Colville

First 4 Qualify for $50,000 Shootout

June 13, 2013

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Paul Buxton of Buxton Financial is pleased to announce the first qualifiers for the end-of-season charity shootout.

Four charity golf tournaments held this summer get to qualify 4 winners each to move forward to the final $50,000 shootout held September 21 after the Veterans fund raiser scramble.

The Northport Lions Club held the first qualifying scramble May 11 at Dominion Meadows.

Closest to the pin on hole number 2 was Mike Becker, number 9 was won by Rheanna Miller, number 11 by Zack Walters and number 16 by Jeff Davis.

“They each hold a ticket to the ‘Big Dance’…. congratulations and the best of luck to each of you,” said Paul who has sponsored a $5,000 hole-in-one contest for each of the charity fundraisers.

Each charity also has a fifth ticket that they are raffling off to raise funds.

“For a chance to compete in the $50,000 hole-in-one shootout and help support these fine organizations you should contact each of the organizers and purchase several tickets,” Paul added.

Northport Lions Club …. Linda Midkiff 509-732-4191

Contacts for the remaining fundraisers are:

Sat June 15 Colville Baseball….Chris Peterson 509-675-2413

Sat July 27 Opie/Coxie Memorial…. Cami Ochs 509-684-4845

Sat Sept 21 Veterans…. Andy Hite 509-684-5508

“My son, Liam, and I are looking forward to competing in the next scramble,” said Paul.

“Liam, a first time golfer, was very excited about leading on hole number 2 until Mike Becker beat him out at the end of the round… he and I will be entered in all the fundraisers… they are lots of fun and for good causes.”

-Submitted by Buxton Financial

Dance Festival Coming June 15

May 30, 2013

news northern-ballet-dance4 Ann Marie Benedict and her students at the Northern Ballet and Performing Arts studio of Chewelah (now located conveniently on Main Ave.) will be presenting their annual Dance Festival at the Colville High School auditorium on June 15 at 7 pm. As Artistic Director, Ann Marie brings a history of quality, artistry, and professionalism to present a highly enjoyable evening of grace, beauty, energy, and strength. The performance will include students ranging in age from four to twenty-seven years old, featuring soloists Mallorie Powell (Chewelah’s Distinguished Young Woman of 2012), McKenna Hinton, Melanie Rose Huff, and Molly Kate Andrews. As graduating seniors, Mallorie and McKenna, together with Russell Smith and Janessa Rindlisbacher, will be giving their final performances as students of NBPA. Come join us as we celebrate their achievements and honor their years of hard work!
Joining NBPA for this year’s performance will be special guests Rachael, Emma, and Michael Larsen of the Spokane Youth Symphony on Violin and Viola, the acclaimed Haran Irish Dancers, Ariel Wood of the Gonzaga University Dance Program, and Lexie Powell of the Western Washington Dance Program. Both Ariel and Lexie are former NBPA students, as well as former representatives of Chewelah through the Distinguished Young Women program. We look forward to welcoming them home as they bring their talent to share with the community.
There will be an array of refreshments available for purchase at intermission, with the proceeds helping to defray the cost of the dancers’ beautiful costumes.
Tickets ($10 for adults, $6 for students) will be available beginning May 30 at Flowery Trail Coffeehouse and Akers United Drug in Chewelah, and at R.E.Lee Shoe Co. in Colville. Any unsold tickets will be available at the door.
The Northern Ballet and Performing Arts Dance Festival is an event not to be missed. We hope to see you there.

In This Photo: Melanie Huff

David Douglas Highlighted in New Book, Museum Exhibit

May 2, 2013

news_henneman_nisbet429 Over 200 years ago a young Scottish botanist began discovering a veritable bonanza of new plants and animals in the Pacific Northwest that would soon make him and the region famous. David Douglas discovered 650 different plants from the area and sent samples back to Europe, some of which now bear his namesake. The Douglas Squirrel, the Snow douglasia and the Douglas fir are just a few examples.

The journeys of this man with an insatiable curiosity is shared in a new book by local author Jack Nisbet. The book,”David Douglas: A Naturalist at Work” compliments Nisbet’s earlier book on Douglas, “The Collector.”

Nisbet was on hand at the Colville Library on April 17 to share more about Douglas and other information Nisbet learned while reading Douglas’ journals, talking with native people from the area and reviewing historical documents.

“David Douglas was born around 1800 in Scotland, the son of a stonemason. Douglas was terrible in school but at that time, there was an answer for that. You could become an apprentice. He began an apprenticeship at a manor house learning horticulture and how to manage a kitchen garden,” Nisbet related. “Growing plants was an age and gender neutral occupation and from there Douglas got a job at the Glasgow greenhouse. As the British Empire was continuing to grow, botany was the most important science. The British were minting money by moving plants around the world.”

In 1825, Douglas made a trek to the Pacific Northwest to explore what kinds of herbaceous wonders the area had to offer. He made a stop at Fort Colville in 1826.

“You can literally trace Douglas’ journeys by tracing them back plant by plant,” said Nisbet.

One of Douglas’ goals was to get viable seeds back to England, instead of just pressed specimens.

“In order to do this Douglas had to take extreme care to ensure that the people hauling his cargo back to Europe were going to be very careful to not get even a splash of seawater on the specimens,” Nisbet explained.

The extra care paid off, as specimens sent back to Scotland and Ireland quickly gained appreciation.

“In Scotland and Ireland the main timber is now the Sitka Spruce that was exported from the Pacific Northwest,” said Nisbet. “Douglas was interested in exporting it because he noted that some of the same conditions in Scotland and Ireland were present in the Northwest. The Sitka Spruce likes northern exposure, thin soil and can stand up to wind, so it was a good fit.”

The Western Larch, commonly called a Tamarack, also gained popularity as Douglas observed it was “straight with corkscrew bark and would be good for ship’s masts.”

Nisbet highlighted how Douglas’ assessment of plant species and their value was very characteristic of the time.

“Douglas might look at a flower and say ‘this would look good in my backyard’ or admire the countryside in Stevens County with its plains and stands of pines because it was like an English lawn. This is because it was a landscape managed by fire and so had a very orderly appearance,” Nisbet said.

But while Douglas was admiring the aesthetics of the area’s flora and fauna, he also tapped into the deeper uses and possibilities for the plants, including their ability to be a food source.

“Douglas learned a great deal about what plants to eat and when from the native wives of the fur traders he stayed with,” Nisbet explained. “He learned how to eat camas, bitterroot and lichen cakes.”

Eventually Douglas’ natural curiosity would culminate in his unfortunate death at 35. He died in 1834 while exploring the mountain Mauna Kea in Hawaii when he fell into a pit trap and was possibly crushed by a bullock that fell into the same trap.

MAC exhibit open through August 25

Those who would like to get a more tangible idea of Douglas’ adventures can attend a new exhibit at the Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane. The exhibit features several interactive exhibits and chronicles the challenges and discoveries Douglas experienced. For more information, visit www.northwestmuseum.org or call 509-456-3931. The MAC is located in the Historic Browne’s Addition Neighborhood,2316 W First Ave., Spokane.

By Jamie Henneman, Special to The Independent

In this photo: Nisbet speaks to full house at Colville Public Library on April 17.

Long-time banker retires after 41 years

April 18, 2013

news_max500 Max Egger, long-time Bank of America manager, will retire from the banking industry on May 3. Egger, 64, has served in various positions with the bank for 41 years, most recently as Manager at the Chewelah branch since 2008. His final weeks will be spent at the Colville branch assisting with a management transition there.

Janet Koeppen will be the new manager at Colville. Koeppen has ten years of banking experience and has spent the last two years as a Personal Banker at Colville.

Shellie Baydo will replace Egger in Chewelah. Baydo comes to the branch with over 30 years of experience with Bank of America.

An open house retirement party will be held for Egger on Saturday, April 27, 2-4 p.m., at the Chewelah Bank of America branch, 108 N. Park St. Everyone is invited to come visit and wish him well in the next stage of his life.

Egger started his career with the bank as a trainee in Deer Park on Feb. 7, 1972 after graduating from Washington State University with a degree in Business Administration. He was born and raised in Spokane and graduated from Rogers High School.

In 1973, Egger was moved to Colville for additional training and served as Assistant Operations Manager there. He moved to Oroville in 1974 to take the position of Operations Manager. In those early years of his career the bank operated as National Bank of Commerce. The bank changed names to Rainier National Bank in 1974.

Egger recalled the only robbery he witnessed occurred at the Oroville bank in 1975. In that case, he remembered that a man wearing a nylon sock and stocking cap over his head entered the building shortly after opening and approached one of the tellers. The robber handed the teller a note demanding money and left with the cash in less than three minutes. Nobody was injured in the incident and he could not recall if the man was ever caught.

In 1977, Egger returned to Colville as Operations Manager and then Commercial Loan Officer in 1982. He remembers his time as loan officer as being one of the most pleasurable periods in his career.

“I met and worked with many wonderful farmers and ranchers in an area covering Deer Park to Republic and Moses Lake to Colville. I spent a lot of time travelling and visiting with my customers,” he recalled of his days servicing his clients’ financing needs.

Egger was moved to Deer Park as Manager in 1990, returned to Colville as Manager in 1995, and finally led the Chewelah branch as Manager starting in 2008.

Through a series of acquisitions and mergers the bank also operated as Security Pacific Bank and Seafirst Bank before becoming Bank of America around 2000, according to Egger.

Even with the changes he has witnessed in the industry over the last 40 years, Egger insists that the job of banker is still very much about delivering great customer service.

“With all the changes and centralizing of decisions we are still in a people business. I have always strived to get to know my customers. Our customers still need a local banker to be an advocate and take care of their business. In that way, it’s the same now as it was 40 years ago when I started,” he explained.

But Egger admits that the way the local branches operate and the way banks interact with customers has changed dramatically over the years.

“There were no computers when I started. We processed every check and deposit on a bookkeeper machine and manually posted every transaction to the customers account on paper,” he said describing the earlier systems.

With advancements in automation, the number of people required to handle those tasks has also changed considerably.

“At one point there was probably 15 employees at the Chewelah branch and 20 (employees) at Colville. Among the many tasks, the interest on CD’s, savings accounts, and loans all had to be calculated and entered manually. Now we have six employees at Chewelah and nine in Colville,” Egger explained.

Automated teller machines and online banking options have also changed the banking experience.

“Younger people don’t want to wait in lobbies when their banking can be done online 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Deposits can even be made using their smart phones. Fewer and fewer people want to handle transactions in-person,” he said of the evolving attitude toward banking. “The technology has been developed for the convenience of customers. A certain number of people prefer to do business from their office or home.”

Egger believes that, despite the changing marketplace, local bankers will continue to be a valuable part of peoples’ lives.

“Local deposits have grown and the recent financial crisis has brought home the fact that people want to know their bankers and who they are doing business with,” he stated.

Outside of his duties at the bank, Egger has a distinguished record of public service.

He currently serves on the Loan Committee for Tri-County Economic Development District (TEDD) as he has for the last 15 years; served as the Disaster Relief Chairman (1977-87) for the Stevens County Chapter of the American Red Cross, helping victims of fire with food, shelter, and clothing; served as Exalted Ruler (1981-82) for the Colville Elks Lodge; served as President (1987-88) of the Colville Kiwanis Club; and chaired the committee to kick off the Stevens County Relay for Life in 1995, continuing to serve on the committee for nine years.

Egger says that he will miss the people he has worked with when he retires next month.

“I have enjoyed every day working with our customers. I have been blessed to meet many fine and extraordinary people including the employees at Chewelah and Colville. I have fond memories of working in Chewelah. It is an outstanding, friendly community,” he said of his relationship with his customers and employees.

“I have truly enjoyed all 41 years at the bank. There was not one morning when I didn’t enjoy getting in the car and heading off to work. I will miss my customers and bank associates,” he added.

In retirement, Egger hopes to spend more time visiting his children and grandchildren. He has one son, Greg, in Bellingham and two daughters, Marcy in Oregon and Christy in Spokane. His grandchildren are in Mississippi. He has been married 40 years to his wife, Deborah.

By Jared Arnold, The Independent Staff

Celebrating the 2nd Amendment

April 4, 2013

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Over 300 people gathered to celebrate 2nd Amendment Appreciation day on Tuesday, April 2 at the Stevens County Courthouse lawn in Colville. The ceremony, organized by the Stevens County Commissioners, was led by former state Representative Steve Fuhrman. Jack Smith also spoke about the importance of preserving and defending our 2nd Amendment rights. The 2nd Amendment of the Bill of Rights protects the citizens’ right to keep and bear arms. The ceremony ended with a prayer by former state Senator Bob Morton and a gun salute. The colors were presented by local veteran organizations including the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Jared Arnold photo

Fire Destroys Furniture Store

February 21, 2013

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Saundra’s Furniture and Design store at 279 South Main in Colville was destroyed by fire on Saturday evening, Feb. 16. The fire was reported at approximately 8 p.m. and spread quickly as Colville Fire Department firefighters tried to contain the blaze. Two buildings directly across the rear alley, which house Stevens County Title Company and Courthouse Annex offices, were not damaged by the fire.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined but the Colville Police Department and insurance company investigators continue to search for clues in the remains. Rumors of possible arson spread around Colville after the blaze, but investigators have not confirmed that. There have been two other suspicious fires in the Colville area in the last month, one at Davis Auto Rebuild and another at Tiger Trucking.

The owners, Alan and Saundra Wilma, had recently transferred management responsibilities in January to their daughter, Genevieve Wilma. Genevieve said that she had closed the store at 6 p.m. and received a telephone call from her mother about the fire shortly after 8 p.m. Saundra first received word about the fire via a text message from her son in Hawaii who had seen pictures of it on Facebook. She and Alan were returning to Colville after a trip to Spokane. Genevieve said the building was fully engulfed when she arrived at the scene.

Due to the extensive damage and unstable structure, the two-story 25,000-square foot building will not be able to be repaired. The Wilmas hope to be able to rebuild the store soon. The business is insured and, in a television interview, Saundra estimated the value of the building and inventory at nearly $2 million dollars. Alan said they will work with their insurance company to determine the actual value.

Genevieve said the family has already received an offer from the Colville Chamber of Commerce to use part of their facility for temporary office and meeting space. The Chamber has also established a fund to help the 11 displaced employees through this uncertain time and is accepting donations.

“We want to make sure that the people that relied on us will be taken care of,” Alan said of his employees. He explained that insurance will cover salaries for certain key employees that will be needed during this transition period. Other employees will likely qualify for state unemployment insurance compensation.

The Wilmas are now scrambling to reestablish an office and communications with customers.

“We are currently experiencing a sort of malfunction with our phone equipment,” Alan stated half-jokingly. However, he said a telephone line should be forwarded to a new location soon and customers may also use email to contact the owners. They can be reached at 684-4491 or info@saundrasfurniture.com.

“We are working to try to rebuild recent transaction records that were destroyed, but we intend to fulfill those orders for our customers,” Alan explained. He is asking that customers be patient and bring receipts for any merchandise that has not been delivered.

However, for some customer orders that had not yet been delivered, the products were destroyed in the fire and the company will work to rectify those situations. Some merchandise was also stored in a off-site warehouse, which was not damaged.

The Wilmas have operated Saundra’s Furniture and Design for nearly 20 years after buying the building and furniture business from John Egger. The building has been a landmark in the community at the intersection of Main and Birch. Alan said at least a portion of the building has been at that location since the early 1900s, being used as a car dealership in the early years.

“The community has been wonderful with their kind words and encouragement,” Alan said gratefully. “We plan to rebuild. This has been a great business for years, we’ve been kind of a mainstay in this town. But this is life and we will deal with it.”

By Jared Arnold, The Independent Staff

In This Photo: Saundra’s Furniture and Design engulfed in flames on Saturday, Feb. 16. Karsyn Pierce photo

Colville Kids Murder Plot Fails

February 21, 2013

Two fifth-grade boys, ages 11 and 10, were arrested at Ft. Colville Elementary School in Colville on Thursday, Feb. 7 after police and school officials discovered their plot to murder a female classmate and possibly other classmates, according to court documents released by the Stevens County Prosecutor’s office on Feb. 13.

The two boys have been charged with Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder along with other crimes in the juvenile department of Stevens County Superior Court. The court will hold a hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 20 to determine whether the boys had the mental capacity to commit the crimes. In Washington, children age 8-12 are presumed to not have that capacity but that presumption can be overcome in some cases by evidence of certain factors, according to Prosecuting Attorney Tim Rasmussen.

The boys’ plan to murder classmates was stopped after a fourth-grade student reported seeing the older boy on the bus with a knife before school on that Thursday morning. A school employee immediately contacted the boys to question them about the knife and search their backpacks. The younger boy’s backpack contained a 3.25-inch knife, a .45 caliber Remington 1911 semi-automatic pistol, and ammunition.

The school staff immediately contacted the Colville Police Department and separated the two boys for questioning. Questioning by staff and police revealed that the boys had been planning for about two weeks to lure the female student away from the school and then the older boy was going to stab the girl with the knife while the younger boy was supposed to use the gun to prevent others from interfering. The boys also identified six other students that they planned to attack in a similar manner, according to the documents.

In explaining the reason for the planned attack, the younger boy said he had once been in a short dating relationship with the girl and that now “She’s rude and always made fun of me and my friends.” The older boy said that he had been friends with the girl for several months but she had since become rude and would pick on him.

Another boy apparently was aware of the plan but was going to be paid $80 to keep it a secret, according to the court filing.

When the older boy was asked if he knew the plan was dangerous and unlawful he replied, “Yes, and I wanted to kill her alone at first.” When the younger boy was asked the same question he replied, “Yes, I just want her dead.”

The court papers said the younger boy admitted that he had stolen the pistol from his older brother’s bedroom. A subsequent interview with the brother revealed that he had stolen the gun from his deceased grandfather’s home a few months ago. Police verified that the handgun was registered to the grandfather and that the weapon was functional.

The two boys are currently being held at Martin Hall juvenile detention facility.

In a written statement, Colville school Superintendent Michael Cashion praised the fourth-grader who initially spotted and reported the knife to school staff. He also commended staff and police for their work while encouraging parents to “get involved” and be aware of what is happening in their children’s lives.

By Jared Arnold, The Independent Staff

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.

Easter is Just Around the Corner

February 14, 2013

Publishing March 21 and March 28, 2013

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.

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