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PICKUP HITS BUS, SIX HOSPITALIZED
One of the children who was sent to the hospital as a precautionary measure was transported by the Tonasket ambulance, which responded to the accident in addition to the Oroville units and their crews.
The crash occured south of town on Highway 97 on Feb. 7
Fee to be charged for ambulance standby at events
BY GARY A. DEVON
BY GARY A. DEVON
MANAGING EDITOR
OROVILLE – A small pickup rear-ended one of the Oroville Head Start buses on the Hwy. 97 bridge south of here sending six people, including three children, to the hospital around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Although only three people were listed as injured at the scene, the others were sent to North Valley Hospital as a precaution, according to the Washington State Patrol report filed by Sgt. M. Saunders. The small 2006 GMC school bus was being driven southbound on Hwy. 97 when the driver, Charity R. Sutton, stopped for the railroad crossing to check for the train when the bus was hit from behind by Cassandra G. Snider who was driving southbound in a 1979 Chevrolet Luv pickup. Snider, 28, Tonasket, was transported to North Valley Hospital with injuries. She was charged with failure to control her speed to avoid a collision, according to the Trooper’s report. A four-year-old passenger in the pickup was also taken to the hospital with injuries. Another passenger, Benjamin Snider, 28, was uninjured. The pickup was highly damaged and totaled at the
Dam plan blasted before Oroville council
MANAGING EDITOR
OROVILLE – Joseph Enzensperger approached the Oroville City Council to ask that they consider opposing Okanogan County PUD’s current plan to generate hydroelectric power at Enloe Dam because of the high cost and potential to dewater the Similkameen Falls below. Enzensperger asked the council at their Tuesday, Feb. 7 to first study the public utility’s plan and a new study “Review of the Economics of Restoring Hydropower at Enloe Dam on the Similkameen River “ by Rocky Mountain Econometrics. The analysis, released in late January and commissioned by the Columbia River Biological Education Project and several conservation groups, claims the project would cost ratepayers Gary DeVon/staff photos
A woman driving this 1979 Chevrolet pickup rear-ended the Head Start bus when the bus driver stopped to look for oncoming train traffic, as required by state law, on the Hwy. 97 bridge just south of Oroville. Six people, two from the pickup and four from the bus, were transported to North Valley Hospital in Tonasket for visible injuries or as a precaution, according to the Washington State Patrol. scene. It was towed by Thompson Bees. The bus, which was incapacitated, showed little damage other than a pushed-in rear bumper. Sutton, 29, Oroville, was also injured and taken by ambulance
Judge Burchard won’t seek return to bench The jurist has served 19 years in Okanogan County Superior Court BY GARY A. DEVON MANAGING EDITOR
OKANOGAN – After 19 years on the bench, Judge Jack Burchard has announced that it is time to retire and he will not be seeking a sixth term. His fifth term will not be up for another 11 months so he will still be hearing cases for the rest of the year. In making his announcement (see his guest editorial next week), the judge list many of the accomplishments that have been made over the years. These include the Drug Court, which was started without the benefit of a federal grant used by many of the larger counties to start theirs. He also points to the Dispute Resolution Center which has provided education to divorcing parents that helps keep their children out of the middle of disputes. There is also the Court Appointed Child Advocates that handle cases os suspected child abuse and Judge Burchard neglect. During his remaining time on the Superior Court, Judge Burchard’s caseload will be shared with Judge Chris Culp who was appointed to the bench by Governor Christine Gregoire as the county’s second Superior Court Judge. Burchard said at Culp’s swearing in last December that a second judge in the Superior Court was something that has been needed for many years. With his retirement, both positions will be up for election in the next general election. Burchard ran for judge after longtime Okanogan County Superior Court Judge James Thomas retired from the bench. Prior to being elected to the Superior Court, Burchard served as Okanogan County Prosecuting Attorney for six years and before that was a public defender. Burchard lives in Okanogan with his wife Peg and they have five children Chris, Jay, Anna, Tim and Mary.
OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 107 No. 7
to NVH. Passengers in the bus included Kari G. Barker, 32, and a four year-old and a two-year-old. They were all taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure. Efforts to restart the gasolinepowered bus failed because of
the automatic fuel pump shut off and one of the troopers used his patrol car to push the bus off the bridge onto a side road. In addition to the Washington State Patrol, personnel from the Oroville Police and Fire
Departments responded to the scene. Oroville and Tonasket ambulances and crews helped transport victims to the hospital. All parties involved in the accident were wearing seat belts, according to Sgt. Saunders.
May Fest Queen candidates OROVILLE – Two juniors at Oroville High School are vying for the title 2012 May Festival Queen this year – Dayna Roley and Ali Miller. Selection night for the 2012 Oroville May Queen and Princess will be held Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Oroville High School Commons. The community is invited to attend and help select this year’s queen and princess. Selection Night activities for the royalty candidates include speeches, modeling and poise, as well as answering impromptu questions. After which, the community and judges will vote on their selection and the royalty will be named. “We hope to see you there,” say organizers. The following are short introductions written by each of the candidates:
Ali Miller
Dayna Roley
My name is Ali Miller and my parents are Benie and Scott Miller and I have a sister, Kendal. I am very active in school and the community. I run cross country, play basketball and tennis and I’m a member of the O-Club. I’m also a member of the Border Patrol Explorer Post 0023. I’ve very proud to be able to participate in all these activities and still maintain a good grade point average. I’m still unsure about my future, but I’m looking into possibly joining the Air Ali Miller Force. I love to hang out with friends. It’s never boring when we’re all together. Not to brag, but I think I have the best friends anyone could ask for. I have been a part of May Day festivities since kindergarten from riding my bicycle through the parade and passing out candy, being third grade royalty with Connor, May Pole Dance to playing in the 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament. May Day is a big event when the community gets together and has a fun time. I would love to be your 2012 May Festival Queen. I’d be very honored and proud to represent our town. I’m very responsible, witty, mature and reliable. I think I’d be a great candidate for the job.
My name is Dayna Roley and my parents are Ross and Neysa and my sisters are Bethany and Bonnie. I have been a cheerleader for football and basketball since the seventh grade. I plan on continuing cheer next year as a senior. This is my third year working on the yearbook staff and I have also been a member of FBLA, class presidencies and photography club. In addition, I participate actively with my church youth group doing service projects, activities and being a youth leadDayna Roley er at church camp. I love children and plan on getting a degree in elementary education. I also enjoy drawing, doing crafts, photography and music. My family moved to Oroville when I was in the third grade. We very quickly came to love living here. There is a true sense of community... of people who are neighbors, neighbors who have become friends and friends who have become family. Oroville is a community of people that gathers together to support each other. Memories, relationships and traditions are created in communities like this one. This is why I’d be honored to represent Oroville. I hope I will have a chance to tell people about our great community to share about our wonderful people, our celebrations and traditions, our businesses, neighborhoods and schools. And encourage them to come enjoy our beautiful scenery, wonderful weather and plentiful recreational opportunities.
Joseph Enzensperger
more than it would return, as well as ruin the aesthetic and economic value of the falls. The analysis claims the PUD will lose $26 for every megawatt produced at the dam. “(This is) a very thorough assessment of the PUD’s plans for Enloe Falls,” said Enzensperger, adding the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has turned down three previous attempts to relicense the dam, built in the early 1900s. “At current electrical prices it is actually a losing proposition. What we’ve seen is energy prices really reached their high point in 2008 and have since fallen off because of the economy. “Another factor is wind power has come on line. In Texas wind power generation is now enough to replace 10 nuclear plants. In Germany solar power has replaced the need for seven nuclear plants.” Enzensperger claims the utility is willing to take a loss on the project just to see it done. “What we lose in all this is the scenic value of the falls, especially to the Similkameen Trail. These are huge attractions that draw people to town. The trail is in the middle of the Pacific Northwest Scenic Trail which includes seven national parks and seven National Forests and goes all the way to Glacier. This trail is our opportunity.” Enzensperger said Native American tribes have always wanted fish passage at Enloe. He said that could result in fish habitat for 50,000 King Chinook salmon and 100,000 steelhead above the dam. “This is an opportunity to turn an empty main street around
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“What we lose in all this is the scenic value of the falls, especially to the Similkameen Trail.”
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