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Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune | SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
Okanogan Valley Life
Planner talks about tourism, trees, mosquitos and pot By Gary A. DeVon Managing Editor
Gary DeVon/staff photo
Lisa Evers, owner of Ship Happens! cuts the ribbon on her new warehouse at the shipping and receiving center located on Main Street in Oroville. Also taking part in the ceremony are Roxie Pelton, manager of the business; Debbie Graham, who owns the property and Mark Robanske of K.E.E. Constrution, which built the warehouse.
OROVILLE – Oroville’s director of Community Development, Chris Branch, spoke with the chamber of commerce at their Thursday, Sept. 13 meeting. In discussing the state’s lodging tax, commonly referred to as the Hotel/Motel Tax, which is levied on people who rent a place to stay for less than 30 days, Branch said there have been some changes. “The state added more requirements... there was a movement to take it away from the communities and use it elsewhere. For now people applying for the tax from the city or county have got to show how many people your event is going to bring to the community,” said Branch.
Branch explained about Oroville’s Tree Board and how they were doing an inventory of trees that fall under the city’s jurisdiction and how the board should be consulted prior to someone doing anything that would affect those trees. This subject has gotten renewed interest after the Oroville School District removed nearly a dozen trees from the city’s right of way by the elementary school without consulting the city first. Branch said that a plan to form a Mosquito Taxing District was in the works and that Oroville, Tonasket, Riverside, Omak and Okanogan were being asked to join. The district would impose a tax to take preventative measures and spray for mosquitos each year. Oroville is still deciding how
the new legalized marijuana law will affect the city, according to Branch. Decisions on where grows and stores can be located will be part of the process. He said stores that sell marijuana will probably be treated like bars and stores that sell liquor. They are limited to locations depending on their proximity to schools, churches and parks. The state is only going to allow five stores to be located in Okanogan County.
Breadline (at the Beach) and Paula and her crew,” said Neal. “And a good job was done by Veranda Beach Resort... Jim Hammond was there and very supportive as was his staff.” The dinner was hosted by Veranda Beach Resort on the east side of Lake Osoyoos. Although there was some concern the weather might work against them, Neal said it was perfect and the live auction was held out on the deck. The silent auction took place in the resort’s game room. “We made over $9,000 on the live auction and $1000 on the silent auction. One highlight was
Susan Smith’s cookies which went for almost $200,” said Neal, who added that about 100 people were in attendance for the dinner, with more joining afterwards for the auction. Neal said they also had at least a dozen of Veranda Beach homeowners, mostly Canadian residents, come out too support the Booster Club. “We had a couple of last minute donations from them and several made bids on auction items,” said Neal. The next event will be at the Oroville American Legion Hall on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Editor’s Note: This is a continuation of last week’s article about Chris Branch’s presentation to the Oroville Chamber of Commerce. Branch is Oroville’s director of Community Development and was at the meeting to discuss a variety of topics of interest between the city and the business organization.
Ship Happens! builds Booster Club Dinner/Auction new shipping warehouse raises over $10k for activities Second event set for Nov. 2 at American Legion
By Gary A. DeVon Managing Editor
OROVILLE - Ship Happens! is a shipping/receiving solution for home and business which originated in Sumas, Wash. in 1998 taking advantage of its proximity to the Canadian border on the west side of the state. The Oroville outlet was opened August 2010. The Oroville office outgrew their accommodations so a new warehouse has just been completed. The grand opening for the new warehouse took place on Wednesday, Sept. 18 Lisa Evers, the business’ owner cut the ribbon while property owner Debbie Graham blew a party horn. Also present were Roxie Pelton, Oroville manager and Mark Robanske, owner of K.E.E. Construction, who built the warehouse. The new warehouse has transformed that neck of the woods. A huge tree was removed, also by K.E.E. Construction, so the freight trucks can have easy access in and out. Graham and her daughter Madeleine worked much of the summer hauling off the tree and building-site scrap and doing painting and improvements as well. “Ship Happens! is useful to Canadians who order items and need a U.S. address. The business deals with all items, ranging from envelopes to shower stalls and motorcycles. They also deal in contracts with businesses and in pallet loads. They have forklift services to accommodate all a customer’s freight requirements. Ship Happens! can receive your eBay win, Amazon order, UPS parcel, U.S. Postal or FedEx item. They also deal with most other couriers. Ship Happens! is one of Washington’s largest UPS shippers and they say their rates are
By Gary A. DeVon Managing Editor
OROVILLE – Calling it a “fantastic dinner and auction,” long time Oroville Booster Club Auctioneer Ken Neal said the event raised more than $10,000 to help youth athletics and academics. “The dinner was fantastic, a great job was done by the
Ecology makes seasonal water level changes at Osoyoos Lake Submitted by Sandra Partridge Wash. State Department of Ecology
Gary DeVon/staff photo
Roxie Pelton, manager of Ship Happens!, standing by for your shipping and receiving needs. unbeatable. The business is the only authorized UPS outlet in Oroville. For more info about Ship Happens, go onto their website myshiphappens.com or stop in to visit at 1920 Main St. Oroville, just north of Trino’s Restaurant.
Ship Happens! is open every day but Sundays and holidays. Their phone number is (509) 476-3995. Call them for a free estimate on your specific needs. They service northern Washington, Okanogan Valley, B.C. and Alberta.
YAKIMA – Water levels in Osoyoos Lake in north central Washington are being lowered over the coming weeks in anticipation of the changing seasons. The lake will be gradually lowered to winter operational levels at Zosel Dam and maintained at about 909.5 feet until spring. Lowering lake levels in the fall provides more storage area for winter rain and melting snow and prevents shoreline damage from winter freezing and flooding. In
March, dam operators will raise the lake to the prescribed level of 911.5 feet for normal summer operations. As recreational activity on the lake begins to slow down in the fall, the Washington Department of Ecology lowers the level of the lake from its summer (March 1-Oct. 31) levels to winter operational levels. These levels are mandated under orders put in place by the International Joint Commission, a board made up of representatives from the United States and Canada. Originally developed in the
Out On The Town your guide to
Main St., Tonasket l 486-2996
CORRECTION In an article in the Sept. 12 issue of the Okanogan Valley GazetteTribune we erroneously identified the Ellisforde business that was robbed based on statements from the Okanogan County Sheriff ’s office. What the article should have said was that on Sunday, Sept. 8 a masked bandit held up Dan’s Market, one of two stores located on Highway 97 in the tiny community of Ellisforde. “A Hispanic male with a box
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cutter came into the store wearing a hat, mask and gloves last Sunday afternoon demanding money,” said Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers. “He took $1500 and locked up the woman working there....” The man was wearing black jeans, a dark hoody, a cap and a red bandana over his face, according to the clerk’s grandmother, who added that her granddaughter was locked in the
1940s, the orders have been adjusted twice, most recently in January 2013. Adjustments have been small and will not materially change the way the dam and lake levels are operated throughout the year, especially in winter. For more information on the operation of Zosel Dam or Lake Osoyoos, contact Al Josephy at Ecology, (360) 407-6456, or by email atajos461@ecy.wa.gov. To track the progress of lake levels in “real-time,” as well as find additional information, go to the U.S. Geological Survey web page for Osoyoos Lake.
* Wednesday *
PRIME RIB
beer cooler, not in a closet as reported earlier, until someone came into the store, heard her and let her out. “When he locked her in there she blocked the door so he couldn’t open it again,” she said. Rogers said that since the man was basically covered from head to toe and the woman did not see a vehicle it will be hard to find out who the robber is.
Thank You
Doug Sklar and Uncle Ben Buchert of Edward Jones for buying my market lamb at the fair!
starting at 5 pm.
* Thursday *
Steak Night (8 oz top sirloin)
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Hattie Ray Buchert
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