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Humans caused majority of fires in Stevens County in 2018

Humans caused majority of fires in Stevens County in 2018

(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent)

80 percent of fires in Stevens County caused by humans for 2018…

The data for the 2018 Stevens County fire season shows a majority of fires started were human-caused. In a post by Stevens County Fire District 1, the statistics showed that 133 fires were started by humans, whereas there were about 35 lighting-sparked fires.

Lighting-caused fires caused 5,628 acres to burn, while human fires caused 4,985 acres to burn.

“As suspected, lightning caused fires burn more acreage, probably due to their remote locations and deeper into forested areas,” Stevens County Fire District 1’s Facebook page said. “Human caused fires tend to be smaller and reported more quickly. Also, State lands are generally more accessible and used more frequently.”

In all there were 168 fires reported by the DNR in Stevens County for the year of 2018. Those fires burned 10,611 acres and 80 percent of those fires were human-caused.

In Stevens County Fire District 1, just 22.5 acres burned in the southern Stevens County district for 2018.

FROM THE EDITOR: So just how are we going to carve up the state?

FROM THE EDITOR: So just how are we going to carve up the state?

(BRANDON HANSEN/Brandon is the managing editor of the Chewelah Independent)

With the passing of I-639 that adds more to the pile of gun control pile of controversies, I’ve seen more than my fair share of tough guy Facebook posts about splitting the state up again.
Now I’m of the opinion that the I-639 gun control measures are terrible, if not unconstitutional, and we are going to find issues with anyone on the eastern part of the state enforcing these unenforceable measures.

But that’s not what I’m on my soapbox for today, nope it’s the splitting of the state. People think it’s as simple as drawing a line on a map but I’m here to tell you, the theoretical 51st state is going to be a lot more complicated of shape than we all think.

There have been many proposals and suggestions with my favorite recently being the idea that eastern Washington and Oregon just join Idaho.

Brilliant! I thought, until you realize has anyone asked Idaho? Or Oregon? Or Washington? Since these sort of measures take legislatures and Congress agreeing on things, you can see how adding three state legislatures in the mix could get you into a bunch of trouble. More

Tim Eyman close to qualifying $30 car tab initiative

Tim Eyman close to qualifying $30 car tab initiative

(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent)

Eyman’s previous initiatives have been struck down by state…

The question for $30 car tabs continues as professional initiative sponsor Tim Eyman is pushing yet another $30 car tab initiative. This comes after Eyman successfully got the state to vote in the car tab discounting in 1999 but the Washington Supreme Court overturned it.

The new initiative, I-976, would limit registration fees to $30, repeal vehicle weight fees and repeal voter-approved car tab taxes for Sound Transit. The initiative would also require the use of Kelley Blue Book when it came to calculate any future value-based car tab taxes that voters might approved. More

COLIN’S HOT TAKES: Seahawks bandwagon is getting lighter

COLIN’S HOT TAKES: Seahawks bandwagon is getting lighter

(COLIN HAFFNER/Chewelah Independent)

Ed Broberg Photo/edbroberg.com

Seattle isn’t bad… they’re just not good…

It’s been a while, but it’s oh so good to see those loveable Seahawks back on the field. Sure, the winning was nice, but it really detracted from what made the ‘Hawks so enjoyable as a fan.

Full disclosure, I’m one of those lifer fans that looks down their nose at the ones that came on board over the past five years or so. In fact, I look at them as the stereotypical loudmouths that give all fanbases a poor reputation.

And so it was that I found myself exclaiming to my good friend Brandon Hansen how happy I was that the Seahawks were destined to be a mediocre team once again. More

Brooklyn Rainer and Sasquatch making footprints

Brooklyn Rainer and Sasquatch making footprints

(GENO LUDWIG/Chewelah Independent)

Brooklyn Rainer

CCS notches 35-0 record heading into NWAC tourney…

Brooklyn Rainer made the correct choice when she decided to play volleyball at Community Colleges of Spokane. The Lady Sasquatch recently completed an undefeated regular season, finishing 35-0 against opponents, 16-0 in league play, and they have been seeded as the number one team into the NWAC tournament.

Rainer has become a front row starter for the Sasquatch, where she plays right side hitter and has been instrumental in the success of the team. At 6’2”, the first year freshman is the tallest member in the lineup.

“I got into almost every match at the beginning of the season” said Rainer, “I now play every set of every match, but I only play in the front row,” After three rotations, my roommate subs in for me and plays three rotations in the back row. Then, I come back in to play the front row. More

Young gun on the squad

Young gun on the squad

(GENO LUDWIG/Chewelah Independent)

Corban Stearns has seen action as one of two freshman on the Chewelah Cougars this year. (Brandon Hansen photo)

Corban Stearns seeing football action as a freshman…

Football can be somewhat frustrating for a high school rookie, but for freshman lineman Corban Stearns the season has been exceptionally exciting. Only one game into the schedule, Stearns was selected to assume a starting position along the forward wall of the Chewelah offense.

“It was really exciting,” Stearns said. “I got to start two games against Liberty and Colville. “When I found out that I was going to start, I went home after practice and told my mom, and she got excited too.

“I got butterflies on game night, especially when I learned I had to block this big six-foot-seven kid, but, in the end, I got the best of him. He was not a factor in the game. He didn’t make very many tackles. A lot of the time, I got help from Sammy Triplett, which really helped.” More

FOOTBALL: Chewelah’s Nolan Hansen named Max Prep player of the week

FOOTBALL: Chewelah’s Nolan Hansen named Max Prep player of the week

(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)

Hansen named top linebacker in Northwest region by Max Preps…

Chewelah’s Nolan Hansen was named one of Max Prep’s USA Football Players of the Week after his standout performance against Columbia Burbank last Friday in the state playoffs. The Cougars picked up the 34-14 victory, and Hansen had himself a game. The senior posted 18 tackles, seven solo tackles, three tackle for losses, two interceptions including one recovered for a touchdown.

The MaxPreps/USA Football Players of the Week honors eight top high school football performers each week throughout the United States.
Selected by USA Football, players are chosen based upon statistics that are submitted to MaxPreps.com. Each winner receives a certificate and a letterman patch to showcase the honor. More

How about those Chargers?

How about those Chargers?

(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)

The Springdale Chargers were no stranger to the run game, as the team racked up 2,500 yards on the ground this year. (K.S. Brooks photo)

Springdale football team had plenty to cheer about…

The 2018 Springdale Chargers hit like a wrecking ball during the season and posted a 5-5 record in their first year of being a 2B independent.

The southern Stevens County football team rushed for just under 2,500 yards on the year while averaging about 7.98 yards per carry. To say that is an effective running game would be an understatement.

“The whole team has to be working together to run the football, lineman knowing their assignments, aggressive backs running the ball, and receivers that embrace their role as blockers knowing that passing the ball is going to be a secondary option,” Springdale coach Mark Edwards said. “We did that and that was one of the highlights for me.”
More

Council approves utility rate increases

Council approves utility rate increases

(JARED ARNOLD/Chewelah Independent)

Increases will help city deal with budget shortfall…

City utility customers will see an increase of approximately $11.30, on average, on their monthly bill starting in January after the city council unanimously approved higher taxes and usage rates last Wednesday evening. The increased revenue will help the city balance their general fund and water department budgets.

The council also approved a one percent increase in the annual property tax levy. The increase will generate an additional $4,176 for the city’s general fund and be spread across all property owners. Total property tax collections in 2019 are expected to be $440,413.

The utility bill increases are the result of a combination of raising the utility tax that the city charges it’s water, sewer and garbage departments from 17 up to 20 percent; increasing the water base charge by $4 per month; and raising the water usage charges by 20 percent for those customers that use over 5,000 gallons in a month. More

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Since 1903, residents of the Chewelah Valley have opened their morning paper to The Independent news. The Independent is a locally-owned newspaper published by the Arnold family of Chewelah, Washington. This weekly newspaper is published every Thursday and distributes 2,250 paid copies by US Mail and through local newsstands in Chewelah, Colville, Addy, Bluecreek, Valley, Springdale and Suncrest. The Independent is the legal newspaper for Stevens County, City of Chewelah and the town of Springdale.
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