By Jared Arnold/For The Independent
The Chewelah City Council voted last Wednesday evening, Feb. 1, to sell a parcel of land on Sand Canyon Road and declared another piece of property as surplus.

After a closed-door executive session to “discuss minimum prices at which real estate will be offered for sale” and despite an objection by councilman John May, the council accepted an offer of $66,250 for the 20-acre parcel on Sand Canyon.

“I don’t think that’s enough money,” May told the council about the offer without additional explanation.

The property had been listed with Windermere Chewelah for $72,500. More

Police chief highlights potential benefit of patrol dog

By Jamie Henneman/For The Independent
A woman sits passed out in her car at a gas station on the north end of Chewelah, the car is running and she is slumped over the steering wheel with a used hypodermic needle sitting in the passenger seat. When an officer from the Chewelah PD checks on her, she admits the needle and the meth sitting next to it are hers and she is trying to stop using.

This unfortunate situation captured in a recent Chewelah PD police report is just a snapshot of the situations local law enforcement face when trying to combat drug abuse in Stevens County. Drug prosecutions via the Stevens County Prosecutor’s office have climbed in the last year from 71 counts in 2015 to 98 counts in the last 12 months. The Chewelah PD responded to a total of 2,575 calls in 2016 that included numerous drug related situations. Drugs are an issue that can be difficult to address, particularly due to some of the new restrictions on law enforcement, according to Chewelah Police Chief Mark Burrows. More

Habitat for Humanity homes are built with a combination of volunteer effort and “sweat equity” from the new home owners. (Courtesy photo)

Habitat Anniversary Gala set for Feb. 17

By Jamie Henneman/For The Independent
An organization that has spent more than two decades focusing on getting families into affordable housing in the area is planning to celebrate 25 years of service with a gala event later this month.

Habitat for Humanity Colville Valley Partners (CVP) is hosting a 25th Anniversary Gala on Feb. 17 from 6-9 p.m. at the Ag Trade Center in Colville. The event will feature a “Roaring 20’s” theme with a no-host bar starting at 5:30 p.m. There will be a silent auction, dinner and a DJ spinning 20’s music. Tickets can be purchased at the Chewelah Chamber of Commerce, Habitat Store in Colville and Meyers Falls Market in Kettle Falls.

The event is a chance to recognize the 60,000 volunteer hours and 20 homes that Habitat for Humanity has built in the area since 1992. As with all Habitat projects, the homes are a combination of volunteer hours and “sweat equity” or hours that the new home owners spend working on their own home. The new owner also agrees to a mortgage with a rate they can afford. More

By Chewelah Police Chief Mark Burrows
It might go without saying, but….2016 sure has been a winning year for Patriots! Hats off to both Super Bowl teams for an incredible display of skill, sportsmanship and courage! Great to see Vice President Pence in attendance and, heck, even Lady Gaga behaved herself — how refreshing!
On Jan. 28, K-9 Officer Rebel discovered a quantity of heroin and meth on a traffic stop initiated by a Sheriff’s Deputy near 395 and Quarry Browns Lake Rd. Nice work Rebel! During the week of Jan. 29 through Feb. 4, officers handled 49 calls, 19 of them were traffic stops; five were incomplete 911 calls; and three assist calls to other agencies. Two information reports; a citizen requested info regarding how to recover an impounded vehicle after drugs were found in it…; and a warrant suspect, with a history of drug use, was taken to jail. A person made suicidal comments; two suspicious vehicles were checked; a security check; and we received two dog complaints. An officer responded to a DV with two Sheriff’s deputies. The persons involved in the DV have a history of drug use. It was determined there was no assault but the suspect had a warrant and was taken to jail. An officer looked for a missing person at the request of a neighboring S.O.; a young man was arrested for assault; officers received reports of three minor collisions; a disturbance; an area check; and a vehicle prowl was reported. The suspect was addicted to meth. The victim’s property was located and returned and the suspect went directly to jail. We thank you for your support!

Special election for local levies will be Feb. 14

By Jamie Henneman/For The Independent
The Mary Walker School District in Springdale is asking voters to renew a four-year Maintenance and Operations levy that will provide the district with $287,000 per year until 2021. The rate for property owners on the levy is $1.60 per $1,000 assessed property value. Passing the levy means the district will also be eligible for approximately $503,000 in levy equalization over the next four years.

The levy is needed not only for the equalization potential, but also because state and federal support for school operations is continuing to shrink, according to Mary Walker Superintendent Kevin Jacka. More

NE WA Trails website now features road biking loops, maps

By TEDD/For The Independent
Tri County Economic Development District (TEDD), with the help of funding from the City of Colville, has added a new section, ‘Find Road Cycling Loops,’ to its popular website, www.newashingtontrails.com. Visitors to the site will find 24 mapped road bike loops primarily in Stevens County, with Colville serving as Mile Post 0 for many of the rides. Each loop includes maps and information, as well as suggestions for cyclists to help them create their perfect ride. A number is assigned to county intersections critical for bike navigation. To follow a loop or route, just “connect the dots.” The maps denote the distance between intersections. If an intersection has been numbered, it has paved roads going in all directions that are appropriate for skinny tire road bikes. More

Jacquelin Maycumber was named to the state house seat vacated by former Rep. Shelly Short after she moved to Brian Dansel’s senate seat. Maycumber was a long-time legislative assistant for Short. (Jared Arnold photo)

Leg. aide from Republic chosen by county commissioners

Compiled by Jamie Henneman/For The Independent
Jacquelin Maycumber, a long-time legislative assistant to former Rep. Shelly Short, was chosen by county commissioners in the Seventh Legislative district to replace Short in a roll call vote on Feb. 2. Short was recently appointed to the seventh district senator seat that was vacated by Sen. Brian Dansel who recently accepted a position with the Trump administration.

Maycumber was chosen by the county commissioners from a slate of three candidates that included Maycumber, John Smith and Larry Stickney. In a telephonic vote chaired by Stevens County Commissioner Steve Parker, the 15 county commissioners logged in 12 votes for Maycumber and three for Smith.
Following the appointment, Maycumber released a statement regarding her new role in Olympia. More