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Mary Thompson Covey | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Mary Thompson Covey 84 Nov 23, 1940 - Aug 24, 2025 Mary Thompson Covey, born Nov. 23, 1940, in Homedale Idaho, passed away peacefully on Aug. 24, 2025, at Mt. Carmel Hospital in Colville, Wash. Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bill Covey, as well as four sisters and five brothers. She is survived by her sister Sharon Cox, six stepdaughters, 22 grandchildren, and a plethora of great and great-great grandchildren. She also leaves behind an innumerable number of nieces and nephews, extended family members, friends, and acquaintances who were all touched by her wit, kindness, and love. Mary will be forever remembered for her steadfast faith, boundless generosity, and her joyful gift of music—singing while playing her guitar and banjo. She was known for her unforgettable driving adventures (all the kids wanted to ride with her!), her wonderful sense of humor, and her role as the family “switchboard operator,” always staying connected and sharing news with those she loved. Above all, Mary’s ability to accept others and make them feel valued will remain her enduring legacy. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 12:30 p.m. at the Colville Ag Center, 317 W. Astor Ave., in Colville. Her life was a song of faith, laughter, and love – one that will continue to echo in the hearts of all who knew her. Previous Item Next Item

JoAnna Thompson | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. JoAnna Thompson 94 Apr 29, 1931 - Oct 27, 2025 JoAnna passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on Oct. 27, 2025 in Moses Lake, Wash. She was born on April 29, 1931 in Nampa, Idaho to Earl and Elda Arzt, though everyone remembers her loving stepfather Orval Lyle as her dad. She married Clinton (Bud) Thompson on Nov. 12, 1949, in Colville, Wash. They moved to Odessa, Wash., in 1953 and became part owners of Empire Electric with Bud as an electrician and JoAnna the bookkeeper. She also kept busy being a homemaker, florist, caterer, and decorator extraordinaire. JoAnna was a member of the Heritage Church and their women's group, helping with countless church dinners, receptions, and funerals. JoAnna was preceded in death by her husband, Bud, in 2010. She is survived by her three children: Vickey (Wes) Melcher of Moses Lake, Wash., Kristey (Rob) Shimek of Salem, Ore., and Randey (Jeri) Thompson of Spokane Valley, Wash. She has six grandchildren: Jayson (Stephanie) Melcher, Jesyka (Kyle) McCain, Amanda (Dave) Arthurs, Angela (Justin) Martinez, Chris (Ashley) Wilkinson, and Nick Wilkinson, and 12 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Glenda Pittman of Colville, Wash., brother-in-law Travis (Sharon) Thompson of Spokane, Wash., and numerous nieces and nephews. JoAnna's funeral service will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 11 a.m. at the Heritage Church, 302 South First Street, Odessa, Wash., with Pastor Josh McLachlan officiating. Interment will be Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m. at Mountain View Cemetery, Colville, Wash., with Strate Funeral Home, Davenport, Wash., caring for the family. In memory of JoAnna please honor her by making a contribution to the Heritage Church Elevator Fund. Thank you in advance. Previous Item Next Item

Charlotte Emogene Dahlen | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Charlotte Emogene Dahlen 100 - Jul 5, 2025 Charlotte Emogene Dahlen passed away on July 5, 2025, in Poulsbo, Washington at the age of 100. She was born in Duncan, Arizona, to Fred and Tille Oberholser. She grew up in Arizona, San Diego, California, and Oahu, Hawaii. Later, her father's work relocated the family to Sacramento, California, where she attended junior college. While she was traveling for work, she met and married Arne Dahlen in Spokane, Washington. Together they moved to Fair Oaks, California and began their family. Arne's work moved the family to the Azores, Portugal, and this gave them the opportunity to travel to Norway, Denmark, Germany, France and Spain. Upon Arne's retirement, they settled in Colville Washington. Many years later, they moved to Poulsbo, Washington with their little poodle "Charley," to be near their daughter and son-in-law. Charlotte was an accomplished artist, and she lived her life as a beautiful painting. Her talent as a watercolorist and oil painter was widely recognized, earning her numerous awards. Despite these accolades, she remained humble and focused on improving her craft, drawing inspiration from masters like Rembrandt and John Singer Sargent. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Charlotte was an avid and competitive golfer, a voracious reader, and a cherished member of many organizations while residing in Colville. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran church, the Spokane Watercolor Association, Northern Sky Art, Colville Library book club, and a volunteer for Colville Family Support. Charlotte's early career began as a supervisor for West Coast Whelan Photography Studios in California. In later years, she was employed as the district court clerk for Stevens County, Washington, and she later managed Happy's Hallmark store in Colville. Charlotte's life was one of love and laughter, filled with family and friends who adored her. Charlotte loved her family's description of her life, "She never followed the recipe!" She enjoyed entertaining her friends and family by hosting fabulous dinner parties, often challenging herself to prepare one of Julia Child's recipes. Several years ago, Charlotte began jotting down these few sentences for her obituary: "And now the end is near, it's the final curtain. I've lived a life that was full. I traveled each and every highway. Regrets I've had a few, but too few to mention." (My Way, Frank Sinatra) She also loved the lyrics from one of Peggy Lee's songs, "Is that all there is? Then let's keep dancing!" Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband Arne, her youngest son Stephen, and her siblings, Leland, Joe, and Joyce. She is survived by her son, Maury and his wife Diane, Coeur D' Elene, ID, her daughter Jayme and her husband Michael, and her grandson Adrian in Poulsbo. No memorial service is planned, at her request. https://lewischapel.com/obituaries/charlotte-dahlen Previous Item Next Item

McMillin Crosses 1,000-Point Milestone as Chewelah Downs Colville - 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 McMillin Crosses 1,000-Point Milestone as Chewelah Downs Colville January 7, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen Chewelah's Ryan McMillin (center) celebrates his 1000th point with mother Cami and father Mike McMillin. Photo by Derek Dobell. The Chewelah boys basketball team closed out the holiday break with a strong bounce-back performance, rolling past the 1A Colville Crimson Hawks 75-48 in a nonleague matchup Saturday, Jan. 3, at home. Chewelah leapt to a 27-11 first-quarter lead and never let Colville recover. The Cougars continued to control the tempo throughout the game, outscoring the Crimson Hawks in three of the four quarters to improve to 7-4 overall on the season. Ryan McMillin and Grady Skok led a balanced Chewelah attack, scoring 14 points apiece. Asher Stancil added 12 points, while Franky Sety chipped in 11. The Cougars finished with 27 made field goals and went 17-for-25 from the free-throw line, using steady offense and defensive pressure to build a 44-23 halftime advantage. Colville was paced by Brock Benson with 12 points. The Crimson Hawks hit five 3-pointers. The win came on the heels of a 73-63 loss to the Tonasket Tigers on Dec. 30, also at Chewelah. In that contest, the Cougars stayed competitive but were ultimately undone by a torrid shooting night from Tonasket’s Tanner Tompkins. Tompkins poured in 35 points, knocking down six 3-pointers, while Isaiah Spangler added 25 points as the Tigers connected on 10 shots from beyond the arc. Tonasket led 37-34 at halftime and maintained control down the stretch. McMillin led Chewelah with 22 points in the loss, while Stancil added 20. Chewelah is now 6-4 on the year. Chewelah faced Davenport on Tuesday, Jan. 6; results were not available at press time. The team is scheduled to host Kettle Falls on Friday, Jan. 9, at 7:30 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

Northport Boys Basketball Finishes as NE 1B North Champions - 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 Northport Boys Basketball Finishes as NE 1B North Champions January 28, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen Northport's Pete Beardslee celebrates crossing the 2,000-point career mark for the Mustangs against Selkirk on Jan. 20. Photo by Sally Smith. The Northport boys basketball team finished as the NE 1B North regular season champions after a strong run through league play last week, picking up three convincing victories to fend off Republic in the league standings. The Mustangs kicked off the week with an 80-70 win over the visiting Selkirk Rangers on Jan. 20. Northport took their abilities on the road with an 8465 win over the Inchelium Hornets in a marquee league matchup on Friday, Jan. 23. The Mustangs jumped out early, leading 43-23 at halftime, and never relinquished control despite a high-scoring effort from Inchelium. Pete Beardslee delivered a dominant performance for Northport, pouring in 37 points on 11 made field goals and an 11-for-13 showing at the free-throw line. The Mustangs knocked down 10 3-pointers as a team, with Tommy Young hitting four and Cameron Mawdsley adding two 3-pointers. Mawdsley finished with 16 points, while Young chipped in 14 points. Inchelium was led by Derek Perez, who scored 38 points and connected on eight 3-pointers, accounting for more than half of the Hornets’ offense. Northport kept up their winning streak with a dominant 74-34 road win on Saturday, Jan. 24, over the Nespelem Warriors. With the trio of victories, the Northport Mustangs improved to 15-5 overall and 11-1 in league play with the postseason up next. 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: 10/15/2025 - 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: 10/15/2025 October 15, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Cover of the "Our Ladies of the Valley" book. Courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— Bank burglars at some time during the night of Oct. 2-3 entered the Guaranty State Bank at Marcus, broke open both doors of the vault, rifled a dozen or more safe deposit boxes, and escaped with $174 in coins. The damage caused by them amounted to more than the value of their loot. Colville’s first newspaper office was moved last Sunday. The little frame building, which in 1883 was erected on the corner, now occupied by Frank B. Goetter’s drug store, was in 1894 moved to the east end of the lot and stood there until Sunday, when it was hauled away on skids by Jack Miller. In its original location, it housed the Stevens County Miner , Colville’s first newspaper, established in 1885 by John B. Slater. 75 Years Ago— ARDEN—The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company recently installed a pay phone at the Arden Store. One of Stevens County’s first born, Captain George F. Melville, 83, passed away in Tacoma on Sept. 2. He was born in 1867 at Old Fort Colville. Capt. Melville had engaged in steam boating for 45 years, returning in 1935 from his post with Black Ball. Verna Steele, Fruitland 4-H Club member, brought state championship honors to Stevens County this week when she was judged the best in the state in the home economics demonstration contest at the Yakima State Fair. 50 Years Ago— The Stevens County Historical Society re-elected its present officers at the annual meeting held Oct. 15, at the United Methodist Church. Officers elected were: Jim McMillan, president; Les Young, vice-president; Ida Dubois, secretary; Marian Garvey, treasurer; and Edith Lesser, board member. This year the Dominican Sisters of Spokane, formerly located at Kettle Falls, celebrated their 50 th anniversary of coming to the northwest in 1925. On Oct. 18, the sisters from Spokane, Colville, and Chewelah traveled to the former Convent of Our Lady of the Valley, now a youth ranch, to celebrate their 50 th Jubilee. 25 Years Ago— Local efforts to develop a plan for future water use in the Kettle River area received a $50,000 boost last week from Sen. Bob Morton, (R) Kettle Falls, and the State Department of Ecology. On Oct. 9, Morton presented the Ferry County Commissioners with a check from Ecology to begin the process of watershed planning in the Kettle River watershed. Next week is Homecoming Week at Colville High School. One of the week-long activities will be the annual open house for parents and students. This will be an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers, receive information on classes, and meet support staff. 10 Years Ago— CHEWELAH—Major plans will be unveiled by the 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort and Alpine Development Group at an open house Thursday at the Chewelah Civic Center. Resort officials will present plans and provide updates on the progress of the popular ski and snowboard resort’s new multi-year development. Kettle Falls resident Ray Stoddard recently traveled to Washington, D.C., with 89 other veterans as a part of Honor Flight. Ray served during the Korean War and was stationed in Alaska as a radio intercept operator. 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

Colville Boys Repeat as League Cross Country Champions - 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 Boys Repeat as League Cross Country Champions October 29, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Colville boys celebrate their win. From left to right are Layden Moore, Isaac Ballance, Isaiah Ortiz, Malik Ortiz, Jerrin Patrick, Connor Schneider, and Daniel Aguilar. Photo courtesy Dean Fischer. The Crimson Hawks are champions again. For the second straight year, the Colville boys cross country team claimed the Northeast A League championship, using a dominant front pack led by brothers Malik and Isaiah Ortiz to edge Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) and Medical Lake in a tight, three-way battle for the crown on Saturday, Oct. 25, in the West Plains. The Crimson Hawks finished with 35 points, topping Lakeside’s 47 and Medical Lake’s 51. Riverside took fourth with 92 points. Junior Malik Ortiz cruised to the individual league title, blazing through the 5,000-meter course in 16 minutes, 10 seconds, well ahead of the field. His older brother, senior Isaiah Ortiz, followed in second at 17:16, setting the tone early for Colville’s repeat performance. Behind the Ortiz brothers, Connor Schneider (seventh, 17:51) and Jerrin Patrick (eighth, 17:59) packed tightly to keep Colville near the front. Junior Daniel Aguilar rounded out the scoring five in 17 th place with a personal best of 18:47, while Isaac Ballance (19 th , 18:55) and Layden Moore (23 rd , 19:13) provided valuable depth for the Crimson Hawks. The victory marks Colville’s second consecutive league title. On the girls’ side, senior Zaidence Zier continued her stellar season by placing second overall in 20:25, just behind Medical Lake’s Kaylee Dennler (20:13). Zier’s strong performance helped lead a young Colville girls squad that placed fourth overall with 91 points. Freshman Paxton Jones impressed with a 20 th -place finish (23:35), while Madelyn Andres (21 st , 23:56) and Gracee Suiter (22 nd , 24:00) showed promise for the program’s future. Amaryllis Nokes (26 th , 27:09) and McKenzie Mitchell (27 th , 27:12) rounded out the lineup for the Crimson Hawks. Lakeside captured the girls team title with 28 points, followed by Medical Lake (41) and Riverside (71). Both Colville squads will now turn their attention to the upcoming district meet at Apple Ridge on Saturday, Nov. 1. 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

Warren VIII Leads Chewelah Boys Cross Country to State Runner-Up Finish - 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 Warren VIII Leads Chewelah Boys Cross Country to State Runner-Up Finish November 12, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Chewelah's boys cross country team completes season. Chewelah’s boys cross country team completed one of their finest seasons in school history with a second-place team finish at the WIAA 1B/2B State Championships on Nov. 8, at Sun Willows Golf Course. Led by senior Emmitt Warren VIII, who clocked 15 minutes, 59.3 seconds to take second place overall, the Cougars tallied 77 points – finishing just behind powerhouse Freeman (61) in the 16-team field. Warren, known for his smooth stride and front-running style, stayed within striking distance of Cle Elum-Roslyn’s Waylon Stoneburg-Schafer through the first two miles before the sophomore pulled away to win in 15:40.8. Warren crossed the line 19 seconds later, securing his second straight top-five finish at state. Behind him, sophomore Justice Whittekiend placed seventh overall in 16:56.6, continuing his breakout season as one of the top underclassmen on the team. Junior Blake Schlining followed in 14th (17:20.7), and junior Francis Sety added a key 24th-place finish (17:36.9). Sophomore Kyle Foster rounded out Chewelah’s scoring five, finishing 31st in 17:55.5, while juniors Titan Tapia (59th, 18:51.0) and Jayden Miller (60th, 18:52.7) provided additional depth. Freeman’s pack-running style edged out the Cougars for the team title, but Chewelah’s consistency and youth signal even brighter days ahead – four of their top seven runners will return next fall. Kettle Falls sophomore Mason Reeves posted a solid race in his second state appearance, placing 54th overall in 18:30.4 among 143 runners. Reeves ran aggressively through the middle mile to stay in the top half of the field and led the Bulldogs’ effort at Sun Willows. 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

Len R. Smith | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Len R. Smith 88 Jan 2, 1937 - Aug 11, 2025 Len R Smith born Jan. 2, 1937 in Spokane, and died Aug. 11 2025 in Fruitland. Survived by wife Gay Smith, two sons, Kenny Smith and Russell Smith, 11 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, two brothers, Lee Smith and Jerry Smith, and numerous nieces and nephews. Previous Item Next Item

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

Perennial Wisdom - 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 Perennial Wisdom November 12, 2025 By: Christine Gile, WSU Extension Master Gardener, Stevens County When You Have 99 Problems But a Pot Ain't One How to Clean and Store Pots and Tools for the Winter. Cutline: Garden pots should be cleaned annually. Photo by Christine Gile. It is important to clean and protect gardening pots, containers, and tools when they are not in-use. Improperly stored pots may crack or break when exposed to winter’s freeze and thaw cycles, and dirty garden containers and equipment may transfer pests and diseases to other plants. Here are autumn tips on how to clean and store garden supplies for the winter so you can keep calm and pot on when spring comes around. The primary method to clean pots and tools is to use bleach. Clean all the debris off the tool or container using warm, soapy water, and a brush or rag. Make enough of a bleach solution, using one part bleach and nine parts water, to immerse part or all of an item, preferably for at least 10 minutes. Once all of the item has been in the bleach water, rinse it with water and fully dry it before storing. Pots should be dried in an upside-down position. Some may want another option as bleach is not recommended for tools that require a sharp edge because it may corrode it. Alternative methods include steam or dry heat (180-200°F for 30 minutes under a cover to contain the heat), rubbing alcohol (70% or higher, dip or swab and then let dry without rinsing), or hydrogen peroxide (dip, spray, or brush on or soak). All plant containers could have an extended life if placed in storage or under protective covering rather than outside. Unglazed clay or concrete pots should be stashed in a protected, dry area that stays above freezing. Place lighter pots inside heavier ones, using dividers made of foam or cardboard to prevent them from getting stuck or breaking one of the pots. Plastic pots should be stored upside down in an enclosed area or covered with a tarp outside to protect them from the elements and direct sunlight. Grow bags should not be exposed to sun or moisture during storage, and should be hung out of reach from pests. Remaining containers of fertilizer and potting soil should be stored in airtight containers or tightly sealed to keep them dry. Tools should be stored in a dry location. You can oil your tools to prevent them from rusting using plant safe oil. The WSU Extension Master Gardener Program trains volunteers to be effective community educators in gardening and environmental stewardship. Master Gardeners provide information generated from research at WSU and other university systems. Christine Gile, a biologist who lives in Loon Lake, is a current Master Gardener. 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