Smile Mobile coming to Tonasket
Rainbow Dance Theatre to perform
See page 2
September 23, 2010 • Volume 105, No. 38
Cross Country results See Page B8
See page 7
Centennial Year - 1905-2005 The official paper of Oroville, Tonasket & Okanogan County, Washington
Flash floods washout driveways
Tonasket receives transportation enhancement grant Fall Clean-Up on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. By Emily Hanson Staff Writer
Photo by Sally Weeks
The Craig and Nita Weeks’ driveway, near Buchert Flats, was washed out by flash flooding last Sunday. There were several reports of driveways being washed out in the Crumbacher area and on County Highway 7 there was a report of mud, wire and tires on the highway brought down by the rain. The National Weather Service, predicting intense rain in under a six hour period, issued a small creek flood warnings last Sunday for several parts of Okanogan County.
Single Copy 75¢
TONASKET - The Tonasket City Council learned the city was recently chosen to receive $126,500 for the Whitcomb Avenue Pedestrian Upgrade project during their meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 14. “On behalf of the North Central regional Transportation Planning Organization (NCRTPO), I am pleased to notify you that the City of Tonasket has been awarded Transportation Enhancements funds in the amount of $126,500 for the ‘Whitcomb Avenue (US97) Pedestrian Upgrade’ project,” a letter from Jeff Wilkens, executive director of the Wenatchee Valley Transportation Council, states. “The Board felt this was a very worthwhile project.” The funds from this grant will be used to build Americans with Disabilities Act ramps at the sidewalk intersections along Whitcomb Ave. and to install crosswalk awareness lights for
the crosswalks over Whitcomb Ave. from North Valley Hospital to Second Street. “I talked to Kurt Danison, who is working on the prospectus which will need to be sent to the Department of Transportation for approval,” Alice Attwood, city clerk, said. In other city news, the council is once again supporting a citywide Clean-Up to be held on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tonasket City Shop where the recycling bins are near Chief Tonasket Park. Items that will not be accepted are wet paint, oil, tires and hazardous materials. Also, no appliances accepted this year. Loreen Felstet and Green Okanogan will once again be doing an e-Waste collection along with glass and most other recyclable items. Felstet said in addition Green Okanogan will be doing a useful items exchange where items that are still useable, but are not being used, can be brought and exchanged for similar quality items. People do not need to bring a reusable item in order to take one. Information from Attwood states that e-Waste “consists of televisions, computer monitors, computer towers, CRT’s, laptops, See COUNCIL on Page 3
Coalition partners with Incumbent Sheriff Frank Support Center against rural Rogers has ‘nothing to hide’ Candidate Dave domestic violence Yarnell speaking Federal grant will fund 18-month program By Gary A. DeVon Managing Editor OMAK – The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence is partnering with the Support Center and three other Eastern Washington agencies to help address domestic violence in rural areas, especially among migrant workers. The Coalition has received an 18-month federal grant to enhance services for victims of domestic violence with immigration issues, according to Margo Amelong, executive director of the Support Center, based in Omak. “We think it is wonderful and hope to continue with the program even after the grant is gone. Perhaps it will be refunded when it is over, but we can’t rely on that,” Amelong said. “We chose the Support Center to be part of the program because it has to do with domestic violence and sexual assault as they tend to hit the rural community especially hard,” said Summer Carrick, with the Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The group is especially looking at how domestic violence and sexual assaults affect women and children
in the farm worker community. “Farm workers are often far from home, their families are in another country, there are language barriers and they often work for low wage jobs. This can make it harder to get access to what they need in the way of help,” Carrick said, adding that the group chose to work with the Support Center because of the inroads it has already made with the rural and farm worker communities. Often times the victims of abuse do not understand their legal rights, according to Carrick, adding that the workers are sometimes invisible to people outside rural communities who do not understand where their food comes from. “We are trying to make them visible,” she said. “A lot of the work is seasonal and what they do in three or four months is save m o n ey t h at i s su p p o s e d to last through the winter,” said Mary Davis, with the Support Center. “When there is no work or lack of money we often see more problems. People who are victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault feel they can’t afford to get away from the cause.” D av i s s a i d t h e ty p i c a l farm worker might make lots of stops as they follow t h e c r op s a n d m ay h ave a network of friendships along the way, but regularly find themselves in places where they are with people
they are unfamiliar with and don’t know who to turn to. “Right now we are trying to put together a video and photo presentation to use as a model for other rural areas,” said Carrick. “We plan on going out to the farm labor housing and shaking hands and asking what the stresses are, ask what their needs are because domestic violence is so pervasive.” The women said that Latina women are two to four times more likely to be murdered in this country and not just by Latino men. “Language access is a big hurdle… they might try to get a protection order but do not understand how to go about it,” adds Gabriela Alor, also with the Coalition. The women say that farm workers can often develop strong networks and that through this program they’d like to support the natural leaders and promote the women that people go to. “We can’t hire enough advocates, we can’t build enough shelters,” Carrick said. “We must engage our communities.” Davis adds that domestic violence and sexual assault victims can also include men and children. “For men it can be harder t o a d m i t … i t c a n r e a l ly expose your vulnerability. If we say family violence it hits harder because our family is our home and we want to protect it at whatever cost.”
INDEX
Community ................................................................2-3 Letters & Opinions .......................................................4 Okanogan Valley Life/Columnists .............................5-6
We’re ALL over the web
at next Chamber meeting along with Charlene Groomes By Emily Hanson Staff Writer
TONASKET - Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers spoke at the regular Tonasket Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 14, stating that he has nothing to hide. He began his speech to the chamber by talking about his family life. Rogers said he has been married to his wife, Minette, whom he met in high school, for 32 years. They have two children and five grandchildren. The Rogers family moved to Okanogan in December 1983 and he worked for the Omak Police Department. In 2002, Rogers was elected sheriff and has held the position since. “I’m proud of what we’ve done with the sheriff ’s department,” Rogers said. “The men and women in the department have a ton of great ideas.” Rogers said he runs the department with two main rules. “You have to have fun and enjoy your job or it’ll kill you,” he said. “Second, the department works for you, not for itself.” During Rogers’ career as sheriff, he said the department has brought in $21 million into the county through grants and fundraising to run their special department programs. Despite having a
Photo by Emily Hanson
Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers spoke at the Tonasket Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 14, stating that he has nothing to hide. budget of $3.5 million, with $2.9 million going to salaries and benefits, the department has never been over-budget with Rogers as sheriff and in fact returns between $70,000 and $150,000 to the county each year. “I’m not going to sit around and whine,” he said. “You
Okanogan Valley Life.....................................................7 Okanogan Co. Fair results..............................................8 Business & Services.....................................................B1
make do with what you’ve got. I’m open with the press and anyone with questions. I’ve got nothing to hide.” Sheriff candidate Dave Yarnell will be speaking at the Tuesday, Sept. 28 meeting along with Okanogan County Clerk candidate Charlene Groomes.
Classifieds/Legals...................................................B2-B4 Okanogan County Tax Foreclosures......................B5-B6 Police/Obits.................................................................B7 Sports..........................................................................B8