, 3-4, 3RBI, 3B. Arnie Arevalo, 1-2, 3SB. Blake

Silhouette match set

TONASKET – A long-range silhouette match will be Saturday, May 14, at the Tonasket Gun Club.

It will feature a national course of fire with a total of 60 shots fired for record instead of the normal 40 rounds.

Target setting and practice are at 8:30 a.m., with record firing beginning at 9.

A fee will be charged.

Special awards and consolation prizes will be given.

Branches in Omak & Okanogan

Bank local with a FREE Checking account and get a FREE gift!

Okanogan stepped on the gas to hammer two more runs in the sixth, which Omak answered with three of its own to go up by one. Okanogan tightened the reins on defense after pushing two more across in the seventh, allowing a single Omak batter to cross home plate before sending the game to extra innings with a tied score at 12-12.

The Bulldogs found new motivation in the eighth inning, scoring nine runs and putting the game to bed with a final score of 21-12.

“What a game,” Omak coach Tyler Wells said. “If you missed this one, you missed one heck of a game.”

Omak finished the season with a league record of 3-9 and overall record of 7-12-1. The Pioneers were to face Cashmere

Game 1 Tonasket hitting — Joe Thornton, 1-3.

Game 2 Okanogan — Carter Kuchenbuch, 3-4, 7IP.

Brad Ingram, 1-3, 3B. Tucker

Pritchard, 1-3, 2B, 3RBI.

Game 2 Tonasket pitching —

Samuel Spangler, 4IP, 1H, 6K, 1R, 0ER, 3BB. Bradon Prock,

AL CAMP | Special to The Chronicle

Omak’s Jacob Hurlbert (left) slides into home under a catch by Okanogan’s C. Pritchard.

See more pictures on Page B2

Liberty Bell, Okanogan advance in football

WENATCHEE — The Liberty Bell Mountain Lions battled Muckleshoot Tribal School on Saturday, Nov. 12 during a home game at the Wenatchee Apple Bowl. Liberty Bell topped Muchleshoot, 62-0. The Mountain Lions will travel to the Centralia Tiger Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 19, to play against Mossyrock High School at 5 p.m.

Okanogan football will play

Onalaska at Wenatchee Apple Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 5 p.m.

Natural Luge planned at Loup

LOUP LOUP — Take your sledding to the next level by experiencing Natural Luge at the Loup.

Natural Luge is another recreational option at The Loup for outdoor winter enthusiasts. It differs significantly from Olympic Luge, which uses artificial banked tracks, while Natural Luge uses existing nonbanked groomed trails. The Loup offers free instructional clinics on how to Luge safely on steerable sleds. It’s easy to learn, challenging to master and exciting to ride.

After the instructional lesson, a snowcat service takes guests to the top of Upper Bear Mountain trail system and features a ride up to 5 km in length and more than 1,200-feet of elevation descent.

Bear Mountain Luge at Loup Loup Ski Bowl will be accepting reservations starting Thursday Nov.17. For more information, see skitheloup.com/ bear-mountain-luge-experience/

Sauceda claims high score in pinochle

OKANOGAN — Diana Sauceda took home the high score in pinochle at 8,890 last week, Nov. 10, at the Okanogan Eagles Club.

Close behind were Ida Laurie with 8,240, Lisa Turner with 7,480, and Dee Tarnowski with 7,210.

Partners with 300 pinochle were Dick Fuller and Joe Shaul, Dick Fuller and Roy Gleason, Buck Workman and Ken Chaplin, Joe Shaul and Diana Sauceda, Diana Sauceda and Marva Juneau, and Diana Sauceda and Gail Norman.

Diana Sauceda and Tim Norman also had a 1,500 trump and Diana Sauceda and Jennifer Shaul had 1000 aces.

WDFW to accept grant applications

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

See BRIEFS, page B6

Seventh-place finish

ROGER HARNACK | Cheney Free Press

Okanogan High School volleyball wrapped up its season over the weekend placing seventh at the state tournament after topping Tri-Cities Prep, 14-12. “Congratulations to the girls and the coaching staff on an outstanding season,” Okanogan Athletic Director Kevin Daling said.

Okanogan advances in playoffs

By AL CAMP Special to The Chronicle

WENATCHEE — Okanogan scored less than two minutes into the Bulldogs’ state 1B/2B girls’ soccer match against Cle Elum and never trailed Nov. 12 at the Apple Bowl.

Afton Wood scored up the middle off a pass by Tamara Mathison from the left side for a 1-0 lead.

The rest of the way to halftime proved to be a defensive battle.

That was to be expected, as Okanogan won a non-league match 1-0 over the Warriors in Wenatchee near the start of the season.

The Bulldogs chomped down in the second half, scoring four goals for an eventual 5-0 victory.

Scoring were Mathison on a pass from Lindsey Jones at the 47th minute, Taylor Meyer from Jones at the 53rd minute, Wood on an assist from Jones in the 75th minute and Mathison from Wood in the 76th minute.

“We got a bye the first round of state, so we didn’t play until Saturday in the quarterfinals against Cle Elum,” Okanogan coach Dean Klepec said.

The top four seeded teams received first-round byes.

“We came out in the second half and put a lot of offensive pressure on them and were able to score four more.  Our defense and goalie (Addison Brown) played outstanding again and really shut down the Cle Elum offense.”

Next up for No. 3-seeded Okanogan is a state Final Four appearance, starting with a semifinal match against No. 7 Highland at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at Renton Memorial Stadium.

Highland advanced with a 1-0 win over No. 2 Mount Vernon Christian in a shootout.

Okanogan’s win on Saturday elevated the team one step further than last year, when No. 1-seeded Okanogan fell in the quarterfinals, 3-1 to No. 3 Adna (which went on to take second in state).

Okanogan, which has reached state five times since 2005, won the championship in 2015.

The other state semifinal pits No. 1 Kalama, the defending state champion, against No. 4 Saint George’s at 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at Renton Memorial Stadium.

Saint George’s edged No. 12 Tonasket, 5-2, in a state quarterfinal match played in Spokane.

The Tigers reached the match with a 1-0 blanking of No. 5 Adna in the first round of state on Nov. 9 in Tenino.

Last year, No. 7 Tonasket eliminated No. 10 Saint George’s, 5-2, in the first round of state.

Kalama shut out Tonasket, 4-0, in the quarterfinals.

The Tigers have reached state five times since 2002.

AL CAMP | Special to The Chronicle

Okanogan’s Sarah Hamilton (13) and Clara Downey (2) work defense against Cle Elum’s Nellie Nicholls (19) Nov. 12. For more pictures, see Page B2.

AL CAMP | Special to The Chronicle

Afton Wood (7) and Lindsey Jones (5) work towards a first goal against Camren Kossow of Cle Elum.

AL CAMP | Special to The Chronicle Lucien Paz (7) of Liberty Bells works against Martin Reyes (35) of Muckleshoot Tribal Nov. 12.

Okanogan home destroyed by fire

CARLTON — Weather behavior

throughout the state this summer has prolonged the fire season and localized, erratic weather has aided some blazes in the state, like a 22-30 acre blaze on Sept. 27 near Carlton.

The fire, the cause of which is still under investigation, stared sometime around 3 p.m. that afternoon. Shortly after, Fire District 6 stations in Twisp and Carlton were dispatched, according to district 6 assistant chief Rusty Stamps.

Soon after, the Mazama and Winthrop stations were dispatched for additional resources. The Department of Natural Resources and Forest Service also aided in fighting the blaze.

The service sent an engine and smokejumpers among other items.

The DNR added a crew, two fire bosses and some other aircraft.

“Due to our weather throughout the year, fire behavior was very erratic at the beginning and getting pushed by 5 to 10 mph winds,” Stamps said. “Once the wind subsided, the fire started to die down as well.”

District 6 was cleared from the area around 8 p.m. with DNR units minding the fire overnight. Stamps said periodic fire checks will continue throughout this week.

Another fire hit downtown Okanogan the evening of Sept. 29, damaging two homes, a camper trailer, boat and a garage, according to Okanogan fire chief Jeremy Patrick.

The first started around 8 p.m., burning for about three hours before being corralled by local firefighters. Nobody is believed to have been home at the time of the fire.

The owner of one of the buildings was John Hamilton.

The structure fire occurred at 207 5th Avenue in Okanogan. Omak fire also responded for mutual aid during the blaze.

American Red Cross was contacted for the parties involved.

Prescribed burns planned

Colville National Forest staff and the DNR will be conducting prescribed burns across the CNF through mid-October.

Burns began as early as Monday, Oct. 3, and will continue

See FIRE, page A2

Man airlifted after crash

WASHINGTON STATE PATROL

A Tonasket man, Gregg B Scott, 56, was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after his log truck rolled over on Highway 28 near Ephrata.Scott was traveling westbound on the road, according to a report filed by Washington State Patrol Trooper Michael C. Valentine, when his vehicle drifted off the right shoulder and then rolled over. His vehicle slid across the roadway before coming to a rest in the ditch of the eastbound side of the road.Trooper Colin Cumaravel said that a medical issue may have occurred prior to the incident.Scott was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the patrol. He was first transported to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee before being airlifted to the Seattle hospital.

AL CAMP | Special to The Chronicle

The residential fire in Okanogan ripped through surrounding foliage, including the two large trees near the home.

October

GRAPHIC BY JOSEPH CLAYPOOLE | The Chronicle

A rough estimate of the affected area from the Sept. 29 Okanogan residential fire. Map data from Google.