Honoring local businesses See pages 1B-6B
The Newport Miner
Local teams finish up league play See pages 6A-8A
THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 108, Number 51 | 2 Sections, 24 Pages
Newport airplane interior maker taking off Three-year ramp up underway OF THE MINER
BY JANELLE ATYEO OF THE MINER
MINER PHOTO|FRED WILLENBROCK
C&D Zodiac worker Lori Myer assembles the fiberglass layers that will be joined together with resin to make the primary raw material product that is shipped around the world to plants making airplane parts. Work is ramping up at C&D Zodiac in Newport with 86 employees working around the clock.
can concentrate on the growing raw materials demand. “We have steady growth on the books for three years,” Stohl said. The forecasters for the aerospace industry forecast more growth after that. The company had kept busy supplying companies refurbishing old planes but now there is a surge in new commercial airplane orders. The lightweight and extremely strong composites are a key component to the new planes for many reasons, including fuel savings. Stohl said they are now utilizing all 67,750 square feet of space but plan to move equipment and workstations around so they can continue to expand. In the past
Two die in Blanchard house fire BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
BLANCHARD – An early morning house fire claimed the lives of a mother and daughter Wednesday, Jan. 18. According to a news release from the Bonner County Sheriff, two bodies were found in a home at 320 McDonald Creek Road, north of Blanchard. They have been identified as Mary Louise Sands, 52, and her daughter, Angela Marie Sands, 23. The homeowner, Robert Sands, 67, told detectives that
Road grants could disappear Department short on matching funds
BY FRED WILLENBROCK
NEWPORT – When the old McDonald’s was torn down in the fall, the only large industrial building in Newport emerged from its hiding place behind it like it was just built. It couldn’t have been a more appropriate time to gain visibility in the community because the airplane part manufacturer in the white cement and dark glass building has been hiring and is in a three-year ramp-up mode. C&D Zodiac has weathered the Sept. 11 terrorist attack-caused airline declines and a take over by a giant French corporation to emerge as their founders planned years ago – a small satellite company, providing primarily raw materials for many airplane interior manufacturers around the world. Mike Stohl, 40, came on board in the spring as general manager, replacing Charles Elder. He is responsible for plants in Marysville, Wash., and the one in Newport. He travels back and forth as well as relying on high-speed Internet connections to keep in touch. He has worked for C&D Zodiac for 16 years and was responsible for setting up Newport’s first major machine that is the centerpiece of what they do here today. This machine adds resins to synthetic fabric. The 60-foot long machine stands about 10 feet high. Another machine presses the honeycomb material made in Marysville between layers of the synthetic fabric they make into strong, lightweight flat panels. Each costs about $1,000. The Newport plant now primarily makes the two raw composite materials and adhesives that are shipped around the world to other factories that shape them into airplane interior parts. At one time, they had fabricated some of the interior parts here such as crew galleys for Airbus. But now most of this is done at other plants so they
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his wife and daughter may have been trapped in the burning house. Sands believed the fire started by leaving the door open on the wood stove. He was injured and hospitalized, according to John DeBernardi, fire chief for the Spirit Lake Fire Department, which responded to the 6:30 a.m. blaze. Bonner County Sheriff detectives have finished their preliminary investigation, Lt. Ror Lakewold said. There is no suspicion of any wrongdoing, and it appears the women died as a result of the fire, he said.
they have had lots of “air” between machines. Part of their recent success that has them working a crew of about 85 (up about 10 after recent hiring) around the clock, seven days a week is a deal to supply the Triumph company in Spokane with composite materials. Triumph, in a plant formerly owned by Boeing, has among other clients Bombardier in Canada. Bombardier manufactures a large range of regional and business aircraft including the Learjet and Canadair. Officials from the Canadian company were at the Newport plant recently certifying the exact specifications of the ma-
SEE C&D, 2A
Newport pep band getting noticed BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – “All right, we have time for “Wipe Out,’” band instructor Barbara Bell, calls out to the teen musicians, who frantically flip pages to get to the music for one of their favorite songs during halftime at a Newport High School basketball game. The band finishes that song and breaks into the fight song for Newport as the players get ready to resume action down on the court. The song comes to an end and the 40 or so musicians start to head out. Bell works to keep things organized. “Pick up your music stands,” she says. SEE BAND, 11A
|| NEWPORT – The Greater Newport Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors is in the process of reviewing applicants for the position of executive director. The application deadline closed last Friday. Executive director Krista Dinatale resigned her position effective Friday, Jan. 20, because of another job offer. In the meantime, chamber board members are covering office hours.
Riffel promoted to sergeant SANDPOINT – The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office is announced the promotion of Tony Riffel to the rank of Sergeant as of Jan. 3.
SEE GRANTS, 2A
‘Nobody rides the bench in band’
SEE FIRE, 12A
Chamber board reviews director applicants
MINER PHOTO|FRED WILLENBROCK
The entrance to C&D Zodiac in Newport is more visible since the old McDonald’s building was torn down this fall.
NEWPORT – Pend Oreille County’s road department is bracing for another year of working within a tight budget. With smaller than expected federal timber payments and a smaller portion of the property tax revenue, it’s looking like the department will have a difficult time coming up with matching funds for major road projects. The county currently has $4.1 million in grant money at its fingertips, but the road department needs $300,000 to $400,000 of its own to meet requirements for local matching funds. “And frankly, I don’t have that available,” public works director Sam Castro said. “For me, it’s like loosing $4.1 million dollars.” One major project the grant would have helped with is the work to widen Fertile Valley Road near Sacheen Lake. Realignment of McKenzie Road in north Pend Oreille County was another tagged for grant funding. Castro said the state has given extensions on the grant funding, but he’s worried the county’s extension could run out. “I hate to tie those dollars up because there are so many other county programs (in the state) in need of those if we’re not able to put those projects out,” he said. Earlier this month, the county commissioners approved a larger road levy shift. In 2012, $600,000 worth of property tax levy power is being shifted from roads to the current expense fund so the commissioners could balance the budget. Levy shifts have added up over the past seven years, contributing to the road department having to wipe out its reserves. The department currently has no reserves, and on top of that, its carryover from last
B R I E F LY
Sgt. Riffel started his law enforcement career in 1995 with the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office as a reserve deputy. He was hired as a full-time deputy and progressed through the department working in marine patrol, detention, patrol deputy, and field training officer. Riffel At the time of promotion, Riffel served in detectives as a crimes against children and sexual crimes investigator. He has also served the department as a field training officer and is a certified police instructor in several disciplines. Riffel is married to Tammy and together they have four children. Riffel has been assigned to a patrol shift and
MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING
Members of the pep band play at the Newport High School basketball game Friday, Jan. 13. Pictured are, from right, Kade Barranco, Jesse Young, Jace Hoadley and Colten Malsbury.
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will assume all the duties of supervision for field services delivered to the public. Sheriff Daryl Wheeler said he believes the first line supervision is the key to success and the delivery of positive policing services to the community. “I am excited to promote Tony Riffel as he exemplifies the caliber of police leadership that is needed in our law enforcement community,” Wheeler said.
Broomball, sled races sure to bring fun to Winterfest PRIEST RIVER – Priest River’s Bear Naked Winterfest is set for this weekend, Saturday, Jan. 28 in the city’s center. With lots of snow on the ground, this year’s festivities are sure to entertain.
Cardboard sled races will be held at 11 a.m. (They will be modified if the snow disappears.) A family Frosty contest and kids’ games are at 11 a.m. The Frosty contest is a snowman building contest that will be modified if there’s no snow. A poker run is also set for that day, and broomball hockey starts at noon. Lots of teams are signed up for the tournament. Many of the larger employers, such as mills and manufacturers around the area, were contacted to sign up teams. Food, crafts and more will be offered at booths on the corner of High and Main streets. The event is sponsored by the Priest River Chamber of Commerce. For more information contact the chamber at 208-448-2721 or prchamber@ conceptcable.com.
SPORTS 6A - 8A - RECORD 8B - POLICE 8B - OPINION 4A - CLASSIFIEDS 9C - 11 C - PUBLIC NOTICES 10B - 11B - DOWN RIVER 9A - LIFE 7B - OBITUARIES 8B