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TONASKET AND OROVILLE

MISSOULA CHILDREN’S THEATER

STATE WRESTLING HIGLIGHTS

Saturday, March 1, 5:00 p.m. Tonasket High School Commons

See Pages A10-11

SERVING WASHINGTON’S

OKANOGAN VALLEY

SINCE 1905

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Group asks for blues fest at Deep Bay Park New music festival would be in conjunction with Run for the Border motorcycle ride, May 17 be opened to camping and that only motorcycles be allowed to park at Deep Bay during that Saturday. “Having bikes where you are is really a OROVILLE – A new group is planning on holding a blues festival in conjunction part of the whole deal,” she said. Oroville Police Chief Warnstaff, himwith the annual Run for the Border charity motorcycle ride and asked the city self a rider and a member of the comcouncil for exclusive use of Deep Bay mittee, said the festival committee would provide security at the park during the Park over Armed Forces Day weekend. The request came from Vicki Hinze at event to make sure all who attend were the council’s Tuesday, Feb. 18 meeting. of age and the event was something Hinze, owner of the Pastime Bar & Grill, attendees could enjoy, whether they were is a member of Destination Oroville, riders or not. “We want to run the event in a safe, a group working with the Chamber of Commerce and city to promote tour- clean, healthy and presentable way both ism in the area. She said the Rally at for Oroville and ourselves,” Hinze said. Other comthe Border Blues mittee members Festival would be a “What they don’t know is the discussed efforts way to take advanabsolute best places we have to get a shuttle to tage of the up to 300 riders who to ride on both sides of the and from town to the park for those make the journey border.” who don’t ride in, from Wenatchee to as well as a parking Vicki Hinze, Oroville each May Rally at the Border Blues Fest lot nearby for those to raise money for who arrive in cars. various charities. “The plan is This year the Run is on Saturday, May 17. Hinze has pulled for the rally riders to arrive, get settled together members of the Chamber and and have time to eat in our restaurants. Destination Oroville, as well as local Then at two or three o’clock we will motorcycle and music enthusiasts to help have the festival until about 10 p.m. Sunday morning we plan a poker run plan for the festival. “These guys (Run for the Border rid- with seven or eight locations in places ers) are actually heading to Oroville and in Oroville and Chesaw and a couple in we’re very excited about it. But they were Tonasket. During the two days time we here for about two and a half hours then I will encourage people to do some of the turned around and they were gone,” said ten routes between here and the other Hinze about last year’s rally. “We want Okanagan,” she said. Hinze asked the council for their “go them to come to Oroville for an event... ahead” so the committee could confor a destination.” She said that she and her husband tinue to pursue the event, which she used to live in Elko, Nevada where she said would be advertised in Washington, helped with an event that brought in Oregon and Idaho, as well as north of the border. 7000 motorcyclists. “Plus we need to start securing the “That’s not our goal here. They have casinos, etc., what they don’t have is the entertainment. The raffle and poker run absolute best places to ride that we have money will be donated to a charity for on both sides of the border,” said Hinze, children. This is a non-profit event... we who with the other committee members just want to sustain ourselves and donate are mapping out several of the most to charity,” said Hinze. “It sounds to me like there has been popular routes in the areas surrounding a lot of work that has gone into this. Oroville. She said that people that are interested It’s nice to see so many volunteers get in blues music are often the same peo- involved,” said Mayor Chuck Spieth. Councilman Ed Naillon added, “I’m ple who are interested in motorcycles. Hinze asked permission for the park to excited. Hopefully this will become a be closed that Saturday except to those mini tradition. It looks like you’ve got a attending the blues festival. She said all fine group of folks.” The council then voted to approve givpark entrants must be 21 years of age or older because alcohol will be available at ing the “go ahead” for the festival and use the festival. She also asked that the park SEE RALLY BLUES | PG A4 BY GARY A. DEVON

MANAGING EDITOR

Above, the Bonaparte Lake Resort cabin that Joey Dunkin and Halla Fuhrman lived in burned to the ground last Friday. Right, Dunkin and Fuhrman, prior to sorting through what remained of their belongings on Monday, expressed gratitude to all those who have donated clothing, furniture and money to help them start to rebuild their lives.

Photos by Dave Anderson (above) and Brent Baker

Outpouring of support Young couple overwhelmed by donations after fire BY BRENT BAKER BBAKER@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

BONAPARTE LAKE - Most lessons on what is truly important in life come in the form of trials and tribulations that test the spirit.

Joey Dunkin and Halla Fuhrman have been living that experience these past few days after the Bonaparte Lake Resort cabin that housed the engaged couple’s studio apartment burned to the ground Friday. The fire claimed all their worldly possessions and their beloved dog, as well as one of the primary cabins used by the resort. But they have also been overwhelmed by the support they’ve received in the days since, including donations of clothing, furniture, and (as of Tuesday morning) $3,200 donated through a

Gofundme.com website set up by Halla’s mom, Heather Cruz. “It’s just amazing that in two and a half days that people have been giving that much to us,” Halla said. “We’re just super grateful. A lot of people have done so much, but especially Mike and Bridgette Sterling. The Red Cross gave us a donation, so I want to thank them. People have been dropping off stuff. It doesn’t matter if people have donated $5, $10 or more, anything has helped and we appre-

SEE BONAPARTE FIRE | PG A4

iPads helping non-verbal students communicate New calendars move school start to after Labor Day; end to mid-June BY GARY A. DEVON MANAGING EDITOR

OROVILLE – Along with approving changes to the future school calendars, the Oroville School Board heard how iPads had replaced picture cutouts as one way non-verbal students could communicate. The presentation was made to the board by Jennifer Burgard at their Monday, Feb. 24 meeting. Burgard, a Life Skills teacher at Oroville Elementary School, explained how the iPads, use the Sonoflex vocabulary app, turns symbols into speech and includes “thousands and thousands of words.” She passed out three of the iPads, housed in brightly colored protective cases, to the board. Each of the five students who have the devices in the district has a different color, she said. “The iPads help to communicate basic needs. Food is a big motivator... we start with ‘I want’ and add a food item,” she said. “We use ‘I want’ for everything.” The students press a button that speaks “I want” and another

button with a picture representing what they want, according to the teacher. Burgard next showed the board several short videos of students using the devices to communicate with their instructors and to socialize with other, non-special needs students. A young boy showed his frustration at trying to get his needs across and then his enthusiasm when he was able to use the iPad to do so. One young girl was shown communicating her age and birthday, what color shirts people were wearing and answering other questions from other students. “She also knows how to communicate things like her lunch number,” said the Life Skills teacher. “I’ve worked with her and have seen just a massive difference from when she was still using the cards,” said Rocky DeVon, chairman of the school board. “She’s interacting with people now,” said Burgard, adding that she is helping another young boy learn how to use the device. “I know when I communicate with them they are getting pretty fast (at pressing the buttons),” DeVon said. The Life Skills teacher said that photos can be taken with the iPads and added to the symbols and pictures that come with the app and labeled appropriately by one of the teachers.

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Gary DeVon/staff photo

Jennifer Burgard, a Life Skills teacher at Oroville Elementary School, demonstrates one of the iPads equipped with the Sonoflex vocabulary app that is used to help non-verbal students communicate. Using pictures and symbols, the iPad “speaks” for the child.

INSIDE THIS EDITION

Outdoors Schools News

A2 A3 A4

Letters/Opinion A5 Community A6-7 Cops & Courts A7,9

Classifieds/Legals A8-9 Real Estate A9 Sports A10-12