Tonasket softball, soccer wrap
MAY FESTIVAL CELEBRATION
up seasons
See pages A6 & A7 for a complete schedule of events
PAGE B1
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OKANOGAN VALLEY
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GAZETTE-TRIBUNE WWW.GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM | THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 | 75 CENTS NEWSSTAND PRICE
Council discusses Senior Projects
Clark new TES principal
Simple Enchantment
Clark brings plenty of experience to improve and individualize instruction
BY GARY A. DEVON MANAGING EDITOR
OROVILLE – The Oroville City Council discussed whether there needs to be a more structured approach to accepting senior projects. The city has been besieged with senior projects, some needing funding and some requiring ongoing maintenance long after the senior has graduated from Oroville High School. “We need to be consistent in what types of projects we accept,” said Mayor Chuck Spieth. “Clay (Police Chief Warnstaff) had an idea that we establish a list with items we are looking to be done.” Councilman Ed Naillon, a teacher at Oroville High School expressed concern the city might be exposed to more liability if such a list was established because people might think the city was “recruiting” students to do the work. “I think we need a copy of what the school’s criteria is before we make any kind of list,” said Councilman Walt Hart. Mayor Spieth added, “The follow-on maintenances is where Rod (Noel, Public Works Superintendent) said he was concerned.” By way of example Kathy Jones, the city clerk, pointed to the sign and bench at Veteran’s Memorial Park that was looking shabby. “It needs to be moved to where the water and sun don’t hit it... the plexiglass is damaged and needs to be replaced,” said Jones, who suggested students wanting to come to the city with a project fill out a form. As far as whether a project is funded, the mayor and council seemed to agree that funding the recent senior project to install permanent irrigation where flowers were planted along the sidewalk next to Highway 97 on the south end of town was money well spent. “The problem is we can’t fund everyone’s project, especially if it is not something we feel we currently have a need for,” said Spieth. “Some of the students just don’t have funds and get half way through and the money runs out. Other students come from wealthier homes and don’t have to worry as much about funding,” said Councilman Naillon. “I think it would be a good first start to communicate with George Thornton, the advisor for the students on senior projects.” In other business the council approved a request to allow for the replacement of a sign near the Oroville Depot for the River Oaks RV Park. The sign will be approximately a foot and a half wider and a foot taller, according to Jones. “Supt. Noel had a couple of concerns, he doesn’t want the landscaped area to be in wood because that too easily breaks down. He would prefer it be in something like block,” said Jones, who added that when the sign was first approved the RV Park’s owners had agreed to donate $100 annually to the Depot Museum. The city clerk said that lease had long expired and after calling the owners they agreed to write a check for $1400 to make up for past years where the donation had not been made. The plans for the new sign have been forwarded to Chris Johnson the permit administrator. The council would also like the RV park owner to sign a hold harmless agreement. “I have no problems with it as long as it meets our standards,” said Councilman Jon Neal. There was also a request that the sign owner consider using a solar system to light it, rather than getting power from elsewhere. “Rod thinks solar would be the best solution,” said Jones.
BY BRENT BAKER BBAKER@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
Photo by Terri Mills
Queen Ali Miller and Princess Dayna Roley invite everyone to participate in this year’s May Festival. In honor of the festival’s 78th year and to celebrate the community’s beautiful location on Osoyoos Lake, the theme this year is “Simple Enchantment.” See full schedule of events inside.
Pipe Bomb found, defused at Fancher Lake Reservoir Spokane Bomb Squad destroys device
“This was a chance to get a principal’s job in a place with small town values, community and culture.”
BY GARY A. DEVON MANAGING EDITOR
TONASKET – A Spokane County Sheriff ’s Office bomb disposal unit destroyed a pipe bomb found at the edge of Fancher Dam Reservoir, eight miles northeast of Tonasket last Thursday. The unit was requested by the Okanogan County Sheriff ’s office after a citizen reported finding what appeared to be a pipe bomb stuck between two rocks at about 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2. The device was approximately six inches long and constructed of galvanized pipe with end caps glued on and a fuse in the middle, according to Sheriff Frank Rogers, who added it appeared to have been recently left at the location. Sheriff ’s deputies who responded to the scene on Wednesday night made contact with the Spokane County Sheriff ’s Office explosive team which said they would respond to the area the next morning. The deputies remained at the scene overnight until the bomb disposal unit arrived around noon. “The pipe bomb was in fact a real pipe bomb and was destroyed on site by the disposal team. The fragments from the device will be sent to Spokane,” said Sheriff Rogers, adding that there were no suspects at this time. The sheriff said he was unsure what the bomb maker was attempting to do with the device and whether it was designed to
OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 108 No. 19
TONASKET - Jeremy Clark says his interview process with the Tonasket School District was as much about him getting a feel for the staff, administration and community as it was about his being interviewed. So when he got the call last week that he’d been selected over three other finalists to replace Jeff Cravy as the Tonasket Elementary School principal, he was ready to jump at the opportunity. “The staff and administration really solidified it,” Clark said. “It really seems to be a group that is excited about change, and about working together.” Clark comes to Tonasket from the Medical Lake School District, where he’s worked both as a teacher and an administrator. After graduating from Jeremy Clark, Eastern Washington new Tonasket Elementary University, he worked Principal the 2003-4 school year in the Mead School District as a sixth grade teacher and science and reading specialist. The following year he moved to Medical Lake, where he has taught fourth and sixth grade, served as an administrative intern and spent a year on special assignment between Hallett Elementary and Medical Lake Middle School. After completing his Masters in Educational Leadership in 2010, Clark served this past year as substitute principal and vice principal at the middle school while also returning to the classroom. Clark, who grew up in Twisp, not only wanted the chance to have a permanent position as a principal, but wanted to move back to the type of rural area he grew up in. “This was a chance to get a principal’s job in the kind of area we like,” Clark said. “We wanted to be in a place with small
Jeremy Clark
OCSO photo
This explosive device was found between two rocks at Fancher Dam Reservoir and reported to the Okanogan County Sheriff’s office. A bomb disposal unit from Spokane was called in and destroyed it the afternoon of Wednesday, May 3. do damage to the dam. “It’s hard to tell what they were doing. It basically was just stuck between two rocks and it appeared that someone had lit it but it did not go off. The bomb squad destroyed the device in place and I am not sure how strong it was. It was basically a steel pipe with gun powder in it. I know it could have killed someone it they were close to it,” said Rogers, adding he couldn’t remember the last time a pipe bomb was found in the county. “I do know that pipe bombs pop up from time to time and usually it is someone just trying to make a big bang. I know
when I worked in Omak years ago we arrested three kids that were setting off pipe bombs and other homemade devices. They had damaged a few vehicles and the day we arrested the three they were taking them to the school,” said the sheriff. Located off Swanson Mill Road, Fancher Lake is an irrigation reservoir held by an earthen dam. It is also a popular fishing spot for rainbow trout with locals during the summer and winter months. Anyone with information on the device found at the Fancher Reservoir is asked to contact the Okanogan Sheriff ’s Office at (509) 422-7232.
INSIDE THIS EDITION
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town values, community and culture. We wanted to get our kids (Madyson, 12, and Logan, nine), into a smaller school and give them the chance to grow up with that kind of lifestyle. “It’s a beautiful area and a great place.” Clark said he and his wife, Jennifer, enjoy outdoor recreation and sports, working with kids and have coached youth sports in the past. “We really enjoy taking horseback trips into the back country,” he said. “That was a big draw to us as a family.” Clark brings to the job plenty of experience working with the kind of data and research that has been a driving force in recent years behind efforts to improve and individualize instruction, but said that’s only part of the equation. “I love working with people,” Clark said. “I want to take the time to build relationships and trust with people. I don’t want school to be just a safe place, but a happy one, too. As we develop changes and improvements, that’s important.” Clark said he hopes to get the family moved in July, shortly after he finishes up the year at Medical Lake. “The sooner, the better,” he said. “We’re really looking forward to getting there.”
Community A2-3 Letters & Opinions A4 Valley Life A5
May Festival A6-7 Valley Life A8 Sports B1-2
Valley Life B3 Classified/Legals B4-5 Obits B5