The Chewelah Chamber of Commerce held their annual Chamber Auction on Saturday with many thousands of dollars being raised for the volunteer business and community organization. (Photo by Brandon Hansen)

Have ballots mailed by Nov. 7…

The general election is right around the corner. Please mail your ballot no later than Election Day, Nov. 7, or drop your ballot off at Official Drop Off Sites in Stevens County.

On election day, the following drop off locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Lake Spokane Elementary School
6015 HWY 291
Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026

Fire District 1 Admin. Bldg.
4532 Railroad Ave.
Clayton, WA 99110

United Church of Christ
10 E. Webster
Chewelah, WA 99109

Or you may use the secure drop box outside the Stevens County Courthouse near the Elm St. entrance.

If your ballot is destroyed, lost, spoiled; if you require assistance or to verify that your voted ballot has been received, contact the Stevens County Auditor’s Office Election Department at 1-866-307-9060 or 509-684-7514, or elections@stevenscountywa.gov.

Chewelah Chamber hosts auction
It was a busy weekend for Chewelah as the Civic Center hosted the annual Chamber Auction on Saturday. While The Independent hasn’t crunched the numbers yet, money was raised into the thousands, and our very own publisher Jared Arnold won the wine raffle, meaning that he has to figure out what to do with 50 bottles of wine.

Chewelah football wins first league game
On Friday, Oct. 20, the Chewelah Cougars won their first NEA league football game of the year. Thanks to a touchdown run by Kaden Krouse and a touchdown pass by quarterback Owen Baldwin to Griffin Stroyan – the Cougars won 14-6 over Medical Lake. They’ll host Stevens County rival Colville this Friday.

Teenager has bagged five bucks in five years
The Spokesman-Review is reporting Jessie Williams, 16, has hunted every season since she started hunting five years ago, and she has bagged a deer every year. From Reardan, the teen missed the deer hunting season opener on Oct. 14 due to a volleyball tournament,  but used her .300 Winchester magnum rifle on Sunday to fill out her tag.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

View of Fairview Valley on the north fork of Chewelah Creek 1946. (Photo courtesy of Kettle Falls Public Library/Washington Rural Heritage/Colville National Forest Collection.)

(By Staff Reports)

More snow, colder temperatures expected this winter…

The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center is predicting another La Nina winter, similar to last year, saying there is a 65 percent chance of more snow and lower temperatures, The Inlander is reporting. This comes after 2016-17’s winter of long stretches of negative temperatures and plenty of snow.

This comes as good news for 49 Degrees North, a big part of Chewelah’s local economy.

For this region it’s expected there will be 120 percent of their normal snowfall. The Inlander said last year, the city of Spokane got 61.5 inches of snow.   More

(By Staff Reports)

Domestic violence suspect threatens to shoot officers, Stevens County deputy discharges service pistol during standoff, suspect eventually brought down by Chewelah K9 Rebel

On Wednesday night, a Stevens County Deputy fired his weapon after a suspect pointed a handgun – equipped with a laser – at the deputy and a Chewelah Police Officer, according to statements released by authorities. This came after authorities responded to a domestic violence call where the suspect reportedly assaulted his wife and would not allow her to leave their residence.

At approximately 5:40 p.m., Chewelah Police Officers, Stevens County Deputies, Washington State Troopers and a Fish and Game Officer responded to the 800 block of W. Robert Ave. in Chewelah after the wife had reported she was assaulted by her husband – 82-year-old Byron Parmenter – and he was not allowing her to leave the residence.  More

(By Jared Arnold/Chewelah Independent)

Possible violation of state law…

The City of Chewelah’s sale earlier this year of two parcels of land on Sand Canyon Road has resulted in concerns from local residents and led mayoral candidate Bob Belknap to ask the city council some pointed questions at a meeting earlier this month.

The controversy surrounds the status of several city-owned water wells that are located on the properties and the situation has left some people asking: “Did the city really sell our water wells?”

Unfortunately, the answer – yes and no, depending on who you talk to – is about as clear as city water on hydrant flushing days. More