0427 nmt 01

Lake Life

Presorted Standard | US Postage Paid Newport, WA | Permit No. 18 | ECRWWS

Celebrating Life at Diamond Lake and Sacheen Lake April 2015

Volume 4, Issue 1

Storm clean up continues Produced by The Miner Newspapers

Editor’s Note

It’s time for life on the lake

n r e L h a t kes r No Dock & Barge

Kevin Hansen (208) 428-0505 • (208) 290-2319

DOCKS - NEW & REBUILD PILE DRIVING WATER FRONT ENHANCEMENT RIPRAP/ SAND & GRAVEL BARGE SERVICE 2 Lake Life | April 2015

S

pring is here, as evidenced by warmer weather and robins chirping, and that means it’s time for Lake Life. The Miner Newspapers publishes Lake Life during the warmer months of April, May, June, July and August, focusing on both Diamond and Sacheen lakes.

When we started to look around the lakes and see what’s on the horizon for this season, we saw that the aftermath of last summer’s windstorms is far from over. Lake residents are still in the process of cleaning up and re-building, and there some emotional and physical scars left too. The communities are rallying though, and there’s a lot of optimism for this coming lake season.

In other news, Sacheen Lake is just weeks away from a functioning sewer system, despite some hiccups along the way, and lake residents’ local hospital in Newport is just months away from a new clinic. Property owners will also most likely be asked to approve a bond for a new assisted living facility.

On the fun side of life, fishing season is open on both lakes, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife made sure Sacheen and Diamond were stocked with lots of catchable trout.

And, the Northwoods Performing Arts have a packed schedule for their season at the Circle Moon Theatre.

In this issue you’ll also find useful lists of meetings, contact information for government agencies and a notice on boating classes.

We hope you enjoy your Lake Life.

-MCN

Published: April 2015 General Manager: Michelle Nedved Writers & editors: Don Gronning and Desireé Hood Design: Pandi Gruver and Michelle Nedved Advertising: Lindsay Guscott and Cindy Boober LAKE LIFE is published monthly in April, May, June, July and August as a supplement to The Newport Miner and Gem State Miner, 421 S. Spokane, Newport WA 99156.

TELEPHONE: 509-447-2433 E-MAIL: minernews@povn.com, mineradvertising@povn.com FAX: 509-447-9222 Reproduction of articles & photographs is prohibited without permission of the manager.

See all issues at: The Miner Online: www.pendoreillerivervalley.com.

RCE-4625

If you want to receive Lake Life in your mail contact The Miner at 509-447-2433.

Sacheen Lake sewer system encounters problem $1.26 million for groundwater drain under lagoon

BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

SACHEEN LAKE – Construction on the Sacheen Lake sewer system is well underway, thanks to the easy winter. But months ago engineers found that there was groundwater under the lagoons.

“We got into the water table,” head engineer Kevin Koesel says. “It’s a huge deal.”

Crews had to install an underground drain system under the lagoon to drain water away through pipes. It was required both as a practical matter but also by the state Department of Ecology.

That unexpected cost is about $1.264 million, running the total project cost to about $13.4 million.

To pay for it, Sacheen Lake Sewer and Water District commissioners increased the size of their no interest loan from Ecology to $7.29 million, up from $6 million.

Ecology also gave the district a $5 million grant and the district borrowed $1.2 million from the Public Works Trust Fund at no more than 2 percent annual interest, 1.75 percent if the project is completed in 2015.

Once the system is functioning, people will pay about $129 a month to pay back the loan and another $25 a month for maintenance and operation of the system. The system will need a licensed operator. The district would be able to work under Newport’s license at first, sewer district commissioner Perry Pearman said during the regular sewer district meeting April 8.

He got the information from City Administrator Ray King.

Nobody will pay any assessments until the system is up and running, maybe within a couple months, if things go according to plan.

But the increased cost is causing some worry among sewer district patrons. Jeff Storms is a former Sacheen Lake Sewer and Water District Commissioner.

“My pet peeve with the district is that they haven’t sent one letter to the people telling them about this,” Storms said.

He said he made calls to state legislators seeking to get additional funding, but was told that it was too late for this legislative session.

District commissioners are reluctant to give a total assessment cost. The monthly assessments will go on for 20 years once they start. Commissioners say it isn’t as simple as dividing the construction cost by the number of connections. For one thing, people outside the Local Improvement District are requesting to hook into the service and commissioners are hopeful that will offset some of the increased

Miner photo|Don Gronning

These are some of the irrigation lines that will spread the treated effluent at the lagoon site.

cost.

Pearman said some people in the Mt. View Estates on the backside of the lake

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509-447-4660 Fax: 509-447-0180 172 South Shore Diamond Lake Road, Newport, WA 99156-9300 Operates water and sewer systems around Diamond Lake.

Commissioners (six-year term): chairman Bob Graham (2017), Secretary Richard Swan (2016), Ray King (2019) Commissioner stipend: $70 per meeting Board meets on the first and third Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the district office.

Office open 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Maintenance hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Monday-Sunday.

In addition, they can be reached by telephone after hours for emergencies.

Sacheen Lake Sewer & Water Dist.

509-447-4641 Mail: 8272 Fertile Valley Rd., Sacheen Lake, WA 99156 Located at Sacheen Lake in southern Pend Oreille County, the Sacheen Lake Sewer & Water District is in the process of constructing a sewer collection and treatment system that will serve the majority of the lakefront properties. The district also continues to work on lake water quality and lake level issues as well as milfoil control.

The district also owns and maintains the Myers/Harter Sanctuary, located near the corner of Highway 211 and Fertile Valley Road.

Commissioners: position 1 Perry Pearman (2017), position 2 Gary Garrett (2015), position 3 Peggy Johnsen (2019) Commissioner stipend: 0 District manager: Sheila Pearman Commissioners meet at Sacheen Lake Fire Station, Highway 211, on the first Wednesday SEE CONTACT, 16

Take care burning in the spring April a big fire month in Pend Oreille County

BY MIKE NOKES, CHIEF SOUTH PEND OREILLE FIRE & RESCUE

Well, spring is here, and what has come with it is a fairly active early fire season. I am sure there are people who are enjoying the nice weather we have been having, but some of us are hoping for some good heavy spring rains. No one truly knows what the weather will bring but I wanted to share with you some keys to backyard burning safety.

History has shown us we always have big fires around April. In 2014, the largest fire in Pend Oreille County happened on March 22, which was a 14.5-acre grass and brush fire in the South County off Camden Road. No other fire in South Pend Oreille County for all of 2014 was over five acres.

I know for a fact the fire off Camden Road was started from a back yard burn that they didn’t expect to escape the fire area.

Every year we see a good handful of fires just after most of the snow melts and just before we get the good heavy spring rains. This year has been no exception. We responded to multiple fires in February and March. The County just saw its biggest fire so far this year with 21 acres burning off Highway 211 next to the old golf course.

Complacency is what causes most of the fires. People think because we had one day of drizzle or a few cold days in a row, it’s okay to burn. Most of the times when we arrive at the fire, people say to us, “I only left it for 10 – 15 minutes,” or “I didn’t think it would go anywhere.”

It will and it does.

Light small brush and grass and are called one-hour fuels. That means on a sunny day with some wind, it only takes one hour to change the moisture content of the fuel. What happens is people light their fire in the morning and it stays in the pile and doesn’t spread. Hours later the day has warmed up, the fuels around it have dried. Now add a light breeze to the day and your little burn pile has gone from small and contained to consuming 15 acres of land. Yes, it can happen that fast.

If you have a fire escape, do not wait to call 911. Most people try to extinguish the fire themselves first.

Take the 30 seconds to call 911 and get help coming. We would much rather get there and have you SEE FIRE, 12

A note from Sacheen Lake

BY DON HILL, PRESIDENT SACHEEN LAKE ASSOCIATION

I hope our mild winter has been good to you, and you join me in looking forward to a pleasant spring and summer at Sacheen Lake. Last summer certainly had its share of challenges for many of us, so let’s hope for a less eventful year, at least weather-wise.

The loss of so many trees around the lake in the devastating windstorms will be felt and seen for many years to come.

I certainly sympathize with those who suffered serious property damage. I hope we can all make a concerted effort to re-plant native trees in place of those we lost, and work to restore our beautiful woodland lakeshore. The Sacheen Lake Association Board will be looking into cost effective options for obtaining replacement saplings, and will keep you posted on what we learn.

On the plus side of the past year, the lake level was fairly easy to keep in control, due in part to low in-flow. Nonetheless, our volunteers worked diligently through the summer and fall to main-

tain the beaver tubes and achieve the lowest lake level in many years. The resulting reduced shoreline erosion appears to have resulted in muchimproved water clarity through late summer and fall. We’ll try for the same results this year.

As most of you are aware, progress on the sewer project has been substantial and we very much appreciate the tireless efforts of our water and sewer district commissioners to guide this challenging task.

You may have noticed the new street light at the intersection of Fertile Valley Road and Highway 211, installed for the safety and convenience of residents.

It’s just another example of our Sacheen Lake Association working to improve things here at the lake. If you haven’t already done so, please send in your membership renewal and annual dues to help support initiatives such as this.

Best wishes for a fun and safe summer at Sacheen Lake.

This is reprinted with permission from SacheenSCOPE, the Sacheen Lake Association newsletter.

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Recovering from last summer’s windstorms Downed trees, cleanup continues

BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

SACHEEN LAKE – It’s been about nine months since the windstorms struck last July and August and people at the Diamond and Sacheen lakes are still cleaning up and recovering.

Laura Gillette and her husband Daniel live on Fir Lane at Sacheen Lake. Or at least that’s where they were living last July. They still haven’t returned to their home, which was severely damaged by falling trees.

“We’re still cleaning up,” she said. “We had to take the main part of the house down to the dirt.”

She was in Newport when the storm hit. Her adult son, Andy, lives on Viet

Drive. He called her husband to see how he was after Andy watched a tree smash his own car.

Two trees fell into the Gillettes’ home during the first windstorm July 23, damaging the bathroom and the living room.

The home was insured but rebuilding to code has taken some effort, she said.

The Gillettes lost 17 trees on their property. “We’re not dealing with the trees until we get the house back.”

She figures they are about a month or so from returning to their Fir Lane home.

Donna Lands owns the Moolight RV Park on Highway 211, near the south end of Sacheen Lake. The RV park sustained severe damage, with a tree crashing through a pregnant tenant’s trailer, narrowly missing the woman. Lands said she lost 40 trees on her property, one of them 100 feet tall.

MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING

Here is a log pile ready to be picked up at the corner of Fir Lane and Terrace Avenue, near the boat ramp.

“They were mainly red fir,” Lands said.

“We only had one red cedar go down.”

She says the cleanup took a lot of effort.

For one thing, it was difficult to get a log-

ger, as everyone was busy.

“It was pretty stressful that whole month,” she said.

Don Hill lives on the middle east shore of Sacheen Lake. He considers himself lucky, as his house was spared. A gazebo was smashed by a big tree and a number of trees were snapped off about halfway up, a common story in Over 25 yr experience the area where the storm was almost tornado like, with swirling wind that twisted the trees around.

Hill says the community has been working hard on cleanup in months following the storm.

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Hill, who is president of the Sacheen Lake Association, advises people replant native trees when they replant.

The windstorm left quite a bit of damage at Sacheen Lake but, amazingly, nobody was seriously hurt.

That wasn’t the case at Diamond Lake, where a huge tree fell on a family that had been vacationing at the lake when the windstorm struck.

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and get back to the life I so enjoyed. One next step is I have just been approved for outpatient rehab at St Luke’s. We have waited quite some time for Group Health to approve this so I’m anxious to get this started. Their expertise is what I need at this point.

“With all the fundraising efforts we will soon be able to purchase a home hyperbaric chamber which will allow me to easily reap the benefits from our basement. I have had great results for months from this therapy so this feels like something that can aid me even further.”

People are dealing with the aftermath of the windstorms. For the Wetzels, it was a life changing catastrophe.

For the Diamond and Sacheen lake communities, there is significant property damage. Most of it has been cleaned up, but not all. And for the people who had the trees crashing around them, the sounds and sights of those intense 15 minutes last July won’t soon be forgotten.

Lands, from the Moolight RV Park, says when she hears the wind blow, she gets scared, but she also has perspective.

Like most from Pend Oreille County, she has made plenty of trips to Spokane on Highway 2, past the trailer park near Riverside High School that was devastated by falling trees.

“When I drive by our neighbors at Riverside, I think we were lucky,” she says.

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The windstorms of last summer brought down a number of trees and wreaked havoc, especially in the Sacheen Lake area. Some trees snapped off but quite a few were blown over, their roots pulled out of the ground, like this one.

band, Chris, and one of their five their support and updated them in a children were in a boat on the lake when March 22 Facebook post. the windstorm started. As they reached “Everyday I am gaining new strengths. shore and attempted to get the boat I have a ways to go but I’m determined taken care of, a huge, 90-year-old tree to get back as much as I possibly can fell on them, critically injuring them both. Marci sustained a severe concussion, suffered a broken arm, ribs, heel, finger and a torn spleen, according Cusick, WA to a post on the CaringBridge Aluminum Website. Chris suffered a broken 445-1406 Docks neck. (CaringBridge is a Website where friends and family Ramps members of people with medical Swim problems provide information, Ladders including fundraising information, at one place.)

According to the CaringBridge poster, Chris didn’t require surgery for his broken neck, but that wasn’t the case for Marcy, who underwent successful surgery shortly after her injury.

Marcy is still recovering, she writes on her Facebook page, but it has been a difficult process.

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Lakes stocked for fishing season

MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING

Jake Wolfe with Ford Hatchery shows one of the rainbow trout that were stocked at Diamond Lake last week. The fish are bigger than usual, at about a third of pound. Wolfe attributes it to an easy winter, in which the carryover fish got bigger, as did the hatchery fish.

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OLYMPIA – Trout fishing in Washington hit full speed Saturday, April 25, when several hundred lowland lakes – stocked with millions of fish – open for a six-month season.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stocked both Diamond and Sacheen lakes this spring. Diamond received 12,000 “put, grow and take” brown trout, 740 jumbos browns, 200 jumbo rainbows, 37,500 “put, grow and take” triploid rainbows and 740 jumbo triploid rainbows.

Sacheen was stocked with 4,900 “put, grow and take” triploids and 1,000 jumbos.

To fish, anglers must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license valid through March 31, 2016. Licenses can be purchased online at https:// fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov; by telephone at 1-866-246-9453; or at hundreds of license dealers across the state. For details on license vendor locations, visit the WDFW website at http://wdfw. wa.gov/licensing/vendors/.

Freshwater fishing licenses cost $29.50 for resident adults 16 to 69 years old. Fifteen-yearolds can buy a license for $8.05, and seniors 70 and older can buy an annual freshwater fishing license for $7.50. Children 14 years of age and younger do not need a fishing license.

Anglers parking at WDFW water-access sites, including boat launches at Diamond and Sacheen lakes are required to display on their vehicle the WDFW Vehicle Access Pass that is provided free with every annual fishing license purchased.

The passes are transferable between two vehicles.

Before heading out, anglers should check fishing regulations on WDFW’s webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/ regulations/.

Unlike in past years, the current fishing rules pamphlet will remain valid through June 30, 2015.

Safe boating class a requirement NEWPORT – Many boats will be hitting the area waters and drivers of most vessels must have a Washington State Boating Safety Card.

Charlie Schaefer, a volunteer instructor, will offer classes on various weekends in May, June

‘I give them the paperwork and it’s up to them to get the card.’

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and July. They will be held at Diamond and Sacheen lakes.

The class is free to attend, however, Washington State requires a $10 fee the student will submit directly to the state.

“I give them the paperwork and it’s up to them to get the card,” Schaefer said.

Any person in Washington State on Washington lakes and rivers from ages 12-59 must have the card to operate a 15 horsepower or greater vessel.

“That covers everything,” Schaefer said. “And the card is mandatory.”

The state of Idaho recommends a boater safety course, but it is not required. By completing a course with Schaefer, attendees will meet requirements for both Idaho and Washington Boater Safety Cards.

No dates have been set for a public class, however, Schaefer said they will be coming and he will announce the classes in The Miner. For more information on the boating safety classes, call Schaefer at 509447-2279.

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Newport Hospital to build new clinic

BY MICHELLE NEDVED OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – Newport Hospital and Health Services officials hope to break ground on a new clinic this fall that will centralize the district’s two clinics in a user friendly, patient-centric building. A month or two later, the district is contemplating asking voters to approve a $9.5 million bond to do the same for the current Long Term Care facility – build a new, homelike facility for those patients who currently live in the 1960s building

next to the hospital.

The district has enough money in reserves and through bank loans to build the new $4 million clinic. The district needs voters to approve the bond for construction of the assisted living facility that will be built next to the current River Mountain Village Assisted Living on the corner of Spokane and Second streets.

“Making easier access for everybody will be a huge blessing,” said Michele Page, director of LTC and RMV. A 15-person committee is meeting regularly to determine the design for the

clinic. Its uncertain at this point where the clinic will be built on the hospital’s campus. Plans for parking spaces and a new bunk house for doctors and nurses on call both need to be worked out.

The hospital’s clinics have between 28,000 and 30,000 patient visits a year and serve patients from both Pend Oreille and Bonner counties.

The plan is to combine all 10 providers that are now located at Family Health Center, located on Pine Street next to the hospital, and Family Medicine Newport, located on the corner of First and Cass,

about a half block away from the hospital.

District CEO Tom Wilbur explained it’s like the district now has three clinics, because one of them has two floors. The district is also looking to hire another primary care provider, and two Physician Assistants are finishing up school.

They will also work at Newport.

The committee includes everyone with a vested interest in the clinic’s construction - physicians, nurses, administration and housekeeping are all represented, and are working with engineers and the Spokane firm NAC Architecture, who has designed clinics like this throughout the region.

“She (architect Jeani Natwick) really just gets the people aspect,” Page said.

The focus is making going to the doctor easier on the patient, said Christina Wagar, Director of Ancillary and Outpatient Care.

“We’re all patients too,” she said, explaining that the patient Kevin Johnson • 24/7 Emergency Service perspective is represented on the 208-255-9580 planning committee.

Idaho RCE-12308 • Washington FLOORM197431 The list of problems with the current facilities is long. Besides having providers practicing in three separate locations, the clinic at the hospital is not Pend Oreille County user friendly for patients. The hallway of appointment rooms is long and a difficult walk for older or disabled patients. The “Quality Service at Low Cost” clinic next to the hospital is actually the original hospital, built in 1958.

The district’s business offices are scattered around the camwww.popud.org 509-447-3137 509-242-3137 pus. The administrative offices are located in a house next to the hospital. Financial offices are located in a space leased in Dr. Cool’s dentistry office buildWolf says. . ing, located on the corner of We Offer all these Service for All Makes and Models Second and Spokane streets.

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Calendar WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 DIAMOND LAKE WATER AND SEWER: 10 a.m. - District Office, 172 South Shore Road DIAMOND LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION: 6:30 p.m. - Diamond Lake Fire Station, Highway 2 SACHEEN LAKE SEWER AND WATER DISTRICT BOARD: 7 p.m. Sacheen Fire Station, Highway 211

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 HOME AND COMMUNITY EDUCATORS DIAMOND LAKE CLUB: Noon - Call Billie Goodno at 509-447-3781 or Chris King at 208-437-0971

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DIAMOND LAKE WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOARD: 10 a.m. District Office

THURSDAY, MAY 21 SOUTH PEND OREILLE FIRE & RESCUE: 7 p.m. - Station 31, 325272 Highway 2, Diamond Lake

Camping season opens at Diamond Lake DIAMOND LAKE – Camping season has arrived at Diamond Lake, with the opening of the Newport/Little Diamond Lake KOA Campground.

Opening weekend for will benefit children with cancer.

Campers who stay as paying guests on Friday, May 8 will receive a night of camping on Saturday, May 9 for $10.

The entire $10 fee will benefit KOA Care Camps for children battling cancer.

The 12th Annual KOA Care Camps Big Weekend event is the official start to the 2015 summer camping season and is being offered at participating KOAs throughout North America.

The Care Camps Big Weekend event is also the major fundraiser for KOA Care Camps for children with cancer, the official charity of Kampgrounds of America and the KOA Owners Association.

Diamond Lake PRIMARY Waterfront PRIMARY Waterfront Log Cabin, 40 ft., Grass to Sandy Beach, Sleep- Year Around Home, 50 FT FLAT LOT, ing Loft, Woodstove, Dock, Privacy Sandy Beach, Dock, Updated Kitchen & Baths, Water/Sewer, High Speed Internet $129,900 Text “Bayview” to “Homes” Text “Davis” to “Homes”

PRIMARY Waterfront on Sacheen Lake. Large 1,792 sq. ft., 3 bed/2 Bath Two level home, Dock $279,000 Text “Sacheen” to “Homes” 4 Bed/ 3 Bath, 2 Master Suites.

Diamond Lake Access Text “Woodard” to “Homes” PRIMARY 4.4 Acre Waterfront Lot, Mtn Views, Owner Terms $149,900 Text “4 Acres” to “Homes”

Diamond Lake Access, Nice, Updated 2 Bedroom Site Built Home, Reduced S40K to $99,900 (Owner/Agent) Text “191” to “Homes”

3 Bed/2 Bath Diamond Lake home, Lg Fenced Yard, Beach & Dock access 2/1 Diamond Lake home, Lake Views, with just 11 others.

Text “Summer” to “Homes” Garage, Lg Deck, Cute as can be!

Text “1236” to “Homes” JUST LISTED! Nice, FLAT “grass to waters edge” PRIMARY Waterfront lot on Diamond Lake. Ready to be built on.

11 Acre PRIMARY Waterfront Estate, 745 FT, New House, Guest Quarters & 40x60 Shop. Private Dock, Gourmet Diamond Lake PRIMARY Custom Kitchen, Two Master Suites, Marble & Craftsman Home & Guest Cottage, Granite Countertops.

COMPLETE PRI100 FT Sandy, FLAT BEACH. Very VACY & just 9 miles out.

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Text “BearPaw” to “Homes” Text “Hwy2Lake” to “Homes” April 2015 | Lake Life 11

Take the home water test.

Y

N

Rusty-Red stains on sinks, lavatories, etc.

Blue-Green stains on sinks, lavatories, etc.

Soap crud ring on bathtubs, showers Rotten egg odor Soaps lose suds quickly Chrome fittings etched or being eaten away Rusty stains on clothing, linens, etc.

Excessive spotting of dishes and silverware Black stains on silverware Tastes and/or odors in drinking water

If you answered “YES” to one or more of these questions, call “The Water Professionals” at Fogle Pump & Supply!

We’re the water problem solvers!

12 Lake Life | April 2015

FIRE | FROM PAGE 5

tell us you put the fire out, then let the fire grow for 10 minutes while someone tries to put it out. The sooner fire resources get there, the less likely we are to have a large fire in our area.

If you follow the burning safety rules listed below you will greatly reduce the risk of having a fire escape your burn pile.

• Call 1-800-323-burn before you burn to make sure the burn season is still open, and call Pend Oreille Fire Dispatch at 509-447-3151 ext. 2 to inform them you are burning so they do not send fire resources to check on your burn pile.

• Burn one pile at a time no larger than 10 feet by 10 feet in Pend Oreille County during DNR Rule Burn from Oct. 16 – June 30. 4 foot by 4 foot by 3 foot from July 1 – Oct. 15 when burn season is open.

• Only natural vegetation may be burned.

• Burn barrels are illegal.

• Never leave your fire unattended.

• Do not burn when it is windy.

• Always have a water source available to extinguish the fire.

• Always ensure the fire is out and cold to the touch.

• If you are burning bigger piles, more than one at a time, or clearing land, you must contact the Department of Natural Resources and get a permit to burn from DNR before you burn.

If you have any questions on burning, or if you would be interested in serving your community as a member of the volunteer fire district, contact me at 509-447-5305, or on-line at www.spofr.org.

Northwoods brings your memories alive SACHEEN LAKE – Crackling radio static suddenly comes to life, stimulating forgotten memories. Gather around for “On The Air! LIVE from the Starlight.” This two-hour show, produced by Northwoods Performing Arts, trots out the irresistible rhythms of the Big Band sound, while more than 40 velvety NPA voices croon you back to music of the 1920s, 30s and 40s.

Every show includes fingersnapping, toe-tapping melodies and the long-ago humor that will keep you in stitches … and remembering, Northwoods members said.

NPA “Starlight” performances are scheduled for May 29-30 and June 5-6 and 9, and June 12-13 at Circle Moon Theater near Sacheen Lake.

Tickets are $25 per person for dinner and the show or $12 for the show only. Senior and children tickets are $10.

Dining service begins at 6:30 p.m. and the show kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Additionally, NPA’s 2015 Progressive Raffle offers patrons the chance to win a cabin weekend getaway at Elkins Resort on Priest Lake, a value of $400.

“Starlight” dinners are provided by Cusick Tavern Catering, Mi Pueblo, Owens Catering, River Catering by Darcie, and Skeyes the Limit.

For the dinner menu schedule, visit the NPA Box Office at npainc.org. Reservations and tickets are also available by calling 208-448-1294 or visiting Seebers Drug Store, Newport.

Circle Moon Theater, housed in a big, red barn, is located on Highway 211, 3.5 miles north of Highway 2.

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SEWER | Some Mt. View Estates residents interesting in hooking up FROM PAGE 3

to the system. People from the Mt. View Estates First Addition are not interested in hooking up, commissioners were told at the April 8 meeting.

People outside the LID could be hooked up without forming a new LID, district manager Sheila Pearman said. Perry Pearman said the breakeven point was 25 new connections. He said there were 40 parcels in the area, with 19 landowners.

There was a meeting Saturday, April 18 at the Fertile Valley Fire Station. About 30 people attended the meeting, Pearman said.

The purpose of the meeting was to see how many people are interested in joining the sewer system. The district will need a signed construction easement from people who want to be included.

Pearman said some who attended wanted to be able to join the system but a number of people from Mt. View Estates First Addition were clear they did not want to be included in the system.

Another consideration is that some par-

14 Lake Life | April 2015

cels are undeveloped and owners would pay a lesser monthly amount. Some parcels, such as resorts, have multiple connections.

Martin Kolodrub of Spokane owns three properties on the lake in the Mt. View Estates. He wants to eventually move to the lake to live year round. He says he has spoken with his neighbors and at least 23 of them want to hook to the connection.

He says he wanted to be in the LID from the start and doesn’t know why that part of the lake was not included.

Construction on most of the system is well past halfway. Contractors have completed installing about 85 percent of the main lines. The lagoons are about 60 percent complete and about 60 percent of the onsite work has been completed, according to Koesel.

Koesel says that when the system is first turned on in a couple months, the lagoon system won’t be ready. Initially the sewage will be pumped and hauled to the main lift station at Fertile Valley Road and Highway 211.

MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING

Construction on the Sacheen sewer system is more than halfway complete. Here crews from S&L Underground of Bonners Ferry work on digging sewer lines on Fertile Valley Road.

Koesel says crews have encountered all sorts of ways people have been dealing with sewage around the lake, from outhouses, to dry wells on the shoreline to metal barrels. He said crews have found

septic tanks made from block, with no grout. If all goes well, nearly 400 lots will be hooked up by the end of 2015, more if Mt. Estates is included. Some 270 of the lots have homes.

CONTACT | FROM PAGE 4

of the month at 7 p.m.

Pend Oreille County Commissioners 509-447-4119 District 1: Karen Skoog, member (2016) District 2: Mike Manus, vice chairman (2018) District 3: Steve Kiss, chairman (2016) Four-year terms Annual salary: $53,148 Duties: Serve as chief legislative and executive body in county; including, but not limited to, approve taxes; adopt a balanced budget, operate budgets under control of appointed department heads; oversee public roads and works; counseling; planning of unincorporated areas; and other services which are not clearly the responsibility of another elected official. Appoint citizens to commissions and boards; represent the county locally, regionally and statewide on various boards such as public health and economic development.

Mail: P.O. Box 5025, Newport, WA 99156 Board meets every Monday and Tuesday at 9 a.m. in commissioners’ office, main floor of the courthouse.

Clerk of the board: Elizabeth Braun Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Community Development Department 509-447-4821 Mike Lithgow, director Responsible for county land use, growth management planning and the county park system.

Also responsible for the review and approval of various development and construction permits, such as building permits, shoreline development permits, subdivision and mobile home park and recreational vehicle park approvals. The park board meets the third Wednesday of every month at 2 p.m. in the Cusick Community Center.

Mail: P.O. Box 5066, Newport, WA 99156 • Planning Commission Rob Payne, Judy Ashton, Paul Edgren, Don Comins, John Stuart, Noris Boyd Meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Cusick Community Center for business,

and on the fourth Tuesday of each month for workshops, starting at 6 p.m.

• Park board members: Sam Nicholas, Greg Jakeman, Dave Gruver, Ken Timmreck, Don Comins, Mark Bender, Jeanetta Taylor The park board meets the third Wednesday of every month at 2 p.m. in the Cusick Community Center.

Cheryl M. Lipp Loan Officer 509 684-6885

South Pend Oreille Fire & Rescue Serving south Pend Oreille County including Diamond Lake, Sacheen Lake, Deer Valley, Camden and Fertile Valley areas Chief: Mike Nokes 509-447-5305 Annual salary: $62,930 Commissioners: Gary Wilkey 509-447-0744, Randy Miller 509-292-8065, Galen Hansen 509-292-9458, Karen Johnston 509-939-7714, Harry England 509-936-0524 Commissioner stipend: $100 per meeting Commissioners meet the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at Diamond Lake Station.

Diamond Lake Station is staffed 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Mail: 325272 Hwy. 2, Newport WA Website: www.spofr.org SEE CONTACT, 16

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CONTACT | FROM PAGE 15

Noxious Weed Control Board 509-447-2402 Fax: 509-447-6477 Charged with ensuring the control of noxious weeds in the county. The weed board office is located in the courthouse annex 418 S. Scott Ave., and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Monday-Friday.

Mail: P.O. Box 5085, Newport WA 99156 Board: Dist. 1 Warren Koontz, Dist. 2 Wes Bailey, Dist. 3 Vacant, Dist. 4 Joe Sherman, Dist.

5 Vacant The board meets every even month on the second Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the weed board office.

Weed coordinator: Sharon Sorby Email: ssorby@pendoreille.org

Natural Resource Conservation (USDA) 509-447-4217 Fax: 855-847-5495 P.O. Box 280, Newport, WA 99156; Located at Newport post office, Room 110.

Resource conservationist: Mark Simpson

Pend Oreille Conservation District *Free earrings must be of EQUAL or LESSER VALUE to the higest priced item purchased.

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509-447-1155 Website: www.POCD.org Office is located at 121 N Washington Ave. in the back of the building Acting Director: Andy Huddleston Board of Supervisors: George Stuivenga, Treasurer Michele Mausen, and members Randall Leestma and John W. Floyd Board meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. except July when there is no meeting. Elections and appointments are held in March.