(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent)

Another winter storm is hitting the area, beginning Friday night and going through Saturday morning. The National Weather Service expects two to five inches in the valleys and four to seven inches in the mountains. A winter weather advisory has been put into effect from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday in Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry, Priest River, Eastport, Schweitzer Mountain Road, Colville, Northport, Deer Park, Chewelah, Newport, Kettle Falls, Springdale-Hunters Road, Orin-Rice Road, and Flowery Trail Road.

Plan on slippery road conditions and slow down while driving.

(PRESS RELEASE/WDFW)

WDFW inspected more than 32,000 vessels for aquatic invasive species in 2019…

Boaters helped the state celebrate a record year for efforts to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species into Washington’s waterways, including zebra and quagga mussels, aquatic plants, and fish and amphibian diseases. Aquatic invasive species invade ecosystems beyond their natural historic range, and can negatively impact water quality, power and irrigation systems, native wildlife, and recreational opportunities.

In 2019, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) inspected more than 32,000 watercrafts, a 31% increase from 2018. About one third of inspected watercrafts came from known infested waters in other states. WDFW detected 18 vessels carrying invasive mussels and 1,200 vessels that failed to meet the clean – drain – dry requirements.

“We’re at an all-time high in our efforts to prevent the spread of invasive mussels and other aquatic invasive species that can hitch a ride on boats and trailers into our state,” said Captain Eric Anderson, WDFW’s aquatic invasive species enforcement manager. “We couldn’t do this prevention work without the help of incredible regional partners in our neighboring states – and of course, the public. This isn’t just a win for invasive species prevention, it’s beneficial to the entire Pacific Northwest.” More

(GUEST EDITORIAL FROM NE WA WILDLIFE GROUP)

The Northeast Washington Wildlife Group believes our deer, elk and moose (ungulates), in NE Washington and elsewhere are in serious trouble with their numbers, quite possibly the whitetails being the lowest they have ever been. The 2019 harvest numbers have not been compiled to date but likely are at an all-time low. NWWG believes the primary driver for this is the number of predators (cougar, bear, coyote and now wolves) that occupy this part of the State.

WDFW is working on changing cougar seasons to increase the number of cats harvested and is now claiming that cougar density could be as high as 4.0 cougar per 100km2, up from the 2.1 that has been their stance for several years, going so far as to even use the word “saturation” when discussing how many cougars are present.

Our fear is they are not going to go far enough, that they are going to increase the quotas (guidelines) and maybe add a month to the season. While this will allow for more cats to be eliminated, we do not feel it will remove the number that needs to be removed. We advocate changing to the system that Idaho is using in the Panhandle. Instead of closing hunting down when a specific number of cougar have been taken as WA does, Idaho will start restricting cougar harvest when the harvest has dropped below a certain number for two consecutive years.

Incidents of cougar predation and encounters are also at an all-time high. 2018 was a “spike year” according to WDFW and this year it is even higher. Pets and livestock are being preyed on more and more, resulting in emotional suffering and a huge economic cost to our region. Predators need to eat in order to survive and unless we increase our ungulates and/or decrease the predators, this will continue to occur and it will only be a matter of time before another person gets hurt, or worse, killed.

One way to increase the deer numbers and achieve a more mature, healthy and robust deer herd is to implement a 4-point Antler Point Restriction (APR). This will improve the buck -to-doe ratio, thus insuring most, if not all does will be bred during the first and second estrus cycle and this in turn will improve the doe-to-fawn ratio by decreasing the predator take of newborns. Game Management Unit’s 117 and 121 had a 4-point APR for four years and was succeeding in doing this when WDFW terminated it in 2014. Incidentally, you should be aware that GMU 121 had the highest hunter success rate that year of any GMU in NE Washington. We advocate the 4-point APR on whitetail deer for all hunters, youth exempt (see Game Regs for definition) be implemented in District 1 (7 GMU’s: 101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117 and 121).

NWWG is having an impact with WDFW, and they are listening to us. The addition this year of a second bear tag was due largely to NWWG’s pressure on WDFW; but we could use some support as this cougar problem is a heavier lift. This support could be as little as agreeing to the premise that we have a predator problem and adding your name to the organizations that believe so; to getting on board with NWWG and push for an “Idaho” plan; to help with lobby efforts if required; and maybe testify at the March Game Commission meeting in Tri-Cities.

Because of NWWG, over 60 people attended the March 2018 Game Commission Meeting for the cougar and deer hunting portions and almost all testified and pounded the Department on the public safety and ungulate situation because of WDFW’s management policies. They are still talking about it in Olympia and it is a primary reason why they are even considering changes, but if not enough is done now and we have to wait another 3 years…..?

Will you help? Any level of support will be appreciated. As stated earlier, this can be as little as backing us in the claim of too many predators; or to help us try to get a cougar season patterned after Idaho’s; or help with lobbying efforts; or recommend a 4-point APR on whitetail deer for all hunter groups, youth exempt, for all of District 1; or come down to the Tri-Cities with us in March and tell the Commission what you think. Pick the level your organization will agree on and let us know, and it would be a great asset if you would be so kind as to include the number of individuals you speak for as we all know there is strength in numbers. We proved that last March. Let us do so again. Please let us know where you stand.

Our address is: NWWG
5384A S. Wallbridge Rd
Deer Park, WA 99006

Email is: NWWG@outlook.com

Sincerely,
John Magart-Chairman
Al Martz-Co-Chair
Dale Magart-Secretary
Freddie Gianacchinni-Director
Gary Douvia-Director

(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent) 

A big dump of snow is expected tonight…

Another winter storm is bearing down on NE Washington and will bring heavy snow overnight to area valleys and mountains. Winter Storm Patrick (Named after Patrick Sawyer of Quartzite Brewing Company by the Chewelah Independent Winter Weather Team) will being late Wednesday night and dump snow into Thursday morning. Total snow accumulations could range from four to six inches in the valleys and six to 12 inches in the mountains. The National Weather Service expects most of Stevens County to get six to eight inches.

Another chilling factor to this is the wind. Cold wind chills could drop temperatures to as low at 15 degrees below zero in the Okanogan Valley. Travel could be very difficult with patchy blowing snow that will reduce visibility. This will occur during the Wednesday evening commute and the Thursday morning commute. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of emergency.

Also check pass conditions as during last week’s winter storm, mountain passes in the state were closed several times due to conditions and accidents.

(WNPA News Services)

With photo: Leona Vaughn left and Cameron Sheppard right, at work in the new office on the state Capitol campus — Photo by Sandy Stokes

New WNPA office established on Capitol Campus, two reporters for 60-day “short” session…

The Washington Newspaper Publisher Association’s Olympia news bureau opened on Wednesday with two reporters in new permanent quarters on the Capitol campus.

In a space large enough to accommodate several reporters a stone’s throw from the Capitol dome, Cameron Sheppard and Leona Vaughn will report on state lawmakers for more about 80 WNPA member newspapers throughout the state.

Cameron is a senior multimedia journalism and public relations student at Washington State University. He grew up in Tacoma where he attended Wilson High School. More

(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent)

Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” is a show that has entertained many through the years. First it was a Broadway play, then it was a movie before also becoming a television show.
Now, the natural progression is for it to find its home on stage at the Chewelah Center for the Arts.

Director Deanna Barnes is excited about “The Odd Couple,” and it holds a special place as her directorial debut. She has plenty of experience playing plenty of characters for the Park Avenue Players but its now sitting in the director’s seat for this classic which opens in mid January. More

(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent) 

CALLING ALL ARTISTS: Time to enter Winterfest is now, with prize money on the line for top submitted pieces…

Believe it or not, Chewelah is getting even more artsy.

Trails End Gallery will soon be home to a new juried art show called the “Chewelah Winterfest for the arts.”

The show is accepting art entries until Feb. 1 and, after judging from two judges, awards will be announced at a presentation on March 4 at Quartzite Brewing Company from 6:30-8 p.m.

The exhibition for Winterfest opens at Trails End Gallery on March 5 from 5:30-8 p.m. and the show will end on April 30. More

(PRESS RELEASE/WDFW)

Two dismissed claims argued violations of SEPA…

On Jan. 10, a King County Superior Court judge dismissed two of three claims against the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in a case filed in August 2019.

Judge John McHale agreed with the State’s arguments that State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) claims should be dismissed, citing Washington Supreme Court case law, Washington statutes, and Washington Administrative Codes.

“Rather than a court room where there are winners and losers, our preference is to work through these decisions in a collaborative process. This decision lets us continue to do that,” said Donny Martorello, wolf policy lead for WDFW. More

(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent)

While there has been some snow in Chewelah so far, the biggest snow storm so far this winter is expected to hit the Inland Northwest on Friday morning and stick around until late Friday night. Dubbed “Winter Storm Doug” by the expert Chewelah Independent weather staff, light snow will being Friday morning and could accumulate to up to an expected eight inches. Snow is expected to continue on Saturday and Sunday and could be up to 1-3 inches.

Weather.com is expecting up to eight inches, while the National Weather Service stated that up to 13 inches could accumulate in Colville, Northport, Deer Park, Chewelah, Newport, Kettle Falls, Springdale-Hunters Road, Orin-Rice Road, Flowery Trail Road, Republic, Inchelium, Wauconda, Chesaw Road, Highway 20 Wauconda Summit, Boulder Creek Road, and Sherman Pass.

The storm could make travel very difficult with patchy blowing snow, reduced visibility for motorists and hazardous road conditions.