(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)

Northwild Coffee is open for business in Nine Mile Falls. (Courtesy photo)

FRESH GROUNDS: Nine Mile Falls coffee stand opens during pandemic with friendly smiles…

Chewelah graduate Morgan Henderson had always wanted to start her own business. Having worked in the coffee industry for 12 years, she had grown to love building relationships with customers.

“The coffee industry has an amazing culture, and endless knowledge to perfect the craft,” Henderson said. “I love building relationships with the customers. Anyone who works in hospitality knows you make a lifetime of friends and some you end up considering family.”

Henderson started at Java Jazz in Chewelah, which is now Rozy’z, working for Peggy Richmond at age 15. More

(STAFF REPORTS/The Davenport Times)

Jamie Henneman, right, has been named editor of the Davenport Times, where she joins reporter Drew Lawson, a recent Eastern Washington University graduate. (Roger Harnack/Free Press Publishing)

New editor has roots in Eastern Washington…

A longtime Eastern Washington journalist has been selected as the new editor of The Davenport Times.

Jamie Henneman of Addy said she is enthusiastic about joining The Times and serving Lincoln County.

“I have a strong commitment to ensuring our rural communities in Eastern Washington have a voice,” Henneman said. “I have been so fortunate to share the stories of the resiliency and grit of Eastern Washington’s towns and farms and ranches in my work. We have something special here and it is a pleasure to share that through my writing.”

“Jamie’s rural roots and her experience make her an ideal editor for The Davenport Times,” Publisher Roger Harnack said. “In addition to her print publication experience, she’s also knowledgeable about digital and social media platforms, which will be key to securing The Times’ future for years to come.” More

(PRESS RELEASE/TEDD)

Stevens County has committed up to $1,000,000 for small business assistance…

Tri County Economic Development District (TEDD) is partnering with Stevens County to administer a Small Business Stabilization Grant program made possible by federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. The County has committed up to $1,000,000 for small business assistance that will be distributed in the form of grants of up to $10,000, and will be awarded to local businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Stevens County Commissioners are very concerned for the local economy and have partnered with TEDD to offer this grant, which will provide much needed support to businesses throughout the county” commented TEDD Executive Director Jeff Koffel. More

(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent)

Well, this is why we live in NE Washington right? To be closer to nature?

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildife has received several reports of bears frequenting a Colville neighborhood around east 10th Avenue from Cedar Street to Madison Street. The state department said conflict specialists have responded to the area several times but have been unsuccessful in tracking bears.

The bears usually come at night to take advantage of easy food sources including unsecured garbage. Much like Yogi Bear looking for that picnic basket, bears are resourceful scavengers. However, having animals like that among a community can cause conflict that authorities would like to avoid.

According to the WDFW website, black bears are the most common and widely distributed bears in North America. As human populations encroach on bear habitat – which probably is a good chunk of NE Washington regardless – people and bears have greater chances of encountering each other. Bears usually avoid people and run away but when they do come into close proximity of each other, the bear’s strength and surprising speed make it potentially dangerous. More