BY GSLLCOC/For The Independent
The Greater Springdale, Loon Lake Chamber of Commerce met February 2 at the Springdale Fire Station.

Fourteen people were present.

2017 goals were discussed. One major feature of the new year will be monthly guest speakers. This is part of the theme of ongoing education for small business owners. Guest speakers were discussed: Mike Bucy, Stevens County District 1 Fire Chief wants to bring a speaker on the subject of developing Clayton. More

Tom Richardson has been a Spokane Shriner since 2003

By Brandon Hansen/Chewelah Independent
The El Katif Shriners have a new head guy and he just so happens to be from Chewelah.

With all their kids out of the house, Tom and Cheryl Richardson were looking for something to get involved in. Tom, already a Mason, was told to look into the Shriners and joined the organization in 2003 with Cheryl’s support.

Working for Hansen Logging at the time, Richardson said that owners John and Sherry Hansen, along with head mechanic Rob Hansen were always very understanding and accommodating with his Shriners obligations. After joining, he was put on a leadership divan in 2009 that prepared him to take on more and more responsibility within the organization. More

Peye Creek Park is located at the Pinebrook subdivision. (Brandon Hansen photo)

Hearing examiner holds second round of public testimony

By Kellie Trudeau/Chewelah Independent
The City of Chewelah’s Hearing Examiner heard additional public testimony on Feb. 9 against the proposal to rezone “Peye Creek Park” in the Pinebrook subdivision.

The property is a 4.9 acre Parcel in the East side of Pinebrook Estates, which was first developed in 1992 and platted for a possibility of 190 homes. The lot was zoned as Community Facilities with the idea that it would be developed as a park, however it is currently a vacant lot located in the first subdivision where there are currently 26 homes. Now the city is applying to possibly rezone the 4.9 acre property as single-family residential to open up more possibilities for the land including subdividing it into individual lots. More

Air National Guard Senior Master Sergeant Paul Sety spent six months deployed in Kuwait before returning a few weeks ago. (Brandon Hansen photo)

Sety also named Air National Guard First Sergeant of the Year

By Brandon Hansen/Chewelah Independent
Over seven thousand miles separates the town of Chewelah from the country of Kuwait.

That’s how far away Air National Guard Senior Master Sergeant Paul Sety was away from home for sixth months serving on deployment for the Air National Guard. Sety, also a father of three and the co-owner of Sety’s Ace Hardware with wife Jessica, had his civilian life put on hold to help the liberation of ISIL-held territory in Iraq and the Middle East.

“I was really blessed with the support net of this small town,” Sety said. “I couldn’t have done it without Jessica, she was really the glue that held everything together.” More