Methow Valley News - August 21, 2024

Salmon projects will enhance river habitat

Work expected to finish in 2026

BY MARCY STAMPER

A major restoration project in the Methow River near Twisp is underway to enhance habitat for juvenile steelhead and spring Chinook salmon and to restore the flow of the river so it’s closer to natural historic conditions

Steelhead and spring Chinook are both on the federal list of endangered species.

Eagle Rocks

Work in the river has already started on the Eagle Rocks Habitat Enhancement Project near the Riverbend RV Park, where the Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation (MSRF) will reestablish year-round flow in a river channel that currently dries up in late summer, said Tara Gregg, MSRF’s project manager for this work.

The Eagle Rocks project will include installation of engineered wood structures to create pools that provide refuge for juvenile fish. Because it’s a popular area for boaters and tubers, wood

structures will be located away from the natural flow path they would use, and there is plenty of sight visibility.

Smooth bumper logs will help direct boaters and tubers away from the structures and will keep any loose wood carried by the current from getting hung up and posing additional risk, Gregg said.

Contractors will isolate the work areas during construction to control turbidity and limit disturbance to fish. Much of the work will be outside the main channel, so it won’t interrupt use of the river throughout the sixweek construction period.

The project also includes a high cobble bank to provide space for more riparian vegetation. Having year-round channels encourages more vegetation growth, which in turn slows the water flow, decreasing risk to riverbanks. Slower sections of the river also accumulate more nutrients and stay colder during the summer, crucial to salmon species, according to MSRF. Property on both sides of the river in the Eagle Rocks project is privately owned and all landowners have signed agreements, Gregg said.

The Eagle Rocks project is expected to wrap up in early October.

Sugar Channel project

The Sugar Channel Reconnections Project is the second phase of restoration for this stretch of the Methow River.

The Sugar Channel project, just north of Twisp, is still in the planning and development stages. River work is planned for summer and fall 2025. The Sugar project will connect floodplains that became disconnected after levees and other protective structures were built following the major floods of 1948 and 1972, Gregg said.

The primary focus is juvenile spring Chinook, which require off-channel habitat that’s currently nonexistent in this stretch of river, according to MSRF.

After the work is done, low-lying floodplains in areas owned by MSRF and private property owners will be more connected throughout the year. Property owners on the opposite side of the river should see less riverbank erosion because the water will spread out over a larger area, reducing its velocity, Gregg said. All the land that will see

increased flood elevations is owned by MSRF or private landowners who have already declared support for the changes, Gregg said. Flood risks won’t increase along other areas of the

Historically, the

migrated across the

floor and its alignment often changed. Those shifts created important habitat, including floodplains and

What’s in a name? Plenty, if it’s a fire Agencies follow guidelines for naming suitability

BY MARCY STAMPER

The Easy Fire in the North Cascades hasn’t exactly lived up to its name. Then again, most people who’ve hiked to Easy Pass, the nearby pass for which the fire was named, might wonder if the pass itself had been christened ironically.

Although the Easy Fire hasn’t spread as fast as some fires and isn’t near any homes, it has challenged firefighters since it was started by lightning on July 17.

Much of the fire is burning on steep, inaccessible slopes, and danger from falling trees and a major mudslide forced closure of the North Cascades Highway. The popular summer route has been closed for most of August, with no estimated time for reopening.

Fires need to be named right away so the Northeast Washington Interagency Communications Center (NEWICC) can enter the fire in its database and order fire crews, aircraft and other necessary equipment, NEWICC Dispatch Center Manager Cedar Reimer told the Methow Valley News.

Twisp Council OKs rezoning for long-vacant riverfront site

Properties would switch from commercial to residential use

BY RALPH SCHWARTZ

By the looks of it — and the length of it — the debate in Twisp Town Council last week over whether to allow single-family homes on a piece of vacant riverfront was about much more than those 7.26 acres.

The Aug. 13 debate, which lasted nearly an hour and a half, was about one of the Methow Valley’s biggest hot-button

issues: its housing crisis. In the end, council voted 3–2 to rezone four parcels between the end of Wagner Street and the river from commercial riverfront to high-density residential. The vote wasn’t final. The council will make its decision official at a future meeting, when it considers a zoning ordinance pertaining to the parcels and an accompanying amendment to the town’s comprehensive plan.

Council member Tim Matsui opposed the rezone, requested by property owner Mike Port. Matsui argued that keeping the properties commercial would allow for even more homes to be built there.

That’s because Twisp’s high-density residential zone

allows only single-family homes and duplexes. The commercial designation allows a mix of businesses and multifamily housing.

Matsui said the crux of the issue was affordability.

According to an analysis sent to the council by Simon Windell, chief operating officer of the Methow Housing Trust, the cost to build a new 1,000-square-foot single-family residence in Twisp would be $525,000 — an amount that’s out of reach for 92% of the valley’s full-time residents.

Matsui used Windell’s analysis to bolster his argument.

“The people who live here are no longer going to be able to afford to live here if we don’t create other forms of housing that include rentals, and include more

affordably built multiplexes of some kind — a two-story triplex or something like that,” Matsui said.

Council member Will Menzies voted with Matsui. He had provided a written comment opposing the rezone before joining the council this year.

“It is my belief that in changing the zoning map on these parcels we would be directly incentivizing investment properties instead of ensuring affordable homes for our residents,” Menzies wrote.

Better than empty

A majority of the council saw the matter differently. Sin-

river.

Methow River

valley

side channels, and sometimes left behind wood that fell naturally into the river. But as more roads, houses, and flood-protection

Photo by Marcy Stamper

Although parents may have been disappointed that actual, wriggling bugs and snakes didn’t make it to the Twisp library event last week, kids contentedly created their own masks. Martin Hill, left, decorated a colorful mask while Alex Hill looked on.

Photo courtesy of Tara Gregg

Contractors have started to dewater a shallow side channel to the Methow River in preparation for a project that will re-establish a year-round flow in the channel to benefit endangered salmon.

Photo courtesy of Pioneer and Easy Fires Facebook Page

The Easy Fire, which has been hard to contain, was named for the nearby Easy Pass.

Fires are typically named by the duty officer of the firefighting agency first on scene, she said. It can be tough to assign a suitable name when the primary focus is on controlling the fire,

Photo by Ralph Schwartz

The Twisp Town Council voted last week to rezone 7.26 acres along the Methow River from commercial uses to single-family homes and duplexes.

Ing-Moody advances to November election in 7th District House race

Narrowly defeats

Tonasket council member Levine

BY RALPH SCHWARTZ

With the primary ballot count all but complete in the 7th Legislative District, former Twisp Mayor Soo Ing-Moody will advance to the November election in her bid for a seat in the state House of Representatives.

Ing-Moody, who served as Twisp’s mayor from 2010 to 2023, led Tonasket City Council member Teagan Levine by 202 votes — 10,479 to 10,277 — as of 10:30 a.m. Tuesday (Aug. 20).

The tallies weren’t final as of Tuesday morning, but only a handful of ballots remained to be counted across the seven counties that make up the 7th District.

NAMING

From Page A1

but fire managers follow official guidelines published by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. The guidelines say a fire should ideally be named for a nearby geographic feature or landmark like a creek drainage, valley or mountain.

Incident names should also be “relatively unique.” Fire managers should avoid using the same name in a given jurisdiction in the same year but, if there’s more than one fire in the area, they can append a number. They’re also advised not to duplicate the name of a prominent fire elsewhere in the country.

Fires shouldn’t be named for a person, unless a nearby geographic feature is itself named for a historical person. They also shouldn’t be named for private property or a nearby business, like the “Jones Grocery Fire” or the “Smith Ranch Fire,” Reimer said.

Incident names also must steer clear of anything that suggests culpability or cause, such as the “Youth Group BBQ” or “Fence Welder” fire, according to the guidelines. In areas with no readily definable landmark, the fire chief may use the name of a road, although that can lead to clunky names, like the 2620 Road Fire in Jefferson County.

A fire near Spokane earlier this summer was called the Upper Cemetery Fire, renamed from the Hill Fire. The guidelines suggest that commanders “avoid naming fires with words that are potentially prophetic, hyperbolical, or distastefully descriptive, such as ‘Deadman,’ ‘Conflagration,’ ‘Firestorm,’

Ing-Moody acknowledged her win in a statement Tuesday to Methow Valley News.

“Although we are yet anticipating official certification of the race, for now it does appear that we have made it through to the general election,” the statement said.

Soo Ing-Moody

Counties were required to certify their results by the end of the day Tuesday. The state will certify the primary election by Friday (Aug. 23).

“I look forward to going out to meet with folks from every corner of the district to discuss the issues important to anyone who calls this region home,”

Ing-Moody said.

The 7th is the largest legislative district in the state, spanning from Okanogan County to Pend Oreille County on the Idaho border.

etc.”

The Charm Fire started just this week near Palmer Mountain, in eastern Okanogan County.

Most fire names adhere to the rules. Fires in the Methow Valley this year include the Gold Creek Fire, the Frazer Crossing Fire, and the Beaver Pond Fire, all named for bodies of water in their immediate vicinity. The Spokane Gulch Fire near Mazama and Crescent Fire in the Twisp River drainage were named for geological features.

A fire can be termed a ‘Complex’ when two or more fires are managed by the same fire team, as in the Carlton Complex, Reimer said. Reimer doesn’t know how the Cub Creek 2 Fire in 2021 got the number “2,” but surmised that NEWICC had started to create orders based on the fire name and then discovered an earlier fire with the same name.

Avoid wordplay

In the past, fire names occasionally included puns or other lighthearted references, but today fire managers are advised to avoid wordplay, Reimer said.

The Cherry Garcia Fire might have sidestepped that guideline. The fire is part of the Kachess Complex in the Cle Elum Ranger District, which comprised three fires caused by lightning earlier this month.

The Cherry Garcia Fire was declared 100% contained a few days after it started.

There is a Mount Jerry Garcia near Cle Elum (just east of Deadhead Lake, aptly enough).

The mountain, “a challenging and strenuous rock scramble,” is sometimes referred to as Deadhead Peak, according to a description by The Mountain-

“For the remainder of the race, and if elected in November, I pledge to work hard to earn trust and renew voters’ faith in our system of government, and promise to use all my experience and skills to serve and be the best qualified, effective, common-sense Republican representative for all people of this district regardless of location,”

Ing-Moody’s statement said.

Ing-Moody will face Andrew Engell of Colville in the general election. He had 19,858 votes in the primary race as of Tuesday morning — nearly twice as many as Ing-Moody.

In the other 7th District House race, Republican Hunter Abell of Inchelium and Democrat Paul “Rocky” Dean of Springdale advanced to the Nov. 5 election.

eers, an outdoor exploration and conservation group. The late Jerry Garcia was the beloved lead guitarist and songwriter of the Grateful Dead.

The irony of the name didn’t escape notice of one commenter on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Facebook page.

“Is it really the Cherry Garcia fire, and not the Jerry Garcia (as the peak near waptus lake is named). If so, that sounds like the tastiest ice cream named fire I’ve ever heard of,” she wrote. (Ben & Jerry’s makes a Cherry Garcia ice cream studied with cherries and fudge flakes.)

Fire managers also have to avoid place names that might be offensive to certain groups or communities. “Note that some geographic features and places retain names that are now considered offensive or controversial, making them inappropriate for use in fire names,” according to the guidelines.

Fire managers are profoundly aware of and sensitive to these concerns. “Some of these could slip through the cracks, as the person naming the fire and the dispatcher documenting the fire name might not be familiar with every fire that has ever had fatalities on it,” Reimer said.

“But there are some very well-known names that we would avoid for this reason — like South Canyon or Storm King — and especially historic, catastrophic fires that have local significance, like Twisp River or Thirtymile. Because those fires had a significant impact on our local firefighting community, and within recent memory, we would not want to name any new fires the same thing and be inadvertently insensitive to the memories of the fallen firefighters,” she said.

911 blotter

Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office

• On Aug. 12, a fire in a field was reported at a location on Highway 153 near Twisp; the property owner said they were unaware of the outdoor burning ban.

• On Aug. 12, an abandoned vehicle was reported at a location on North Methow Valley Highway, Twisp.

• On Aug. 13, a person was reported to be hanging around on Twin Lakes Drive for several days; when contacted the person said they had been fishing and would move on.

• On Aug. 13, a caller on Poorman Creek Cutoff Road, Twisp, reported that several cows were loose and getting onto the caller’s property.

• On Aug. 14, a non-injury accident was reported on Bear Creek Road, Winthrop.

• On Aug. 14, a caller on South Fork Gold Creek Road, Carlton, said they were notified by a contractor that someone had been on the property and done some some malicious damage to equipment and vehicles.

• On Aug. 14, it was reported that disabled vehicle parked partially on the roadway was causing a traffic hazard at Old Carlton Road and Texas Creek Road.

• On Aug. 14, a grass fire was reported at a location on Twisp-Carlton Road.

• On Aug. 15, a non-injury collision between a vehicle and a bicycle was reported at a location on East Methow Valley Highway, Twisp.

• On Aug. 16, a domestic dispute was reported at a location on Poorman Creek Road, Twisp.

• On Aug. 16, a caller in Methow reported a civil

REZONING

From Page A1

gle-family homes at the site would be better than nothing, some members said.

“I don’t feel it’s right to hold hostage … a property owner that is trying to address a problem that we all are concerned about, which is housing,” council member Katrina Auburn said.

“This particular area has been vacant and has not had any homes built, any development in any form, for over 20-something, 30 years,” she added.

Council member Aaron Studen agreed.

“We’re choosing between approving the rezone or having it just sit empty for another 20 years because nobody’s going to step up and do it. The (commercial) developers aren’t there,” he said.

dispute involving an ex refusing to return items that the caller had given them.

• On Aug. 17, a caller in Twisp reported that two dogs had attacked and nearly killed another dog, and that the attacking dogs were still in the neighborhood and attempting to attack children and another dog.

• On Aug. 17, an abandoned vehicle was reported at the Twin Lakes Road boat launch.

• On Aug. 17, possible illegal burning — an open fire at a campsite — was reported at Springboard Ranch Road and Bear Creek Road

• On Aug. 18, a caller on Twisp-Winthrop Eastside road reported that a vehicle was driving on their property, which was dry and a potential fire hazard.

• On Aug. 18, a caller reported being locked out of a vehicle at a location on Bear Creek Road, Winthrop.

Winthrop Marshal’s Office

• On Aug. 14, a caller on Riverside Avenue reported that an ex had hacked into their Facebook account and was trying to find out where the caller was located.

• On Aug. 17, it was reported that a resident of a care home in Winthrop had attacked and injured a caretaker.

• On Aug. 17, a theft of documents and cash was reported at a location on Highway 20.

• On Aug. 18, it was reported that a tree had fallen across Castle Avenue and was blocking part of the street.

Public access to the river was another point of contention. Menzies spoke favorably of any option that would allow residents some enjoyment of the river at the site, even if it were from the back deck of a restaurant. He also suggested Port’s properties could be part of a trail extending along the river in Twisp.

While commercial-riverfront zoning requires a public trail “along the entirety of the shoreline,” according to town code, residential zoning has no such requirement. But as town planner

Thom Vetter told the council, if a future developer wanted to subdivide the two lots that sit along the river, the town could require a public trail as part of the subdivision.

Council member Wyatt Lundquist acknowledged the loss of river access would be unfortunate but said that was not a deciding factor in his vote.

“I think losing river access is a bummer,” Lundquist said. “It’d be really nice for the public to be able to go down there and have a trail or access, or something like that.”

But he added, “I do think the gaining of additional housing outweighs that.”

Future plans for the properties remain unclear. In an interview, Port, the property owner, said he would not develop the land himself.

“I’m going to make it available,” Port said. “I’m hoping someone will come out of the woodwork now and purchase some of it.”

Port said he may hold onto the two parcels next to the river, to make sure the steeply sloped bank is rehabilitated properly. He said he has lost 30 feet of riverbank to erosion along those properties over the past 10 years.

30 - SEPTEMBER 6

From Page A1

structures were built, the river became constrained and could no longer spread out.

Although this isn’t the first project in the valley to result in revisions to the floodway, it’s likely to be one of the most visible because it’s so close to Twisp, Gregg said.

Flood protection

Before 1973, a levee-like structure provided flood protection to some properties downstream of the project area. MSRF believes that structure was built in response to the 1948 flood.

But historical imagery shows that the 1972 flood overtopped that structure. It was rebuilt soon thereafter, but on the opposite side of the river. The river was diverted to its current location, and the area behind the new levee, including the old river channel, was filled in with cobble and wood from the old Twisp lumber mill, Gregg said.

This levee forces the river to make a 90-degree turn, and that sharp angle contributes to bank erosion downstream, Gregg said. Okanogan County main-

tains that levee and will continue to do so after the MSRF project is complete.

The Sugar project will retain most of the levee to maintain protection from floods, but the tail end — which isn’t necessary for flood protection — will be revamped to minimize its impact on the geomorphic function of the river, Gregg said. The modifications will help water flow into the floodplain and reconnect channels, adding streamflow to a low-lying area.

The Sugar project also calls for adding wood structures to the river, which will help direct streamflow to side channels and provide additional fish habitat, Gregg said.

The project covers about 1 1/2 miles upstream from the confluence of the Methow and Twisp rivers near the Twisp Park.

New maps

The Sugar project coincides with an ongoing update of floodplain maps — currently from the 1970s — by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Community members and entities like MSRF can initiate or assist in updating the FEMA flood maps. MSRF will

submit a detailed analysis and draft map to FEMA showing changes that have occurred in the river since 1977, as well as what the river is expected to look like after the Sugar project is complete. There’s likely to be a back-and-forth with FEMA to ensure the map is accurate after the work is done.

Design and construction on both projects are supported by multiple grants and agencies, including the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Bonneville Power Administration, the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, and the state Department of Ecology’s Floodplains by Design program.

Construction on the Eagle Rocks project is expected to cost $1.4 million. The Sugar project will cost $7.8 million.

The third and final phase of the river-reconnection project is anticipated in 2026. In that phase, MSRF will do restoration work in the river near the Methow Valley airport, upstream of the Eagle Rocks and Sugar work sites. MSRF will host a community open house in the fall and will reach out to property owners with more details. Most map updates are because of natural changes in the river over the past 50 years, Gregg said.

Minimal fire growth for Pioneer, Easy blazes in wet, cooler weather

WSDOT clearing slide debris from NC Highway

BY MARCY STAMPER

There’s been no growth on either the Pioneer or Easy fire in recent days, thanks to rainy weather and cooler temperatures. Still, areas of heat remain on both fires, particularly below the tree canopy and in areas of dead and downed fuels, according to Northwest Complex Incident Management Team 3, which is back managing the two fires after a two-week break. Most recent fire activity consists of smoldering and creeping.

The wetter weather and successful efforts by fire crews to protect the community of Stehekin allowed emergency managers to lower the evacuation level for the town from the highest level (leave now) to Level 2 (be prepared to leave) on Sunday (Aug. 18). Stehekin is still closed to visitors.

Although fire activity on the Easy Fire, west of Rainy Pass in the North Cascades, has lessened considerably — with no additional spread in the past week — that’s not enough to reopen the North Cascades Highway. The highway has been closed since early August because of the fire and, more recently, by a major debris flow unleashed by heavy rains almost two weeks ago.

Now that fire activity has moved away from the highway, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews have been at work clearing the roadway. In the past week, WSDOT has deployed three loaders, two excavators, a broom and four dump trucks to unblock the roadway. The crews have been making significant progress, but that’s not enough to remove the 7,000 tons of mud, nearly 10 feet deep in some places, that WSDOT estimates descended on the road.

Making the job even more challenging are numerous rocks and boulders embedded in the mud, which have to be broken up before they can be removed, WSDOT North Central Region Communications Manager Lauren Loebsack told the Methow Valley News. Fire crews have been helping WSDOT clean the debris flow, Northwest Team 3 Operations Section Chief Nathan Goodrich Nathan Goodrich said.

“We’re not sure how much more rock is hidden in the mud, which is what makes it tough to estimate how much longer the clean-up will take,” Loebsack said. “And, while at the moment the fire is not threatening the roadway, since fire activity can be unpredictable, we can’t speak to what conditions will be in the coming days,” she said. WSDOT will consult with the fire team before making any decision on reopening, she said.

Pioneer Fire holding

On the Pioneer Fire, crews have been focusing on the ridge between Boulder and Rainbow creeks north of Stehekin, where the fire has been holding at a line created with retardant drops and reinforced by hand lines, Goodrich said.

Firefighters are still working to protect structures at the upper end of the Stehekin Valley and are removing trees and other vegetation to create contingency lines along the airstrip at the northern edge of the fire.

Fire crews have been creating more defensible space around the power plant and Stehekin Ranch, Northwest Team 3 Operations Section Chief Jason Gibb said.

Although the fire had headed up the steep ridges above the lake toward the Sawtooth Ridge above the Methow Valley, the very rocky terrain and moister vegetation at that elevation has kept the fire from moving beyond its existing footprint for several weeks, Northwest Team 3 Public Information Officer Emilie Bedard told the Methow Valley News. No heat has been spotted at higher elevations.

Activity on the Pioneer Fire is affected primarily by winds on Lake Chelan. Both the customary down-lake winds and topography tend to direct the fire away from the Sawtooth Ridge on its northeastern flank, Bedard said.

The fire team has installed a helispot to bring in a hotshot crew to work in the upper drainage, with the aim of extending the fire line and increasing containment, Gibb said.

Lightning storms in the past week have sparked new fire starts, including some near the Pioneer Fire. Fire crews extinguished several blazes to the south while they were still small, according to the fire team. There have been 13 lightning-caused fires on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, most in Chelan County, a total of 2.5 acres, since Thursday (Aug.15), according to Okanogan-Wenatchee Public Affairs Specialist Robin DeMario.

The Easy Fire was 2,130 acres as of Tuesday (Aug. 20), with 120 personnel assigned. The fire is 29% contained, primarily on its northeastern flank. The acreage has remained constant for the past week.

The Pioneer Fire was 38,727 acres with 582 personnel and 23% containment, along the lakeshore and the southern edge of the fire. The fire has grown about 300 acres in the past week. No structures have been lost to the fire. With moderated fire behavior, the fire team is working on “right-sizing” the organization, Goodrich said.

Total fire suppression costs for the Easy Fire were $12.2 million as of Tuesday (Aug. 20) and, on the Pioneer Fire, $86.4 million.

At the southern end of the fire, contingency lines created to protect Manson and the Sawtooth Ridge have been holding for the past month, and crews have started to clean up and backhaul equipment. Fire crews have cut trees, shrubs and other vegetation to create fire lines and fuel breaks. Branches and smaller shrubs have been piled in the area and will be burned or chipped and spread, Bedard said. Fire crews removed some merchantable timber — primarily small-diameter lodgepole pine — that has been piled and decked. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest will coordinate the sale or use of the trees, Bedard said.

Photo by Marcy Stamper

Work on the Eagle Rocks Habitat Enhancement Project, about 2 miles north of Twisp, is expected to wrap up in October.

Photo courtesy of WSDOT

WSDOT has to clear an estimated 7,000 tons of mud, rocks and trees from a debris slide from the Easy Fire before the North Cascades Highway can be reopened.

NO BAD DAYS Stop me if you’ve heard this one …

In the past couple of weeks, two fires that reportedly were humancaused broke out in areas not too far from Twisp. The town was never threatened, but our heartrates surely quickened for a while. Thanks to the rapid, all-in, cooperative efforts of our local firefighting agencies, the small fires were quickly controlled. Neither fire harmed any humans; one damaged some buildings. Each raised our hackles as we listened to our radio traffic scanners, or tracked social media postings of dubious reliability. We always wonder: will this be the one? Investigations continue, but every indication is that these were preventable fires — by that we mean, unnecessary. In one case, the property owner apparently told firefighters they were not aware that an outdoor burning ban is in effect. Everyone I’ve talked to has had the same reaction: “How is that possible?”

How indeed, 10 years into our epistolic post-Carlton Complex Fire journey? Isn’t it enough that our anxiety spikes every time there is another lightning storm throwing inflammatory bolts at the ground (hundreds of them over a storm’s track). Yes, the rain is refreshing and helpful — but it does not mitigate the need for caution and watchfulness. Should we still have to worry that someone, somewhere — alarmingly close-by, it seems — either hasn’t gotten the message or thinks it does not apply to them?

I’ve heard quite a few angry descriptors of such folks lately, none of them kind, many of them unsuitable for inclusion in newspaper stories. It usually starts with “stupid” and accelerates from there. That’s understandable if not particularly charitable. People make mistakes; it does not make them terrible people. Still, I shake my head in amazement that our shared devotion to keeping each other safe hasn’t entirely sunk in.

There is, arguably, a difference between someone who deliberately starts the chain of events leading to a fire, and someone who causes a fire through inattention or by some activity that inadvertently sparks the initial flames. The ultimate damage may end up being the same, but accidental fires might be considered less culpable than intentional fires that get out of control. That’s not much solace if your house burns down or your loved ones are threatened. Most of us have access to the same information about how to prevent fires, about how to behave during fire season, about what the various burn bans mean. It’s not just available, it is proactively sent our way. Ignorance is not acceptable as an excuse. Even less acceptable is willful disregard. That’s what citations, fines and firefighting assessments are meant to address. I think all of us would like to see more accountability.

Every year, starting in the spring, I come across reports of illegal outdoor fires in the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office 911 call logs. These are the ones that for the most part did not escape the control of their minders. They’re happening all over the county, and the Methow Valley has its share— whatever that means. Who’s to say what we should be prepared to tolerate as inevitable?

There is an entry in this week’s 911 logs about a large, illegal bonfire reported by a citizen who was afraid to confront the people involved for fear of retaliation. It’s not the first time I’ve heard that. It seems like the responsible thing to do is talk to those who are responsible. But there is also the apprehension that someone who is illegally burning might be resistant to counsel, and possibly capable of an unfriendly response. That has happened, according to the reports I read.

And we are just a microcosm. Read the national news about fires, if you can bear it — many of the largest blazes were the result of some human action.

It annoys me that I feel compelled to write one of these columns periodically. “It goes without saying” ought to pretty much cover the issue, but it apparently does need saying — over and over. Will it make a difference? I would like to think so, but then people who defiantly throw a match into the burn barrel, torch a slash pile when it’s 90 degrees out, insist on having a campfire or drive a vehicle through dry grass probably aren’t reading this or don’t give a damn what I have to say about it. The rest of us will do our best to take precautions and look out for each other. Ultimately, that’s about all we’ve got. In this community, that means a lot.

CORRECTION: The obituary for David M. Eyre Jr. inadvertently omitted information about his survivors. The obituary should have read: David is survived by his daughter Shannon E. Eyre of Winthrop, Washington, and his son Ashley M. Eyre (Jamie) of Honolulu, Hawaii.

Methow Valley News

OPINION Box 97: Letters to the editor

Support the schools

Dear Editor:

I am very thankful to live in a community where we step up and take care of our students. I offer a whole-hearted thanks to the PSFA, their donors, and the district for making the best of a bad situation. However, I hope everyone in our community remembers that this is a band-aid, not a solution. We must lobby our state Legislature to stop shirking their duty and properly fund schools, as is their constitutional mandate.

Murray Sampson Winthrop

Fence facts

Dear Editor:

Last weekend, Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Melanie Rowland implied that underground electrical fencing has been shown to reduce wildlife conflict. This would be remarkable news, if it were not a fabrication. With the commission currently debating what constitutes the “best available science” regarding wildlife policy, this is an ethical issue that must be addressed.

For context, the commissioner had presented an article from the Methow Valley News by Ann McCreary stating that electrical fencing could reduce wildlife conflict with bears. During public comment, hunter Josh Caple brought up concerns about devoting funds to a kind of fencing that, if allowed to fall into a state of disrepair, can represent a “disaster in the making.”

Here is a quick primer on how an electrical fence works: The system comprises of three components, a charger which generates electricity, a ground wire which predictably goes into the earth, and a lead-out or “hot” wire. This lead wire is isolated from the ground with insulators, and when an animal, dry grass, or an inattentive farmer touches the lead wire while touching the ground, it completes the circuit and creates a shock. In the case of dry grass, this can easily cause a brush fire.

Responding to these concerns, Melanie Rowland stated that the intention was to have most of the electrical fencing be underground and even went as far saying “it is particularly effective when it is underground.” No mention of underground electric fencing was made in McCreary’s article, and such a fence would defy the current rules that electricity plays by.

Public officials are bound to run into instances where they are out of their realm of expertise. Not knowing how an electrical fence works is a forgivable knowledge gap but implying that scientific studies support the efficacy of a mythical fence is an ethics gap that cannot be tolerated. This is especially true of a commission that is currently debating what constitutes “best available science.”

Ryan Garrett Colville

Midnight math

Dear Editor:

Here’s a quiz: With the Midnight Project in the Twisp River Watershed, the U.S. Forest Service is planning on removing 69 million board feet of live trees. This is the equivalent of more than 180,000 trees 20 inches diameter and 100 feet tall. It would take more than 15,000 log truck loads to get them to the sawmill.

The stated purpose of the project is to combat climate change. Yet those trees scheduled for a trip to a faraway sawmill, are sequestering 11.6 thousand tons of CO2 each year. Those 15,000 log trucks driving a 200mile round trip to and from Darrington will each use 40 gallons of diesel, producing 6.7 thousand tons of CO2. That’s an 18,000-ton carbon deficit.

Why? Here’s the Forest Service’s math: a

Harts Pass

wildfire might occur. That wildfire might be unnaturally large. Our fire suppression crews might not be able to put it out. This imaginary catastrophic fire might kill enough trees to reduce carbon sequestration at some unknown level.

All this when the agency can’t even confirm Midnight will reduce wildfire risk. So here’s the question: can the project’s definite impacts be justified based on the unknown impacts that might occur?

And that’s just Midnight. There are three more huge logging projects planned in the Methow.

Does this make any sense? If you love our home and want the Methow to be a leader in combating climate change, contact the Forest Service and tell them to pull the plug on Midnight.

Ric Bailey Winthrop

Compassion and empathy

Dear Editor:

I strongly feel the need to write in response to the article written about the community’s fire alert systems. I did indeed speak with the reporter of that story, while volunteering at The Cove (my home away from home). I did express my own anxieties of getting caught up in the real emotional trauma this community has experienced through years and years of fires. I expressed this from a place of compassion and complete empathy and would never think of anyone’s trauma as “baggage.” I have the words “compassion” and “kindness” literally tattooed on the inside of my wrists, as those are the words I live by every day of my life.

I have complete empathy for everyone in this community and what you all have had to endure in the face of fires. My husband, Ken, and I just moved here one year ago from a place where fire was not an everyday threat. It is a new reality, as I take on the worry of not just us and our neighbors, but every person in this community, and in all of the communities near us, like Stehekin, where fires threaten the lives and homes of so many people.

I never intended to speak for anyone when I spoke to that reporter last week. I spoke from a place of absolute love and my own emotion, trying to navigate how I can live in this place that is truly Heaven on Earth without personally feeling paralyzed by the threat of fires to all of us, as a community. I strongly emphasized to the reporter how grateful I am to the volunteers who run the Facebook Pages dedicated to alerting our community about new fires, lightning strikes, and of all the hard work our brave firefighters are doing to contain the fires. This community means the world to both Ken and me. We have felt so welcomed this past year and we want nothing more than for you all to know that we are always here for you too.

Jenna Butti Twisp

Stop the sign thefts

Dear Editor:

Are you or someone you know stealing political yard signs? Please stop it. It’s not an effective way to help an opposing candidate, and it could even result in fines or jail time

By Len Baublitz

for the sign thief. Within one day of placing a candidate sign in a yard, it disappeared. You may not know it, but in order to get my yard sign, I made a donation to my political party of choice. When you took my sign, I ordered a replacement and made an additional donation. By stealing signs, you are actually helping the opposing candidate to raise more money. Perhaps I should thank you, but I really don’t want to see you get in trouble.

In Washington state, a person who removes or defaces a lawfully placed political yard sign is guilty of a misdemeanor that is punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a fine of up to $1,000. I would hate to see anyone face those penalties, when there are much better ways to make your political voice heard.

You can make a donation to your preferred party. You can contact your candidate’s headquarters and volunteer to make phone calls or write postcards. You can place your own political signs in your yard. But most important, you can exercise your right to vote in the upcoming general election because every single vote does count.

Nancy Aadland Winthrop

Don’t be clueless

Dear Editor:

This past week, there was a 5-acre fire just a mile and a half from my house on the Twisp-Carlton Road. That was pretty scary until it was controlled.

Just two days earlier, there was a “4-foot blaze,” also south of Twisp. The Methow Valley News article reported: “The property owner was unaware of the countywide burn ban . . . according to the Okanogan County Sheriff’s report.” Really? Come on, folks, it’s mid-summer in the Methow. We’re also in the middle of a drought. If you live here, you have to be clueless not to realize that you’re putting yourself, your family, your neighbors, and our firefighters at great risk when you start an outdoor fire. And not to know we always have a burn ban in effect at this time of year? Hard to believe.

I give special thanks to folks who report yard fires and other fire-risking activities to the authorities. (See multiple 911 blotter columns in the Methow Valley News). Thanks, too, to landlords who make sure their tenants know the rules against outdoor burning. You are doing us all an important and possibly lifesaving service.

Randy Brook Twisp

Thanks to firefighters

Dear Editor:

I want to express my sincerest gratitude for the quick response by Okanogan District 6 firefighters and the DNR fire crew last Wednesday. A strong wind blew a grass fire directly towards my house and outbuildings, and if the response had been any slower I probably would have lost everything. The firefighters were incredibly well coordinated, efficient and courteous. Thank you again for saving my place from further damage, you are all heroes, and you truly saved the day!

Tori Karpenko

Twisp

By Erik Brooks

Don Nelson

GETTING FRESH

Rain

ARTS BRIEFS

MUSIC AT

The TwispWorks campus will host a series of “Fourth Friday” musical acts and other events this summer. The music will be performed at the Pavilion, starting at 6:30 p.m. Scheduled are:

• Friday, Aug. 23, Zonky.

• Friday, Sept. 27, Battle Alpaca and Big Lake Judy.

• Saturday, Sept. 28, Swindler, in conjunction with the Twisp Harvest Festival.

CONCERT AT LIBRARY

NCW Libraries, Cascadia Music, and Friends of the Winthrop Library present John Stowell and Kit Garoutte in free concert at the Winthrop library on Wednesday, Sept. 11, starting at 5:30 p.m. The dynamic guitar duo will perform a variety of original compositions. There will be light refreshments available.

CONTRA DANCING

Try contra dancing at the air-conditioned Twisp Valley Grange every second Sunday from 6:30-9 p.m. All are welcomed; admission is free but donations are appreciated. For more information, email methowvalleydances@gmail.com.

‘ART OF RECOVERY’

EVENT

Merc holding cast auditions for upcoming productions

The Merc Playhouse will hold auditions in September and October for roles in two upcoming productions.

‘Ravenscroft’

The Merc will host auditions for the Readers’ Theater production of “Ravenscroft” on Friday, Sept. 6, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 7, from noon-2 p.m. There may be callbacks on Sunday, Sept. 8.

The play will run Oct. 24-27 (three evenings and one matinee), with several rehearsals before opening. Actors must be available for all rehearsals.

“Ravenscroft,” written by Don Nigro and directed by Don Nelson, is a British manor house mystery with comic overtones. Roles, which have some latitude, include one 40-something male; a woman in her late teens; two young women in their 20s; and two 40-something women.

The play is described as a “psychological drama” and “a thinking person’s Gothic thriller, a dark comedy that is both funny and frightening.” It has frequently been produced at community and regional theaters.

For additional information about the play and auditions, email editor@ methowvalleynews.com.

‘Sherlock Holmes’

FEELING THEATRICAL?

While it’s the actors who get the spotlight, no Merc Playhouse production happens without the people behind the scenes who help with directing, stage management, sets, props, costuming, makeup, sound, lights and other tasks required to bring a production to the stage. If you are interested in any of these areas, email info@ mercplayhouse.org.

Auditions for the full production of “Sherlock Holmes and the First Baker Street Irregular” will be held Saturday, Oct. 12, at noon; Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 3 p.m.; and Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. The play is written by Brian Guehring and directed by Phil Quevillon.

Okanogan Behavioral HealthCare will present “The Art of Recovery,” an exhibit and fundraising event that includes dinner and an auction, on Friday, Sept. 20, at 1007 Koala Drive, Omak, from 5-7:30 p.m. The event coincides with National Recovery Month. The exhibit will be artwork created by individuals who are working on or in recovery. For more information including how to buy tickets, visit okbhc.org or call (509) 826-8580.

HOUSE’ AT THE MERC

‘THE

The Merc Playhouse production of “The House,” written and directed by Methow Valley author and poet Cindy Williams Gutiérrez, opens on Thursday, Oct. 3, and continues through Sunday, Oct. 13, with weekday shows at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. According to a press release, “This memory play … revisits the turbulent, formative years of childhood through the eyes of an adult. As these memories play out in front of the older daughter Vicky, she can no longer hide from the truth. Her denial is refuted by the forthright observer who saw it all — the house itself.” For information, visit www.mercplayhouse.org/.

Here is a description of the play from The Merc’s website: “On a dare, 14-year-old Wiggins tries to pickpocket Sherlock Holmes. Instead, Holmes takes a ring from Wiggins’ pocket and leaves a note about how to get it back. After Wiggins sees Holmes solve a case using the ring, she asks to be his assistant. Holmes agrees, as long as she helps with the chores. Wiggins and Holmes must learn to trust each other as Wiggins and her group of street urchins help him solve two dangerous mysteries.”

According to Quevillon, the cast will include: two youths age 8 to 16; two mature women; two mature men; two women age 16 to 35; and four men age 16 to 35 (preferably one redhead).

“Sherlock Holmes and the First Baker Street Irregular” will be performed Dec. 5-15. For information, email info@mercplayhouse.org or call (509) 997-7529.

LIVE MUSIC

LIVE MUSIC IN THE VALLEY

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 Twisp Town Park from 3-5 p.m. All are invited.

• Sundays, Terry Hunt plays classical guitar at the Twisp River Tap House, joined by guest musicians, 5:30 p.m. No cover with food or beverage purchase.

• 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, 5:30-8:30 p.m. $5.

• Fridays, open mic jam with Gregg Hardy at Twisp River Tap House, 6 p.m.-closing. No cover.

• Fridays (first, third and fourth), ecstatic dance lessons at Wellspring in the Methow Valley Community Center, 5:30-7 p.m. $12 per session.

• Fridays, Karaoke at Branding Iron, Twisp, 8 p.m. No cover.

• Thursday, Aug. 22, karaoke hosted by KJ April Peterson at Twisp River Tap House, 6-10 p.m.

• Thursday, Aug. 22, The Full Uplift at Jupiter restaurant, Winthrop, 6-8 p.m. No cover.

• Friday, Aug. 23, The George Schneider-Marcus Duke Duo at Meza restaurant, Winthrop, 6-8 p.m. Free with food/drink purchase.

• Friday, Aug. 23, local band Zonky performs at TwispWorks, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Free

• Friday, Aug. 23, Big Willionaire-Will Menzies at Old Schoolhouse Taproom, Twisp, 10 p.m.-midnight. Free.

• Saturday, Aug. 24, local group Gobblers Knob plays Americana, folk and rock at Methow Valley Ciderhouse, Winthrop, 6-9 p.m. Free.

• Tuesday, Aug. 27, Jessie Thoreson & The Crown Fire play Americana, folk, and originals at Mazama Public House, 5:308:30 p.m. No cover.

• Thursday, Aug. 29 Grover Pridmore at Twisp River Tap House, 6 p.m. No cover with purchase.

• Thursday, Aug. 29, Paula Aio DJ set at Jupiter restaurant, Winthrop, 6 p.m. Free.

• Friday, Aug. 30, Gobbler’s Knob at Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop, 6-9 p.m. No cover.

• Saturday, Aug. 31, karaoke hosted by KJ April Peterson, at Twisp River Tap House, 6-10 p.m. Free.

• Saturday, Aug. 31, Methow Valley band Three Piece Suit at SweetRiver Bakery, Pateros, 6 p.m. No cover.

• Thursday, Sept. 5, Lawrence Jazz Duo at Jupiter restaurant, Winthrop, 6-8 p.m. Free.

• Tuesday, Sept. 10, G-Man at Methow Valley Ciderhouse, Winthrop, 5-8 p.m. No cover.

• Tuesday, Sept. 17, Terry Hunt at Methow Valley Ciderhouse, Winthrop, 5-8 p.m. No cover.

Photos by Ralph Schwartz

briefly dampened the festivities on Friday (Aug. 16), but at least the skies remained smoke-free during this year’s Guaranteed Fresh Fest, held Aug. 16-17 at Doran Ranch outside Twisp. More than 500 people attended the festival, according to organizers. Clockwise from top left: Olympia hip-hop artist AKA performs his set Saturday (Aug. 17). Essential I and Wes Will perform as Dope ah meaN on the festival stage. Andrew Tuller of Methow Valley rock band Black Pine belts out a tune. Artist Sam LaValley of Twisp paints a Harris’s Hawk on the festival grounds.

Firefighters, residents save homes from Beaver Pond Fire near Twisp Report

cites ‘kiln’ as probable cause

BY RALPH SCHWARTZ

A kiln fire that got out of control was the apparent cause of the Beaver Pond Fire, which threatened homes Wednesday (Aug. 14) on the 800 block of Twisp-Carlton Road.

A shop, a second small outbuilding and a truck canopy were scorched in the blaze, but firefighters and residents kept the flames away from two homes immediately north of 786 Twisp-Carlton Road, where the fire started.

Individuals on the scene, including a firefighter not authorized to speak publicly, said the fire was apparently caused by outdoor burning. Rusty Stamps, assistant chief at Okanogan County Fire District 6, wouldn’t discuss the specifics of the cause, saying only that the fire was “under investigation.”

A District 6 incident report

obtained by the Methow Valley News listed the cause of the fire as “kiln.”

The Beaver Pond Fire was reported at 3 p.m. Aug. 14 and burned 2.97 acres, according to WildCAD, before it was contained later in the day. No one was injured, and pets were safely evacuated. Residents on the 800 block of Twisp-Carlton Road were placed under a Level 2 evacuation advisory that afternoon.

The Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office closed Twisp-Carlton Road to nonessential traffic during the firefight.

About 30 personnel from the four District 6 stations responded to the fire, Stamps said. Crews quickly focused their attention on the residences at 802 Twisp-Carlton Road.

“When I arrived, fire was already at the back of [the property owner’s] structure, getting ready to go around or through it,” Stamps said. A fire crew arriving in the Carlton station brush truck pulled hoses and prevented

further damage to structures, according to Stamps and the incident report.

“His house actually had a pretty good buffer around it,” Stamps said. “He had some yard that was able to take that fire

Jewelers Collective will move to Winthrop with new name, logo

BY MIA LIMMER-LAI

The Methow Valley Jewelers Collective is moving from the TwispWorks campus to Winthrop and changing its name to “The Magpie Collective” on Aug. 29. The departure marks the business’s first move since it opened almost five years ago in late 2019. The business will move to Winthrop’s bustling Riverside Avenue in the hopes of attracting more foot traffic, said collective member Joanne Marracci. While the collective liked TwispWorks campus and building, they wanted to establish a greater retail presence in the valley.

“In the creative community we view magpies as being drawn to shiny objects and by that comparison, so are jewelers,” said Sarah Jo Lightner, founder of the collective. “We’re not keeping the ‘Methow Valley Jewelers Collective’ [name] because one of the jewelers is actually getting into hat making, so we’re spreading beyond just production of handmade one-of-a-king jewelry to include other types of made objects.”

The collective does not operate like a co-op since every member runs its own separate business under the same roof. The collective is also unique because it serves as both a retail and studio space, providing access to a creative community in a rural area. It will also host a studio at its new Winthrop location.

Members of the community outside the collective can rent the studio space. The collective also plans to offer classes that teach jewelry-making to the community.

While the collective did not offer classes at its Twisp location, the collective has its roots in education. Founding member Lightner taught beginner silversmithing classes at TwispWorks and had the idea of banding together with other jewelers to rent a space.

“I think it’s important for people to understand that things that are handmade are actually made by people, not in manufacturing facilities,” Lightner said. “Having a makerspace really gives view to the consumer what it takes to actually produce something.”

Various styles

The collective features nine jewelers and three visual artists that work across a variety of styles and mediums.

Lightner uses sterling silver and large stones to craft statement pieces, drawing from folklore and strong feminine archetypes to tell a story. Her works are literally and figuratively heavy in a way that is “not for the everyday wearer,” she said, a sentiment reflected in her studio name Glitter and Grit Silversmith. An example of such thematic work is a gemstone raven skull necklace that Lightner created for the 2021 exhibit “In the Company of Crows and Ravens” at the Con-

Photos courtesy of Methow Valley Jewelers Collective

Top: The Methow Valley Jewelers Collective’s new logo featuring its new namesake and a broader range of art mediums. Collective member Amelia Evans of AE Silversmithin designed the magpie for the logo.

Bottom: Beaded earrings by Julianna Owens of Fiddlehead Supply Co (formerly Pine Shadow), gemstone sterling bracelet by Joanne Marracci of Marracci Designs, sterling and gemstone raven skull necklace by Sarah Jo Lightner of Glitter and Grit Silversmith, and sterling cuff by Laurie Fisher of Luv on the Rocks.

fluence Gallery. Marracci uses gemstones, gold and silver to craft custom pieces that trace the special memories of wearers’ lives and loved ones. As a customs specialist, she has melted heirloom jewelry passed down through generations and transformed them into something new. She has also made custom wedding sets and memory pieces from loved ones’ ashes.

“The big part is getting their reaction when they open the box,” Marracci said. “It’s sometimes a gasp and sometimes happy tears that make all the stress before it worth it. Because it’s stressful dealing with people’s expectations. You need to make sure that they are in tune with your style and you’re in tune with their style. There’s definitely a collaborative effort

between the customer and the jeweler.”

Jewelry collective member Amelia Evans designed the business’s new magpie logo, which aligns with her abstract and nature-inspired style, Marracci said. Evans graduated from the Independent Learning Center and had the opportunity to learn from renowned Winthrop jeweler Nicole Ringgold.

“We’re really, really excited for them and we’re really looking forward to seeing what the next step is,” said TwispWorks Communications Officer Grant Eadie.

“It’s such an incredible success story and to have been even just a little stop on their whole journey is such a privilege.”

The Magpie Collective will move to 134 Riverside Ave. next to the Nectar Skin Bar & Boutique.

away from it and towards the pond there.”

Water drops from a single helicopter halted the fire’s advance to the east and near the pond, where access on foot was difficult.

Twisp, Aero Methow exploring deal for portion of town well property

Contamination

risk raised as a possible concern

BY RALPH SCHWARTZ

Aero Methow Rescue Service and the Town of Twisp are exploring a property deal that would give the valley’s emergency responders more storage space.

Town council members on Aug. 13 were mostly open to the idea of selling a portion of a 0.9acre property between Wagner and Marble streets, where a town water well is located. Council asked staff for more information at a future meeting about the potential for well contamination, if a building is added to the now-vacant lot.

Aero Methow Executive Director Cindy Button said in an interview the property acquisition is only in the earliest discussion stages.

“Everything that we do is very slow, well thought out and deliberate,” Button said. “There’s obviously a lot of unknowns that need to be clarified before we move forward with the purchase.”

Aero Methow needs more space to store various trailers, including those used to transport snowmobiles and UTVs. For now, the trailers are spread out

and stored wherever they might fit, which is not efficient, Button said.

The new building also would be used for basic equipment repairs — but no oil changes or other work with vehicle fluids, which could pose a contamination risk.

Aero Methow would like to acquire the property because it is close to its station at 1005 Methow Valley Highway E., Button said. The agency would not initiate emergency responses from the new location.

Aero Methow also reached out to nearby private property owners about a potential purchase, Button said. They all have their own projects in mind, she said, and for now they are not interested in selling off a portion of their land.

“They’ve got to figure out their plan first, before they decide they have anything they can cut loose,” she said.

Pro and con

Some on the council said it would be appropriate for the town to sell a portion of the well property to benefit Aero Methow. The town would use the money to acquire new property elsewhere.

“I do feel, as the town, we have a responsibility to look out for that interest of emergency responsiveness,” council member Wyatt Lundquist said. “If they can’t find any land, I mean, who

else is going to give it to them?” Council member Tim Matsui disagreed, arguing that the town should hold onto the property.

“We should be encouraging Aero Methow to go back to these local landowners and see about putting their operation on that land, so that the town can maintain control of that [well site] for some future need,” Matsui said. He mentioned affordable housing as one such need.

Business owner Mark Edson, whose Methow Valley Industrial is across Wagner Street from the well property, warned council members of potential contamination from the proposed development.

“Anywhere where we have a well, where you have a hole in the ground, you have to protect (against) what is going on around that,” Edson said. The town and the state Department of Ecology would assess the risk to groundwater before Aero Methow’s project could be approved, Public Works Director Andrew Denham said at the Aug. 13 meeting.

“I feel very confident that this is an appropriate use,” Denham said.

Any use of that property involving Aero Methow would be years away, Button said. The agency still would need to fundraise for the project, she added. “Sometime within the next five years it would be nice,” Button said.

Photos by Ralph Schwartz

Above: Carlton station firefighter Jason Hoffman and Madelyn Hamilton suppressed the Beaver Pond Fire Wednesday (Aug. 14), as the fire approached residences on Twisp-Carlton Road.

Right: A helicopter dropped water on the east flank of the Beaver Pond Fire.

Photo by Ralph Schwartz

Aero Methow Rescue Service may purchase part of Twisp’s water well property, between Wagner and Marble streets on the south end of town.

EXTRA!

A teenager’s dream realized in solo PCT trek

Samuel Polson’s 1,100-mile adventure filled with challenges, rewards along the way

BY SHELLEY SMITH JONES

Samuel Polson vividly recalls the moment of commitment, as he signed in at the southern terminus of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail near the Mexican border to begin a solo trek along the storied trail.

“My adrenaline was pumping. After four years of planning, saving, working, and traveling, I was finally going to do this,” the 14-year-old from Winthrop said. “I was so excited. I was hiking the PCT! I wanted to run, to sprint, but I held those temptations back. I need to stay safe and not get hurt already.”

Samuel’s parents, Peter and Shannon Polson, called it a “leap of faith” to watch their oldest son head down the trail — his 13-pound backpack disappearing into the hot desert horizon. Samuel had learned about the PCT five years earlier while hiking and camping with his parents at Harts Pass in the fall, when many PCT hikers were completing their adventure.

Curious and full of questions, Samuel engaged with the hikers asking about the trail. When he learned it was 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada, he thought, “Wow! I want to do that. I really want to do that.”

Clinging to the dream

At the young age of 10, he began the process of trying to convince his parents to let him hike the trail solo.

“No,” was the answer. A solid no, even though Samuel “tried with all my might to convince my parents to let me.”

Still, without their permission (yet), Samuel held on to his dream. He frequently mentioned it to everybody he knew. Most laughed it off or ignored it. “It was a crazy idea, for sure, but I was going to do it,” he said.

Family friend Bruce Honsinger heard the idea while enjoying dinner with the Polsons. He didn’t pooh-pooh the dream, but encouraged Samuel to learn everything he could about hiking the PCT. Honsinger gave him books to that end.

“I read and read and read, soaking up everything I could,” Samuel recalls. Armed with more knowledge, Samuel stated his case each year to his parents that he wanted to and could do the hike.

As each year passed, with much parental trepidation, the Polsons saw in their son’s persistence some life

qualities that would serve him well if he were allowed to pursue his dream. They conceded to his plan with many qualifiers, including keeping up with his schoolwork, and plans to follow his journey closely with meetups along the way.

Samuel spent hours researching gear, tracking every piece down to “100th of an ounce.” He started saving every penny he had, selling personal items, and resisting urges to buy something. He calculated what his average daily mileage would have to be — deciding upon over 20 miles every day — to complete the trail in time for the beginning of the next school year.

To train, Samuel started hiking 15 miles after school to get his “trail legs.” He worked with Mitch Luce, a physical therapist at Winthrop Physical Therapy & Fitness, and physician Kellar McCloy at Liberty Bell Family Medicine, to understand and prepare his young body for an arduous undertaking the likes of which he had never done before. Outdoorsmen themselves, Luce and McCloy were encouraging and supportive of Samuel’s journey before, during and after the hike.

Food, and safety

Nutrition was an important piece of preparation. Samuel learned that he needed 3,500 calories a day. He chose foods that were calorie dense — 100 calories per ounce — to keep his body nourished. He would learn during the trek that protein bars worked well but were very hard to choke down when he wasn’t even hungry, but he still needed the energy the calories provided.

One of the agreements with his parents was that he did not lose weight. When he met up with his mother or father, out came the scale to be sure he was holding his weight.

Of course, safety in all ways was a high priority for Samuel and his family. The proper equipment, extensive preparation, and education were necessary. A further piece that is usually acquired with age and experience is a must for a young teenager alone in the wilderness — that is being a good judge of fellow hikers. Samuel would learn that there were “good” people on the trail and “sketchy” people on the trail.

Many parts of the trail are treacherous, and hikers must depend on others to be safe — crossing rivers, climbing steep, icy ascents, surviving severe windstorms, to name a few examples.

Samuel — with the help of his supporters — learned to use intuition, common sense, questions, and observations to determine who on the trail he could count on for safety and help, if needed. At many junctures, his life depended upon it.

Challenging conditions

April 10 arrived, and Samuel was off into the desert, a 14-year-old embarking on the PCT solo. Day one, he covered 8.5 miles, a humble beginning that would increase over the course of the hike. The second day he encountered the first of several rattlesnake sightings, which he admits left him “scared for my life at every step.”

Fortunately, at the end of the day, he had his first experience with “trail magic,” when well-wishers provide a special treat for the hikers. His first magic — ice cold root beer. “It was the best soda I have ever had in my life,” he said.

When Samuel approached the section of the trail that transverses the San Jacinto mountains, Peter and Shannon debated on whether to let him continue climbing 9,000 feet into snowy mountains — with good reason. Counting on Samuel’s rational head on his shoulders, they let him proceed.

Samuel dealt with many forces of nature. Blowdowns — large tangles of trees — were strewn across the trail, victims of the vicious wind. Samuel describes the climb through endless trees and “nasty branches” as “slow painful torture.” He was also careful never to set up his tent close to dead trees that might be blown down in the night — called “widow makers” for a reason.

His first experience with the fierce wind found him frantically looking for rocks to hold his tent stakes in the ground. All night his tent flapped like crazy.

“It seemed like a monster had grabbed the top of it and was shaking it with all of its might,” he said.

The wind remained a constant threat as he hiked mile after mile up and down steep passes. “Sometimes I was blown off the trail into the bushes and cactuses by the strong gusts of wind. It was unrelenting,” Samuel said.

The first day of going into snow on Forester Pass required crampons and ice axes while hiking in a group for safety, a slow treacherous ascent. Many times, over the San Jacinto Mountains and later the Sierras, Samuel saw himself looking down a steep icy precipice where every step had to be careful, slow, and precise.

“One time we found ourselves on a 70-degree slope. It was only 50 feet, but it took us over 20 minutes to get down it safely,” he said. “There was a huge raging stream below … Every step of the way, I tried my best to be as safe as I could. But being out in the snowy mountains at the age of 14 is not risk-free.” (Mom and Dad would agree with that assessment.)

One particularly windy night an ice storm blew into the campsite. “Every little twig, pine needle, plant, bush,

flower was covered in a thick layer of ice,” Samuel said. After the tough hike the following day in frozen shoes while dodging ice chunks that were falling out of the trees, the group Samuel was hiking with headed into a town stop where they were invited to eat with a local family.

“Fresh warm steak, chicken tacos, beans, veggies, and corn on the side,” he recalled. After apple pie and ice cream for desert and dozens of fancy chocolates to take on the trail, Samuel exclaimed, “By the end of the night, I was stuffed!”

Many highlights

Samuel acquired the trail name “Simba” — a fitting name for a cub making a rite of passage to becoming a young man. The “good” people from all over the world that Samuel met on the trail became reliable hiking partners and some friends for life.

“Salty Chef” and his 17-year-old son “Hatchet” from the Netherlands hiked miles with Samuel and after their own completion of the entire trail arrived in the Methow Valley, where the Polsons hosted them.

The PCT taught Samuel many things of which he shares one overarching takeaway, “If you can, find some time in the next year, and just give yourself to Mother Nature for a few days and see what happens. Trust me, it is amazing,” he said.

His mantra was always “Push Through” the hard parts for the reward of having done it.

There were so many highlights of the trip, but Samuel was especially delighted that his father joined him for a side trip to the top of Mount Whitney — a climb that they did at night to reach the 14,505foot peak at sunrise — and for three days on the trail in the Sierras.

Samuel says there is a saying on the trail — “Never quit on a bad day. Quit after many good days.”

The day came when Samuel realized his body was very tired, he was homesick, he missed his Methow activities and his Legos. As he was always making calculations, he also realized he would have to hike 20–35 miles a day to reach Canada before school started. After deep thinking and discussions with his parents, he decided to call it at 1,100 miles, ending in Burney, California, on July 7 — “good enough” for this time. He admits it was a “hard decision,” but he is happy with the choice he made. Now, he is busy preparing for his first year of high school and training for his mountain bike and Nordic skiing competitions.

His advice to other young hikers: “Hard work pays off. Follow your dream. Do what you want to do, not what society thinks you should do.”

Samuel’s hike was not just for his own accomplishment. For the second time (the first when he was 10 years old), he is raising money for World Central Kitchen to provide meals in Ukraine. Check his YouTube video “Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail for World Central Kitchen.” You can also read about his journey at sampct.substack.com.

Photos courtesy of Samuel Polson

Above: Samuel was joined by his father, Peter Polson, for an ascent of Mt. Whitney.

Right: Parts of the challenging trip, such as traversing Forester Pass, required mountain climbing gear.

Photo by Shelley Smith Jones Samuel Polson back at home in the Methow after an 1,100-mile journey along the Pacific Crest Trail.

10 FOR SALE

FIREWOOD DELIVERED...

Seasoned, Dry and Ready to Burn... Cut and Split @16” $360.00 per cord and 2 Cord Deliveries on the Dump Truck @$720.00 from Methow to Mazama... Early Birds Welcome? Call to reserve your order for prompt delivery before the snow fly’s... 509 997 2128

RV & TRAILER PARKING

Accommodations Full Hook up

50&30 amp, Includes Power, Water, Garbage, Snow Plowing. 6 month Minimum Long term stay or Month to Month Rate Available, $600 per month 1st & last. Conveniently Located close to Twisp Town. Lot’s of Garden area’s and well Irrigated. No Barking Dogs? Cats OK. References requested call for appointment 509 997-2128

AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 1ST...

1 Bed 1bath Newer Park Model Mobil Home for Rent.. $850.00 per month 1st and Last with 500.00 damage deposit, 1 year minimum lease, 2 minutes from Twisp on Acreage, Includes Power, Water, Garbage, Snow Plowing, Irrigated and Garden Areas, References and proof of income requested. No Dogs, Cats ok, No Smoking, Call 509 997-2128 FOR RENT

2 bedroom, 1.5 bath on Methow River, 2 mi from Winthrop, available Oct. 15th - April 15th 2025, pets allowed with deposit, wonderful for a family, completely furnished, utilities not included, $1500/mo, must have personal references, no drugs, no smoking, life estate agreement. call 360-701-8443

31 EMPLOYMENT

METHOW VALLEY SCHOOL

District is accepting applications for the following positions: MS Boys Wrestling Coach, MS Girls Wrestling Coach, HS Football Assistant Coach, MS Football Assistant Coach. Visit the district website at http:// methow.org/district/employment/ to view full job descriptions and to submit an online application. Positions are open until filled.

SMILINGWOODSYURTS.COM

is a custom round kit home manufacturer located in Winthrop. We are looking for new members for our production team. We are looking for the long term employment of self reliant people who have a high mechanical aptitude with a focus on high quality, safety and timely delivery. If you fit that description and are easy going and like to work with others and solve problems, we will be a good fit. While most of what we do is working with wood, relevant skills are not required. We will train you. Starting Wage is $25$32/hour DOE. Mostly indoor work in a temperature controlled environment. 4 day 34 hour work week If you are interested, please send a less than 5 minute video introducing yourself. Help us understand your motivation for applying. Send Video to Hanz@smilingwoodsyurts.com

METHOW HOUSING TRUST

seeks a visionary Executive Director to lead the organization into the next chapter of developing and preserving quality, permanently affordable housing in the Methow Valley. The ideal candidate shares a passion for our mission, is dedicated to improving the lives of families in our community, and is committed to taking the organization into the future.

As MHT’s leader, the Executive Director is the primary driver of strategic initiatives to expand our impact, is effective in fundraising and philanthropy, and is fluent in the financial needs of a complex nonprofit. They are an excellent communicator and foster a collaborative culture that unites staff, Board Members, and our organizational partners to effectively advance our mission.

The Executive Director is a full-time position with a salary up to $110,000 DOE. Additional benefits include up to 4 weeks paid vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, health plan option, and a 3% retirement match. For a complete job description and to apply, visit http://www.methowhousingtrust.org/ed-search. Email us at edsearch@methowhousingtrust.org.

TWISPWORKS IS SEEKING

a dynamic and dedicated Development Director to join our team! This role involves cultivating relationships with donors and funders to diversify and expand our funding sources and capacity. Key responsibilities include leading grant applications and managing grant and donation operations. Hourly rate ranges from $36-42/hr To apply go to: https://twispworks. org/about/jobs/ 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.

34 SERVICES CLEAN UP HAUL

AWAY “ Fireproof your Property.. Wood Debris * Old Pallets and Lumber*Bitter Brush& Branch’s* Barnaby Thistle* Pine Needles* Log’s & Stumps...Also Metal’s and Aluminum Recycled Items... Excavator and Dump Trucks are ready to Haul give me a Call Randall @ 509 997-2128 For free estimates.... Lots of valley references from mazama to chelan.

CUSTOM STONE FIREPLACE

Facings* Slate Entree ways*Block Foundations*Brick Chimney Repairs* And All Types of Masonry Applications*40+ Years Experience*Licensed and Bonded*Photo album of projects*Free estimates call 509 997-2128 or 509-9974802

LAND RESTORATIONESTABLISH native grasses and native plants. Decrease invasive species, decompress soil, regenerate landscape. References 208-912-3603

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ADVERTISE STATEWIDE with a $325 classified listing or $1600 for a display ad. Call this newspaper or 360-474-4160 for details.

CONSUMER CELLULAR the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-833-462-1801

PREPARE FOR POWER outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-888-674-7053 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

DONATE YOUR CAR truck, boat, RV and more to support our veterans! Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction! Call Veteran Car Donations at 1-877-225-8568 today!

ORGANIC RIVERFRONT

HOMESTEAD

3+ bedroom, 1.75 bath, 2900sf, 5 irrigated acres in Carlton, organic orchard, and gardens, 70x40 greenhouse, fenced pasture, chicken coop, covered RV parking. $485K. NO AGENT SALE. Call 509996-2714, text 425-931-3350 or email zenbrandon@yahoo.com

24 FOR RENT

ROOM FOR RENT Winthrop, WA; close to town, $1000/ month, no pets. Call 509-341-4246

JOIN OUR METHOW At Home Team! Open Position: Programs Manager Submit resume and cover by September 15 to director@methowathome.org Go to www.methowathome.org to download full job description. Modeled on the national Village to Village movement, MAH offers its members helpful services for daily living and opportunities for quality connections supporting older adults to remain independent, age in their homes, and stay engaged in the community they love as long as possible. The Programs Manager position will manage Methow At Home’s Social and Educational programs, working collaboratively with the staff, volunteers, members, local agencies, and the wider Methow Valley community. The Programs Manager joins a small, committed team of professionals who believe that our community is healthier and more resilient when we care for our elders.

Location: Methow Valley, WA FLSA Classifications: 32 hrs weekly, non-exempt Compensation: DOE $28+ per hour plus benefits including health stipend and paid time off

Methow Housing Trust is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We acknowledge that we are doing our work on the traditional homeland of the Methow People. We are committed, as an organization, to furthering our understanding of the issues of equity in our work and to adjust our policies and practices to promote inclusion.

RIVER’S EDGE RESORT, downtown Winthrop is hiring! Our family oriented and supportive work environment seeks housekeepers and front desk help. Flexible schedules, happy environment and your success is important to us. Please email jodi@riversedgewinthrop.com to set up an in-person interview

TUTORING/HOMESCHOOL GUIDANCE

Trained/Experienced: Waldorf/ Steiner,Orton -Gillingham reading methodology, art teacher, creative intelligence, and early childhood/ parenting support. 208-912-3603

40 VEHICLES

2006 HYUNDIA ELANTRA

GLS silver sedan, 154,000 miles, clean, well-maintained. New batt, front brakes, windshield, wipers. $5,000. Exc snows on rims available. 509-997-4425.

DOUBLE EXPOSURE

Your Methow Valley News classified ad is in print and on line. Call (509) 997-7011 or go to methowvalleynews. com

LEGAL NOTICES IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF KING In Re the Estate of: ERIC E. ADAMSON, DECEASED. NO. 24-4-05340-6 SEA PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS RCW 11.40.030 The Personal Representative named below has been appointed as Personal Representative of this Estate. Any person having a claim against the Decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Personal Representative or the Personal Representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the Personal Representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(3); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in

LBHS grad Liam Daily will lead Mountain Lion cross country teams

BY RICK LEWIS

Liberty Bell Junior High School teacher, coach and alumnus Liam Daily has been appointed to the head coaching position for the Mountain Lion cross country program.

Daily replaces Erik Brooks, who announced he was stepping aside last spring to focus on his passions of creating art, teaching, and having a home life, too. Daily is the seventh coach in the history of the Liberty Bell cross country program, dating back to the mid-1990s.

Daily, a 2014 honors graduate of Liberty Bell High School, was also a three-sport athlete, running cross country and track as well as playing basketball — each for six years from seventh grade through graduation. He participated in state championships in all four of his high school years, running in multiple state cross country and track and meets, and with the Mountain Lions in the 2014 state regional round of basketball.

Daily’s athletic participation carried into his college years as a member of the traditionally prestigious Harvard University crew, rowing for the Ivy League school all four years while completing his bachelor of science in chemistry. He also has earned a master’s degree in education from Western Governor’s University.

Daily returned to his native Methow Valley to teach at his alma mater in 2018, first as a substitute, and then signing on permanently for the 2022-23 school year. He teaches sixth- through eighth-grade math, sixth-grade physical education, ninth-grade outdoor education, and senior seminar in possibly the most diverse portfolio/schedule this side of kindergarten.

He is an avid hiker who really enjoys going for occasional high alpine jaunts around his native homeland with old teammates, and lives with his partner, Claire Hamilton, in the Winthrop area.

Started early

Daily began running as a seventh-grader in the Mountain Lion program just a year after the Methow Valley School District’s business manager had recommended eliminating the program in a budget cutting maneuver. It was a make-or-break time for the program, and Daily was a key contributor to

the return to the days of glory at the turn of the century where the boys had previously, in 1998, won a state championship that was followed by three consecutive runner-up trophies in a highly competitive combined 1A/B classification.

In the 2010 fall season, Daily’s freshman year, he led the Mountain Lion boys back to state as a team for the first time since 2001 and began a run of consecutive state appearances that sits currently at 13 and counting.

During Daily’s four years, the Mountain Lion boys continued to climb the ladder, moving up from their initial placing of 14th out of the 16 qualified teams, Daily placing 37th as Liberty Bell’s top finisher. While never earning that elusive state top four team trophy, Daily was on the individual stand three times.

In 2011 as a sophomore he placed eighth, then seventh as a junior and sixth in his senior year. In the 2013 state meet, the Mountain Lions landed in a heartbreaking fifth place, one thin point behind Tri-Cities Prep and a spot on the podium.

The Daily era propelled the Mountain Lions back toward the days of membership in the unofficial ranks of small school cross country elite. And Daily has had a hand in the recent successes of the high school program as the middle school coach since just prior to the COVID-abbreviated and delayed 2020 season.

Averaging around 40 or so runners each year, the strength of the sixth through eighth grades has been key in maintaining a strong Mountain Lion presence among the top of the B school classification. Daily was named Washington’s Middle School Cross Country Coach of the Year by the Washington State Cross Country Coaches Association for 2023.

Also serving as the assistant JV girls basketball coach, Daily is working with head coach Korrie Bourn in reestablishing the Liberty Bell tradition of prominence in girls’ basketball regionally. It’s been several years in the making. The pair coached at the junior high level before moving up to the varsity game two years ago.

Bourn credited Daily’s support and work as the primary assistant coach when interviewed about her two consecutive NC Washington 2B League Coach of the Year awards.

Fun and teamwork

To say that Daily is enthused about the opportunity in front of him would be an understatement. “I’m excited,” he said in an interview, “and really thrilled to get the chance to take over a program with such a long history of success and phenomenal athletes.”

Some might balk at assuming a tradition like the Mountain Lion program has built over the years, but Daily relishes in the thought.

“It’s a job I’ve thought about for a while. I’ve really enjoyed working with Erik and Sara (Brooks) as the junior high coach. It has been fun and I’ve learned a lot from them. They’ve really built on the history and I want to continue that.”

Liberty Bell’s boys have one of longest streaks of team appearances at the WIAA State XC Meet in all classifications, according to Daily.

While Daily is tuned in to returning both programs to state in 2024, his goals for the program run deeper. He views building relationships with each of his athletes as the first step in that process.

“I’d like to build a strong rapport with all on the team,” he said. “I believe that connecting with and learning about each individual builds a trust that will help me coach them to meet their own goals and expectations.”

Building the numbers is a key to success. It’s early, with practice opening on Monday (Aug. 26), but the numbers for this season indicate that there should be about 15 boys with an unknown number of girls after some significant graduations off the seven-member team of 2023.

“I think we are going to have good numbers with a bunch of incoming freshmen, both boys and girls,” said Daily.

Registrations are due this week, with the first meet scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14.

Setting goals

Daily’s immediate goals for the program include building participation and making the sport of running fun.

“One of the things I took from my crew experience at Harvard was how the coaches made the sport of rowing fun,” he said. “I think that is the key to success in any sport.”

He makes no secret of his desire to keep the state streaks alive, too,

though. “We really have some exceptional athletes and great potential. It’s certainly within reach for both programs,” he said. Mostly, though, Daily is interested in helping the student athlete develop attainable, yet challenging goals for themselves and the team. One of his major takeaways from his experience in college athletics was the culture of team as a vital component of that success.

“It is integral in any strong program,” he said, “for our student leaders to work hard at building connections with all team members, including them in all activities and sharing in the fun.”

In almost the same breath, Daily professes that the coaching staff has a huge role to play in that team culture. “We must make workouts fun. One of our

coaches in the crew program liked to sing to us, while we were rowing, and it was usually goofy stuff,” he said. “He had us laughing at times, but it really made it fun and contributed to the team thing.”

Daily’s motivation for coaching comes from his past experiences in interscholastic sports.

“My most memorable high school experience was probably standing on the second-place spot on the podium at state track and field the year we (Liberty Bell boys) placed second in the team standings. That was so great because everybody contributed to get us there.”

Teaching and coaching have long been ambitions of the 28-year-old Daily. That he gets to do it here in the Methow is a bonus.

Photo courtesy of Methow Valley School District

Liberty Bell alumnus Liam Daily is the new coach of the high school’s cross country program.

An explosive event is coming to the skies near us

Have you ever seen a star explode? Many of the stars we see in the night sky will explode at the end of their lives. Some more than once. The lives of stars are on a different time schedule than our lives, so I am guessing you have never seen one. I have seen two in 70 years of stargazing and both of them required a telescope.

In the near future, we have the once in a lifetime opportunity to see a star explode, and you will not even need a telescope to see it. First, my disclaimer. The media has been giving this star a lot of press. They are using phrases like “lighting up the skies” and “a cosmic fireworks show.” Most of that is hype. Visually, this thing will probably not rock your world. It will be about as bright as the North Star, which can easily be seen from a dark

location, but other stars up there are brighter. The tricky part is that it will be visible for just three or four nights so if you want to see it, you have to be on your toes.

So what is going on out there, and how do we know it is going to blow up? Way, way out there in the cosmos there is a star called T Coronae Borealis. It is so dim that I doubt I could see it in my most powerful telescope, but that is about to change.

It is actually two stars in one spinning around each other. One is a white dwarf star and technically not a star anymore. It has run out of gas and is not undergoing nuclear fusion anymore like most stars. Instead, it’s powered by gravitational collapse. This thing is so heavy that a sugar cube-sized chunk of it weighs as much as a loaded cement truck. It is hard for us to imagine an object like this. It is extremely heavy and along with all that weight comes a lot of gravity. Remember that.

The other star in the system is a red giant. This type of star is near the end of its life cycle but still producing nuclear fusion. You can see some of these in the night sky. Antares, Arcturus and Betelgeuse are all easily visible to the naked eye. These two stars are spinning around each other and the off-the-charts gravity of the white dwarf (remember all those cement trucks) is sucking in some of the red giant.

GOOD DAY FOR A PARTY

Now’s the time

There comes a point, and it is called the Chandrasekhar limit, when enough is enough and the white dwarf cannot take it any more and an uncontrolled thermonuclear explosion rips across the surface of the star and it increases its brightness by 1,500 times. It does this every 80 years, and we could see it any night now.

The crazy thing about this is that that explosion happened 3,000 years ago! We are talking about the Trojan War when Prince Hector of Troy and Achilles, the great Greek warrior were battling it out with swords and spears in front of the gates of Troy. The light from that explosion has been traveling across an unimaginable gulf of space and time to reach us.

If all this sounds too complicated and weird, here is my simplified version. A hefty man sits down on a beach ball. The beach ball thinks “That guy is heavy!” To make matters worse the guy starts eating hot dogs. You know the kind all smothered with baked beans, coleslaw and relish. The guy eats them day in and day out, year in and year out. Finally, after 80 years, the beach ball can’t handle it anymore. BOOM! What a mess. All those hot dogs everywhere. Then the whole thing starts all over again.

Another way to look at this is that there is a whole line of these explosions stretching for 3,000 light years across space 80 years apart. We have the opportunity to see this one. Our lives are not long enough to see any more. If you are inspired to try to see this explosion, here is my suggestion. Go outside and find Corona Borealis in the night sky. It is a dim half-circle of stars near Arcturus. Take a good look at it and remember what it looks like. There will be a “new” star in that small half circle. I am going to ask the newspaper to post it when it happens. I am looking every night and my astronomical friends are watching too. Maybe you will get to see a star explosion from the deep cosmos. In other space news, the planet Venus has rounded the far side of the sun, an event called inferior conjunction, and is now making an appearance in the evening sky. Look for her low in the southwest before it gets completely dark.

If all that about white dwarfs sounds interesting, here are a couple of fun facts. They collapse at a rate of one inch every 10,000 years and are only about the size of the earth. Our sun will become one some day in the distant future. The reason we know all this will happen is because astronomers watched the last one 80 years ago.

After years of debate, Twisp Council approves new regulations for overnight vacation rentals

Parking provisions are also updated

BY RALPH SCHWARTZ

Applications for new shortterm vacation rentals — sometimes referred to as “Airbnb’s” — will soon be permitted again in Twisp.

Under new rules the town council approved on Aug. 13, officials will allow up to 15 vacation rentals in town. These spaces may be rented to each guest for less than 30 days.

The popular form of accommodation has served as an alternative to hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts since the advent of online services such as VRBO and Airbnb.

The council must still lift the moratorium on applications for overnight rentals that has been in place for more than two years. The moratorium was first adopted in April 2022, after some residents raised concerns that vacation rentals could diminish the quality of life in residential neighborhoods and take longterm rental housing away from

local workers.

Vacation rentals will be allowed in both residential and commercial areas of town, although property owners in residential areas must live on site at least nine months a year.

After much debate, council decided to allow residential property owners to rent so-called “mother-in-law homes” or backyard cottages to vacationers. The council voted 3–2 on Aug. 13 to go against the recommendation of the town planning commission and allow vacation rentals in what are officially known as detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

Council discussion on this one point last week was contentious.

Council member Will Menzies rankled at the council majority’s willingness to go against the planning commission’s recommendation.

“To me it’s a very bold move, to force them to think that we are some holy body that knows better than the process,” Menzies said.

“What we’ve heard from public comment … is they do not want [vacation rentals in] a detached accessory dwelling

Trout Unlimited Seeking to Lease Methow Basin Water Rights for Instream Flow

Contact: Alli Pardis, Trout Unlimited Project Manager, (406) 431 – 5981, allison.pardis@tu.org

Twisp, WA - A statewide drought emergency was declared on April 16, 2024. Drought will result in exceptionally low stream flows making things stressful for farms, fish and wildlife, and recreation. Trout Unlimited has been working in the Basin for over a decade on water conservation solutions for fish and farms. As a part of an emergency drought response to improve streamflow this summer, Trout Unlimited is interested in leasing senior state water rights from the Methow Basin water right holders.

To reduce the negative impacts of drought, Trout Unlimited is seeking state water right owners willing to negotiate and enter into agreements that will pay them to divert less water from Methow River tributaries and leave that water instream in 2024. Trout Unlimited is specifically interested in water rights from tributaries but will consider any senior, reliable water rights from any location or source in the Basin. Water users must have a valid state water right and must be able to demonstrate water use within the past 5 years.

If you are a state water right holder interested in a potential lease of your water rights or have questions, please contact Alli Pardis, Trout Unlimited Project Manager, at (406) 431 - 5981 or allison.pardis@tu.org.

unit in a residential neighborhood,” Menzies added. “It’s going to fundamentally change what that neighborhood looks like.”

Council member Katrina Auburn, who supported vacation rentals in ADUs, said it was a property rights issue for her.

Some residents with ADUs have been frustrated by irresponsible long-term renters, she said.

“You need to give that owner … their space and their rights,” Auburn said.

Off-site parking

Building on some commercial lots on Glover Street hasn’t been viable due to the on-site parking requirement, Mayor Hans Smith said.

Even some existing commercial spaces couldn’t be built under the old rules.

“If you tried to build The Merc today, you can’t do it,” Smith said.

The council also updated the town’s parking requirements for commercial developments on Aug. 13. Developers no longer need to provide all required parking spaces for a new business on the commercial lot. Instead, they can improve parking spaces on town-owned rightof-way or pay a fee that the town could use to acquire property to build a parking lot. These options would only come with council approval.

David Ward

Photos by Michelle Schmidtke Okanogan County Energy Inc., the propane subsidiary of the Okanogan County Electric Cooperative, held a 25th anniversary party last week — with, of course, a birthday cake.

Obituaries

Robert LeRoy Ho man

Bob Hoffman was so close to approaching his 93rd birthday in September, but gave up his life at 92 years of age. He lived in the valley for 37 years with his wife Belva Hoffman of 44 years. They brought along with them three adopted brothers, ages 6 to 9. Besides these boys, they together had five other children. Bob has four from a previous marriage to Lois Anslow, while Belva has one from her first marriage to Gordon Thompson. With eight children between them came 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Bob and Belva fostered many children while living in Seattle before moving to Twisp.

Robert LeRoy Hoffman

Bob’s life began in Seattle being born at the Swedish Hospital to Leroy P. Hoffman, father and Arleine Shaw, mother. A brother, Douglas, was born a couple years later. Bob’s family resided at Lake McDonald, 7 miles outside of Renton Washington. He attended the Issaquah school district until transferring to Renton High School where he finished his education, then went on to the University of Washington where he was successful in getting his doctorate in dentistry.

Bob served in the U.S. Army from 1953 through 1961 at Fort Ord California, where he started practicing his dentistry. After being discharged he bought a dental practice in Seattle and worked there for 29 years. He moved to Twisp with his family 1987. While living in Twisp he continued to practice dentistry in Seattle for six years, by flying his own airplane over the Cascades, until he sold that business and purchased another one In Winthrop. He practiced for five more years then sold the business.

That wasn’t the end of his dentistry. Bob continued working in Oroville and Warden, Washington, helping these clinics out when necessary. Bob did dentistry for a total of 50 years. He did a lot of volunteer dentistry in different countries, Uzbekistan, Guatemala, Mexico and Ukraine. Because of Bob’s love for his Lord he had a lot of compassion for

SENIOR LUNCH

LUNCH MENUS:

THURSDAY, AUG. 22: Biscuits and gravy, hash brown potatoes, V-8 juice, fresh fruit, mu n.

FRIDAY, AUG. 23: Baked fi sh fi let, rice pilaf, buttered peas, coleslaw, mixed melons, whole wheat roll, dessert.

MONDAY, AUG. 26: Pork roast, stu ng and gravy, venetian vegetables, spinach salad, applesauce, dessert.

those who were in pain and believed in giving his time and talents to whom ever needed help.

When Bob gave his life to Christ and started his relationship with his heavenly father. He believed in giving back to God for what God had given him and was a faithful tither wherever necessary, be it finances or his time and talents. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in the valley until he died.

Other hobbies and interests were flying, flying, and more flying. Bob was a CFI instructor and taught many people how to fly. He promoted Women in Aviation, and announced any female that wanted to explore flying, put together a day to go up in a plane for free. He was a fixture at the Twisp airport and always kept his eye on airplanes landing there.

In 2014, during the big fire, Bob was asked by the city of Twisp to fly a worker to Odessa, Washington, to pick up a part for the water system that had broken. Because of him being an instrument rated instructor, he could fly in bad weather. The town had water again. His love for flying took him all over the United States.

He was also a ski instructor and liked motorbiking, hiking, camping, traveling, etc. etc. He was a member of the Winthrop and Twisp Kiwanis for a number of years. Bob was in a number of plays in Renton and Twisp. He liked the theater and acting.

You probably heard one of his jokes. There were many. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, brother and nephews. He leaves behind his wife Belva, his daughters Sue (husband Jack), Carol, Mary and son Larry (wife Mary), his stepdaughter Carlin Thompson (husband Charles). His adopted sons Ryan Jacob and Joseph; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Celebration of Bob’s life will be at Methow Valley United Methodist Church on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 1 p.m.

THURSDAY, AUG. 29: White bean chicken chili, tortilla chips, tossed salad, melon slices, dessert.

FRIDAY, AUG. 30: Beef and broccoli, steamed rice, spiced salad, tropical fruit, egg roll, dessert.

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.

HEALTH DIRECTORY

Kiwanis Duck

Race launches at noon on Labor Day

Duck Days is down to Duck Day, but the race will go on. The Family Fun Day that had been scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 1, at Mack Lloyd Park has been canceled, according to Winthrop Kiwanis organizers.

But the annual Duck Race will commence, as it typically does, at noon on Labor Day — Monday, Sept. 2 — from the Chewuch River Bridge in Winthrop.

Dozens of cheery yellow plastic ducks, each bearing its own identifying number, will be dumped from the bridge and bob downstream through the confluence to the finish line under the Methow River Bridge. Corporate sponsored ducks will have a special race.

Look for the giant Duck around Twisp or Winthrop to buy your tickets from a Kiwanis member or get your tickets online at https:// winthropkiwanis.com/. In Winthrop, tickets are available at the Tenderfoot, The Wine Shed and Pardners Mini Market. In Twisp tickets will be available at Windemere Real Estate, NAPA Auto Parts and Twisp Feed. First prize for the winning duck is $500; second prize is $300; third is $100; fourth and fifth places get $50.

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

DSHS IN WINTHROP

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Mobile Community Service Office is coming to the Winthrop library on Friday (Aug. 23). The mobile office offers all the same services as brick-and-mortar offices, including processing application interviews for food, cash and select medical assistance; and processing early eligibility and mid-certification reviews.

The mobile office will be available from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. For information, email melche@ dshs.wa.gov.

REINTRODUCING WILDLIFE

The Methow Valley Interpretive Center’s August Last Sunday (Aug. 25) presentation, “Bringing Them Home: Lynx, Bison and Bighorned Sheep Reintroduction,” will feature Rose Piccinini, Senior Wildlife Biologist for the Colville Tribe’s Fish and Wildlife Department, who will talk about the department’s dedication to returning native species to the Colville Reservation, creating balance in nature and restoring ecosystems. The free event will be from 5-6:30 p.m.

BILINGUAL STORY TIME

The Winthrop library will host a free bilingual story time in Spanish and English on Thursday (Aug. 22) and Thursday, Aug. 29, starting at 10:30 a.m. each day. For information, email winthrop@ncwlibraries.org.

BUSINESS WORKSHOPS

TwispWorks is offering two business workshops that are free and open to the public.

• “Personal Finance and Financial Management,” led by Jon Moore of Comprehensive Financial Solutions in Winthrop, will cover the basics of insurance, investing, retirement planning, and estate conservation. There will also be time available for questions, on Thursday (Aug. 22) from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the YourSpace Meeting Room.

activity consists of two sessions, and attendance is required at both. Space is limited: Register at (509) 997-4681 or twisp@ncwlibraries.org. Ages 12 and up welcome.

• Saturday, Aug. 24, noon-1 p.m., Free Family Fun, Resin Dice, Part 1. Today’s activity: Love D & D or other role-playing tabletop games? Make your own polyhedral die at the library! This is part one of a two-part activity. This activity is designed for ages 9 and up, and kids ages 9-12 will need an adult to help them.

LABOR DAY BOOK SALE

You can help the Twisp Library Friends with their Labor Day book sale by bringing gently used books at the Methow Valley Community Center’s stage through Aug. 30. Not accepted: encyclopedias, dictionaries, textbooks, tech manuals, travel books older than three years, magazines, workbooks, or CDs. The book sale will be on Friday, Aug. 30, 4-6 p.m., and Aug. 31, 8:30 am.-12:30 p.m.

LIVING WITH DEMENTIA

Methow At Home offers a free four-week course on “Caring For People Living with Dementia,” open to the community, at the Twisp Valley Grange on Sept. 4, 11, 18 and 25, from 3-5 p.m. each day. Registration is required at www.methowathome.org or call (509) 996-5844.

STUDENT NEWS

Ashlyn Keith of Twisp, who is pursuing an ecosystems ecology/fisheries science degree at the University of Idaho, has been granted a scholarship by Ferrellgas, a nationwide propane logistics company. She is the daughter of Andrew Keith, a Ferrellgas district manager who oversees propane service in Twisp and the surrounding communities.

PUPPET TALES

Join Shelly Lawrence for a free Tiny Tiny Tales Puppet Tales event on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at the Winthrop library starting at 4 p.m. Children will have the opportunity to learn about friendship through puppet stories, as well as work together to help tell stories.

FREE YOGA SESSION AND DISCUSSION

• “Succession/Exit Planning for Small Business Owners” will be on Thursday, Sept. 26, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the YourSpace meeting room. Whether approaching retirement age, or just ready to move onto the next adventure, this workshop will help prepare business owners by providing them with the tools and information necessary to exit gracefully and profitably.

TWISP LIBRARY EVENTS

• Thursday, Aug. 22, 5-6 p.m., Resin Jewelry. Adults and teens, design and make an open bezel epoxy resin pendant or earrings. The

A free evening of yoga will be offered on Friday, Sept. 6, from 4-6:30 at Motive Yoga’s Winthrop studio, 31 West Chewuch Road. Yoga will be followed by mocktails, and a panel discussion with four local women. For women in their late 30s to 50s. Sign up at www.motiveyogaco.com/events.

Photo: Ed Stockard

Mazama

When you leave the valley for Spokane or down into the Palouse, you can’t help but witness Washington’s golden wheat fields stretching for miles over hills and plains. It is a beautiful sight to see the grain waving as far as the eye can see until it bumps into a pale blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds. The arid desert of eastern Washington is inhospitable to most crops, but wheat thrives.

Harvest of all that grain begins in July and continues into September. Depending on the crop year, Washington ranks from the third- to fifth-largest producer of wheat in the country, but where does it all go? Roughly 90% is exported, primarily to Asian countries where the soft white wheat is in demand. Japan has been a long-time top buyer of Washing-

Winthrop

So much celestial activity these past two weeks!

On a warm August night at the Twisp sports fields a few dozen of us got to see globular clusters, the Swan Nebula, and some other cool galactic stuff (as well as the mysterious red light of a nearby hilltop home) viewed through the magnifying lenses of various high-powered telescopes on loan from astronomers

Twisp

The Nature Troubadour started the conversation with a fish story —a real fish story — about catching a 127-pound halibut on a fishing trip in Alaska. With typical upbeat enthusiasm, Ken Bevis — singer-songwriter, wildlife biologist, and raconteur — had me with his story of hooking then trying to land and kill a huge and potentially dangerous fish before bringing it aboard a small skiff , without the benefit of proper tools to dispatch it.

I had questions written down for a formal interview, but Ken regaled me with his stories, interspersing talk with the occasional song. Every once in a while, I inserted a question or two.

Most of us in the Methow Valley are acquainted with Ken’s songs, sung at local venues such as the Methow Valley Farmers Market, the various pubs, and community gatherings, and most of us know that his extensive background in natural resource work is fodder for his music. Ken sings songs about the non-human species and even sings in their voice, raising awareness about their needs, plights, and habits, sharing his vast knowledge while entertaining the audience. As well as performing every chance he gets, Ken is currently employed by the Washington State Department of

VALLEY LIFE

ton’s wheat for use in its sponge cakes.

The Philippines also purchase millions of tons of wheat for use in its most popular bread called pandesal.

My sons’ Swedish grandfather was a captain in the U.S. Merchant Marines, skippering large cargo ships loaded with commodities bound for international destinations. He had many incidents that could be classified as “15 minutes of fame.”

The one most oft repeated was when his ship loaded with wheat was the first to arrive in Japan after World War II had ravaged the island nation. He was met by Emperor Hirohito who was graciously thankful for the arrival of the desirable staple. (I often wonder what happened to the beautiful Japanese doll that the captain received from the Emperor!)

Washington grain fields also grow barley, making the state among the nation’s top barley producers. Ninety percent of Washington’s barley is used for animal feed. The remaining 10% is malted for use in beer, liquor, malted milk, and flavorings. I haven’t tasted a malted milkshake in years, but that flavor was a favorite as a child. A small portion of Washington’s barley is used for human consumption. A pearled barley soup has a flavor and texture all its own.

An important fact about wheat grown in the United States — none is genetically engineered. Buyers made it clear over 20 years ago that growing GMO

from inside and outside the valley.

A couple of days later, anyone with a clear view of the sky got three nights of the Perseid meteor showers: a breathtaking annual light show of 100 or more shooting stars each hour. Waiting for the sky to darken, you’d crane your neck backward, hoping to be the first to witness the sparkling trails of comet debris burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere. When you saw one, you couldn’t help but exclaim each time, almost as if in surprise.

If you were, like me, camping under the stars, you’d wake every so often and look skyward, watching the fiery streaks in the sky, willing your eyelids to stay open to no avail. A few hours later, you’d wake once more and watch as long as you could until you drifted off again.

A waxing moon illuminated distant peaks on clear nights; lighting zagged across the horizon in unsettled weather.

Monday’s seasonal blue supermoon, also the sturgeon moon, looked just as full the evening prior. Apparently we won’t have another seasonal blue super-

wheat would disrupt markets. Monsanto abandoned its project to develop GMO wheat.

When you drive east, enjoy and appreciate the golden waves of grain under the spacious skies. It’s been a staple for humans for thousands of years.

A couple of don’t miss events:

moon until 2032, but we’ll get a partial lunar eclipse on Sept. 18, in conjunction with another supermoon.

On Saturday, my neighbor noticed something I’ve never seen before: a rainbow sitting in a field. Right there at eye level, made possible — presumably — by a small, isolated cloud or puff of mist, a rainbow arcing across the field, seemingly connected to the ground on both ends.

When my family first moved to the Methow Valley, August skies were fairly reliably clear, offering night after night of star and moon gazing opportunities, as well as comet, aurora borealis, and eclipse sightings. Over the past decade, however, we’ve stopped counting on those clear skies due to increased wildfire smoke and we welcome them even more when we’re lucky enough to get them.

All you need to do to jumpstart your appreciation for what our local skies offer is to spend some time distanced from them, either in a place where artificial light blocks starlight or when clouds or smoke obscure the sky. Our own vast pot o’ gold, right overhead.

Samuel Polson, the 14-year-old PCT hiker ,will give a presentation about his incredible trek at the Winthrop library on Aug. 29 at 6 p.m.

Second, the Kiwanis annual fundraising Duck Race will take place on Monday (Sept. 2). Ducks will be dumped over the Chewuch Bridge at noon. Look

for the giant Duck around the valley to purchase your chance to have the winning duck. Several merchants in

duck $300, third duck $100, fourth and fifth ducks $50.

Natural Resources (DNR) as a stewardship fish and wildlife biologist, “the best job I’ve ever had,” he said.

The DNR website states: “When you’re taking steps to maintain the health of your forest lands — thinning, pruning, wildfire preparedness or keeping an eye out for invasive insects and diseases — don’t forget that your land is also habitat for a wide variety of native animal species.” If you want to include wildlife in your land management plans, Ken is your man. Ken advocates for SLLOPPS: snags,

logs, legacy (big trees), openings, patches (dense pockets of shrubs), piles (brush or habitat piles), and shrubs. True — some trees must be cut and homes Firewised — but it is possible to harvest timber and reduce fire risk while retaining habitat complexity. Even placing a shallow bird bath or water feature in your yard helps our wild brethren. With its defensible space and habitat complexity, (Ken even planted a snag) Ken’s property, which almost burned down in the Rising Eagle Road Fire, demonstrates his principles. Still, the tall

dry grass surrounding his property, the direction of the wind, and proximity to Highway 20 are factors he cannot control that put his property at risk.

I asked Ken how he could be upbeat and optimistic in the face of mass extinctions, habitat degradation and loss, and exploitation of natural resources. Being the youngest of four sons, he explained, his mother treated him with great kindness and consideration, teaching him he was loved by the world, creating an extrovert who loved the world back. By studying the natural world, Ken

learned that nature heals. “You give time to something and it grows back. And it’s going to grow back in some version. Mother nature is pushing from underneath,” he said. “Many places demonstrate that the planet is resilient if we give it a chance.”

Ken lives the lyrics of his song, “Countin’ on the World,” his anthem to long optimism. He said, “I don’t want to be despairing. I don’t like being unhappy. I’m a firm believer that you create your own reality; that you write your own story. What you focus on is going to shape the way you view the world.” Ken stopped talking briefly, picked up his guitar, and sang a few verses from “Countin’ on the World.” Ken’s favorite pastime is fishing, “something you do with your hands when you hang out by the water.” He often frequents Patterson Lake, his secret lake, where he fishes for rainbow trout. Ken also writes poetry and is a member of the Confluence Poets.

When I asked him a final question about whether he was familiar with Adam Kirsch’s writings, “The Revolt Against Humanity-Imagine a World Without Us,” and “The People Cheering for Humanity’s End,” he picked up his guitar and strummed a few lines from “The Modern-Day Blues,” a song he considered way too much of a downer.

When our conversation and song fest ended, Ken took me to a freezer stacked high with halibut and road-kill deer meat. He handed me a packet of venison and told me how to cook it, offering another entertaining anecdote involving harvesting one of the freezer’s inhabitants on the side of the road. That night my husband cooked the venison on the grill according to Ken’s instructions, and I roasted vegetables from the garden — a delicious homegrown meal created with help from a quintessential lover of humanity and the natural world.

Michelle Schmidtke

Shelley Smith Jones

Ashley Lodato

Winthrop and Twisp also have duck tickets for sale. The first duck to cross the finish line will receive the prize of $500. Second

Photo by Shelley Smith Jones

A bumper crop of wheat near Creston, waiting for export.

Photo courtesy of Quinn Kenworthy

A mysterious rainbow popped up in a field near Winthrop.

Photo by Michelle Schmidtke

Ken Bevis is a wildlife biologist who writes and sings songs in his leisure time. He performs periodically at various venues around the valley.