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Colville Warming Center Prepares for Winter's Chill - 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 Warming Center Prepares for Winter's Chill October 8, 2025 By: Meredith Carroll American Legion Hall, host of Warming Center Front. Photo courtesy of Andrea Gjendem. When the temperatures plummet and some people need a place to get out of the weather, the Warming Center opens its doors. A refuge for those in need, the Warming Center has been operating in Colville for 15 years. The center, located in the American Legion Hall at 103 6 th Ave. in Colville, is scheduled to open on Nov. 1. “The Colville Community Warming Center was originally funded entirely by community volunteers and donations,” said Andrea Gjendem, the center’s program director. Among other things, she coordinates the scheduling and orientation for the center’s volunteers. “The Warming Center exists because of volunteers,” Gjendem said. “Recently, because of additional funding sources, we’ve been able to offer a stipend to those who help out. We have several people who volunteer who used to be homeless and stay at the Warming Center.” While the Warming Center plans to open its doors Nov. 1, it may open sooner if temperatures go below freezing before then. “We need volunteers to work three different 5.5 hour shifts. The need is always there.” Gjendem said she is planning to host orientations on Oct. 10 and 11.. “The orientation is so that we can get to know our volunteers, to get a background check completed, and to complete paperwork,” she explained. “It’s also for some training. Volunteers will learn how to check people in, help them to settle in and get warm.” Guests at the Warming Center are provided with a bunk bed and have access to showers, television, and internet service, Gjendem said.“We just hope that everybody stays warm.” For more information, call 509-684-8480. 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: 08/13/2025 - 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: 08/13/2025 August 13, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Fishing at Kettle Falls. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— Carl Johnson of the R. E. Lee Company succeeded in landing a 30 ½ pound salmon at Kettle Falls on Sunday. The Yep-Kanum parade, the opening day of the Yep-Kanum and Fair celebration, will depict as nearly as possible the progress of the Colville country from the year 1825, the time when old Fort Colvile was located on the Columbia River at Kettle Falls, to the present time. Excavation work started on Tuesday for the new building for the Colville Bakery next to the R. E. Lee Company on Main Street. The Marshal oven for the bakery arrived Thursday weighing 27,000 pounds. 75 Years Ago— Two barns and a chicken house were destroyed by fire at the Melvin McCarthy place in Echo Valley last Friday. The fire was one of 11 battled by the state forestry service during the week. Construction of a new aluminum cattle barn was begun at the district fairgrounds in Colville this week. An announcement was made this week of the inauguration of a new bus line between Colville and the Utah Construction project near the Little Pend Oreille Lakes, according to Ernie Keinbaum, manager. The 32-passenger bus will make one round trip daily, leaving Colville in the morning and returning in the evening. 50 Years Ago— Subscribers to the Statesman-Examiner will receive the supplement the “Addy Souvenir Edition” this week. This edition, which has been in preparation for over a year by the Statesman-Examiner , tells the history of this now famous Stevens County community. It includes early stories and photos, plus an aerial view of Addy and of the Northwest Alloys plant. While rummaging in the basement under Millie’s Shoes in Colville, Howard Oens, newspaper plant foreman for the Statesman-Examiner , found a package of old vintage pocketknives. The knives themselves are single bladed with a cheap metal handle. On the blade of good steel, has “Saxonia Cutlery Co., Germany” inscribed on it. Cindy Perryman, age 7, of Colville, will reign as the Queen of the first annual Pee Wee Rodeo, sponsored by the Deer Park Fair Association. 25 Years Ago— Colville city council gave city staff the okay at the Aug. 8, council meeting to go ahead with the design on Phase Two of the Colville 2000 Project. In keeping with the idea that the Stevens County Historical Society Museum is a family-oriented place to visit, the Society is planning a good old-fashioned “Family Fun Day” on Sunday. 10 Years Ago— Lightning strikes late last week, combined with high winds, stoked dozens of fires around the northwest and burned northeast Washington into something of an inferno. At the Tuesday Colville city council meeting, long-time senior citizen activist and community volunteer Glenda Pittman was honored with a proclamation declaring Aug. 22, “Senior Citizen’s Day” in Colville. West Elep Street was also honorably dubbed Glenda Pittman Way. 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

Heroes Homestead Recognizes Loon Lake Resident with Community Leadership Award - 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 Heroes Homestead Recognizes Loon Lake Resident with Community Leadership Award December 3, 2025 By: Staff Report Sharon Russell (left) received the Community Leadership Award from Erin Bowers with Lithia Auto Group (right). Photo courtesy Heroes Homestead. In a ceremony aimed at celebrating “extraordinary service” and “selfless dedication,” Heroes Homestead, together with Lithia Auto Group and Camp Chevrolet, bestowed the Community Leadership Award upon Loon Lake resident Sharon Russell on Nov. 16. According to organizers, the award recognizes individuals whose actions “embody the highest ideals of civic engagement, inspiring others to persevere in service and uphold the values that strengthen our communities and nation.” Organizers said Sharon Russell’s life is a “testament to duty, resilience, and joyful service rooted in profound military heritage.” Born at Fort Ord, Calif., she spent her formative years moving between the United States and Germany, following her father’s “distinguished career” as a U.S. Army combat engineer. “Embracing each new duty station with enthusiasm, Sharon absorbed the cultural richness of European and Asian tours, shaped by her parents’ deep sense of ambassadorial responsibility and patriotic commitment,” organizers said. Her own legacy of service began with active duty in the United States Army during Operation Desert Storm, where she rose to the rank of captain, before resigning her commission to fully support her husband, Colonel Steve Russell, throughout his military career. Even while battling cancer, Heroes Homestead officials said Russell has “refused to diminish her commitment to others,” by leading the annual Loon Lake 5 Mile Walk. In conferring the Community Leadership Award, the selection committee stated, “Sharon Russell exemplifies the quiet yet powerful leadership that transforms communities. With grace, determination, and boundless optimism – even in the face of cancer – she inspires others never to grow weary in doing good, proving that one committed life can ripple outward to strengthen an entire region.” To learn more about the Heroes Awards Night, visit heroeshomestead.org/Heroes_Homestead_Awards_Night . 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

Haden Wins Championship at Lady's M2 Mallet - 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 Haden Wins Championship at Lady's M2 Mallet January 7, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen The Chewelah Cougars had a highlight championship run from junior Naomi Haden and a resilient showing from Cougar boys. Haden delivered a standout performance on Jan. 3 at the Lady’s M2 Mallet, capturing the 125-pound championship in a 19-wrestler bracket. Wrestling four matches, Haden went 4-0 with three falls in rapid fashion – at 39 seconds, 29 seconds, and 18 seconds – and capped the day with a 16-7 major decision in the finals. The title continued a remarkable start to the season for Haden, who improved to 12-0 overall with 11 falls, establishing herself as one of the region’s most dominant competitors early in the winter. Chewelah sent six wrestlers to the Freeman Winter Classic on Dec. 30, with illness and injuries limiting the Cougars’ lineup. Despite the reduced numbers, the group produced multiple placers and showed depth across the weight classes. Junior Titan Tapia turned in a perfect 3-0 performance at 165 pounds to claim an individual championship, recording one fall and two decision victories. Senior Dakota Katzer placed fifth at 157 pounds, finishing 2-1 with a fall and a technical fall. Junior Brody King battled to a sixth-place finish at 138 pounds, going 2-2 with two falls. Sophomore Trevin Stauffer posted a 2-2 record at 132 pounds with two falls, while freshman Blaine Gibson earned his first career victory at 144 pounds, finishing 1-2 with a pin. At heavyweight, junior Wyatt Gould placed fourth at 285 pounds, going 1-1 with a fall in his debut season and earning his first career placing. 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

Quartzite Mini-Con Brings Pop Culture to Chewelah - 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 Quartzite Mini-Con Brings Pop Culture to Chewelah November 5, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen For one day this fall, dragons, wizards, and superheroes will descend on Chewelah. The Quartzite Mini-Con 2025 will take over the Mistequa Casino Hotel on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with organizers promising a celebration of fandoms, fantasy, and fun – all for a good cause. The convention, organized by Nancy and Steven Cross, is a first-of-its-kind event for Stevens County. “It was Steven being insane honestly – no one else is crazy enough to try this,” Nancy joked. “It’s just the crazy Cross family working on it right now.” The Quartzite Mini-Con isn’t about corporate booths or big-name celebrities. It’s about community. “We don’t really have a goal honestly,” Nancy said. “We wanted to just have something fun that celebrates the ‘nerdy’ side of life. There aren’t a lot of opportunities for people who love fandoms, TTRPG [tabletop role-playing games], fantasy, etc., to express their love of it.” This year’s event will feature a mix of fantasy and local flair. “We have mostly fantasy authors who will be there doing signings, and one romance author,” Nancy said. “The vendors range from a custom hat bar, coffee samplings, D&D [Dungeons & Dragons] dice, 3D prints, local artists’ work, comic books, and custom TTRPG maps. We also have the Friends of the Loon Lake Library coming out to offer a great selection of fantasy and sci-fi books.” Many participants are expected to hail from the region. “Almost all of the businesses are from the surrounding communities,” Nancy said. “We did reach out to a couple of friends from other states to come in and bring specialty items such as The Man Behind the Comics and Will-o-Wisp with her amazing collection of carved rock figurines, crystals, and pendants.” For fans of dressing up, the cosplay contest offers prizes of $50, $25, and plaques for top entries. “We don’t have categories this year as we don’t know what the turnout will be,” Nancy said. “However, next year, if this event goes well, we hope to have youth and adult categories separate from one another.” Fantasy gamers can join D&D one-shots run by two local dungeon masters: Kody, 19, and Mickey, 25; both asked for their last names to be anonymous. “A menacing chaotic goblin and an unexpecting, seemingly sweet chaos coordinator,” Nancy described. “We’ll have sheets and pencils available, but we recommend bringing your own dice. You can create a level 1 or 2 character, or use one of our pre-made sheets.” Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon fans will also find a home at the convention. It will be open play, but there will also be experienced players on hand to run the games and offer assistance. The Quartzite Mini-Con is free to attend, with organizers instead encouraging attendees to bring nonperishable food donations for the Chewelah Food Bank. “It is paramount,” Nancy said of community involvement. “There is no way around it. The community is what makes or breaks any event. We hope people see this as something unique and come to take a look.” While there won’t be workshops or panels this year, the Cross family hopes the Mini-Con can grow into a recurring event. “Unfortunately, this year there are no [workshops],” Nancy said. “We’re doing this pretty much by ourselves and with our own cash. If the event takes off, we hope to offer those types of con experiences later.” For Steven, the excitement is simple: “To see the creativity of people’s costumes and hopefully their excitement of being able to have a pop culture experience in their own backyard.” Nancy added, “I can’t wait for the kids in the community who love gaming, fandoms, fantasy, etc., to have a place to come hang out, shop around a little, and get their first comicon experience, even though it’s a little smaller than most.” 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: 01/07/2026 - 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: 01/07/2026 January 7, 2026 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Colville Flour Mill new addition, 1934. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— December weather in the Colville valley was the warmest since 1910, the average temperature for the month being 33 degrees. Marriage licenses showed a slump in 1925, compared with previous years. Miss Dorothy Dexter, county auditor, had plenty of blanks for issuing the customary number of marriage permits during 1925, but the applicants did not appear. As a result, Stevens County loses revenue which is sorely needed. “Keep those hens laying all winter!” by putting cracked corn in the rations: Colville Flour Mill. 75 Years Ago— Jack and Kenneth Clark announced this week the opening of the Commercial Electrics Company at 444 South Main. Rural mail carriers can go back to licking stamps now. To clear up a misunderstanding during the Christmas rush, post office officials pointed out this week that carriers are required to mail letters if money is placed in the box with letters, for stamps. They’d still appreciate it if patrons would buy stamps in advance. It speeds up service, especially during the rush seasons, but the rule says they must mail letters if money is put in the rural box. The rule holds only for rural carriers. City carriers don’t carry stamps. 50 Years Ago— A new $7.3 million sawmill in the Arden area was announced by Burlington Northern, Inc., this week. Burlington Northern already operates the Arden Lumber Co. mill at Arden now under its timber resource subsidiary Plum Creek Lumber Co. The Colville Employment Office received a telephone call indicating a bomb threat last week on New Year’s Eve at approximately 2 p.m. Normal precautionary measures were taken and a timely and controlled evacuation of the office took place. A 1958 ordinance prohibiting the display of merchandise, produce and other sale products on city sidewalks will now be enforced within a week. It was determined during Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Colville City Council. 25 Years Ago— The Colville Driftriders Snowmobile Club will hold their annual “Gold Rush Fun Run” this Saturday. Sign-up will be at Beaver Lodge on the little Pend Oreille Lakes chain. Judge Pamela Payne swore in new Stevens County Commissioners Tony Delgado and Malcolm Friedman at an informal ceremony last Thursday. 10 Years Ago— REPUBLIC—After initiating an assessment of addresses in Ferry County, the Ferry County Sheriff’s Office has determined that at least 15% of those addresses are incorrect. 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

Kettle Falls Girls Soccer Season Ends with Playoff Loss - 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 Kettle Falls Girls Soccer Season Ends with Playoff Loss November 12, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Kettle Falls Bulldogs' soccer season comes to a close. The Kettle Falls Bulldogs’ season came to an end Nov. 3, with a 6-0 loss to Davenport in a District 6 2B/1B opening-round, loser-out match at The Hub in Liberty Lake. The sixth-seeded Bulldogs (5-11-1, 5-8) battled throughout but couldn’t slow down the third-seeded Gorillas (15-2). Davenport scored four goals in the first half and added two insurance goals in the second. “The girls fought incredibly hard against one of the state’s best teams and made them work for their win,” said head coach Skyler Moore. “A proud moment of mine – and I hope a proud moment for parents – was the attitudes after the game. I heard nothing but praise from our girls on how we played and everyone was there to support each other. A winning culture is only possible with a good attitude and these girls have that.” Maddison House had 12 steals in the game, while Ireland Pinkler-Moody had four and Thea Cruden had two. Chloe Goodell sent two shots at Davenport while Sergio Whitney had one shot on goal. In the goal box, Audrey Morales had 19 saves. Kettle Falls wrapped up its fall campaign with five wins, showing steady improvement over the season in the competitive Northeast 2B League. “This was a special and historical season for Kettle Falls,” Moore said. “We had a lot of firsts: first win in nearly three years, first back to back wins ever and did it twice, first time earning a playoff seed and not receiving one because everyone makes it like it has been in the past. Most wins in a season… the list sort of goes on.” Moore added the end of the season is bittersweet as the Lady Bulldogs will lose four seniors. “It’s bittersweet because I know how special and pivotal this season is for the program, and one that hopefully sets the program on course for continuous success but at the same time we lose four really special players,” Moore said. “The girls worked so incredibly hard to get to this point over the last two seasons and they know they’ll have to work even harder now without those players, the league will be a little more open next year so they and I look forward to it.” 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: 07/23/2025 - 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: 07/23/2025 July 23, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Columbia Restaurant in Addy about 1914. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— Careful watching and hard fighting on the part of the patrolmen and the forest fire fighting organizations in Stevens County have kept the forest fires from destroying or doing damage to a large amount of property. Every day calls have been coming to the office of Supervisor J. Nugent in the Lane building of new fires, but the patrolmen are put on the job at once and the fires are put out before great headway has been made. Earl Broderick, driver of a truck for the Fred Draper Lumber Company, was given a fine of $25 with $10 of the fine suspended on order of the court by Justice A. L. Knapp on Monday. He was picked up by Mr. Renne, state highway officer, and charged with overloading his truck. 75 Years Ago— Kettle Falls and Northport will go after the Colville Valley Baseball Championship at the fairgrounds here Sunday. It’s against the law to fire BB guns in the city. City police warned this week that they would confiscate guns of youths found firing the guns in the city. Attempts to use Grand Coulee Dam for flood control are costing the Inland Empire logging industry thousands of dollars in lost time, in the opinion of J.M. Aston, president of the Roosevelt Log Owners Association. RICE—A new mercantile store at Rice is now assured. The buildings were destroyed by fire last January while owned by Claire Bryan. Dave Olson of Kettle Falls has purchased the former site from Bryan and is now putting in the foundation. 50 Years Ago— Although the recession had a strong impact in Stevens County in the past year, as it did everywhere else, its effect on business was less severe than in many other communities. George Cloakey, 40, of Waterville, has been named new basketball coach at Colville High School, Don Munson, superintendent of schools, announced Wednesday. Upon receiving a certificate of need from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and approval from the Washington State Hospital Commission, Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville is proceeding immediately with a $204,000 project to renovate its plumbing and heating system and to install air conditioning. 25 Years Ago— One of Colville’s most popular mayors, Helen White, was honored last Friday in downtown Colville. “Helen White Day” gave the retired mayor and local businesswomen an opportunity to be chauffeured by another popular former local mayor, Duane Scott. Greenwood Grange is ready to celebrate their 90 th anniversary. The Grange held meetings in various members’ homes or in the Meyers Falls Town Hall – what is now the Union Hall in Kettle Falls. 10 Years Ago— After several years of hope and planning, the Kettle Falls Library is expanding. A groundbreaking ceremony was held last Wednesday at the empty lot adjacent to the building on Meyers Street. Drought conditions are prompting state officials to prohibit or limit fishing on more than 30 rivers across Washington to help protect fish. Rivers included are sections of the Kettle River. 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

Bulldogs Take Down the Hornet’s Nest - 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 Bulldogs Take Down the Hornet’s Nest December 10, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Behind the steady scoring of standout Wyn Edwards, the Kettle Falls girls basketball team swatted down the Oroville Hornets to improve their record to 2-1, on Friday, Dec. 5. Edwards poured in 21 points to lead the Bulldogs to a convincing 53-25 nonleague road win at Oroville. Kettle Falls steadily pulled away each quarter, outscoring the Hornets 29-10 after halftime. Abby Ocasio added 14 points while Kelly chipped in 10 points as Kettle Falls bounced back from its first loss of the season earlier in the week. The Bulldogs’ defense clamped down on the Hornets, holding them to just one 3-pointer and six total second-half points. Kettle Falls struggled to maintain a fast start in a 49-36 loss to unbeaten Republic at home on Dec. 2. The Bulldogs led 14-8 after the first quarter, but foul trouble and a third-quarter surge from the Tigers swung momentum. Edwards kept Kettle Falls in the game with 20 points and a pair of 3-pointers, while teammate Hope Shurrum also hit two from long range. But Republic’s Ember Berndt was too much to handle inside, finishing with 22 points to push the Tigers to 2-0. The Lady Bulldogs faced Tonasket on Tuesday, Dec. 9; results were not available at press time. They are set to host Northwest Christian on Friday, Dec. 12, at 6 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

Statesman-Examiner Launches New Website - 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 Statesman-Examiner Launches New Website January 14, 2026 By: Staff Report The Statesman-Examiner launched its new website over the weekend at www.statesmanexaminer.com . Since acquiring the Statesman-Examiner, The Sun and the Deer Park Tribune less than two years ago, the focus has been on strengthening the print editions, where most readers prefer to access the newspapers, said owner and publisher Gabriel Cruden. “Now, we are expanding our scope to include strengthening our online presence,” Cruden said. The website, designed by local resident Amber King, is structured to resemble the print edition, while offering multiple access points to newspaper content, Cruden said. “We hope it is user-friendly and intuitive for visitors to find what they are looking for and to understand how to contact us through the most efficient channels,” Cruden said. “Amber did a great job taking the core concepts and building additional features on her own initiative, including an ad cost estimator and a really cool history of the newspaper page.” Cruden noted that there may be adjustments to make as the site is used and encouraged readers to share feedback. He also said that not all print content appears online. “We want to balance our role as a central hub for news and information for Stevens County and eastern Ferry County while maintaining the value of a print or digital subscription,” Cruden said. “For that reason, the website only includes a sampling of our large line-up of weekly content.” He said the website includes classifieds, legal notices, obituaries, announcements, letters to the editor, an events calendar, the Professional Service Directory, local business advertisements, selected local news and sports stories, and all breaking news, as well as fire alerts, school closures, road closures, and public safety information. Not included, according to Cruden, are some articles, select advertisements, local business inserts, and the games and comics page. Cruden also noted that advertising on the website is limited to local businesses. “There are no out-of-area ads all over the site and in your face,” Cruden said. “Like our news reporting, everything is local, as it should be.” 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

Chewelah's First Quartzite Mini-Con Draws Hundreds, Blending Creativity, Community and Rural Fandom Culture - 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's First Quartzite Mini-Con Draws Hundreds, Blending Creativity, Community and Rural Fandom Culture November 19, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Chewelah's First Min-Con sees an unexpected turnout. What started as an idea between Steven and Nancy Cross became one of Chewelah’s most successful events, as the first-ever Quartzite Mini-Con packed the Mistequa Casino Hotel on Saturday with cosplay, gaming tables, local authors, families, and fans from across the region. Attendance swelled to an estimated 500 people over the course of the day, an overwhelming response that organizers worried might draw only modest interest as Steven Cross admitted he wasn’t sure what to expect at the opening. “After not getting a lot of comments or responses from posts on social media… I wasn’t sure what the turnout would be,” he said. But once the doors opened, “People were excited about an event like this to be in our county.” He said what surprised him most was the creativity on display. “The most surprising thing was the talent and creativity of people who said they have never participated in a costume contest but there were costumes that would compete in Lilac City Comicon’s cosplay contest.” Nancy Cross said the mix of ages stood out from the start. “The biggest surprise to me, aside from a really amazing turn out, was the age span,” she said. “People brought in their babies, and their grandparents and they were all having fun.” The event welcomed attendees from Kellogg, Wallace, Post Falls, Ione, Addy, Valley, Colville and beyond, which was proof, Nancy said, of how much the region needed a space for fandoms to gather. “It was insane having people say they traveled all the way,” she said. “That really just goes to show how much these types of events are needed.” Drawing on their work as vendors at conventions around Washington, the Crosses set out to bring more than a shopping experience. Steven said their goal was simple. “People attend these events for the experience and not just to buy things,” Steven said. “They attend for a sense of a place that they feel welcomed and are allowed to express their excitement for their chosen fandoms.” Nancy echoed that vision. “One thing we will never change is that this is not simply a vendor fair. It is a themed event,” she said. “We want people to come in and be able to not only shop, but make friends, hang out, have some food and just enjoy themselves.” The event featured gaming tables, book signings, original artwork, cosplay, and themed foods – elements the couple had seen resonate at larger shows but wanted to share with a rural community. “We wanted the community to have a chance at cosplay even if it was on a smaller scale,” Nancy said. “Having authors on hand to do book signings was huge for us.” A major motivation for the Crosses was providing a space for teens and young adults who often feel disconnected in rural communities. Nancy said one interaction highlighted exactly why the event mattered. “We had a young man from Flat Creek express how grateful he was because he had nothing like this and felt this was the first time he was able to make friends and feel like he belonged,” she said. “Sometimes even the nerds need to feel celebrated and seen.” Steven agreed, noting how isolating large conventions can be for rural residents. “Some people don’t like to or can’t afford to travel very far but they want the experience of a show like this,” he said. “Hearing teens and even adults excited that this was here and that they were able to make new friends… lets me know that this has been needed in our area for a very long time.” With space running out this year, the Crosses are already brainstorming ways to grow. Nancy said she hopes to add more vendors and artists, introduce cosplay divisions for different age groups, and expand categories to separate store-bought and handmade costumes. She also hopes for author panels or Q&A sessions – something Steven is exploring as well. “We don’t have the budget to bring in panels and celebrities like the bigger shows,” Steven said. But inviting regional authors to speak, or even a “local celebrity” to host a discussion, would help elevate next year’s event while keeping it free for the public. Keeping the event accessible is a priority. “I feel the entry fee to get into some of the bigger events in the area is what keeps people away,” Steven said. “The community really appreciated that they had more money to spend with the vendors and on the awesome con merchandise that Nancy made!” For Nancy, the event’s name came from looking out a hotel window during early planning meetings, Quartzite rising against a clear sky. For Steven, the event’s purpose was on full display Saturday. “Seeing the smiling faces and people having fun made my day,” he said. “Bringing the community together… to let them know that even though we might live in a rural community… that does not mean that you can’t enjoy the wide variety of fandoms out there. We all have a little nerd in us.” 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