Issuu

Wrestlers head to State;

Budley the Clown Retires

Basketball playoffs underway.

Bud McSpadden looks back on years of laughter and a few tears. See page A3.

See Pages A4 & A7

SERVING WASHINGTON’S

OKANOGAN VALLEY

SINCE 1905

GAZETTE-TRIBUNE WWW.GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 | 75 CENTS NEWSSTAND PRICE

Oroville council approves rezone

NO DAY OF REST

Board renews Supt. Quick’s contract

Fuel available at Dorothy Scott Airport again

BY GARY A. DEVON MANAGING EDITOR

OROVILLE – The Oroville City Council approved a small rezone of property from commercial to residential at their Tuesday, Feb. 12 council meeting. The request for a rezone was submitted by Greg and Charlene Helm on property they own on the south end of town near Gold Digger’s bin storage lot. The issue was discussed by the council and Chris Branch, director of community development, in a closed record hearing presided over by Mayor Chuck Spieth. “The property and a lot stands kind of by itself next to the bin lot. They would like to rezone to residential to continue and expand its use to a second lot. The Planning Commission has recommended approval,” said Branch. “Has there been any opposition by the neighbors?” asked Councilwoman Neysa Roley. Branch said there had not been. “So far what they’ve done to the property is a vast improvement over what was there,” said Councilman Jon Neal, who lives nearby. Roley recommended approval of the zone change based on the planning commissions findings of fact and conclusions. The motion was seconded by Neal and approved unanimously, with Councilman Ed Naillon not voting because he had declared a possible conflict of interest when the hearing began. Branch also updated the council on Okanogan County’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan update process Cities participating in the plan have

It may have been Sunday, but it was no day of rest as man (or woman) and machine were put to the test in the Bonaparte Snowmobile Ice Drags. The racing started at 10 a.m. and went well into the afternoon. A great crowd watched from track-side, while other spectators enjoyed some food and refreshments from inside the resort as dueling racers hurtled their snow machines as fast as they could to the finish line. The racing was sponsored by the Bonaparte Snowmobile/ ATV Club as part of a number of events they hold each winter. For more information on the club call (509) 4862277

SEE REZONE | PG A2

OROVILLE – After returning from executive session to evaluate Superintendent Steve Quick, the Oroville School Board announced they would be renewing his contract for a three-year term. “I move to approve Mr. Quick’s three-year contract as written,” said School Director Amy Wise at the board’s m e e t i n g Tuesday, Jan. 29. The renewal includes an increase in pay of $2,000 each of the next Supt. Steve Quick three years. “He will get $100,000 the first year, $102,000 the next and $104,000 the next. That still leaves him as the second lowest paid superintendent in the region,” said board chairman Rocky DeVon. High School Principal Kristin Sarmiento told the board that the school was focusing on TPAP (Teacher/Principal Assessment

“We had Tony Chavez, grandson of Cesar Chavez and he talked about his grandfather’s legacy. It was a very positive opportunity.”

Gary DeVon/staff photos

Conditions look good for ice fishing fest

Kristen Sarmiento, OHS Principal

BY GARY A. DEVON MANAGING EDITOR

MOLSON -The Ninth Annual Northwest Ice Fishing Festival will take place on Sidney and Molson lakes this Saturday, Feb. 16 “There are many volunteers that make this such a great festival. This year the fishing is projected to be much better than expected,” said Robin Stice, who organizes the event which is sponsored by the Oroville Chamber of Commerce and hosted by the Molson Grange. Reports of anglers catching trout over the past three weeks continue to come in. So far they indicate at least two three-pound fish were caught, according to Stice. “We were cautiously optimistic last fall with observation of some water quality improvements that benefit the fish. Today, we are very optimistic that contestants will catch fish if we don’t have a shrimp hatch the very same day as the festival,” she said. Her husband Patrick Stice has been caring for the aerator on Sidley Lake the past two years. He had the aerator in operation in mid-November 2012 long before the lake froze over, according to his wife. Sidley Lake is over 3,900 feet above sea level and generally has very thick ice which can impact the oxygen level. The aerator provides oxygen for the fish and other lake flora and fauna. “We have a few species of happy ducks this year that are wintering

Open water on Sidley Lake (left) near the aerator which helps to generate oxygen for aquatic life. The aerator’s compressor (above) was operated for 30 years by retired engineer and aerator property owner John Myrick. The WDFW and Oroville Sportsman’s Club is also involved in the project. Pat Stice has taken over the job for the past two years and anyone wishing to assist can call (509) 485-4002. at Sidley Lake,” she said. “And at least one eagle was sighted.” The Stices, who own and operate Eden Valley Guest Ranch, have been staying in contact with District 6 Fish Biologist Bob Jateff, with the state Fish and Wildlife. “He said we also have to be careful about sampling in January, since most of the low oxygen readings that are detrimental to fish occur during late winter (usually February and March). “The oxygen levels are better this year as is the PH. The lake’s

OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 109 No. 07

water level is somewhat higher and the WDFW planted 5,000 catchable fish near the end of the season last fall,” she said. Fishing registration will begin at 7 a.m. at the Molson Grange Hall. Stice said the Molson Grange has a great group of folks that will be putting on the all you can eat ham, egg and pancake breakfast for $8. “The Molson Grange hall needs a new roof and they will appreciate everyone’s support,” said Stice. Tournament fishing will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on either Sidley

or Molson Lake. The judges this year will have their office in an RV at Sidley Lake provided by Chamber President Clyde Andrews of the Camaray Motel. The non-fishing outdoor enthusiast may enjoy the dog sledding demonstration with free rides for kids near the Molson Schoolhouse Museum. Rev. Gary Forgey of Chesaw will oversee this activity and dog sledders will be on hand to answer questions and talk about sled dogs. Rev. Forgey plans to have a dog sled that he built on display in the Molson Grange Hall for every-

one to see close up. There will be an arts and crafts fair in the warm Grange Hall so friends and family of our fishermen that want to get warm or stay warm and have something fun to do. Last minute booth requesters can still call Jeanette Lamont at (509) 485-2035. Bud McFadden will provide entertainment for the social before dinner as the judges come in. The Non-profit group of Sitzmark Ski Area volunteers will be putting on an Italian dinner available in the Molson Grange Hall from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

INSIDE THIS EDITION

Program). “Truly it’s going to benefit everyone,” said Sarmiento. She also reported on the Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly that was organized as one of her student’s Senior Project. The grandson of American farmworker labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez was the guest speaker. “We had Tony Chavez, grandson of Cesar Chavez and he talked about his grandfather’s legacy. It was a very positive opportunity,” she said. In her report to the board, Elementary Principal Joan Hoehn said this year’s Principal’s Challenge will be asking the students to read 6,500 books and to pass a test on each at 80 percent. The challenge this year is named “Raising the Roof ” in regards to the new roof that will be put on the building this summer. Hoehn said that the fifth grade, which is raising salmon eggs, has small salmon swimming around. She also reported on the new safety procedures in front of the building. “It has greatly reduced the number of people freely coming into the building,” she said. About the new pick up area Hoehn said, “Some people have been making U-turns, but it’s getting better. Actually we’ve fixed a lot of the little things that we had not realized were a problem.”

Valley Life A4 Sports A4 & A7 Community A6

Letters/Opinion A5 Classifieds/Legals A8 Real Estate A9

Police Stats Obituaries

A9 A10