(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)

QUARTZITE WITH PUMPKIN SPICE: Light up the Park and BooFest just weeks away…

Light up the Park has become the new chic fall event for Chewelah after setting a world record years ago for pumpkins in one place, and continuing to be a family-friendly event that is free to the community.

It’s back this year with a new look but it will have that same great pumpkin taste. On Oct. 26, the Chewelah City Park will be transformed into a Halloweentown of sorts from 3-7 p.m. with entertainment, vendors, games, pumpkins and much, much more.

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(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)

The John V. Folsom American Legion Post 54 was established on October of 1919, a year after the post’s namesake Pvt. John Vernie Folsom was killed in action fighting for Hill 255 in World War One. Folsom’s family moved to Chewelah when he passed away. (Courtesy photo)

RISING FROM RUBBLE: American Legion born out of the trenches of World War One…

It’s hard to miss the Chewelah American Legion post. Members of their honor guard can be seen at many public events where a flag salute is needed. The post holds several events each year honoring veterans both passed and alive. They’re a very visible presence at the funerals of veterans in the area. When it comes to giving, the post is usually the first to hold a dinner to raise money for a cause or a community member in need.

While none of them were around for its founding, current members of the John V. Folsom American Legion Post carry on a tradition that was established from the trenches of World War One.
If there was a war to establish the need for a veteran services once the battles were over, it was The Great War which raged in Europe from 1914-1918. America joined the war late, coming in on the side of the Allies after actions by Germany made it difficult for the country to remain neutral. Factor in that traditional western allies France and Great Britain had already taken body blows during the trench warfare-laden battlefields and were desperate for fresh men to put into the bloodiest war the world had seen. The American Expeditionary Forces were established in 1917 and would swell to a force of two million fighting men. More

(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)

WOLF KILLED BY WDFW: WDFW removed adult female on Sept. 25 after it preyed on cattle…

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced on Sept. 25 that a female member of the Grouse Flats wolf pack has been lethally removed from the Grouse Flats wolf pack in Southeast Washington.

This comes after the pack has been involved in seven depredations since Aug. 23.

The agency said it believes this was a breeding female.

WDFW said that the Grouse Flats pack has repeatedly preyed on cattle on grazing lands in southeast Washington. On Sept. 24, WDFW Director Kelly Susewind authorized lethal removal after WDFW staff confirmed four livestock depredations by the pack.

The agency uses incremental removal which consists of periods of active operations of lethal removal followed by an evaluation period to determine if those actions changed the pack’s behavior. With this lethal removal, the department will see if the Grouse Flats pack updates. The lethal removal did spur the Defenders of Wildlife to send a letter to The Independent decrying the killing.

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(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)

A plaque, flagpole and flag for Clyde Miller was dedicated on Saturday. (Brandon Hansen photo)

Family honors longtime Chewelah resident and passed veteran…

The national anthem played, while a slight rain and wind swirled around at the Barbour Complex on Sunday. The family of Clyde J. Miller, who passed away last December, honored the longtime Chewelah resident and veteran with a plaque and a flagpole next to the Chewelah baseball field that will serve as a reminder of a proud Cougar fan and patriot. The flagpole was moved over from Jenkins Middle School where Miller once attended school and at its concrete base a metal plaque says “Go Cougars. Donated in Loving Memory of Clyde J. Miller. 02/17/1938-12/16/2018”
When Miller passed last December, the family had asked that memorial contributions be made to Chewelah Baseball.

“My mom, Nancy Miller, wanted part of the money that was donated to be used to improve the high school baseball field in some way. We initially had plans to improve the seating area, possibly covering it and adding storage,” said Tamara Bowman.

Then the family realized that the field did not have a flagpole and realized it would be a fitting tribute for Miller, who retired as a Senior Chief from the United States Navy.

Here is the plaque left for Clyde Miller near the Chewelah baseball field. (Brandon Hansen photo)

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(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent)

Cheerleaders recognized for extraordinary effort…

The Colville Cheerleaders were named the WIAA Team of Month after helping their football team get ready for their game against Meridian High School weeks ago. Colville football and the cheerleaders had taken the several-hour bus ride to the Leavenworth area football stadium to play a nonleague, neutral site matchup against Meridian only to find that the stadium was completely unprepared for the game.

“Without hesitation, Colville’s cheerleaders and coach decided that they needed to step in and help,” the WIAA said in their press release. “The team grabbed spray paint and painted every line. Had they not stepped up it would have pushed the game back at least an hour, an act of generosity that truly went above and beyond their normal cheerleading duties.” More

(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)

Landgon Cook has lived in the Pacific Northwest for 30 years and has done extensive research into mushrooms. (KS Brooks photo)

ARE YOU A GATHERER IN THE MAKING?: Award winning outdoorsman talks about the nature of mushroom hunting…

The Pacific Northwest is perhaps a perfect setting for prospective mushroom hunters, and Langdon Cook is coming to Chewelah to show you just how to get started.

“Our region has a long history of mushroom hunting,” Cook said. “People who enjoy the outdoors or good food can be easily converted into hardcore mushroom hunters. It’s a hobby that gets you into the woods and mountains by day and then into the kitchen at night, which is a great way to live in my opinion.”

As an accomplished writer of several award-winning books, and having been published in numerous magazines, newspapers and online journals, Cook should know about them more than most. Cook has been on PBS and the Travel Channel but can be seen in person at the Chewelah Public Library on October 9 and Oct. 10 at 6 p.m.

“I’ve been hunting mushrooms since first moving to the Pacific Northwest nearly 30 years ago, but I only started delving into their cultural and economic importance in the past decade or so when I started researching my book,” Cook said.

Langdon Cook

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(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)

Yeah, we don’t get it either…

I’ll be the first to admit, popular trends tend to come late to Chewelah. That is why you still see wallet chains around town.

This week is homecoming meaning students will dress up each day of the week, and the Chewelah student body has elected Monday as VSCO day, causing everyone about the age of like 24 to go “huh?” More