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Local Couple Restores Tree Farm and Donates it for Research - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Local Couple Restores Tree Farm and Donates it for Research January 13, 2026 By: Monica Carrillo-Casas Lynn and Becky Miner donated their 100-acre tree farm to Washington State University Extension Forestry after purchasing it in 1992. The Miners have planted 11,000 ponderosa pines and western larch trees. Lynn Miner said they also hung up over 700 nest boxes for birds and small animals. Photo courtesy Monica Carrillo-Casas/The Spokesman-Review . Lynn and Becky Miner bought 100 acres of land in 1992, with plans to build a log home and start a tree farm – despite not knowing anything about forestry. Just last month, they donated their 100-acre tree farm to Washington State University Extension Forestry. “As corny as it sounds, Becky and I both have the attitude that we have a responsibility to leave the world a better place than what we found it, and this was our way to do that,” Lynn Miner said. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Miners said they began working on what they call Casa Becca del Norté, or Becky’s House of the North, after realizing the land had been, according to the Miners, mismanaged. Over the next 30 years, the two said they planted more than 11,000 ponderosa pines and western larch trees. They also installed more than 700 nest boxes in an effort to bring life back to the forest. The Miners said, today, more than 80 species of birds and small animals call the tree farm home. “We took a really poorly managed forest and turned it into a work of art,” Lynn Miner said. Before their purchase, Lynn Miner said the land had been homesteaded in the 1880s and was shaped by generations of “poor logging practices,” which they said was evident once they began working on the forest. “They cut down all the really good trees and left all the bad ones, so there was bad genetics,” Lynn Miner said. “Trees have genetics just like animals do, and it was in really bad shape. We didn’t know that. We just thought it was pretty.” Becky Miner said she remembered the silence most of all. Birds were noticeably absent, and the only thing they would hear were coyotes. That’s when she reached out to Cornell University and learned how to make the nest boxes. “Now people come here, and it’s like a cacophony of birds,” Becky Miner said. The Miners said they subsequently reached out to multiple other agencies, including the Department of Resources, the National Resource Conservation Service and Stevens County Conservation District, to learn how to best grow their tree farm. Lynn Miner added they had mentorship from Bob Playfair, who was named the 2005 Washington state Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. “He taught us a lot of things about how to grow trees, how to plant trees, how to select trees for making things more healthy, and how to improve wildlife,” Lynn Miner said. During the busiest months, especially in the spring, the Miners devoted as many as 80 hours a week to the tree farm. On average, Lynn Miner said they spent at least 20 hours a week over 30 years reshaping the forest, all on top of their full-time jobs. “In the spring it was really intense, because that’s when we planted the trees, and then towards the fall, when we were pruning and thinning,” Becky Miner said. But after 25 years of hands-on work, the question became, what would happen to the forest? Lynn Miner said selling it was never an option. And with one child living in a group home in Spokane and another living out of state with no interest in managing a tree farm, the Miners began exploring philanthropic options. That’s when they decided to donate it to an organization that would preserve it as a working forest. “That’s how we came up with WSU,” Lynn Miner said. Andy Perleberg, WSU’s state extension forester, said he has known and worked alongside the Miners since 2005. When he learned the tree farm would be donated, Perleberg said he knew it would be crucial for future forest health improvement research. “This is really a special gift,” Perleberg said. He said small-scale forest owners face challenges in managing their land due to operational capacity, access and engineering considerations, which make it hard for owners to maintain a healthy forest ecosystem. “So, what my vision is, is that this forest land can be used to help develop these solutions, these operational opportunities and create a workforce that can do the work in order to help the multitudes of people who own forest land in eastern Washington,” Perleberg said. With wildfire hazards and forest health as the top concerns in northeast Washington, according to Perleberg, he said he hopes the tree farm will give students and visitors hands-on demonstrations in forest management, such as thinning, pruning and proper debris disposal to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health. Learning about tree spacing and density, he added, can also prevent overstocked stands that stress water resources and make trees more susceptible to bark beetles. Root diseases, common in eastern Washington, are another inevitable concern, making proper management even more important, he said. However, Perleberg emphasized the land isn’t exclusive and is meant to benefit the wider community. “If anybody wants to use the property, they can just reach out and we’ll figure out how we can serve their needs,” he said. Lynn Miner said the university already has had students use the tree farm for entomology studies, forestry health research and outdoor recreation projects. WSU’s Law Enforcement Division is also looking to use it to teach winter survival skills. “It’s going to be utilized, and that’s what we want,” Lynn Miner said. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Preliminary Election Results Released for Stevens and Ferry Counties - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Preliminary Election Results Released for Stevens and Ferry Counties November 12, 2025 By: Emma Lee Conyer The preliminary election results for Ferry County and Stevens County. General election results for Stevens and Ferry counties are still being counted, however, current tabulations provide an indication of the winning parties. According to election department officials, the election results for both of the counties will be certified on Nov. 25. STEVENS COUNTY Chewelah The candidates for Chewelah mayor are Lindsay Baxter and Tracy Ling. Election officials stated that Baxter is in the lead as of Monday, Nov. 10, with 328 (67.35%) of the 487 counted votes, followed by Ling with 138 votes (28.34%). Twenty-one votes (4.31%) were written in. The candidates for Chewelah City Council, Position 1, are Katie Roberts and Shane Fairweather. Roberts leads with 299 (65%) of the 460 counted votes, with Fairweather trailing with 75 (16.3%) of the votes, according to officials. Eighty-six votes (18.7%) were written-in. The candidates for Chewelah City Council, Position 2, are James B. Caruso and Sharon Ludwig. Election officials said Caruso is trailing with 216 (43.55%) of the 496 votes, while Ludwig sits at 278 (56.05%) votes; two (0.4%) votes were write-ins. Jon Hardy-McCauliff and Ronald L. McCoy are the candidates for Chewelah City Council, Position 3. Out of 485 votes, Hardy-McCauliff currently holds 293 (60.41%), with McCoy behind at 190 (39.18%), according to election officials. The remaining two votes (0.41%) are write-ins. Lonnie Hoxie and Tim Dollar are the Chewelah City Council, Position 6 candidates. Officials stated that Hoxie held 354 (72.69%) votes, while Dollar had 131 (26.9%) of the 487 total votes. Two of the votes (0.41%) were write-ins. Candice Capoeman and Paula Randall are the candidates for Chewelah City Council at Large. Officials indicated that Randall was in the lead with 334 (77.67%) votes out of 430 total, with Capoeman behind at 91 (21.16%) votes. Five of the votes (1.16%) are write-ins. Colville The candidates for Colville City Council at Large are Muriel S. Meyer and Thomas Carpenter. Meyer was ahead, according to officials, with 640 (66.05%) of 969 votes, and Carpenter with 321 (33.13%) votes. Eight of the total votes (0.83%) were write-ins. Marcus Chris Fox and Ethan Jennings are the candidates for Marcus mayor. Jennings was behind, with 21 (33.33%) of the 63 total votes, and Fox held 42 (66.67%). Northport The candidates for the mayor of Northport are Karene Balcom and Phillip Naylor. Balcom held 62 (82.67%) of the 75 total votes, while Naylor had 13 (17.33%) votes, according to officials. Northport School District The candidates for the Northport School District Director at Large 5 at Lisa (Fry) Warner and Chad R. Arcand. Officials noted there were three (0.8%) write-in votes, 153 (40.43%) votes for Warner, and 221 (58.78%) votes for Arcand out of a total of 376 votes. Mary Walker School District Jedd Canfield and Thad Stenlund are the candidates for the Mary Walker School District Director District 1. Canfield held the lead with 411 (73.39%) votes, while Stenlund had 144 (25.71%) of the 560 total votes, according to officials. Out of those votes, five (0.89%) were written-in. Onion Creek School District The candidates for Onion School District Director Position 1 are Deryk Lamb, who sat at 33 (37.08%) votes, and Lennifer Leone Miller, who held 54 (60.67%) votes, officials stated. Out of the 89 total votes, two (2.25%) were write-ins. Stevens County Fire Protection District 4, Proposition 1: Levy Citizens of Stevens County were called to vote on a Fire District Levy this year. Officials indicated that the levy will pass, with 422 (55.02%) of the 767 votes being “Levy Yes,” and 345 (44.98%) being “Levy No.” Fire District 12 Sharyl McBride and Duggan Harman are the candidates for Fire District 12 Commissioner 1. Out of 242 total votes, McBride led with 188 (77.69%) votes, and Harman sat at 53 (21.49%) votes, officials said. Two votes (0.83%) were written-in. FERRY COUNTY Fire District 3 The Fire District 3 Commissioner 3 candidates are Al Kowitz and Jake Cook. Officials said out of 259 total votes, Kowitz sat at 147 (56.76%) votes, and Cook held 112 (43.24%). Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Chewelah and Kettle Falls Wrestlers Cook at Apple Pie Invite - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Chewelah and Kettle Falls Wrestlers Cook at Apple Pie Invite January 21, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen Local wrestlers turned in strong performances at the Apple Pie Invite on Saturday, Jan. 17, highlighted by podium finishes from Chewelah’s Dakota Katzer and Titan Tapia, as well as a deep showing across multiple weights by the Kettle Falls Bulldogs. Katzer advanced to the championship bout at 157 pounds and finished second overall. He opened with a bye before pinning Yandel Mata of Chelan in 1:32, then followed with another fall over Andrew Alcala of Chelan in the semifinals. In the title match, Katzer ran into Tristan Sharpe of Cascade (Leavenworth), falling by decision to cap a strong tournament run and score 22 team points. Teammate Tapia also reached the podium at 157 pounds, placing third. Tapia pinned Ryder Vassar of Tonasket in the quarterfinals, dropped a semifinal to Sharpe, then rebounded with a technical fall over Mason Simons of Republic-Curlew in the consolation semifinals. Tapia closed the day with a 10-5 victory over Alcala to secure third place. Kettle Falls had multiple wrestlers place, led by a pair of strong finishes at 150 pounds. Ezekiel Evans placed second after earning a fall in the quarterfinals and a technical fall in the semifinals before falling to Logan Stucker of Tonasket in the title match. Baylor Rosen added a third-place finish at the same weight, stringing together four consecutive falls through the consolation bracket and closing with another pin over Nik Morrow of Blaine to score 22 team points. At 132 pounds, Joseph Young placed third, winning four of five matches, all but one by fall. Young pinned his way through the early rounds, rebounded from a semifinal loss, and closed with a pin over Aengus Gillikin of Cascade. In the upper weights, Hunter Smith-Rowe placed third at 215 pounds, responding to an early loss with four straight wins by fall, including the third-place match against teammate Harley Rowe. Rowe finished fourth after advancing through the consolation rounds. Kettle Falls also saw solid efforts from Michael Winn (fourth at 120 pounds) and Gideon Evans (fourth at 126 pounds), each rallying through the consolation bracket with multiple falls to reach the placement rounds. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

2B Boys Basketball Displays Grit and Rivalry - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES 2B Boys Basketball Displays Grit and Rivalry January 14, 2026 By: Brandon Jamsem Mace Thivierge. File photo. Chewelah-Kettle Showdown Worthy of Rivalry A busy week of Northeast 2B North action saw both the Chewelah and Kettle Falls boys basketball teams battle as league play tightened in January. Kettle Falls picked up a narrow 45-43 road win over Chewelah on Friday night, Jan. 9, behind a dominant scoring performance from Mace Thivierge. Thivierge poured in 23 points, accounting for more than half of the Bulldogs’ offense, as Kettle Falls improved to 7-7 overall and 3-3 in Northeast 2B North play. He knocked down three 3-pointers and went 4-of-6 from the free-throw line. Chewelah led 24-21 at halftime and took a 37-33 advantage into the fourth quarter, but the Cougars were held to just six points in the final period as Kettle Falls closed the game on a 12-6 run. Ryen McMillin led Chewelah with 14 points, while the Cougars also got eight points apiece from Asher Stancil and Frank Sety. Both teams finished with 16 fouls, and the game featured just seven 3-pointers in total. Kettle Falls Takes Down St. George’s Kettle Falls earned a convincing 62-44 home win over St. George’s on Jan. 6, setting the tone early with a 17-4 first quarter. Alex Mazanek scored 13 points to lead the Bulldogs, while Thivierge added 12 and Cooper McKern chipped in 11 points. Kettle Falls drained six 3-pointers and went 10-of-12 from the free-throw line in a balanced offensive effort. The Bulldogs led 39-15 at halftime and never allowed the Dragons to seriously threaten down the stretch. Liam Darcy paced St. George’s with 14 points. Chewelah Earns Home Win, Fall on the Road Chewelah opened the week with a strong 61-48 home victory over Davenport on Jan. 6, using a decisive fourth quarter to pull away. Grady Skok scored a game-high 18 points, while Stancil added 14 and Sety finished with 10 points. The Cougars outscored Davenport 19-10 in the final quarter to seal the win. Chewelah followed that win with a 55-49 road loss at St. George’s on Saturday, Jan. 10. McMillin scored 18 points to lead Chewelah, while Stancil added 10. The Cougars led 40-25 at halftime, but St. George’s outscored Chewelah 39-19 in the second half to complete the comeback. The split left Chewelah at 7-6 overall and 2-5 in Northeast 2B North play as the Cougars look to regroup heading into the heart of the league schedule. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Betty Ann Garvey | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Betty Ann Garvey 97 Sep 13, 1928 - Oct 14, 2025 “I wish people didn’t die; but when you die in the world, you don’t die in your families’ hearts.” Piper Cole Betty Ann Garvey passed away peacefully on Oct. 14, 2025, with her daughters and family members by her side. She was born on Sept. 13, 1928, in Ponca, Neb., to Paul Harry Engel and Neva Jane Roberts. She was even born in the same room that her father was born in. Betty and her family moved from Nebraska to Montana and eventually they made their way to Colville, Wash., where they made their home. Betty graduated from Colville High School in 1946 and shortly after, she met the love of her life, James Richard “Dick” Garvey, at a community dance. They were married on Jan. 15, 1947. Together they lived in Colville, Wash., where they started their family and were blessed with four daughters. For over 10 years, Betty drove buses for Colville Schools and even drove some of her own grandchildren. She never let her small stature scare her away from those big buses. She was very involved in numerous activities and was a member with multiple organizations where she put in a lot of time and energy. Some of these include being a 4-H Leader, Stevens County Cowbells member, Washington Mills Home Ec club member and a lifetime member of the Fort Colville Grange. Betty loved being outdoors farming and ranching, raising livestock and especially running all the farm equipment. After her and Dick retired from the farming and ranching life, Betty spent a lot of time working in the flower and vegetable gardens. She loved mowing her lawn on her riding lawn mower and did so even at the age of 97, much to the dismay of her family. She cherished her family time and loved it when everyone, including extended family, could come together and enjoy each other’s company. She especially loved being a great and great-great grandma. Her eyes lit up when the little ones would come and visit and when she could, she would join in the play time. Betty was preceded in death by her husband Dick, her parents Paul and Neva, her sisters Dolly Bar and Pauline Saffel, and her son-in-law Steve Heater. She is survived by her daughters Marilyn (Monte) Ogden of Colville, Nancy Heater of Colville, Patty (Charlie) Benner of Enderlin, N.D., Jerry Garvey of Colville, seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, numerous great-great grandchildren and her nieces and nephews. The family of Betty Garvey would like to invite you to join them for the Graveside services at Mountain View Park Cemetery on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m. with a gathering after at the Fort Colville Grange. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made In Memory of Betty Garvey, to the Colville FFA Chapter at Colville High School. Previous Item Next Item

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Colville Girls Basketball Puts Together Strong Holiday Stretch - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Colville Girls Basketball Puts Together Strong Holiday Stretch January 7, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen Colville's Andee Kroiss goes up for a layup against Chewelah in the Crimson Hawks' 56-22 victory over the Cougars in nonleague basketball action on Saturday, Jan. 3. Photo by Derek Dobell. The Colville girls basketball team showed strong competition during the holiday break, winning two of three nonleague contests to improve to 6-4 overall heading into January. Colville closed the week with a decisive 56-22 road victory over the Chewelah Cougars on Saturday, Jan. 3. The Crimson Hawks set the tone early, jumping out to a 17-7 first-quarter lead and holding Chewelah scoreless in the second quarter to take a commanding 35-7 advantage into halftime. Andee Kroiss led Colville with 15 points, while Aubree Kubesh added 13 points as the Crimson Hawks used balanced scoring and defensive pressure to pull away. Colville limited Chewelah to just eight field goals in the game. Sara Vioni paced the Cougars with 14 points. Earlier in the week, Colville narrowly defeated the 2A North Central Wolfpack 47-46 in a thriller on Dec. 30 at West Valley High School. Kroiss scored a game-high 21 points to lift the Crimson Hawks, who survived a tight contest that remained in doubt until the final seconds. Colville led 15-7 after the first quarter, but North Central battled back behind 19 points from Arkayla Brown. Georgia Beardslee added 11 points for the Crimson Hawks before fouling out, while Colville held on despite being outscored at the free-throw line. The Crimson Hawks opened the tournament on Dec. 29, with a 44-30 loss to the Colfax Bulldogs. Colville led 11-5 after the first quarter, but Colfax took control in the middle periods behind a 19-point performance from Allie Jenkin. Beardslee led Colville with 11 points, while Kroiss added nine. The Crimson Hawks struggled offensively after the opening quarter, scoring just 19 points over the final three periods. The Lady Hawks faced East Valley on Tuesday, Jan. 6; results were not available at press time. The team is scheduled to play Okanogan on Friday, Jan. 9, at 7:15 p.m. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Local Library Encourages Creativity Through Art - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Local Library Encourages Creativity Through Art January 21, 2026 By: Meredith Carroll Kettle Falls Library begins new creative program for children. “Every child is an artist.” It is Donna Matter’s heartfelt belief that all children contain untapped creativity and that it is her purpose to provide them with an outlet. The Kettle Falls Children’s Art Program, located at the Kettle Falls Library, was launched 10 years ago by Donna Matter and her husband, George Matter. Children can come in after school on Tuesdays – no enrollment necessary – where they have a snack, and can jump right into creating art. “We have different tables set up that the children can choose from,” said Matter. “For example, they can go to Recycling Art, Painting, or Build / Create Your Own Design. Sometimes we’ll have beads or self-drying clay. One day, I hope to have art classes with the option to fire your own clay.” The art classes are run entirely by volunteers. “Right now, all the volunteers are seniors, except for two girls who are in high school now that used to come to the class. I like to see things come full circle. “Our rural community is filled with talented kids,” she said. “It’s about what they want to do. I don’t do cookie-cutter art. I want to help them to be creative and do what they want to do.” Matter said she hosts anywhere between 30 and 60 young artists in her class. “It’s organized chaos. During the fall, we get a lot more people from the community, and the class grows. It can get loud, but it’s always safe.” She added, “There are only three rules that the young artists have to follow: Be safe. Be creative. And have fun.” According to Matter, the Kettle Falls Children’s Art Program is funded entirely through monetary donations and supplies, with the remaining costs picked up by herself and George. “We get lots of donations,” Matter said. “Some of it we get to store at the library, but most of it I keep at home. My entire spare bedroom is filled with art supplies.” Matter said she moved to Kettle Falls in 2009 after retiring from a teaching career. She got her inspiration to start the art program from the library itself. “The library wanted me to make a quilt with some of the kids to raise money for art for kids. The program took off from there. I met George, and he helped. He’s been my friend and with the program the entire time. We got married three years ago. George helps a lot with the art program, and he oversees the recycling art. “The library saved my life. I love the library. “The art program is more than just about art. It’s about building self-esteem and positive affirmation. We come home happy but tired.” The Kettle Falls Library provides staff supervision during the class sessions. “The library keeps track of the kids who attend, and this helps with funding for books for the library,” Matter said. Christine Evans, a librarian with the Kettle Falls Library, has helped Matter with the art program for the entire three-and-a-half years she has worked there. “It is one of our most popular programs in the district,” Evans said. “We’ve gotten a huge response. Librarians from all over Washington state say they’ve heard about the program and come to our library here in Kettle Falls to visit. It really is impressive. We have more participation in this program at our little library than many large libraries see on the coast.” Evans said she helps with setting up the art tables and with guiding the children as needed. One of the tables is referred to as the Recycling Table, because people drop off random items for the kids to use in their projects. “They come up with the most amazing things out of the random items that people drop off,” Evans said. “They come up with dollhouses, outfits, and usable disc throwers. The level of creativity these kids have is amazing. Donna pours encouragement into all of these kids. She and her program foster such a good attitude of appreciation for others.” Donna said the Kettle Falls Children’s Art Program can always use volunteers to help out. The art program meets at the Kettle Falls Library located at 615 Meyers Street, every Tuesday from 3-4 p.m., September through April. For more information, contact the library at 509-738-6817. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Ode to an Older Time: Lilian Leslie - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Ode to an Older Time: Lilian Leslie September 17, 2025 By: Nancy Weigel Lilian Leslie At the Cascadia Fair, among her many ribbons. Photo courtesy Colville Health & Rehabilitation of Cascadia. 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. When she was in her younger years, Leslie said she learned how to make clothes. Eventually, she said she started making most of her clothes, as well as new clothes for her younger brothers and sister. She shared that she still modifies clothes to this day. Lillian went to high school for two years, noting that in her sophomore year, she decided she did not care for school and wanted to work. Even though school wasn't for her, Leslie said her favorite subject was history, specifically the 13 th and 14 th centuries. Leslie recounted how she worked as a waitress, a bartender, and at a clothing store in Republic. She also worked for Kelly's Bakery, where she said she learned all about how to run a bakery. Leslie also cleaned houses for money, and helped people pack for moving. She said she joined the Eagles in Republic, and was president for three terms. She had one girl and two boys, Debi Hamilton, David Leslie, and Wayne Leslie. Her favorite place in Washington is Birdsview, but she loves the entire state and has lived in it most of her life. She said one of the biggest tasks she has overcome is taking on the responsibility of watching her granddaughter every summer, saying “it was a lot of hard work but I loved it.” When she was living with her son and daughter-in-law, they were trying to find a facility where she could stay. She said there were no openings at surrounding assisted care facilities, and she searched for one with lots of activities to keep her busy; that’s when she learned that Colville had a facility with a few spots open. She said she came to Colville Health & Rehabilitation of Cascadia and has since joined every activity she could, including painting, ceramics, different types of crafting, and gardening. Leslie said she also participated in the fair Cascadia runs, after the Northeast Washington Fair, and she won over 20 different ribbons. Leslie said she is the president of the residents council at Colville Health & Rehabilitation of Cascadia, a group that meets once a month to listen to resident grievances. She said her favorite thing to do nowadays is craft and she enjoys her classes with her teacher, Jackie. She also takes care of a lot of the indoor plants at the facility such as watering and trimming when necessary. When asked if she could tell one thing to the younger generation what it would be, Leslie said, “Follow your dreams. That's what I told my kids.” Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Chewelah Girls Basketball Focused on Competing - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Chewelah Girls Basketball Focused on Competing December 3, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen After a challenging 2024-25 season, the Chewelah girls basketball program enters the winter determined to take a step forward with a bigger roster. Head coach Jacob Lee said the Cougars are aiming to be more competitive night-in and night-out. “You know, we ended last year on a really rough 0-20 through regular season play,” Lee said. “Won one game in our district tournament and then lost out the rest. So we want to be able to put a few more wins up on the board. We've got some competitive games coming for us.” Lee said Chewelah will have a deeper pool of athletes to work with. Participation has reached its highest mark in Lee’s three-year tenure. “As of today, our numbers sit at 22,” he said. “We have eight seniors, two juniors, three sophomores and nine freshmen. Five of them have played before pretty consistently. The rest of them, this is new, this is year one for a lot of our upperclassmen.” Leadership roles are expected to be filled by players who have already demonstrated year-round dedication. “I've got Elyse Warren and Megan Watts,” Lee said. “Elyse and Megan were our two seniors this summer that if we had anything basketball-related, either they were both there or at least one of them was there. It was impossible to get them both out of the gym. So that hard work pays off. They should see that this season and it should be really helpful for our team.” In the Northeast 2B League, the Lady Cougars know the competition will be fierce. “Our league is tough,” Lee said. “I mean, we've got Northwest Christian coming off of their state championship run, Reardon is always a good, ferocious, strong basketball team. It's amazing to watch them play. “If Northwest Christian didn't win state, Reardon was going to,” he added. “So they're both coming back fierce. Davenport's going to be strong.” Despite the challenges, Lee said there is a renewed optimism and growing excitement surrounding Cougar basketball. “It's nice to have,” he said of the team’s numbers. “So we're just seeing a little bit of growth in basketball culture here in Chewelah every year and that's what we're excited about, is just bringing basketball back to this little town.” Lee said the team is looking forward to “a fun year of basketball” as it works to turn that growth into success on the court. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Out of the Past: 12/31/2025 - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Out of the Past: 12/31/2025 December 31, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Society Palace Theater 1911, located where Acorn's Saloon is now located. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— Bagley’s Portrait Studio at Kettle Falls is showing some beautiful reproductions of the Kettle Falls of the Columbia and surrounding scenery; they are the personal work of Mr. Bagley, who has copyrights for about 20 pictures of the falls, and sold them for $50 each for calendar use in the east. Ownership of the Colville Theater today passes from Flint & Girtanner to D.A. and George Morgan, who for 12 years have been in photoplay production at Harrington and Ritzville. 75 Years Ago— Colville may have a first-class post office in 1951. C.F. Lee, local postmaster, revealed Wednesday that the gross receipts of the local office passed the first-class requirement. But final say in the change from second to first class will be made by the post office department in Washington, D.C. The Gifford-Inchelium ferry was closed by the National Park Service this week and commissioners from Ferry and Stevens Counties joined in efforts to have service re-stored. The Park Service ordered the ferry to stop operation Dec. 31, due to slide conditions in the area. Margaret Frye’s heroic act of saving the lives of four children at Park Rapids, 18 miles east of Colville on Oct. 18, will be broadcast over a national radio hookup on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 8:30 a.m. The broadcast will be heard in this area over radio station KHQ, The Jack Berch Show , sponsored by the Prudential Life Insurance Company. 50 Years Ago— Stevens County Population Grows—Stevens County, 1970: 17,405, 1975: 22,708. Colville, 1970: 3,742, 1975: 4,291. Chewelah, 1970: 1,365, 1975: 1,691. Kettle Falls, 1970: 893. 1975: 926. Northport, 1970: 423, 1975: 429. Springdale, 1970: 215, 1975: 244. Marcus, 1970: 142, 1975: 169. The Spokane Concert Orchestra, under the direction of Donald Thulean, will be making their biennial performance in Colville Jan. 24, at the Colville Junior High School auditorium. As an added feature, the Colville Community Choir will perform with the orchestra. 25 Years Ago— The city of Colville has sent a letter to the Department of Ecology (DOE) outlining an alternative to the new wastewater facility plan. The plan was approved by DOE in April, at which time it was estimated to cost $18 million. As design progressed, more precise estimates revealed costs closer to $22 million – an amount the city told DOE was unaffordable. Members of city staff met with DOE on Dec. 13 to discuss the issue and have since sent the agency a formal proposal for modification to the plan. 10 Years Ago— As a reminder, Washington State’s minimum wage will stay the same in 2016 at $9.47 per hour. INCHELIUM—Last week, Washington author Carmen Peone celebrated the nationwide release of her poignant new young adult novel, “Delbert’s Weir.” Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES