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The latest news from around the Chewelah Valley
Chewelah Bowling Center scores for Dec. 11-22
Here are Chewelah bowling scores for Dec. 11-22
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City to hold hearing on park rezoning
By Jared Arnold/For The Independent
The City of Chewelah Hearing Examiner will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, January 11, at 10 a.m. to consider a proposed amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan and the rezoning of land currently zoned Community Facilities (C-F) to Single Family Residential (R-1). Any interested party is invited to attend the public hearing and offer testimony, or submit comments in writing to the Hearing Examiner. Written comments must be submitted to the city by 5 p.m. on January 4, 2017 at 301 E. Clay Ave. or PO Box 258, Chewelah, WA 99109.
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Lori Larsen joins Chewelah School Board
Officers elected for 2017
By Jamie Henneman/The Independent Staff
At the Dec. 21 Chewelah School Board meeting, the board appointed volunteer Lori Larsen to the second at-large position following its approval to restructure the school board districts. Larsen will serve a one-year term set to expire in 2017, at which time it will be up for election on the November 2017 ballot. More
ChewVino deli hits the right niche in Chewelah
Krisan and Rich LeHew recently expanded ChewVino to include a deli with lunch choices, imported cheese and meats along with wine for purchase. (Brandon Hansen photo)
Downtown gets a trendy lunch spot with gourmet choices
By Brandon Hansen/The Independent Staff
Atmosphere is a huge factor in the restaurant and bar business.
And local business owners are seeing a growing atmosphere in downtown Chewelah. With the latest opening of the ChewVino Deli, the community can experience a place that feels right out of Portland or Seattle.
When Krisan and Rich LeHew opened up ChewVino three years ago, they wanted to give the Stevens County town their very own Rocket Market or urban dining space. Featuring excellent spirits and wines, they tapped into a nerve of local people wanting to drink in a comfortable space with good conversation and friends.
Judging by the response, the niche that the LeHews provide has been a hit. The ChewVino Deli opened weeks ago with a soft opening, but it was such a popular lunch spot, it basically turned into their regular opening.
Laura Cockrell, who grew up in Chewelah but had moved to Portland, came on board with the LeHews at ChewVino after coming back to Stevens County to help her mom. (Brandon Hansen photo)
Archery range, disc golf at Lake Roosevelt?
NPS Outdoor Recreational Planner Jon Edwards said the department is considering a variety of options for Lake Roosevelt including expanding on recent recreational trends like mountain biking, paddle boarding or disc golf. (Courtesy photo)
Parks Service considers recreational improvements
By Jamie Henneman/For The Independent
The National Parks Service is considering increasing the recreational opportunities at Lake Roosevelt near Kettle Falls and is accepting public feedback on some specific improvement ideas.
NPS Outdoor Recreational Planner Jon Edwards said the department is considering a variety of options including expanding on recent recreational trends like mountain biking, paddle boarding or disc golf.
“We always want to diversify and get people outside,” Edwards related. “There are lots of recreational opportunities that are not that expensive to install and make places like Lake Roosevelt more accessible to everybody. There are lots of options to consider that expand beyond boating and fishing.”
NPS held a forum on Dec. 20 in Colville to present some of the ideas to the public. More
These guys are good: Cougs take sixth at Tri-County
Chewelah ranked No. 12 in the state as a team
By Geno Ludwig/For The Independent
Conner Krouse pinned Jake Harrington from Liberty with 14 seconds remaining in the second round to win the 220-pound championship at last Wednesday’s Tri-County Classic at Central Valley High School.
Chewelah had five medalists, and the Cougars placed sixth overall in the 24-team tournament. Kaden Mackowiak wrestled into the championship finals, but was outscored 5-1, placing second in the 138-pound bracket. Dayton Smith won three of four bouts to finish third in the 113-pound weight division. Jacob Loomis also won three bouts in the 120-pound bracket to place fifth. Cougar 285-pounder Wade Baker placed eighth. More
Valley Warriors Against Cancer help local families with Christmas
The Valley-based Warriors Against Cancer donated these gifts to area children. From left to right: Darla Olson, Misty Norman, Christine McPherson and Carolyn Fullmer. (Brandon Hansen photo)
Warriors Against Cancer provide Christmas dinner and gifts
By Valley Warriors Against Cancer/For The Independent
A couple of Stevens County families who are battling cancer got a little help this year from the Valley Warriors Against Cancer, a non-profit working out of the Valley, WA area. When the gals from Valley Warriors Against Cancer got wind of a couple of families needing some holiday cheer, they rolled up their sleeves and went shopping. After providing Thanksgiving dinner for two families from purchases made at the local Safeway store, these gals decided to take it a step further and purchase Christmas dinner and gifts to pile under the tree.
With big hearts and combined compassion for families suffering under the financial strain of cancer (most of the members have been impacted by cancer directly themselves or in a friend or family member), this group of caring individuals is determined to make a difference for families in our area who are ravaged by the physical and emotional toll of this illness.
Blaze consumes Waitts Lake shop
Fire fighters work to extinguish fire on Thompson Road. (Del Barber photo)
Fire began early on Monday morning
Firefighters responded to a shop fire on Thompson Road above Waitts Lake early Monday morning. The fire was called in to responders at 7:23 a.m.
Historic cars had to be removed from the shop as firefighters battled the blaze.
Fire District 4 received mutual aid from the Chewelah Fire Department and Fire District 1 to help put the fire out.
ZagsWatch: Goznaga goes through bulk of non-conference slate unscathed
By Dylan Kitzan/For The Independent
It wasn’t one of the most daunting non-conference schedules during Mark Few’s tenure as head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, but it was the most successful, as the Zags wrapped up that portion of the schedule unscathed when they knocked off visiting South Dakota 102-65 on Wednesday, Dec. 21.
Gonzaga let South Dakota hang around during the first 10 minutes of the game, leading just 20-18 early. From there, however, the defense stepped up in a big way, forcing the Coyotes into tough shots and mistakes and that two-point lead turned into a 52-25 halftime lead just minutes later.
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