Profiles

“I say I have a passion for life, and I do. I've lived an amazing life, and I'm still living an amazing life,” said local resident, Chris Petterson. “But, it’s not all roses. Everybody has difficult times in their life. And my philosophy is, that's what helps us grow, learn, and have something to teach… We have the opportunity to choose what we will do with those hard times..."

Dorothy Knauss is about to relinquish the reins of mayorship for a second time in her life after stepping into Chewelah’s interim mayor position in June; this time to the new incoming mayor, Lindsay Baxter. Before stepping down, she shared a little about her background and experience as a civil servant and elected mayor.

“I started delivering newspapers when I was seven years old,” Don Birch said when recalling his introduction and initiation into a world that foreshadowed his future vocation.  “I’d get up at 4 every morning, and I had the whole North Hill that I delivered to. I did that until I was a sophomore in high school, then I started at the Statesman-Examiner.

“I have no regrets. I have been really blessed,” Dannie McNeil said when reflecting on his life. "I am gonna be 80 years old, and I look at other people that old and I think, do I really look that bad?” He chuckled. The Colville native, born in 1945, said he spent his early childhood in the mining town of Bossburg, Wash. He was one of four children in a family where..."

She said she grew up as a fun-loving child and always loved helping everyone. She drove a tractor and a team of horses, and separated hay while helping on the ranch. Marshall said she loved school and was always competing in sports such as baseball, basketball, football, and track; she could even long jump for six feet.

Rose said his family moved from Rice when he was young, going to Pleasant Valley for school until moving to Colville in the seventh grade. He said he started working for a dairy farm at age 14, and worked from then until he was drafted. His favorite subject in school was math, where his home room teacher got him into it, and he used to eat lunch with her every day.

Shirley remembered how, as a child, she would frequently visit her grandparents house on Kelly Hill, and how they would take her to dances held at the Old School House where she'd dance with all the other kids. 
At Christmas time, Shirley said her grandparents had a horse and a sleigh they would use to go out and pick a big tree to bring home.

Lillian Marie Leslie said she was born at Tonasket Hospital in 1940. She spent her earlier years in Lynn, Wash., where her father owned an orchard; the family then moved to a ranch in Molson, Wash., where she said she fondly remembers climbing trees, the ranch cats that liked to catch the mice, and her mother’s big garden that she helped with every year.

Johnson said he eventually learned how to square dance, tap dance, salsa, and much more. Johnson said his favorite subject was Physical Education. He attended the  University of Washington after graduating from high school and achieved his Business Associate's Degree. 

Timothy Schirman was born in Monroe, Wash., and said he spent most of his childhood there, attending and graduating from Monroe High School. Some of his favorite childhood memories include his time  in the Boy Scouts, collecting Hotwheels (which he still does to this day), and hunting for his family with his father.

This month marks Nance’s first anniversary of delivering papers for the Statesman-Examiner, a job he calls “the best first job.” At just 13 years old and heading into eighth grade at Colville Junior High, Nance has already built strong connections across town.