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The latest news from around the Chewelah Valley

Vote for Your Favorite Farmers Market

July 5, 2012

Get ready Chewelah, the Chewelah Farmers Market is one of the contestants in the 2012 America’s Favorite Farmers Markets
contest hosted each year by American Farmland Trust. Last year in the America’s Favorite Farmers Market contest, the
Chewelah Farmers Market garnered enough support and votes cast by the community to place it in the
Top 5 in Washington State (1st place for the small market category) and in the Top 20 nationwide.

American Farmland Trust (AFT) has opened the voting to select “America’s Favorite Farmers Markets” at
www.farmland.org/vote or www.chewelahfarmersmarket.com. The online contest is a nationwide challenge
to see which of America’s farmers markets can rally the most support from their communities. At the end of the
contest on September 3rd, one large, medium, mid-size and small sized farmers market will win the title of
“America’s Favorite Farmers Market” for 2012. Winners will be nationally recognized and receive various items
to help promote their farmers market.

Farmers markets are a vital link between local farms and their supporting communities, providing fresh and
healthy food and an experience that cannot be matched anywhere else. By partnering with farmers market managers,
American Farmland Trust is encouraging consumers to consider the importance of farmland and to support local farmers.
Market shoppers can cast their vote in support of their region’s farmers, community and market. To vote for the
Chewelah Farmers Market, simply go to www.farmland.org/vote or www.chewelahfarmersmarket.com.

“The America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest is a fun and engaging way for farmers market shoppers to
show their pride for their local farmers markets and to directly support their communities,” said Jon Scholl, president
of American Farmland Trust. “Farmers markets provide a vital connection from town and city centers to surrounding
local farms, supplying fresh and healthy food and an experience that cannot be matched anywhere else.”

The America’s Favorite Farmers Contest is a part of American Farmland Trust’s No Farms No Food® campaign,
which raises awareness of the dangers of farmland loss by making connections to food. Farms near metropolitan
areas produce 91 percent of the nation’s market value of fruit, 78 percent of vegetables, and 67 percent of dairy products.

The all-volunteer-run Chewelah Farmers Market is now in its 5th year. Selected as the Best Small Farmers Market
for 2010 & 2011 by the Washington State Farmers Market Association, the market is open every Friday through
October 19th, rain or shine, in the beautiful Chewelah City Park from 11:30 to 5:30. For more information,
please visit www.chewelahfarmersmarket.com.

School Board Ratifies Certified Staff Contract

June 28, 2012

The Chewelah School Board of Directors ratified the Chewelah Education Association (CEA) contract at the June 20 regular meeting to include one LID (Learning Improvement Day) and two additional allocation (personal) days. The CEA is the union for certified staff.

During the previous year, certified staff members were given one and a half LID days and two allocation days to make up for the 1.9 percent reduction in state pay announced in 2011. This year they will receive a half LID day less based on what the district can afford.

The CEA negotiations team had also originally asked the district to base involuntary staff transfers on seniority, however that was taken off the table because Superintendent Rick Linehan said that the district needs to remain flexible as they work to consolidate to two buildings in 2013-2014.

At the June meeting, Linehan asked the school board to allow him to receive the same benefits for LID and allocation days as the certified staff since principals are also included in the CEA union negotiations.

Additionally, Linehan requested the board to revise his contract to remove the statement “can be terminated with no cause whatsoever.” The school board members felt that was a reasonable request but will have the district lawyer review the revised contract before approval.

Construction Services Group (CSG) will be conducting a phone survey for the school district in the next two weeks to determine a non-biased consensus regarding the consolidation to two buildings. Linehan said students from Washington State University will call different people of various demographics within the district to ask questions such as whether they support a K-8 building at Gess Elementary or a 7-12 building at Jenkins High School. This survey is part of CSG pre-bond services and is free to the district until a bond is passed. Paper surveys will also be made available at the District Office for anyone to complete.

Thirty-four million dollars in competitive energy efficiency grants are available through OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction). The first round of applications are due in November. However, districts must have an investment grade energy audit to be eligible.

Jayson Schmidt of McKinstry, a full-service design, build, operate and maintain (DBOM) firm, proposed that the board hire his company to execute the energy audit. Schmidt said with their services they guarantee a certain amount of energy savings and verify that number once the project is complete. Since there is a cost for the audit, he said even if they do not end up qualifying for the available grants, it will be valuable in other ways like when planning for the capital bond, emergencies, or future projects. The board took no action on whether to hire McKinstry because they said it was too soon to make a commitment.

Linehan said they would go after an energy efficiency grant to make improvements on the building not being considered for a bond such as repairing the air conditioning system at Gess Elementary if the JHS building is to be renovated.

The school board approved a revision to the 2012-13 Jenkins High School Student Handbook to have a closed campus during lunch for ninth grade students. Previously, there was an open campus at lunch for all high school students. Linehan said the upcoming ninth graders will already be used to a closed campus and it will be an easier transition if the middle school students move to the high school building eventually. Kim Hogan suggested the change with a letter to the school board.

Principal Matt McLain presented the annual report for Chewelah Alternative and HomeLink programs. He said although they are no longer open on Mondays, the room at the District Office is busier than it has ever been. The computers were logged in 1,770 times in 2011-2012 versus 729 times in 2010-2011.

McLain thanked Linehan for his support to get elected as the Region 5 Representative for WALA (Washington Association for Learning Alternatives).

The alternative programs have outgrown their space at the District Office and will be moving to the Jenkins Middle School library building for the next school year.

The JMS library will then move to Geno Ludwig’s former classroom, as he will be teaching full-time at the high school. Other JMS teachers have also received new teaching assignments for next school year to accommodate the sixth grade remaining at Gess.

Regarding more changes at the middle school, JMS classes will be starting 10 minutes earlier in the morning and ending ten minutes earlier beginning fall of 2012 to alleviate safety issues with the buses crossing Highway 395 and causing traffic jams.

The school board had the first reading of the high school graduation requirements policy and procedures, which have been revised to remain consistent with state requirements.

The school board approved the principal contracts for Hogan, Pugh, and Jon Symonds and the assistant principal/athletic director contract for Lonnie Hoxie.

They also approved to post for three paradeducators, three high school students, and bus drivers for the 2012-2013 Gess Elementary after school program.

Additionally, four summer laborers were hired and bus driver Florence Stromenger resigned.

The board also hired JHS, JMS and Gess Elementary summer school teachers and paraeducators along with summer school bus drivers and summer school Gess Elementary staff assistants. Matt McLain was hired as the alternative program summer school teacher.

Symonds and Pugh said they will complete the summer school programs before July 4, when attendance drops significantly.

The policy for maintaining professional staff/student boundaries was approved noting that the procedure will be created later. This policy is new to the district.

The board approved many changes to the policy and procedure for proper use of electronic resources at Chewelah School Distirct. The policy and procedure was originally adopted in August 2000.

By Kellie Trudeau, The Independent Staff

Heavy Rains Cause Columbia Sewage Spill

June 28, 2012

The Washington Department of Ecology and other agencies are tracking a raw sewage spill from a sewage treatment system in British Columbia that was flowing into the Columbia River and into Washington state Saturday, June 23.

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary reported that heavy rains caused their sanitary sewer system volume to more than double from the average flow of 10,000 cubic meters per day to 24,000 cubic meters per day in the early afternoon on Saturday. Ten thousand cubic meters equals approximately 2.6 million gallons. Solid waste was contained throughout the incident.

The B.C. Interior Health Authority determined that, with the volume of sewage spilled and the flow of water in the Columbia River, concentrations of sewage would be negligible by the time any amount reached the Canada-United States border. The Columbia River enters Washington state and Stevens County approximately six miles north of the community of Northport.

B.C. Ministry of Environment environmental emergency response officers are continuing to monitor the situation as the weather system evolves.

Ecology, Stevens County Sheriff’s Office and the Northeast Tri-County Health District also are monitoring the response progress.

As a precaution, the Northeast Tri-County Health District warns citizens to stay away from the river as much as possible until the sewage has finished running down the river.

Public invited to annual Art in the Garden Tour

June 21, 2012

Colorful cottage gardens framed by white fences, natural sites with forest backgrounds, arbors, water features, and garden art create delightful settings for the Chewelah Arts Guild’s Art in the Garden Tour.The June 23 tour features five carefully tended garden sites and promises additional enjoyment of the arts – from poetry reading, bag piping, musical and painting performances, to a bit of “Magic”. All of the gardens are located in the city of Chewelah and golf course areas.Tickets can be purchased at Aker’s United Drug, or the Valley Drug Co., for this self-guided tour between the hours of 11am and 3pm. This fund raising event has strong appeal for gardeners, patrons of the arts, and those wishing to support Art Guild project such as Rainbow Fund scholarship for youth and community art events.

City to Shut Off Power Temporarily

June 21, 2012

Electric power will be turned off to Chewelah Electric Customers on Tuesday, June 26 from 4 to 6:30 a.m. in order for Chewelah Electric to do maintenance on their electric lines. If you have any questions please contact David Park at 935-8330.

Multiple Burglaries Spark Concern

June 21, 2012

According to recent citizen reports, the Chewelah area has been hit by a rash of residential burglaries. Victims have reported a variety of items stolen, including electronics, jewelry, and cash.

The burglaries have occurred during both daytime and nighttime hours.

The victims are urging all residents to make sure their houses and cars are locked, properties are well lit, and to report any suspicious activity to the Police Department.

The Chewelah Police Department was not immediately available for comment.

Kiwanis Supports Youth, Sponsors Free Concert

June 14, 2012

The Chewelah City Council will now meet twice a month for the rest of 2012; meetings will take place on the first and third Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The next meeting will be June 20.

The council adopted the ordinance designating the day aThe Chewelah Kiwanis Club is sponsoring “Music in the Park” on Friday, June 22 in support of the Chewelah Youth and Community (CYC) Foundation.

Club members will sell quarter pound hot dogs and pop (or water) for $1.50 beginning at 5 p.m. in the city park. Local band Visibly Shakin will perform from 6-9 p.m.

Kiwanis secretary John Bowers said the free concert will take place of the CYC Foundation’s regular Friday “Game Nite” when local youth are provided a safe place to socialize, play games, and enjoy a free dinner. Game Nites are located at the Abundant Life Fellowship church.

The Kiwanis Club has provided 100 meal tickets to the CYC Foundation to hand out to any youth that goes by the Abundant Life Fellowship prior to the event. They can be turned in at the park for a free hot dog and pop (or water).

Bowers said the Kiwanis Club originally planned the “Music in the Park” event just for the CYC, but decided to invite the community as well. No structured activities are organized except for the food and music, but everyone is invited to enjoy a good time in the park.

CYC “Game Nites” happen every Friday from 5-9 p.m. where youth are invited to play indoor and outdoor games such as ping pong, board games, video games, and other sports with adult leader supervision. The CYC also provides a free hot meal, which is normally pizza. However, Bowers said the parents got together a few weeks ago to provide a ham and potato dinner which was well received by many.

The CYC Foundation recently added Wednesday Game Nites as well from 3-5:30 p.m. but no dinner is served on Wednesday at this time.

Bowers said CYC “Game Nites” are a good way to provide the community youth with a safe place to go, and keep them off the streets and out of trouble. It also gives them a place to go to get away from normal life stresses.

Bowers said the Kiwanis Club is always looking for ways to help support the CYC Foundation and youth in the community. They do not want to take over their programs, he said, but instead give them needed financial support that allows them to continue what they are already doing.

Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Locally, the Chewelah Kiwanis Club provides these services through programs such as the Easter Egg Hunt, Bicycle Safety Rodeo, and providing insurance for local youth sports groups.

Bowers said they do a lot of things behind the scenes, but if not for them many programs would not exist in Chewelah.

The Kiwanis Club will have information about the club and membership packets available at the event.nd time on which regular council meetings are held with a 4-3 vote at the June 6 regular meeting. Council members John May, Dave Haskell, and Carra Nupp opposed the ordinance.

Previously, the council had meetings only on the first Wednesday, but Mayor Clancy Bauman suggested the additional meeting so that business is taken care of in a more timely manner.

Also at the June meeting, the council declared the Main Street property at 306 E. Main Ave. (across from The Independent) as surplus and set the minimum bid at $90,000 after a 15-minute executive session to discuss the sale price.

The council voted to close Lincoln Avenue from Highway 395 to Third Street on Aug. 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Rev it up for the Vets Car and Motorcycle Show. This is a fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project that will take place in the Chewelah city park.

Show organizer David Bergman requested the temporary road closure because he said the show will be much bigger than first anticipated. He said they expect as many as 500 vehicles to participate and the more they can fit, the more funds they can generate for the charity.

The council also voted to increase swim lesson rates to help with the cost of operating the city pool. The previous rates were set in 2007.

The cost of one week of swimming lessons increased from $12 to $15; two weeks of swimming lessons increased from $22 to $25; and two weeks of lessons plus daily swim increased from $33 to $35. They also added a Mommy and Me session that costs $5 a day for parents and toddlers to be in the pool during lunch hour with only one guard on duty and no other swimmers.

The Chewelah City Pool will be open from July 9 to August 31 (Editor’s note: See pool schedule in Sidebar on front page).

The Planning Commission has suggested the council vote on the Airport Layout Plan by Nov. 1, 2012. The Airport Layout Plan was created in 2007 through grant funding and, although there has been discussion on it, no action has been taken to approve the plan so the commission wanted to pass it on to the council once an issue with Richmond Lane is resolved.

Richmond Lane, located on the Chewelah Golf Course, was supposedly approved by the council in 1987 to be a designated taxiway but was not properly recorded. An airport board meeting took place on July 7 to discuss the issues with the plan and begin work toward a solution that the council can vote on.

The Airport Layout Plan is necessary to be eligible for future airport grant funding and the application for the first round of funding from WSDOT Aviation (for the next biennium) is due by March 30, 2013.

Representing the committee set up at the May meeting to discuss the possibility of requiring business licenses in Chewelah, Councilman Nick Lasko said he and Carra Nupp met with members of the Chewelah Chamber of Commerce who had originally suggested the idea. Lasko said although people are for it for various reasons, the city does not have the legal backing to enforce new fines.

Lasko said enforcing the nuisance ordinance is already a challenge for the city since they can ticket violators but there is no recourse from the county if brought to court.

With Lasko’s suggestion, another committee was created to review the enforceability of the nuisance ordinance. Committee members are Lasko, Nupp and Krisan LeHew.

The council adopted the 6-year TIP (Transportation Improvement Plan) following a public hearing where there were no audience comments. No projects have been had added, but priorities have changed for some projects as City Administrator Mike Frizzell said they may be able to find grant funding in the future for certain items, and some grants require projects to be a priority.

Frizzell said they have to replace the city’s paint sprayer for $6,500, which no longer works after 25 years of use. The cost will be split by four departments that use the tool often: water, sewer, electric, and street.

Holly Peterson was appointed to the Chewelah Library Board of Trustees.

By Kellie Trudeau, The Independent Staff

Commissioners Continue OHV Hearing to July 10

June 14, 2012

The Stevens County Commissioners have continued the hearing on the county OHV ordinance to July 10 at 3:30 p.m. in the Commissioner’s Office (230 E. Birch Street, Colville), although the public comment period is now closed.

They held the initial public hearing on June 4 at the Chewelah Civic Center to take testimony on whether or not to open all county roads to OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) traffic except in the highly populated area of Suncrest.

The Commissioners decided not to take any action until they do further research on a few issues regarding the proposed changes. Eighty to 100 people were present at the hearing with a majority in favor of opening more roads.

City Council to Meet Twice A Month

June 14, 2012

The council adopted the ordinance designating the day and time on which regular council meetings are held with a 4-3 vote at the June 6 regular meeting. Council members John May, Dave Haskell, and Carra Nupp opposed the ordinance.

Previously, the council had meetings only on the first Wednesday, but Mayor Clancy Bauman suggested the additional meeting so that business is taken care of in a more timely manner.

The council also voted to increase swim lesson rates to help with the cost of operating the city pool. The previous rates were set in 2007.

The Chewelah City Pool will be open from July 9 to August 31 (Editor’s note: See pool schedule in Sidebar on front page).

Lasko said enforcing the nuisance ordinance is already a challenge for the city since they can ticket violators but there is no recourse from the county if brought to court.

With Lasko’s suggestion, another committee was created to review the enforceability of the nuisance ordinance. Committee members are Lasko, Nupp and Krisan LeHew.

Holly Peterson was appointed to the Chewelah Library Board of Trustees.

Annie Amerika stops in Valley

June 14, 2012

Gale Wilkison, who calls herself “Annie Amerika,” stopped in Valley on June 10 to present a new American flag to homeowners Barbara and Stacy “Hoss” Murray. It was the second day of Wilkison’s two-month road trip across the country to promote patriotism in honor of her late husband.

Wilkison will travel nearly 9,000 miles on a round trip journey through the back roads of 27 states to replace worn flags as a free gift to unsuspecting patriots. It is a trip her husband, John, a disabled Vietnam Naval Veteran, had dreamed of taking before he was killed in a single vehicle accident in November 2010. They had been together for 30 years.

She is taking the trip on her own to “honor my husband, our country, its veterans, and to help heal my heart,” Wilkison shares with everyone on her Internet blog.

Wilkison said her husband is the most patriotic person she has ever known. The first thing he always did was put the flagpole up outside every residence they rented or owned and took it down every night if it was not lit. It became a family ritual.

She plans to scout out worn flags as she travels and offer the owner, whom she will not know, a replacement. Wilkison has 81 flags with her and hopes to give at least one away each day.

The Murrays’ property was the third stop for Wilkison who began the journey on June 9 in her hometown of Bridgeport, Wash.

Since ITD Productions of Valley sponsored the flag that Wilkison presented to the Murrays, she planned the stop for June 10 on her way from Bridgeport to Cheney. Teresa Nelson of ITD Productions, a friend of Wilkison, had previously spotted the Murrays’ flagpole placed prominently in the center of their front lawn and said she saw that the flag was a “perfect” candidate for the project as it was in poor condition. ITD Productions has donated many other flags as well.

Barbara Murray said their flagpole was given to them as wedding gift from a friend when they were married on Sept. 21, 2001, just ten days afte the 9/11 attacks. She said they are honored to be a part of the “Annie Amerika” route, especially since they had just been talking about their need for a new flag since it was faded and severely tattered on the edges.

Trying to hold back tears, Wilkison presented the new flag to the Murrays by saying: “On behalf of my husband John, I would like you to accept this flag to fly proudly at your home.”

Boy Scouts of Troop 989 of Valley took down the old flag and raised the new flag. The Troop then held a flag retirement ceremony to burn the three worn flags that Wilkison had collected on her journey thus far.

The retirement ceremony, which took place in the Murrays’ backyard, was an emotional one for Wilkison as she knew how proud her husband would have been to see it. He was a Boy Scout in his youth.

“They did a fantastic job, it is exactly what John would have wanted,” Wilkison said. “He wanted to make sure future generations knew how to retire flags properly.”

Wilkison had always planned to donate worn flags to Boy Scout troops along the journey once she collected eight or ten, but said this is probably the only retirement ceremony she will actually witness on the entire trip.

Troop 989 Scoutmaster Tim Thompson presented the charred flag grommets to Wilkison out of the fire following the ceremony. He also found one that was not charred, which he said was very unusual. She plans to put it on her key chain.

On her trip, Wilkison said she will visit three large bodies of water from the Atlantic Ocean, to the Gulf of Mexico to Astoria, Oregon on the Pacific Coast. She is traveling in a 1985 Chevrolet Campervan that she purchased in 2011.

Kimberly Gormley at Signs Etcetera of Waterville, Wash. painted the van in a patriotic theme that makes a statement to anyone who sees it. Major sponsors for “Annie Amerika” are listed in the stars of the large bright design. These include the VFW, of which John was a lifetime member among many other groups and individuals. Wilkison said she has been amazed by all the people who have offered their support.

Wilkison said all the flags are from Annin Flagmakers, which are American-made and have been used in every presidential inauguration since Abraham Lincoln except for the most recent one for Barack Obama.

Follow Wilkison on her trip at www.annieamerika2012.blogspot.com or at www.facebook.com/annieamerika2012. Wilkison said she did not misspell America as any disrespect to the country, but as a way to create a unique online identity.

By Kellie Trudeau, The Independent Staff

In This Photo: Gale Wilkison presents a new flag to Barbara and Stacy “Hoss” Murray at their home in Valley. Sandra Fish photo

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