Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune, May 21, 2015

Page 1

SERVING WASHINGTON’S

OKANOGAN VALLEY

SINCE 1905

GAZETTE-TRIBUNE WWW.GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM | THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 | 75 CENTS NEWSSTAND PRICE

Next fall’s election shaping up to be an interesting one

BORN TO RIDE

Candidates with agendas looking to unseat incumbents in several local races BY GARY A. DE VON EDITOR@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

OKANOGAN COUNTY – It looks like next fall’s election is shaping up to be an interesting one as several local offices have incumbents facing challengers.

OROVILLE SCHOOL BOARD For Oroville area voters the most stacked race is for Oroville School District, with two candidates looking to push out incumbent Rocky DeVon, including a former school board chairman and former Oroville High School teacher. Phil Barker, who served in DeVon’s current spot, wants a second chance on the board in Director Position 5. Saying people did not like his “John Wayne style” of governance, Barker resigned his board position without serv-

Above, and right members of the Columbia River Harley Owners Group roar into Oroville after a 150 mile ride from Wenatchee. As many as 165 riders took part in this year’s Run for the Border charity ride to raise money for a worthy cause. The event has been taking place for the past 13 years and riders on all types of motorcycles are welcome to take part. While there was some construction on Highway 97, it was much less than last year and the weather was great for riding, according to participants. Several riders enjoyed Oroville for a few hours, grabbing lunch and looking around town, before heading back south. Several stayed and went to the Rally at the Border Blues Festival at Deep Bay Park, now in it’s second year. For more on the ride and the blues festival, see page A2.

ing the full four-year term at the end of May 2012. Ryan Frazier, a social studies teacher, did not have his contract renewed last year after a bad evaluation by Superintendent Steve Quick. After some heated public meetings, including protesters outside the board room, the directors voted to not reverse the superintendent’s decision and Frazier was let go. There is also a three- way race for Director Position 2, which is a two-year unexpired term. Seeking the seat held by the longest serving member of the board are Patricia Maher, Kolo Moser and Becky Lewis. Wise did not file to run for the office again. The other two positions, that of Director Positions 1 and 4 will only have the names of the incumbents, Todd C. Hill and Mike Egerton, respectively. Position 1 is for a full four-

SEE FILINGS | PG A3

Council sets hearing for transportation plan BY KATIE TEACHOUT KATHERINE@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

TONASKET - Tonasket City Council’s second meeting in June will include a public hearing for the Six Year Transportation Plan. The community is invited to come and express any needs they see at the meeting about roads in the city of Tonasket. The needs are prioritized every year, and filed with county agencies for future funding. The public hearing is set for the June 23 meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. Tammy Tatum of Okanogan Properties and manager of River Road Mobile Park (formerly John’s Landing/Oaks Trailer Park) appeared before the council at their Tuesday, May 12 meeting, to request ten new septic connections. The city is currently in the process of updating the

Gary DeVon/ staff photos

septic system at Parry’s Acres, including a rebuilding of the lift station. Mayor Plumb said Tatum’s timing in making her request was very good and the city would consider it. Tatum said the the owner, Gary Fant, was considering expanding the trailer park. She said they still needed approval from the Department of Health and the building permits, but approval for the septic connections was the first step. “We haven’t started that project yet, so if we could spend a little more money on it and give you more service in order to provide more affordable housing in that area, it’s a win-win situation,” said Plumb. Public Works Supervisor Hugh Jensen said “the way the pump hours are right now we could handle the extra ten or

SEE COUNCIL | PG A8

North Valley Hospital hires new CEO U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse tours NVH BY KATIE TEACHOUT KATHERINE@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

TONASKET - North Valley Hospital (NVH) Board of Commissioners moved to appoint Mike Zwicker of Harlowton, Montana, as CEO-Administrator/ Superintendent at the May 14 Board of Commissioners meeting. The motion was made by Clarice Nelson and seconded by Herb Wandler. The appointment will be acted upon at the next meeting, May 28, with the position commencing May 29. Compensation offered Zwicker includes a salary of $150,500 per year. According to the Revised Code of Washington, appointment of a superintendent to a public hospital district is made by commissioners by resolution; introduced at a regular meeting and adopted at a subsequent regular meeting by a majority vote. Zwicker was serving as CEO of Wheatland Memorial Healthcare in Harlowton when offered the position at

Chief Financial Officer Helen NVH. According to Nelson, a member of the Long Range Focus Committee, Verhassselt has been filling in as Acting Zwicker has been at that hospital several Administrator. Board Chair Helen Casey said the years, starting out as a rehab technisearch for the new cian. Harlowton is a administrator, headrural community with ed by Jim Passage a population of 994 as “A lot of times when of Passage and of July 1, 2014. they are looking at Associates, looked at Nelson said after Zwicker’s interview budget cuts, it seems resumes of 40 applicants. at NVH, the Board of like the rural health“Some of them Commissioners met with the committee care comes under the were not serious; were from other May 13 and decided to fiscal axe and we just some countries, and some offer him the position. Zwicker takes over wanted to underscore got scared off when they got the phone the position left vacant with Rep. Newhouse call saying, ‘This realby former CEO Linda the importance of rural ly is a rural area, and Michel, who was put you have to drive five on paid administrahealthcare” hours after you get tive leave February Kelly Cariker, Information Officer off the airplane,” said 26, 2014. Michel had North Valley Hospital District Casey. resigned from her position that included a salary of $176,966 per year. NEWHOUSE VISITS NVH Ron O’Hallaoran, retired CEO of U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse Ferry County Hospital, stepped in as visited North Valley Hospital (NVH) Interim Administrator April 1 on a tem- Wednesday, May 6 during a first-time porary contract with a monthly salary tour of his district after taking office in of $10,250. January.

OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 111 No. 21

Submitted photo

U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse shakes Emergency Department Coordinator Katrina Kindred’s hand during a tour of the North Valley Hospital Emergency Department May 6. Also pictured is Tonasket Mayor Patrick Plumb, who is also a hospital employee. Newhouse toured the facility and sat down and talked with staff and senior leaders for over an hour about issues pertaining to the hospital and long term care facility currently being discussed in

SEE NVH | PG A3

INSIDE THIS EDITION

CONTACT US Newsroom and Advertising (509) 476-3602 gdevon@gazette-tribune.com

Washington, D.C. “I thought it was really awesome he took the time to come up to this hospital without an agenda,” said Tonasket

News A2 Schools A3, A8 Cops & Courts A4

Letters/Opinion A5 Community A6-7 Sports B1-2

Classifieds Real Estate Obituaries

B3-5 B5 B6


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.