It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that her family and husband Bob Gardner, announce the passing of Joy Gardner, a lifelong resident of Chewelah, WA who died July 6, 2017 after a brief but brave battle with cancer. Joy was born in 1937 to Louie and Grace Burya (Doyle). She was the oldest […]
(By Jamie Henneman/Chewelah Independent) Judge declines exceptional sentencing requests from defense, prosecution… At a sentencing hearing last Tuesday, Judge Pat Monasmith sentenced Sherman Akina, 21, to 90 months jail for the crime of first degree manslaughter. Akina was convicted of the crime in a jury trial in May for hitting Jon Bumatay with his car […]
(By Chewelah Police Chief Mark Burrows) The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people. – George Washington The Chewelah PD handled approximately 62 calls, here’s the […]
(By Jamie Henneman/Chewelah Independent) County law enforcement responds… A man carrying a laptop and a large duffel bag attempted to cross the U.S.-Canadian border on foot last month before he was detained and found to have meth and weapons. Terrence James Fedora, 31, was detained by U.S. Custom and Border Patrol agents in mid-June for […]
(By Jamie Henneman/Chewelah Independent) Witnesses say car was going over 100 m.p.h…. A Colville man was recently charged with vehicular homicide for rolling his car over a guardrail on Aladdin Road and killing his passenger late last fall. Witness reports suggested the car may have been traveling at over 100 m.p.h. Jacob Lee Kunze, 26, […]
(By Washington DNR) Site near Suncrest closes just after midnight… Due to high fire danger, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), working with Stevens County, is temporarily closing a portion of state land to shooting, effective July 7. Closure of the area known locally as “Stonelodge” or “Mile Marker 19,” to shooting coincides […]
(By Washington State Department of Health) The Department of Health confirmed today that the number of people diagnosed with hantavirus this year has reached five, the highest number reported in the state since 1999. Three deaths have been reported in 2017. The people who died are from Franklin, King, and Spokane counties. The two additional […]
(By Staff Reports/Chewelah Independent) Chewelah feels the shaking from hundreds of miles away… An earthquake in Lincoln, Montana (northwest of Helena) shook the ground for hundreds of miles on Wednesday night, being felt as far away as Eastern Washington and Billings. The magnitude of the earthquake was 5.8 on the Richter Scale Lincoln has a […]
(By WA DNR) The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today the following changes in the fire danger rating and burn restrictions on DNR-protected lands. Effective 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, July 5, 2017: – Fire danger will increase from moderate to high Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Grant, Yakima, Klickitat, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, Asotin, Whitman […]
(By Brandon Hansen/Chewelah Independent) West Main and West Boone slated to get repairs from freeze heaving… The City of Chewelah has been awarded over $35,000 in state grant money to help repair damage to city streets created by the heaving from freezing during last winter. “Normally heaves settle down and return to normal,” City Administrator […]
(By Brandon Hansen/Chewelah Independent) Heidi Zornes has spent years getting Chewelah healthy… When she learned that she was this year’s Honored Citizen of Chewelah, Heidi Zornes was teaching a class, something she’s done quite a bit since she and husband, Dick, moved to the valley nine years ago. “The greatest gift a teacher can give […]
Anyone interested in filling a vacancy on the Chewelah City Council –Position No. 6 should send a letter of application to the attention of the Mayor at PO Box 258/301 E Clay – Room 104/Chewelah, WA 99109. The term of seat No. 6 expires Dec. 31 2019 – the person appointed by Council would fill […]
Here is Remember When for July 6, 2017… 110 Years Ago – July 5, 1907 The 4th of July was ushered in with a downtown parade featuring Ole’s Zobo Band, followed by a brief patriotic program in the city park, a luncheon and a 3 o’clock baseball game. Fireworks and a dance capped the day. […]
Here are upcoming events for July 6-18 in the Chewelah Area…
(By Brandon Hansen/Chewelah Independent) Senator Shelly Short travels many distances to reach her constituents… Olympia is 754 miles roundtrip from Addy, which works out to nearly a 14-hour drive. Thats the distance that state senator Shelly Short traverses while working at the state capital. As a lawmaker, she represents the seventh legislative district that includes […]
(By Brandon Hansen/Chewelah Independent) The Shed offers Chewelah community a group fitness experience on Main Avenue… The Shed will have Chewelah sweating a bit more. The class based fitness business, just opened by Kaya and Torrey Landers is bringing a new fitness aspect to the downtown area. Not a gym in the traditional sense — […]