Merry Christmas SERVING WASHINGTON’S
OKANOGAN VALLEY
SINCE 1905
GAZETTE-TRIBUNE WWW.GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015 | 75 CENTS NEWSSTAND PRICE
Cougar kittens find new home at Wildcat Sanctuary Cougars get new names — Storm and Snow, in Minnesota BY GARY A. DE VON EDITOR@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
OROVILLE - Two of the cougars kittens captured in the Oroville area have landed on their feet, so to speak, at The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota. In addition to their new home, where they will live with seven other wild-born cougars, the kittens have new names – Snow, the female and Storm, the male, according to Julie Hanan of The Wildcat Sanctuary. The names were picked out in a worldwide contest. “We’re happy we’ve been able to provide a home for the two orphaned cougar kittens found in your area,” said Hanan. “(Your readers) can read more about
their arrival and the naming contest we just held, covered worldwide as far away as Nigeria, welcoming them home for the holidays to Minnesota, at www.wildcatsanctuary.cougar-kittens.” “As a Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries internationally accredited wildcat sanctuary, we’ve raised quite a few other orphaned cougars in the past. We’re happy to have been able to help Washington with these kittens and are available in the future, should an unfortunate case like this happen again,” she said. People can find out more about the sanctuary at www.wildcatsanctuary.org and more information on other cougars they have rescued by clicking on Residents, Small Cats, Cougars. The sanctuary also has its own Facebook page with over 2.7 million followers and thousands of photos. “It would be nice to let Officer Trautman and the couple that warmed blankets in their dryer for Snow know that they’re safe now and will receive
excellent care as they grow up “wild at heart” here at our rural wooded location in northern Minnesota,” said Hanan. Three cougar kittens were darted and captured over a three day period at the end of November and start of December by Sgt. Daniel Christensen of the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Unfortunately one of the male kittens, the first one darted, had already sustained too many injuries and was euthanized. The other two kittens were first sent to a cougar and bear rescue before being shipped to The Wildcat Sanctuary in Minnesota. The capture was filmed by Rugged Justice, a show that appears on the Animal Planet channel. The crew was just wrapping up a 10-day film schedule in the Oroville area. The episode is scheduled to air in season three of Rugged Justice which starts in a few months, according to Christensen. For more on the capture see the Dec. 10, 2015 issue of the GazetteTribune, available in the Green Editions at www.gazette-tribune.com.
SWEET SOUNDS OF THE HOLIDAYS
The Wildcat Sactuary/submitted photo
Snow, the female cougar kitten is on the left, and Storm, the male, on right. They were in The Wildcat Sanctuary’s quarantine area until their vaccinations, exam, spay and neuter were completed.
Wool mill wants to locate at Oroville’s Industrial Park McElheran takes oath, Naillon wished well BY GARY A. DE VON EDITOR@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
OROVILLE – One new and two veteran city council members took their oath of office at the Tuesday, Dec. 15 city council meeting and everyone wished outgoing member Ed Naillon well and thanked him for his service. The primary discussion for the evening was a request from the Eco Fiber Mill Inc. to locate their new proposed mill building and offices at the city’s Skyview Industrial Park, north of Dorothy Scott Airport. Vicky Eberhart, the president of the National Wool Co-op said she was heading up the Eco Fiber team and discussed the group’s request. “We were honored to be chosen by the Make it In Washington Alliance for 2016, one of only three projects chosen in Okanogan County and the first chosen in north county. That means we will get a business consultant to help us with our project,” said Eberhart, adding that one
Students from Oroville’s Senior and Junior High School performed in their Winter Concert last Thursday evening. Above, the band plays several numbers including Let it Snow, The Hanukkah Song, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Immigrant Song. Right, the choir sang some traditional standards, including We Three Kings, Hark! The Herald Sings, Santa Baby, Candles of Hanukkah and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Below, right, Nicholas Clase’ on the Tuba during All Star. Below, left, Liz Grunst acts as piano accompanist for the choir.
of the group’s backers will be financing the construction of the new building. She said the Eco Fiber Mill will be producing two products when production gets underway. The first is a worsted wool type of product, creating a “luxury” worsted yard from sheep, alpaca, buffalo and other animals that are chosen for their three inch thick wool coats. Worsted wool is used to make many products and one of the more famous manufacturers is the Pendelton Company, according to Eberhart. “We plan on looking at working with alternative fibers in the future, like hemp,” she said. The other product will focus on the use of waste fibers, like that which is produced by marijuana growers in the state. “We’d like to develop a product with the marijuana growers to save them a lot of waste which costs them money,” said Eberhart. “We are looking for something
SEE MILL | PG A2
Wandler begins new term on NVH board Purchases nitrous oxide for birthing room BY KATIE TEACHOUT KATHERINE@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM
TONASKET - North Valley Hospital Commissioner Herb Wandler was sworn in for his fourth six-year term of service by attorney Mick Howe at the December 10 Board of Commissioner’s regular board meeting. Wandler serves in commissioner position #3. Attendees at the meeting were treated to a sample plate of foods prepared by the hospital’s executive chef Tayloe Vance and crew, including sous-chef Jason Leigh. “People have a choice of where to shop for healthcare services. We knew we had to do some improving to outshine others in the area. Hospital food had a reputation of being just better than prison food. It’s been proven eating better food equals getting better faster,” Chief Information Officer Kelly Cariker said as he intro-
Gary DeVon/ staff photos
OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 111 No. 52
SEE HOSPITAL | PG A2
INSIDE THIS EDITION
CONTACT US Newsroom and Advertising (509) 476-3602 gdevon@gazette-tribune.com
duced Vance as their chef with a culinary background rather than a healthcare background. Plates of delectable salmon with Vance’s own teriyaki sauce, pork with a tangy sauce and spinach fettucini were handed out for all in attendance to enjoy. Another “treat” in store at the meeting was the board of commissioners approving the purchase of a nitrous oxide machine for use in the birthing room. RN and OB Coordinator Eroca Crofoot and OB Committee Chair Dr. Mica Godzich presented information on the benefits of nitrous oxide over other forms of pain relief, including no known effects on the baby. A mixture of 50 percent nitrous gas and 50 percent oxygen, it is self-administered by the woman in labor through a mouthpiece. Nitrous is the only pain relief method used for
Cops & Courts Letters/Opinion Community
A3 A4 A5
Classifieds A6-7 Real Estate A7 Sports/Schools A8-9
Obituaries A10 Calendar A10 Christmas Section B1-4