Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune, January 28, 2016

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OROVILLE AND TONASKET

CRAFTS BAZAAR

SPORTS

Crafts Bazaar and Flea Market at Appleway, Jan. 29 & 30

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SERVING WASHINGTON’S

OKANOGAN VALLEY

SINCE 1905

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OSD Supt. Quick tenders resignation Will continue at Oroville until end of school year in June BY GARY A. DE VON EDITOR@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

OROVILLE – Oroville School District Superintendent tendered his resignation to the school board last Thursday and announced he would be leaving the district at the end of this school year, June 30, 2016. Quick has worked for the school district for 11 years, five as the junior/senior high principal and six as the superintendent. He told the board he was informing them with four months still in the school year so they could begin the process of finding his replacement. “My wife and I have thoroughly

enjoyed our time in Oroville meeting many wonderful people, raising our children and working with many wonderful students, staff, board members and community members. Our memories of Oroville will always be dear,” writes Quick to the board in his Jan. 21 letter. He also let the staff know about his decision in a school wide email last week. When asked Monday what he felt were the positive accomplishments of the district during his time here, Quick said they mostly dealt with facilities improvements. “Being able to pass the capital levy and fix the roof on the elementary was a big deal. And we are always doing things to upgrade the facilities to make them look better and be safer for students and staff,” he said, adding that improving curriculum has also been a goal of the board. “Keeping up on technology has been huge for the board, working toward oneto-one computing for the kids is getting

closer to being accomplished,” he adds. “We are lucky to have someone like Ed Naillon to help us keep ahead on tech.” If he could have done anything differently, Quick couldn’t point to any one thing he’d change. “This was my first job as a superintendent, while I certainly didn’t do everything perfectly I feel I learned from the experience to be better for myself and career,” he said. He said one of the hardest struggles at a small rural district is finding quality staff. “In general it is hard to find quality people who want to live in a rural area, especially when we already have a shortage of teachers state wide and nationally,” said Quick. He said while the rural area and the outdoors were a draw to him and his family when they first moved here, it isn’t everyone’s choice of a place to live. Another challenge will have to do with

the facilities in the district which are getting older. “The high school facility is aging and the building itself will need a remodel in the coming years. While the elementary got a new roof the building is still aging and there is a lot to be done, like improvements to the cafeteria and kitchen, as well as the restrooms.” Quick said he and his wife Marsallai will miss the friends they made in Oroville the most. “We made a lot of friends personally and raised our kids here,” said Quick. “I’ll also miss the staff and the personal friends I have made. But it hit me about a year ago that it might be time to move on.” The Quicks have three children, Austianna, Reianna and Connelly, who all graduated from Oroville High School. Astianna is married and living in Utah and just gave the Quick’s their first grandchild. Reianna and Connelly are

attending BYU Idaho, he said. Quick said he enjoyed waterskiing and hiking in the hills around Oroville. “I’ll miss all the many things that Oroville has to do,” he said. The superintendent said that most districts advertise for new superintendents January through April and while he’s looking for a new job, the Oroville district will be looking for his replacement. Quick, who grew up in Spokane where his parents still live, said he won’t limit his search to Eastern Washington and maybe not even to just Washington State. “We might want to chose something closer to our new grandbaby,” he said. The school board voted to accept the superintendent’s resignation at last Monday evening’s board meeting. School Board Chairman Mike Egerton said his goal is to make the process of finding a new superintendent one that involves as much public input as he can get.

TONASKET CHAMBER CELEBRATES WITH BANQUET

The Tonasket Chamber of Commerce held their 2016 Officer Installation and Awards Banquet last Thursday night. They named (left to right) the Tonasket Fire Department Organization of the Year, Fire Chief Andy Gasho accepting the plaque from Mayor Patrick Plumb; chose Esther Caton as this year’s Founders Day Grand Marshal and naming Peter James Citizen of the Year. Gary DeVon/staff photos

Oroville considering request for road change Jon Neal selected as Mayor Pro Tem BY GARY A. DE VON EDITOR@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

OROVILLE – Councilman Jon Neal was selected to serve as Oroville’s Mayor Pro Tempore, should Mayor Chuck Spieth be unable to attend a city council meeting. The recommendation was made by Councilman Tony Koepke who felt Councilman Walt Hart might need a rest after serving in the Pro Tem position for the past several years. “I’d like to thank Walt. He has done a really good job representing us for quite a few years,” said Mayor Spieth. Chris Branch, director of Community Development, brought up Oroville Reman and Reload’s request to make changes to the Bob Neil and Jennings Loop Road where they go through the wood manufacturer’s facilities. The com-

pany is concerned about a wide turn on the road, as well as the safety of drivers and fork lift operators where Jennings Loop passes between the company’s property on each side of the road. “By making the changes truck drivers could turn with the road wide enough to actually stay away from driving off the right of way,” said Branch, who said the proposal wasn’t perfect, but could lead to additional changes in the future, including a public railroad crossing near the company’s facilities. Branch said that Gold Digger Apples Inc. did not appear to like the plan, however. The fruit packer has a plant on Jennings Loop and many of their trucks use the road traveling back and forth with loads of fruit. The city is looking at replacing a portion of the current road, as well as changing parts of Bob Neil Road and Ninth Street. “As most of you know there is a sawmill operation located on a city street,” Branch said. “The plan would take Bob Neil Road straight across the tracks and

OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 112 No. 4

run through Reman and Reload.” There is a possibility that much of the money to change the road would be available from the North Central Washington Economic Development District in the form of a grant. Oroville Reman and Reload would also foot part of the bill as a matching funds. “It is not the most ideal solution, but Oroville Reman and Reload owns the land and it makes for a straight shovel ready project,” said Branch. “There might be opportunities to change the design in the future. We are asking for quite a substantial amount of money with contingencies for some design modification,” said Branch. “I look at the design and even if it doesn’t make a perfect situation Michael (Guss, NCWEDD director) needs to get started on the grant process. We would have to annex part of the property because it is in the county.” Branch said the railhead, which is Gary DeVon/staff photo

SEE COUNCIL| PG A2

JoAnn Denney receives a Certificate of Appreciation from Mayor Chuck Spieth for 25 years with the City of Oroville . Denney is Oroville’s Clerk/Treasurer.

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