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Kettle Falls Wrestling Downs 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 Kettle Falls Wrestling Downs Chewelah January 28, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen Kettle Falls wrestling team picked up a victory over Chewelah on Wednesday night and against Newport last week (when this photo was taken) in NE2B dual action. Kettle Falls Athletics photo. The Kettle Falls wrestling team picked up a decisive NE2B league victory Wednesday, Jan. 21, rolling past Chewelah 66-14 in a dual between Stevens County teams. Kettle Falls won 11 of the 14 contested weights, building an early lead through a string of forfeits before adding bonus-point victories in the middle and upper weights to seal the win. The Bulldogs opened the dual with forfeits at 106, 113, 120, 126, and 132 pounds, jumping out to a commanding advantage. Chewelah got on the board at 138 pounds when Brody King secured a fall over Braden VanPelt at the 3:15 mark, but Kettle Falls responded immediately. Nathan Thurman pinned Blaine Gibson-Gothmann in 1:55 at 144 pounds, followed by another forfeit win at 150 pounds. Chewelah earned its remaining points at 157 and 165 pounds, where Titan Tapia claimed a 12-8 decision over Ezekiel Evans and Dakota Katzer delivered a technical fall over Landon Tryon. From there, Kettle Falls closed strong. Kincaid Freer (175 pounds), Aiden Fowler (190 pounds), and Hunter Smith-Rowe (215 pounds) all won by forfeit before Zhaine Herrera capped the night with a quick pin over Wyatt Gould just 45 seconds into the heavyweight bout. 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: 09/24/2025 - 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: 09/24/2025 September 24, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Tykie Cox and Skinny Painter opened the Burger-In 1950, a popular hangout for local teens. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— The number of students enrolled in high schools this year greatly exceeds that of last year. There are 274 students in high school and 109 in junior high. The student whose grade comes in the lowest 10% of his class will have the pleasure of meditating on his sins during the eighth period for the next six weeks. In the post office window has been displayed an interesting replica of the days of Fort Colville on Mill Creek. A barber chair in use at the fort has miraculously been preserved; its appearance marks the contrast between pioneer and present days. The chair is nothing but a rough board altar on which the tonsorial victim was seated until his hair could be sheared. For some reason or other, it was painted green and brown. 75 Years Ago— Governor Arthur Langlie opened the Saturday afternoon program at the Colville fair. Gov. Langlie lauded exhibitors and fair officials for the type of show presented. Two Colville businesses plan opening events in Colville Saturday. Scamahorn’s Studios will hold an open house all day Saturday, in a new studio in the Vinson building. Tykie Cox and Skinny Painter will welcome patrons at Burger-In, north of the city beginning at 10:30 a.m. Colville’s 1950 Northern Washington district fair was termed “the best in history” by exhibitors, spectators, and fair officials alike as the show closed Sunday. George Hofstetter, who can lay claim to being the oldest white child born in Stevens County, celebrated his 80 th birthday on Thursday of this week. Hofstetter is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hofstetter, and was born in Pinckney City, three miles northeast of Colville. Pinckney City was located across Mill Creek from the Fort Colville garrison. 50 Years Ago— The city of Colville received approval Sept. 17, of its proposed relocation site for the Colville Municipal Airport. The Stevens County CowBelles met Wednesday at the Fort Colville Grange. Officers for the coming year were elected as follows: president, Jean Urhausen; vice-president, Sara Lilienthal; secretary, Evelyn Bolt; and treasurer, Phyllis Fuhrman. 25 Years Ago— One of the major stories to come out of last Tuesday’s primary election in Stevens County was the number of registered voters opting to vote absentee. Four years ago, there were only about 1,500 registered absentee voters in Stevens County. This year, about 5,300 ballots were mailed to voters. The Goodwill Industries Store at 168 N. Main in Colville, sustained an undetermined amount of damage as a result of a fire in the building Saturday. 10 Years Ago— As of last Thursday, 12 deer were confirmed dead in Colville from an insect-borne, viral disease called bluetongue, which has been exacerbated by the statewide drought. CHEWELAH—The Chewelah Performing and Cultural Arts Center Board has adopted the title of “Chewelah Center for the Arts” as the name of the new facility located in the old city shop building on 3 rd St. E. in Chewelah. 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

Honoring the Past: Mural Highlights Cultural Legacy - 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 Honoring the Past: Mural Highlights Cultural Legacy July 30, 2025 By: Emma Lee Conyer Jami Rose Lord and her husband, Josh Lord, at the beginning stages of the mural creation. Photo courtesy Jami Lord Rose Paints and Creates, Facebook page. The Stevens County Historical Society will be unveiling the museum’s new mural on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 12:30 p.m.. The mural, painted by local artist Jami Rose Lord, is based off of an original photograph of the Columbia River’s Kettle Falls from nearly 100 years ago. Stevens County Historical Society member Richard Willner stated that his aunt, May Richardson Brittain, had said that the original photograph was taken around 1929 by a local woman named Alma Richardson. According to Don Birch, another member of the Stevens County Historical Society, the photograph was taken to the Statesman-Examiner in the early 1970s for publication. The photograph was later enlarged and hung in the publisher’s office until the newspaper was sold, and was then donated to the museum, according to Birch. The photograph now hangs in the museum entrance, and is still used to commence the society’s presentations; Birch said that, although there are several photographs of the falls located in the museum, attention remains focused on this one in particular. The photograph of the falls “connects us to the past,” stated Birch. According to Stevens County Historical Society members, Kettle Falls was a gathering place for over 10,000 years, with indigenous tribes coming from near and far to meet there. In more recent times, this holds true. Birch said that the only time the Falls has been entirely visible since Grand Coulee Dam was built (completed in 1942) was in 1974, when the third generating plant was installed at Grand Coulee Dam; thousands of visitors came to see the Falls following this event. Birch added that the Vinson Fund helped to fund the mural. JLord was chosen as the artist by the Stevens County Historical Society after they saw her work and completed an interview, according to Historical Society members. Lord said she gave herself two months to complete the mural from start to finish. According to Lord, much of the process went into ensuring that the mural was as accurate as possible, stating that, not only is the location of the original photograph no longer visible due to the dam, but the original photograph is in black and white and the mural is in full color. Lord said, “As an artist, it is an honor to be awarded a Vinson Fund and it is a great joy to be a part of Stevens County history in the making.” Because of the large amount of local history behind the mural, Lord said she finds the process and the mural important to her. She worked on the mural at her parents’ barn in Northport with the help of her husband, Josh. They installed nine panels, totalling 12 x 24 square feet on a wall they built for the project. After the mural is completed, they will bring it to the Stevens County Historical Society to be installed and displayed. Admission to the museum will be free the day of the unveiling, according to Birch, and there will be refreshments available. For more information, call the Stevens County Historical Society at 509-684-5968. 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: 11/12/2025 - 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: 11/12/2025 November 12, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Society Out of the Past, 11/12/2025. 100 Years Ago— Teachers Institute will be held in Colville Nov. 23-25. Owing to the fact that the hotels will not be able to accommodate all teachers, it will be necessary that some private homes be opened for the comfort of teachers. All those who have rooms that can be let during this period for the teachers should notify the Hotel Lee. The Colville Monument Works is erecting a factory and workshop on North Main Street, just north of the Colville Service Station. The Colville High School football team defeated Chewelah on the Colville grounds, Armistice Day, by a score of 22-0. Coming events: Nov. 19, anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg’s Address. 75 Years Ago— Earle B. Gibbs, co-partner of the Bonanza Lead Mine, confirmed rumors Wednesday that he and his partner, Ira M. Hunley, had received an offer from the Anaconda Copper Mine (ACM). The amount will be over $2,000,000 and, along with the mine, the mill at Palmer’s Siding and the recently purchased, 400-acre Bronson ranch three miles north of Colville, is being considered by ACM. Mrs. Pearl Wanamaker, state superintendent of schools, will officially dedicate the new Kettle Falls grade school at ceremonies at Kettle Falls, Dec. 15. 50 Years Ago— The David Thompson School was sold Tuesday night during the regular meeting of the Colville School board by a unanimous vote. A bid of $63,000 was accepted from the First Baptist Church in Colville, with $2,000 earnest money given to the district upon their acceptance, with another $7,000 paid at the time of closing. “I can’t believe it,” said Mel Tonasket after tribal members of the National Congress of American Indians chose him by acclamation to serve his second term as their president. Tonasket, a Colville Indian from eastern Washington, said the only thing he plans to do differently this two-year term is work to get a strong lobby for Indians in Washington, D.C. 25 Years Ago— Colville mayor Bob Anderson and two city council members met on Nov. 2, with representatives of both the Colville Public Library and the Stevens County Rural Library District to discuss the possibility of a joint venture between the libraries. The Northport Community Health Center hosted its grand opening in the new building last Friday, the culmination of years of effort. The Colville Benchwarmers are hosting their annual Turkey Bingo again on Nov. 17, in the Colville High School cafeteria. The evening is comprised of “fun, food and turkeys, turkeys, turkeys,” said a spokesperson. 10 Years Ago— The damage from the recent wildfires in northeast Washington has been dramatic and vast. This photo above, taken by Colville freelance photographer Joanie Christian, shows fire damage on Boulder Mountain. The Kettle Complex of fires burned more than 76,000 acres in the Kettle Crest region. The largest of that complex of fires was the Stickpin fire at more than 50,000 acres. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 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: 10/22/2025 - 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: 10/22/2025 October 22, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Chewelah smashes pumpkin record. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— The Colville Parent-Teacher Association, by unanimous vote at its regular meeting Tuesday night, placed itself on record as in favor of a new high school building for Colville. The Colville High School football team has been making a record this fall. The team held the strong North Central 11 to a scoreless tie, then defeated Hillyard 28-2, and last week cleaned up the Newport team by a score of 68-6. The federal farm census for 1925 in Stevens County shows a total of 540,055 acres in farms, comprising 2,643 farms, a decrease of 84 since 1920. There are 300,000 acres in pasture lands and 208,000 woodlands. 75 Years Ago— Seventeen of Stevens County’s top talented young people will compete for $240 in prizes tonight in the final Civic League Talent Show in the city hall. The annual event, which was a complete sell-out last year, will start at 8 p.m. Steff members from radio station KXLY in Spokane will conduct the program this year. Expected to get into operation in October is the new mill of the Pend Oreille Mines and Metals Company just north of Metaline Falls. This is one of the several large operations going on in the Metaline district. KETTLE FALLS—A new 40x40 ft. burner, said to be the largest in Stevens County, has been installed at the Avey Brothers sawmill in Kettle Falls. 50 Years Ago— The county census board says they are nearing completion of the new official Stevens County population figure with only a few areas remaining to be counted. A spokesman for the board projected the county would go over the 19,000 mark and possibly over 20,000. Tammy Stewart was crowned Colville High School Carnival Queen during ceremonies last Friday night. Her court included Sherry Busher, Cherisse Bastian and Tammy Anderson. 25 Years Ago— Something for everybody could be the theme of this year’s Colville Moonlight Madness Sale, sponsored by the Main Street Promotions Committee. The annual sale will be Friday, Oct. 27. Many activities have been added to this year’s event. Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge is open for all state of Washington big game hunting seasons beginning Oct. 1, and extending through Dec. 31. This includes the popular modern firearm deer seasons. The Colville Tribal Enterprise Corporation has announced that Barney’s Junction Restaurant, located at the junction of Highway 395 and SR-20, will close Oct. 28, for the season due to current weak market conditions. 10 Years Ago— CHEWELAH—The town of Chewelah pulled off what a lot of people didn’t think was possible – establishing a new benchmark for the most lit Jack-O-Lanterns in one location. At last count, 1,951 of the glowing pumpkins were assembled at Chewelah City Park last weekend for the assault on the Guinness World Record for such attempts. Tom Bristol, president of the Chewelah Arts Guild, said Chewelah was able to prevail against a California community of 200,000 that was attempting to set the same record. At last count, Chewelah had significantly fewer residents than Irvine, Calif., who were able to assemble 1,510 glowing pumpkins for their part in the Guinness record attempt. 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

Ortiz Leads Colville to Eighth-Place Finish at 1A State Meet - 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 Ortiz Leads Colville to Eighth-Place Finish at 1A State Meet November 12, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Colville's Malik Ortiz continues to stand out at the WIAA 1A State Cross Country Championships. Colville junior Malik Ortiz continued his standout season Nov. 8, at the WIAA 1A State Cross Country Championships, racing to a fourth-place finish against the state’s top small-school runners at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. Ortiz covered the 5,000-meter course in 15 minutes, 45.6 seconds, staying stride-for-stride with the front pack that included eventual champion Oliver Zimmerman of Cedar Park Christian (Bothell), who won in 15:22.9. Ortiz’s effort helped propel the Colville Crimson Hawks to an eighth-place team finish overall in the 16-team field. Colville finished with 215 team points, tying Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) for seventh and just behind perennial powers such as Cedar Park Christian, Meridian, and King’s. Behind Ortiz, senior Isaiah Ortiz placed 31st in 17:01.2, giving the Hawks two runners in the top third of the 155-runner field. Senior Connor Schneider was next across the line for Colville, clocking 17:43.7 for 44th place, followed by junior Jerrin Patrick in 61st (18:13.2). Juniors Isaac Ballance (83rd, 18:45.0) and Daniel Aguilar (84th, 18:45.4) rounded out the scoring five, while Layden Moore finished 89th in 18:55.8, adding depth for a team that once again proved it belongs among the state’s best. 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 Maintains Perfect League Score - 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 Maintains Perfect League Score December 24, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Trae Smith lays the ball up for the Mustangs during road action against Curlew. Photo by Fiona Laughton. Northport boys lose three in league play. Northport girls come up short against league foes in tough week. The Northport boys basketball team continued its strong start to Northeast 1B North play last week, picking up three convincing wins to improve to 7-2 overall and a perfect 5-0 in league action. Northport capped the stretch Saturday, Dec. 20, with an 83-63 home win over Republic. The Mustangs’ offense was simply too much for the Tigers, who entered the game near the top of the league standings. Northport had scored even more points on Dec. 19, as the team dominated on the road with a 92-48 victory over Curlew. The Mustangs took control early and blew the game open with a 35-point second quarter. Pete Beardslee led Northport with 30 points, while the Mustangs connected on 12 3-pointers as a team. Cameron Mawdsley added 22 points, Tommy Young scored 16, and Trae Smith chipped in 11 as Northport’s offense overwhelmed the Cougars. The winning streak began earlier in the week with a 79-60 home victory over Inchelium on Dec. 16. With three wins in four days, Northport has established itself as one of the teams to beat in the Northeast 1B North. Its offense is also lighting up the scoreboard , averaging 75 points per game. The team is scheduled to travel to Colville on Dec. 29 for a game at 10:30 a.m. The Northport girls basketball team had a different experience last week, dropping three games – their first setbacks of the season. While facing some of the top teams in the NE 1B North, the losses dropped the Lady Mustangs to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in league action. Northport nearly pulled off an upset at home on Dec. 20, but fell 30-26 to undefeated Republic. The Mustangs held the Tigers scoreless for stretches and stayed within striking distance throughout the defensive battle, but Republic did just enough to remain unbeaten. Ember Berndt scored 12 points to lead Republic, while Northport was paced by Liesel Stark, who finished with 14 points. One night earlier, Northport dropped a 49-41 road decision to Curlew. The Mustangs rallied in the second half, outscoring the Cougars 29-28 after halftime, but were unable to overcome a slow start. Annika Baker led Curlew with 24 points, while Kate Beardslee scored 13 to lead Northport. The week began with a 57-37 home loss to Inchelium on Dec. 16. The Hornets were led by Marianna Agapith, who scored 35 points and hit six 3-pointers to fuel the win. Beardslee again led Northport with nine points. The Lady Mustangs are scheduled to travel to Riverside on Dec. 29 for a game at noon. 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

Wellpinit Basketball Heating Up with Multiple Wins - 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 Wellpinit Basketball Heating Up with Multiple Wins December 24, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Wellpinit boys basketball builds momentum with three straight wins. Wellpinit girls earn first win of season with decisive victory over Odessa. The Wellpinit boys basketball team is heating up just before the holiday break, rolling to three consecutive victories to improve to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Northeast 1B South play. The streak was capped Friday, Dec. 19, with a dominant 63-31 home win over Odessa. Wellpinit set the tone early, jumping out to a 17-5 first-quarter lead and never letting up. The Redskins continued to extend the margin, outscoring Odessa 14-7 in the second quarter to take a 31-12 halftime advantage. The surge began earlier in the week with a hard-fought 75-72 road victory at Valley Christian on Dec. 17. In a tight, back-and-forth contest, Wellpinit edged the Crusaders by three points to pick up a key league win and move above .500 on the season. One night earlier, Wellpinit opened the streak with a 50-44 home win over Oakesdale on Dec. 16. The victory came against an Oakesdale team that entered the game unbeaten in league play, giving the Redskins an early confidence boost. With three wins in four days, Wellpinit heads into the break with some momentum. The Wellpinit girls basketball team broke into the win column Friday, Dec. 19, with a convincing 63-31 Northeast 1B South victory over Odessa, earning its first win of the 2025-26 season. Playing at home, Wellpinit controlled the game from the opening tip and pulled away for a 32-point win to improve to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in league play. Odessa fell to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Northeast 1B South. The win snapped a five-game skid for Wellpinit, who had faced a challenging early-season schedule. Earlier in the week, Wellpinit dropped a 66-45 road decision to Valley Christian on Dec. 17. The Crusaders, who entered the game near the top of the league standings, used a strong all-around effort to hand Wellpinit its fifth straight loss to open the season. Wellpinit also fell at home on Dec. 16, to unbeaten Oakesdale, 62-19, in a nonleague matchup. Laylah Lonebear McCrea led Wellpinit with seven points a piece. Both teams played White Swan on Tuesday, Dec. 23; game results were not available at press time. 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

Barman’s Building Begins New Chapter - 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 Barman’s Building Begins New Chapter August 20, 2025 By: Meredith Carroll Barman’s owners Scott Aslakson (left) and Andrew Ross in front of the store. Photo provided by Meredith Carroll. After sitting vacant since 2017, the Barman’s building is about to reopen as Barman’s Gift and Home. Barman’s was originally established in 1887 by David Barman as a department store 115 years ago. Scott Aslakson and Andrew Ross, owners of the Alpine Theater and Auto Vue Drive-In, purchased the building in 2021. “We plan on opening in early to mid-September,” said Aslakson. “We will be selling gifts and home merchandise. There will be seasonal items, women’s accessories such as bags, scarves, and bath and body. Home décor will include linens, candles, and dishes. We will also have a kids’ section. And gourmet foods plus homemade fudge like in the previous department store. In our displays, we’ll have truffles and chocolate bars. I made sure that the merchandise we’re carrying is not stuff that can be carried in other stores in town. That wouldn’t be fair to other businesses.” He added, “We plan on keeping the big piano, and we’ll have someone come in on Fridays and weekends to play live music.” “We have good things planned for the fall and the holidays,” said Ross. “The Christmas parade used to be the Barman’s Parade. We don’t have a lot of details on that. It was decades ago. But we’re going to start that tradition up again.” Ross continued, “The Barman’s Holiday Parade will take place in partnership with Colville Together. The parade will end with Santa Claus coming on a firetruck from the North Pole. He will walk to the Colville Christmas Tree, light it, and then Santa will come inside Barman’s and pose for Christmas pictures with our old, antique sleigh.” “We’re also hoping for an announcer and small stage for the parade,” said Aslakson. “We will have a huge Christmas selection, including a gift wrapping counter. Our display window will have the Christmas sleigh, the nutcrackers, trees, and 72-inch wreaths.” “The City of Colville is on board with the Christmas event, but it hasn’t been approved as yet,” said Ross. “We’re still working on the finer details for crowd control and the contest.” Ross, a Colville native, serves on the airport board and the parking commission for the City of Colville. He met Aslakson in Redmond, and they have been together for more than nine years. Aslakson, who hails from Puyallup, works as a retail merchandiser and as a real estate broker, while Ross maintains his Seattle-based tech company. Together, they run the movie theater, the drive-in, and now, Barman’s. “We don’t have a lot of free time,” said Aslakson. “I would like to enjoy some stuff. Once the business is established, then we’ll have some free time.” But, when taking into account their five-year plan, free time appears to be a long term goal. “In the next month or so, we’ll finish up with renovations and architectural updates and open Barman’s,” said Aslakson. “In the next five years, we’ll be doing some major renovations so that we can transform Barman’s into a higher end boutique hotel. The goal is to bring more people into Colville. We’ll add a restaurant and we may make Barman’s Gift and Home into more like a hotel gift shop.” “We’ll add a rooftop restaurant and lounge area,” added Ross. More immediate plans include leasing out space inside of Barman’s to one of the local businesses. “On September 15, Milk House will be moving into the leased space,” said Ross. “The space will be completely separate from Barman’s.” Barman’s Gift and Home will be open Monday through Saturday from 1-6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store is located at 230 S. Main Street in Colville. 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 Notches Several Podium Finishes in East Valley - 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 Notches Several Podium Finishes in East Valley December 31, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Colville wrestling team picked up multiple podium finishes at the East Valley Winter Clash on Dec. 22 at East Valley High School, with Crimson Hawks wrestlers competing across five weight classes against a deep regional field. Colville placed two wrestlers at 113 pounds. Andy Ussery delivered the team’s top finish at the weight, placing third after a strong tournament run. Ussery opened with an 8-0 major decision over Kettle Falls’ Mason Snider, then advanced via medical forfeit before pinning Newport’s Alex Garris in one minute. He was edged 8-6 by eventual champion Josh Bair of Kettle Falls, and dropped a tight tiebreaker match to Hanford’s Slade Clayton to settle into third place. Teammate Asher Culler also competed at 113 pounds and placed sixth, gaining experience in a demanding bracket. Vincent Canada turned in one of Colville’s strongest performances at 138 pounds, battling through the consolation bracket to place third. Canada opened the tournament with a major decision win over Newport’s Johnny Hamilton, rebounded from an early loss, and then strung together four straight victories. His run included a technical fall over Cheney’s Hawika Lourdea and three pins, capped by a 41-second fall over East Valley’s Gianni Salina in the third-place match. At 157 pounds, Trent Seitters matched that third-place finish with an all-pin tournament. Seitters recorded falls over Republic-Curlew’s Mason Simons and Cheney’s Avree Goodner before a forfeit loss in the semifinals. He responded with two more pins in the consolation rounds, including a fall over Northwest Christian’s Noah Stegman in the third-place match. Colville also earned points at 175 pounds, where Caesar Stuart placed seventh. Stuart opened with a close 15-12 loss to Colfax’s Austin Campbell and later finished the tournament with a forfeit win in the seventh-place match. 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

Lady Bulldogs Battle Defensively, Fall in Pair of League Tests - 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 Lady Bulldogs Battle Defensively, Fall in Pair of League Tests December 17, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Kettle Falls' Rose Kelly handles the ball near the key. Photo by Reeva Mertens-Martin. Defense kept Kettle Falls within reach, but scoring droughts proved costly as the girls basketball team dropped two Northeast 2B North contests last week. Kettle Falls fell 34-25 to Newport on Saturday, Dec. 13, in a low-scoring road matchup after opening league play with a 62-18 loss to unbeaten Northwest Christian on Friday, Dec. 12. The Bulldogs also suffered a 45-36 nonleague loss at Tonasket earlier in the week, leaving them at 2-4 overall and still searching for their first league win. Against Newport, the Bulldogs struggled to find consistent offense but stayed competitive behind a strong defensive effort and rebounding presence from Wyn Edwards, who finished with 11 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Eighth-grader Brooklyn Wilkin added nine points, knocking down two three-pointers to account for much of Kettle Falls’ perimeter scoring. The Bulldogs trailed 22-14 at halftime and remained within striking distance entering the fourth quarter before being held to just two points in the final frame. Kettle Falls shot 7-for-48 from the field and committed 16 turnovers, but limited Newport to just 34 points, holding the Grizzlies to two points in the fourth quarter as well. The Bulldogs’ contest against defending state champion Northwest Christian t saw their opponents jump to a 24-2 first-quarter lead. Edwards led all Bulldogs with 15 points, including two three-pointers. Earlier in the week, Kettle Falls traveled to play at Tonasket, where the Tigers pulled out a 45-36 win. The Bulldogs remained within reach throughout the game, but were unable to generate enough offense down the stretch. The Lady Bulldogs traveled to Davenport on Tuesday, Dec. 16; game results were not available at press time. The team is scheduled to host Reardan on Friday, Dec. 19, at 6 p.m., followed by a trip to Omak Saturday, Dec. 20, for a game at 2:30 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

Regina "Jeanne" Rene Smith | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Regina "Jeanne" Rene Smith 72 Oct 31, 1952 - Oct 8, 2025 Regina “Jeanne” Rene Smith, age 72, passed away on Oct. 8, 2025 at her Colville area home. Jeanne was born on October 31, 1952 in Brewster, Wash., the daughter of Roy Lee and Ruby Mae (Taylor) McMillan. Jeanne was raised in the orchards from Brewster and Yakima to Naches and Cowiche, Wash. She said she could do anything because she grew up on a tractor and was a farm-girl through and through. Jeanne graduated in 1970, from Naches High School. She met Paul Morton and they began dating. On April 7, 1973, they exchanged vows and, upon his enlistment into the military, Jeanne continued to reside in their home until his enlistment ended. They then resided in Montana on a mile square ranch, for a short time before returning to Washington state. Jeanne worked in the home while they lived in Curlew and later Colville, Wash. She loved her role as a stay-at-home-mom raising her sons; Ryan, Matthew and Steven. Jeanne had an eye for finer details and a passion for weddings which inspired her to open the “Bridal Corner” a store that offered wedding dresses, alterations, wedding cakes and her incredible planning abilities. Upon selling their property where their home and business were located, they closed the store and moved to where the family home is still located near Colville. Jeanne was hands-on throughout the construction of their home. She then worked for a time at Ranch and Home in sales and retail. With her attention to detail, she was a natural for accounting. Jeanne began as an accountant for Ron Bacon and later for Fogle Pump and Supply. She worked several years for the Fogle family and retired not just once but twice. Jeanne remarried in 1999 to Gary Smith and together they remained on their home and property. In July of 2014, Jeanne went back to her roots as “mom.” She welcomed three more children in their home with the adoption of Tristyn, Carson and Peyton. She loved her role as a mother and grandmother from which she never wanted to retire. Her health began a gradual decline with the progression of her encephalitis but her heart grew more in love every day. Jeanne grew an amazing garden and found solace in caring for her plants which she nurtured from seed to harvest. She was always engaging her family in outdoor and indoor activities and often took them to Spokane for roller skating, carousel rides and shopping get-aways. She had hummingbird feeders filled around the home and enjoyed the colorful guests that visited them. The seasons of blooming lilacs, sunny days, blackberry picking and boating were some of her favorites. Jeanne is remembered for her selflessness, trustworthiness, and devotion to the bible, prayer and her faith. Jeanne was actively involved in the Woodland Theatre as a performing artist and seamstress. Her beautiful voice filled not only the stage, but her home, with her the melodies that carried in her heart. Theatre masks were kept and treasured as memorabilia from the many plays she enjoyed. Jeanne is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband; Gary Smith at the home; six children, Ryan Morton (Kritstal) of Queen Creek, Ariz., Matthew Morton of California, Steven Morton, Tristyn Morton, Carson Morton and Peyton Morton all of Colville, Wash.; step-children, Martie Rohr (Chris) of Marysville, Wash., and Jody Smith (Christy) of Memphis, Texas; grandchildren, Jessalyn Morton, Hailey Montalvo, Kaden Montalvo and Westyn Madrano; three siblings, Jim McMillan (Rose) of Twisp, Wash., Gale Johnson of Ellensburg, Wash., and Phillip McMillan of Bakersfield, Calif.; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of extended family. The funeral service for Regina “Jeanne” Rene Smith will begin at 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17, at the Momentum Church in Colville, Wash. The graveside service and vault interment will follow at the Mountain View Park Cemetery in Colville. Memorial contributions may be given to the Momentum Church or Turning Point USA. Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements. Previous Item Next Item