Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune, June 25, 2015

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Happy

Canada Day SERVING WASHINGTON’S

OKANOGAN VALLEY

SINCE 1905

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Squatters accused of killing woman with pickup truck

BUSY NORTH COUNTY WEEKEND

Suspect alleged to have run woman down, then backed over her again before fleeing Hospital in Spokane. The previous day Okanogan County Sheriff ’s Deputies were called to a burTONASKET – A man and woman sus- glary complaint at 36 E. Sourdough Rd., pected of squatting in an Aeneas Valley about 20 miles east of Tonasket. Richard home are accused of killing a woman Finegold, the owner of the residence, said he had just returned and severely injuring there after being gone a man by driving over since September of the couple with their last year, according to pickup on Thursday, “The investigation Sheriff Frank Rogers. June 18 “He said when he shows that there was James J. Faire, 55, returned home he Tonasket and Angelina a heated argument discovered locks had M. Nobilis, 51, Kent, between the subjects been changed, there Wash. have been property in the arrested on first degree and then Faire pulled was residence that did not murder and first degree assault charges. a gun on the subjects belong to him and a amount of his Witnesses at the scene and threatened them” large belongings had been said Faire ran the vicSheriff Frank Rogers, moved outside to outtims over, stopped his Okanogan County buildings,” said Sheriff vehicle, backed up and Rogers. At the time then drove forward Finegold had possible again, running Debra L. Long, 51 of Issaquah, Wash. over a sec- information on the suspects who had ond time. Long died at the scene. George been at the residence. Deputies obtained Abrantes, 48, of Marysville, Wash. was injured and was airlifted to Sacred Heart SEE KILLING| PG A3 BY GARY A. DE VON

EDITOR@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

Above, Conscious Culture Festival participants enjoy a tea-pouring ceremony led by Bibi McGill. For more photos, see page B3. Right, Caleb and Hayden Williams enjoy being chauffeured by Aaron Kester in the Spirit of Tonasket, a lawnmower-turned model airplane, at the Father’s Day Fly-in.For story and more photos, see page B1. Below, Rick Gallaher’s 1932 Chev 5 window coupe won best of show at the NCCC Cruise in, see page B1 Below right, Molson Midsummer Fest Horeshoe champs Marc Alden and Riley Davidson, for more see B2

End-of-year enrollment at OSD holds steady Kindergarten Round-up numbers down slightly

Katie Teachout & Gary DeVon

BY GARY A. DE VON

/staff photos

EDITOR@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

OROVILLE – End of year enrollment at the Oroville School District appears to be about the same as the previous school year. “There’s one more count to go… currently we are at 544 to 546 FTEs, which is about the same as we had at the end of last year,” said Superintendent Steve Quick. The district is required by the state to take several counts each school year and the district has one more count to make, according to District Business manager Shay Shaw in her report to the Oroville School Board during their last meeting. These counts are important because the state uses the number of Full Time

right, Sam Nau /submitted photo

Equivalent (FTE) students to pay basic education funds throughout the year. It is also important because the board will use these end-of-year numbers to determine next year’s budget. “The board traditionally sets the upcoming school year’s budget conservatively. In other words they base it on a number lower than the end of year count… last year they set it at 525 FTEs,” said Quick. The district’s Kindergarten Roundup, a way to estimate how many new Kindergarteners, will be enrolled next year, attracted 49 students, according to Quick. He says is down a little compared to the past three years where it had been climbing. “We still might pick up a few more in August,” he said. Under good news and announcements School Director Amy Wise said she went up to sixth-grade camp and it looked like

SEE SCHOOL | PG A3

Twelve Tribes Resort Casino open for business

BY KATIE TEACHOUT

KATHERINE@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

OMAK - Twelve Tribes Resort Casino opened to the public last week, 14 months after breaking ground April 14, 2014. “The Tribe has been wanting to build a nice casino and hotel for approximately 20 years,” said Colville Confederated Tribe Board Director Gene Nicholson at the ribbon-cutting ceremony June 16. “We knew we had to develop employment; that was one of our first priorities,” said Colville Business Council Vice Chairman Mel Tonasket, who recalled a time when the tribe had no businesses in the area and unemployment was at 87%. “The tribe is one of the biggest employers in the county. It shows what can be done when we work together.” The Colville Tribal Federal Corporation (CTFC) oversees several business enterprises, including three casinos; and employs several hundred

permanent and part-time employees, the gaming environment,” said Gaming with 12 Tribes Resort Casino adding Chief Operating Officer Randy Williams. 200 jobs. “It creates that full flavor.” “Whether it’s through winnings or Full flavor dining-wise includes two wages, the opening of this resort casino restaurants inside the resort along with a will definitely have an sweet shop selling pie impact on our econand ice cream, bulk omy, and the city of candy, espresso and “We knew we had to Omak thanks you,” cigarettes. The Camas develop employment; restaurant serves three said Omak Mayor Cindy Gagne. a day featuring that was one of our first meals Regular bus tours American fare focused priorities.” are scheduled to bring on the Northwest, and people in from Seattle the Yu Asian Bistro Mel Tonasket Vice Chairman and Canada. serves Cantonese, Colville Business Council The Casino encomSzechuan and Hunan passes 56,000 square cuisines during lunch feet of gaming space, with 500 slot and dinner. machines ranging in price from one cent The non-smoking, four-story hotel to one dollar. Eight gaming tables feature with 24-hour room service has 80 rooms, Blackjack, Roulette and Craps, and a including twelve two-room suites. Poker Room. “We are very proud of what we have. “The gaming tables are new to the The rooms are larger than elsewhere in valley floor, and an enhancement to SEE CASINO| PG A2

OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 111 No. 26

Katie Teachout/staff photo

Tribal Councilman Ricky Gabriel was the first to get through the ribbon with gold-plated scissors, handed out to Colville Business Council members to cut the ribbon in celebration of the opening of the 12 Tribes Resort Casino Tuesday, June 16.

INSIDE THIS EDITION

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News A2-3 Cops/Courts/911 A4 Letters/Opinion A5

Community Business A&E

A6-7 A8 B1-3

Classifieds Real Estate Schools

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