(STAFF REPORT/Chewelah Independent)

The snow has not been sticking around since heavy snowfall on Monday evening.

Temperatures above freezing for much of the weekend…

After a snowy New Years, Chewelah will be warming up. After a 45-degree New Years Day, Chewelah is expected to have highs back in the 40s this weekend.

It should be mostly cloudy over the weekend with a 20 percent chance of precipitation. Mild wild is also expected and 14 m.p.h. winds could happen on Saturday. More

Here are images from our readers of the first big snow storm of the season in NE Washington….

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(STAFF REPORTS)

A new winter storm is coming into NE Washington and will bring in moderate to heavy snow. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory from 6 a.m. on Tuesday morning to 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The valleys are expected to get between 1-4 inches in valleys and eight to 13 inches in the mountains.

There could also be 35 m.p.h. wind gusts on exposed ridges. The advisory was specifically set for many NE Washington locations including Colville and Newport.  A winter storm watch has been issued for Deer Park, Chewelah, Newport, Kettle Falls, Springdale- Hunters Road, Orin-Rice Road and Flowery Trail Road. An advisory means the storm will cause adverse conditions, whereas a watch means the storm could cause adverse conditions.

Travel could be very difficult for the Tuesday morning commute. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 511.

(MARK BURROWS/Chewelah Chief of Police)

The Chewelah PD has handled over 2200 calls so far in 2019 and over 100 calls in the month of December. Here’s your gift-wrapped version of the December calls. Officers responded to a report of an abandoned vehicle; three intrusion alarms; an animal complaint; two area checks; multiple agency assist calls; warrant arrests; and two burglary reports. A custodial interference report; three disturbance calls; a DOA; two dog complaints; three domestic disturbances; two incomplete 911 calls; harassment; and a hulk inspection. An info report; lost/found property; two reports of malicious mischief; a MHP call; two reports of protection order violations; a few suspicious people were contacted; and a report of a runaway juvenile. Wa. RCW 13.32A.080 states that it’s a gross misdemeanor to unlawfully harbor a minor. Two separate reports of suicidal subjects; several suspicious vehicle reports; three reports of theft; a threats report; two minor collisions; a traffic hazard; and two reports of traffic situations. A trespassing complaint; seven welfare checks; and officers made 36 traffic stops for moving and equipment violations. The Chewelah PD wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year!

(PRESS RELEASE/Park Avenue Players)

NEW YEAR, NEW SHOW: Park Avenue Players will premiere beloved “The Odd Couple” on January 17 at the Center for the Arts…

Deanna Barnes is excited about “The Odd Couple.” No. We’re not talking about your parents. Deanna has been a long fixture of Park Avenue Players and has played many wonderful characters. But now she gets to direct those characters. Deanna is currently directing her first play: Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple.” Many remember the hit television show, but it was preceded by a movie and a Broadway play.

First appearing on Broadway in 1965, the play tells the story of Oscar (Bill Barnes) and Felix (Daniel Greene) who become the most unlikely roommates in this classic comedy. The play opens at the Chewelah Center for the Arts in January of 2020 with a 7 p.m. show time on January 17, 18, 24, and 25 and a 2 p.m. show time on January 19 and 26. Tickets may be purchased on-line at our.show/chewelah/oddcouple or at the following outlets; Akers United Drugs and Valley Drug Company for $10. Tickets may be purchased at the door on show dates for $12.

Deanna says; “Things have just fallen into place since day one” and she has really been bitten by the directing bug. She and the cast hope you will join her for this laugh-filled production featuring many Park Ave regulars. For more information, please visit the Chewelah Center for the Arts on Facebook.

(PRESS RELEASE/Libraries of Stevens County)

Chewelah, Colville and Kettle Falls libraries change hours…

Due to budget shortfalls, the Libraries of Stevens County Board of Trustees has changed library hours at Chewelah, Colville and Kettle Falls starting Jan 1, 2020. In addition, the Board eliminated 30 staff hours per week in order to balance the budget. More

(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)

David Govedare stands next to his Sasquatch monument intended for 49 Degrees North. (Courtesy photo)

MONUMENT IN THE MAKING: Artist David Govedare continues to make progress with Sasquatch monument…

Reknowned Chewelah artist David Govedare is getting closer to his goal of having Sasquatch at 49 Degrees North. Govedare plans to have the Sasquatch monument placed on the top of the ski hill. In an update provided by the artist, the Sasquatch monument is a nine-foot tall metal sculpture that will be one-of-a-kind and unique to the Pacific Northwest.

“The progress of our work is at 65 percent complete with a steady and continuing effort,” Govedare said.

The Chewelah artist is a believer in Sasquatch, and feels that the Pacific Northwest, particularly NE Washington, is a perfect spot for the legendary cultural icon. He thought there should be a monument on Chewelah Peak that reflects this.

More

(JARED ARNOLD/Chewelah Independent)

SHOW ME THE MONEY: $7 million budget will allow for new employee, new equipment…

The Chewelah City Council approved a $7 million budget for 2020 as well as a number of contract renewals at their final meeting of 2019 on Dec. 4.

After a public hearing which drew no public comment, the council adopted the city’s 2020 budget of $7 million with expenditures in the following categories: General Fund (which includes general government operations, police, fire, parks and planning) $1,616,089; Electric $1,897,257; Sewer $1,039,369; Water $945,430; Streets $791,264; Garbage $543,955; Airport $74,369; and Lodging Tax $11,500.

In her opening statement prior to the public hearing, Mayor Dorothy Knauss outlined some of the major new expenditures in the new budget including the hiring of a new Deputy Clerk position, $50,000 for a police car, $10,000 for city hall phone system replacement, $8,000 for fire department thermal imaging camera, $16,000 for cemetery niche wall, $50,000 for a forklift, $65,000 for a water service truck and $90,000 for a street grader. More

(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent)

Save for a few flakes on Christmas, it has been a relatively winter weather-free Holiday season so far. That might change as snow showers are expected in the later part of Saturday, December 28.

The snow will be brought by a weak weather system. Highs are expected just above freezing for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with Sunday having a high of 35. More

(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)

A few inches of snow overnight turned Chewelah back into a winter wonderland and snarled traffic in Spokane, as people dealt with their morning commute. A vehicle accident caused a big backup north of Spokane on Highway 395 that caused the southbound commute to slow to bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Highway 395 from Clayton to Colville had compact snow and ice on its surface along with bare, wet and slushy conditions in spaces. A rollover was reported on Highway 395 across from the Chewelah Casino.

It should be an interesting next few days as temperatures in the vally begin to rise. Snow showers are expected to kick back up at 3 p.m. and continue to about 8 p.m. when temperatures warm up enough for that snow to turn to rain.

It will then rain through Saturday as temperatures will be in the 40s. This could cause hazardous driving conditions and a watery mess in the valley.

49 Degrees North continued to get more snow and as of Thursday morning there were ten inches of snow at the lodge and 25 inches at the summit. Mountain passes will continue to see snow and higher up elevations could get as much as two feet of snow. People are asked to check pass conditions before traveling and give themselves plenty of time to slow down.