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New office location for Tri County Economic Development District in Republic

New office location for Tri County Economic Development District in Republic

(PRESS RELEASE/Tri County Economic Development District)

TEDD offers business assistance and other resources in Republic…

Tri County Economic Development District (TEDD) is pleased to announce that it is now offering small business advice, loan fund information, marketing and social media help and other services in Ferry County from their new satellite office located within the Community Colleges of Spokane, Republic Institute for Extended Learning Center (63 N Keller, Republic, WA 99166). The TEDD office will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Tri County Economic Development District provides a variety of programs and services to support local communities, businesses and other organizations in the three-county service area, including the Rural Opportunities Loan Fund. TEDD is also the area’s Regional Transportation Organization, provides small business assistance and promotes the region with many initiatives, including the Northeast Washington Sustainable Tourism and Recreation Team (NEWSTART), the Northeast Washington Trails website and the Northeast Washington Insider app. TEDD also coordinates resource access for veterans and works with many transportation agencies to facilitate enhanced public transportation efforts. If you have questions about these projects, or about economic development in Northeast Washington, TEDD invites you to stop by either the main office in Colville, or the new Republic office for a visit.

For more information, call Tri County Economic Development District at 509-684-4571 or visit www.tricountyedd.com.

BRUNELL: Restoring affordability to a college education is vital to America

BRUNELL: Restoring affordability to a college education is vital to America

(DON C BRUNELL/Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at theBrunells@msn.com.)

When my parents graduated from high school in 1936, a college education was too expensive for the son of a copper miner and the daughter of a plumber.

Eighty years ago, our country was in the middle of the Great Depression, and teens took odd jobs to help put food on the table and pay the family bills. In those days, no bank would lend money to college students.

Following World War II, there was new hope for veterans; the GI bill paid for veterans to complete their college or trade school education. My father, for example, graduated from trade schools in Seattle and Chicago and became a journeyman electrician thanks to Uncle Sam.

In the 1960s, the federal government introduced the work-study program allowing students from middle and low-income families to work their way through college. I found jobs and fortunately didn’t have to borrow money to complete my degree.

Today, it is a much different story. Student loans are the norm rather than the exception. As a result, the student loan debt has shot past $1.56 trillion spread out among 45 million borrowers. In 2018, nearly 70 percent of college graduates took out student loans and face their careers with an average of $30,000 in debt.

Growing student loan debt is a concern among Americans. “Spurring the free-college movement is the anxiety over the cost of tuition, which has risen at more than double the inflation rate since 1990, while student debt has tripled since 2006,” The Wall Street Journal recently reported.

Free college for all would cost a minimum of $75 billion each year if tuition was $4,400 per year, Quillette, an online think tank, estimated last September. “That doesn’t pay the bills even for in-state students at many public flagships. The University of Michigan, for example, costs over $15,000 per year for Michigan residents, and about $50,000 for out-of-state students.”

There are a variety of other approaches which can make higher education more affordable.

For example, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, wealthy anonymous donors pooled their money and started a free college tuition program. It is one of more than 300 cities and states around the country offering a variety of tuition assistance programs.

WSJ reports that since 2006, the donors contributed $124 million in tuition subsidies for nearly 5,400 students. The Upjohn Institute, which has been tracking Kalamazoo Promise, found that tuition assistance needs to be augmented with additional student career counseling in the K-12 system and other living costs for students.

Many small business owners in Washington State offer college scholarships and combined them with work and other benefits. Hopefully, the up-front funding offsets the need for loans and make it possible for students to complete their college education or technical skill training.

For example, in Seattle, Dick’s Drive-Ins offers employees who work 20 hours a week for at least six months and continue to work at least 20 hours a week while going to school to have access to a $25,000 scholarship over 4 years. In addition Dick’s pays higher than minimum wage, provides an employer paid health plan, and pays up to $9,000 in child-care expenses.

Other donors are stepping forward. Billionaire Robert Smith, founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, surprised Morehouse College’s 400 graduating seniors announcing his family is paying off their student loans. The estimated value of the gift was $40 million. He also challenged other donors to do the same.

Making higher education affordable is a national priority. The focus needs to be on approaches which are affordable and effective for students and their families. The issue is large than just having the federal government provide free-tuition for all.

WDFW changes bear hunting rules, now hunters can bag two bears on either side of state

WDFW changes bear hunting rules, now hunters can bag two bears on either side of state

(PRESS RELEASE/Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)

WDFW also adds more hunting days in some areas…

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission approved changes to the fall bear-hunting rules during their conference call on June 28.

The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), asked department staff to review and provide a recommendation for black bear season rule changes at a meeting earlier this year.

At the June meeting in Port Angeles, department staff presented two recommendations to simplify bear regulations and make them consistent statewide. More

Public input sought for Colville National Forest Sweet-Ione Project

Public input sought for Colville National Forest Sweet-Ione Project

(PRESS RELEASE/Colville National Forest)

Colville National Forest officials are inviting the public to review and comment on the Sweet-Ione Integrated Resources Improvement Project. The proposed project area is located approximately 2 miles west of Ione, Washington and encompasses approximately 30,000 acres.

The project would improve forest health through a variety of activities that include hazardous fuels reduction, pre-commercial thinning, commercial timber harvest and non-commercial thinning.

The project also proposes to improve fish habitat, reduce impacts of existing road systems while continuing to provide for recreation and land management access. These activities are designed to improve overall watershed function and health while contributing to the economic health and stability of local communities. More

Senate majority leader said he’s proud of legislative session

Senate majority leader said he’s proud of legislative session

(STAFF REPORTS/Chewelah Independent)

Andy Billig

Spokane senator talks about 2019 session in Olympia…

Championing legislation concerning education, healthcare, the environment and quality of life in Washington, Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D-Spokane) released a statement saying he was proud of what was accomplished during the legislative session for 2019 in Olympia.

“We finished our work on time. We made sure diverse voices were heard throughout the legislative session. And we will continue to ensure every Washingtonian has an opportunity to succeed,” Billig said.

Billig was a leader in the senate after state lawmakers passed a $52.4 billion two-year operating budget. The budget, among many things, gives $3.9 billion to K-12 funding and staffing for schools, and $45.5 million to help prevent and fight wildfires. The state raised taxes through a graduated real estate excise tax and a boosted B&O tax rate for banks and travel agents. More

Chewelah named as a creative district by ArtsWa

Chewelah named as a creative district by ArtsWa

(COLIN HAFFNER/Chewelah Independent)

Chewelah one of two cities in state named as a Creative District…

It’s been more than a year since the idea was introduced and began to take form, but all the hard work and time put in by a number of Chewelah residents is about to make that idea become reality.

In an email dated June 25 from Washington’s State Arts Commission, ArtsWa, Creative Districts Program Manager Annette Roth, organizers and planners were notified that Chewelah would become the next designated creative district in the state.

“I want to congratulate you and the entire community of Chewelah on your designation as Washington State’s second Creative District,” Roth wrote in the email, adding “Our selection panel unanimously approved your application. They were particularly impressed by how well you were able to reach consensus and gather such a strong group of stakeholders and partners together for the planning process.” More

WDFW Director Susewind to take online questions from Eastern Washington

WDFW Director Susewind to take online questions from Eastern Washington

(PRESS RELEASE/WDFW)

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Kelly Susewind and his Eastern Region Director Steve Pozzanghera will take questions from the public in an online broadcast from 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday, July 8, 2019.

“Our Eastern Region is a large area with a wide variety of terrain, habitat and species,” said Susewind. “I understand and care that the concerns of people living and recreating in this area may be different from those in other parts of the state. It’s a chance for me to hear what is on the minds of the public and our customers here.”

This is the second digital open house held by the Director on a regional level. The Department’s Eastern Region spans Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Orielle, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties. Members of the public can watch and ask questions from links on the department’s website, wdfw.wa.gov<http://www.wdfw.wa.gov>, or at https://player.invintus.com/?clientID=2836755451&eventID=2019071000. More

WASHINGTON STATE PATROL: Fireworks can’t be purchased over the internet

WASHINGTON STATE PATROL: Fireworks can’t be purchased over the internet

(PRESS RELEASE/Washington State Patrol)

Be aware, the internet can’t be the way you get your fireworks for the 4th…

The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) wants residents to be aware of the facts about internet fireworks sales. Under the following conditions presale of consumer fireworks may occur online: More

May unemployment rates in state remain steady, up from same time in 2018

May unemployment rates in state remain steady, up from same time in 2018

(COLIN HAFFNER/Chewelah Independent)

State added 9,600 jobs in May…

The nonfarm unemployment report released by the Employment Security Department for May showed an increase of seasonally adjusted jobs across the state by 9,600 overall. This number includes 8,400 added jobs in the private sector and another 1,200 in the public sector.

The unemployment rate for the state remained the same as April 2019 at 4.7% and just higher than the 4.5% rate for the same period one year ago.

Numbers for Stevens County showed a non seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 6.3% for May. The listed total civilian labor force in Stevens County is 18,917 and 17,727 of that number are employed, leaving 1,190 potential workers unemployed in May. More

STIX AND SPOKES: Pedal to the metal

STIX AND SPOKES: Pedal to the metal

(BRANDON HANSEN/Chewelah Independent)

READY FOR SUMMER FUN: Wes Porter of Stix and Spokes will help you find the perfect ride…

Wes Porter has the spot for one of the most biker-friendly towns in Washington.

For several years, Porter did work on snow sports equipment and bikes with his mobile “shop” trailer behind a Chevy Silverado. Now he has his own place, Stix and Spokes, along Highway 395 in Chewelah and continuously alternates between winter and summer with a stock of bikes, boards and skis.

This year, Porter has plenty of bikes in stock, including several models of road bikes and ebikes, which seem to becoming more and more popular in the Chewelah area.

“In rural communities, the road and e-bikes are nice as there are a lot of paved and gravel loops to take,” Porter said. “One person told me they did four lakes in a 60 mile loop one day.” More

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