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Documentary release honors Vietnam War hero, veterans' stories

The documentary “Uncle Vic” was a family project with everyone contributing to the film in some way. From left to right in the behind the scenes family photo are Dan Pappas, Jess Pierson Pappas, Allison Int-Hout, Seth Pierson, Vic Underwood, Diane Underwood, Traci Pierson, and Steve Pierson.

WENATCHEE – Siblings Seth Pierson and Jess Pierson Pappas, along with Jess’s husband Dan Pappas, set out to document the life of their Great Uncle Vic, a decorated Green Beret and Vietnam …

The Lonesome Town Painters, set to perform in Cashmere on October 26, pose with their instruments. From left: Patrick Bartel (mandolin), Jeremy Freeman (banjo), Angelo Eidse (bass), and Fred Beach (guitar). The Vancouver-based bluegrass band will bring their traditional sound to the Cashmere Community Church as part of the Cashmere Community Concerts series.

Bluegrass band The Lonesome Town Painters to perform in Cashmere

CASHMERE -- Cashmere Community Concerts will host The Lonesome Town Painters, a bluegrass band from Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday, October 26 at 7:00 pm. The event will take place at …

Local artist Lupillo Beltran's work combines bold graphic elements with cultural symbolism, as seen in this striking black and white portrait surrounded by swirling patterns and a vibrant orange accent. Beltran will explore the use of symbols in art during his upcoming presentations at NCW Libraries.

NCW Libraries to host artist Lupillo Beltran for symbolic art presentations

WENATCHEE - NCW Libraries will host local artist Lupillo Beltran at three locations in October and November, exploring how humans utilize symbols to communicate and share stories and traditions. …

District 12 candidates left to right: Rep. Keith Goehner, Heather Koellen, Rep. Mike Stelle, and Daniel Scott. Brian Burnett attended via Zoom.

Legislative candidates weigh in on STEM education at Wenatchee forum

WENATCHEE – Legislative candidates from Districts 7, 12, and 13 shared their thoughts on the future of STEM education and career-connected learning for youth through a forum on Oct. 7. …

Construction of the seventy-foot cross near the summit of Tumwater Mountain, which was halted due to Chelan County permitting issues, may resume next spring.

Construction of ‘Upper Valley Cross’ likely to resume next spring

LEAVENWORTH – The construction, and subsequent evening illumination, of the steel, seventy-foot self-designated ‘Upper Valley Cross’ (UVC) is expected to be completed next spring. …

Bridgeport Public Library, set to undergo interior redesign, invites community input at an upcoming town hall on October 23. The branch is part of NCW Libraries' multi-year

Bridgeport Library invites public to shape future design

BRIDGEPORT — The Bridgeport Public Library will host a community engagement event as part of a larger initiative to reimagine library spaces across North Central Washington. The October 23 …

Mediation skills training available in Wenatchee Valley this fall

WENATCHEE - The Wenatchee Valley Dispute Resolution Center (WVDRC) announced its upcoming mediation training courses, scheduled for November 2024 and March 2025. The courses will train new mediators …

Bridgeport Class of 1974 opens 50-year time capsule

BRIDGEPORT—Half a hundred years ago, in 1974, President Richard Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal. The average price of a gallon of gas was 42 cents, a dozen eggs 45 cents, and the …

Lake Chelan Chamber honors top businesses at annual awards dinner

CHELAN — The Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce honored local businesses and organizations at its annual awards dinner on September 27. The event, held at the Cider Press in Manson, brought …

Lake Chelan Health Hospital is transitioning to a hospitalist model with Rural Physicians Group to provide 24/7 inpatient care, starting January 14, 2025. The change aims to improve patient care and reduce unnecessary patient transfers.

Lake Chelan Health to transition to hospitalist model

CHELAN – Lake Chelan Health Hospital recently announced the decision to contract with Rural Physicians Group (RPG) to provide hospitalists for inpatient care. Under this new model, an RPG …

A variety of electric vehicles line the access road at Rocky Reach Dam Park on October 2 for Plug-In NCW’s second annual “EV Line Up,” part of National Drive Electric Week.

Plug-In NCW’s EV Line Up champions electric vehicle adoption in North Central Washington

WENATCHEE – On October 2, Plug-In North Central Washington (Plug-In NCW) hosted its second annual 'EV Line Up' at Rocky Reach Dam Park, as part of National Drive Electric Week, which ran from …

A map detailing the 14 motorized Sno-parks in Washington state slated for temporary closure during the 2024-25 winter season. The closures, marked in red, are part of a response to a 25% reduction in funds from snowmobile registrations that support the Washington State Parks Winter Recreation Program. The impacted parks include Echo Valley, Skate Creek, Bethel Ridge/Soup Creek, Crow Creek, Cloverland, Elk Heights, Fish Creek, French Cabin, Nile, Taneum, Reecer Creek, Crawfish, Nine Bark, and Clear Lake.

Washington State to close 14 motorized Sno-Parks for 2024-25 season

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Parks Winter Recreation Program will temporarily close fourteen motorized Sno-parks for the 2024-25 winter season. This decision is due to a roughly 25 percent …

This image, created using Adobe Firefly for illustrative purposes, depicts the natural river habitat in the Upper Columbia region, highlighting the environment crucial for salmon recovery efforts.

Upper Columbia Region receives $5.07 million in salmon recovery grants

WENATCHEE — The Upper Columbia region has been awarded $5,071,069 in state grants for salmon recovery projects, as part of a $50.3 million funding initiative approved by the Salmon Recovery …

Other News

Local publications to feature Women in Business across North Central Washington

WENATCHEE — Ward Media will release a special section titled "Women in Business," featuring female business leaders and women-powered teams across the region. The section will appear in the …

Chelan Homecoming Parade

Manger Mall holiday gift program set to launch in Chelan Valley

CHELAN — The annual Manger Mall program, which provides holiday gifts to children in need within the Chelan and Manson school districts, will open registration in mid-October. The …

Chelan City Council revisits proposal for a two-way Woodin Avenue Bridge

CHELAN – The future directions – literally - of the Woodin Avenue Bridge was the main topic of a public hearing over amendments to the city’s six-year State Transportation …

Recycling, composting panel set for Oct. 29 in Wenatchee

WENATCHEE — A panel discussion on recycling and composting practices in Chelan and Douglas Counties will take place on October 29. The event, scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pybus …

City of Leavenworth passes resolution to oppose Climate Change Act repeal, leaves resolution to oppose Capital Gains Tax on table

LEAVENWORTH—The Leavenworth City Council passed a resolution to oppose Initiative 2117 (I-2117), which would repeal the Climate Change Act, during its Oct. 8 meeting. The council chose not to …

Water management and project updates focus of CBDL's 60th annual meeting

MOSES LAKE - The Columbia Basin Development League (CBDL) will host its Conference and 60th Annual Meeting on October 29 at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake. The Washington State Potato …

Chelan County seeks public input for first motorized trails plan

WENATCHEE — Chelan County Natural Resources is seeking input from motorized recreational trail users as it develops the county's first motorized trails plan. The department has launched a …

NCW Tech Alliance announces finalists for 2024 Innovator Awards

WENATCHEE—The NCW Tech Alliance has announced the fifteen finalists for its 23rd Annual Innovator Awards Luncheon, which will be held on November 5 at the Wenatchee Convention Center. The …

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Local features

The entrance of the newly opened Dryden Roadhouse on Main Street in Dryden. The restaurant, owned by Terri Morris and John Bryant, is housed in a historic 1928 building that once served as the beloved Duffy’s Tavern.

Historic building reopens as Dryden Roadhouse

DRYDEN – The Dryden Roadhouse, located in Duffy’s former space, opened its doors to the public on Oct. 4. Owned and operated by Terri Morris and John Bryant, the restaurant and …

Rusty and Amanda Gibbs, owners of Gibbs Graphics, celebrate 20 years of shaping Leavenworth's iconic signs and murals. The couple started the business after moving back to Rusty's hometown of Leavenworth and have since become integral to the town's Bavarian aesthetic.

The signmakers that shape Bavarian Leavenworth: Gibbs Graphics celebrates 20 years

LEAVENWORTH – Gibbs Graphics, the creative force behind Leavenworth’s iconic signs and murals, celebrated 20 years of business on Oct. 3. Over the last two decades, the business has …

Buckshot Honey owner and chef, Dave Storm, prepares some of his signature Cascadian Barbecue.

Buckshot Honey brings local barbecue back to Cashmere

CASHMERE– With dreams of cooking local meat for small-town customers, professionally trained chef Dave Storm looks forward to bringing his iconic Cascadian Barbecue techniques to Cashmere as he …

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Non-profit News

Okanogan Valley Soroptimists offer $1,500 education grant for women

OKANOGAN VALLEY - Soroptimist International of Okanogan Valley has announced the opening of applications for its Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women program. The initiative …

Haunted Museum returns to Wenatchee Valley for ‘Ringmaster’s Revenge’

WENATCHEE—The Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center has announced the return of its annual "Haunted Museum" event for October. This year's theme, "Ringmaster's Revenge," will feature a …

Ice Age Floods Institute to explore unlikely catalyst for Oregon rush

WENATCHEE—The Wenatchee Valley Erratics Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute has announced its upcoming meeting. The meeting will explore an intriguing intersection of 19th-century history …

PVNT launches annual Ski-a-Thon to fund youth ski education in Upper Valley

PLAIN — The Plain Valley Nordic Team (PVNT) has launched its annual SKIER run PVNT Ski-a-Thon, a fundraising initiative aimed at supporting youth ski education programs in the upper valley …

Manson Grange Youth Fairs member Denali Lewman won several ribbons for her still life entries and for showing her Lavender Orpington chicken at the Chelan County Fair.

Manson Grange Youth Fairs Program celebrates fair success

MANSON – The Manson Grange Youth Fairs program had a successful showing at the Chelan County Fair, with 27 students participating. This was the group's second year of going to the fair. …

Wenatchee Wild announce return of fifth annual Military Appreciation Campout

WENATCHEE – The return of a Wenatchee Wild tradition on the ice also means the return of a Wenatchee Wild tradition in the front office, as the team gets ready for its annual Military …

Wenatchee Wild prospects to compete in annual WHL Cup

RED DEER, Alberta – The Wenatchee Wild, proud members of the Western Hockey League (WHL), are excited to announce that two of the club’s prospects and one of its Canadian provincial …

A Day of Personal Bests for Kodiak XC Team at Nike-Sponsored Race

MARYSVILLE – The Cascade High School cross-country team joined ninety-seven other teams from across the Pacific Northwest at Cedarcrest Golf Course in Marysville last Saturday evening, October …

Kodiaks secure third straight win

TONASKET - The Cascade High School varsity football team is on a winning streak. After a disappointing season opener following a winless 2023-24 season, the Kodiaks turned the ship around and have …

Wild close weekend with 2-1 overtime loss to Kamloops Sunday

WENATCHEE – Going into Sunday’s Western Hockey League contest at Town Toyota Center, the Wenatchee Wild had closed both weekends of competition so far with a win to carry them …

Wild Stumble: Wenatchee shut out by visiting Royals

WENATCHEE — Spencer Michnik made 22 saves for a shutout as the Victoria Royals defeated the Wenatchee Wild 3-0 in Western Hockey League action Saturday night at Town Toyota Center. Logan …

Section of Upper Columbia River to open for hatchery steelhead and coho

BREWSTER - A section of the Upper Columbia River will open for hatchery steelhead and coho salmon fishing on October 16. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has announced that …

Hunters face fines for illegal game meat imports

OLYMPIA — As hunting seasons commence across the U.S. and Canada, Washington state officials are reminding hunters of strict regulations concerning the importation of game meat to prevent the …

Washington State releases 2024 hunting prospects, emphasizes new regulations

OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has released its annual hunting prospects for the upcoming fall season, providing crucial information for hunters across the state. …

New food storage rules aim to curb bear encounters in Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest

WENATCHEE — The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest implemented new food storage regulations on September 16 to reduce human-wildlife conflicts, particularly with bears. The rules require …

Get your event in the spotlight with Ward Media!

If you have an exciting event to share, email Reporter Quinn Propst at quinn@ward.media. We’ll showcase the five most captivating events of the week, giving your event the recognition it deserves. Even if your event isn’t among the top five, it will still be added to our events calendar and featured online. Don’t miss this chance to make your event shine!

Here is this week's list of 5 Things to do this Week.

- Shrub-Steppe Poetry Reading
  
  The Visit Wenatchee Visitor’s Center and Tasting Room will host the Shrub Steppe Poetry group on Thursday, August 15, from 5 to 6 p.m. …
- Lila Forde live
  
  Lila Forde, a standout finalist from season twenty-four of NBC's The Voice, will perform live at the Old Barn Drinkery in Wenatchee on Saturday, …
- Percy Jackson's Birthday Party
  
  The Wenatchee Library will host Percy Jackson's Birthday Party on Sunday, August 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Robert W. Woods Reading Room. …
- Family movie afternoon
  
  The Wenatchee Library will host a Family Movie Afternoon on Wednesday, August 21, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Sagebrush Meeting Room. …
- NCW Writer's Group
  
  The Wenatchee Library will host the NCW Writer's Group on Wednesday, August 21, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Balsamroot Meeting Room. …

Election 2024

Secretary of State orders statewide recount for Commissioner of Public Lands race

OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State has certified the results of the August 6 Primary and ordered a mandatory statewide manual recount for the Commissioner of Public Lands …

Chelan County seeks volunteers for ballot measure committee

WENATCHEE — The Chelan County Auditor's Office is seeking citizens to serve on committees responsible for writing statements in favor of or against ballot measures for the upcoming November …

Hawkins maintains strong lead in county commissioner primary race

CHELAN – State Senator Brad Hawkins has emerged as the clear frontrunner in the primary race for Chelan County Commissioner District 3, securing a commanding lead that positions him strongly …

Steele maintains strong lead in state rep primary race

CHELAN – Incumbent Mike Steele continues to show a commanding lead in the primary race for the State Representative seat representing Washington's 12th District. As of the August 9 count, …

Upper Valley Parks and Recreation Service Area levy reauthorization holds strong in latest ballot count

CHELAN COUNTY – A proposition that supports the Howard Hopkins Memorial Pool maintained over 70 percent approval in the Aug. 9 election update. Upper Valley Parks and Recreation Service …

Wenatchee Valley Fire Department’s new funding initiative soaring in Chelan and Douglas County

WENATCHEE– As Washington State primary elections continue well underway, results for Wenatchee Valley Fire Department’s (WVFD) fire benefit charge appear overwhelmingly positive in both …

More election coverage

Education

Cascade High School Student named National Merit Scholar semifinalist

LEAVENWORTH – Cascade High School student Caroline Menna was named a 2025 National Merit Scholar semifinalist, representing North Central Washington as the only semifinalist in the region. …

Lake Chelan School District enrollment exceeds budgeted expectations

CHELAN - A smaller-than-expected enrollment decline for the 2024-2025 school year has been reported, according to LCSD Superintendent Brad Wilson. The district’s September full-time equivalent …

Exhibitors needed for the 2024 NCW College & Career Expos and CS & Tech Fair

WENATCHEE — Organizers are seeking exhibitors for the upcoming 2024 College & Career Expos and Computer Science & Tech Fair events across North Central Washington. Businesses, …

Chelan School District receives grant to boost college, career readiness

CHELAN – The Lake Chelan School District is one of 13 rural school districts in Washington to receive funding through the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) to enhance college and …

Peshastin-Dryden Elementary welcomes TK and Kindergarten students with donuts and smiles

PESHASTIN – Cascade School District’s youngest and newest students entered the halls of Peshastin-Dryden Elementary to start their first day of Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and …

Local nonprofits ensure continuation of CSD K-8 art programs in 2024-2025 school year

LEAVENWORTH – Through a collaborative “Save the K-8 Art Teachers” effort, Village Art in the Park (VAP) and Icicle Creek Center for the Arts (ICCA) were able to support the salaries …

Cashmere students march toward a promising new school year

CASHMERE– Cashmere High School’s class of 2025 rode through town in a celebratory annual parade, kicking off the first day of yet another successful school year. With a promising …

Lake Chelan schools see enrollment boost, defying state trend

CHELAN – School enrollment numbers in the face of declining numbers statewide were among the leading back-to-school topics of interest at the meeting of the Lake Chelan School District Board on …

Students return to classrooms in Cascade School District

LEAVENWORTH – School is back in session for Cascade School District (CSD). Students arrived for their first day of the 2024-2025 school year on Aug. 27. At Peshastin-Dryden Elementary …