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Halloween Happenings in North County
Fresh Paint
BY GARY A. DEVON’ MANAGING EDITOR
While there are lots of improvements going on in Oroville’s downtown, a couple that stand out are the Oroville Library and the Camaray Motel which are both sporting new paint jobs. Vicki’s Unique Boutique has opened in the old Pub Tavern and Marylou’s Gifts and More is open on Central (see related stories inside). Meanwhile, work to get Back to Basics ice cream and hotdog parlor open on Main Street continues. The old Pastime, also on Main, continues to undergo major remodeling inside and out with the front of the building being opened up last week. Photos by Gary DeVon
Candidates speak at Oroville Chamber BY GARY A. DEVON MANAGING EDITOR
OROVILLE – Several candidates for local county office were welcomed to the Thursday, Oct 11 meeting of the Oroville Chamber of Commerce to say why they were seeking office, Scot Stuart – Candidate for District Court Judge Scot Stuart, candidate for District Court Judge, told the chamber he had provided public defender services for the county for 25 years. He then was Lead District Court Deputy and then Chief Criminal Court Deputy in Stevens County for six years. In 2011 he returned to Okanogan County. “I’ve been the only one in a defendant’s corner and I’ve been there with the victims and their families,” said Stuart, about his 30 years in the Criminal Justice System. “I’ve appeared in courts throughout the state, even in the old Oroville Court and Tonasket and Omak Municipal Courts.” Stuart has been married for 28 years and has three adult daughters. While his daughters were growing up he spent much of his time volunteering with youth activities and served as a coach. Heidi Smith – Candidate for District Court Judge Heidi Smith is the Incumbent candidate for District Court Judge. She
was appointed to the position when Chris Culp was selected to fill the county’s newly created second Superior Court Position. Smith’s grandparents homesteaded in the Molson area and she is related to the Appel and Colbert families she said. She attended school in Tonasket and went to college in California, then went to Gonzaga Law School. “This is a part time job yet I have little extra time between District Court and raising two little ones,” said Smith, who formerly served as the county’s Chief Civil Deputy. “As such I was also county coroner... I spent many nights out with Mr. Berg and Mr. Miller,” she said. “Then when I got pregnant six years ago I went into private practice. I also did a lot of pro bono work for non-profits.” She adds that when she applied for the District Court position last year she went through a rigorous selection process. Albert Roberts – Candidate for Commissioner Position 1 Albert Roberts is running for Okanogan County Commissioner Position 1. He lives in Omak but grew up on a cattle ranch in North Dakota, “I ended up in the Okanogan in the spring of 1986... I’ve been a mechanic, an equipment operator and a Tribal logger. Now I do heavy
OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 108 No. 43
equipment repair,” Roberts, a Democrat, says his experiences have demonstrated he has served the community. Among that experience is 22 years with the Okanogan County Planning Department and 11 years as an Okanogan Conservation District Supervisor. He has also served on the Washington Association of Conservation Districts and with the Ag and Rural Conference. He served four years in the U.S. Navy and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry and Range Management, He owns and operates a diversified farm with cattle, range, hay and timber. He is also the founder and chairman of Slow Food Okanogan. “I have a good ability to listen... my job As commissioner will be to listen, be efficient and get the job done.” Bud Hover - Candidate Commissioner Position 2
for
Don “Bud” Hover, a Republican, is the incumbent candidate for Okanogan County Commissioner Position 2. He lives in the Methow and has been married 38 years and has two sons. He is a former football player with the NFL and CFL and in the mid1980s was a contractor for the Army and Navy. He says he has been farming for 37 years. “In the late 1990s the national marine Fisheries shut the water off for a couple of years in the Methow. For me that was a turning point.” Hover said he worked within the
SEE CANDIDATES | PG. A3
NORTH COUNTY – This Halloween promises a lot of fun things to do in the North County, including the return of The Haunted Hayride and the Oroville Downtown Trick or Treat. This year Halloween begins early with several events taking place on Saturday, Oct 27. That’s when Vicki’s Unique Boutique will hold a party open to the public starting at 7 p.m. The store is located in the old Pub Tavern and the Harts, Walt and Vicki, ask that people enter through the back door. The Wilder Band will perform for part of the evening, and although costumes are not required they’re being encouraged. In addition to the music, Madame Zulu will be telling fortunes to raise money for the North Valley Community School. The Oroville Parent Teacher Organization, or PTO, is holding their Halloween Carnival and Haunted Hallway. This is the third year for the event which is held at the Oroville Elementary School Gym and goes from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The PTO promises lots of fun and prizes. That same day the Haunted Hayride will take place at Taber’s Taste of Summer, Hwy 97 North from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The folks at Oroville RE/MAX Realty and Taber’s Taste of Summer are promising an even bigger and scarier ride this year, which had to move up to two wagons last year to carry the eager victims on the ride. There’s a creepy cast of volunteers that turn the orchards around Taber’s Fruit Barn into a macabre good time. Local Cub Scouts will be serving hot dogs and people are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the food bank. For more information call Cindy DeVon at (509) 476-4444.
Oroville hooks up USBP with water
Cougar sightings south of town, police ask caution BY GARY A. DEVON MANAGING EDITOR
OROVILLE – It’s been a summer-long courtship, but Oroville and the federal government finally made the connection and the city is now providing water for the new U.S. Border Patrol Station being constructed north of town. At the Tuesday, Oct. 16 meeting of the Oroville Council, City Clerk Kathy Jones reported that the funds for the water connection, development of the water line and reservoir project had been received from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Rod Noel, superintendent of Public Works, added the work on the physical connection was underway with the actual connection made last Monday, according to Jones. Noel also added that the city’s engineers, Varela and Associates, had been requested to submit a Scope of Work and time frame for completion of the reservoir and transmission line. “They’ve (CBP) paid all the water allocation and system development fees and reservoir engineering expenses,” said Jones. “The design should be completed this winter and we will try to go to bid
for construction as early in the spring as possible.” The city will build a reservoir and 12-inch transmission line at federal government expense that will be owned by the city. The addition to the city’s north end water system is expected to not only serve the new $16 million facility, but bring better consistency of service to the entire system. One reason for the reservoir is so the system can handle the USBP Station’s fire suppression system without taxing the entire water system. The council also retuned to another issue that had been under discussion for some time, whether to allow collective medical marijuana grows within the city limits. Police Chief Clay Warnstaff updated the council on the moratorium on these types of grows that had recently expired and he and Chris Branch, Director of Community Development, discussed options with the council. Branch said one option was to follow Yakima’s lead and adopt an ordinance similar to theirs which states “illegal uses are prohibited.” This would account for the fact that marijuana grows and use are still illegal under federal law, despite the state’s medical marijuana laws. Mayor Chuck Spieth and the council directed Branch to proceed along this course. Chief Warnstaff also brought up the two recent sightings of a cougar in the south end of town. The animal killed
SEE COUNCIL | PG. A3
INSIDE THIS EDITION
CONTACT US Newsroom and Advertising (509) 476-3602 gdevon@gazette-tribune.com
Once again the Oroville Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the business Trick-or-Treat event on Wednesday, Oct. 31 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Look for the green Trick or Treat signs at participating storefronts. Trick or Treaters are also asked to stop by the Camaray Hotel lobby to have their picture taken and register, if they like, to be in the chamber’s costume contest. Golden Tickets will be awarded to the following winners: first place, $30 and second place, $20, for the family costumes. One $10 Golden Ticket will be awarded each to one boy and girl in the following age groups: zero to five years, six to 11 years and 12 to 16 years. Golden Tickets will be redeemable at the winners choice of several participating Oroville businesses. Winners will be notified by phone or email. All businesses wishing to participate in the annual Halloween contest are asked to register with Leah at (509) 476-9000 or Sandy at (509) 476-3684. There will be two awards for businesses, one for best costumes and one for best decorations. Please register by Tuesday Oct. 30. North Valley Hospital and North Valley Assisted Living are offering Trick or Treating in Tonasket this Halloween, Wednesday, Oct. 31. Stop by the hospital between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. for treats and the Assisted Living between 5:30 p.m and 7 p.m. for hot drinks and goodies. There’s a Monster Prom for all ages at the Community Cultural Center of Tonasket with a haunted house, games, prizes, treats, stories, pictures and more. Little kids’ events that are not too spooky will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and there’s live music until 11 p.m. Admission is a nonperishable food donation to Tonasket’s Food Bank. The Community Cultural Center is located at 411 Western Ave in Tonasket.
Community 2-3 Letters & Opinion 4-5 Valley Life 6-7
Obits 8 Court, Jail Booking 9 Valley Life 10
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