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49 Degrees Offers Night Skiing Feb. 16

February 14, 2013

Its that time again where 49 Degrees Mountain Resort keeps their doors open late and help those in need around the community.

Night skiing will take place Feb. 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. The cost is two cans of food and $4 or $15 without food. All food is donated to the Chewelah, Addy and Colville food banks. This year we have set record highs in food collection with over 3 tons collected in the last three night skiing events.

Live music from Truck Stop Betty will be playing in the bar from 2 to 6 p.m. Come out and have a night to remember.

Easter is Just Around the Corner

February 14, 2013

Publishing March 21 and March 28, 2013

Easter shopping specials, Easter restaurant dining guide and Easter church schedules all in one place. A full page of one-stop planning for Easter gatherings and family get-to-gethers. This special section includes information about what is happening in Chewelah and around the valley as well as offering special tips to help readers prepare for Easter. This is a great way to let your customers know how you can help them during this busy holiday time.

2 column x 2 inch ad on this page is $22 for this event only

Call 509-935-0784 or 935-8422 to reserve your advertising space now.

Discover Natural Remedies for Flu, Cold at Seminar

February 14, 2013

Would you like to learn drug-free ways to treat flu and colds? Come to this hands-on seminar and learn how the body heals and what natural remedies are effective for relieving the symptoms of flu or cold. Dr. Diane Burnett will be the instructor. She is a physician with a vast knowledge of natural remedies. She will be teaching some physiology of the body so you will better understand how the natural remedies work.

A free lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m. and the seminar starts at 2 p.m. Please RSVP – Sharon at 684-5383 so we will be sure to have enough supplies for everyone to participate in the hands-on instructions.

The seminar will be on Sunday, February 24, 2013, in the Fellowship Center behind the Chewelah Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2310 Sand Canyon Road. Everyone welcome. Invite your friends.

Brunson Announces State Senate Candidacy

February 14, 2013

news_brunson-candidate429 Mike Brunson has announced his candidacy for Washington State Senator, District 7. Mike is a resident of Springdale and is currently serving as a School Board Director, Mary Walker School, and he is an appointed Board member on the Stevens County Board of Equalization.

Mike has a Masters of Science degree in International Relations and has more than 24 years of law enforcement experience. He is a licensed Private Investigator and he owns his own Private Investigators business. He has 11 years experience as a real estate agent. Mike is member of the Veterans of Foreign Affairs Post 3067, Deer Park.

Mike is a retired United States Air Force Officer and was assigned to Fairchild Air Force Base twice for a total of six years during his 20 year career. He was a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations for 15 years and was the Commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Office at Fairchild Air Force Base from 1987 – 1989. Mike is a Desert Storm veteran.

Mike is 57 years old and lives in a log cabin on 5 acres. He has a dog, a pick up truck and a Henry .45 caliber long rifle. He believes in the family structure, individual rights, property rights, better health care access for our citizens, maintaining the authority and existence of our rural school boards, and greater state incentives for our small businesses.

If you would like to send any correspondence/contributions to Mike, you may contact him at Post Office Box 481, Springdale, WA, 99173.

Community Raises $5K for Symonds

February 14, 2013

news_symonds-fundraisers429 The Chewelah community helped raised nearly $5,000 for Jenkins Middle School Principal Jon Symonds through two separate one-day fundraisers held in the last two weeks.

First, current and former Jenkins Middle School staff held a Chili and Homemade Cinnamon Roll Feed on Jan. 29 at the Chewelah home basketball game at Jenkins High School.

Chewelah School District cooks Sandy Sulgrove and Pam Hergesheimer made 600 cinnamon rolls, which were offered in addition to chili and chili dogs. The food was sold in the cafeteria and the foyer of the gym for those at the school for the game.

However, many supporters came to the school that night to support Symonds and not necessarily to watch basketball.

JMS Secretary Brenda Gregerson said they made about $2,400 with the fundraiser and served almost all the food. She said they were very pleased with the amount of people that participated as they did not know what to expect.

Then, on Sunday, Feb. 10, Mondo’s Italian Restaurant in Chewelah collected around $2,500 with their “To-Go” Spaghetti Feed. The restaurant sold spaghetti for $5 a plate (or $6 with meat sauce) with all proceeds going to the Symonds family.

Zach Richmond, son of restaurant owners Kim and Terry Richmond, said more than 400 meals were sold over the course of 6 hours and the donation jar alone collected more than $1,200. He had helped initiate the original idea for the fundraiser and said it exceeded his expectations.

“We were in a position to help and had the means to help,” Richmond said. Many people also volunteered their time to during the event including JMS staff and JHS students.

Richmond said it was the first time at Mondo’s for some supporters although the restaurant has been open since December.

Lastly, the Chewelah School District is planning a benefit dinner and auction on April 13 to further help Symonds. Call Gregerson, Kathy Wellman, or Jerry Pugh to help or donate auction items.

Jon Symonds was paralyzed in a snowmobiling accident on Christmas Day and is currently undergoing therapy at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Center. He is expected home at the end of February.

Symonds attended the Feb. 8 basketball game in West Valley to watch Chewelah play Chelan in the first round of the bi-district tournament. Several students and staff crowded around him after the game, glad to be able to talk to him as it was the first time many of them have seen their principal since the accident.

For anyone that would still like to help the Symonds family, contact the district office at 685-6800. An account has also been opened for Symonds at Spokane Teachers Credit Union.

By Kellie Trudeau, The Independent Staff

In This Photo: School staff members and friends help serve food on Jan. 29 during the Chili Feed at Jenkins High School.

Singing Valentines

February 7, 2013

news_mountain-melodies429 Book your valentine now with Mountain Melodies: In their striking red shirts embossed with their choral name, the Mountain Melodies of the Sweet Adelines are spreading their Valentine message of love as they travel around the county singing. For booking call Judy at 684-5129; Betty at 937-2145; or Kathy at 738-6627. Pictured front row (l-r): Kathy Berrigan, Ruth Lakin, Betty Holloway, Teresa Oswin, Margaret Smiley. Back row: Judy Estep, director; Mardee Gates, Jeanne Daily, Meg Lawson, Coral Herron, co-director; Linda Morton, and Donna Kendall.

Scoreboard Proves to be Big Project

February 7, 2013

news_scoreboard429 Refurbishing the massive football scoreboard Jenkins High School acquired from Eastern Washington University this summer, and engineering it to make sure it is adequately supported, has taken the collaboration of many local contractors – comparable to the people necessary for a residential house remodel.

The scoreboard will be installed this spring at Snyder Field in preparation for the upcoming 2013 football season. It is more than a third larger than the current display, measuring 34 feet wide and 18 feet high, and includes an electronic reader board attached underneath.

“It’s true Friday night lights,” Mike Bellevue of Bellevue General Contractors said. “Now you will really know who’s winning.”

Bellevue said it took four adults plus 10 football players to move the scoreboard off the field onto a trailer and into the shop at the former Skok’s Farm and Feed store where local contractors have been working on it since.

The board was originally transported in four sections from EWU.

Bellevue said it was first believed that it would take a truck and a half of concrete for each pole that will support the board because it is so big, but it will not need as much as original thought and they are still working out the details to make sure the structure is sound. Bellevue said they plan to get at least the poles installed soon while the water table is low and the ground is still frozen. The board will but put up in the same place as the existing board.

Although he is not the general contractor on the project, Bellevue said he has helped make the connections with other local contractors as there are so many different components for restoration and installation.

Bellevue’s crew from Chewelah Painting refinished and repainted the sign to turn it from bright Eagle red to Cougar navy; Stickit Signs replaced the lettering and decals, Architect Tom Bristol of Purple Flat Top was consulted on the project for engineering and also tested soil samples, and Chewelah Welding has helped with the metal and steel components.

In addition, the newer model of board will be cheaper to power because of energy efficient upgrades, Bellevue said. The board uses 320 light bulbs that can be replaced like regular bulbs. Brandon Hartill of Eagle Mountain Electric has been working on the electric parts of the project.

When Athletic Director Lonnie Hoxie learned the EWU Eagles were replacing their own scoreboard in Summer 2012, he immediately contacted their athletic director and worked it out so they could be gifted the board as long as they paid for transportation to Chewelah and took away any EWU identification.

However, Hoxie said he did not expect the work to be so extensive for the board, which has cost over $9,000 so far. Nevertheless, he said it is much less expensive than buying a brand new scoreboard and believes it is nice that they were able to get one from a local college in a model that is 15 years newer. The older one is from the 1970s and needed some work, he said, although it was still useable.

The school district is currently looking for donations to help pay for construction costs and those donors will get advertising for their contribution.

In the summer of 2012, Chewelah Painting was also hired to repaint the Snyder Field bleachers, crow’s nest, and concession area Navy and White to gave the Snyder Field a facelift before the first 2012 game. The crow’s nest was also stabilized in addition to other improvements.

“The new scoreboard goes along with the beautification of the whole field,” Hoxie said.

Bellevue said this project is good momentum for the community as it is a football field “the whole town can see.” It is something everyone is able to enjoy and sports encourage kids to stay active and create a positive atmosphere for Chewelah, he said, especially following the league championship this past season.

By Kellie Trudeau, The Independent Staff

In this Photo: The former EWU football scoreboard has received a complete makeover with fresh blue paint, letters and lighting. Mike Bellevue photo.

Student Artists Stand Out

February 7, 2013

news_arts-show-winners-from Mary Walker High School art students (L-R) Cassie Howder, Falisha Hegel, and Taylor Gray were awarded first, second, and third place ribbons in the People’s Choice high school division for 3-D art at the Chewelah Arts Guild Community Arts Show on Jan. 25-27. Their winning pieces showcased a paper quilling technique that uses strips of paper in different shapes and designs to create colorful works of art. Pam Holt photo

A Strong School Equals a Strong Community

February 7, 2013

Editor,

I am a 1976 graduate of Jenkins High School, the last class to graduate from the “old” high school. As many young people before and after me, I was eager to leave Chewelah and see the world.

In 2004 my husband Matt and I decided to return to Chewelah. WHY? Chewelah is a great place to live and raise a family. When we moved back I was amazed at how many people such as myself had left for a time and moved back; had gone to college and returned here to live; or never left but stayed here to live, work and raise families.

Why are these people still here? Chewelah sits in a beautiful valley that has something to offer everyone year-round. People of Chewelah are friendly and helpful. We are a small town with a big heart, but parts of our town are getting old. One of the highlights for my kids when we first moved back here was our tour around the Middle School. I showed them my old locker from when I was in 7th grade. They were very impressed! I was not! What was already old in the 70’s is now run-down and tired. Now is the time! People such as myself, old-timers who were raised and educated here, have good memories of our life in Chewelah. We also realize that in order to keep up with our neighbors to the north and south we must continue to update and improve. Chewelah is not only a great place to raise a family, it is also a great place to retire.

Whatever reason has brought you to Chewelah, we ALL need to come together to keep Chewelah alive. Let’s vote YES on the school bond. A strong school DOES equal a strong community.

Diane (Stroyan) Cobb

Chewelah

Thriving Community Needs Quality Schools

February 7, 2013

To the Editor:

My name is Sarah Scott, the new office manager for Chewelah Community Health Center. My daughter and I are so excited to be part of such a great community. The schools in Chewelah have excellent scores and as a parent that was a large factor in moving here. I understand the need for and want a high quality education for my daughter.

The passage of the school bond is imperative in my mind. As a parent of an athlete and honor student I want the very best for my child. This means a school that is not only highly scored but provides an excellent facility for her to receive her education in. As a new member of the community I am looking to purchase a house and without the passage of the bond the likelihood of me purchasing that home in Chewelah is very low. Not only am I concerned about the school in which my daughter will attend but also the value of the property that I purchase.

If the bond does not pass the schools will still be moved to two building, this means portable classrooms that do not improve the value of the homes in the area. Attracting new professionals like me will be difficult without the bond passages as the property values could be decreased and the schools will not be attractive to new families.

I encourage any member of the community who is able to vote to vote yes for the bond as that is the best for not only the future members of the community but for all those who wish to see Chewelah thrive as a community.

Sincerely,

Sarah Scott

Chewelah

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