Regional Track, Oroville Softball
TVBRC OPEN
Highlights
Wood art on display, now through June 15, Mondays through Saturdays.
See Page A10
SERVING WASHINGTON’S
OKANOGAN VALLEY
SINCE 1905
GAZETTE-TRIBUNE WWW.GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM | THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2013 | 75 CENTS NEWSSTAND PRICE
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE LAST WEEKEND
Most candidates face clear sailing
Challengers file against incumbents for hospital commissioners, Oroville mayor and council four-year terms. Incumbents on the North Valley Hospital Board also find themselves facNORTH COUNTY – Before last ing challengers. Rosa Snider, a vocal critic Friday’s final day to file for office it of the closing of the Assisted Living facillooked like Oroville might have a new ity is going up against longtime hospital mayor in Chris Allen, but incumbent commissioner Dick Larson for Position Charles “Chuck” Spieth, who has a habit 1. Teresa Hughes is also seeking the Position 5 seat of Lael Duncan of waiting until the last day to and will meet in the November file, stepped up and made it a election. Both positions are for horse race. six-year terms. Allen, has been vocal at sevIn Tonasket it looks like clear eral city council meetings, even sailing for the four incumbents hinting at legal action after looking for a return to city he was not appointed to the government positions. Mayor ambulance crew by the mayor Patrick Plumb, Position 1 after completing EMT train- Mayor Spieth Councilman Dennis Brown, ing. Mayor Spieth said he was Position 3 Councilwoman Jill acting on the recommendation of Ambulance Coordinator Debra Vugteveen and Position 4 Councilwoman Donoghue, who taught the course and Jean E. Ramsey will all be returned certified Allen. The city council backed to office. Claire Jeffko is running for up the mayor and Donoghue in two Council Position 5, which marks a return of the Jeffko name to the council as her separate votes. Spieth is not the only one who is in late husband Ed was a councilman for a race for his position in Oroville’s gov- a number of years. However, the seats ernment. Russell W. Rounds has filed are changing somewhat with Brown and for Council Position 1, against incum- Vugteveen running for four year terms bent Jon R. Neal and Paul E. Brochard and Ramsey and Jeffko running for twohas filed for Council Position 2 against year unexpired terms. incumbent Anthony “Tony” Koepke. The mayor and council positions all have SEE VOTE | PG A4 BY GARY A. DEVON
MANAGING EDITOR
Above, Lt. Cmdr. Allen Willey, a 1985 Tonasket High School graduate, was one of two keynote speakers at the dedication of the U.S. Armed Forces Legacy Park on Saturday. For more on the dedication, see page A2. Right, The Run for the Border Charity Ride brought hundreds of riders from Wenatchee to Oroville. See page A12. Bottom right, Spring Barrel Tastings took place at three Oroville wineries, more on page A3. Bottom left, There was plenty of high-fiving going on at the youth soccer tournament in Tonasket on Saturday. More photos on page A11.
Tonasket lends official support to Water Ranch BY BRENT BAKER
BBAKER@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE
TONASKET - Though Tonasket’s City Council members and mayor have voiced their support on numerous occasions for the Tonasket Water Ranch project, the council officially announced their support of the project at the Tuesday, May 14, city council meeting. The council passed a resolution declaring not only its backing, but the parameters of the city’s involvement. Spearheaded by Linda Black under the auspices of the Tonasket Visitor and Business Resource Center, the TVBRC is responsible for the design, engineering, materials and construction of the project. The city has agreed to process the environmental review, among other details, and once completed the ownership, operation and maintenance will be assumed by the city.
ORDINANCES DISCUSSED Two ordinances were discussed and tabled pending further adjustments to meet concerns raised by council members. An ordinance that will restrict the number of yard sales within city limits will likely be voted upon at the next city council meeting after the council agreed to limit its effects to residential areas. It was determined that differentiating between a yard sale, as defined in the ordinance, and normal business activity on business properties was not desirable, nor the original intent of trying to restrict the proliferation of yard sales which have caused traffic congestion in residential areas. The will also likely vote on an ordinance to convert Tonasket Avenue between Division and Third Street at the next meeting. The ordinance as written was tabled due to concerns over a provi-
SEE COUNCIL | PG A4
Gold Digger Apples celebrating 75 Years By Gary A. DeVon Managing Editor OROVILLE – What began as Oroville United Growers in 1938, has grown into Oroville’s one remaining warehouse, Gold Digger Apples and this May 24th marks the growers’ cooperative’s 75th Anniversary. The original board members included J.A. Blacklerr, Gladys B. Evans, Jesse H. Neher, L.E. Graham and George W. Rodgers. The total capital stock for the association was $10,000. Oroville United Growers grew out of the United Fruit Exchange, according to local orchardist Perry Blackler, son of J.A. Blackler. “Oroville Fruit Exchange was
connected with the Wenatchee Exchange and they packed under the Skookum label at that time. In 1938 Oroville United Growers was formed as a co-op. There packed under the Gold Digger label, something my dad had established several years before,” said Blackler, who added that co-op was formed in reaction to the hard times brought on by the depression. He also explained why the cooperative’s name was changed from United Fruit Growers to Gold Digger Apples in the early 1970’s. “The reason they changed to Gold Digger was while everyone in Oroville knew what Oroville United was out in the market we
were known as Gold Digger. A lot of places did that like Oro Fruit, which was changed to Cariboo because that was their brand,” Blackler said. “Dad started in a packing shed on the orchard, probably in the 1920’s. A lot of growers would just pack boxes in the orchard then load the apples onto a truck and take them to the railroad to be loaded on cars,” said Blackler. “They would ice them in Pateros, by dumping ice into the holes at the end of each car. They did that until the 1940s when refrigerated cars came along.” Greg Moser, general manager of Gold Digger said that they have done several things in honor of the 75th Anniversary.
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Volume 109 No. 21
Gary DeVon/staff photo
Gold Digger Growers, employees and their families were a big hit this May Festival as they threw t-shirts, hats, frisbees and candies along the parade route in honor of the growers’ cooperative’s 75th Anniversary. First of all they have increased their scholarships to various candidates in high schools from
Newsroom and Advertising (509) 476-3602 gdevon@gazette-tribune.com
Oroville to Okanogan. The company went from giving $2000 for up to four students to $4500 for
up to seven students.
SEE 75 YEARS | PG A4
INSIDE THIS EDITION Legacy Park Spring Barrel Letters/Opinion
A2 A3 A5
Valley Life A6-7 Classifieds/Legals A8-9 Police Stats A9
Real Estate Sports Obituaries
A9 A10-11 A12