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GRANGE FLEA MARKET
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Saturday, July 19, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Oroville Grange Hall
Saturday, July 19, 7 p.m.
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HOT NIGHT, COOL MUSIC
One last push? Tonasket approves plan for spray park drainage BY BRENT BAKER BBAKER@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
TONASKET - The Tonasket City Council approved a plan that all involved hope will be the final step in getting the Tonasket Water Ranch constructed in Chief Tonasket Park sooner rather than later. At the Tuesday, July 8, city council meeting, Linda Black - who has spearheaded the spray park project - and city planner Kurt Danison gave an overview
“They’re met with bureaucracy everywhere they turn. How sad is that?” Jill Vugteveen, Tonasket City Council Member
The Mood Swings (l-r, CherylAnn Crego, Betsey Rainsford and Judy Johnston) lit up Tonasket’s History Park at last Friday’s Music in the Park event with their golden voices. Their music, mostly from the 194060s era, included a slate of iconic tunes familiar to most. The trio performed at Oroville’s Alpine Brewery on Saturday as well. Left, Michael Goudeau and his La Ultima crew served tostadas at Friday’s event.
of the project and the reason for the delay in getting construction started that cropped up this spring. Danison said the question arose of what would happen to the water park’s run-off. If the spray park ran at maximum capacity (typically spray parks only run a few of their implements at a time), there would be approximately 100,000 gallons of run-off a day. That is in con-
Brent Baker/staff photos
SEE SPRAY | PG A2
Bid awarded for airport project BY GARY A. DE VON MANAGING EDITOR
OROVILLE – The two bids for the Airport Runway Improvement Project at Oroville’s Dorothy Scott Airport varied greatly and were opened at the city council’s Tuesday, July 1 meeting. Road Products Inc. of Spokane bid $89,323 and C.R. Construction of Bend Oregon bid $224,831. Councilman Ed Naillon made a motion to accept the lower of the two bids and Councilman Tony Koepke made the second and it was approved. The wide difference in bidding may have been based on an earlier, more complicated project. The city also accepted an award of $5,339 from the Washington State Aeronautics Airport Aid as a partial match on the project. The money will be used to make repairs to the runway, including crack filling and sealing. The city is doing this to preserve the runway while it gathers funds to do the runway relocation in a few years. That project is expected to cost about $1 million, with a 10 percent, $100,000 match from the city.
Tax Exemption Monte Langley from Help U Save appeared before the council on behalf of the Oroville Housing Authority. He described several instances where the city had charged the OHA a selfdescribed “Utility Tax” even though the agency, a part of the City of Oroville, is exempt from such taxes. Langley works
with agencies to get back any taxes they may have been charged that they are exempt from. “I’m here ultimately to request a refund of some of the utility taxes that were paid. Housing Authorities in the State of Washington are tax exempt under RCW 35W8210,” said Langley, who went on to say that cities, counties, states and any subdivision thereof were exempt from the tax. He also attempted to show several copies of utility bills where the OHA had paid the city’s utility tax. He said he had asked the city to provide an accounting of the extent of some of the bills that the agency had paid. “The city, when contacted, said this was not a tax on the Housing Authority,” said Langley, who added that from 2011 to 2013 the OHA had paid $9821.38 that it should have been exempt from paying. “That is the value that I am asking for on behalf of the Housing Authority,” he said. “Is that your presentation?” asked Mayor Spieth. “This is the first any of us have heard of it in any detail,” said Councilman Jon Neal. “I think the council should all take a look at the packet and I’d assume I’ll have a look at it and make a recommendation,” said Mick Howe, the city’s attorney. Langley and the OHA were assured they would be put on the Aug. 19th agenda to hear if the council had made a decision about refunding the exempt taxes.
OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 110 No. 29
Search continues for possible drowning victim THE GAZETTE-TRIBUNE
Brent Baker/staff photo
The Molson Schoolhouse, site of the annual maypole dance during Molson’s annual festival, is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Saturday, July 26.
Celebration for Molson School House planned MOLSON – The Molson School House Celebration will be held on Saturday, July 26, starting at 10 a.m. in honor of the building’s 100th year. To celebrate there are activities planned at the old brick school house which now serves as a museum and at the Molson Grange Hall, according to organizers. Participants are also being encouraged to visit nostalgic Old Molson as part of their day. “The celebration includes demonstrations, vendors, a scavenger hunt and much more,” said Elva Helm, a graduate of the former school. “People are also invited to share their past and present memories by writing on various posters that will be placed around the area.” A parade is planned around 11 a.m. and there will be games, and door prizes. In addition, food is available for purchase throughout the day. Music by the Wilders will start at 1 p.m. and Arnie Marchand and Andrew Joseph will be on hand for book signings. Alumni and everyone are welcome to attend, said Helm.
SEE DROWNING | PG A2
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LOOMIS – Authorities were still searching Tuesday for Darrel L. Williams of Oroville who they believe drowned in Palmer Lake Friday, July 11. The call about a possible drowning at Palmer Lake, near the Chopaka Lodge, came in around 12:45 p.m. on Friday. The sheriff ’s office and Okanogan County Search and rescue responded to the scene with a boat, personnel and divers, according to Sheriff Frank Rogers. The U.S. Border Patrol also arrived on the scene and launched a boat, the sheriff added. “The two subjects were fishing along the shore when Darrel L. Williams, 57, of Oroville, stood up in the back of the boat and then fell overboard,” said Rogers. “When he surfaced his partner asked him if he was okay and threw him a life jacket. Williams told him he was all right but then began to struggle and went under the water and never surfaced. Williams’s partner immediately dove in and tried to locate Williams but was unable to find him,” said Rogers in a release to the press last Monday morning.
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