OROVILLE KIDS PRESENT
Community Bazaar
BLACKBEARD THE PIRATE
Oroville Community Christmas Bazaar is Friday and Saturday at Oroville Elementary
See B1
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Comancheros crown Queen Trinity Dejong
QUEEN SARAH HANDS OVER HER REIGN
you’re going to need one; or a friend to travel with.” If Parsons jokingly made the year TONASKET - The Tonasket seem like a long one, Quinlan dispersed Comancheros crowned a new queen those fears. Saturday (Nov. 14) evening at their “It seems like just yesterday I was in annual Rodeo Queen and Sponsor Trinity’s shoes,” Quinlan reflected. “I Appreciation dinner. made a lot of good friends and great 2015 Queen Sarah Quinlan turned memories. But I have a little sister now over her crown to that’s a princess, so I Trinity Dejong, statget to stay involved.” ing Dejong would Erin Quinlan be “meeting a lot “Ever since the age of is this year’s of nice people and Okanogan County 16, I thought I’d like to Junior making a lot of good Rodeo friends” during her represent my community A s s o c i a t i o n year-long tenure as (OCJRA) Princess. this way. ” queen. The junior rodeo Dejong, a junior Trinity Dejong, Miss Tonasket Rodeo queen, Michaela 2016 Founders Day Rodeo at Tonasket High Allen of Okanogan, School, said she was also in attenmoved to Tonasket dance at the event. in 2012 and immediately got involved The dinner was held in the Tonasket in sports, including the Tigers’ softball High School Commons, which had team. She said she rode her first horse at been magically transformed into an the age of eight, and has long dreamed elegant setting by decorator Roslyn Ray. of becoming a Rodeo Queen. Oroville’s Cory Pellegrini played guitar “I think it will allow me to put in a lot of time in the community and rodeo. and sang, and dinner was served by Ever since the age of 16, I thought I Kimberly Gasho and Gina Inlow. “Let this day be the start of the greatwould like to represent my commuest year in this young lady’s life,” said nity this way,” said Dejong. “Thank you, Parsons as he blessed the food. Sarah, for inspiring me.” An event recently added to the Time in the community will include presiding over both the Tonasket Tonasket Rodeo Grounds’ calendar is Rodeo and Founders Day events and Roger Sawyer’s New Year’s Eve Party. “We used to have a private party at representing the Comancheros at their home, but last year we decided to make Demolition Derby, Tractor Pulls and auctions; as well as traveling around the it a community event, and filled up an state with the Omak Stampede Queen ice rink in the arena,” said Mrs. Sawyer. “We had a bonfire and people brought and the Methow Valley Rodeo Queen. “I hope you know what you’ve got- food for a big potluck. Everyone is ten yourself into,” said commentator Al invited.” If you haven’t met her by then, be Parsons of Molson. “There’s going to be a lot of hitching up the trailer and trav- sure and say hello to the new Rodeo eling. I hope you’ve got a dog, because Queen. BY KATIE TEACHOUT
KATHERINE@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
Above, 2015 Miss Tonasket Rodeo Queen Sarah Quinlan (left) smiles alongside the newly crowned 2016 Miss Tonasket Rodeo Queen Trinity Dejong. Right, Dejong and Quinlan with the Okanogan County Junior Rodeo Queen Micaela Allen of Okanogan, and Okanogan County Junior Rodeo Princess Erin Quinlan of Tonasket, Sarah’s younger sister. Bottom right, Dejong greets well-wishers attending her coronation dinner. Below left, Sarah Quinlan gives a heartfelt hug of thanks for a wonderful year as Rodeo Queen to former Comancheros President Roger Sawyer.
Oroville Police get better connected
Katie Teachout/ staff photos
BY GARY A. DE VON
EDITOR@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
OROVILLE – Oroville Police Chief Todd Hill requested a change in cell phone service and equipment at the Nov. 3 council meeting that will help his officer’s stay better connected when out on patrol.
Hill requested a switch to Verizon from AT&T Mobile and while the switch marks an increase of $60 to $210 a month for service it comes with more connectivity, according to Chief Hill. “That gets us five flip phones and three mobile hot spots for the patrol
CONNECTED | PG A3
Tonasket Council hears water woes City airport runway in need of repairs BY KATIE TEACHOUT KATHERINE@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
The Tonasket City Council’s Nov. 10 meeting was advertised as the Final Budget Hearing for the 2016 Budget, but had just a few more loose ends to tie up before putting the final stamp of approval on it; including final decisions on how to distribute Hotel/Motel Tax funds. The council Mayor Pat Plumb approved raising the water rates five percent rather than two percent.
“We had two wells break down and Plumb went on to say the well breakspent much of our water reserve on tak- ing down was an unanticipated disaster. ing care of this, so I need some money “As a municipal business, we are getcoming in to rebuild that reserve,” Mayor ting into danger land,” stated Plumb. Patrick Plumb said. “We could not have “Other municipalities have waited for anticipated our main, things to blow up, and good well breaking in and when they did the middle of the sumtheir rates went up “We could not have mer. I am very cogmore than five pernizant this increase I apologize for anticipated our good cent. affects low income the water rates havwell breaking down in ing to go up, but as a people, but I can’t propose not being smart as a busithe middle of summer.” municipality with this money. We ness, we are in danger.” Patrick Plumb, Mayor are playing on the edge The final budCity of Tonasket of the knife with this. get hearing was then This was our secondclosed. newest well that broke, “We made some and our best producer. I don’t know if good progress on the budget,” said you want to play Russian Roulette on the Plumb afterward. “I’m glad they (council infrastructure failing. We need to make members) finally listened to me on a flatthis small, ongoing sacrifice rather than rate increase for employees. It won’t cost a huge sacrifice all at once.” the city any more, but it will re-distribute
OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 111 No. 47
the wage increase to avoid catching up in the future.” The council had been asked to consider either a one percent COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) for each employee or a flat increase of the same amount of the percent increase equally among employees. Plumb was also happy to report the city’s health insurance contribution had “stayed flat for the first time in my history as mayor.” Lee Orr of the Tonasket Airport Improvement Association approached the council to say he would like to see some more money budgeted towards the airport. “We have a lot of needs that have been put off for quite a few years,” said Orr, adding they would soon be needing a new septic system as the one in place is at least 50 years old. “It’s pretty important, because when
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pilots fly in, that is the first thing on their minds,” Orr said. Council member Scott Olson pointed out that for visitors flying in, the airport provided the first impression of Tonasket, as it was the first thing they saw. Orr said a ‘big draw’ of the Tonasket Airport was having a pilots lounge and courtesy car. “Any time you see the courtesy car in town, someone is there spending money,” Orr said. The next priority for the airport, Orr pointed out, was to repair the cracks in the runway. Olson suggested other agencies using the airport could chip in on costs. “MedStar is charging thousands and thousands of dollars to come in and get people, on the backs of the city. We also need to look at talking to the Forest
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