Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Our top stories

Visiting Artist series closes with a celebration of Mexican music and art

Local group Mariachi Noroeste of Wenatchee will open for Las Cafeteras.
LEAVENWORTH – Icicle Creek Center for the Arts (ICCA) will be wrapping up its 2023-2024 Visiting Artist series with a night celebrating Mexican music and arts on May 12. “The evening …
Dr. Doug Eisert
Dr. Doug Eisert, Pediatrician at Confluence Health, awarded Leah Layne Memorial Health Leadership award
WENATCHEE - Dr. Doug Eisert, a longtime pediatrician in the Wenatchee Valley practicing at the Confluence Health  East Wenatchee Clinic, was recently awarded the 2024 Leah Layne Memorial Health …
As part of the Fire Science Program at Cascade High School, students train to help with fire management and prevention.  Many students in this program go on to fight wildland fires as a career or summer job.
Stewardship Coalition educates locals on wildfire preparedness
LEAVENWORTH - Chumstick Wildfire Stewardship Coalition (CWSC) is a local program that is dedicated to raising awareness in the Leavenworth community of fire danger. The Leavenworth and Lake Wenatchee …
The city council voted to allow this fence to remain at its current height of six feet rather than be reduced to a height of 3.5 feet per city code.
Good fences can sometimes cause bad headaches
PATEROS – Someone once said: “Good fences make good neighbors.” But nowadays, putting up a good fence is not as simple as it used to be. Case in point: A fence at 106 Ives …
The Foster Creek Watershed encompasses northern Douglas County, part of Okanogan County, and about one-third of its area is comprised of Colville Reservation land.
Bridgeport Planning Commission hears Foster Creek Watershed Improvement Plan
BRIDGEPORT – A presentation of the Foster Creek Conservation District’s (FCCD) Foster Watershed Improvement Plan was the dominant issue at the monthly meeting of the Bridgeport Planning …
The Bouska Square gazebo is under council consideration for replacement.
Bridgeport council considers a new Bouska Square gazebo
BRIDGEPORT – Mayor Sergio Orozco told the April meeting of the city council that the gazebo in Bouska Square needs some TLC. “Unfortunately, it’s starting to fall apart, and we …
The new sign in the tree sculpture parking lot along Foster Creek Avenue directs visitors to every one of the 29 carvings located around the city.
Bridgeport Revitalization Committee reviews tree sculpture parking lot draft design
BRIDGEPORT – The draft drawings done by city engineers Gray & Osborne for the tree sculpture parking have been received by Superintendent of Public Works Stuart Dezellem. Those renderings …
Forest Pansey Redbud is an eye-catching deciduous flowering tree.
Chelan Parks Vision 2030 Plan takes root at council meeting
CHELAN—Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Director Paul Horne delivered the second and third pillars of the Chelan Parks Vision 2030 Plan to the city council at its April 23 bi-monthly …
The Cashmere Museum and Pioneer Village will showcase local historic homes during the Historic Home Tour on Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour features six houses, one church and the General Store at Pioneer Village.
Historic home tour showcases Cashmere's rich heritage
CASHMERE – The Cashmere Museum and Pioneer Village will host a Historic Home Tour on Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Cashmere. The tour is self-guided and features six homes, …
The FTA Low- or No Emission Grant will allow link to purchase five new electric vehicles.
Chelan supports Link Transit low emissions grant application
CHELAN – The city council approved a letter of support at its April 23 bi-monthly meeting for a Link Transit application to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for its 5339(c) Low- or No …
Other News
MANSON - The Manson Center and local band Waterdog are joining forces to host a "pop-up" fundraiser on Saturday, May 11, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Manson Center, 145 Wapato Way. The event will …
Parks Are For Everyone: Passing

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Chelan County PUD

CASHMERE – The Cashmere High School Parent Advisory Committee will host a Mother's Day celebration for migrant families on Friday, May 10 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the High School. The Parent …
CASHMERE—The Cashmere American Legion Auxiliary volunteers will distribute handcrafted red poppies on Friday, May 10, in honor of America's veterans. The volunteers will be stationed outside …
LEAVENWORTH—Chelan County Fire District #3 (CCFD #3) has begun fuel reduction work along Chumstick Highway as part of its Chumstick Corridor Evacuation Route Enhancement project in partnership …
BRIDGEPORT — City planner Kurt Danison addressed the city council's regular monthly meeting on April 17 to update members on the latest discussions of the Planning Commission and advise the …
Local features
Bites pretzels are made fresh daily.

From Belize to Bavaria: Global entrepreneurs open homemade pretzel shop in Leavenworth

LEAVENWORTH – When Beth and Kevin Spiegel opened Bites –Leavenworth, a new, fresh-made pretzel shop on Commercial Street, they did so with a March Madness-style dip tournament.  …
The theater production weaves through local history through the stories of women.

“Unsettled” returns for final season

LEAVENWORTH—Dangerous Women will present its third and final season of “Unsettled” on May 18 and 19 at the Snowy Owl Theater.  “This is the year to see …
Rich Beausoleil and Milo

Ruby U launches speaker presentations at historic Chelan Ruby Theatre

CHELAN—The Ruby Theatre in downtown Chelan has launched a new speaker series called Ruby U. The series features free public presentations, panels, and discussions on topics of community …
Non-profit News

Only7Seconds launches awareness campaign to combat youth loneliness epidemic

CHELAN – Only7Seconds, a nonprofit dedicated to ending youth loneliness, is celebrating its fifth anniversary by launching an ambitious awareness campaign: No More Lonely Youth . The campaign …

Leadership Institute of NCW invites applications for comprehensive bilingual training

WENATCHEE - The Community Foundation of NCW — in collaboration with the Parent Leadership Training Institute, Our Valley Our Future, and Thriving Together NCW — is now accepting …

Camp Zanika Lache gears up for annual spring clean-up

LEAVENWORTH—Camp Zanika Lache, operated by Camp Fire North Central Washington, will hold its annual spring clean-up event on Saturday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The camp is in need of …

Manson High School Interact Club to host fundraiser for Guatemala service trip

MANSON—The Manson High School Interact Club will host a fundraising event at Amos Rome Vineyards' High Blossom Estate on Saturday, June 1, at 5:00 p.m. The event aims to raise funds for the …
Election 2024

Hawkins makes it official, files for Chelan County Commissioner

WENATCHEE - On the first day of candidate filing week, State Senator Brad Hawkins (R-Wenatchee) officially declared his candidacy for the open position of Chelan County Commissioner, District 3. The …

Candidate Filing Week 2024 begins May 6

OLYMPIA — Interested in running for public office in Washington? The opportunity to formally declare candidacy for the 2024 elections opens online on May 6 at 8 a.m. and at elections offices …

Rep. Keith Goehner announces State Senate run

DRYDEN - Representative Keith Goehner has announced his candidacy for the State Senate in the 12th legislative district. The announcement follows the decision by current 12th Legislative District …

Hawkins announces candidacy for Chelan County Commission District 3

WENATCHEE - Republican State Senator Brad Hawkins of Wenatchee announced today that he plans to forgo his Senate re-election bid to run for the open Chelan County Commission – District 3 …

Brandt Cappell announces candidacy for Chelan County Commissioner

WENATCHEE - Brandt Cappell, a Wenatchee resident and Senior Legislative Assistant to State Rep. Keith Goehner, has announced his candidacy for Chelan County Commissioner, Position 3. Cappell, who is …

Willoughby throws hat in ring for Chelan County Commissioner race

MANSON—Chris Willoughby, a longtime resident of the Lake Chelan Valley, has announced his candidacy for the Chelan County Commissioner District 3 position. The announcement, made on April 18, …

Former Snoqualmie City Councilmember Jim Mayhew enters State Senate race in redrawn 12th Legislative District

SNOQUALMIE - Former Snoqualmie City Council member and business executive Jim Mayhew announced his candidacy for the State Senate in the recently redrawn 12th Legislative District on April 16. The …
Legislative Coverage

Federal court redistricting ruling shakes up Washington State legislative districts, faces Republican criticism

OLYMPIA – In a development impacting Washington State politics, the Ninth Circuit Court has dismissed an emergency motion to stay a federal court decision regarding legislative district …

Blending education and technology a goal for Wellman

OLYMPIA - On the last Monday morning of the 2024 legislative session, Washington State Sen. Lisa Wellman’s office brimmed with sunlight, an early peek at spring, as she sipped tea from a white …
Sports
CHELAN—The Wenatchee Bighorns are excited to announce a free kids basketball camp on Saturday, May 4, at the Chelan Community Gym, 317 E Johnson, Chelan. The camp is open to all boys and girls …
WENATCHEE - The Wenatchee AppleSox is seeking host families to provide housing for players during the upcoming season, which runs from early June through mid-August. The team is still looking to …
Outdoors
OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has extended the special hunt permit application deadline one week, until midnight May 22. WDFW made this change to allow hunters …
Education
MANSON –  Manson School District has received preliminary approval for emergency repair grant funding for the Elementary School basement, pending passage of a board resolution at the April …
LEAVENWORTH – On Apr. 17, Cascade High School (CHS) students were given the opportunity to pick the brains of professionals during the school’s career fair, which included a professional …
LEAVENWORTH—Doors opened at 6:15 p.m., and a sizable portion of Leavenworth and beyond turned out to support the senior class of 2024. This year's Mr. Kodiak theme was based on the Barbie …
Opinion
SPOKANE — Washington State Republican Party leaders say they want party unity, but they torpedoed unity, at least for a bit, all for the sake of attempted control.  When it became …
Our state approves three budgets every two years. These budgets fund Washington’s operating ($71.9 billion), transportation ($14.6 billion), and capital ($10.3 billion) expenditures, including …
Washington state’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA) was passed in 2021 with the goal of reducing and phasing out carbon emissions.  Unfortunately, there have been several problems with …
Obituaries
Dwight Goehner was born to Walter and Alvina Goehner in May of 1957. He joined his sister Naomi and brother Keith in a loving Christian home, surrounded by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, most of …
Our beloved father, and grandfather Gale Charles DePriest of Pateros, Washington, died peacefully April 14, 2024, at the age of 80. He was the youngest of two sets of twins born in Longview, …
Frances Louise (Cathey) Draggoo, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother was born on December 27, 1923 in Priest River, Idaho. In the next 100 years she lived a full and happy life. …
Robin June Cooke was born in Eureka, Kansas on June 30,1925. Robin spent most of her youth in Santa Barbara, California. It was there that Robin met Robert Lawrence and they were married shortly …
Nola J. Joyner died of natural causes Wednesday, May 1st, at Regency Harmony House in Brewster, Washington. She was born August 17, 1922, in Elmore City, Oklahoma, the daughter of Randolph and Willie …
Robbin Mecelia Lee (Chervenka) of Columbia Falls, Montana gracefully passed into her next great adventure into Jesus arms on April 21, 2024. She was born on September 9th, 1937 in Tacoma …
Around the region

Wenatchee man arrested for graffiti and drug possession

WENATCHEE - On May 6, at approximately 1:15 a.m., the Wenatchee Police Department responded to a report of graffiti in progress on Cashmere Street. A vigilant resident, awakened by their barking dog, …

Paving of Wenatchee Heights Road phase 2 project nearing completion

WENATCHEE - The second phase of the Wenatchee Heights Road improvement project is nearing completion as paving continues this …

Chelan County awards $481,000 in Lodging Tax Grants for tourism projects

CHELAN COUNTY - The Chelan County Commissioners have awarded $481,000 in lodging tax grants to eight local agencies for capital projects aimed at boosting overnight tourist visits. The funds, …

Cashmere hit-and-run suspect arrested

CASHMERE - A hit-and-run suspect who struck a Cashmere home and fled the scene has been arrested, thanks to the assistance of a citizen, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office reported. The incident …

Community meeting to showcase support for Chelan Butte Trails

CHELAN - The Lake Chelan Trails Alliance is inviting the public to attend the second community meeting regarding the Chelan Butte Acquisition Feasibility Study. The meeting, which aims to gather …
National News
U.S. soldier detained in Russia on criminal charges
Russian authorities have detained an American soldier on criminal misconduct charges, the U.S. Army said Monday. Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said Russia’s government had notified the …
Workers pick blueberries in greenhouses of the Agrovision firm in San Isidro Mazatepec in Jalisco.
As its workers stream to the U.S., Mexico runs short of farmhands
ETZATLÁN, Mexico - For decades, Mexicans crossed the border to pick Americans’ lettuce, grapes and strawberries. Mexico had a seemingly inexhaustible supply of farmhands - tough, …
Senate passes $1.2 trillion spending bill, averting government shutdown
The Senate approved a $1.2 trillion spending bill in the wee hours of Saturday morning to prevent a brief partial government shutdown, sending the bill to President Biden to sign into law. …
Nikki Haley meets voters during a rally at Gilbert H. Hood Middle School in Derry, N.H. on Sunday.
Nikki Haley suspends campaign for 2024 Republican presidential nomination
CHARLESTON, S.C. -  Nikki Haley , a former U.N. ambassador and governor of South Carolina, has announced she is suspending   her presidential campaign, leaving  Donald Trump  with …
Rent is driving inflation. But there’s something off in the data.
Inflation came in hotter than expected in January, and it may take a few more months to know if that was a fluke or if price increases are getting stickier. But one key part of the inflation picture …
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