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Father and son accused in killing appear in court Suspected of shooting grouse hunter, each held on $1 million bail BY ZACHARY VAN BRUNT SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE-TRIBUNE
OKANOGAN – Two Chesaw men remain behind bars this week after at least one of them allegedly shot and killed a Hoquiam man who was hunting grouse near their property in September. John W. Jennings, 57, and his son Adam S. Jennings, 27, both made prelim-
inary appearances in Okanogan County neither man spoke much. Both were Superior Court last week. The two men, assigned public defenders, though speeach picked up on cific attorneys arrest warrants, were have yet to be charged with firstdetermined. Their degree premeditated “He described the shot as a arraignment was murder. for Dec. .22 caliber.... He was certain scheduled Authorities con2. tinue to hold both In addition to the two shots came from suspects in sepamurder charges, (the Jennings home)” rate cells at the Adam Jennings Okanogan County was also charged Witness statement to Detective Rob Heyen, from court documents Corrections Center. with unlawful Bail was set at $1 possession of firemillion each. arms. His father During their first court appearance, was charged with delivering firearms to
Getting ready for the holidays
an ineligible person. The men are accused of the Sept. 1 shooting of Michael R. Carrigan, 52, Hoquiam, while Carrigan was hunting near the Jennings’ property along Pontiac Ridge Road. Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers said the case is still under investigation, John W. Jennings and that officials are waiting for more results from ballistics testing. There appears to be no motive as of last week,
he said. Okanogan County Prosecutor Karl Sloan said he moved forward with murder charges on both men, regardless of who allegedly pulled the trigger. “A person can be charged with the same crime based on accomplice liability,” he said. “And that’s Adam S. Jennings what we’re doing in this case.” Carrigan was found dead roughly 150
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Free holiday dinner offered
POPPER CROP
Thanksgiving celebrations in Oroville, Chesaw
THE GAZETTE-TRIBUNE
NORTH COUNTY – Tonasket and Oroville will be celebrating the upcoming Christmas Holidays with Winterfest, a lighted tractor parade and the traditional community Christmas Tree lightings. Tonasket Winterfest is slated for Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7, with some events beginning on Thursday. Friday night’s Winterfest celebration begins at Founders’ Day Park at 5:30 p.m. The Hyde brothers’ A Cavallo carousel will be on site with lights and rides available. Also scheduled is Santa’s arrival on a fire truck at about 6:00 p.m., with the Eaglessponsored wood cutting contest running from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Other activities will include caroling, music in the gazebo, chili offered by the Tonasket Co-Op, roasted chestnuts from the Lions Club; hot chocolate from the Kiwanis, fire truck rides and face painting inside the TVBRC, as well as other foods and fundraising items from various local groups. In Oroville, the annual Oroville Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Centennial Park. There will be free hot dogs and hot cocoa available. The Tree Lighting Ceremony will also include nearly 30 singers from the Okanagan International Chorus. The event concludes with a visit from Santa as well as free hot dogs and hot cocoa. Prior to lighting up the tree will be a lighted Christmas Tractor Parade down Main Street. “Akin’s Harvest Foods, in addition to providing the hot dogs and cocoa at the Tree Lighting in Centennial Park, will also be providing $200 in prizes to the first and second place tractor entries, and 5 other honorable mention awards,” said Clyde Andrews, president of the Oroville Chamber of Commerce. The Parade will start at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the High School and will conclude at Centennial Park (next to Sun Lakes Realty) on Main Street. Anyone that would like to enter their tractor in the parade should contact Sandy Andrews at the Camaray Motel (509) 476-3684.
BY GARY A. DEVON MANAGING EDITOR
The first crop has been harvested from the Tonasket School District’s school garden, and Christine Olson’s Elementary Outreach class of kindergarten through third graders were eager to show off the fruits of their labor on Friday, Nov. 21. Ambassador Abby and her classmates explained that a crop of Tom Thumb popcorn was planted with the help of older students last spring to enrich the soil for future crops of vegetables,. Once harvested, the hardened kernels were stripped from the cobs and then oil-popped for the class to enjoy. “We were the only class that was involved all the way from the beginning,” Olson said. “We wanted to be one of the first classes in our school garden to try something we grew. We hope we inspire some of the other classes to try some things next spring.” Brent Baker/staff photos
Free Thanksgiving dinners are being offered in Oroville and Chesaw this Thursday and everyone is invited to come in and share the holiday with family, friends and neighbors. The dinner in Oroville is put together by Eva’s Diner with help serving from several local volunteers, dinner starts at 1 p.m. at the diner located at 712 14th Ave., and goes to 5 p.m. The free traditional turkey Thanksgiving dinner will include all the trimmings, as well as a selection of different pies for desert, including pumpkin and apple. John Desjardin, from Hometown Pizza and Pasta will be helping prepare some of the pies. Eva’s is carrying out a tradition started many years ago by Linda’s Bakery which was located at the same spot. Another traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings is being offered at the Chesaw Community Hall from noon to 3 p.m. The dinner is being put on by the Chesaw Community Bible Church and all that is asked is you bring your appetites. After dinner there will be pumpkin pie for desert, say organizers.
Oroville looks at $8.3 million budget New budget will complete several 2013 projects BY GARY A. DEVON MANAGING EDITOR
OROVILLE – The Oroville City Council is looking at a 2014 budget of $8,267,700, about $204,600 more than the amended 2013 budget, according to City Clerk Kathy Jones. Jones told the mayor and
OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 109 No. 48
council at the preliminary budget hearing held during the Nov. 19 council meeting that most of the increase was due to carryovers. These include the Central/Cherry Street water main replacement and STP street improvement project; the payment of the new ambulance, which was delayed until 2014 and a carryover of the tank and installation portion of the North End Reservoir Project. “There are no proposed utility rate increases at this time,” Jones said, adding that the next budget workshop is scheduled for Nov. 26 at 6:30 p.m.
OLD BUSINESS
The council agreed to reduce a water penalty by 50 percent if the water bill was paid in full or a payment schedule was created. If a payment plan is submitted it would stop future penalties from accruing, which is allowed under the city ordinance if the council agrees, according to Jones. “I’d be comfortable with that... there were some very extenuating circumstances,” said Councilman Tony Koepke. The rest of the council agreed as long as the discussed conditions were met. Rod Noel, Superintendent of Public Works, reported on the progress of construction of the new water reservoir that will
serve the North End Water System and the new U.S. Border Patrol Station near the border. “We are still waiting on the tank, it is supposed to arrive on Dec. 9 and they will start putting it together that day depending on the weather,” said Noel. He added that it has to be warm enough to use a certain type of glue involve in the construction. “Once the ground gets frozen really hard it is a nightmare,” he said Chris Branch, director of Community Development, reported on the proposed Mosquito District and gave an
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update on the Similkameen Trailhead. “We had an open house on the Mosquito District to discuss boundaries in the Oroville area and nobody came. We also didn’t have a quorum of planning commissioners,” said Branch. “It’s the wrong time of year,” suggested Councilman Ed Naillon. “If the bite was on they would be here in full force,” replied Branch, who suggested more discussion on the actual boundaries of the Oroville and surrounding areas part of the district.
Letters/Opinion A4 Community A5-6 Obituaries A7
Cops & Courts A7 Schools B1 Sports B2,3,6
Classifieds/Legals B4-5 Real Estate B6