Latest
The latest news from around the Chewelah Valley
Pitt’s Pro Tips: Evaluate your summer season
(By Jason Pitt/Chewelah Golf Pro)
As fall approaches it’s important to maximize your time spent on the golf course and evaluate the past season, because winter is just around the corner. I believe the fall is the best time of year to play golf. Usually golf courses are in great condition and not very busy. Temperatures can feel like summer and the scenery is gorgeous!
If you don’t track any statistics on your golf game, now is the perfect time to start. There are many options out there that can synch with a smart phone, or you can keep your stats on a separate scorecard. I suggest keeping stats on at least fairways hit, greens in regulation, putts, and pars per round. These are all essential in identifying your strengths and weaknesses.
After compiling stats for at least 8-10 rounds of golf you can start to get a bigger picture on where your game could use help. Let’s say after 10 rounds you are averaging 6 fairways out of a possible 14. That’s less than 50% of fairways hit! It’s no secret that Chewelah GC&CC is played best from the fairways and not the trees. Your stats have identified an area for improvement. Let’s say you average 31 putts per round. You’re a pretty good putter! But what if you are only hitting 30% of greens in regulation? It could be that you have fewer putts because you are chipping more frequently and hitting fewer greens. All of these statistics tie together and will give you a better picture of what needs improvement this fall and what to focus on during the winter. Come talk to you PGA Professionals for a better understanding on using statistics to improve your game.
Update from the Golf Course
The August promotion to allow Juniors under 17 to play free with a paying adult was well received. CG&CC has decided to continue this promotion until the season end.
We have two events in September that we encourage you to attend: The Lions’ Romp and Roar tournament on September 16 is not only a great event, but helps them raise money that goes directly back into our community.
The Sprotty’s EOD Warrior Foundation Tournament and Dinner Auction on September 23 is an event that raises money for the EOD Warrior Foundation. You can elect to participate in the tournament or attend the dinner auction separately.
More information on either of these events can be found on our website (www.chewealhgolf.com) or by calling the Pro-shop at CG&CC. (935- 0989)
New medical doctor comes to Chewelah
(By Dr. Larsen’s Office)
Dr. Caleb Holtzer joins Dr. Larsen’s office, expanding hours of operation…
The physician shortage in the greater Chewelah area is getting a little less problematic as Providence Family Medicine Chewelah welcomes Caleb Holtzer, MD to the health care team. Dr. Holtzer joins Paul Larsen, MD and Kelly Anderson, ARNP in the clinic located at 100 W. South Ave in Chewelah.
“That’s not the only exciting change,” said Dr. Larsen. “We are also increasing access by expanding our hours of operation. Beginning this week, patient appointments will be available beginning at 7 a.m., with the last patient appointment scheduled at 6:40 p.m., Monday through Friday. We anticipate an increasing ability to see same day appointments, and we are happy to provide options for patients so they do not need to miss work or school to visit their health care provider.”
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Chewelah Bowling Center hosting league play and open bowling
(By Staff Reports/Chewelah Independent)
The Chewelah Bowling Center has leagues and offers open bowling for $4 a game. (File photo)
Bowling is back in Chewelah after hiatus…
The Chewelah Bowling Center is back in action, thanks to community support. Officially opened back up on Sept. 5 after a hiatus dating back to Chataqua, the center will now be open seven days a week.
The center hosts league bowling nearly every day a week and actually had to add leagues due to community response after the Chewelah mainstay’s future came into question because of funding last year.
“A big thanks to the community pulling together,” Chewelah Bowling Center’s Tami Gouge said. “Donations were made because people in the community care and want to see the bowling center open. This needs to keep happening.” More
Much upcoming for Chewelah Arts Guild
(By CAG)
Keep your calendar open for CAG events…
CIVIC CENTER
Take a good look at the wood floor the next time you’re in the Civic Center. On August 25, fifteen local volunteers from the Arts Guild, PACA, and the SCC Exercise classes, did a major cleaning in the Civic Center in preparation for the Wear Coat floor refinishing the following Monday. Storage rooms, ceiling tiles, walls and beams, and the stage itself, were all cleared and cleaned. Some areas were painted and light fixtures in the north and south entries were fitted with LED lights.
The Chewelah Arts Guild has long collaborated with the City of Chewelah on refurbishment and maintenance of the Civic Center. It was the Arts Guild who spearheaded years ago, a Civic Center improvement plan, coordinating new paint throughout, and then placing carpet and sound abatement panels on the walls to improve acoustics. The Guild also purchased the stackable chairs on dollies to provide more comfortable and durable seating.
This most used public facility in town is refreshed, with a glossy floor, ready for another year! Let’s all work to take good care of this community space.
RAINBOW FUND MINI-GRANTS
Twice a year, community members can apply for mini-grants. The Arts Guild’s mini-grant program has helped with a variety of needs over the years, from the purchase of a sewing machine, to providing support for dance and theater students, as well as materials for arts instructors. The first upcoming mini-grant deadline is October 13. Get applications at the Chewelah Library or on our website: www.chewelahartsguild.org. (click at the top on “Classes”, and scroll down).
Lions club calendars now available for Chewelah area
The Chewelah Valley Lions Club is now selling their famous calendars that feature birthdays and anniversaries of community members.
You can buy a calendar from any Chewelah Valley Lions Club member for $10 for the first calendar and $5 for each subsequent one. They will be delivered starting the last week December. You can also submit birthdays and anniversaries by calling Jonni Graybeal at 936-3064.
Prosecutor’s Column for Sept. 7, 2017
(By Stevens County Prosecutor Tim Rasmussen)
There is some good news to report. A new mental health treatment facility will soon open in Colville. Before this facility opened, treatment of persons with mental health problems was very complicated due to the fact that the nearest mental health facilities were in Spokane or Airway Heights. This meant logistic problems for patients and families and treatment providers.
Through the diligent efforts of several individuals and entities, Dr. David Nielsen is happy to announce, “A 16 bed Residential Treatment Facility – Adult Mental Health Inpatient Evaluation and Treatment Unit will be opening in Colville. The facility will be housed within Providence Mount Carmel Hospital, (the landlord), funded by Spokane County Community Services, Housing, and Community Development Department and operated by Stevens County dba Northeast Washington Alliance Counseling Services. With Capital Project funds from the Washington State Department of Commerce, Spokane County and Stevens County, nearly $3 million of renovations have been completed to a section of the second floor of Mount Carmel Hospital that will house the E&T Facility. More
Police Bloter for Sept. 7, 2017
(By Chewelah Chief of Police Mark Burrows)
Fifty four calls including over twenty traffic stops; a threats complaint; several assist calls to surrounding agencies; a misc complaint; and an officer took a report regarding a missing person. A citizen turned in a cheap, inoperative, bicycle that had been abandoned for months. The bicycle was disposed of after it was determined it had not been reported stolen. An adult female was booked into jail on DV charges; harassment; a welfare check; a report of possible child abuse; a report of a suspicious person; and officers responded to an intrusion alarm that was accidentally tripped by a contractor. An animal complaint; a cashier reported suspicious circumstances; an incomplete 911 call; and the hospital reported a man yelling outside the ER. A young man was booked on warrants; several K-9 deployments and assists; officers contacted several suspicious people during night shifts; and a concerned citizen reported that small children were playing in the street without supervision. Suspicious circumstances; an abandoned vehicle was towed off the street; and a citizen asked for a welfare check. Another agency assist; a lost & found call; another intrusion alarm; a disturbance call; another DV suspect was booked into jail; another disturbance call; a burglary/trespassing report; and a few young people quickly wore out their welcome at a fast food restaurant by being rude and exhibiting their limited sign language vocabulary. And last, but not least, hello to a few readers on a medical team in Zambia!
Family builds tiny house with help
(By Jamie Henneman/Chewelah Independent)
Paul, Nichole and Clara Walker stand in front of their new tiny home. (Jamie Henneman photo)
Home changes renters to owners…
Earlier this year, Paul and Nichole Walker decided to embark on a project that would change them from renters to home owners by building their own tiny home with help from the Hope Street Project. The project is the second tiny home that the Hope Street Project has assisted with this year in an effort to address homelessness and affordable housing in Stevens County.
The Walkers said they decided to build a tiny home due to rising rent, making ongoing rent payments but not gaining on owning an asset and the needs of their growing family.
Paul Walker researched the materials he would need and the couple began building their tiny home from affordable materials, including a refurbished camping trailer frame, windows and other materials from Craigslist, and some help from Hope Street.
“I helped build just about every part of the home,” Nichole Walker said, pointing to a picture of her on the roof wielding a circular saw and another of Nichole on a step ladder with a pneumatic nailer. “That thing was heavy. I lost 70 lbs. building this tiny home. Paul lost 60 lbs.”
Every evening and spare moment the Walkers had was dedicated to completing the tiny home. The home features a mini kitchen, a living area with television, bathroom with a tiny home tub, a child’s bedroom for their daughter, Clara, and loft bedroom for the adults. The ladder to the loft is retractable and slides out of place when not in use.
The completion of the home heralds a second success story for the Hope Street Project that also helped a homeless family transition into a tiny home earlier this year. The first tiny home was built with volunteer labor from a local contractor, Keith Wilder, and donations of materials from local businesses like Haney Lumber, Columbia Cedar, Blue Mountain Plumbing and Home Town Flooring. Furnishings and other materials were donated by Home Suite Home and Colville Sign. The family is purchasing the home from the Hope Street Project via a zero interest loan that will help to fund future housing projects.
To learn more about Hope Street and their work to help those who do not qualify for conventional housing, contact: baconbarry@juno.com.
Kettle Falls sued over fatal accident
(By Jamie Henneman/Chewelah Independent)
City police officer attempted to pass before striking vehicle…
The City of Kettle Falls is being sued by the family of a man who was killed when a Kettle Falls Police officer attempted to pass a line of backed up traffic on HWY 395 and ran into the man’s pickup.
On Sept. 24, 2015, a Kettle Falls Police Officer attempted to pass a line of traffic that was backed up behind a tow truck by driving in a no-passing zone. The car then hit the pickup of Thomas Preston, who was attempting to turn left off of HWY 395 north of Chewelah near Duncan Road. The collision pushed Preston’s vehicle off the road and into a field. Preston sustained serious injuries and was flown to Sacred Heart Medical Center where he died, according to Spokane County Superior Court records.
Along with suing the City of Kettle Falls, Preston’s family also names Chewelah Towing as a defendant in the case, siting that their slow moving, overloaded tow vehicle created the traffic conditions that contributed to the accident.