Voice summer 2016

V

Summer 2016

oice

Of the Pend Oreille River Valley

Home & Garden The Big Red Barn Former brothel turns Mexican deli

Introducing Elizabeth Jacobsen PA-C 16 years of dermatology experience

LLC

Serving Washington & Idaho since 2000

A C O N S T R U C T I O N C O M PA N Y

C O M F O R T

E L E G A N C E

Now seeing patients in our Spokane Valley office and in Colville.

F U N C T I O N

new construction remodels additions

509-447-5541 / 509-671-0406

www.varnoconstruction.com WA Lic# VARNOL*896K6 ID Lic# RCE-32589

Serving this Tri-County Area for over 23 years Your Community Lender Cheryl M. Lipp, Loan Officer 509 684-6885 • 509 680-1597 309 South Main St., Colville email: cheryl.lipp@academy.cc www.academymortgage.com/cheryllip

Professional Service • Stylish • Affordable 2016 Colville Chamber of Commerce’s BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

279 South Main Street, Colville, WA 509-684-4491 www.Saundrasfurniture.com 2

I take pride in my customer’s who become life-long friends.

Step back in time

RRide id our restored t d antique ti train. t i Tour millennia-old Gardner Cave.

Watch tundra swans herald spring.

Paddle the Pend Oreille River.

Camp in the wilderness.

Pend P d Oreille O ill Ri River Tourism Alliance www.porta-us.com Summer Voice

new horizons

W

elcome to Voice of the Pend Oreille River Valley. This is the first issue of Voice, a quarterly publication produced by The Miner Newspapers. It’s a bigger, brighter version of Horizon, which The Miner will be retiring.

Speaking of breathing new life into something tried and true, there are four structures in the Pend Oreille River Valley that in recent years, have gone under major transformations: a big red barn in Priest River, a small home in the Pend Oreille River, a grand home in Newport and a rumored former brothel in Oldtown.

Residents here work hard, and we’ve found some people who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and work up some elbow grease to make what once was new beautiful again.

We truly enjoyed this revamp and hope you do too.

-MCN

INDEX RIVERFRONT HOME A HAVEN FOR OWNERS PAGE 4

FOUR SQUARE BEAUTY GETS NEW LIFE IN NEWPORT PAGE 10

THE BIG RED BARN BROUGHT BACK PAGE 18

OLDTOWN BROTHEL TURNS MEXICAN DELI PAGE 24

SUMMER CALENDAR OF EVENTS PAGE 30

Voice Published: June 2016 Publisher: Michelle Nedved Writers & editors: Sophia Aldous and Don Gronning Design: Brad Thew and Pandi Gruver Advertising: Lindsay Guscott, Cindy Boober and Micki Brass

Summer Voice

VOICE is published quarterly as a supplement to The Newport Miner and Gem State Miner, 421 S. Spokane, Newport WA 99156.

TELEPHONE: 509-447-2433 EMAIL: minernews@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

3

Mudroom with a view

Yard work creates haven for couple

By Sophia Aldous

VOICE photo|Sophia Aldous

A pergola serves as shading for the patio, with grape vines slowly growing their way up the sides and into the rafters.

4

Summer Voice

voice photo|Sophia Aldous

A garden shelf that Jacobson made holds peppers, tomatoes, and flowers. The shelf was originally meant to be a ladder, but Jacobson, an amateur welder, accidentally made it too heavy. “Now it has a different use,” he chuckles. “Live and learn.” An antique sled that Weber’s sister gave to her also serves as a plant shelf.

“

When we first started, she told me to keep it simple so she wouldn’t have to do a lot of work,” says Karl Jacobson, surveying the front yard he and his girlfriend, Sharon Weber, started developing five years ago. Looking over the verdant flora and selectively placed yard art, he gives a small,

voice photo|Sophia Aldous

Mudroom with a view: The couple’s cat, George, is oblivious to all except the sunshine on his sleeping spot.

joking smile. “I said, ‘Sure, no problem.’ I lied.”

The couple’s home, which they purchased a little over five years ago on Stanley Road about four miles outside of Newport, was built in the early sixties and offers a picturesque view of the Pend Oreille River.

However, it’s the mudroom that Jacobson says he most often goes to drink his morning coffee and look out on the outdoor space he and Weber have

created together. The result is a yard that invites visitors to recline and relax, with seating in a small grove of aspen that were already on the property when Weber and Jacobson purchased it, a fire pit, and a pergola festooned with the beginnings of table grape vines. The couple were inspired to build it after a trip to Greece to visit Jacobson’s son in the Continued on page 6

Miner photo|Sophia Aldous

Two chairs invite people to take shade in a cluster of aspens. Instead of cutting the trees down when they purchased the property, Weber and Jacobson incorporated them into the landscaping.

Summer Voice

5

Law Office of

Denise Stewart Wills • Trusts Probate • Medicaid Business Powers of Attorney 418 W 3rd St. Newport, WA (509) 447-3242

6

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

Jacobson stands on the front porch, next to the railing made from an old wheel purchased at Petticoat Junction in Newport. The remaining part of the wheel that Jacobson cut off was spray painted a dark green and serves as a small garden fence for daisies.

From Page 5

Peace Corps. Blown glass balls and a wind chime that they made from a fish hook they found in Hawaii, and prayer bells they purchased in Turkey, hang from the pergola’s rafters, which Jacobson built with locally purchased lumber.

“I’m more into hardscaping and Sharon is more into the flowers and finding the right plants,” Jacobson says.

The resulting effect combines Weber and Jacobson’s individual tastes in a way that looks effortless and welcoming.

Lush ferns, daisies, honeysuckle, hostas, weeping pines Continued on page 8

Summer Voice

Courtesy photos|Karl Jacobson

Jacobson and Weber’s yard before flower beds.

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 Summer Voice

7

“Don’t be

Surprised!”

Assisted living might surprise you!

It is not giving up your life as you know it; it is stepping up to a new, vibrant, creative and safe lifestyle.

Parkview Senior Living is a small caring community in Colville that provides a warm, friendly and safe environment with a full complement of support services. Call today for a free lunch and tour. 509-684-5677

Recycle Today For A Better Tomorrow PAYING CASH!*

*In accordance with WA State Law

• Copper • Brass • Aluminum Stainless • Aluminum Cans • Batteries • Radiators

Du-Mor Recycling

• Computers • Monitors • Cardboard • Iron • Newspaper

N 6404 Perry • Spokane (509) 489-6482 One block north of Francis, 14 blocks east of Division

FREE recycling of: COMPUTERS MONITORS LAPTOPS TELEVISIONS PEND OREILLE COUNTY SOLID WASTE E-CYCLE Drop off E-cycle at any Transfer Station

509-447-4513

PROPANE SALES Serving Pend Oreille & Bonner Counties Since 1996

CENEX HARVEST STATES (509) 534-0470 • www.cnxhs.com

8

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

Lilies grow at Jacobson and Weber’s home. Jacobson creates the hardscape and Weber chooses the flowers and plants.

From Page 7

and Japanese maples are among the plants guests at the couple’s home will see, along with burned out stumps Jacobson found in the woods and reassembled to make it appear as if the old trees have always grown near their home. A huge, antique wheel from an old piece of farming equipment serves as the front porch railing. Jacobson used a plasma cuter to cut the bottom of the wheel off and bolted it to the bottom of the deck, giving the impression that the wheel is rolling through the wood like water, as opposed to leaning against it or sitting on top of it.

“It’s really handy to have a neighbor that teaches you how to weld,” Jacobson says, adding that he used welded rebar to hold a stump together that is six-feet tall and resides next to the newly constructed fire pit. Another aged stump has clematis growing out of its center, lending a touch of the delicate to the rustic. A couple of colorful glass doves nestled along a walkway also serve as a conversation starter. Jacobson brought the figurines back from a trip he and Weber made to Cappadocia, Turkey, in 2014.

“We just happened to meet this couple who made these beautiful glass ornaments and they lived in what was basically a pigeon coop built into the side of this hill,” says Jacobson. “They were totally off the grid, living in this tiny house, just doing their thing making these incredible birds. It was a really cool trip.”

For all the labor Jacobson and Weber have put into the area surrounding their house, it never seems as if it’s something the pair is beholden to when Jacobsen talks about it. It’s not a project that rules their lives or a case of “Keeping up with the Joneses.” The space is a small reflection of who they are as a couple and as two separate people, coming together to fashion a home.

“It seems like with all the nasty crap going on in the world, you have to have a happy place you can come to,” Jacobson says.

Summer Voice

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

The front yard is both a retreat and a gathering place.

2878 3500

Summer Voice

9

A labor of love

Newport couple uncovers original beauty of grand home

By Michelle Nedved

10

Summer Voice

I

t took three years to make Nancy and Geoffrey Thompson’s house what it is today, and

boy was it worth it. The Thompsons bought the American Four Square home in Newport on the corner of Fourth and Cass in 2011. They scraped and stripped, re-sheet rocked and primed, reinforced and shellacked.

Voice photo|Michelle Nedved

The Thompsons gutted the kitchen, and covered a chimney up with cabinets. They moved a wall, and the gourmet kitchen now features a stainless steal apron sink, double ovens, and a gas range.

Left: Nancy and Geoffrey Thompson, inset, bought the home on the corner of Fourth and Cass in Newport in 2011.

“I never wanted to buy this house,” Geoffrey said. He and Nancy had owned The Cottage Garden nursery in Spring Valley, and one day Nancy came home from her job at the Pend Oreille PUD, and told Geoffrey the house in Newport was for sale. It took some convincing – and some tears – before Geoffrey agreed to buy the house. Then the work began.

“Three weeks into it, Nancy said ‘let’s get rid of this house,’” Geoffrey said. But they kept at it, and what they have now is a fully restored 1909 Victorian themed home. The only room that is not true to the period, aside from bathrooms, is the kitchen, which they gutted. It’s now equipped with a stainless steal apron sink, double wall ovens and a propane stove top.

Geoffrey was in charge of planning the kitchen, as he’s the cook.

“The whole house is back to original, except for the kitchen and bathrooms,” he said.

Little is known about the history of the house. The time capsule taken out of the Pend Oreille County Courthouse during the county’s centennial celebration in 2011 included a pamphlet with a photo of the house, noted as being the Krause home, but no other mention of it.

The most recent homeowners included the Burroughs, owners of the print shop that is now Petroglyph.

When Gary passed away in the 1990s, his wife sold the home. Chris Continued on page 13

Courtesy photo|Nancy Thompson

Your “Single Source” Supplier for Safety

BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND LAKE HOME 190 Woodland Drive Diamond Lake

• Eye Protection • Fire Protection • First Aid Supplies • Protective Clothing Including Hard Hats & Gloves

$274,950 Jack Morse, CRS, GRI Managing Broker

Call the Experts at OXARC Safety now!

Mike Standley

509-535-7794 Ext. 3161

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY PRODUCTS FOR YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS

Summer Voice

Premier Properties Director Windermere North LLC 25 Years Real Estate Sales in Spokane www.JackMorse.com

509-994-0030 11

Voice photo|Michelle Nedved

Courtesy photo|Nancy Thompson

The Thompsons used a heat gun to strip paint off all the woodwork in the home, including pocket doors between the dining room and living room.

12

Summer Voice

“Like it never happened” Lifetime Guarantee • Loaner Cars All Insurance Accepted Free Estimates Voice photo|Michelle Nedved

The home features original hardwood floors throughout and massive moldings.

Newport, WA • 509-447-4225 www.rogersbodyandframe.com

from page 11

and Laurie Hartman then bought the house and owned it for 10 years before putting it on the market. The Thompsons bought it from them.

The Thompsons continued to run the nursery and live in their home on Spring Valley while Geoffrey and his son Terry began working on the Newport house. Terry lived on the third floor while helping with the house.

The entire exterior was hand scraped. Small portions of the siding had to be replaced, and Varno Construction installed a new roof. Jason Lindberg refinished the hardwood floors throughout the house. Holes in the floor from the heating system were patched with plywood. Lindberg was able to match the original wood and patches disappeared.

Other than the roof and the floors, the Thompsons did all the work themselves.

“We used lots of elbow grease,” Nancy said.

On the inside, all of the woodwork was covered in years’ worth of paint, and the walls were covered in layers and layers of wallpaper. The Thompsons scraped and stripped all the wallpaper and paint, restoring the woodwork to its original wood. It took 20 different stains to mix and match to finally get the right color, Geoffrey said.

All the woodwork is shellacked, a resin secreted by the female lac bug, on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. Needless to say, it’s not cheap.

Most of the walls are papered, in period appropriate wallpaper. They hired someone to wallpaper the dining room, but after watching her, they taught themselves to hang paper and did the rest of the home themselves.

The Thompsons replaced plastic light fixtures with antique fixtures, including four slip shade sconces from the 1920s they found on eBay. They restored or installed picture rails throughout each room. When homes were built with plaster and Continued on page 14

Summer Voice

Units Available

NOW!

Kaniksu Village Apartments Affordable housing for: Families, Seniors, & Disabled Rent based on 30% of income

109 E. 5th Ave., Metaline Falls, WA

(509) 446-4100 EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

13

Courtesy photo|Nancy Thompson

The wood on the exterior of the home had layers of paint that began to peel. The Thompsons stripped the exterior by hand and repainted.

Voice photo|Michelle Nedved

The corner of an upstairs bedroom is suspended above the grand staircase.

from page 13

lath walls, like the Thompsons’ home, photos had to be hung from wooden moldings to prevent cracking.

The dining room and den are the only rooms that the Thompsons didn’t sheet rock over the plaster.

The Thompsons jacked up the front porch and reinforced its foundation.

They found that floor joists in the basement were cut out to install ductwork, which had to be repaired.

Continued on page 17

Dial-A-Ride

Public Transportation between Usk, Cusick, Kalispel Wellness Center and Newport Monday-Thursday

Newport to Wellness Center

Location Departure Safeway 6:30 AM (Arrives Wellness Center 7:00 AM) Safeway 9:05 AM (Arrives Wellness Center 9:45 AM) Safeway 10:50 AM Ben Franklin 10:53 AM Food Fresh 10:55 AM (Arrives Wellness Center 11:35 AM) Safeway 1:10 PM Ben Franklin 1:13 PM Food Fresh 1:15 PM (Arrives Wellness Center 2:10 PM) Safeway 2:50 PM Ben Franklin 2:53 PM Food Fresh 2:55 PM (Arrives Wellness Center 3:30 PM) Safeway 4:20 PM Ben Franklin 4:23 PM Food Fresh 4:25 PM (Arrives Wellness Center 5:00 PM)

Wellness Center to Newport

Location Wellness Center Arrives Safeway Wellness Center Safeway Ben Franklin Food Fresh Wellness Center Safeway Ben Franklin Food Fresh Wellness Center Safeway Ben Franklin Food Fresh Wellness Center Safeway Ben Franklin Food Fresh Wellness Center Safeway

Rural Resources Transportation will not discriminate because of race, religion, color, gender, pregnancy, age (including those over 40), national origin (including ancestry), ethnicity, disability (as defined in the federal Americans with Disabilities Act), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal or state law. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

14

Departure 7:05 AM 7:35 AM 10:00 AM 10:50 AM 10:53 AM 10:55 AM 11:40 AM (Arrives) 12:20 PM 12:23 PM 12:25 PM 2:15 PM 2:50 PM 2:53 PM 2:55 PM 3:35 PM 4:20 PM 4:23 PM 4:25 PM 5:05 PM 5:30 PM

1-800-776-9026 • 509-684-2961

Call the day before to schedule your ride.

No

akes Dock & Ba L n r e rg rth Kevin Hansen (208) 428-0505 • (208) 290-2319

e

DOCKS - NEW & REBUILD PILE DRIVING WATER FRONT ENHANCEMENT RIPRAP/ SAND & GRAVEL BARGE SERVICE RCE-4625

Summer Voice

t t a a e g r n i G p p s i o h BEN S FRANKLIN

• Convenience • Savings • Variety

BEN FRANKLIN® OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

Mon - Sat 8 am - 7 pm • Sun 9 am - 6 pm Your locally owned and operated Variety Store

(208) 437-4822

201 East 4th Street North • Oldtown Voice photo|Michelle Nedved

The Thompsons’ bedroom features maroon floral wallpaper, hardwood floors and a picture rail.

facebook.com/bfoldtown

Vaagen Bros. Lumber, Inc.

Colville: 509-684-5071 Usk: 888-445-1732

Summer Voice

15

Parker & Sons

1-800-545-2173 Our Mobile Unit Will Come to You in Pend Oreille County “Repair First, Replace When Necessary”

Quality Service Since 1980

The Talk of the Town

Miner THE

Your Community Newspapers

“Your Comprehensive Home Health Care Center and Local Pharmacy.”

• 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.

GoGriz!

Newport Consolidated School District 509-447-3167

Get The Miner delivered to your mailbox each week!

Contact us to get your subscription now!

(509) 447-2433 421 S. Spokane Ave. 16

Paid for by Hotel/Motel Tax dollars Summer Voice

Voice photo|Michelle Nedved

The dining room was the first room the Thompsons worked on, and is one of only two rooms they didn’t sheet rock over the plaster and lath walls.

Courtesy photo|Nancy Thompson

from page 14

“Most of the rooms are not square anymore,” Nancy said.

The home appears to have been built from a Sears Roebuck Home Builders Catalog. In the early 1900s, homes could be ordered from a catalog and a kit delivered to be constructed. Fixtures and hardware could also be ordered.

The Thompsons were hoping to find old artifacts – or money – in the walls, but the only thing they found was an empty whiskey bottle in the wall of an upstairs bedroom.

Now that both Nancy and Geoffrey are retired, and a majority of the work is done on the house, they’re taking some time to enjoy it. But, as any homeowner knows, the work is never done. They next plan to finish the basement with a “man cave” for Geoffrey.

The Thompsons are proud of the work they’ve done, as they should be.

There’s been sweat and tears for sure, and most likely some blood too, but their home on Fourth and Cass is truly a work of art, and will stand proud for another 100-plus years.

Pend Oreille County Historical Society and Museum 4 acres of exhibits & grounds featuring early day history of northeast Washington state.

Full research archival department.

Open 10am to 4pm Monday through Saturday and Sundays 1pm to 4pm.

Museum Admission $2.00 Children under 13 accompanied by adult free.

CERTAIN BENCHMARKS OF INNOVATION HAVE TRULY CHANGED THE INDUSTRY. Aerocet floats are among those. Our floats are designed better, made smarter and last longer. With hybrid composite materials you get “on the step” faster, fast can carry more cargo carg and they’re FAA certifi cert ed. When you’re ready read to take off, we’re here he to elevate the experience.

50 Year Celebration Sept 17th • 11am - 2pm Activities • Displays Volunteer Opportunities No charge Sept 17th

Summer Voice

Information (509) 447-5388

208.448.0400 :: AerocetFloatFlying.com 17

History lives on in Kaniksu Stock Ranch

By Sophia Aldous

18

Summer Voice

Courtesy photo|Naida Miller

A shot of the Kaniksu Stock Ranch in 1935.

A

local landmark is receiving more than just a facelift. The Kaniksu Stock Ranch, long a symbol of area agriculture and history, is here to stay if businessman John Connolly and his business partner, Terry Johnson of Brookings, Ore., has anything to say about it. The two men have put around $50,000 to $60,000 in completely restoring the 40-foot by 120-foot edifice, which was built in 1934 and is about

65-feet tall. New siding, windows, doors, rain gutters on both sides, a new paint job, electrical---the structure is being completely revitalized to its former glory.

“It was pretty hard to miss this place back in the day,” Connolly says, adding that East Settlement Road that runs adjacent to the ranch used to be the main highway to Sandpoint, Idaho before the construction of Hwy. 2. “It’s an unmistakable landmark to a lot of people in this area.”

The infrastructure of the barn is all original wood logged from the Pend Oreille Valley area. The con-

tractor for the restoration is Bellah’s Custom Homes Inc. of Coolin, Idaho.

The ranch, which is 116-yers old, was in the Anselmo family for four generations, deeded to Charles Anselmo by the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1901 after he had leased the land in the early 1890s. Anselmo, who immigrated to the United States in 1863 from Grimaldi, Italy, was the first Italian to settle in Priest River, according to his granddaughter, Naida Miller. Miller was born on the Kaniksu Stock Ranch in 1937 and now lives in Sandpoint.

Continued on page 20

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

The Kaniksu Stock Ranch now, residing on land locals refer to as “The Settlement.”

Summer Voice

19

Stay for an evening (Nightly rates low as $105.00)

Play in the Afternoon

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

John Connolly (far right) prepares to help put on a new door on the barn’s north end with workmen from Bellah’s Custom Homes, Inc. of Coolin.

Mini Golf 8am-9pm

Public Rates $5 per person Registered Guests $2 per person

From Page 19

www.stoneridgeresort.com

208-437-2451

20

“When my grandpa came to own it, it was 108–acres and known as the Italian Settlement,” Miller says. “The railroad bought his ticket to America from Italy in exchange for working for them one year without pay.”

The ranch, along with neighboring Gold Cup Ranch, owned by Frank Jachetta, was almost converted into a golf course via a proposal by Diamond Pine developers in 2000. Diamond Pine had purchased a combined total of over 800-acres from both families.

However, the stock market crash in 2008 stymied the plans and put the land on the real estate market. Connolly and Johnson purchased it in 2012. Connolly says they currently rent out several homes on the property and lease farmland.

Continued on page 23

Summer Voice

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

The original John Deere tags still hold their place at the former John Deere store that is one of the stock ranch’s outbuildings.

H & D DIESEL, INC. Over 20 Years Roadside Service CAT Dealer Experience Licensed • Insured

Counseling Services Available for ALL County Residents Delivering a full continuum of behavioral healthcare services. Clinicians are qualified professionals with the credentials and experience needed to work successfully with their clients. Fees: Services are covered by Medicaid, private pay, insurance and/or sliding scale fee (eligibility requirements must be met).

If you think you will have difficulty making an assessment or counseling sessions due to lack of transportation, let us know, we may be able to help.

All assessments by aappointment ONLY.

877-447-4699 ROD HILDEN

9381 Coyote Trail Phone (509) 447-4699 Newport, WA

Summer Voice

Pend Oreille County Counseling Services

105 South Garden Ave. Newport

(509) 447-5651 or 800-404-5151

Mental Health Crisis Services available 24/7.

After 4:30pm and weekends, call 866-847-8540

21

NEED A LIFT? SPOKANE / NEWPORT

Community Shuttle

SPECIAL MOBILITY SERVICES Monday • Wednesday • Thursday • Friday

A.M. ARRIVE 6:30 AM 8:15 AM 10:15 AM

DEPART Spokane: Bank of America Howard & Riverside 6:35 AM Newport: Safeway 8:30 AM Spokane Bank of America Howard & Riverside

P.M. ARRIVE

DEPART

2:00 PM

Spokane: Bank of America Howard & Riverside 2:05 PM

4:15 PM

Newport: Safeway

5:45 PM

Spokane: Bank of America

4:30 PM

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 $5.00 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

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.

22

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

One of two haylofts in the second story of the barn. The vaulted ceilings and beams are all original wood.

Summer Voice

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

Rolling farmland surrounds the barn. The land is still leased for agriculture.

From Page 20

He admits that there has been a lot of curiosity from people regarding what he and Johnson plan to do after the restoration of the barn, and its outbuildings is complete.

“We honestly don’t know yet,” Connolly says. “I’ve had several people make suggestions, but we haven’t decided on anything concrete yet. “The aim right now is to get it done.”

The outbuildings include a former slaughterhouse, bunkhouse for ranch hands, and a former John Deere store right across the road. The original supply tags from the 1920s still mark supply shelves in the store.

“It makes me so happy, so pleased,” says Miller of the barn’s return to its former glory. “They are doing such a good job. It’s back to original color, just like it was. I had a wonderful childhood on that ranch.”

Though Connolly, who also owns Priest River Glass, is casual and goodnatured about the project, there also seems to be a sense of reverence when the subject of the ranch is brought up.

“We live in such a beautiful place, and this (barn) is a part of that,” Connolly says. “There are days I just look at it and am awed by it. It’s incredible. Who wouldn’t want to try and preserve that?”

Need to know about. . .

• Building Permits?

• Shoreline Permits?

• Land Use Applications?

• Building Inspection Scheduling?

• Planning Commission and Park Board?

• Water Trails Development?

FIND YOUR PERFECT COLOR.

26 SELKIRK K

We’re here to help!

Pend Oreille County Community Development • 509-447-4821

Summer Voice

“YOUR HOMETOWN DIFFERENCE” East end of the Oldtown bridge, Oldtown, Idaho - 208.437.5669 Open 7 days a week from 7am to 6pm

23

Former brothel turning into deli

By Don Gronning

Voice photo|Don Gronning

Darlin and Carlos Sanchez in the home next to the Oldtown City Hall they’re turning into a Mexican food deli. They hope to have Mama Sanchez’s Taquería open in August.

24

Summer Voice

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

Trevor Favaro 208-290-4547

(Formerly Welco Lumber)

Voice photo|Don Gronning

The inside of the taquería will be decorated with things like this rustic iron wall decoration.

B

101 Roberts Ave., Chewelah, WA • (509) 935-8829

ack in the day, Oldtown was a pretty happening place, with more than 30 bars and many brothels.

Newport had the regular businesses and Oldtown ended up with more colorful businesses.

“That’s because they stole our post office,” Oldtown Mayor Lonnie Orr says. He says when it became known where the railroad depot was going to be located, the post office was moved.

Visit us in our New Location Downtown Chewelah!

Lawn & Garden Mowers, Tractors, Snow Blowers

www.hartillstractorequipment.com w w.hartillstractorequipment.com

“We ended up on the wrong side of the tracks, so to speak,” Orr says.

An application to the National Park Service for a Newport home to become a historic site had some words about the origin of Newport and Oldtown.

“Local homesteaders believed that the steamboats operating out of nearby

A hint of the town’s dual character can be found in this 1904 description of Newport.

Albeni Falls, Idaho, would soon choose the vicinity of Kelly’s store as their new landing and bestowed the name ‘Newport’ on the small settlement,” the applicant wrote. “Various establishments such as a blacksmith shop, a hotel, and several saloons sprang up around Kelly’s Landing, or Newport, Idaho.

However, at the same time, a second small settlement was also growing, located slightly to the southwest, across the river in Washington.”

In 1901, the post office was moved from Kootenai County, Idaho, 3,175 feet to the southwest into Stevens County, Wash.

“The reason for wiping the town of Newport, Idaho, off the map and replacing it with the town of Newport, Washington, is not entirely clear. Local

4 WD Tractors from 22 HP to 90 HP Many Cab Tractor options

Continued on page 26

Summer Voice

25

From Page 25

lore describes the river landing of Newport, Idaho, as the part of town, which housed saloons and brothels, while the more ‘respectable’ business interests were located in Newport, Washington.”

A hint of the town’s dual character can be found in this 1904 description of Newport, “At present, the post office, depot, and nearly all the business houses are in Washington; the docks still in Idaho. It is a state line town in every sense of the word.”

Oldtown made the best of it, using shoestring annexation to bring in anything bordering the highway that wanted to be in Oldtown to take advantage of Idaho’s gambling law.

There was a time in the late 40s and early 50s when Idaho had slot machines.

“Half of Spokane was up here on the weekends,” Orr said.

Orr said the house next to city hall now being turned into a Mexican deli by Darlin and Carlos Sanchez has some history. It used to be owned by the Oldtown Constable, the old time word for marshal.

So was it ever a brothel, as rumor had it?

“I don’t know, it could have been,” Orr said. He said most of the bars in the area had brothels upstairs. There was no city hall next door in those days. In fact there was no city hall anywhere.

Voice photo|Don Gronning

Darlin and her brother, Terry Thompson, built this walk up cantina style bar. While the taquería will eventually serve beer and wine, the emphasis isn’t on alcohol.

Continued on page 28

Layton McMillan Rodeo Stock & Newport Rodeo Association Present

Newport Rough Stock Open Friday, July 15th • 7:30 p.m.

Newport Rodeo Grounds $1,000 Added Purse Added Purse Sponsors: Albeni Falls Building Supply, McDonalds Newport, Tripp Distributing, • Bull Riding Kardos Plumbing, Kalispel Tribe •Stock Saddle Bronc •Bareback •Saddle Bronc •Concessions & Beer Garden

John Swenson 19th Annual Bull-A-Rama

Saturday, July 16th • 7:30 p.m.

Newport Rodeo Grounds $3,000 Added Purse Added Purse Sponsors: Albeni Falls Building Supply, Kalispel Tribe, McDonalds Newport, Meek Harvesting

Information 360-770-1180 • Paid for by Newport Hotel/Motel Tax

26

Celebrating 41 years of Serving You! North 6521 Division, Spokane, WA

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

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

Closed Sunday & Monday

WE TAKE TRADES!

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

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

Summer Voice

“One of the greatest gifts you can give your family is having your funeral arrangements pre-planned.”

For assistance in...

• Pre-planning & Pre-payment Plans • Funerals • Monuments • Cremations - performed locally

Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home & Crematory Voice photo|Don Gronning

The front of the building makes use of repurposed beams from the Silverwood Theme Park’s old Roller Coaster Alley and the old pine boards came from inside the house.

Summer Voice

423 2nd St. • Newport, WA • (509) 447-3118 www.sherman-knapp.com

27

From Page 26

Office 509-244-5421 • Toll Free (800) 396-2220 www.spokanerock.com

CONCRETE S A N D & G R AV E L SACKED PRODUCTS LANDSCAPE ROCK Airway Heights • Post Falls • Elk • Chattaroy 3 Local Ready Mix Locations

28

“They used to meet in bars,” Orr said.

These days the Sanchezes are working hard to get the house ready for a Mexican style deli to be called Mama Sanchez’s Taquería.

“I didn’t realize how much traffic this street got until I started working here,” Darlin says. She says there’s steady traffic from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. most of the week.

She left her long time job as dispatcher with Pend Oreille County last fall to work on the house. She was with the county 22 years.

Carlos runs Sanchez Gardening Service. He has had the business for more than 20 years and will continue it when the deli opens.

The Sanchezes have three adult children – Chad, 30, Derrick, 26, and Bianca, 19.

“The goal was to start after Bianca graduated,” Darlin said. They bought the house in 2013 and have been working on it since.

So far they’ve spent about $40,000 on appliances, put in 1,400 square feet of new tile and have built a new walk up bar, among other things.

The Sanchezes say the idea is to eventually have beer and wine, as well as outdoor seating at the taquería. The restaurant will feature Baja Mexican food, with homemade corn tortillas, fish tacos and deli type Mexican food, including breakfast.

Carlos and Darlin say they are refurbishing and reusing as much material as possible.

“That’s the Mexican way,” Carlos laughs.

Darlin says it is important, both for money and for quality, to do it themselves.

“It’s important to take the time to do it right,” she says.

Darlin says she considered a drive through but decided against it. They do plan to have a small store selling Mexican baskets, bags and salsa.

Carlos was born in Mexico and still has family there. He came to the U.S. in 1982 from La Paz, first coming to California. He became a permanent resident in 1986.

While Mama Sanchez’s Taquería will be quite an improvement from what the building was used for before, Mayor Orr laughs as he remembers the reaction to another remodel job.

“It’s kinda like the old Midway Tavern,” he says. “One fella came in after they remodeled and said it looks real nice in here, and all, but you’ve covered up the bullet holes.”

There is just no pleasing some people.

Summer Voice

SEEK CLARITY Auto, Residential & Commercial Voice photo|Don Gronning

These are some of the colorful Calavera tiles that serve as windowsills.

Priest River Glass

(208) 448-2511 • 800-858-5013

POLE BUILDINGS Build with • High Quality • Low Prices!

Lumber • Plumbing • Electrical

All Building & Paint Supplies Monday - Friday 8am-5pm at Diamond Lake on Hwy 2 509-447-2603 Summer Voice

29

CALENDAR OF EVENTS July 2

NE WASHINGTON FAIR

July 16

Run Whatcha’ Brung

Bull-A-Rama

Organizer, 509-671-7395208-964-1982

Rodeo President, 360-770-1180 Priest Lake Huckleberry Festival

August 25th - 28th, 2016

July 4

Priest Lake Chamber, 208-443-3191

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

at the fairgrounds in Colville, WA 509-684-2585 lmatlock@ co.stevens.wa.us

July 8-9 One Act Play Festival Pend Oreille Playhouse, 509-447-9900

State Line Outboard Racing Association, www.slora.com July 23-24

July 15 Rough Stock Invite, Newport Rodeo President, 360-770-1180

Implementing a vision of a better economy

July 16-17 Hydroplane Boat Races, Pend Oreille River

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

s ’ d WCRUSHING & HAULING, INC. OO

• ROCK • CRUSHED ROCK • SAND • ASPHALT • PAVING • ROAD WORK • CUSTOM ROCK CRUSHING

In Priest River Development Park

Growing one business at a time. . .

Brian & Penny Wood 933 Woodside Road Sandpoint, ID (208) 263-4800 (208) 290-3469 Cell brianw933@gmail.com pennyw993@gmail.com

Our Mission The Mission of PRDC is to facilitate the diversification of employment opportunities in the Priest River area. Provide properly zoned commercial property at reasonable costs, to support new business, existing business retention and growth.

PO Box 400 Priest River, Idaho • 208-448-1312 www.PriestRiverEDC.com

Attention Idaho Logging & Log Hauling Contractors & Other Businesses Need Insurance for Your Business? Call the Experts!

Associated Loggers Exchange * * * *

Workers compensation General liability Loggers broad form Property

* * * *

Equipment Truck Home & Auto Health Insurance

Associated Insurance Services, LLC “WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB FOR YOU”

COEUR D’ALENE OFFICE Phone 208-667-6473 Or 800-632-8743 Dan Musselman Jordan McDaniel 30

BOISE OFFICE

Phone 800-678-7733 Or 208-336-7733 Bryan Graham Becky Carlson - Health Ins. Summer Voice

CALENDAR OF EVENTS July 29

Pend Oreille Poker Paddle

Asphalt Angels Hot Neon Nights Cruise Organizer, 208-448-1146

Organizer, 509-447-4821

August 13-14

July 30

Hydroplane Boat Races, Pend Oreille River

Priest River Timber Days Priest River Chamber, 208-448-2721 Priest River Lawnmower Races Organizer, 208-448-2129

State Line Outboard Racing Association, www.slora.com

August 18-21 Pend Oreille County Fair and Cusick Rodeo

July 29-31 Down River Days

Organizer, 509-445-1433

Organizer, 509-442-3435 Lion Club Train Rides

August 20

Lions Club, 877-525-5226

Oldtown Lawnmower Races Organizer, 208-448-2129

August 5-7 Kalispel Powwow

September 3-4

Kalispel Tribe, 509-445-1147

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

August 7 Master Gardeners Garden Tour Extension Office, 509-447-2401

Lion Club Train Rides Lions Club, 877-525-5226

September 3-5

August 9-13

Vintage Trailer Rally

Bonner County Fair

Organizer, 509-638-6117

Director, 208-263-8414

We have reduced our rates in our senior housing with services apartments and cottage homes. You can benefit from our monthly reduced rates, entrance fees and many more reduced rate options. For more information or to schedule a tour, call us at (509) 340-3155.

September 4

August 12 Pend Oreille Valley Relay for Life Organizer, 208-437-0479

Great Northwest Fall Bike Tour Organizer, 208-597-5478

17121 E 8th Ave Spokane Valley, WA

September 5

August 13

Bob’s Car Show, Newport City Park

Vintage Frenzy Newport City Park, 509-671-9963

Organizer, 509-447-2015

PPONDERAY NEWSPRINT COMPANY 422767 Highway 20 • Usk, WA 99180 Summer Voice

The best time to make your move is now.

The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society provides housing and services to qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, disability, familial status, national origin or other protected statuses according to applicable federal, state or local laws.

All faiths or beliefs are welcome. Copyright © 2013 The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society. All rights reserved. 13-G0987

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. 31