Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune, May 16, 2013

Page 1

POST-SEASON UNDERWAY FOR

MOLSON FAMILY BINGO

HIGH SCHOOL TRACK

Molson Grange, Friday, May 17 at 6:00 p.m. Bring finger foods.

See Sports, Pages A10-11

SERVING WASHINGTON’S

OKANOGAN VALLEY

SINCE 1905

GAZETTE-TRIBUNE WWW.GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM | THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013 | 75 CENTS NEWSSTAND PRICE

Armed Forces Legacy Project to be dedicated

Parade, air show, speakers and more BY BRENT BAKER BBAKER@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

TONASKET - Tonasket’s Armed Forces veterans and their supporters have created one of the state’s true crown jewels in its Legacy Project on the south end of the city. The Legacy Project, which serves as both a memorial and a service center, will be formally dedicated this Saturday,

May 18, with a parade and ceremony. The day will include a parade through Tonasket starting at 11:00 a.m., followed by a ceremony at noon at the Legacy Park site that will include the presentation of colors, a flyover and air show, and a pair of special guest speakers. “It’s been a lot bigger than I ever thought it would be,” said George Frank, who along with Roger Castelda originated the project, beginning with a 99-year lease of the site from the city for $1.00. “It shows what people can do when they get together to work on something. The public’s support has been unbelievable. It hasn’t been a few people giving a lot; it’s been a whole lot of people giving some.”

Tiger frosh surprise at FFA

The speakers include Captain Alan Walker of Curlew, who served 28 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, and Lt. Commander Allen Willey, at Tonasket High School graduate and current U.S. Navy civil engineer who has served 26 years of active duty. “Captain Walker is a very impressive man,” Frank said. “And Lt. Cmdr. Willey, it took some doing, but he’s traveling all the way here just for this dedication.” The parade route will begin heading north on Western Avenue, turn east in front of the North Valley Extended Care facility, then turn south on Whitcomb (U.S. 97) and proceed through town to the Legacy site, which boasts a freshly

paved and painted parking lot. Overflow traffic may park in the business lot below the site. Michael Stewart, who is organizing the parade, said that the list of entrants hasn’t been finalized but is likely to include the Desert Squadron Composite Civil Air Patrol; the Native American Color Guard; the Gold Star Mothers; American Legion contingents from Tonasket, Oroville, Republic and Okanogan; North Valley Hospital; Home Depot; a number of armored personnel carriers; VIP vehicles provided by OK Chevrolet; and even the Hyde brothers’ A Cavallo mobile carousel. There will also be refreshments pro-

vided by the Tonasket American Legion Auxiliary, and the on-site military library and Veterans Service Officer Shane Barton will also be available following the ceremony. Following the national anthem (by Kim Harriman), Paul Lewis will perform a flyover and air show in his Nanchang CJ6. “It’s a Chinese trainer painted in Russian colors,” Frank said. “It’s got a nine-cylinder radial engine, plus a smoke system and blank-firing machine guns developed by Hollywood special effects teams that they used to film ‘Tora! Tora! Tora!’ “It should be quite a sight, and that’s coming from an Air Force man.”

Query yields nothing

THREE LEGS, TWO BROTHERS, ONE RACE

Anonymous NVH complaint leads to L&I visit, but no violations found

Tonasket Rituals team wins state title, earns nationals bid

BY BRENT BAKER BBAKER@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

TONASKET - North Valley Hospital CEO Linda Michel reported at the Thursday, May 10, Board of Commissioners meeting that the hospital had recently been paid a visit by the Department of Labor and Industry thanks to an anonymous “report of concern” filed with the department. Michel said in her written report that the complaint listed concerns with safety inspections in the second floor and basement remodels; the qualifications of inhouse employees who had done electrical work in the building; and questioned who was responsible for bonding and insurance. Michel said that the Labor and Industry inspector did not find any violations, affirming that all inspections had been completed and logged as required. “The L&I inspector did meet with staff to check on all of the concerns,” she said. “(He) informed me that he was unable to respond to the person who submitted these concerns since the submission was sent anonymously.” In a separate instance, a letter was received by a local business signed by someone claiming to be one of the hospital leadership team, who said she had sent no such letter. That incident is under investigation, Michel said.

BY BRENT BAKER BBAKER@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

PULLMAN - When the Tonasket FFA’s parliamentary procedure team went to the national convention two years ago, ag teacher Matt Deebach called it a once-in-a-career experience. Turns out Deebach was wrong. Six Tonasket freshmen, competing in Rituals (a novice version of parli pro for freshmen to compete in), won the state title last weekend at the Washington State FFA Convention in Pullman and will be making their own trip to nationals this fall. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a team place higher than seventh,” said Deebach, who has built the Tonasket program into a powerhouse since coming to the district in the mid-90s. “This was the first time they’d ever been there in front of that type of crowd. Some of these contests are necessarily full, but this one is. It’s not like you can just show up at State; teams get weeded out. So everyone is good.” Deebach noted that many of the larger schools have middle school FFA programs, so their students enter high school with a couple of years experience on groups from smaller schools. “They’re judged on speaking, clarity and correctness,” Deebach

SEE FFA | PG A4

Gary DeVon/staff photo

Gus and Gabe Ray, ages 7 and 5, stuck together through thick and thin during the three-legged race as part of the Masons’ Kids Games at Saturday’s May Festival in Oroville. That was just one of many activities to take place during the annual event. For a two-page spread of this and other May Fest highlights, see pages A2-3.

ADDRESSING FOOD ISSUES Michel said that, in response

SEE NVH | PG A4

Oroville weighs park concession stand options City again delays final hearing on Critical Areas ordinance BY GARY A. DEVON MANAGING EDITOR

OROVILLE – No person or group has come forward to rent the concession stand at Oroville’s Veterans Memorial Park leaving the city to look for ways to make it more attractive to potential operators. “We’ve had no proposals for the concession stand as of yet and it was put in

the budget as a revenue generator,” said Kathy Jones, Oroville’s city clerk. “I can’t understand why no group wouldn’t want to rent it and make some money,” said Councilman Tony Koepke. To meet health department standards the prospective renter must have commercial grade equipment. Rod Noel, the head of the Parks Department suggested the city consider purchasing some commercial equipment for the concession stand to make it more attractive to potential renters, rather than expecting them to supply their own. “We may have to find some used commercial equipment. I think the fact that whoever rents it has to bring their own equipment, and it’s a little tough to find

OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 109 No. 20

off the cuff, is what scares them off,” said Noel. “Basically there are only two good months to really make some money, July and August, said the parks head, adding last year’s vendor had already sold their commercial equipment. Noel suggested the council consider purchasing items like a commercial refrigerator and freezer in the state bid or from a company that sells used restaurant supplies. He added that he had been looking at the state bid and there are some reasonable deals out there, although delivery costs would need to be factored into the final price. It might be less expensive to send someone to pick up the equipment and transport it back

to Oroville, he added. “I like the idea of the concession stand at the park, but for someone to have to buy the equipment and then just be open for two or three months is perhaps too much to expect,” said Councilwoman Neysa Roley. “I personally feel we should pursue trying to find some equipment and I think the concession stand should be used,” added Mayor Chuck Spieth. Clerk Jones suggested the city look for at least a refrigerator and a freezer if they could find one at a reasonable cost on the state bid. Police Chief Clay Warnstaff added that the prospect of finding someone to run the concession stand might increase if

SEE OROVILLE | PG A4

INSIDE THIS EDITION

CONTACT US Newsroom and Advertising (509) 476-3602 gdevon@gazette-tribune.com

the operator had items like canoes and paddle boats to rent from there. In addition to agreeing to seek some used commercial equipment for the park concession stand, the council approved entering into an agreement with the state Department of Natural Resources to make the park available after Labor Day for a firefighters’ encampment should the need arise. The council directed Mayor Spieth to sign an agreement with the DNR similar to one they had with the agency last fire season. In other park business, staff is working on a new park ordinance for all the city’s

May Day Photos A2-3 Letters/Opinion A5 Valley Life A6

Community A7 Classifieds/Legals A8-9 Real Estate A9

Police Stats Sports Obituaries

A9 A10-11 A12


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.