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Horizon: PUBLISHED: June 2014 PUBLISHER: Fred Willenbrock WRITERS & EDITORS: Desireé Hood, Don Gronning and Michelle Nedved DESIGN: Charisse Neufeldt, Michelle Nedved, Pandi Gruver ADVERTISING: Lindsay Guscott, Beth Gokey, Cindy Boober and Susan Willenbrock HORIZON is published quarterly as a supplement to The Newport Miner and Gem State Miner, 421 S. Spokane, Newport WA 99156.

TELEPHONE: 509-447-2433 E-MAIL: theminer@povn.com.

FAX: 509-447-9222 Reproduction of articles & photographs is prohibited without permission of the publisher. See all issues at The Miner Online: www.pendoreillerivervalley.com

Index: It’s rodeo time Looking back on Newport Rodeos past Page 4

Part of the pack At home with prairie dogs Page 14

Mailing letters Historic post offices of Pend Oreille County Page 20

Tying flies Newport resident offers up collection of 49,000 Page 32

W

Editor’s Note:

ith the 65th annual Newport Rodeo in town June 27-28, we thought it would be interesting to hear from the many local people who donate their time

and labor into making the rodeo work. We knew there are people from West Bonner and Pend Oreille counties participating in just about every aspect of the rodeo. We contacted as many as we could and asked for a photo and a few words about their experience in the Newport Rodeo.

One of the people we went to was Joyce Montgomery, a local photographer who also was a past rodeo queen. She took the cover photo of tie down roper Chris Jones competing at Newport. Both she and Jones are among the people who told us what the Newport Rodeo meant to them.

Of course, the rodeo isn’t the only story in this edition of Horizon. Desireé Hood researched and wrote a story about the many Post Offices in the county. Bob Lutz wrote about some prairie dogs he is raising and managing editor Michelle Nedved wrote a story about a Newport fisherman who is selling his 49,000 hand tied flies.

We hope you enjoy these stories.

-Don Gronning Summer 2014|Horizon 3

Rodeo memories

BY DON GRONNING

Pend Oreille Valley people have been a part of the Newport Rodeo since it started, with some pretty accomplished competitors over the years.

We talked to as many local riders, ropers, royalty and committeemen as we could, from Washington and Idaho.

Here are some of their memories from the Newport Rodeo.

Greg Seeber STEER WRESTLER

As a kid, I spent countless hours playing in the Newport Rodeo Grounds. I dreamed it was me in that bucking chute on some double rank horse. Then I would say, “Let him out, boys,” and I would go spur the hair off that horse. Then I would come back to reality.

The Newport rodeo was a big part of my life as a kid. Mom and Dan always made sure I had tickets to every performance. I would watch the cowboys and cowgirls make amazing runs, always wishing I was out there with them. It was my favorite part of every summer.

Fifteen years later I was able to make Courtesy photo|Greg Seeber that dream come true, but not in the Newport’s Greg Seeber drops down on his steer at the ProWest Finals rodeo, held in Newport in 1983. Seeber won second at the Finals and finbareback riding. Because of my size, ished fifth for the year, capping a great year before his hometown fans. Today Seeber runs Seeber’s Pharmacy.

I did not make a very good bareback rider, but it sure was an advantage in moved me to fifth place in the ProWest the steer wrestling. My friend, Tom steer wrestling standing for the season.

Swannack, won the steer wrestling, For 12 years rodeo was all I did durbut I was able to place sixth. Sixth ing my summers. After I got married RODEO QUEEN, place doesn’t pay very much, but it and had a couple kids, I realized that it BARREL RACER, TIMER was a check from the Newport Rodeo. was hard to be gone all summer away It was everything I had imagined as from my family. The long days of travPicking rocks out of the a kid. The first time at the hometown eling to rodeos in the Northwest and Newport arena is one of rodeo was great!

Canada were starting to wear on me. my earliest memories of the My favorite memory of the Newport So, after a really good 2004 season, I Newport Rodeo. Over the Rodeo is of the ProWest Finals held in sold my steer wrestling horse to one years I have picked thousands Newport in 1995. After a long season of my traveling partners and stayed of rocks, painted seats, helped of going to every rodeo I could travel home. I still rope with my good friend put together the portable to, I was lucky to be in the top 10 and Doug Jared all summer, but mainly grandstands and sold T-shirts. make the finals. There I was in the fistay in the practice pen. We go to a As I got older, I barrel raced, nals in my hometown. It was awesome! few jackpot ropings, but not too much was in the panty pull with Courtesy photo|Pat’s Picture Shop I was riding a good horse owned by traveling. my sister and was chosen the Lola Earl, as she was known then, was the new Queen of the Dusty Kimble called Grumbley. I drew Newport has always been a wonderNewport Rodeo Queen. When Newport Rodeo in 1973. She is shown here with her older two really good steers that weekend. ful rodeo, with lots of good memories.

I was Queen, my brother Phil brother, the late Phil Earl. Today she works as a speech Dusty hazed great and Grumbley ran Hopefully, nothing changes and by the was the association president, therapist for the Newport School District. hard, which allowed me to be third time my kids enter their first Newport which made my reign even in both go-rounds and second in the Rodeo, they will have the same wonmore special.

Cusick. My dad was an original rodeo asaverage. The money I won at the Finals derful experiences I had.

The Newport Rodeo has been a family affair since it moved to Newport from CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Lola Rickey

4 Horizon| 2014 Summer

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

sociation member and carried the American flag every year for 40 years. Both my brothers have been rodeo association members and contestants. My sister was a past queen and competed in barrel racing.

My nieces, nephew and brother-in-law have also competed at the Newport rodeo.

My mom did not ride, but she made it possible for the rest of us to be where we needed to be and looking our best.

I am now a timer for ProWest Rodeo Association and I have had the privilege to time at the Newport Rodeo for several years. I am very proud to be a member of the Newport Rodeo Association and serve as their Queen Coordinator with Ricki Worley. We, the Earl Family, feel very honored to be named the Grand Marshals of the 2014 Newport Parade.

Tommy Petrie

town. It was a big outing with my family and still is. I always thought it would be great to ride saddle bronc or bareback at Newport in front of an almost hometown (I’m from Cusick) crowd.

Eventually it turned into a ProWest show and a lot easier for a wanna-be like me to enter. I rode at Newport a number of times in both events and won about as much money doing it as I will writing this little article. But I had fun and am proud of the fact I added a little “local” aspect to the rodeo, like many others from around our area.

When I first started riding in 1990, a few of us went down to Rockford to ride broncs (or what could have been called spoiled saddle horses) a couple of days a week. Greg Seeber, and Tye Shanholtzer were among that group of guys. This picture was one I ran across from those days. The strained look on my face is from “try.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Courtesy photo|Tommy Petrie

SADDLE BRONC, BAREBACK RIDER

My early memories of the Newport Rodeo were of when it was a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) show and some pretty big names came into

Right: Tommy Petrie used to compete in the bareback and saddle bronc riding at rodeos like Newport and Cusick. These days he is on the production side, heading up the Pend Oreille County Fair Rodeo, held in Cusick, Aug. 16-17.

Summer 2014 |Horizon 5

Courtesy photo|Joyce Montgomery

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Right: While she is better known for her photography these days, in 1982 Joyce Montgomery, then Joyce Anderson, was the Queen of the Newport Rodeo.

She is shown here with Princess Cami Wickwire.

Joyce Montgomery 1982 NEWPORT RODEO QUEEN

As a little girl I always looked forward to the Newport Rodeo. Back then it was called the Pend Oreille County Rodeo held the first weekend in August, and was part of a string of PRCA-sanctioned rodeos in the Northwest. I remember my Dad (Jim Anderson) taking my sister (Jill Anderson, 1987 Queen) and me to the work nights.

Course we got all the fun jobs like hammering in nails and picking up rocks and garbage, but we were always rewarded for our hard work with a soda pop.

I loved the rodeo. There was nothing like it when it rolled into town. The rodeo grounds came alive with cowboys and cowgirls from all over competing for buckles, prize money and bragging rights.

My dream was to be the queen and I would practice all the time. I watched all the queens before me and how amazing they were and how awesome it would be to represent this rodeo that I loved so

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much. To hear the late Bob Chambers call my name out over the speakers as their queen and to watch Joe and Sonny Kelsey sort their stock in preparation for the three big performances here in our town.

I was lucky my dream came true and I reigned as the 1982 Queen along with my princess, Cami Wickwire. It was an amazing year. One I have never forgotten, filled with so many memories. Memories that I shared with my girls, giving my youngest daughter, Courtney, the dream of being the Newport Queen herself. She reigned in 2011.

Rodeo traditions run deep in these small-town rodeos and without generations upon generations of families to volunteer their time and efforts to put on the oldest sport on dirt, history could be lost. I look forward to the Newport Rodeo every year. Now a ProWest-sanctioned rodeo, and two performances, but still the desires and dreams of so many continue to thrive.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Miner photo|Don Gronning

Austin Krogh fought bulls at last year’s rodeo, as well as riding in the ranch bronc riding. Here Krogh, in green, goes in to try to help a bull rider during last year’s Newport Bull-A-Rama.

Courtesy photo|Jack Dunn

Austin Krogh SADDLE BRONC RIDER, BULLFIGHTER, RANCH BRONC RIDER

I started fighting bulls about four years ago for Mel (Layton). I fought bulls last year at the Newport Rodeo. Colton Worely got hung up and I got kicked in the head.

Three years ago I started entering the ranch bronc riding. Last year I was really enthused about saddle bronc riding, so I bought a bronc saddle. I’ll be in two events at the Newport Rodeo – the saddle bronc riding and the ranch bronc riding.

I really look up to Jacob Stacy and Caleb Nichols, two pro bronc riders. Those two have really helped my saddle bronc riding.

He might be a newspaper reporter now, but for years Don Gronning competed as a professional bull rider. Here he is on Oscar at the 1979 Newport Rodeo.

Don Gronning BULL RIDER

When I was a kid I came to the Newport Rodeo with my dad, Gordon Gronning, who was entered in the calf

roping. My most vivid memory that year was watching the great Colville Indian bull rider Larry Condon spur a bull that seemed to me was jumping as high as the stands behind the bucking CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Summer 2014|Horizon 7

Chris Jones

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

chutes.

Later I ended up competing at the Newport Rodeo in the bull riding many times in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s when it was a PRCA rodeo, never winning first but finishing second, third and fourth, if I remember right.

I do remember being behind the chutes the first year I entered looking at the huge bulls from the Joe Kelsey rodeo string and wondering how much I really wanted to do this. It’s a feeling young bull riders must have today when looking at the monster bulls Mel Layton brings to Newport.

I rode more bulls than threw me off at Newport over the years, but the last one was a wreck. In 1984, the National Finals bull Double Clutch jerked me down on his head, striking me in the face with a horn.

It knocked me out and broke five bones in my face, requiring surgery. I saw double for a month.

When I was rodeoing, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

I loved the travel, the adrenalin and the fact that I did something for decades that very few people have the nerve to do. It might not have been the smartest thing to do, but it sure was fun while it lasted.

TIE DOWN ROPER

Courtesy photo|Doug Jared

Right: Doug Jared doesn’t have too many photos of himself competing at Newport, but he has roped here a lot. In this Polaroid photo, he is shown capturing the heels for Keith Magnus in 1978.

Doug Jared TEAM ROPER

Back when it was a PRCA rodeo, Newport didn’t have team roping, so my dad, Russ Jared, and Glen Earl and Bill Bonzer talked the rodeo committee into having a team roping before the rodeo and the top 10 would rope

during the show. They were instrumental in starting team roping in this area.

I roped at Newport for probably 10 or 15 years. I worked in this area and if I missed, I heard about it all year long. They’d say ‘I came here to watch you rope and you missed. I wasted a good ticket.’ When I did good, I didn’t hear anything.

From Newport to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, it takes four types of people to put on a rodeo. Each will argue that he or she is the most important, but the sport of rodeo will come to a screeching halt if we were to ever lose just one. Contestants, Stock Contractors, Spectators, and Committees are the groups, and you can decide which is more important.

Contestants are easily defined, so it seems. They roll into town for one weekend in June, compete in their event and head out. What is not always known is where they came from or where are they going. Now, I’m not talking about where they live, I’m talking about what rodeo they were just at and which one they are going to next.

Contestants will try and compete in as many rodeos in one weekend as they can physically make or afford to compete in. If you are winning you can make more shows, if you are in the middle of a dry spell, you’ll have to slow down. You enter as a group so you can CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 Courtesy photo|Joyce Montgomery

Chris Jones of Newport catches one at the 2011 Newport Rodeo. Jones trained his horse, Trona, a 14-yearold gelding, which turned out to be a top rope horse. Jones, who works as operations manager for the PUD, says Trona is used for a variety of events for his kids, who participate in junior rodeos.

travel together and save some money on fuel or eat a fried burrito from a gas station instead of having a good meal, whatever it takes to stay on the road as long as you possibly can.

Rodeo is very addicting to those of us who have competed. It is unlike any other sport, where your competition will loan you a horse or give you advice to help you win. They’ll shake your hand and congratulate you when you take their money or they’ll give you a hard time when you flat miss the best calf in the pen. Competitors have their own reasons for competing, but if you were to ask them, most would tell you it’s the people they see every weekend.

Stock Contractors are the ones who supply the stock to every rodeo. Again, there are a few things going on behind the scenes that are not thought about.

The majority of the rodeo season lasts four months, which only leaves eight months where you have to continue to feed enough stock to supply a rodeo.

The stock you see at the Newport Rodeo is only a small portion of what the contractor owns. They are always looking for the next great animal. To do this they must continually buy and

sell, and find cowboys to “try out” new and upcoming stock, all along crossing their fingers hoping they made the right choice.

Oh yea, don’t forget the whole pasture of cows needed to supply the calves for the Tie Down Roping and the Breakaway. So if you are looking for hard work with a small payday, being a contractor may be just the ticket.

What defines a spectator? Is it anyone willing to pay a few dollars to come and watch a show? What is more important, their money or their applause? As a committee member, you hope for a good crowd so there will be money in the bank to pay the $40,000-plus in expenses and still have enough money to fix a few broken boards on the holding pens before the next show. However, as a committee member there is nothing better than hearing a Saturday night crowd in Newport. You, the spectator, have been coming year in and year out to support the contestants and the committee. You are the reasons the contestants want to come to Newport. I have been to a lot of rodeos in the Northwest CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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and Newport has the best crowd, bar none. You are the reason why Newport has been voted Rodeo of the Year in the ProWest multiple times. Just this year the Colville Rodeo shut its doors and turned out the lights. There are multiple reasons why this happened, but at the end of the day, it all boils down to spectators. We need you! Come and enjoy the show and support your town.

The Committee is the engine that pulls the train. Anyone can put on a rodeo, but without a committee it won’t last Newport has a committee that has been working together for over 50 years. Some have moved on, but new members have replaced them. All are volunteers, but not all are “cowboys.” They all work to put on a successful show for the remaining three groups and at the end of the day, they work for a “thank you.” Because anyone that has ever volunteered knows what that means, there is satisfaction and a sense of pride in earning those two words. The Newport Rodeo Committee works 365 days a year to bring Newport a two-day rodeo. In a world where the big shows seem to flourish and the smaller shows are dying off, the Newport Rodeo stands strong. It is known as one of the

best rodeos in the Northwest and will continue to grow with the help of our committee.

Have you made your choice? I have had this conversation repeatedly as a contestant, committee member, committee president and ProWest Board member and there is not a clear answer.

All I can say is the great sport of rodeo will not continue without the support of all groups. This year will be the first year in as long as I can remember that I will not be competing in the Newport Rodeo.

My daughters have begun their “rodeo journey” and I will be traveling with them. I can see that I will miss it greatly, but will still be there to help where I can and cheer with the greatest crowd in the Northwest.

Sara Zwarg

grounds for the stick horse racing and carnival rides. When I turned 16, I had the opportunity to try out for Newport Rodeo Queen and was more than honored to carry the title for the 2004 season.

Because I was already traveling to the rodeos as a queen, I decided to compete in the barrel racing, as well. This year will be my tenth year as a competitor at the Newport Rodeo.

The one thing that sticks out to me as a competitor at the Newport Rodeo is riding under the catwalk into a packed arena.

The past two years I feel l have had a few extra fans in the crowd, those fans being my students from Stratton Elementary where I have the opportunity to teach kindergarten and first grade. I have also had the honor of presenting flags during the Grand Entry over the years, still riding my Queen horse Trippy, who now CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

RODEO QUEEN, BARREL RACER

When I was asked to share my experiences of the Newport Rodeo, I immediately thought back to when I was 4 and riding my pony Shorty in the rodeo parade. I was joined by my mom, Debbie, Aunt Myrna, Cousin Leah and numerous other family members.

Afterward, we headed to the rodeo

Courtesy photo|Sara Zwarg

Right: Sara Zwarg makes a run at the Newport Rodeo when she was Rodeo Queen in 2004. In addition to being a rodeo queen, Zwarg also competes in the barrel racing. She’ll compete in her tenth Newport Rodeo this year. For her day job, she teaches kindergarten at Sadie Halstead Elementary School in Newport.

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packs my son Louden down the rodeo trail. I have had some tough luck with horses this last year, but plan on entering the rodeo this year, competing on my 9-year-old gelding Bear Cat. Unlike me, Bear Cat is not a fan of the catwalk, lights or crowd, but we will do our best and hope to see everyone at this year’s rodeo.

The Newport Rodeo is an amazing family event that everyone should have the chance to experience. I want to thank Newport equipment (Steve and Debbie Smith) and Unicep (Marcus Anderson) for sponsoring me in the past and present.

John Swenson RODEO COMMITTEEMAN

I was involved with the rodeo from 1967 until about four years ago. One of the things I used to do was run the chalkboard, going between the judges to get the score so the announcer could tell the crowd. One year I wasn’t looking and Joe Kesley came by with a bronc and about run me over. So I leave that to the younger guys now.

The rodeo takes some work to put on.

We used to start working on the grounds

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Johnson Swenson has been a fixture at the Newport Rodeo for nearly a half-century, handling nearly every aspect of staging the rodeo.

Here he is shown with his familiar chalkboard, used to show the announcer the score.

about Mother’s Day if the weather was good, about Memorial Day if it wasn’t.

I took care of rodeo royalty for about 12 years, handled advance tickets and gate ticket sales for about 15 years, and sold advertising for the program for about 20 years. I ramrodded the show for about 18 years. I remember a lot of good years and a lot of good rodeos.

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Mike Haptonstall SADDLE BRONC, BAREBACK RIDER, CALF ROPER

I don’t think I ever won first, but I placed several times in the bareback and saddle bronc riding. I even placed third in the calf roping here one time. We had huge turnouts then, with multiple world champions coming.

I remember world champion bull rider Donnie Gay flying into the old airport. My wife, Linda, barrel raced here, as well.

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Above: Susan Willenbrock, a city girl, entered the calf panty pull at the 1986 rodeo. In the panty pull, contestants try to put pantyhose on a cantankerous calf. It looks like she is doing better than her partner, Steve Linton.

Susan Willenbrock PANTY PULL CONTESTANT

Courtesy photo|Pat’s Picture Shop

Mike Haptonstall may be better known as a Newport High School teacher and martial arts instructor, but in the 1970s and ‘80s, he was also a pro saddle bronc rider. Here he rides one during the nighttime performance.

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Shortly after moving here in 1986 from Western Washington, I was asked to be in the “Panty Pull,” a new event at the Newport Rodeo. The chamber and rodeo association were working on getting more local business people involved in the show.

I thought, ‘what an honor for a girl from the city who had never even been to a rodeo until moving here.’

Now I was in the rodeo. I could play cowgirl for an evening. I searched for the perfect partner and found Steve Linton. I sought professional advice and found cowboy and pro rodeo roper Phil Earl. Phil demonstrated how to secure the calf in a headlock and emphasized wearing leather gloves so the rope didn’t shred my hands. I found the word shred unnerving; the first sign that this wasn’t going to be a walk through the park.

As we entered the rodeo arena with the crowd roaring and the cowboys laughing on the fences, the little calves huddled helplessly in the corner looked so cute. They had ropes dangling from their necks.

The closer we got, the bigger they

looked. Nobody told me they weighed 300 to 500 pounds and were hardened contestants. They didn’t like people. The calm turned to bolting and bucking madness. It was total mayhem.

It seemed like it took forever to catch one, but once Steve and I did, it was all about hanging on for dear life.

My brave partner Steve put that calf in a headlock.

I pulled on the rope and put the glove in my mouth for some reason: my one hand was holding the rope without a glove: I learned what shredding meant.

I imagine Phil Earl shaking his head behind the fence. Steve took down the calf and moved to the rear to put the pantyhose on. The legs were moving and hooves shredded the nylon.

I felt myself on the rope pulling until the little beast bolted for me, getting right up under my chin. My teeth slammed together biting my tongue. I saw stars and tried to stay standing. I remember the crowd roaring.

We didn’t win. I haven’t tried it again. Steve hasn’t asked me, either.

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Al Earl has had a lot of jobs at the Newport Rodeo. He’s been a contestant, and worked behind the scenes promoting and organizing the rodeo. After he quit competing, he worked as a pickup man, taking riders off their bucking horses at the end of the ride. Here he is shown working at the Newport Rodeo in 1983.

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The Newport Rodeo Committee has always worked to deliver the best entertainment possible. In the beginning, working with Joe Kelsey brought a great deal of respect to the rodeo production here.

After Joe passed away, the Newport Committee knew that to keep their rodeo successful, and to continue providing the spectators and sponsors with a quality event, a change would be needed. The move to sanctioning with the Professional Western Rodeo Association jumped the Newport Rodeo from a small fish (in the national PRCA) into THE big fish in the Northwest rodeo schedule.

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Courtesy photo|Bob Lutz

A prairie dog tries to escape from his cage. Lutz says they are very good problem solvers.

Prairie dogs make perfect weather mascot Sacheen Lake family adopts trio

BY BOB LUTZ CLIMATOLOGIST FROM SACHEEN LAKE

One of the most asked questions when people come into our home for the first time to visit us is: “What is that?”

“That,” I tell them, “is a Texas black-tailed prairie dog.”

Sometimes the next question is why, but more often, they just stand in front of the cage starring in with a puzzled look on their face.

Of course, being the courteous host that I am (excuse me while I clear my throat), I proceed to babble on about why prairie dogs make such good pets and more important, great weather mascots.

But before we get into the basics about PDs, I want to lay out some important points as to why we got one in the first place.

It all started when we began looking for a weather mascot for our traveling weather education program, which we had operational in the late 1990s. The Weather Van Project involved teaching school kids about 14 Horizon| 2014 Summer

weather and weather safety and utilized a unique mobile weather van loaded with special weather observation equipment.

The only thing our program was missing was a mascot.

Now, it does not take a brain surgeon to figure out that a groundhog would make for the perfect weather mascot, so we made contact with the folks back in Punxsutawney, Pa. Long story, but we ended up with one of the offspring from the famous Punxsutawney Phil, but he turned out to be an awfully grumpy and unsociable critter, certainly not one with which we felt comfortable around the kids.

I did a little homework and found out that the PD is a very close cousin to the groundhog with much better social skills. We picked up our first PD, Misty, in 1998 from a breeder and she was a huge hit with the kids. She was a social butterfly, and would even crave attention while travelling in the van with me by sticking her nose through the corner of the cage just enough to get me to pet her.

The school program ended in 2000, but Misty continued to be a huge part of our family until she died of old

age in 2007.

In 2010, we acquired another PD, but he did not last near as long as Misty, due to health issues. Now we find ourselves in uncharted territory with not one, but two new pups, which just arrived from the breeder at the end of May. Now, PDs do not come without their own set of issues.

After all, they are still technically wild animals. The first

All the issues aside, they really do make for great pets, but they do require a lot of maintenance, sort of like a 1970 Ford Pinto. thing that we learned is that if the PD gives you what we commonly call in our household the “butt treatment” (sticking its butt in the air at you), it is an immediate sign to back the heck off. If you don’t, there will be consequences.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

Of course, acting as if I am originally from Missouri (the show-me state), I have a tendency to test these theories, and as a consequence, I have plenty of scars.

All the issues aside, they really do make great pets, but they do require a lot of maintenance, sort of like a 1970 Ford Pinto. (Yes, I used to own one of those, so I know what I’m talking about.)

PDs are not like hamsters or guinea pigs that you can just put in a cage, feed and provide water and otherwise ignore. No, PDs are very social creatures and because of that, they require a lot of attention.

Over the years, I have been asked a lot of questions, some of which I have included in this long article.

What do PDs eat?

I’m convinced that a PD could serve as an effective garbage disposal, however, the proper diet includes plenty of fresh Timothy hay, vegetarian dog kibble, and Bunny Basics adult rabbit food. For treats, we give them plain Cheerios or a piece of sweet potato. As a rule of thumb, it is always best to feed them what they would typically eat in the wild.

Sometimes, especially when upset or hot, they emit a faint skunk-like smell.

The males seem to be worse, but nothing a half case of Lysol can’t take care of. If you keep their cage clean however, the smell is barely noticeable.

What is “bonding”?

A critical phase in the PD-human relationship process is bonding. In fact, we are in the process of bonding with the new pups that just arrived. Bonding is simply the process of getting to know one another. That means spending plenty of quiet time in a small room where they can roam free and investigate you and their surroundings.

It is important to make the PD feel comfortable and not defensive. The process takes about three weeks. Once bonded, you are like a gigantic PD to them. (Isn’t that a scary thought?) They will follow you around like a puppy dog, even when outdoors.

Do they bite once bonded?

Yes, they can. In fact, everyone in our family has been bitten at least once, but nothing too serious. The groundhog bit too, but he was so slow about it you could

Do they have an offensive smell?

Courtesy photo|Bob Lutz

Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle for prairie dogs in captivity. They learn very quickly how to make the wheel spin.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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actually take a nap before he got around to moving his gargantuan head to bite you. The PD, though, is a lot quicker.

Though they are capable of taking a finger off, in captivity they do show a little restraint. If that were not the case, I probably would not have enough fingers left to type this article!

What is their average lifespan?

In the wild, it’s 2-3 years. In captivity, however, they can live up to 12 years, but that requires close supervision in order to keep them from chewing on your live wires and leaping off the highest points of your furniture in an attempt to play a flying squirrel. (They have no depth perception, so it is important to keep them off high objects).

How important is frequent interaction?

As I said, the PD is a social butterfly. In fact, if you don’t interact with them on a regular basis, they could literally die of a broken heart. That is why we decided to get two of them this time so each would have some company when we are not Courtesy photo|Bob Lutz

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

It’s chow time. Keep all your fingers outside of the cage while the prairie dogs eat their dinner.

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home. Like an old TV commercial used to say, “Double your pleasure, double your fun.” (I think I’m really giving away my age here!)

Are PDs mischievous and playful?

Our PDs love to play! They especially love wheels and bells. My wife is convinced that the more we turn up the TV volume, the louder the PDs get.

How destructive are they for an average household?

Very! If left unsupervised, a single PD will make short work of anything made of wood or cloth. If, however, you would like

The PD is a very close cousin to the groundhog, but with much better social skills. to have any of your furniture lowered, just set a PD near the wooden legs and soon your wishes will come true. In addition, your children can literally use the excuse at school that “the PD ate my homework,” because a PD will effectively shred a piece of paper in seconds.

Can they be leash-trained?

Well, that depends on how many times you want to feel their teeth on your skin!

We have leash-trained our PDs in the past, but as I said, once they are bonded to you, they typically stick close by, even when playing outside.

How are they with other pets?

Our PDs seem to love playing with our cats. Now, one would think that a housecat would try to eat the PD, but really, it does not take long for the felines to figure out that the PD is a rodent with an attitude. Not to mention big teeth!

What about vet care?

We are very fortunate to have two vets within 50 miles of Newport that are able to treat PDs. While PDs don’t require any shots or many health check-ups (as long as they are fed properly), they should be “fixed” during their first year, before the winter months hit. If you don’t, they can get awfully grumpy during the rut season. Remember that comment I made that once bonded, you are like a big PD to them? Well, when it comes to mating season … you can figure out the rest of

Courtesy photo|Bob Lutz

Prairie dogs need to bond with their human owners. This little guy, age 13 weeks, peeks out from his temporary home during the first bonding time with Bob Lutz.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

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the story and why fixing your PD is paramount!

What kind of person should own these animals?

That’s easy, a crazy person! No, seriously, anybody who loves animals and has a lot of time, patience, and understanding would make a good adopted human for these beasts.

A final note: Anyone thinking of getting a PD should do some homework, please. While they make great pets, it is important to know how to properly care for them. So many PDs are adopted only to be abused, then left for dead in the wild because people did not know what to expect and how to properly care for them.

Once they bond to a human, they are no longer capable of surviving on their own in the wild. They are truly one of God’s most precious creatures when it comes to being a devoted “family” member in both the wild and in captivity. Many PD owners will tell you that there is “no greater love than that of a prairie dog.”

Courtesy photo|Bob Lutz

After about a week, the bond of trust is built, and you can safely hold them close for lots of affection.

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Courtesy photo|Bob Lutz

Lutz and his prairie dog are almost to the prairie dog “greeting kiss.�

Summer 2014 |Horizon 19

Horizon photo|Desireé Hood

Usk resident Tom Frisque has been collecting post office history for many years. He has collected 17 different Pend Oreille County postcards or postal cancellation stamps. Lenora, Penrith, Dalkena and Tiger are shown here in a collage of his postal collection.

Mailing letters before county even established Small-town post offices are more than a memory

BY DESIREÉ HOOD

The small towns that used to be scattered throughout Pend Oreille County all had one thing in common: post offices.

Mail delivery was often a slow process, coming by steamboats before the railroad was built through the county in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Stamp collectors have spent years searching for proof of these small-town post offices’ existence, looking for the cancellation stamp the post offices used marking where the mail was sent from.

Many small towns had post offices that qualified for this story, but the chosen ones are post offices that no longer exist in Pend Oreille County.

Big Meadows: 20 Horizon| 2014 Summer

The post office at Big Meadows operated for two years, making the proof of existence a little more rare than others. It was established Aug. 4, 1907, and closed Dec. 15, 1909. It was the only post office in the north part of the county not located on the Pend Oreille River. Mart Hamilton was the only postmaster and he rode horseback eight miles to Ione to get the mail.

Blueslide:

The area of Blueslide, about 13 miles south of Ione, was known for its booming sawmill industry in the late 1800s and early 1900s. With no accessible wagon roads, the arrival of the railroad helped the small town boom after 1906. Capt. Elmer Arnold and his family made a homestead in the area that year and a boat and barge landing gave the small community a ferry operation.

On Aug. 8, 1906, a post office was opened in the store operated by the Lassiter family.

Many mysteries surround the Blueslide area from that time. The 1,100-foot Blueslide tunnel, carved through the mountain where the name Blueslide comes from, was constructed in 1909, allowing train passage to Ione, and took six months to complete. Two workers were killed while building the tunnel. The foreman died from a rock fall and a worker was killed during the completion celebration. Shift Boss Eli Anderson disappeared during the celebration and was found three months later in the river. The workers speculated he was involved in an altercation at the party, was shot and dumped into the river.

The workers had already dispersed by this time CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

Horizon photo|Desireé Hood

The Tiger post office opened in 1905 and served the sawmill community in the north end of the county. When logging dwindled and a landslide showed the possibility of gold, the post office survived until 1975.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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Miner photo|Desireé Hood

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

The Penrith post office was built in the small sawmill community in November 1901, but the post office was closed in January 1916.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

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and the death was not investigated. Anderson is buried at Blueslide.

Also at Blueslide, an attempted assassination of Pend Oreille County Prosecuting Attorney Charles Leavy occurred. He was visiting the area because of game violation cases and on July 10, 1915, Leavy and a friend were at the train station when a shot rang out. It hit Leavy in the jaw, shattering his teeth. John Stevens was arrested for the crime, convicted, and eventually died in prison.

Two fires hit the area, in 1917 and 1924, destroying much of the timber, town and sawmills. Many residents moved in the wake of this fire and as the timber industry began to dwindle, the population did as well.

The post office closed Nov. 6, 1926, and the town of Blueslide slowly became a small recreational community with a small resort. The tunnel remains, showing the landscape and the memories of a bustling town from years ago.

Calispell:

Before steamboats plied the Pend Oreille River, the Calispell Trail connected the earliest settlers near current-day Cusick to neighboring Stevens County to the west. Before Pend Oreille County existed, the first post office was established along this trail on Feb. 3, 1887, in an area that was later designated as Pend Oreille County. The post office was established

on the northwest shore of Calispell Lake, which is privately owned today and has since dried up.

The name is spelled “Kalispell” in Idaho and Montana, but “Calispell” in Washington. Mail was received from Kidd, Wash., now known as Chattaroy. This was the only operating post office during the territorial period, with Washington becoming a state in 1889.

The second postmaster, Joseph Harvey, was the first rural mail carrier, offering home delivery for 25 cents per month. He got lost on his first trip out, and with thickening fog, he spent the night in a haystack.

When the growth of Cusick and Usk out-shined Calispell, the post office was closed on Dec. 1, 1916.

Area residents disassembled the former log post office and moved it to the Pend Oreille County Fairgrounds in Cusick.

Camden:

Camden used to boast one of the few post offices in the county that was not sited along the Pend Oreille River where mail was brought by steamboats. Camden, however, sits on the border of Pend Oreille and Spokane counties and the post office sat on bank of the Little Spokane River.

The first post office opened Nov. 12, 1892, and lasted only a year before closing on Nov. 24, 1893.

On Jan. 16, 1896, the post office was reopened with Thomas Stewart as postmaster.

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In 1901, Camden opened its first store and the post office was run out of the log building, with Judge Alex Owen as postmaster. Rumors suggest that the old Owen’s store burned, and William Calhoun operated the post office in his store.

Tragedy struck the small sawmill community on Monday, July 23, 1906. The westbound Great Northern train No. 3 jumped the track about two miles east of Camden. When the train appeared from a tunnel and attempted a sharp curve, it jumped the track and went down a 40-foot embankment into Chain Lake. The engine, coal car, mail car and baggage car were completely submerged and the smoker and day coach partially submerged.

“There was a lot of controversy if all parts of the train were pulled out or not,” local historian Faith McClenny said. “We still get people asking about that. It’s still in people’s minds.”

McClenny said the controversy is over the locomotive or coal car not being recovered after the accident.

Reportedly, 11 people died in the accident, but the conductor’s body was found later, bringing the fatalities to 12. Several passengers were seriously hurt.

The opening of U.S. Highway 2 rerouted traffic around Camden and the town slowly withered. The post office was closed Jan. 31, 1954.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

Cement:

The town of Crandall was located on the Pend Oreille River about two miles south of the former town of Locke. Robert Spenser, the only postmaster for the town, operated a post office from July 22, 1893, to Sept. 29, 1900.

was given the honor of being appointed postmaster

by President Calvin Coolidge. On Jan. 1, 1926, the President appointed Sylvia Kirkland to the office, however, shortly after the appointment, the office was relegated to its former status. The town’s waning prosperity may possibly be the reason for the change. The post office closed on July 31, 1942.

Crescent:

Fremming:

Crandall:

The town of Cement sits just north of and is part of present-day Ione. It was founded in 1901 by Frank Jordan when he was on the search for gold in the north end of the county.

Jordan did not find gold, but he found limestone and quartzite and quickly had dreams of a cement plant. The towns of Ione and Cement quickly became integral parts of each other.

By Feb. 26, 1904, William Weltzine opened a post office in his store. Within two years, there was more than just a store, cement plant and post office, as the population grew.

By 1906, the community of Cement had a school, store and steamboat landing. Jordan soon became entangled in lawsuits over his claim on Cement Mountain and he became suspicious of anyone venturing onto his property. He shot at three men from Spokane who came on his property without permission in 1907. The men were not hurt in the incident.

The Inland Portland Cement Company was in operation in nearby Metaline Falls by 1909 and it was producing cement cheaper than Jordan could. He lost his financial backing and with that, his cement dreams were gone.

The post office stayed in the former cement-producing town but was eventually closed on March 15, 1914.

The town of Crescent, named by the Post Office Department for the crescent-shaped curve of the mountains at that point, was located on the east side of the river between Lost Creek and Tiger. The first post office began Sept. 18, 1906, with Nellie Emery as the first postmaster.

The post office operated until Jan. 25, 1923, before closing its doors on the crescent-shaped mountains.

Dalkena:

The Dalkena Lumber Company operated a mill on the west bank of the Pend Oreille River, and the post office took its name from the mill. Eleven days before Cusick established a post office, on March 20, 1903, the post office opened. The town was platted as Glencoe but the post office was called Dalkena.

The post office was inside the general store of the sawmill. Mail came by boat from Newport on a daily basis.

On April 1, 1924, Dalkena’s postmaster became a Presidential Appointment position, and Joseph Fea

H.E. Fremming established the post office in Fremming, a town located between Newport and Furport on the east side of the Pend Oreille River.

Fremming named the town after his family name and the post office opened Feb. 28, 1909 and operated until July 31, 1911.

Furport:

The last post office in the county to be established was in Furport, about nine miles north of Newport on the east side of the scenic river. Established July 20, 1924, it was the only post office established after the county was created.

Joe Grover was drawn to the area by the abundance of muskrats and he took up a claim, built a store where the post office operated, and trapped and raised muskrats for their pelts. That is how the post office got its name.

Supplying mail to area residents for almost 20 years, the post office closed May 31, 1944.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

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Horizon photo|Desireé Hood

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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Lenora:

The town of Lenora had a post office, established Sept. 16, 1903. The town sat at the mouth of Skookum Creek and operated the post office until Nov. 30, 1912.

Locke:

The first post office in Locke was located in the William Fountain family dining room. Established Sept. 21, 1900, the post office served a sparsely populated area for nine years.

The Idaho and Washington Northern Railroad was built through the town in 1909 and W.T. Burnett moved his family from Spokane and opened a store near the tracks. It became the social center for the community and the post office was moved into his store. After Burnett’s death in 1922, the store changed owners several times before failing. The post office was closed Jan. 31, 1954.

Lost Creek (Yocum):

The area of Lost Creek was settled late in September 1901 by George Honsinger. He was joined by a few others and they called the area “Yocum.” A small store about a half-mile south of the community was started by Lee Bilderback and that is where the first post office was established July 1, 1904.

An altercation between the postmaster and the

boat captain occurred over who was responsible for carrying the mail 100 yards from the river to the post office. It was a steep bank from the boat landing and the contract said the mail carrier, or captain, was responsible for seeing the mail through to the post office. In many cases, the postmaster would meet the boat as a courtesy.

On April 27, 1911, Bilderback gave up the post office and it was moved to Henry Schultz’s Lost River Hotel area and put in his small store. With the move, the name was changed to Lost Creek.

Schultz built a new building to house just the post office, and it operated there until it closed Nov. 15, 1943. This is the only time a post office was renamed in Pend Oreille County, which at the time, was common.

was then Stevens County. Located in the Fertile Valley a few miles southwest of Sacheen Lake, the office did not stay in business long. One of the first post offices in what’s now Pend Oreille County to close, the Rock post office, was discontinued on June 30, 1898.

Ruby:

Penrith:

A small sawmill community was settling around Penrith in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The John Tarbet family settled in Penrith in 1892, and it was followed by others. The post office was established Nov. 1, 1901.

Penrith sat halfway between Newport and Scotia, and despite the location and bustling sawmill community, the post office closed Jan. 14, 1916.

The town of Ruby became known for its ferry operations in the early 1900s. About 32 miles north of Newport, Ruby established a post office Sept. 23, 1903. There were very few people in the area at this time and the post office was operated in Emery Conner’s home.

His cousin, Arthur Brophy, moved to the east side of the river and opened a store in 1906, where the post office was relocated.

In 1913, Thomas Estlick bought Brophy’s store and post office, as well as Conner’s land. A large building was erected and the post office and store were moved there. The building is now called Ruby Mercantile.

The post office operated until Nov. 15, 1943, despite the ferry ceasing operations and logging being discontinuing. The ferry tower collapsed in 1963, leaving the remains of Ruby only a boat launch.

Rock:

Scotia:

Established long before Pend Oreille County, the Rock post office opened on Dec. 28, 1892, in what

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Kaniksu Village Apartments 22 Unit Complex, 1 Bedroom Units Rent based on 30% of your annual income, (HUD Section 8) 109 E. 5th Ave., Metaline Falls, WA EQUAL HOUSING

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TRI-PRO Forest Products is a state-of-the-art lumber manufacturing facility in Oldtown, ID. We manufacture a complete line of lumber products specializing in decking, siding, patterns, and trim.

1122 Hwy 2, Oldtown • (208) 437-2412 26 Horizon| 2014 Summer

• MEDICAL EQUIPMENT: Wheelchairs, Crutches, Walkers & Canes. Bathroom Aids • MEDICAL SUPPLIES: Wound Care, Gloves • ATHLETIC PRODUCTS: Braces, Splints • PRESCRIPTION SERVICES

509-447-2484 • 336 S. Washington Ave.

PPONDERAY NEWSPRINT COMPANY 422767 Highway 20 • Usk, WA 99180

AT PONDERAY NEWSPRINT, WE MAKE DECISIONS WITH TOMORROW IN MIND. WE KNOW THAT OUR LONG-TERM PROFITABILITY DEPENDS ON PRESERVING THE NATURAL RESOURCES IN OUR CARE AND BEING A RESPONSIBLE PARTNER IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE LIVE.

WORKING HARD TO USE OUR FORESTS WISELY Proud to be able to help better utilize our natural resources.

We’re recovering valuable wood fibre from many thousands of tons of material that would previously have been wasted on our forests’ floor.

WOOD FIBRE THROUGH BETTER FOREST UTILIZATION.

Usk Office • 888 445-1732 Colville Office • 509-684-5071 Summer 2014 |Horizon 27

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Drs Edgar Figueroa MD, Jillian Foglesong MD, Julie Moran MD, Jon Wilson DO, Ms Johnathan Steinhart MPH, MD, Mr Jeff Schilt ARNP, We accept all health insurance programs including Medicare and Medicaid and cash.

Sliding cash fee schedule.

Serving Washington & Idaho since 2000 We are here to serve you.

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7 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday-Friday Appointments Call:

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OUR URGENT CARE PROVIDES

convenient, economical care for conditions that can’t wait until your next medical appointment.

The Urgent Care Clinic is available to everyone.

All insurance types are accepted as well as those without medical insurance on a cash basis. Our Urgent Care provides quality care without the high cost of Emergency Room billing.

Open Daily 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. www.dpurgentcare.com • 702 South Park, Deer Park

509-262-9000

Miner Newspaper Order home delivery and you’ll never miss an issue!

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in county address (Pend Oreille, or W. Bonner counties)

3400 a year,

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Newport & Gem State Miner

509-447-2433 • 421 S. Spokane Ave. 28 Horizon| 2014 Summer

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

Until the Great Northern Railroad built the first northern transcontinental railroad through the Scotia Valley in the 1890s, it was little more than trees standing tall in a forest.

Emmanuel Graham and his four sons moved to the area from Spokane Falls once the railway was built in 1892, quickly applying for a post office. It was established Sept. 5, 1892.

Charles Peterson moved to the area in 1901 and opened a small general store and the post office was moved to the store.

By 1936, Scotia had seen mills burn and businesses change hands. U.S. Highway 2 was built and little traffic went through the Scotia Valley anymore. The community faded and the post office closed Nov. 14, 1936.

Tiger:

Tiger was founded on dreams of logging, similar to most other towns in Pend Oreille County. The name comes from George Tiger, mainly for his role in building Caribou Lodge at Sullivan Lake. By the 1890s, with the land surveyed and available for claims, more people were settling in the area.

The town built a schoolhouse in 1902 and three years later, the community banded together again to build a post office and general store.

Emmanuel Yoder was the postmaster.

He also built a three-room “hotel” and rented all three rooms out, leaving him nowhere to sleep until he added a small lean-to on the back of the house.

Tiger prospered until the early 1920s, when a census said 261 people resided there.

But the largest mill in the area closed in the mid-1920s and other mills followed suit. A fire burned Tiger Hill and part of the town in 1931, and in 1937, a massive slide occurred on the same hill. With the slide came the discovery of gold in uncovered areas, and new dreams for area settlers.

The post office was moved closer to the railway tracks in 1910, since the mail no longer came by steamboat. In 1912, a building was constructed for the post office and a new store. That building is now the Tiger Historical Center, after the post office closed Feb. 28, 1975.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

Enjoy Our Lakes and Rivers Be Water-Wise

SMS Community Shuttle SERVICE TO SANDPOINT AND PRIEST RIVER DISCONTINUED EFFECTIVE MARCH 31, 2014

To our Sandpoint and Priest River Passengers: We regret to announce that the Priest River and Sandpoint Community Shuttle providing service to Newport and Spokane will be discontinued effective March 31, 2014. Despite our best efforts and those of others in the community, we were unable to secure sufficient funding to continue the service.

We appreciate the support of the community and want to thank you, our passengers, for riding with us.

Service between Newport and Spokane will continue on a new schedule: Starting April 1, 2014 SPOKANE / NEWPORT Monday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday Depart ............... Howard & Riverside, Downtown Spokane B of A..........6:30AM Arrive / Depart ..... Newport: Safeway .........................................................8:15AM / 8:30AM Arrive ............... Howard & Riverside, Downtown Spokane B of A..........10:15AM Depart ............... Howard & Riverside, Downtown Spokane B of A..........2:00PM Arrive / Depart ..... Newport Safeway ..........................................................4:15PM / 4:30PM Arrive ............... Howard & Riverside, Downtown Spokane B of A..........5:45PM

(509) 447-3131

In the City of Spokane, we pick up or drop off at the Bank of America on Riverside and Howard. Upon request, we can also pick up at the following locations: Spokane International Airport, any of the major Hospitals including VA hospital, NorthTown Mall, Northpoint Wal-Mart, 29th and Regal, Fancher and Sprague or Trent and Fancher.

If you have a disability that prevents you from reaching one of our stops, please call our office to see if we can arrange a pickup at your home.

One-way fares • $3.00 Newport/Spokane Reserve seating has priority. Open seating is available without reservations as capacity allows. To reserve a seat, please call 24-hours in advance or during office hours: 8:30am to 5:00pm.

SMS Community Shuttle, 1-877-264-RIDE(7433) • 509-534-7171 Service is open to the general public. Service is available to all regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or disability. This service meets the requirements of the American’s With Disabilities Act. This service is funded through grants from Washington DOT. Summer 2014 |Horizon 29

Darling home completely remodeled.

Excellent condition. 3 bedrooms 1 bath. New everything in this home.

Custom. Oak Cabinets & Hickory floors. New appliances. 24 x 24 shop/garage. Covered front porch.

Fenced. www.JohnLScott.com/65563 Priced to sell $139,900

Ashton Bay Estates is a community unique to it’s region. Located on the outskirts of Newport WA. Beautiful mountain views. Paved streets.

Street lights. City Water & Sewer. High speed internet. Near the Pend Oreille River and local ski resorts. Come enjoy a rural lifestyle & small town living with all of the amenities of city. Lots starting at $10,000

Privacy & Seclusion! This beautiful cedar home on 14.66 wooded acres with no neighbors. Large 4 bedroom 4 bath home recently remodeled.

Gorgeous kitchen. Large family room. Formal Living & Dining. Large 34 x 48 shop with 2 lean tos plus carport & work shop area. 2 bedroom guest house ADA compliant. Shooting range, wonderful walking trails, camp sites and borders public land at the top. This is your Idaho dream home! www.JohnLScott.com/43514 $429,900

This 4 bedroom 2 bath home has a unique location in town but next to hundreds of acres of forest service land. Convenience of town living with hiking trails right next door. Tri level home has lovely fireplace in living room. 2 bedrooms on 2nd floor and 2 in lower level. Full length back deck. 2 car attached garage. Sprinkler system. Fenced back yard & dog kennel. www.

JohnLScott.com/76338 $189,900 Directions From Newport go north Hwy 20 approx. 1 block. turn left onto Larch. Turn right onto Laurelhurst.

Home on left.

Directions: From Priest River, turn north onto Hwy 57. go approx 5 miles. Turn left onto Barrett Rd (3 sawblades with Barrett on them). Turn right at Barrett Rd sign. 2nd driveway on right. Absolutely no drivebys!

Gorgeous Home & Horse Setup! Top of the line home has scraped birch floors, hickory cabinets, a beautiful floor to ceiling fireplace. Lovely craftsman stone work throughout the home. Kitchen boasts hickory cabinets, granite counters and a warm friendly open atmosphere. Loft family room. 5 bedrooms 3 baths. Full basement. Wrap around decks w/ stone columns. Large barn, pasture, paddock, riding arena & riding trails. Add views of Sacheen Lake & nothing is lacking in this beautiful estate. Tour at www. johnlscott.com/47923 $389,900

Mary Ann Jones,

DB, ABR GRI SRES MaryAnnJones@JohnLScott.com www.maryannjones.johnlscott.com

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509-671-0193

888-234-7355 • 800-546-5570

30 Horizon| 2014 Summer

301 N. Union Ave Newport, WA Office 509-447-3144 Toll FREE 888-234-7355

This property has it all! Large 4000 sq ft home on 20 acres with pond, stream, and views! This property awards total privacy & seclusion near lovely Priest Lake. Five bedrooms 2 1/2 baths.

Recently remodeled.

Oversized attached garage.

Reeder Creek flows through property. 20 beautifully treed acres. Large 72 x 42 Morton shop is any man’s dream. Barn. Outbuildings. www.JohnLScott. com/66498 $389,900

Steal of a deal! Great little business location ready to go. Highway 2 frontage. Good traffic flow. Would make great office or retail space.

Building partially remodeled.

Basement is great for storing inventory & supplies. Minutes from the Pend Oreille River in downtown Priest River. www.

JohnLScott.com/36392 $69,900

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Tweedie:

Tweedie, 10 miles south of Newport, was a small town consisting of a church building, a small general store, a feed store and a post office. Established Nov. 4, 1908, the post office was located inside the general store.

The town was named for Henry Tweedie, a businessman from Quebec, Canada, who settled in the Spring Valley area in 1891. By 1908, a railroad was built through the valley but the town never really prospered. By Nov. 30, 1916, the post office was closed.

The town tried to survive for several more years, but rail service ended in 1950, and the town quickly faded into non-existence.

Editor’s Note: This information was compiled with the help of the Pend Oreille Historical Society and Museum and from the books “History of Pend Oreille County”

by Tony Bamonte and Suzanne Schaeffer Bamonte, and “Pend Oreille County Washington: The Post Offices,” by Alan Patera and Tim Boardman.

August 9th-10th, 2014

Poker Paddle Family Friendly Canoe/Kayak event along the Pend Oreille River Water Trail

Launching from Greg’s Addition in Oldtown, ID and ending 20 miles down river.

Registration available at Greater Newport Area Chamber Office & Pend Oreille County Community Development Department

This ad paid for by City of Newport Hotel/Motel Funding

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“Educate to Participate, in School and in Life”

509-447-3167

Summer 2014 |Horizon 31

Horizon photo|Michelle Nedved

Nick Nickelson has 49,000 hand-tied flies he’s selling to the public.

Local fly tier opens vault of 49,000 flies

BY MICHELLE NEDVED

Nick Nickelson knows how to fish. At age 80, he just filled his limit of kokanee on Spirit Lake last week, and that’s not unusual for him.

He’s willing to share his secrets, though. The Newport residents is opening his “vault” of 49,000 handtied flies he’s made himself over the years, designed specifically for local waters.

A picture on his refrigerator shows him holding a 25-pound northern pike he pulled out of the Pend Oreille River. The biggest fish he’s ever caught was a 140-pound Halibut in Neah Bay. Nickelson has lived in Newport for about 30 years.

The father of two and grandfather of four, lives here 32 Horizon| 2014 Summer

with his wife, Rachael. He is originally from Chanute, Kan., and taught in Priest River when he and his family moved to the area in the in1960s.

He started tying when he moved to Priest River from Iowa. He and his family were driving to the Northwest in 1964, and stopped in Livingston, Mont. His kids, who were 3 and 4 at the time, along with his wife, Rachael, were looking for a place to eat when they came across six women wrapping flies.

Nickelson was already an experienced fly fisherman, and was immediately drawn into the tying of flies.

“I was so fascinated, I decided to tie flies,” he said.

After he learned to tie, Lt. Col. Joel King contacted him about contracting his work with Orvis, a retail and mail order business specializing in high-end fly fishing, hunting and sporting goods.

Nickelson was a music teacher at Newport at the time, and spent his spare time tying flies for Orivs, making about 50 dozen a week. They wanted him to ramp up production to about 75 dozen a week, but it

‘And these flies really perform.’

Rod Stafford Friend

was too much, with his career and family.

The flies were sold mostly in British Columbia, Canada.

After the end of his teaching career he set up his own workshop to create and modify patterns specifiCONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Connecting Diamond Lake, Newport, Oldtown & Priest River to the World

Pend Oreille County Fair August 14th - 17th Adults $6 • 6-12 yrs $2 • 5 & Under FREE

Thursday 12:00 noon - Official Fair Opening, Entertainment all day Friday 9:00am - Dog Show Noon - Apple pie & Monster Cookie Entries Due • 2pm - Judging 6:00-8:00pm - Evening Music by Dave King Saturday All Day Entertainment - Professor Bamboozle 11:00am - 3:00pm - Car Show 4:30-7:00pm Entertainment in the Park by Skookum Creek Music 5:00pm - Fair Barbecue by Owen’s Catering 7:30 - RODEO untill 11:00pm - Family Dance in Park Sunday 1:30 - RODEO

Your Best Internet and Cable Option HD, SD, Digital, Analog Video Packages • • • • • •

INTERNET OPTIONS INCLUDE Cable Broadband DOCSIS II up to 15 x 2.5 Cable Broadband DOCSIS III Available in some areas.

• • • • • •

High Speed Commercial Wireless Limited Areas High Speed Commercial Fiber Priest River

Family Fun for

All Ages

At the Fairgrounds • Hwy 20, Cusick • www.povn.com/pocofair / f

Your Best Internet Source on the PUD Fiber Call Us Now for Details (208) 437-4544 www.conceptcable.com Your Future in Fiber

Summer 2014 |Horizon 33

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32

cally for the Northwest waterways.

“And these flies really perform,” said Rod Stafford, a friend of Nickelson’s.

Many of Nickelson’s are original designs – wet flies, dry flies, each with its own unique proven design and pattern.

Nickelson uses all sorts of materials for his flies. His den walls are lined with different pelts and feathers, including a cow’s tail and beaver fur. While the pelts don’t look as if they’ve been used,

‘I was so fascinated, I decided to tie flies.’

Nick Nickelson Fly Tier

inspection of the underside reveals tiny patches where the individual hairs have been plucked with tweezers.

Nickelson said the trick is to make the flies reminiscent of insects in their various stages of life that are native to where you’re fishing. The further north one fishes, the darker the fly should be, Nickelson. In turn, fishing southern waHorizon photo|Michelle Nedved

CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

This Doc Spratley is a good trolling fly.

Visit Pend Oreille County We offer: • Natural Beauty • Pristine Lakes, Rivers & Public Lands • High Speed Fiber • Retirement at its best or work from home • Reasonable Real Estate & Public Power

Work and Play here

Celebrating C l b 40 years of Serving You! North 6521 Division, Spokane, WA

509-467-8185 Open: Tuesday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

S Closed Sunday & Monday

WE TAKE TRADES!

www.pocedc.org 301 W. Spruce St., Ste. E • Newport, WA (509) 447-5569 • email: jwyrobek@pendoreille.org 34 Horizon| 2014 Summer

Sales • Service • Parts •Accessories We Service All Makes and Models

Visit us at www.spokanepowersports.com p Like us on Facebook

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34

Fly Fishing

Horizon photo|Michelle Nedved

It takes Nickelson about an hour to tie two-dozen flies. At his peak, he was tying four to five hours a day.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

TOP PRICES PAID FOR

H CASARD REW

NEAR NATURE NEAR SPOKANE & PEND OREILLE COUNTY

• ALUMINUM A • STAINLESS STEEL • BRASS • COPPER • LEAD

ACTION Recycling, Inc. Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Saturday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

E. 911 Marietta (East of Hamilton), Spokane • (509) 483-4094 ActionRecycling.com

Little Diamond Lake KOA! Offering the best in RV camping

New RV Pullthru’s w/water & 50 amp • Tent Sites • Spacious Family Lodge Swimming Pool ((Seasonal)) • Hot Tub • Park Fishingg Open • April 18 - October 6, 2014

Directions:

Spokane: From Division St “Y” on north end of town, travel about 27 miles on US 2. Turn left onto Northshore-Diamond Lake Road.

Follow signs for 4 miles Turn left onto McGowen Road. Follow for 1 mile to KOA. Newport: Take US 2 S for about 6 miles. Turn right onto SouthshoreDiamond Lake Road. Follow for 2 miles to Diamond Lake. Turn right onto Northshore Road. Follow for 2 miles Turn right onto McGowen Road, follow for 1 mile to KOA.

800-562-4788 or reserve online @ KOA.com • Just 10 miles South of Newport

1205 N. COUNTRYCLUB DRIVE, DEER PARK, WA 99006

Summer 2014 |Horizon 35

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

Horizon photo|Michelle Nedved

Not all “flies” are actually flies. This little mouse will catch you a fish too.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

Being Smart just got 3x Easier.

The Miner you can’t miss In Print | Online | On The Go

Newport Miner & Gem State Miner Learn about it at www.pendoreillerivervalley.com • 36 Horizon| 2014 Summer

or call 509-447-2433

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36

ters in the U.S. requires lighter flies.

He makes black ants, renegades, nymphs and Doc Spratley (which is a good trolling fly), the sandfly buck, Tellico and Nite Fighter – just to name a few. He created an original Damsel Nymph. A damselfly lays its eggs on the water – the eggs being the “nymph” stage of life.

At his peak, Nickelson was tying four to five hours a day, and can tie about two dozen an hour, depending on the type.

His son is a history teacher and golf coach, along with a junior varsity volleyball coach, in Okanogan. His daughter is a former midwife who is now a hospital administrator in California.

His wife, Rachael, is retired from the Pend Oreille County PUD where she was administrative assistant to the general manager and clerk to the board of commissioners.

He has four grandchildren who also love to fish, as do his kids.

Nickelson’s flies sell for $1 each, or $14 a dozen if he has to mail them.

Call Nickelson at 509-447-4265 or visit www.nickflies.com.

Horizon photo|Michelle Nedved

Nick Nickelson, a 30-year Newport resident, hand ties flies in his home office.

509-684-2569 • 800-533-6518 1-888-343-9355

COLVILLE • SPOKANE

Summer 2014 |Horizon 37

Summer 2014 – Calendar of Events JUNE 21

Junk in my Trunk

Foxwood House, 509-447-2346

JUNE 26

Newport Citywide Barbecue and Hoedown

Organizer, 206-300-6717

JUNE 27-28 Newport Rodeo

Diamond Lake, Priest River, Usk, Laclede, Metaline Falls

JULY 5-7

Run Whatcha’ Brung Organizers, 509-671-7395, 208-964-1982

JULY 11-12

One Act Play Festival

Rodeo President, 360-770-1180

Pend Oreille Playhouse, 509-447-9900

JULY 4

JULY 12-13

Fireworks at

Pend Oreille Valley

Lavender Festival

Organizer, 509-671-0295

JULY 26

Priest River Timber Days

JULY 19

Priest River Chamber, 208-448-2721

Rodeo President, 360-770-1180

Priest River Lawnmower Races

Bull-A-Rama

Priest Lake Huckleberry Festival

Organizer, 208-448-2129

Priest Lake Chamber, 208-443-2525

JULY 26-27

JULY 19-20

Organizer, 509-442-3864

Tri-Town Float Down Organizer, 509-446-2449

JULY 25

Asphalt Angels Hot Neon Nights Car Cruise

Organizer, 208-448-1146

Down River Days

AUGUST 1-3

Kalispel Powwow

Kalispel Tribe, 509-445-1147

AUGUST 2-3

Hydroplane Boat Races, Pend Oreille River State Line Outboard Racing Association, www.slora.com

BUYING CEDAR LOGS Delivered into Naples, Idaho & Swan Lake Landing, St. Maries, Idaho

Trevor Favaro 208-290-4547

(Formerly Welco Lumber) 38 Horizon| 2014 Summer

Summer 2014 – Calendar of Events AUGUST 3

Master Gardeners Garden Tour and Dinner Extension Office, 509-447-2401

AUGUST 8-9

Pend Oreille Valley Relay for Life Organizer, 208-437-0479

AUGUST 9

Pend Oreille Poker Paddle Organizer, 509-447-4821

Vintage Frenzie

Foxwood House, 509-447-2346

AUGUST 14-17

Pend Oreille County Fair and Cusick Rodeo Organizer, 509-445-1433

AUGUST 19-23

Bonner County Fair Director, 208-263-8414

AUGUST 23

Oldtown Lawnmower Races Organizer, 208-448-2129

AUGUST 30-31

Affair On Main Street, Metaline Falls Organizer, 509-446-2449

AUGUST 31

Great Northwest Fall Bike Tour

Organizer, 208-597-5478

AUGUST 31 TO

SEPTEMBER 1 Bob’s Car Show, Newport City Park

Heritage Days at Pend Oreille County Museum

Organizer, 509-447-2015

Pend Oreille County Museum, 509-447-5388

SEPTEMBER 5-7

SEPTEMBER 20 Pend Oreille County Heritage Days in Downtown Newport

Newport Music Festival Organizer, 509-675-6590

Organizer, 206-300-6717

SEPTEMBER 6

Newport Biayakathon

Newport Autumn Bloom 5K/10K Fun Run, Newport

SEPTEMBER 13

SEPTEMBER 27

Organizer, 509-589-1020

Rough Stock Invite, Newport

Newport Hospital Foundation, 509447-7928

Oktoberfest in Historic Downtown Priest River

Rodeo President, 360-770-1180

Priest River Chamber, 208-448-2721

SEPTEMBER 18-19

Head of the Pend Oreille Rowing Regatta

Pend Oreille County

FRE

headrace@netw.com

E

For Co Ne m wp ort and mun ity Ro deo Fan s

GREAT MUSIC • NEWPORT PARK • JUNE 28• 3pm to 6pm BROWN’S MOUNTAIN BOYS (BLUE GRASS) / THE HOWLING GAELS (IRISH TO CELTIC)

SHADE • CARNIVAL OPEN • FOOD VENDORS • FREE PARKING PRODUCED BY THE NEWPORT MUSIC FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION SATURDAY, JUNE 28, BEFORE NEWPORT RODEO, CITY PARK STAGE Paid for by Newport Hotel/Motel Tax

Summer 2014 |Horizon 39

40 Horizon| 2014 Summer