OROVILLE OPENS NEW YEAR
HOMELESS VETS PROGRAM
WITH HOOPS VICTORIES
Community Action and Hopesource host Open House, Jan. 9 at 11 a.m. OCCAC office in Okanogan
See Sports, Pages A8-9
SERVING WASHINGTON’S
OKANOGAN VALLEY
SINCE 1905
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Dr. David Stangland retires from practice
SNOW KIDDING
Retirement party planned for Saturday at CCC
When he first started, he found the excellent care at North Valley Hospital, along with the opportunity to learn more TONASKET – After nearly 35 years surgical skills from the well-beloved of serving patients in North Okanogan and highly skilled Dr. Stuart Holmes of County through his partnership in Oroville were what drew him to the area, North Valley Family Medicine, Dr. David she adds. And, he believed he could love Stangland has decided to hang up his living here, which he says he has: the fishing, the skiing, the backpacking, and stethoscope. the people. “It was the high The doctor and his wife were married quality of health care shortly after he began his practice here provided by NVH and together they raised a “wonderful” and the practitiodaughter, she said. ners in this area that “After being out in the world for awhile attracted me here now, she has thanked us for raising her over 34 years ago here,” said Cathy Stangland, who invites and I feel blessed to have been a part of Dr. David Stangland the community to wish her husband well at a retirement party on Saturday, Jan. 10 it and to know that from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Community it will continue,” said Dr. Stangland. “I feel fortunate that my Cultural Center of Tonasket “During Dave’s years of service as a family has been welcomed by the local communities and I’ve enjoyed caring for physician, in addition to the primary care of his patients, he many of this area’s pioneer families.” “I feel honored that provided many years of care for the He added that he has you have trusted me emergency hospital, served on varmany patients who will and privileged by what ious committees at the miss him and whom he will miss. you have shared and hospital, built, along his partners, the He started practice taught me.... Thank with current clinic facility in Tonasket in October you for your confi- for which he maintains of 1980, a year after primary responsibility,” he finished his residence...” she adds. dency at Spokane Dr. David Stangland, In addition to his Family Medicine. He Tonasket Physician practice and the clinic, spent that year doing Stangland has been vislocum tenems around the Pacific Northwest, including in in ible in community in other ways. A Tonasket, so that he could decide where number of years ago when it appeared he belonged, according to wife Cathy. the leased land the local ski area was on He says he found the practitioners in was going to be sold he stepped in and the North Valley - Dr. Walter Henze, Dr. spearheaded an effort to purchase the James Helleson, Dr. Laney, and Medex land. The asking price was significant, Mark Patterson - to be physicians and says his wife, but he was able to help raise physician assistants of exceptional qual- enough money to make the purchase so ity, men of character and commitment future generations could continue to ski and friendship and that they were the and exercise. “I feel honored that you have trusted right match for him. Together with these fellow practitio- me, and privileged by what you have ners, a new partnership was formed in shared with me and taught me. I’ve 1980 and named North Valley Family been bolstered by how you have faced Medicine. The name of their clinic stayed adversity and buoyed by your concern the same long after the group joined for my family. Thank you for your Wenatchee Valley Clinic in 1996 and confidence in me, and for expressing only just recently changed to Confluence your appreciation of my care,” said Dr. Stangland. Health. BY GARY DE VON
EDITOR@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
For the first time in a couple of years, the North Okanogan Valley was graced with significant snowfall, much of which came down Sunday and Monday. Snow plows and drivers alike might have been a bit out of practice as they relearned how to navigate icy roads. Above and right, Oroville City Crews were still clearing the streets Monday morning as snow continued to fall. While area schools remained open, schools north of the border in the Northern Okanagan of B.C. closed Monday for their first “Snow Day” in over two dozen years when over two dozen inches fell. They remained closed on Monday as well. Gary DeVon/staff photos
2014: The year that Was Major news stories from July to December July Council seat opens up in Tonasket – Eight and a half years proved to be enough for Tonasket Council Member Jean Ramsey. The longest-serving current council member offered her registration. NVH, union settle contract – In a sign of the North Valley Hospital District’s improving financial situation, the hospital’s union employees will be receiving steep increases and other improvements in their three-year contract approved by the NVH Board. Sandalia Resort asks Oroville for dock extension – Representatives of the Sandalia Resort on Lake Osoyoos appeared before the Oroville City Council at their July 1 meeting seeking an extension of their dock. Three kids airlifted to Spokane after rollover accident – All three were under 10-years-old and were airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical following a rollover accident on Highway 97 near
O’Neil Road. One last push – Tonasket City Council approves a plan that all involved hope will be the final step in getting the Tonasket Water Ranch constructed at Chief Tonasket Park. Search continues for possible drowning victim – Authorities were still searching for Darrel L. Williams of Oroville, a retired Border Patrol Agent, who they believe drowned in Palmer Lake. Emerging from warrants – When North Valley Hospital District officially emerged out of debt from Okanogan County for a day to kick off July, it was a landmark moment, but also only the beginning of he next stage of the hospital’s return to financial health. Oroville approves dock extension – The Oroville City Council approved a request from Sandalia Beach Resort to extend their dock following the conclusion of a public hearing on the matter. State’s largest fire now at 67 percent containment – Incident Commanders are declaring the Carlton Complex Fire, the largest in the state’s recorded history, as being 67 percent contained. The fire has burned 250,806 acres and destroyed more than 300 homes. The Tumbleweed Film Festival experi-
OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 111 No. 02
ence – Over four nights, Washington’s most unique film festival takes place, bring 40 entertaining short films from around the world to Oroville.
August OSD adopts $8.5 million 2014-15 budget – The Oroville School Board adopted a budget of nearly $8.5 million – about $24,000 more than the previous year’s budget. Man stabbed several times – Police were investigating an assault on an Oroville man who was stabbed several times, including in the chest and back and once in the head. Local primary election results in few surprises – While few local candidates faced challengers in the recent primary, there was one race, that for Okanogan County PUD Commissioner, that drew three candidates and incumbent David Womack made it through to the upcoming General Election. Denney will be new Oroville City Clerk – Councilman Walt Hart, serving as mayor pro tem, announced that JoAnn Denney will be Oroville’s new city clerk/ treasurer following the retirement of Kathy Jones at the end of October. Police seek man for attempted murder
– Police ask help in finding a homeless man accused of stabbing and robbing an Oroville man in his home. Casey: not closing nursing home – Hospital Commissioner Helen Casey sought to quell rumors that the district’s Long Term Care facility was being targeted for closure. She stated unequivocally at a board meeting that this was something that was not on the table. A promised fulfilled: Thorntons receive Five Star Banner – During World War II an Oroville family had five children who stepped up to serve in the U.S. Armed Services. This month they received the Five Star Banner promised to those brave siblings’ mother nearly 70 years ago. Duck race nets nearly $2,500 – It’s just a drop of water in a very big pool, but it all helps. The Tonasket Pool Committee’s rubber duck race – a fundraiser for the pool project that will likely cost around $2 million – brought in $2,465.
September Pursuing even higher learning goals at Oroville High School – OHS is continuing a program of offering more college level classes and looks forward
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to a time where high schools can award tow-year Associates of Arts degrees. Tonasket school enrollment swells – Tonasket School District administrations expressed excitement about the 2014-15 school year at their final school board meeting of the summer. Buckhorn Mine funds environmental projects – Operators of the Buckhorn Gold Mine near Chesaw will soon spend $180,000 on projects benefiting the environment across Okanogan County. The work is a result of a penalty settlement between the company and the state Department of Ecology. Oroville man recovered from Palmer Lake – After 55 days the body of Darrel L. Williams, 57, Oroville was located using, sheriff credits side-scanning sonar. Firm on board for school projects – The Tonasket School Board votes to accept Supt. Paul Turner’s recommendation to hire Design West Architects to guide the district through the facilities expansion construction project that still has yet to be funded. Canadian company shelves Similkameen River Dam plan – Fortis Inc. will not move forward with their
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