“SALMON PEOPLE” COMING
TONASKET JUNIOR RODEO
TO OROVILLE MUSEUM
Saturday/Sunday, April 12-13 Starting at 10 a.m. both days Tonasket Rodeo Grounds
See Page A4
SERVING WASHINGTON’S
OKANOGAN VALLEY
SINCE 1905
GAZETTE-TRIBUNE WWW.GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM | THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014 | 75 CENTS NEWSSTAND PRICE
NCWEDD talks economic development with city
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Potential to utilize existing heavy haul corridor to export goods to Canada, create more jobs of electric vehicles are high dollar tourists and that there is high use of these vehicles in the Puget Sound area, accordOROVILLE – Jennifer Korfiatis of the ing to Korfiatis. By expanding the numbers of charging North Central Washington Economic Development District was on hand to stations into the regions in the NCWEDD discuss the NCWEDD with the Oroville it will be good for the economy, she said. Council at their Tuesday, April 1 meet- The group is working on a map showing availability of the charging station and ing. Korfiatis said her group was a feder- developing a mobile app. Omak has the ally designated economic development closest charging station to Oroville, but agency serving Okanogan, Chelan and there is also one in Waterville and in the Methow Valley. Douglas counties “It makes sense... and the Colville “We take the larger, 30,000 North Central Confederated foot viewpoint, and see Washington really Tribes. has the low power “We take the what happens in one that are conlarger, 30,000 foot community that affects all.” rates ducive to electric viewpoint, and see vehicles,” she said. Jennifer Korfiatis, Administrator, what happens in NCW Economic Development District R e g i o n a l one community Tourism: “We that affects all,” said are working with Korfiatis. Before coming to the meeting she took Washington State University to study a quick trip around town and north of where the high dollar tourists are and the border with Chris Branch, Oroville’s what would bring them here,” Korfiatis Director of Community Development, said. The NCWEDD can be found online at who is vice chairman on the group’s www.ncwedd.com board. “What the NCWEDD does is a very important voice in what we do,” said BRANCH REPORTS The Community Development Branch. Korfiatis said the EDD has been con- Director updated the council on a couple centrating on three things recently: of issues, the Regional Transportation entrepreneurship, electric vehicles and Planning Organization (RTPO) and a move to expand the Heavy Haul regional tourism. Entrepreneurship: “We’ve been focus- Corridor, as well as giving a report on ing on mentorship... They’ve (mentors) the downtown tree pruning. Some of the bigger members of the been there done that. We team them up and stand back. This has resulted in lots RTPO, mostly Chelan County and the city of Wenatchee, have suggested a of success,” she said. One success came from teaming an change in who gets a vote in the orgaEast Wenatchee beer brewer with a local nization. The matter has been discussed wine maker who had a lot to share about at several previous council meetings. similar business models, according to Oroville’s mayor, Chuck Spieth, has been invited to attend the meeting in Twisp Korfiatis. Electric Vehicles: “There have been with other Okanogan County members. “As far as the RTPO goes, the Mayor five charging stations installed on private property (in North Central Washington). of Twisp has done a lot of footwork and These are from a catalyst of federal fund- called a meeting in Twisp. There may be ing along the I-5 corridor and into the a turnover in the south end because of Methow Valley,” she said. Research shows that early adopters SEE COUNCIL | PG A4 BY GARY A. DE VON
MANAGING EDITOR
Gary DeVon/staff photo
The Oroville Fire Department was continuing to practice their fire suppression techniques last Monday evening, this time it was at the bin storage lot on the south end of town. While a large pile of burning debris was quickly knocked down by part of the fire crew, the new-to-the -city 50 foot ladder truck was used to wet down nearby bins to make sure they would not catch alight. For more see page A9
FBI and ATF seize ‘incendiaries’ Contents of storage unit slated for auction contained powders, ammo and gun parts BY GARY DE VON MANAGING EDITOR
OROVILLE – Agents from the FBI and ATF seized some of the contents of a storage unit, which included illegal substances, located at 140 Chesaw Rd., but would not comment on why they had served the warrant. “You’ll have to call the Seattle FBI Media Rep,” said Agent Chris Sadlowski with the FBI, who with several other agents were pulling boxes from the unit, one of several at Oroville Mini Storage, just outside of Oroville. After contacting Ayn Dietrick, with media relations, The Gazette-Tribune received a call from the Spokane FBI office. “You have some good questions; unfortunately we can only say that ‘yes’ we did execute a search warrant,” said Frank Harrill, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of the Spokane office of the FBI.
“It is an ongoing investigation.” Jeff Bunnell, who owns Oroville Mini Storage with his wife, said he had inventoried the unit in preparation for the auction. He said after discovering reloading equipment and “powder” that could be used for reloading or making fireworks, he contacted the Oroville Police Chief and the county sheriff ’s office. “They seemed to think it was OK to hold the auction,” said Bunnell, who is owed several months rent on the unit. He said he did not contact either the FBI or Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco, but assumed word had gotten around, possibly through his advertising of the auction. A former firefighter with the City of Renton, Bunnell said he was unaware of the unit’s contents before doing the inventory. He said that although customers are not allowed to store some items, it’s impossible to know what is contained in them as the contents are private. In Bunnell’s auction advertisement he lists gun reloading supplies, including powder and primers, as well as firework supplies and a variety of ammunition and gun parts. Bunnell didn’t name the renter, saying only that they did not live in the area. He said this was the second time he was about to sell the contents. The first time
OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 110 No. 15
Oroville plans spring clean-up THE GAZETTE-TRIBUNE
Gary DeVon/staff photo
Several agents from the FBI and ATF served a warrant to seize items from a storage unit at Oroville Mini Storage Friday morning. The agents would not comment, but the storage unit, the contents of which were going up for auction the next day because of unpaid rental bills, contained gun reloading supplies, including primers and powders, as well as ammo and gun parts, according to a classified ad placed in this newspaper by Oroville Mini Storage owner Jeff Bunnell. he said the day before he was planning on putting it up for auction the renter’s then-girlfriend paid the six months rental that was in arrears over the phone. After the smoked cleared, the federal agents didn’t seize very much, according to Bunnell Friday evening. “Just a couple of small cardboard boxes that they said contained items that could be used to make illegal incendiaries and bombs, including some illegal shotgun
shells that he (the renter) had made himself. Stuff they said it was illegal for him to have in his possession,” Bunnell said. About the auction, the storage business owner said it was still on for the next day. “I’ve even had a call from a guy who said he was coming down with a semitruck. I told him he won’t need anything that big,” said Bunnell.
INSIDE THIS EDITION
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OROVILLE - Oroville Mayor Chuck Spieth has declared the week of April 21 through 25 as the annual Oroville Spring Clean-up. Residents may schedule pick-ups by contacting Oroville City Hall at 509-4762926. The pickup date will be Monday, April 28. There will be no charge for burnables (yard trash) although burnables must be separated and placed into cardboard boxes or paper bags (no plastic bags). Limbs may be bundled for easy pickup. Collection fees may be assessed for appliances, tires, large pickups, etc. Batteries and hazardous materials will not be collected. The mayor and city council are encouraging all residents and property owner to take pride in our community by participating in the Spring Clean-up. Take advantage of this opportunity to cleanup your neighborhood.
Valley Life Cops & Courts Letters/Opinion
A2 A3 A5
Community A6-7 Classifieds/Legals A8-9 Real Estate A9
Sports Obituaries
A10 A10