Methow Valley News - April 23, 2025

Methow Valley News

All clear: Highway 20 is open for business

‘Low snow year’ enables another April opening for road

BY RALPH SCHWARTZ

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) calls it “one of the prettiest work zones in the world.”

It’s also one of the more treacherous. The avalanche beacons strapped to everyone’s midsection during a tour up North Cascades Highway on April 15 were enough to prove that point.

The air got warmer that morning as WSDOT-issued pickups climbed in elevation — what meteorologists refer to as an inversion, and what avalanche forecasters call worrisome.

“We have a little bit of an elevated risk,” said Harlan Sheppard, avalanche supervisor for the agency’s north central region. He was standing on the highway near one of 11 avalanche paths along Cutthroat Ridge, about 5 miles above the closed Silver Star gate.

“Today we’re calling for ‘small avalanches possible, large avalanches unlikely,’” he said.

All was quiet, however, except for the occasional snow blower, plow or road broom conducting a final mop-up of Highway 20 in preparation for the warm-season tourists and the rest of the traffic that uses the northernmost cross-

QUICK FACTS:

North Cascades Highway first opened to general traffic on Sept. 2, 1972, only to close for the winter on Nov. 26. The pass has closed due to severe weather and avalanche risk every year since, except for the drought winter of 1976–77.

Earliest opening: March 10, 2005

Latest opening: June 14, 1974

Earliest closing: Oct. 17, 2003

Latest closing: Jan. 3, 1990

2024–25: closed Nov. 18–April 22

Sources: WSDOT, alpenglow.org

ing over the Cascade Mountains.

It’s a calculated risk with a high reward. The road opened one week later, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday (April 22).

“This is something I enjoy,” said Jesse Gurney, a highway maintenance supervisor based in Twisp. “It’s the connection between eastern and western Washington, and so it’s a integral part for commerce and the public. And it doesn’t hurt that the scenery is great.”

Quick work

Snow-removal crews ran into their usual hassles since beginning work on March 17. Early-spring snow storms are inevitable, and on some days the avalanche risk was so high that workers avoided the chutes entirely. But in the end they had finished in five weeks, about one week ahead of schedule.

SPRING RENEWAL

The simple explanation for the rapid work pace was that this was a “low snow year,” Gurney said. When crews first reached the road’s highest point — Washington Pass, elevation 5,477 feet — they found 62 inches of snow. During big winters, Sheppard said, the pass will have twice as much accumulation.

Good fortune played a part, too, in

grounds at the park were scheduled to open April 15, according

State’s gray wolf count declined in 2024

New pack found in Okanogan County

BY ANN MCCREARY

The number of gray wolves in Washington decreased last year for the first time since state wildlife officials began counting them 16 years ago. Although the overall population dropped statewide, the number of wolf packs increased by one — including a new pack identified in Okanogan County northeast of the Methow Valley. The population of gray wolves, which are listed as an endangered species under state law, decreased by 9% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to an annual report released each spring by Washington Department of

Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

That’s the first decline since the annual wolf count began in 2008 after discovery of the Lookout pack near the Methow Valley — the first documented wolf pack in Washington since the early 1900s.

The Lookout pack, which occupies territory southwest of Twisp, had grown to 13 members at the end of 2024, an increase of three wolves from the previous year’s survey. That made it the largest pack in the state last year, according to WDFW’s survey. Over the past 16 years the Lookout pack has survived poaching and wildfires.

The new pack in Okanogan County is called the Reed pack, with territory located east of Loup Loup pass. The Reed pack has two members, the minimum number to constitute a pack. One is a collared wolf that dispersed from the Loup Loup pack and traveled up to

British Columbia before returning to its current territory.

In addition to the Reed and Lookout packs, three other packs have territories around the Methow Valley. They include the Loup Loup pack, which had three members at the end of 2024, compared to five at the end of 2023; the Sullivan Creek pack, with eight members compared to seven the previous year; and the Chewuch pack, with 10 members at the end of last year, compared to five at the end of 2023.

WDFW partners with tribes to estimate the number of wolves in the state at the end of each year. The survey counted 230 wolves as of Dec. 31, 2024, compared to 254 wolves in the 2023 survey. The state had 43 wolf packs at the end of 2024, compared to 42 packs in 2023.

securing North Cascades Highway’s second consecutive April opening date after a run of four straight years when the gates at Silver Star and Ross Dam had remained closed until May.

“The equipment’s been working great,” Gurney said. “We’re always one breakdown away from being a long ways away.”

But the blowers made relatively quick work of the snow covering Highway 20, even though it had been hardened by months of freeze-thaw cycles and snowmobile traffic. If a blower is making good time, it will cover two miles in an hour.

Fired USFS workers

Seasonal employees reinstated in March

MARCY STAMPER

BY

Despite a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, seasonal employees of the Methow Valley Ranger District (MVRD) expect to report for work at the end of this month, after being fired in February and then reinstated in March.

The Supreme Court justices stayed a March 14 order by a U.S. district judge to reinstate the workers, but on technical grounds. The high court found that the nonprofit associations that filed the original lawsuit didn’t have standing to sue because they weren’t directly harmed by the firings.

Plaintiffs in that lawsuit include the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and the Western Watersheds Project, who argued that the firings would harm national parks, environmental protection and recreational fishing, among other impacts.

The 16,000 fired employees worked for six federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of the Interior. MVRD is part of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

In its emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, the Trump administration asked the justices to block the order to reinstate the workers. The judge had ruled that the agencies had violated procedure because they had been directed to fire those employees “under the pretense of ‘performance,’” based on a suggested template, even though no actual job performance issues were specified.

There have been multiple lawsuits about whether the government had the right to fire the federal employees. But even the initial orders blocking the firings are potentially tenuous, since the judges acknowledged that federal agencies have the right to dismiss workers by creating a formal plan for restructuring or reduction in force.

In one related case, a U.S. District judge issued an injunction, saying, “The government can terminate probationary employees en masse (i.e., dismiss them via a reduction in force, or “RIF”), but when it does so it must follow certain laws and regulations.”

Barring unions

The situation is complicated by an executive order issued by the White House in late March ending collective bargaining for a broad list of federal agencies. The executive order covers agencies with national-security missions, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Food and Drug Administration — but not the Forest Service.

Some of the agencies that no longer have union representation did re-fire employees a second time, but the Forest Service has not followed that route, according to a union steward for the National Federation of Federal Employees, which represents employees at MVRD.

Forest Service employees are still waiting for details about the RIF process. The deadline for a plan was Monday (April 14), but the union hadn’t received any communication as of press time, the steward said.

NFFE has filed a grievance on behalf of the terminated employees.

The MVRD employees were officially on probationary status because they had been at their current job for less than a year (for some jobs, less than two years), even though most of the seasonal employees had worked for the Forest Service for many years. They had recently had their status converted to permanent seasonal positions.

Although everyone was told they were fired for substandard job performance, several MVRD employees told the Methow Valley News that they had received superlative evaluations and that their supervisors made it clear that their firing wasn’t performance related.

Photo by Steve Mitchell

Pearrygin Lake was decorated by a seasonal outburst of arrowleaf balsamroot on Easter Sunday. Camp-

to the State Parks website.

Photo by Steve Mitchell

Washington State Department of Transportation workers opened the Silver Star gate west of Mazama at 10 a.m. Tuesday (April 22), making the the North Cascades Highway available to through traffic.

Signe Shaw appointed to Winthrop Town Council

BY DON NELSON

The Winthrop Town Council has appointed Signe Shaw to fill the vacancy created by the recent resignation of council member Bill McAdow.

Shaw was the only applicant for the opening, and was briefly questioned by the council at its April 16 meeting before she was appointed and quickly sworn in by Mayor Sally Ranzau.

If Shaw wants to continue in the position, she will need to register as a candidate for the August primary and November general elections.

Shaw said she moved to the Methow Valley in the late 1990s from the Snoqualmie Valley, where she was acquainted with friends who also moved here including Don and Sara Ashford. Shaw, who attended Portland University and Reed College, was a midwife on the west side. After moving to the Methow, she established a home-based child care business that she operated for 18 years. Shaw subsequently worked for Little Star School in Winthrop for about four years.

The new council member raised three of her four children here, and sons Silas and Isaac reside in the valley. Shaw, Isaac and his wife Sula Wilson and their two children live on the same Perry Street property in Winthrop.

Shaw said she had contemplated getting involved in the political arena in the past but was too busy. She saw the current opening on the council as an opportunity to “step up” and be of service, particularly in that she is no longer working.

“This is one of those times you can go the extra mile,” she said. This is the third appointment in the past year to fill vacancies created by council members’ resignations.

In August 2024, Sophia Boesenberg was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of council member Kirsten Vanderhalf. Boesenberg is the owner of The Fainting Goat Restaurant in Winthrop, and lives in the nearby Heckendorn neighborhood.

In July 2024, Marisa Monteverde was appointed to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of council member Ben Nelson. Monteverde, who was raised in the Methow Valley, operates a lawn care business. She also lives in the Heckendorn neighborhood.

In other business, the council:

• adopted a resolution creating a Fire Preparedness Task Force, which will be asked to develop cohesive plans for the town’s response to wildfire threats.

The recommendation to create the task force came to the council from the Winthrop Planning Commission. The group will include members of the Town Council as well as representatives of the Planning Commission, Westernization Design Review Board, Lodging Tax

Advisory Committee, Chamber of Commerce, town staff, Okanogan County Fire District 6 and “other relevant constituent bodies and citizen stakeholders.”

Monteverde reiterated her interest in being the council’s representative to the group. No timeline was set for the group’s formation.

The intent, the Planning Commission said in its recommendation, is “to develop actionable plans to help Winthrop mitigate risks and be better prepared to respond in the event of a fire within and adjacent to town limits.”

• adopted a long list of amendments to the town’s zoning code. The code revisions are intended to help implementation of the town’s Housing Action Plan (HAP). The HAP was adopted by the council in December 2023. It addresses the need for accessible and affordable housing in the town, and provides numerous recommendations for how to address the problem with practical actions, in a number of areas including zoning and development regulations.

The HAP’s high-priority recommendations for encouraging housing development include updating zoning in business districts to allow for a blend of longterm residential and commercial uses; lowering minimum size requirements for homes including ADUs; developing guidelines for “tiny homes;” establishing deed restrictions to preserve homes for local residential use; and further limiting overnight rentals permitted within the town.

Many of those topics are addressed in the proposed zoning code revisions.

• approved a request by Shaw to separate a small piece of property she owns from the proposed annexation of about 6 acres owned by the Methow Housing Trust adjacent to the Meadowlark Recreation Area. The Housing Trust’s request has included the Shaw property as part of the annexation process, but Shaw asked that her parcel be considered separately but concurrently from the Methow Housing application.

In a letter to the council, Shaw said delays in the Methow Housing Trust’s annexation request have also delayed her plans to build on the parcel. “I am seeking private annexation to expedite this process so that I can obtain building permits and begin construction on my home without further delay,” she said in the letter.

Town Planner Rocklynn Culp described the separation of requests as “a small, straightforward action” that allows Shaw to go forward with her plans. The town will be the lead jurisdiction in the permitting process through an interlocal agreement with Okanogan County, she said. Shaw said that, as a new council member, she would recuse herself from future discussions of or action on the parcel she owns.

One advantage this year was that the “flat snow,” as WSDOT calls it, was never higher than the six-foot capacity of their blowers.

Mountains of snow

Avalanche snow, however, is a different story. Snow and debris falling from some of the steeper chutes can accumulate in the shape of a cone that stands 60 to 80 feet high, Sheppard said.

More nimble snowcats are used to climb the pile and shave off the top. Then bulldozers spread the snow around even more, getting it to a manageable height for the blowers.

Avalanche snow is often used to form tall berms at the base of the chutes, to catch additional snowfalls before they reach the road. Some of the first travelers who make the trip over the pass will notice these walls of snow, near the hairpin turn below Washington Pass and elsewhere.

A number of burned logs from last summer’s Easy Fire came down an avalanche path called Whistler Shoulder, near Rainy Pass. A lightning strike started that blaze on July 17, 2024, and it grew to 2,130 acres — forcing two separate closures of the highway. A mudslide following a rainstorm on Aug. 11 dumped 7,000 tons of mud, boulders and other debris onto the road.

“That area is typically prone to flooding and mudslides,” Gurney said. “It’s going to be a continuing concern through this year because there’s even less vegetation there now.”

Decision time

Once the snow was entirely off the highway within the 37-mile closure area, work transitioned to repairing potholes and guardrails; “trimming” the five-foot-tall snowbanks, where the highway shoulders were still covered; and unplugging clogged culverts. High-powered street sweepers cleared dirt and dust, making the pavement safer for cyclists.

WSDOT waited until after Easter to reopen because more snow was in the forecast that weekend. Officials wanted to assess both the immediate and the longer-term avalanche risk before opening the gates.

“We’re always going to have those freak storms that come

in,” Gurney said. “The last thing we want to do is open and then a week later have to close it for avalanche danger or anything like that. That’s a huge consideration, before we even look at opening dates.”

In an email sent Monday (April 21), after the opening time was announced, Sheppard said WSDOT will “monitor the avalanche conditions daily until we are out of snow.”

Ask the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce, and officials there will tell you that an April opening of North Cascades Highway suits them just fine. They are perennially hopeful to get the pass open before ’49er Days, happening this year May 9–11.

Chamber Executive Direc-

911 blotter

tor Ted Lafferty dispelled the notion that his organization exerts any pressure on WSDOT when it comes to the spring opening of Highway 20.

“I wouldn’t say we have any sway in the early-season opening,” he said. “They are good about trying to open it whenever it’s safe. … We certainly let them know that the economy benefits from opening as soon as possible.”

WSDOT Communications Manager Lauren Loebsack said safety comes first when officials evaluate when to open the highway.

“We work with community partners to ensure that the roads are safe and open,” she said. “A closed road is no good to anyone.”

Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office

• On April 14, a caller on Thurlow Road, Twisp, reported that it appeared as if a neighbor was trying to enter the caller’s house without permission, something the neighbor has done in the past.

• On April 14, a civil incident was reported on Wolf Creek Road, Winthrop.

• On April 14, a dispute involving a person who threatening and screaming at people was reported a location on North Methow Valley Highway, Twisp.

• On April 14, a caller on Highway 20, Twisp, reported that someone was driving by their house and honking a horn.

• On April 15, a caller reported a suspicious encounter while walking in the Mazama area, involving a person who stopped their vehicle and attempted to approach the caller. The vehicle, a small white truck, reportedly has been seen in the area recently.

• On April 16, a disoriented person was reported at a location on Poorman Creek Road, Twisp.

• On April 17, a road rage incident was reported on North Methow Valley Highway, Twisp.

• On April 18, a caller on Twisp River Road reported a possible trespassing incident that may have involved illegal taking of property.

• On April 18, a caller on Chase Road, Winthrop, reported that someone may have tried to enter their residence.

• On April 18, a caller on Twin Lakes Road, Winthrop, reported that a sibling had thrown garbage into the caller’s residence, an ongoing issue.

• On April 18, a caller on North Methow Valley Highway, Twisp, reported that someone had been sitting outside the location for more than two hours.

• On April 19, a caller on Thurlow Road, Twisp, reported a possible trespassing incident.

• On April 20, a caller on Chase Road, Winthrop, reported that two people came to their door and tried to open it.

Twisp Police Department

• On April 16, a possible incidence of credit card fraud was reported at a location on East Methow Valley Highway.

• On April 16, a caller reported that someone had scrawled graffiti on a building on South Methow Valley Highway.

• On April 16, a caller on Poorman Creek Road reported seeing an apparently disoriented person walking down the road with a beer, talking to the trees and bushes. Winthrop Marshal’s Office

• On April 16, property damage was reported at a location on Highway 20.

• On April 19, a possible fire was reported on Twisp River Road.

• On April 20, a motorcycle crash was reported at a location on Highway 20.

Photo by Don Nelson Signe Shaw, left, was sworn in by Mayor Sally Ranzau at the Winthrop Town Council meeting on April 16.

Photo by Ralph Schwartz

The snowblowers that clear North Cascades Highway can remove up to 6 feet of snow. When crews reached the summit of Washington Pass earlier this spring, they found slightly more than 5 feet of snow on the roadway.

From Page A1

Seasonal employees clear trails, build bridges, maintain campgrounds, clean bathrooms, and care for the district’s horses and mules. There were about 45 probationary employees affected in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, according to the Forest Service national press team. The nine fired employees at MVRD make up about one-third of the non-wildfire-related staff.

WOLF

From Page A1

Of the 43 packs identified last year, 18 were considered to have successful breeding pairs, a decrease from 24 successful breeding pairs in 2023.

A breeding pair is a measurement of a pack’s reproductive success and is important to overall recovery of the species. It is defined as an adult male and female wolf that raised at least two pups that survived until the end of the year.

WDFW officials said number of wolves in Washington has grown by an average of 20% each year since 2008, “despite reduced population counts statewide” in last year’s survey. The number of packs in the North Cascades and eastern Washington increased, WDFW said in a press release.

WDFW documented 37 wolf mortalities in 2024. They included four removed by WDFW in response to wolf-livestock conflicts; one killed while caught in the act of attacking livestock; two of natural causes (one killed by a cougar, one killed by other wolves); two during capture efforts by WDFW; one from ingesting a piece of plastic that perforated its small intestine; 19 legally harvested by tribal hunters; and seven mortalities from unlawful take, including poaching.

One wolf was shot in a declared self-defense and likely died; however, the carcass was never located. The investigation was closed with no charges filed, WDFW said.

Recovery goals

The report’s findings point to a growing number of humancaused wolf deaths in recent years, said Amaroq Weiss, senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. “This high level of mortality is likely a limiting factor for wolves to successfully disperse throughout the state,” Weiss said.

Washington’s wolf management and recovery plan, created in 2011, established three “recovery zones” — Eastern, Northern Cascades (which includes the Methow Valley), and Southern Cascades and Northwest Coast.

Both the Eastern and Northern Cascades recovery zones have exceeded minimum recovery goals outlined in the state wolf management plan for the past five years, said Ben Maletzke, WDFW wolf specialist.

According to the plan, wolves in Washington would be considered recovered and protections could be removed when at least

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is one of these agencies that can no longer have union representation. The Forest Service is the country’s largest firefighting agency, but BLM is the second-largest. Unions have played an important role in protecting these employees, given the significant health and safety risks of that work. The unions have helped firefighters get presumptive cancer coverage, streamlined the process for workers’ compensation, and given firefighters the ability

four successful breeding pairs are present in each recovery region and there are three additional breeding pairs anywhere in the state for three consecutive years; or when there are at least four successful breeding pairs in each recovery region and six additional breeding pairs anywhere in the state for a single year.

Although multiple wolves have dispersed south of I-90 into the Southern Cascades and Northwest Coast recovery zone, three of the four wolves documented in this region were illegally killed and no wolves were observed in the region at the end of 2024, WDFW found.

Two cases of wolves killed illegally last fall were documented in Klickitat County and rewards are offered for information in those cases.

Weiss said the numbers of wolves killed in eastern Washington, which has the largest population of wolves, means fewer wolves are available to disperse and move into other parts of the state. WDFW figures shows 30 human-caused wolf deaths in the Eastern recovery area of the state, and five in the North Cascades recovery area last year.

“Unless the killing stops or is significantly curtailed, we won’t see wolf recovery across the state,” Weiss said.

In 2023, WDFW staff announced a proposal to downlist gray wolves from endangered to sensitive. Among other things, that would have reduced criminal penalties for killing wolves and loosened restrictions on permits for lethal control.

The proposal to reclassify wolves was rejected last year by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, because of commissioners’ concerns over the number of wolf mortalities and the failure of wolves become established in the third recovery region of the state.

“The disturbing drop (in the gray wolf population) shows how right the Fish and Wildlife Commission was to reject last year’s proposal to reduced state-level protections for Washington’s wolves,” Weiss said.

Monitoring wolves

Among the wolf packs with territories near the Methow Valley, WDFW found successful breeding pairs in the Sullivan, Chewuch and Lookout packs. The Loup Loup and the new Reed pack did not have successful breeding pairs at the end of 2024.

In estimating wolf population numbers, biologists add 12.5% to account for lone wolves and dispersing wolves that are difficult

to advocate for safety without fear of retribution, according to the union steward.

The communications office for the Forest Service didn’t respond by press time to inquiries from the News about employee status. Press inquiries are being handled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service, and that office is dealing with a high volume of requests, according to the public affairs officer for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

to count.

State, federal, and tribal biologists captured and collared 29 wolves from 22 different packs in 2024, making a total of 55 radio-collared wolves from 25 different packs that were monitored during the year.

The collars allow biologists to track the movements of wolves and identify pack territories. Fifteen collared wolves dispersed from their territories in 2024, and seven traveled out of Washington to Canada, Oregon or Idaho.

WDFW investigators documented 40 wolf depredation events in 2024, the report said. Investigation determined that 17 cattle (primarily calves) and one dog were confirmed killed by wolves, two calves were probably killed by wolves, 26 cattle were confirmed injured by wolves and two adult cows, and eight calves were probably injured by wolves.

Of the 43 known packs in Washington, up to 10 were involved in at least one confirmed or probable attack on livestock. However, 77% of packs were not involved in any known livestock depredation, even though many of the pack territories overlap livestock operations, WDFW said.

This year’s report corrected an error made in the 2023 annual report, in which five wolves in the Strawberry pack that were legally harvested on the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation were not counted. Incorporating a correction for lone and dispersing wolves, the total population of wolves in the state was reduced to 254 from the previously reported 260 for 2023, WDFW said.

WDFW said it spent over $1.6 million on wolf management activities in 2023, including research, working with livestock owners, contracting for range riders, paying claims for livestock losses, and lethal removal.

Wolves in the eastern third of Washington are considered part of a distinct population of northern Rocky Mountain wolves, along with wolves in Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon and northern Utah. Wolves in these areas lost federal protections in 2011 as a result of legislation passed by Congress, and have been managed by the states.

Wolves in the western twothirds of Washington, including the Methow Valley, are managed under federal jurisdiction (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and listed as endangered under both federal and state law.

The annual report can be found on the WDFW website at: wdfw.wa.gov/publications/02584.

Several fire crews respond to cabin, brush fires over weekend

BY MARCY STAMPER

A two-room cabin near Benson Creek and a small area of brush on Twisp River Road both burned on Saturday afternoon (April 19). The interior of the cabin was destroyed, and some studs and structural supports were also charred in the blaze, Okanogan County Fire District 6 Chief Cody Acord said.

The district had two engines working on the brush fire about 4 miles up Twisp River Road when the call came in about the cabin, Acord said. The U.S. Forest Service, the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Baker River Hotshot Crew, which was in the area assisting the Forest Service with prescribed burning, all responded to the blaze, which grew to 1/4 to 1/2 acre before it was extinguished. The brush fire started when vegetation burning, part of seasonal maintenance for an irrigation ditch, got away from the ditch workers when afternoon winds picked up, Acord said. The fire ignited some large cottonwoods, which the hotshot crew felled and extinguished.

When the report of the fire at the cabin on Yellow Jacket Road near Benson Creek came in at about 5 p.m., District 6 left the other agencies to mop up at the Twisp River brush fire. The resident at the cabin said there had been a candle burning in the cabin that apparently ignited the interior when she stepped outside, Acord said. The resident is now staying with her daughter, he said.

Engines from Twisp, Carlton and Winthrop stations — 12 to 14 firefighters in all — responded to the Yellow Jacket cabin fire. After knocking down the fire from outside the cabin, firefighters were able to enter the structure to com-

pletely extinguish it, Acord said. While District 6 crews were working on the Twisp River fire, they were toned to another fire in Mazama, but it turned out that an individual was burning a brush pile and that the fire was under control. That fire meant that all four stations were on alert at once, Acord said. People should be aware that, in the spring, winds pick up in the afternoon almost daily, Acord said. Anyone planning to burn brush should start early and be sure the fire is out by the afternoon.

“It’s always good to check the weather before you burn, to make sure you know what’s going on,” Acord said.

Candidate filing opens May 5

Candidate filing for the August primary and November general elections begins Monday, May 5, and continues through Friday, May 9.

Candidates can file online at www.okanogancounty.org/ offices/auditor/elections/candidate_information.php. All candidates must be registered voters in the geographic area represented by the office. Except where noted, no filing fees are required. Visit the Okanogan County Auditor’s website for more information.

Local offices that will be up for election or re-election:

• Town of Twisp Council: Katrina Auburn, Position 1, 4-year term; Aaron Studen, Posi-

tion 2, 4-year term; Wyatt Lundquist, Position 3, non-expired 2-year term.

• Town of Winthrop Council: Mayor Sally Ranzau, 4-year term (filing fee of $216 required); Sophia Boesenberg, Position 1, 4-year term; Joseph O’Driscoll, Position 2, 4-year term; Marisa Monteverde, Position 3, 2-year term; Signe Shaw, Position 5, twoyear term.

• Methow Valley School District Board of Directors: Dana Stromberger, District 2, 4-year term; Boo Schnieder, District 4 at-large, 4-year term.

• Okanogan County Fire District 6 Board of Commissioners: Darold Brandenburg, Position 2, 6-year term.

• Public Hospital District No. 1 (Three Rivers Hospital) board of commissioners: Michael Pruett, Position 3 at large, 6-year term; Cherryl (Cherri) Thomas, Position 4 at large, 6-year term.

• City of Pateros Council: Mayor Kelly Hook, 4-year term; Chantel R. Poole, Position 1, 4-year term; Holly Bange Position 2, 4-year term.

• Pateros School District Board of Directors: Rick Trocano, District 3, 4-year term; Grace Larsen, District 4 at large, 4-year term. If one or two people file for an office, they will advance automatically to the November general election. If more than two candidates file, the top two vote-getters will advance to November.

Comment on Hancock Springs variance

A property owner between Winthrop and Mazama is seeking a variance for larger setbacks between an existing residence and a new residence at Hancock Springs Ranch.

The standard setback under Okanogan County code between a primary residence and an accessory structure is 100 feet, but in this case, owner Joshua Schkrohowsky is seeking to construct a new residence about 300 feet away to ensure that the house is outside the channel-migration zone and frequently flooded areas on the property. The extra distance is also requested to keep the new building within the homesite area defined by a conservation easement on the property, according to the application to Okanogan County.

The 112-acre property is on Wolf Creek Road in a rural residential zone. The property currently has two dwellings, the

original 1930 farmhouse (now the primary residence) and a caretaker’s house. There are 1.65 acres surrounding the original home designated as the homestead site.

The property owner intends to preserve the old farmhouse as a residential guest/caretaker’s house. The existing caretaker’s house would be converted to nonresidential use. The new residence would not exceed 3,500 square feet, according to the application.

There is a farmland conservation easement on the property through the Methow Conservancy and the National Resources Conservation Service. The conservation easement protects the natural spring and the agricultural use.

The applicant has been working to modify the boundaries of the homestead site to accommodate another building site outside the Methow River migration zone,

according to the application. Hancock Springs Ranch was originally homesteaded in 1896. It later became a working dairy. Okanogan County has determined the proposal is exempt from the State Environmental Policy Act.

The Okanogan County hearing examiner is conducting a public hearing on Wednesday, June 4, at 6 p.m. in the commissioners’ hearing room. People can attend in person or remotely to comment. A Zoom link will be available on the Okanogan County Planning Department website at www.okanogancounty.org/government/planning/index.php, under Boards and then Hearing Examiner. For more information or to comment in writing before the hearing, contact Rocky Robbins at (509) 422-7117 or rrobbins@ co.okanogan.wa.us.

S P ON S OR A S E N IOR !

The Methow Valley News, with support from the Methow Valley School District, will produce our annual graduation edition, featuring the Class of 2025.

Sponsor a student for only $60, and a portion of proceeds will go to the Public School Funding Alliance. Your support is appreciated. Please contact Tera before Friday, May 23 to coordinate your business or personal sponsorship.

Photo courtesy of Okanogan County Fire District 6 Local, state and federal crews extinguished a small brush fire on Twisp River Road over the weekend.

EDITORIAL

Filling the ballot

We’ve harped on this before, but we are nothing if not consistent when it comes to local elections. There are openings to be filled this year, and we need qualified, enthusiastic candidates to compete for them. By that we do not mean single-issue cranks or fringe ideologues. The concept of public service may be under siege these days, but it fundamentally means being devoted to the overall public good, rather than to political ambition or to a limited circle of special-interest constituents. We hold to that ideal, and think this community should as well.

The reason we should be thinking about all this is that November is coming a lot sooner than you might think. In fact, the general election ballot will largely take shape by May 9, when the official filing for office concludes. Halfway between now and November, the August primaries may sort out some slates, although it’s historically more likely that only one or two candidates will have signed up to run in many positions.

We also have been consistent in saying that uncontested elections are barely better than no elections at all. Candidates should not win by default, and voters should have choices. Tough choices are even better, because it means voters are weighing worthy candidates.

So if you are thinking about seeking office, now’s the time to marshal your thoughts, consult friends and family, do some necessary research and begin preparing for a campaign, no matter what level the office. If you have watched community candidate forums for years, you know that it’s easy to sort out who doesn’t know what they are talking about, or who is running a one-note campaign.

Incumbents will tell you: local elective office is hard work, if done right. It requires knowing more about laws and regulations than you ever thought you’d need to. There are open meetings and public records requirements in place that you must be aware of and practice. You need to learn how to work effectively with a group of people who you may not otherwise have much in common with, or you’ll be the non-contributing outlier.

There may be a payment or stipend involved for some positions, but it’s not a living and it probably computes to a few dollars an hour if you are putting in the requisite time commitment, which is relentless.

And then there is that pesky public. You will hear from them, often directly, sometimes unpleasantly, and will need to learn how to behave with diplomacy and respect.

There are so many things that seem beyond our control or even influence these days, at the state, national and international levels. Right here in this community is where we have some direct control. That is only meaningful if the electorate is paying attention. Around the country, there are many examples of communities that have been blasted out of their apathy when a board or council sets off on a destructive or divisive course.

As off-year elections go, 2025 will offer an active local ballot. In Winthrop, the mayor’s position and four of five town council seats will be up for election. Three of the five town council slots in Twisp are on the ballot. The Methow Valley School District Board of Directors has two of its five seats up for consideration in November. And while the Okanogan County Fire District 6 Board of Commissioners only has one position on the ballot, that is significant because the board only consists of three members. There are also openings for entities such as hospital districts and even cemetery districts. Even the smaller jurisdictions come with important responsibilities. Filing is the easy part. After that comes familiarization with the state’s elections reporting requirements (the state will be checking and so will we); putting together a campaign team; raising some money; preparing information for the voters’ pamphlet; and then getting out there and doing it. All the offices are nonpartisan, which is a good thing — the less partisan, the better.

You can learn a lot more about candidacy, and what goes with it, at the Okanogan County Auditor’s website, or the Secretary of State’s website. Filing can be done online. There is no filing fee for most local offices.

Closer to the elections, we will be offering in-depth coverage. We’d prefer to be profiling competitive races around important issues.

At 5 p.m. on May 9 we’ll know a little more about the political choices that will affect our community. We’re hoping for a robust field of candidates.

CORRECTION:

An article in last week’s issue about Gardner Academy, a new private middle school in the Methow Valley, said tuition would be comparable to the cost of Little Star Montessori, citing a tuition range of $15,000 to $20,000 that quoted numbers provided by Gardner Academy’s cofounders. Although tuition at Little Star varies, depending on a child’s age and number of hours at the school, a five-day week from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. costs about $13,000. The News regrets the error.

OPINION Box 97: Letters to the editor

Doing the math

Dear Editor:

When division is the objective tensions inevitably multiply; things no longer seem to add up. Be the one to make a difference. Greg Wright Winthrop

Generalizations hurt

Dear Editor:

I hope my sentiments are digestible and understandable as I write this letter as a “functional illiterate.” I come from a long line of educators. My parents teach in the Methow Valley, and my Nonna, now retired, spent years doing the same. Teaching runs deep in my family — my aunts, uncles, grandparents, and in-laws have all walked similar paths in public education. I’ve grown up with a front-row seat to their joys, struggles, and ideas in the classroom.

Yet, through it all, they’ve encouraged me not to become a teacher. Not because they don’t love education, but because it’s often thankless, politicized, and undercut by public misunderstanding. While my thoughts on the issue are lengthy, I’ll keep them brief, lest my passion be mistaken for low reading comprehension.

I respect those tackling the complexity of alternative education, even if private school doesn’t align with my beliefs. What I take issue with is a pitch deck built on shaky claims, tactless comments, and a dismissal of our local public schools. Alternative learning has its place and value. But that doesn’t negate the incredible value of public schools. In the last decade, graduates from our district have gone on to attend top-tier universities — Yale, Whitman, Colorado College, and many more. Others study or work abroad, or find success in state schools and the workforce.

The founders of Gardner Academy have the privilege of designing their own model. That doesn’t make them the arbiters of what education should be. Their criticisms reflect personal beliefs, not universal truths. I’m asking them to focus on the education they aim to foster, rather than reinforcing — intentionally or not — the idea that their school is superior. As they encourage kindness and curiosity in their students, I hope they consider how their attitude shapes the foundation of their program. Children are observant and deeply influenced by the world around them. Build something meaningful for you — but don’t do it by tearing others down. Public education is the backbone of our valley, and careless generalizations hurt the entire community.

Mia Stratman Portland

Support public schools

Dear Editor:

I graduated from the Independent Learning Center (ILC) in 2022, and am thriving at Fairhaven College. Throughout my experience in the Methow Valley public school system, I benefited from various different support from teachers, peers, and faculty. One of the greatest gifts of my public school education was the opportunity to be respectfully and intentionally challenged in my beliefs, as well as to challenge others. These experiences allowed me to sharpen my critical thinking skills in unique ways compared to many of my collegiate peers. Through MVSD, I was able to establish lasting relationships based on mutual trust with those I strongly disagreed with.

Being exposed to a wide range of beliefs at Liberty Bell High School and ILC allowed me the opportunity to examine what the word “community” means when we are in disagreement with each other. It helped me understand that we are all products of the context we exist in, and if we can become part of each other’s lives, we develop a deeper sense of respect for each other. Now more than ever, it is integral to the survival of people and land that we rely on each other.

Harts Pass

With recent executive orders signed to dismantle the Department of Education, it is vital that we pour our resources into public schools. A private middle school in the Methow will draw critical resources away from our public schools and create further division amongst young people. This will not only contribute to systems of privilege and inequality, but will also deny youth the opportunity to learn from each other. Pouring money and resources into private schools is exactly what the fascist regime wants. It denies coevolution and encourages division based on wealth. Instead of investing work and energy to generate funds for a private school that acts not unlike a gated community, wouldn’t it be better to contribute to the existing community by enhancing and strengthening the under-resourced schools we already have?

Parents of middle school students: I encourage you to afford your children the opportunity to remain in public school. The health of our community depends on it. Masie Shaw Bellingham

We need our schools

Dear Editor:

Public school is a backbone of democracy and of equity. At a time when our national administration is actively dismantling our public education system, it is selfish and short-sighted to create an elite school for a select few wealthy families. At this particular moment especially, our community needs its schools and our schools need their community.

A private school opening in a small rural school district does not operate in a vacuum, as the Methow Valley News article, “Local Parents Developing Private Middle School,” might have you think. In fact, the financial and social impacts on the school district are serious.

My kids have said many times that the opportunity to attend high school with other young people who view the world differently than they do was one of the valuable educational lessons they obtained at Liberty Bell High School. Many of the friends they made at college had no experience interacting with peers whose families thought or voted differently than theirs. In fact, my daughter got selected to student-teach at a rural middle school because the professor knew she could manage being in a politically mixed environment. These are valuable skills in a divided time.

MVSD graduates go on to do great things and live meaningful productive lives. The parent’s comment about “functional illiterates” is mean and untrue. Is that the kind of discourse the Gardner Academy is looking to foster?

Given the fact that Gardner Academy has no building, no students and no staff, perhaps all of that time and energy could be directed towards our public school district, where education is available to all, regardless of how much money their parents make.

Kelleigh McMillan Twisp

Don’t disparage schools

Dear Editor:

I retired from public school teaching before I made the happy move to our Valley in 2014. As a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, and grandmother of teachers, not to mention

By Len Baublitz

my myriad teacher friends, I have been surrounded by people who also have dedicated their lives to educating our children.

I firmly believe that our public education system is the best tool we, the people, have to instill in our citizens the values that make our nation and democracy exceptional. My grandson (a graduate of Liberty Bell High School) affirms that public education is America’s best-ever idea.

During my 30 gratifying years in American public school classrooms, my experiences have taught me:

• Once a child can read critically, they can learn anything they want to know.

• There are personal growing pains that an American child can only experience when interacting with a wide cross section of peers.

• A community whose influential adults support the public schools will enjoy and celebrate good schools.

I have watched with heart in hand as blow after blow has hammered public education. Vouchers for private education drain public school funding. State budget shortfalls and federal funding restrictions undermine Washington communities’ schools. Now the president is considering eliminating funding for Head Start. (I remember my father’s joy on the day that President Lyndon Johnson signed the Head Start bill into law. My lifelong conservative Republican father finally understood how the federal government could make a meaningful, positive impact in the lives of all of our children.)

Today that government is signaling it won’t support educating our children, and doesn’t care about their future.

Public schools are people-run and therefore not perfect. In the last 50 years, it has become increasingly prevalent for small groups of parents, disillusioned with public schools, to form alternative schools. Others of us have instead kept our children and our voices in the public schools, often out of a moral commitment that our society must educate all our children.

Of those who seek alternatives to our public schools, I have a request. Please, do not disparage the public schools in your discourse and planning. Our Board of Education, faculty, and staff should experience the support and appreciation of our community; they work constantly to improve our public schools, where all of our children are welcome.

Jane Hill Twisp

Liberal

suburb?

Dear Editor:

To new west side visitors and part time residents of the beautiful Methow Valley: While you have brought your west side politics to the valley, we whose families built this valley remain amazed. Your liberal politics and ideology are changing this valley. Our ancestors are I am certain rolling in their graves. What was an agriculture-based valley has changed drastically. Now you fly your pride flags, and all the ideology attached to them. Our families flew the beloved American flag. Our families fought in wars for what you enjoy at no expense to you. The foundation families are gradually dying off. Certain that makes you happy. You are creating a liberal suburb of Seattle. What was a beautiful valley is now totally divided. If only you could have seen it when it.

Rich Millard Eagle, Idaho

By Erik Brooks

The valley is alive … with ‘The Sound of Music’

Talent of all ages on Methow Valley Theater stage

BY RALPH SCHWARTZ

“The Sound of Music” — the bona fide Broadway and movie classic loaded with great songs — was maybe the obvious choice for Methow Valley Theater’s 2025 production.

The theater, which stages shows almost every year at the Methow Valley Community Center, is known for putting on big musicals, including “The Music Man,” “Grease,” “Oklahoma!” twice and “The Wizard of Oz” twice, most recently in 2023.

The Rodgers and Hammerstein hit from 1959 is an obvious addition to this list, said Bill Bley, who is directing Methow Valley Theater’s production. The show opens Friday (April 25).

“‘The Sound of Music’ is such a popular play with people,” Bley said. “There’s a lot of buzz if you put something like this on. And there’s probably a high expectation then, too.”

Bley, who made his acting debut in the valley as Daddy Warbucks in Methow Valley

IF YOU GO:

What: “The Sound of Music” by Methow Valley Theater

When: 6:30 p.m. April 25–26 and May 1–3; 2 p.m. April 27 and May 4

Where: Methow Valley Community Center, 201 Highway 20

S., Twisp

Cost: $18; $25 for the first two rows

More info: methowvalleytheater.org

Theater’s 2018 production of “Annie,” is confident his cast will meet the high bar “The Sound of Music” has set for it.

“I think things are coming together very well,” Bley said in an interview before rehearsal on April 9. The cast has been in rehearsals since January. “I’d say we’re in very good shape.”

All eyes — and ears — will be on Lucy Doran in the lead role of Maria, the aspiring nun who finds her true calling with the seven von Trapp children and their father, the widowed captain Georg von Trapp, played by Matt Armbrust.

Playing Maria means carrying some world-famous standards, including “Do-Re-Mi,” “My Favorite Things” and of course “The Sound of Music.” Bley said Doran — part of a clutch of gifted young actors in the show — is up to the task.

“Our Maria is really talented,” Bley said.

“If you’ve been to any of the high school plays, you just know

how talented our young people are,” he added, noting that three young women in his cast performed two years ago in Liberty Bell High School’s “Mamma Mia!”

Talent to spare

The rambunctious and musically talented von Trapp siblings are led by 16-year-old (“going on 17”) Liesl, played by 2024 Independent Learning Center graduate Amelia Evans.

So many youths tried out for roles as one of the seven von Trapp children that Bley and his crew created an entirely separate children’s chorus that will perform a couple songs during the show.

This isn’t to overlook the accomplished talent among the adult roles in the musical.

Tory DeSalvo plays the Mother Abbess, and Megan Schmidt is the Baroness Shraeder — Captain von Trapp’s love interest until she opts for a graceful exit. Wes Wilcox, fresh off the

title role in The Merc’s Readers’ Theater version of “The Elephant Man,” plays a pivotal role in the family’s life as the captain’s friend, Max Detweiler.

Off stage, Nadine Van Hees is supporting “The Sound of Music” as producer, assistant director, music arranger and choreographer, Bley said. Costumers for the musical are Gale

Bley, whose valley acting credits include The Merc’s 2019 “Rope” and “The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong” from 2022, has never directed before. He finds his new role in local theater to be challenging yet rewarding.

“It’s a lot of work,” he said.

“You’re doing all these things, and you’re trying to connect all the dots, but then all of a sudden you see what the end result is, and it just pumps you up to get you to the next step.”

“When they asked me, ‘Would you like to direct this?’ I jumped at the chance,” he added. “The people, the voices that we have here in the valley are just incredible.”

Jensen wins Write on the River nonfiction contest

BY ASHLEY LODATO

Twisp resident Rebekah Jensen has won first place in the 2025 Write on the River nonfiction contest with her submission “The Randkluft.”

The story, which Jensen whittled down from its original 1,700 words to comply with the 1000word limit for entry, begins and ends in a randkluft — a fissure at the edge of a glacier. What happened in the middle was harrowing, but that is neither the way Jensen experienced the events nor the way she wrote about them. It was only later that she realized how narrowly she had avoided serious injury, or worse.

“When it came to the mountains,” Jensen wrote in her submission, “Taylor had always been our MVP. Now, I needed to be the strong one, and I barely knew what I was doing.”

Revisiting an old article

This is Jensen’s second time earning acclaim from Write on the River. In 2022, she won second place for her nonfiction piece “First Miles of the After.” At that time, Jensen indicated that she might start an annual tradition of entering the Write on the River competition. “I didn’t do that,” she said. She tried her hand at fiction, but felt like she was trying to spin memoir and creative nonfiction into fiction and could never quite find the thread.

Jensen and her then-boyfriend had summited Wyoming’s Mount Moran and hadn’t yet completed the descent — a different route than they had taken on the ascent — when darkness fell. “The Randkluft” describes both the climb and the descent, as well as the night they spent in the randkluft — a tiny protected snow-hole they sought refuge in. It was a discovery that may well have saved their lives.

Jensen said that the descent was dicey but at the time she wasn’t an experienced enough climber to be worried, so her partner bore the emotional burden of understanding what danger they were in and being the only one with the technical skills to get them safely down the mountain.

But three years later, she took seriously Write on the River’s call to writers to “dust off an old piece you’ve been working on.” She picked up a longer piece she had written but never published in 2018, did a “massive slash” of words, and took a retrospective look at it. “The Randkluft” was the result.

Jensen is an environmental consultant in biology and forestry, but she earned a degree in creative nonfiction. As a child, she loved to write. “I thought I would be a writer as a job — I never questioned it — until I realized that I wouldn’t be able to make a regular living unless I taught, and it turns out I didn’t want to teach.”

At one point during the descent they reached a ledge where it didn’t seem possible to build an anchor to set up a safety rope. “He realized what a jam we were in and that put him in a place of panic,” Jensen said. “Meanwhile, because I didn’t really realize the potential consequences, I was able to keep my cool.”

She decided instead that she would get a job that allowed her to work outside and she would write in her free time. Her day job is focused on habitat assessments, biological impact analyses, and natural resources permit applications.

“It’s my favorite new format,” she said. “It can fit into my day more easily.”

Jensen said that joining a poetry group has challenged her to be more vulnerable with her writing. This is evident in one line in particular in “The Randkluft.”

“Staying with [Taylor] felt alternately like accepting a gift and stealing from myself,” she wrote.

“It was such an interesting time,” she said later. “He was younger than me and such a free spirit. We were in really different places in life. We had so much fun together and it was so lovely that

Since her last Write on the River award, Jensen has joined Confluence Poets and said she has fallen in love with poetry.

it felt like a gift, but there couldn’t be any forward momentum.” Jensen loves living on Newby Creek with her two dogs and sometimes her young adult son and calls her little spot her “favorite 10 acres in the world.”

She plans to read “The Randkluft” at the Four Minute of Fame open mic event at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center on May 22, where some of the other winners will read as well. You can read “The Randkluft” and the submissions of the other winners at www.writeontheriver. org/2025-contest-winners.

Liberty Bell Drama Company stages ‘Hadestown: Teen Edition’ in May

The Liberty Bell Drama Company and The Merc Playhouse present a production of “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” a critically acclaimed musical by Anais Mitchell, on May 13, 14, 16, 17 and 18.

Shows are at 7 p.m. every day except Sunday, May 18, when it will be presented as a 2 p.m. matinee. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. The Tony Award-winning

musical “Hadestown” is a modern retelling of the myths of Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as Hades and Persephone, set in a world where the boundaries between life and death are blurred, according to a press release. The musical follows Orpheus, a gifted young musician, whose love for Eurydice leads him to embark on a perilous journey to the underworld in an

attempt to rescue her. The score blends folk, jazz, and blues, according to the release.

“The story of Hadestown is both timeless and deeply relevant,” said Kelly Grayum, director of Liberty Bell Drama Company. “The characters’ journey through hardship and love speaks to all generations.”

The production is made possible by sponsors The Merc Playhouse, Methow Arts and the Public School Funding Alliance. Reserve tickets are available at mercplayhouse.org. General community member tickets are $15. Methow Valley School Dis-

Tucker and Jeanne Johnson.

Photo by Ralph Schwartz

Maria, played by Lucy Doran, holds Gretl von Trapp (Izzy Naney) during a rehearsal of “The

Sound of Music” at Methow Valley Community Center. The show opens Friday (April 25) and continues through May 4.

Photo courtesy of Write on the River

Rebekah Jensen of Twisp took first place in the nonfiction category in the 2025 Write on the River contest.

Herbalist, tattoo artist collaborated to produce ‘I Am the Land’ coloring book

Local herbalist and author Rosalee de la Forêt and her husband, Xavier, have collaborated with Twisp River tattoo artist Caitlin Cordell to publish “I Am the Land, These Are My People,” a naturalist coloring book for children and adults alike.

According to a press release from the book’s publisher, Methow Press, “A gentle narrative leads readers on a journey through the Methow Valley’s seasons, flora, and fauna, while Cordell’s artwork on the facing pages provides ample opportunity for colorful inking and penciling.”

The plants and creatures featured in the book are identified by their common and taxonomic names and nsəlxcin names, the language of the Methow people, thanks to consultation with Elaine Timentwa Emerson, a Methow language holder.

The illustrated story book celebrates language, landscapes, and ecosystems in the Methow Valley. To create the illustrations, the creators visited local landscapes in each season. When Timentwa Emerson was presented with the project she expressed the importance of for kids to know what it is like to have mud between their toes, and to know where they come from.

The project — funded in part by a Mary Kiesau Community Fellowship award — was conceived at Kiesau’s memorial service. Rosalee de la Forêt’s vision prompted her to expand

LIVE MUSIC

The information below was provided by Methow Music Monthly and other sources. For more information, visit www.methowmusicmonthly.com.

• First Sundays, Methow Acoustic Musicians Association gathers at The Cove 2 in Twisp from 3-5 p.m. All are invited.

• Second and fourth Sundays, contra dancing at Twisp Valley Grange, 6:30 p.m. By donation.

• Sundays, intermediate level line dancing at TwispWorks building N, 5-7 p.m. By donation.

• Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m., and Fridays, 10 a.m., Music in Motion, play-based music and movement experience for

EGG SCRAMBLE

the project into a collaboration with her husband, Xavier, who is also trained in ethnobotany and wildlife tracking.

“Most nature illustrations are extractive, out of context,” said Rosalee de la Forêt. The book was created with the idea of showing species in their environment, she said.

All profits from sales of the book will support complimentary distribution of copies to local schools and help fund outdoor programs for children.

The book, which the authors

ages birth through 3 and their caregivers at Methow Valley Community Center. Suggested $10 donation.; email katya.chorover@gmail.com.

• Tuesdays, Methow Ukulele Group meets at various locations around the valley from 3-5 p.m. More information at geraldebell@yahoo.com.

• Wednesdays, dance instruction from the waltz and salsa to the two- and 10-step and everything in between, with Debbie Bair at Twisp River Tap House, ages 12 and up, 5:15 for beginners, 6:308:30 p.m. for all skill levels. $5.

• First Fridays, open mic at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop, 6-9 p.m. No cover.

• Fridays, open mic jam with Gregg

The valley’s annual Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by Winthrop Kiwanis, Ulrich’s Pharmacy and the Twisp Valley Grange on April 19, drew about 130 kids to the Liberty Bell High School campus, where they chased down 3,100 plastic eggs filled with goodies.

describe as “a love letter to the Methow,” was published April 1 and was previewed at the Methow Valley Authors Fair at Casia Lodge on April 5. “I Am the Land” will have a formal introduction at 6:30 p.m. on April 26 at Trail’s End Bookstore in Winthrop. The book’s authors will be on hand to discuss and read from the book. Copies will be available for sale and signing. The book is also available at Valley Goods in Twisp, and at True North Letterpress

Hardy at Twisp River Tap House, 6 p.m.-closing. No cover.

• Friday, April 25, “Uncle Doug” Cooper offers authentic country, folk and rock at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop, 6-9 p.m. No cover, tips appreciated.

• Tuesday, April 28, Greg Goad & Alexandra blend and vocals in covers and originals, at Mazama Public House, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free.

• Friday, May 9, Hillfolk Noir at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop 6-9 p.m. No cover.

• Friday, May 9, Emele Clothier plays folk to blues to jazzy interludes at Meza restaurant, Winthrop, 6-8 p.m. No cover.

ARTS BRIEFS

TALK

KARPENKO

Methow Valley artist Tori Karpenko will give a talk about his current exhibit at The Traver Gallery in Seattle on Saturday (April 26) from 3-4 p.m. Karpenko and Senior Project Manager for Public Art at the Port of Seattle, Tommy Gregory, will discuss Karpenko’s exhibit, “Where Water Becomes Sky,” which opened April 5 and continues through May 3.

‘OUR TOWN’ AUDITIONS

The Merc Playhouse in Twisp will conduct auditions for the cast of “Our Town,” the American classic play by Thornton Wilder, on Sunday, June 15, and Tuesday, June 17, from 5-7:30 p.m. each day.

Performances are Oct. 9-19.

Rehearsals begin Sunday, Aug. 3 and will be held on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. Dress rehearsals will be Oct. 6-8.

Actors ages 11 through 60 will be auditioned for the diverse cast. Many roles are gender and/or race neutral; some actors may have more than one role. Auditioners will read from script selections, no advance preparation or previous experience is necessary. Bring your calendar and be prepared to list all rehearsal conflicts in advance of casting.

Young actors should bring an adult to help list rehearsal conflicts. Forms will be provided at auditions. Email director Jane Orme at jane. orme@gmail.com with questions and to sign up. Signing up in advance helps the director prepare appropriate reading materials and audition forms.

TRASHION TICKETS

VIP tickets for the 2025 Trashion Show, presented by the Confluence: Art in Twisp are now on sale. General admission tickets will go on sale April 23. This year’s show takes place on Saturday, May 31, at the Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp. Visit https://www.confluencegallery. org for more information, call (509) 997-2787 or email info@confluencegallery.org.

The Confluence is calling for solo designers, and teams of designers, to take part. Visit www.confluencegallery.org/events/trashion-call-to-de-

signers for information.

WINTHROP GALLERY RECEPTION

The Winthrop Gallery will host a featured artists reception on Friday, May 16, focusing on the works of local artists Gregg Caudell, Sherry Malotte and Joe Simonsen. The free event will be from 5-7 p.m. Refreshments will be available. For information, email sherry@sherrymalotte. com.

CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL

The 29th annual Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival produced by Artistic Director Kevin Krentz, will offer four Centerstage concerts at the Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp on June 19, 21, 26 and 28. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., pre-concert lectures begin at 6:30 p.m. and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $48; free for ages 10-17. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.methowmusicfestival. org. For information, email info@ methowmusicfestival.org or call (509) 997-5000. Free open rehearsals are offered at the Community Center during the day starting on June 17. Additional free open rehearsals will be offered at the following locations:

• Mazama Public House, June 18, 4-5 p.m.

• Motive Yoga, Winthrop, June 20, 4-5 p.m.

• Sun Mountain Lodge, June 24, 4-5 p.m.

• Casia Lodge & Ranch, June 25, 4-5 p.m.

• Winthrop library, June 27, 4-5 p.m.

R&B FESTIVAL TICKETS

Tickets are on sale for the 2025 Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival, scheduled for July 18-20 at the Blues Ranch west of town. Go to https:// winthropbluesfestival.com/ for information about the talent lineup and how to purchase tickets. Prices are $150 for a limited number of Early Bird passes; $160 for Tier One tickets; $165 for Tier Two tickets (starting April 1); and $175 for day of show tickets (starting July 17).

Photo courtesy of Rosalee de la Forêt

Illustrator Caitlin Cordell and authors Rosalee and Xavier de la Forêt have published a new coloring book for kids and adults alike.

Photo by Rick Lewis

Photo by Rick Lewis

Photo by Rick Lewis

Photo by Michelle Schmidtke

Photo by Michelle Schmidtke

Photo by Michelle Schmidtke

Photo by Michelle Schmidtke

SPORTS & RECREATION

Nelson, Walker in full stride at KVAlly Rally

BY RICK LEWIS

Mountain Lion junior Marit Nelson ran to another double victory and freshman Elaine Walker hit new heights with 4-foot, 8-inch winning effort in the high jump, leading the Liberty Bell High School girls to a third-place finish at the KVally Rally at Kittitas High School last Friday.

Nelson broke the tape in both the 400-meter and the 800M runs. Her 1:02.31 time was a new personal record in the 400M and her 800M time just one second off her PR in that event.

Walker’s winning leap was a PR for her. She was the only jumper to clear that height in the 12-competitor field.

It was her first win after three previous meets where she topped out at 4 feet, 6

inches.

The good news story of Friday saw the return of sophomore sprinter Taylor Hover to multiple events, running the 4x200M relay and adding the 200M dash to her repertoire. The 4x200M was the first time this year for the 2024 team of Hover, Audrey Roman, Wynter Woras and Ingrid Venable since last spring’s sub-regional league championship at Oroville. The Mountain Lion quartet moved up to seventh on the early 2025 top 10 list for the 2B class statewide.

Woras, Venable and Roman teamed with Nelson to place second in the 4x400M relay. Their time of 4:29.46 was about five seconds off the pace set by Manson’s relay team. The effort, though, is the fifth-fastest in the 2B class statewide so far this year.

Roman also had some success on her own, placing second in the 200M dash with a time of 28.16.

Freshman Elsa Gutzler had two top10 placings on Friday: ninth (2:47.8; PR) in the 800M run and a strong fourth place (6:26.21) in the 1,600M. Gutzler’s cross country teammates Alida Burt and Nina Halpin placed third and fifth, respectively, in the 3,200M run. The Mountain Lions had two top 10s in the long jump, freshman Mylie Erks setting a PR in seventh place with a jump of 13 feet, 6.75 inches, and Venable at 13 feet, 4.25 inches in ninth place.

Dexter Delaney was once again the story of the boys’ meet, winning the 1600M run going away and taking second in the 800M run, an event he doesn’t normally run.

In the 800M, lanky sophomore Orlo

Parkinson ran to a fifth-place finish with a new personal best time of 2:12.68. Other notable placers for the boys included Cade Hink’s third-place finish in the 400M dash. His 54.31 was a PR for the senior in his first season as a track athlete, and put him at 15th on the all-time Liberty Bell 400M list. Tristan Hover placed ninth in the 1,600M (5:19.48) and fourth in the 3,200M (12:07.47). The boys’ 4x400M relay team earned a respectable fifth place. Hink, Parkinson and Delaney were joined by sophomore Aiden Plante.

Senior javelin slinger Morgan Spellman threw a season-best 143, feet, 1 inch, good for second place, and showing signs of returning to form as he recovers from a mid-season basketball injury. Freshman Lucas Gatlin cleared

the high jump bar at 5 feet, 4 inches, tying his PR, good enough to finish in a second-place tie.

The boys placed sixth out of the 18 teams at the meet, and the girls were third among 20 teams, only two points behind second-place Manson. Brewster was the top team girls’ team and Tonasket won the boys’ title.

The Mountain Lions hosted the first of two home meets, the Liberty Bell Small Schools Meet, on Tuesday (April 22). The Liberty Bell Invitational is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7.

This Saturday (April 26) finds most of the Mountain Lions in Ritzville at the Undeberg Invitational. Dexter Delaney will be headed to Eisenhower High School in Yakima for the 98th Annual A.C. Davis Invitational on Saturday.

Defense rules as Liberty Bell boys’ soccer splits in league action

BY RICK LEWIS

Defense was the key on the pitch as the Liberty Bell High School boys’ soccer team lost at home on Thursday to Brewster, 2-1, then went to Tonasket where they escaped with a with a 1-0 victory on Saturday.

Finn Simmons got the Mountain Lions out early with a goal in the first five minutes against the Bears, a shot from the goal box into the net. From there, it was a gritty match of stingy defenses with solid play in the nets.

Brewster would score on a rush toward the net midway through the first half, then take a 2-1 lead inside the 2:00 mark, mere seconds before the halftime whistle. The second half was tough and hard-nosed, with no balls finding the back of the net.

For Coach Mark Crum, the game being played in the defensive end was not surprising.

“When we’re at our best, we begin in the backfield,” he said. “If we just kick it up the field, it’s a mess. When we get things flowing, everyone moving up field as a unit, we get good passing and

things just set up.”

“The point is to get a good build-up as we move up the field, good passes and control. I think our improvement is key there,” Crum said.

The team is maturing this year, according to Crum. He pointed to their ability to play a little more physically,

especially on defense.

“We made a change about halfway through the first half to play a little more defensively and that affected how we were able to do things offensively,” Crum said.

While losses are always disappointing, Crum was positive about his team’s

growth. “That was league-leading Brewster,” he said.

Aidan Sands provided the only score of the Mountain Lions’ 1-0 victory at Tonasket on Saturday. “It was a physical, rough game,” said Crum, typical of past encounters with Tonasket.

Liberty Bell is 2-2 on the season with

wins over Omak and Tonasket and the two losses to Manson and Brewster. They were on the road Tuesday at Cascade (Leavenworth). Thursday and Saturday they play at Liberty Bell, both rematch games with Omak (4:30 p.m. Thursday) and 11 a.m. Saturday hosting Manson.

LBHS softball breaks loose for three high-scoring wins

BY RICK LEWIS

The Liberty Bell High School Mountain Lions finally broke through with their first win of the 2025 softball season, turning the tables on the Bridgeport Fillies in dominant fashion with a home field 18-3 victory last Thursday. The win avenged an early season 29-4 loss at Bridgeport. The Mountain Lions followed that up with a double-header sweep at Manson on Friday, hammering out hits, taking advantage of Trojan errors and misplays to score wins of 16-5 and 22-3.

“It’s only a matter of time before things kick in,” Coach Jacob McMillan said, almost prophetically after a home loss to Omak the previous week. Getting hits and scoring runs had been a challenge over the first two weeks, and defensive lapses continued to plague the girls at key times. But Karly Treise’s home run, noticeably improved defensive play, and Kiki Treise starting to settle into the pitching role offered some signs of hope for the second-year coach.

The Liberty Bell girls put all of that early season stuff behind them on a sunny, stable and calm Thursday afternoon. The Fillies got off to a good enough start, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning, but that lead was short-lived as the Mountain Lions responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the opening inning. Katie Surface and Layla Mortland each had RBI singles.

Pitcher Kiki Treise faced the minimum number of batters in the top of the second, and then it was time for the fireworks as the Mountain Lion bats came alive in the bottom half. When the dust settled, the Mountain Lions had posted 12 runs, effectively putting the game away. Kiki Treise held the Fillies scoreless in the third with Liberty Bell posting two more runs in the bottom of the frame to extend the lead to 15 runs at 18-3 and the game was called on the mercy rule.

The offensive momentum carried through to the next day against league rival Manson in a rare Friday afternoon double-header.

The visiting Mountain Lions wasted no time getting the offense cranked up, featuring a grand slam home run by Pepper Treise.

Kiki Treise returned to the pitcher’s circle for Liberty Bell, going all four innings of the mercy rule shortened game, throwing eight strikeouts and giving up the three hits, five runs and walking five. The Mountain Lions scored their 16 runs on 13 hits. Manson committed four errors. Liberty Bell had two errors on defense.

Pepper Treise was the Mountain Lion offensive star with two hits, five runs batted in and three runs. Katie Surface was 3-4 on the game with four RBI and one run scored. It was more of the same in the nightcap as Liberty Bell trounced the Trojans 22-3. The Mountain Lions capitalized on 12 walks and five Manson errors on their way to another mercy rule ending with the score 22-3 after the third inning.

The three-game win streak improves the record for Liberty Bell to 3-9 overall and 2-4 in league

and

them up the

play,

bounces

ladder from seventh to

fourth place just past the midway point on the year. Tuesday the rejuvenated Lions faced the Brewster Bears on the home field. They face the Cascade Kodiaks on Wednesday at home, then it’s on

the road Saturday to Okanogan for a league double-header, first pitch at 11 a.m. Only one home game remains on the schedule, on Saturday, May 3, Senior Day against the Lake Roosevelt Raiders.

Photos by Dexter Delaney

Above: Freshman Elaine Walker cleared the bar at 4 feet, 8 inches to win the girls’ high jump competition. Right, Walker handed off to Lucy Collier in the girls’ 4x100 meter relay.

Photos by Rick Lewis

Left: Liberty Bell goalkeeper Raiff Reichert blasted a ball upfield against Brewster. Right, Bodie Thomson protected Reichert on a save.

Photo by Mazie Gibb Liberty Bell’s Ava Schade legged it out on the basepaths during the Mountain Lions’ home field win against Bridgeport.

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LOOKING FOR AN upbeat fun work environment that’s family owned and operated? Need some extra cash or something to occupy your time? THE WINTHROP STORE has year-round positions available. Looking for motivated self-starter to work in Guido’s Deli, make espresso drinks and retail. Must be 21 or older. Hourly wage is $18/hr DOE + tips, with discounts and employee shift meal. Must be available to work weekends. Email your resume to: winthropstore@ gmail.com or stop by and pick up an application.

METHOW WATERSHED FOUNDATION

is seeking applicants for a part time Outreach Coordinator. Position is approx .25 FTE, contracted role from May 15, 2025 – March 31, 2026, with option to extend depending on funding. Compensation to be negotiated depending on experience. Hours are flexible. Contact methowwatershed@gmail.com for a full description and application instructions.

LARIAT COFFEE ROASTERS is hiring a Production/Shipping assistant. Must have basic computer, math and reading skills. Be able to lift Must possess good attention to detail and a clean driving record. Permanent FT/PT position. Weekends off. Pay rate depends upon experience, starting at $18/hr. Applications available or send resume and references to info@lariatcoffee.com. No phone calls please.

BARTENDER WANTEDTHREE Fingered Jack’s Saloon seeks human shaker of cocktails, master of sarcasm, and unlicensed therapist. Must tolerate bad pickup lines, know the difference between whiskey and whisky, and be cool under fire. Perks: Cash tips, free shift meal, and questionable stories for life. You: Experience and no drama. Must apply in person but call 506-996-2411 first for an appointment. Bring your best dad joke.

HERO OF THE Backline Needed - Three Fingered Jack’s Saloon seeks a dish warrior to battle the avalanche of plates, cups, and mysterious sticky things. Must enjoy wet, hot steamy environments and the soothing sound of clinking chaos. No experience required—just hustle, heart, and tolerance for kitchen shenanigans. Perks: Free smells, staff meal, and the respect of everyone in the building. Apply in person but call 509-996-2411 first for an appointment.

34 SERVICES

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75 WANTED

DO YOU WANT to work with others to preserve the beautiful natural wonders of the Methow and Okanogan Valleys for future generations to enjoy? The Methow Valley Citizens Council (MVCC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization, has been raising a strong community voice for the protection of the Methow and Okanogan Valley’s natural environment and rural character since 1976. We work to bring people together to shape the future of our region so that it stays aligned with community values of preserving open space, wildlife habitat, clean air and water, and local agriculture. MVCC is seeking new board members who will help broaden and diversify our board of directors. MVCC seeks board members with varied strengths and backgrounds, including the following:

-Passion for the mission and willingness to serve as an ambassador-especially to underrepresented communities.

-Deep respect for the Methow and Okanogan Valleys’ communities, their people and their values;

-Strategic and creative thinking; willingness to “think outside the box”; and -Prior board experience valued but not required.

MVCC Board Member expectations include the following:

-Provide financial and strategic oversight of the organization; -Attend board meetings every other month;

-Act as ambassadors for the organization with key community groups;

-Serve on committees and work groups; and

-5-10 hours/month commitment.

MVCC is accepting applications until May 5, 2025. Those interested in board service should complete an application found at mvcitizens.org.

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LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE IS GIVEN BY the Board of Okanogan County Commissioners that they are seeking applications for an Okanogan County Representative for the North Central Washington Library district’s board of trustees to complete the term of trustee Jill Sheley, who plans to step down in June of this year. Sheley’s term ends 12/31/2027 at which time the qualified candidate will be eligible for reappointment to a 7-year term by the Okanogan County Commissioners.

The NCW Libraries board is composed of 7 members who are appointed by joint resolutions of the county commissioners who represent the five counties of the NCW Libraries service area including Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Okanogan, and Ferry counties. For more information and to learn the qualifi cations for the position, please visit the County Commissioners webpage at okanogancounty.org/government/ commissioners

How to Apply

Interested residents of Okanogan County should email their completed application, resume, and letter of interest to Lanie Johns, at ljohns@co.okanogan. wa.us by May 9, 2025 by 5:00 p.m. Published in the Methow Valley News April 16 and 23, 2025.

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FOR THE COUNTY OF OKANOGAN

In re the Estate of: Juan Hernandez Arevalo Cause Number: 25-4-00008-24 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE:

The Above Court has appointed Maria Virrueta as Personal Representative of Decedent’s Estate. Any Person having a claim against the Decedent must present the claim: (a) Before the time when the claim would be barred by any applicable statute of limitations, and (b) In the manner provided in RCW 11.40.070: (i) By filing the original of the claim with the foregoing Court, and (ii) By serving on or mailing to me at the address below a copy of the claim. The claim must be presented by the later of: (a) Thirty (30) days after I served or mailed this Notice as provided in RCW 11.40.020(1)(c), or (b) Four (4) months after the date of first publication of this Notice. If the Claim is not presented within this time period, the claim will be forever barred except as provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective for claims against both the Decedent’s probate and non-probate assets. Date of First Publication of this Notice: /s/ Kenneth J. Miller, WSBA

#46666

Attorney for Maria Virrueta, Personal Representative. KEN MILLER & ASSOCIATES, PLLC PO BOX 978 OKANOGAN, WA 98840

509.861.0815 (P)

509.557.6280 (F)

Published in the Methow Valley News April 23, 30 and May 7; 2025. IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FOR THE COUNTY OF OKANOGAN

In re the Estate of: Gary Canaan Cause Number: 25-4-00038-24 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: The Above Court has appointed Charles Canaan as Personal Representative of Decedent’s Estate. Any Person having a claim against the Decedent must present the claim: (a) Before the time when the claim would be barred by any applicable statute of limitations, and (b) In the manner provided in RCW 11.40.070: (i) By filing the original of the claim with the foregoing Court, and (ii) By serving on or mailing to me at the address below a copy of the claim. The claim must be presented by the later of: (a) Thirty (30) days after I served or mailed this Notice as provided in RCW 11.40.020(1)(c), or (b) Four (4) months after the date of first publication of this Notice. If the Claim is not presented within this time period, the claim will be forever barred except as provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective for claims against both the Decedent’s probate and non-probate assets.

Date of First Publication of this Notice: /s/ Blake P. Chesledon, WSBA #62568

Attorney for Charles Canaan, Personal Representative. KEN MILLER & ASSOCIATES, PLLC PO BOX 978 OKANOGAN, WA 98840 509.861.0815 (P) 509.557.6280 (F) Published in the Methow Valley News April 23, 30 and May 7; 2025. IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FOR THE COUNTY OF OKANOGAN

In re the Estate of: Marcella Kalma Cause Number: 25-4-00021-24 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE:

On 03/06/2025, the Above Court appointed Christopher Kalma as Personal Representative of the Estate of: Marcella Kalma (the “Decedent”). Any Person having a claim against the Decedent must present the claim: (a) Before the time when the claim would be barred

Methow Valley Youth wrestlers finish season at Spokane meet

The

BY RICK LEWIS

Twenty wrestlers from the Methow Valley club made the trip to Spokane for the event, joining 83 other clubs from Washington, Idaho and Oregon. The day of competition began at 6:30 a.m.

Eleven junior Mountain Lions earned podium spots for placing first through fourth places in their respective brackets, broken into age and weight classifications. Four Methow Valley grapplers took first place in their classes: Deandre Covarrubias, Astrid Stevie, Penny Stevie and Nellie Stevie. Ausitn Port nabbed a second-place medal. Cody McClanahan and Abel Port earned third-place awards and Andy Miller, Gamble Plowman, Rawley Port and Eli Walker each took fourth place.

The rest of the Methow Valley contingent included Lucy Gustafson, Calvin Day, Harper Day, Cole Gustafson, Porter Jefferson, Gunnar Plowman, Carmen Reece, Chance Reece and Carter Thorp.

“It was a great end to the season,” said program director Beau Stevie. Joining Stevie as coaches for the event was an all-Mountain Lion Wrestling alumni assemblage of Matt Stevie, Travis Port, Maverick Port, Glenn Plowman, Colton Skelton and Marc Jefferson.

The event is named for Medical Lake junior wrestler, Jason

Crawford, who was killed in a vehicle accident while on a family vacation near Kelowna, British Columbia, in 1988. Crawford was 12 years old at the time. His family was deeply involved with the local Mat Maulers junior wrestling program.

According to local media reports, the family initiated and facilitated a fund drive to provide a wrestling mat in Jason’s memory, which began the tradition of the April youth tournament that now attracts the huge field only the Veterans Arena can accommodate.

Mountain Lions swamp Manson in double-header

BY RICK LEWIS

Mountain Lion Jake Grady followed up his no-hitter of last week with another baseball gem at Manson on Friday. The Liberty Bell High School junior gave up only one run and scattered three hits over five innings in game 1 of a twin-bill rout of the Manson Trojans.

The Mountain Lions won the first game, 14-1, as Grady went the distance in the mercy-rule shortened contest. He then opened and pitched two innings of a combined, 15-0 no-hitter in the nightcap.

Grady Thrasher and Greydon Paz teamed with Grady to silence the Trojan bats.

Grady still had plenty left in him after the first game, having used only 57 of his

allotted 105 pitches, so Coach David Aspholm called on the right hander to start the nightcap. Offensively, the Lions took a 1-0 lead in the first, added three runs in the second inning and five more in the third as they sent 10 batters to the plate.

Remi Paz picked up his second double in the third inning and added a third in the fourth inning to go with a single for a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate. The junior centerfielder flirted with hitting for the cycle, but missed a home run and although one of his doubles had him standing at third base, he was ruled to have advanced on a fielding error.

A lone run in the fourth inning, then five more in the fifth, put an end to the game when Greyden Paz came in to

SPORTS BRIEFS

BIKE PROGRAMS

Methow Cycle and Sport in Winthrop is

offering a variety of bike-related programs in the coming weeks:

• Intro to Bikepacking Overnighter: to Gardner Hut on May 3 and 4; pre-trip meeting on April 30 at 5 p.m. Registration requested.

• Radical Roots Women’s MTB Skills Camp: on June 14 and 15, designed for riders who identify as FTWN-B (Femme, Trans, Women, Non-Binary) who are 18 years or older. All skill levels are welcomed. Limited to 24 participants; cost is $395 before May 15, $425 after. Net proceeds to benefit Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, Methow Chapter.

SHOOTING TRAINING

Adult shooting sports training for 4-H volunteers is offered on May 2-4 in Twisp. Registration is $50 for the first discipline and $35 for the second discipline. For information and to register visit https://extension.wus. edu/4h/projects./4-h-shooting-sports-trainingmay-2-4-2025/. Email angelyn.sheppard@wsu. edu for information.

pitch and finished things off. The 15-0 win for Liberty Bell was the third no-hitter on the season for the Mountain Lion staff, and the second in three games. The first was at Lake Roosevelt, another combined effort, back in March. The 6-0 Mountain Lions sit atop the Central Washington 2B, essentially tied with 7-0 Okanogan. Brewster is one game back at 6-1. The Bears and Mountain Lions tangled on Tuesday afternoon. Those three teams are expected to battle for the top spot to the league tournament in early May. Okanogan comes to Liberty Bell this coming Saturday for a double-header that will decide the No. 1 team into the post season. First pitch in game one is at 11 a.m., game two should start around 1 p.m.

METHOW ARTS

GOLF TOURNEY

The first Methow Arts Golf Invitational Tournament will be on Sunday, May 18, at Bear Creek Golf Course near Winthrop. It will include a nine-hole, best ball scramble format for four-person teams, as well as awards for putting, chipping and closest-to-the-pin in men’s and women’s categories. The tournament will be followed by a dinner and live music. Sign-in starts at 1 p.m.; play begins at 2 p.m. Dinner and entertainment start at 5 p.m. Cost is $125 per non-member player; $100 for Bear Creek members; and $50 for dinner and entertainment only.

GET LOST TRAIL RACE

The Okanogan Highlands Alliance hosts the seventh annual Get Lost Trail Race on Sunday, July 13. Races include 3-mile, 7-mile, and 11-mile options plus a free kids’ run. All races begin and end at the U.S. Forest Service group campground at Lost Lake in the Colville National Forest outside of Tonasket, starting at 8 a.m. Learn more and register at www.ultrasignup.com and search for Get Lost.

Photos courtesy of Lions Den Wrestling Club

Above: The Methow Valley Lions Den Youth Wrestling Program contingent of 20 traveled to Spokane for an April 12 meet featuring about 2,000 competitors. Below, Penny Stevie (left) stared down an opponent.

Wagner Pool supporters take a victory lap

Twisp Council accepts $190K to open pool in 2025

BY RALPH SCHWARTZ

The Twisp Civic Building felt more like a party scene than a place of official business on April 15, when the town council voted unanimously to accept a $190,000 check from Friends of the Pool (FOP), enabling the town to reopen Wagner Memorial Pool this summer.

Most of the audience in council chambers consisted of FOP board members, who applauded every pool-related vote that evening. The council also approved new job descriptions and pay rates for pool employees.

Afterward, members of the FOP board and town leaders posed for photographs and indulged in cupcakes that spelled out — in abbreviated form — “Friends of the Pool and Town of Twisp: go team.”

It was one of the more jubilant government meetings anyone is likely to attend. Public Works

Director Andrew Denham received the loudest cheer, when he announced that a contractor would start pool repairs the following day.

Mayor Hans Smith said he and the council are “excited” to work with FOP to get the pool ready for the summer.

“I think it’s worth just noting … the incredible work by Friends of the Pool and the community to rally together, to put together the funding to do these needed repairs and operate in 2025,” Smith said. Council member Wyatt Lundquist chimed in with his own thank-you, “on behalf of the kids of Twisp.” Wagner Pool remained closed last year, after public works crews found extensive damage to the pool’s liner.

The $190,000 donation, on top of $40,000 FOP gave the town in October 2024, covers the cost

of a new liner and other repairs needed this spring, in addition to repairs completed at the facility last fall.

About $60,000 from FOP’s gift will go to day-to-day operations of the pool this year.

Job postings

The town seeks a pool manager and assistant manager, in addition to lifeguards. Job descriptions and application forms are available at townoftwisp.com. Click on “Employment Opportunities” under the “How Do I” tab. Pool manager will pay between

Checking out: Longtime motel owner ready to hand over the keys

Twisp’s Sportsman Motel up for sale

BY RALPH SCHWARTZ

For Brian Radosevich, running one of the most affordable accommodations in the Methow Valley hasn’t been a side business. It’s literally been his whole life.

“I wish I could say I was doing something else,” he said, during a short break from spring cleaning at Sportsman Motel in Twisp.

“I’ve been working 24 hours, seven days a week. I don’t get weekends off like normal people. I don’t have a normal life at all,” he said.

Radosevich, 72, is ready to retire after owning and operating the motel for the past 30 years. The property, including a 960-square-foot house, is on the market for $600,000.

The motel was built in 1942, according to the Okanogan County assessor. The real estate listing describes it as having “good bones and a classic Americana appeal.” Even if that translates as “somewhat outdated,” no one is likely to complain about their accommodations after seeing Radosevich’s prices. He raised them by $2 for 2025: $60 for a single, $67 for a double.

Some of his regular guests

over the decades have come simply for the price, Radosevich said.

“It’s nice to have a lower-price hotel, for people to have that option that don’t have a lot of money,” he said.

The Sportsman also attracts deer hunters in the fall and turkey hunters in the spring. In the winter, Radosevich reserves a couple units for long-term tenants while leaving room for skiers and snowmobilers. Families visiting relatives in the valley also patronize his motel.

“I’ve been here 30 years, so I have repeat customers,” Radosevich said. “I know their kids. I know their families. They call me by name when they leave a message on my phone.”

Relocating to the valley Radosevich followed two high school buddies from Seattle who moved to the Methow Valley, staying in a trailer up the Twisp River in 1993 and 1994. He bought his current home and the adjacent motel when it went up for sale in 1995.

He had some business experience, running his own hair salon in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood until it burned down. Then he went to college to study computer programming and got a job as a financial programmer for Nordstrom.

“I probably had 100 jobs,” Radosevich said, from ware -

houses to gas stations to the retirement home kitchen in Seattle where he washed dishes when he was 15.

This wide-ranging experience served Radosevich well at the Sportsman. He doesn’t have any employees.

“I do it all,” he said. “Right now I’ve got arthritis. That’s one of the reasons why I’m retiring. It’s hard to scrub floors and do laundry and make beds.”

He’s also had open-heart surgery, and stents put in both legs to treat aneurysms. Radosevich figures it’s life’s way of telling him to take it easy.

Not that he plans to slow down all that much. He said his physical setbacks simply come with the territory — north of 70 — and he has no intention of retiring to a rocking chair.

“I want to get involved in helping other people out, some way or another,” he said. “I’m old, but I’m still really physically capable.”

He also plans to do all those things he has zero time for now: fishing, hiking, skiing and travel.

But don’t expect his travels to take him too far from the Methow Valley, for too long.

“It’s just the best place you could want to live,” he said.

“I’ve been to Europe, I’ve been to Hawaii, I’ve been to Belize, I’ve been to Mexico in my earlier years. I’ve been all over the world, really. I still love it here.”

$17 and $23 an hour. The assistant manager position offers a wage of $16.66 to $21. Lifeguards will make $16.66 to $19 an hour.

In other business on April 15, the Twisp council considered sending an invitation to U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, asking him to host a town-hall meeting in the Methow Valley.

The Republican congressman’s constituents in the valley have been unsatisfied with informal “office hour” visits to Twisp by Newhouse’s staff — especially given the loss of U.S. Forest Service jobs locally, and the threat of deep cuts to popular federal programs under the Trump Administration.

“We’ve got folks losing federal jobs,” Twisp resident Heather Wilson told the council at last week’s meeting. “We’ve got local nonprofits losing federal funding.

We’ve got grandparents looking at losing Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare. All of these things matter a lot to our families, to our neighbors, and Rep. Newhouse is supposed to be working for us, and he’s been unresponsive to us,” Wilson said.

Council members debated whether to bring their own agenda to a Newhouse town hall, or merely create an opportunity for members of the public to air their own concerns.

Council member Tim Matsui

NCW LIBRARIES BOARD

People interested in libraries and books — and the vast range of services they provide — can apply to become a trustee for the NCW Libraries board.

The Okanogan County commissioners are seeking applicants for a representative from Okanogan County to fill out the term of Jill Sheley, a Winthrop resident who’s stepping down from the board in June. Sheley’s term is up at the end of 2027, at which time the candidate will be eligible for reappointment to a seven-year term.

The board is composed of seven members appointed by commissioners of the five counties served by NCW Libraries — Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Ferry.

The board serves as the governing body for the library district, including providing policy and legislative direction. NCW Libraries employs 218 people and has an annual operating budget of $16 million. It operates 30 branch libraries, a mail order library, and a bookmobile.

Applicants for the position must be an Okanogan County resident or own property in the county.

Interested residents should contact Okanogan County Clerk of the Board Lanie Johns for an application and then send their completed application, résumé and letter of interest to her at ljohns@co.okanogan.wa.us by May 9.

Learn more about NCW Libraries at www. ncwlibraries.org. Information about the board is at www.ncwlibraries.org/boardoftrustees.

DARK SKY WEEK EVENTS

• All week, visit the Methow Dark Sky Week Welcome Center & Expo at the Winthrop Visitors Information Center on Highway 20, 3-6 p.m. Explore a gallery of local night sky photography and dark sky–inspired artwork created by first-grade students at Methow Valley Elementary School. You’ll also find free brochures, stickers, take-home activities, and educational materials about dark sky-friendly lighting and how to help protect our night skies. Free.

• Wednesday, April 23, Stargazing party at Idle a While Motel in Twisp, 9-11 p.m. There will be telescopes on site and refreshments. Free.

• Friday, April 25, “The Origin of the Stars”

said both the town and the public could have a chance to weigh in during a potential meeting with the representative.

“I’m sure [the public] would love the opportunity, even for him to appear,” Matsui said. “I think that that would be huge, for people feeling like they’re being heard.” Matsui said he would draft a letter inviting Newhouse to the valley. The date and location of any town hall would still need to be determined. Matsui anticipated presenting the letter to fellow council members at their Tuesday (April 22) meeting, which was held after this newspaper went to press.

presented by cosmologist Dr. Sean Downes at RYZO tasting room, Twisp, 6:30 p.m. Free.

• Saturday, April 26, night sky observing at Pearrygin Lake State Park with ranger Alex Ott, 8 p.m., weather permitting. Open to campers and community members alike. Participants are asked to meet at the boat ramp and bring a flashlight or headlamp, warm clothes, and a blanket or chair. Free.

EARTH WEEK EVENTS

Methow Recycles, the Methow Valley Trails Collaborative and Methow Valley Citizens Council have coordinated a lineup of Earth Week events:

• Thursday, April 24, cleanup at 8 Mile Ranch and Chewuch campgrounds, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., meet at 8 Mile Sno-Park at 9 a.m. To volunteer, visit https://trailscollaborative.org/ volunteer.

• Friday, April 25, Twisp River Trail work and campground cleanup, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., meet at Twisp River Trailhead at 9 a.m. To volunteer, visit https://trailscollaborative.org/volunteer. •Saturday, April 26, Community potluck with music by DJ Grant at TwispWorks, 5-7 p.m. Bring your own plates and utensils and a food item to share.

FIRST-HALF TAXES DUE

Okanogan County Treasurer Pam Johnson reminds taxpayers that 2025 first-half or full property taxes and irrigation assessments are due and must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 30. Interest will start accruing on Thursday, May 1, at 1% per month.

If you have 2022 year or older in property taxes or irrigation assessments owing you could be subject to tax foreclosure, contact the Treasurer’s Office at (509) 422-7180. If you are mailing your taxes or assessments, send your payment to: Okanogan County Treasurer, P.O. Box 111, Okanogan, WA 98840. If paying by credit card or debit card, go to www.okanogancounty.org/government/treasurer or call 1-877-737-4772. For customer service call 1-888-891-6064 and choose option 2. If you are using a credit card or debit card, a processing fee by third-party vendor will apply. The Treasurer’s office hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Speed limit reduction proposed for Twin Lakes Road

BY MARCY STAMPER

The speed limit on Twin Lakes Road near the schools may be reduced to 35 miles per hour (mph) from 50 mph for one-third of a mile, from Highway 20 to about 500 feet west of Liberty Bell High School. That stretch of roadway is currently posted as a school zone, with a 20-mph speed limit when children are present. But, because the schools are so far off the road and there are no sidewalks, crosswalks or active school or playground use, the area doesn’t meet the requirements in state law for a school zone, making the speed limit unenforceable. Because of that, Okanogan County Sheriff Paul Budrow recommended a permanent reduction in speed, according to Okanogan County Public Works Director Josh Thomson. The Okanogan County commissioners are holding a public hearing about the proposed speed-limit reduction on Tuesday, May 6, at 11 a.m. in their hearing room in Okanogan. Thomson will provide information about the proposed change. People can comment on the proposal at the hearing, or in advance to Jo Ann Stansbury at jstansbury@co.okanogan.wa.us. There will be a Zoom link for people to attend the hearing remotely at https://www.okanogancounty.org/government/ commissioners/agenda.php.

Photos by Ralph Schwartz

Above: Friends of the Pool board members and Twisp town officials, including Mayor Hans Smith (top right), pose for photographs April 15, after the town council voted to reopen Wagner Memorial Pool this summer.

Right: A crew from Prestigious Patios of East Wenatchee uses hammer drills Friday (April 18) to remove the liner from Wagner Memorial Pool in Twisp.

Photo by Ralph Schwartz

An active looking group gathered last week at the Methow Valley Senior Center in Twisp for the annual “over-80” lunch, celebrating not only longevity but also decades of involvement in the community.

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

DSHS IN TWISP

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Mobile Community Service Office East will be in at The Cove in Twisp on Thursday (April 24) from 1-4 p.m. DSHS representatives will process application interviews for food, cash and select medical assistance, process yearly eligibility and mid-certification reviews, process changes/inquiries to currently active cases, and answer questions.

HISTORY WITH MARCHAND

The Methow Valley Interpretive Center in Twisp presents “The Way It Was: Okanogan Stories and History with Arnie Marchand,” on Sunday (April 27) from 5-6:30 p.m. Okanogan elder, historian and author Marchand will share tribal history and stories. Free, donations are appreciated. For information, email TiffanyMVIC@gmail.com.

BUSINESS TRAINING

The Economic Alliance is presenting a free “Start Simple” business training course at TwispWorks on Wednesday, April 30, from 5-7 p.m. Learn business basics and figure out if your business goals are realistic and achievable.

YOGA FOR CLASSROOM IN BLOOM

Motive Yoga in Winthrop hosts a benefit yoga session for Classroom on Bloom on Friday, May 2, from 4:30-5:30 p.m., by donation. For information, visit www.motiveyogaco.com/events.

HELP CLEAN UP BEAVER CREEK CEMETERY

A work party to give a spring cleaning to Beaver Creek Cemetery south of Twisp will be on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m.-noon. All are welcome, beverages and treats will be provided. Bring gloves and hand tools if you have them. For more information, call Leone Edson at (509) 846-5231.

LITTLE STAR AUCTION COMING

Tickets are on sale now Little Star School’s biennial auction, scheduled for Saturday, May 17, at the Winthrop Barn. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person; visit littlestarschool.org for information about tickets and how to volunteer to help out or be a sponsor. The game-themed fundraising event includes dinner. catered by The Fainting Goat, with donuts by Orchard House bakery and cocktails by Last Chance Distillery. Costumes are highly encouraged.

SPRING PLANT SALE

Classroom in Bloom’s spring plant sale will be on Friday, May 30, on the Methow Valley School District campus from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The program’s fifth-grade students will offer vegetables

and plant starts. Early-bird online pre-orders open May 7, with pickup at the garden on May 16. Visit classroominbloom.org for more information.

AT HOME EVENTS

METHOW

Methow At Home offers a variety of activities that are open to the public and free except where otherwise noted. Register at methowathome.org.

• Tuesday, April 29, Winthrop library, 1:30-3 p.m., digital skills presentation on protecting your personal information online in partnership with Senior Planet from AARP. Intended for adults 60 and over.

• Sunday, May 4, Game Day at the Twisp River Grange, 1-4 p.m. Bring a favorite board game. The Grange has supplies for traditional card games.

• Wednesday, May 7, “Wisdom Circle” with Tracy Bocarde Sprauer at Wellspring, Room 7, Methow Valley Community Center, 10:30 a.m.noon. Build community at a deeper level.

• Thursday, May 8, at TwispWorks, 9:30 a.m.12:30 p.m., Spring Car Clinic with Advanced Auto Tech student Darra Kelly. Make sure your car is ready for summer driving.

• Tuesday, May 13, Tech Café at Winthrop library, 1-3 p.m., bring your electronic device and get one-on-one tech support. Ticket required.

• Tuesday, May 27, at the Winthrop library, 1:30-3 p.m., “Introduction to Managing Your Privacy,” in partnership with Senior Planet from AARP to help older adults use technology to learn new skills. Intended for adults 60 and over.

• Friday, May 30, at the Methow Valley Inn, Twisp, 1 a.m.-1 p.m., cooking class with Jean Wilson and Gabe Garms of Creative Koji focusing on how to prepare Korean barbecue beef. Cost is $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

HIGH SCHOOL REUNION

Are you a 1964 graduate of Twisp High School or Winthrop High School? Twisp High School alum Jim Peters is hoping to organize a reunion this summer, which could also include grads from 1963 and 1965 or other adjacent years. To reach Peters, call (503) 780-7888; e-mail twispian1@msn.com; or write to 3339 Tempest Drive, Lake Oswego, OR 97035. Peterson is aiming for a June or July event.

FOODS

PRESERVING

WSU Okanogan County Extension is offering workshops on how to preserve food safely, via Zoom, in coming weeks:

• April 30 — Canning 101, unlocking the secrets food preservation.

• May 7 — Fundamentals of water bath canning basics; preserving summer’s flavors.

• May 14 — mastering pressure canning.

All classes are from 6-7:30 p.m. Cost is $25 per workshop. Visit https://extension.wsu.edu/ foodsafety/food-preservation-online-training-series/ to register.

Marriage licenses

Obituaries

Suzanne LaVerne Bauer Johnson

Suzanne LaVerne Bauer Johnson was born Feb. 24, 1936, and died March 30, 2025. She lost her first mother at birth in Great Falls Montana, while gaining a second lifetime family, Dorothy Parks Bauer and Bud Bauer (aunt and uncle). Father was Don Bauer, self-taught pianist and bandleader and mother LaVerne Furstenau Bauer.

Suzanne joined an older sister (piano student), as a new baby she was already an accompanist. When Susie began lessons her engineer father would often sing over her shoulder. At 12, Sue was a professional accompanist with the Boeing Children’s Chorus and subsequently the Boeing Men’s Chorus with Seattle TV performances at 18.

As a West Seattle High School student she studied stenography and made music dancing the Charleston in a musical production; she loved to dance. She also loved to work and gave up half her senior year for the challenge of working as a “stand in” Boeing engineering secretary.

In 1955 she met Don in a UW sociology class. The first date was a Harry James trumpet concert, followed by chemistry tutoring and a 70-year relationship.

In 1956 they were married in the Seattle Methodist Chapel. After a Montana honeymoon they moved to WSU for a biology degree (1958). Sue was secretary to the Alumni Director and starting a family with the addition of Sally Anne in 1957.

In 1958 the family moved to a one-room cabin at the Beaver Creek Guard Station (Boise National Forest). In 1959 they moved back to Seattle for the birth of Marilu Frances and to begin graduate school studies at the UW.

In 1960 they moved adding Heidi Linn (1961) and Jon (1962) to the family. The family joined the Unitarian Fellowship for the children to learn of the commonality of the world’s religions. Summers were spent in Missoula where a University of Montana MS was awarded in 1964.

In 1965 the family moved to Arizona, where Sue started an editing and typing business. The family spent as much time as possible in the Sonoran Desert and Gulf of California, as well as enjoying swimming, culture and music at ASU. They were learning about “doing good, for good is good to do” at the Unitarian Fellowship. An Arizona State University PhD was awarded in 1969.

The family moved to Murray, Kentucky, in 1976 where Sue maintained a piano studio while four children were in school. She was also a partner in developing an American tree farm, planting 6,000 trees. In her “spare time” she became a goat milker, as well as marketing homemade bread and pies. From 1976-82 Sue committed much time and energy to her second great love, directing several community theater musical shows each year along with fund raising concerts and serving as musical director of a summer camp in upstate New York.

In 1982 Sue and Tony returned to the Adriatic for a few months on the Croatian coast enjoying Split culture with friends, food, sea, travel and music.

In 1983 we returned to Idaho where Sue had more fine piano students until our move to Muscat (Sultanate of Oman).

In 1987 Sue arrived to a home and studio on the Gulf of Oman beach next door to the village mosque. Soon she was teaching piano to daughters of government ministers with her enthusiasm and high expectations and all were satisfied. A new private school was opening for expatriate children of contracted advisers. Children from over 20 countries were ready to enroll in the American British Academy and Sue would be teaching classes of students in grades pre-kindergarten to 12th year. Classes were 40 minutes of music and movement each day, as well as sensational performances. The annual United Nations Day featured music and dancing by students dressed in their traditional clothes. All performances were well attended by appreciative families and ambassadors. Summers were spent selecting accompanying music in Idaho and Washington music stores. She also directed performances of an expatriate community Gilbert and Sullivan group. We spent many days hiking with friends up mountains and visiting Arabian coastal villages and Bedouin encampments where we enjoyed traditional dates and coffee and sharing barbecued goat dinners. Muslim hospitality at all economic levels cannot be exceeded.

In 1969 the family moved to Bodega Bay, California, for a National Institute of Health project at the Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory, a U.C. Berkeley collaboration, while Sue pursued her business and learned to drive in the San Francisco Bay traffic. In 1971 we left the kids with grandparents in Seattle for a month in Tokyo and toured Japan. Tony Howard was adopted, completing our family. Sue returned to her first the family moved to Idaho. She earned a BA (1975) with a very active faculty and opportunities for much playing and the beginning of 40 years of teaching, conducting, and musical theater. With her ISU political minor and a soprano singing partner they opened a Regional Office for the Governor. She did all this while mentoring five children involved in school and 4-H (gardening, canning, sheep, milk goats, pigs, horses, and poultry), as well as producing Blue Ribbon County Fair musical productions and directing her first community musical. In 1974 Sue acquired a grand piano for her home. The second half of that school year was missed when the family traveled through Rome, France, and Isreal to Nairobi (Kenya) for eight months of home school and environmental adventures. Madame Suzanne was employed to be musical director of a cast of 130 to support a fundraising musical “Viva la Mexico” for a convent school for girls where she also taught piano. In 1975 Sue and the boys met Don in Rome for three months living and enjoying the culture (opera, concerts, meals) and many friends on the Adriatic Coast; with a side trip to Switzerland headquarters for UN Environmental Programs.

SENIOR NEWS

The Thrift Store will be open on Saturdays beginning May 3, 9 a.m.-noon. Our regular hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mark the date! The fi rst Western Sale is on May 10, 9 a.m.-noon. This sale will include clothing, boots, belts, bedding, artwork, etc. Colleen Ramiskey

LUNCH MENUS: THURSDAY, APRIL 24: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, tossed salad, biscuit, dessert.

In 1992 we returned to America settling in Buhl, Idaho, on a small farm by a creek in Melon Valley. After clearing noxious plants/weeds and planting shrubs and gardens Sue harvested mushrooms and garden crops not eaten by deer, chickens or peacocks. Summers were enjoyed with visiting families, children and grandchildren. During winters we explored the Southwest and Mexico travels. In 1998 we moved to the Methow Valley by Libby Creek and resumed a more active lifestyle. From 1998-2011 Sue resumed her musical career dedicated to teaching wonderful piano students, directing community choir and musical theater productions. When not tending trees or livestock (chickens and milk goats), we enjoyed visiting families and friends. Families included Sue’s sisters Barbara (Anchorage), Linda (West Seattle), and brother Steve (Queen Anne) and Don’s brothers Barber Dan (shops in Winthrop and Twisp) and Frank on a hill below Libby Creek (raising raspberries sold at Saturday Market.) Sue was a devoted valley citizen appreciated by many valley residents, especially the families of her piano students. Between 2012 and 2025 as our bodies reflected our age Sue was challenged by winter conditions and we moved to American Falls, Idaho, on the Snake River for summers and La Paz, Baja, in the winter to satisfy love of the desert, the sea, our Mexican friends and their culture. In 2018 we sold our Baja home and moved close to daughter Heidi’s family in Olympia on Budd Inlet for beach and trail walking with views of the Olympics and access for kayaking. Sue was sad when hand rheumatism and hearing problems took away her love of music and the piano. In February this year we had a wonderful trip to enjoy California and Arizona desert country and the lifestyle we lived in Baja with our friends there. On returning to Idaho in March, 2025, pancreatic cancer ended Sue’s journey.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25: Lemon baked fi sh, wild rice, chalet vegetables, coleslaw, mixed berries, garlic bread, dessert.

MONDAY, APRIL 28: Yankee pot roast, potatoes and carrots, mixed greens salad, strawberries and banana, whole wheat roll, oatmeal cookies.

Call (509) 997-7722 to reserve meals 24 hours in advance. Suggested donation is $5 for persons over age 60; charge for $10 for persons under 60.

Shaylarite R. Lyon, 36, Twisp, and Dreton M. Acord, 28, Twisp

Melissa Lynn Stusinski, 37, Winthrop, and William Michael Jolley, 42, Winthrop

Tarrie Jeen Turner, 44, Twisp, and Nolan James Calvin, 36, Twisp

Jessica Dominguez Rojas, 31, Winthrop, and Wilder Ezrah McLeod, 27, Winthrop

Suzanne LaVerne Bauer Johnson

Mazama

Soon “Cars, Trucks, and Things That Go” — to borrow the title from one of my favorite Richard Scarry children’s books — will be pouring over the pass. We grouse a bit about the noise and the speeding cars and motorcycles and the bulky toy haulers, but generally the valley welcomes the visitors. Without them, shoulder season could become a whole-body season.

Mazama is ready with a new “Welcome” sign under the kiosk at the entrance to the trailhead. A well thought out and compre-

Ashley

VALLEY LIFE

hensive greeting addresses eight aspects of the Mazama area that behoove a visitor to read and process. “Land Acknowledgement” reminds visitors that this place we call “Mazama” is the homeplace of the peaceful Methow People who lived here long before the arrival of Euro-Americans. The advice follows: Aspire to nurture a respectful relationship between all people and care for this land, its waters, and its wildlife.

“Support Local Agriculture” educates visitors regarding the fact that many of the trails in the valley pass through open range and land used for livestock grazing. It is imperative to follow the request: Keep open gates open and closed gates closed.

“Fire Wisdom” is necessary to protect against devastating wildfire which Mazama residents know the area is prone to. Visitors are asked to expect fire restrictions during summer and fall months and skip the campfire.

The Methow River is home to large populations of salmon and steelhead. “River Ecology”

speaks to local recovery effort has been exerted to restore habitat, protect fragile land areas, and hatchery production. Fisher persons must: Check fishing seasons and regulations.

Many first-time users of the multi-use trail system are unaware of proper “Trail Etiquette” and — sometimes, unfortunately — others pay no mind to the guidelines. Trailheads post the “yield-to” triangle: Bicyclists yield to walkers and hikers and horses. Walkers and hikers yield to horses. Horses always have the right-away, but riders may choose to yield, depending on the circumstances. Please: Be a respectful trail user by staying on designated trails and following posted guidelines.

It is well known by valley residents that wildlife abounds in what was first their environment.

Spotting bear, coyote, moose, or other wildlife is exciting — from a distance. Having a deer jump out of nowhere onto the highway — not so much fun. “Protecting Wildlife” appeals: Slow down and keep an eye out for wildlife, especially on roadways.

Winthrop

When Jon and I first moved to the Methow Valley, he worked full-time and I worked half-time. In the building boom of 2005 he, with carpentry skills, had the earning power that enabled us to relocate to the valley. We had a new baby. I found a job with Outward Bound. I did admin tasks in Outward Bound’s office Mondays through Wednesdays while my mom watched our infant daughter. We hardly knew anyone; we hadn’t yet been recruited to nonprofit boards or Valley Life columns; Little Star didn’t yet serve kids younger than 2. Wide swaths of unfilled time stretched before me. On Thursdays and Fridays, largely free of commitments, I loaded our daughter into a backpack and we explored the Methow Valley. It was the best possible way to fall in love with our new home. Anywhere you could hike to in a day, Wyatt and I made the trek: fire lookouts, rocky peaks, frigid lakes, huckleberry-strewn hillsides. There was, I discovered that first summer and fall, enough public land with trails on it to keep me entertained for the rest of my life. Twenty years later I’m still discovering new sites and revisiting old favorites in this glorious onemillion-acre watershed.

On Easter morning I hiked up Patterson Mountain. The valley below was so lush; Earth was reawakening. Spring farm fields looked like lawns and the limey leaves of serviceberry and aspen contrasted with bitterbrush’s sage undertones. The forest green of Ponderosa pines ringed the periphery of the valley floor. Ahead of me the distant peaks of the Pasayten sparkled white in a shaft of sunlight, while behind me the ridges of the Sawtooths rose into a leaden sky. Party in the front, business in the back. As I descended, I thought about the blows that public lands and those who manage and maintain them have taken in the past few months. I wondered about the federal policy announcements regarding land use that are allegedly teed up for release on Earth Day. By the time you read this whatever was going to happen or not happen on Earth Day will have happened or not happened. What won’t have happened, though, is a shift in Methow Valley residents’ reverence for the vast untrammeled lands that surround us. It is, quite possibly, the most significant thing that unites us. Whatever we think about taxes or education or health care or the economy, there’s hardly a person here who isn’t shaped by a relationship with this place and who isn’t, in turn, shaped by it. This land is more than just a breathtaking backdrop to our daily lives — it’s our inspiration, our anchor, our refuge, our responsibility.

Twisp

In the early 1970s in Seattle, where I attended Roosevelt High School, I entered and won an essay contest sponsored by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. I wrote about the Washington apple industry. I was awarded a six-week stay with a family in Peshastin who owned an apple orchard on the Wenatchee River.

The intent was to introduce urban teenagers to life on a working farm. Although we were guests of the family, another contest winner from Seattle and I lived in a picker’s shack and worked in the orchard. You might think this doesn’t seem like a prize, but I loved farm life — picking fruit, thinning apples, attending dances at the grange, learning to drive a stick-shift jeep, and helping with irrigation. As far as I was concerned, the project was a success: Not only did I develop a hearty appreciation for Wash-

Joanna Bastian

Lower Valley

Crissy Timentwa Peterson was standing before a portrait of her great grandmother, Lucy Lakekin Jim, in the Methow Valley Interpretive Center (MVIC). Someone overheard her connection to the woman in the photograph and asked for Crissy’s number. The filmmaker Beth Harrington was creating a documentary about Frank Matsura, the photographer who took her great grandmother’s portrait, and would Crissy like to participate in the film? The rest, as they say, is history.

Last Friday, the Omak Theater premiered “Our Mr. Matura,” a story of a young man who traveled from his home country of Japan to live in the Okanogan Valley from 1903-1913. Harrington found the descendants of people featured in the portraits, and asked them to participate in the storytelling while holding the portraits. Crissy held the portrait of her great grandmother,

Visiting the rural environs around Mazama frequently leaves one without internet connection or cell service. It is a good time to “Reconnect Offline”: Enjoy a break from social media and disconnect.

It was a bonus for Mazama when TranGO extended its bus line to the upper valley. For one dollar, riders can time their trips down valley (even all the way to Chelan) and find a relaxing, scenic alternative to driving. As “Transportation” suggests, one can: Creatively use TranGO for a point-to-point ski, bike, walk or run. Skis and bikes are welcome.

Even though Mazama is not a bustling metropolis (for which we are thankful), the “Explore Mazama” panel is very helpful to point visitors in the direction of Food & Drink, Services, and Lodging.

Thanks goes to Mazama resident Jim Gregg for continuing to mastermind and guide the development of Mazama’s entrance including this attractive and informative kiosk. Jim is a member of the Mazama Advisory Committee (appointed by

ington’s premier fruit-growing country and its growers, but it inspired me to live rurally in the future.

The Hudson Bay Company at Fort Vancouver planted the first apple trees in what was to become Washington state. By 1847, commercial orchards from grafted saplings were established in Oregon Territory. Many apple varieties did well in Western Washington because of plentiful rain and few killing frosts. But east of the Cascades, the soil, long summer days, and cool nights produced big, crisp, and juicy apples with fewer pest and disease problems. But water and reliable transportation to distant markets were lacking.

When water from the Yakima, Wenatchee, and Okanogan Rivers was harnessed to produce irrigation, and the Northern Pacific Railway arrived in Eastern Washington, the apple industry took off. The first railroad car of apples was shipped from the Yakima Valley in 1894 and from Wenatchee in 1901.

The success of Washington apples — 60% of all apples produced in the U.S. — is due in large part to aggressive marketing and attractive presentation. Washington growers originally packed their apples, swaddled in paper, in wooden boxes with catchy labels. Labels featuring snow-capped mountains, cowboys on bucking bronchos, and women in Native American garb added to their cachet. In 1937, the Washington Apple Commission was created to help promote Washington apples, first domestically, and now to

for

dozens of countries internationally, including China.

Washington State University started its apple breeding program in 1994 to develop new varieties suited to the unique climate of Central Washington. In 2017, the first commercial orchards were planted with WSU’s Cosmic Crisp, an eye-catching, large, dark red apple with a firm, crisp, and juicy texture that stores well.

The Methow Valley never came close to competing with the Okanogan, Wenatchee, and Yakima River valleys in apple production. From books by Sally Portman and Diana Hottell and the talk of oldtimers, the Methow Valley has always been a hardscrabble place to farm, even after the introduction of irrigation. Walter Nickell said, “The early ditches around Winthrop did little more than turn what would have been starvation ranches into at least a living.”

Disastrous floods in 1894 and 1948, the drought that began in 1915, and a severe freeze in 1968 when temperatures dropped to 50 below, wiped out most of the apple orchards in the upper Methow Valley. More recently, when temperatures dropped to 30 below three winters ago, many local orchardists, such as Richard Murray and Richard and Lynne Wasson, lost numerous trees.

North Central Washington is still one of the greatest apple-producing regions in the world. For over 100 years, Wenatchee has hosted the Apple Blossom Festival, “a time-honored tra-

Lucy, who is holding baby George in the photo. Chiliwist Jim, Lucy’s father, and her husband, CB Timentwa, were also photographed by Frank Matsura and are featured in the film. Crissy’s aunt, Tillie Gore, and uncle, Randy Lewis, are also in the film, holding photos of family members and speaking about Matsura’s impact on the past, present, and future.

During his short time in the Okanogan, Matsura created an astounding number of portraits, His photos convey a warm connection between the photographer and the subject — capturing people at work, at play, and at leisure. Matsura formed close bonds within the community and acted as a bridge between cultures in a tumultuous time. Asian Americas were prohibited from

owning land at that time, yet Matsura bought land, planted a beautiful flower garden, and built a photography studio. He built a playground with swings in his garden for the town kids. He was popular for his images of people and events in the Okanogan. Matsura’s work was available as postcards: a dog wearing glasses and smoking a pipe, a playful picnic, ice skating, landscapes, workers, fishermen, and portraits of people in their regalia. Thousands of Matsura’s photographs survive today. More than a century later, his work is known as visually powerful images from that place and time. At the premiere of “Our Mr. Matsura,” family members spoke about what it means that these photographs exist and continue to be celebrated today. Audience members expressed

dition celebrating our community, our heritage, and the agricultural industry that makes the Wenatchee Valley such a special place.” This year it will be held at Memorial Park, April 24-May 4. Many years after I wrote my essay about Washington apples, I traveled in the Himalayan foothills in Bhutan. On a break from trekking, I pulled out my sack lunch and rummaged through it. I latched on to a small, bright red apple with five distinctive points on its base, characteristic of the Red Delicious apple. It bore the label of the Washington State Apple Commission, a Red Delicious Apple with a banner “Washington” bisecting its center. How amazing, but not surprising, to find a Washington apple halfway around the world from my home state.

gratitude for the film and an immigrant who created a visual record of community bonds, friendship, love, and joy during a time when the country experienced division, loss, and pain. His work stands as a testament to the importance of friendship and building trusting relationships.

“Our Mr. Matsura” is bound for film festivals before a limited theater release. More information can be found at www.ourmrmatsura.com. A walking tour map and audio files for town murals of Matsura’s work, his photo studio, and the archives can be found at the Okanogan Historical Museum. The MVIC on the Twispworks campus has a permanent exhibit of some portraits taken by Matsura, including Lucy Lakekin Jim.

Michelle Schmidtke

Shelley Smith Jones

Lodato

the Okanogan County Commissioners) which works to bring all stakeholders together

meetings. Currently the committee is working on a vital pedestrian safe plan for summer and winter. Welcome visitors! We are ready for you here in Mazama!

Photo by Shelley Smith Jones

A new “welcome” sign greets visitors to Mazama — and provides some informational reminders for locals as well.

Photo by Michelle Schmidtke

The popular Cosmic Crisp apple variety was developed by Washington State University.

Left photo from Shafer Museum archives. Right photo provided by Crissy Timentwa Peterson

Left: A Frank Matsura postcard. Written across the bottom of the picture: “Baseball Game Twisp-Okanogan, Twisp Wash.” Right: Crissy Timentwa Peterson, on the set of “Our Mr. Matsura,” displays a portrait by Frank Matsura featuring her great grandmother, Lucy Lakekin Jim, holding baby George.