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Carol Louise Clauzel | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Carol Louise Clauzel 85 Dec 13, 1940 - Dec 31, 2025 Carol Louise Clauzel, 85, went home to be with Jesus on December 31, 2025. A celebration of life will be held in the Spring. Carol was born on December 13, 1940, to Paul and Louise Archer. She spent most of her adolescent life in the rural Northern California town of Manton. Then, at 15, her family moved to Escondido, California. Carol raised her family in San Luis Obispo County, California, where she made many friends and memories. Carol was a bright light and loved being the life of the party. She had many talents, but the most notable was her baking. Christmas time was her favorite when she made Swedish Tea Rings for her special friends. Carol spent the last 37 years mostly in Colville, Washington, where she made many, many friends who will miss her dearly. She is survived by her three daughters; Shari Urban (Don) of Las Vegas Nevada, Tammy Hinrichs (Rich) of Templeton California, Vicki Kelling (Roger) of Priest River Idaho, her special friend Roy Fosback of Kettle Falls Washington, five grandchildren; Alex, Evin, Will, Lauren and Cody, as well as two great grandchildren; Bravo and Aziza. Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Myron. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association. Previous Item Next Item

New Coverage Tower Placed on Colville Mountain - 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 New Coverage Tower Placed on Colville Mountain July 16, 2025 By: Staff Report Coverage tower placed on Colville Mountain. Area residents may have spotted a tower being placed on Colville Mountain in mid-June, raising questions about its purpose and possible benefits. The tower was installed by Day Wireless Systems, a telecommunications company with an office located in Spokane Valley, and serving Stevens and Ferry counties. According to Day Wireless Systems officials, the tower, located on Colville Mountain and placed about two miles north of city limits, provides coverage of Highway 395, from Kettle Falls to Addy. These towers are “one of the least intrusive and easiest communications towers to build,” according to the Day Wireless Systems. For more information, call 509-484-1400. Photo by Richard Willner. 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

Made Here; Three-Dimensional Artist Sonja Metzler - 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 Made Here; Three-Dimensional Artist Sonja Metzler January 28, 2026 By: Wayne Gorst Sonja Metzler’s studio and three-dimensional art. Photo courtesy Wayne Gorst. This recurring feature highlights the artists, makers and creative spaces that help define our community. Each installment spotlights local talent, and readers are encouraged to submit nominations for artists or arts organizations to be featured to editor@statesmanexaminer.com or to Statesman-Examiner, 220 S. Main St., Colville, WA 99114. Sonja Metzler wasn’t always a sculptor, but she’s always been an artist. A Colville area resident since 1998, Metzler said her artistic journey began with art school in her childhood home of Johannesburg, South Africa. Following a stint in commercial art on South Africa’s east coast, she took up engineering drafting, which brought her to the Inland Northwest via Anchorage, Alaska, and Bellingham, Wash., eventually settling near Colville with her husband and their horses. Discussing why she was drawn to sculpture, Metzler said, “I always seemed to gravitate more toward a ball of clay than a pencil. Although I casually enjoy several mediums, I love the space taken up by three-dimensional art. I love that I can create my art from every angle; and clay serves that purpose well.” With a nudge from another local sculptor, Jerry McKellar, Metzler began showing – and selling – her work at the Safari Club International (SCI) show in Las Vegas. Other major shows ensued, and the Metzlers soon found themselves rubbing elbows with major artists at shows from San Diego to Nashville. Closer to home, Metzler said her growing reputation led to a significant commission – Mary, Joseph, and their donkey on their sojourn to Bethlehem. Commissioned by a local Catholic church, the three bronze figures welcome visitors to the small courtyard near the entrance to the house of worship. The piece was originally conceived as a life-sized statue, something Metzler said she had longed to apply her talents to, using the experience to expand her artistic skills and burgeoning catalog of work. However, the turmoil and restrictions brought on by COVID-19 extended the timeframe and reduced the scale of the project to a one-quarter size statue, known in the sculpting world as a “maquette,” according to Metzler. Typically, sculptors, like painters, limit the number of copies, or in the case of a sculpture “editions,” of their work to retain and enhance the value of each piece, Metzler said. She added that the agreement with the church allowed the artist to retain the rights to the molds, conferring the potential for several more editions of Mary, Joseph, and the donkey. Metzler said creating a bronze sculpture is not just an artistic endeavor, although that’s where it all begins. There are numerous steps, processes, and people between the original ball of clay and the final, weighty bronze. It all begins with an idea and a ball of oil-based clay, Metzler explained. Depending on how large or complex the finished piece will be, the artist may start with a flexible metal armature that will provide support and stability for a heavy or complex clay figure built upon it. When the clay is meticulously shaped and formed with every fine detail crafted into place, the clay rendition becomes the master. From there, Metzler said, the piece goes to a bronze casting foundry; she said she works with one of the two in Joseph, Ore. Foundry technicians then carefully create a flexible rubber mold over the clay, brushing on multiple, thin layers until they’ve built up a flexible rubber skin that captures every detail, as created by the clay master. Metzler said a rigid outer shell of fiberglass or plaster is then added to hold the rubber in the exact shape of the original and protect the mold. Removing the mold from the clay, the mold is then filled with wax to create a perfect replica of the original. According to Metzler, the new wax original is then used to create yet another mold capable of withstanding the final molten bronze pour. The last step before that final “negative” mold is ready is the lost wax casting process, whereby the mold is heated to around 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit to melt out all the wax and ready the mold for the final molten bronze pour. Often, the original clay piece must be cut into smaller, castable sizes and subsequently put back together in the final bronze, Metzler said, requiring meticulous effort by skilled technicians and artisans at the foundry. When the piece is once again whole and declared ready by both the artist and the technicians, it moves on to the patina stage where another dedicated artist uses just the right amount of heat, combined with the proper chemicals, to bring about the various shades of luster that define the perfect bronze. It was the Nashville SCI show where Metzler said she got her wish; she was commissioned to complete a life-size sculpture of Jerry Lee Lewis playing on his baby grand piano. She said a private corporation had begun a real estate development project in the town of Southaven, Miss., just south of Memphis, Tenn., near the life-long home of Lewis whom they wanted to honor with a life-size bronze. Brian Hill, the corporate CEO, told Metzler, after looking over the work of numerous bronze sculptors, that he liked her style the best and asked if she would be interested in the project. “You had me at life-sized,” she had replied, “and then when I heard it was Jerry Lee Lewis, I was completely captivated.” The project occupied nearly a year-and-a-half of planning, researching, sculpting, and, eventually, installing the finished bronze, complete with an unveiling with JLewis’ widow, Judith Lewis, in attendance, Metzler said. During the research phase of the project, Metzler said she asked Judith Lewis if there was anything specific she would like included. In reply she got pictures of two rings Jerry Lee Lewis wore: one was a diamond studded baby grand piano and the other was the wedding ring Judith Lewis had given him. In all her pieces, just as she did with Lewis’ rings, Metzler said she does extensive research to ensure every detail is included and correct. Her work includes a commission for an accurate representation of an 1880s style bison hunt. Three hunters, their wagon, camp, guns, and all accoutrements are authentically reproduced at scale. A small group of bison graze warily in the distance. When the clay rendition has been perfected and they return from the foundry, their pastures and hunting grounds will be at the top of a conference table somewhere in Arizona, Metzler said. More information can be found at sonjametzler.com . 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

Submit a classified ad for local exposure in Colville and Stevens County through the Statesman-Examiner. Submit a Classified Ad Share your classified listing with the Statesman-Examiner . Classified ads are paid listings and are priced based on word count and how many weeks you would like the ad to run. After you submit your information, a member of our staff will review your ad, calculate the total cost, and contact you directly to confirm pricing and publication dates before anything is finalized. Submit your details below, including the full text of your ad and any relevant category selections. Clear, accurate information helps ensure your listing appears correctly in both print and online editions. Classified Ad Pricing Estimator Enter your classified ad text below to see an estimated price based on word count. A word is any group of characters separated by a space. Minimum $10.00. Each word after 20 is $0.30. Classified Text Word count: 0 Estimated price: $10.00 Final pricing is based on published word count. Special formatting, corrections, or edits may affect final cost. Contact Information First name Last name Email Phone Example: 509-555-1234 Ad Details Category Listing Title A short title for your ad (example: "Used Oak Dining Table"). Listing Description (Your Ad Text) Normal Text Title Subtitle Normal Text $10 for the first 20 words and $0.30/word thereafter. This is the exact text that will appear in print and online. Price Used for the online listing - helps to call out a price associated with a service or item. Location Publication Details Number of Weeks to Run Preferred Start Date * required Your ad will run beginning on or after this date, pending approval. I agree to the Statesman-Examiner's terms and conditions I understand that classified ads are priced based on word count and duration. A staff member will contact me to confirm pricing before publication. Submit Event An error occurred. Try again later Your content has been submitted

Janet Rae Sutherlin Michael-Harbolt | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Janet Rae Sutherlin Michael-Harbolt 80 Jul 6, 1945 - Nov 25, 2025 Janet peacefully transitioned at the age of 80 on November 25, 2025. Born in Davenport, Wash., on July 6, 1945, to Lewis (Luke) Edmond Sutherlin and Eva Iona (Daily) Sutherlin, she was raised in Inchelium, Wash., and graduated in 1963. After graduation, she moved to Spokane and attended cosmetology school, where she received her license. In 1965, she married Ron Harsin and moved to Colville, Wash., where she worked for Milady's and Millard's. In 1968, they welcomed a baby girl, Tracie. That marriage later dissolved. In 1969, she married Orin William (Bill) Michael, and in 1972, they welcomed a baby boy, Brian. They lived happily until 1976, when Bill passed away following an accident at Vaagen’s Mill. In 1978, Janet met Ronald (Ron) William Harbolt, a relationship that lasted 43 years until Ronald passed away in 2020. Janet lived a good life; she enjoyed horses and many hobbies, such as crocheting and quilting, and was an avid reader. Later in life, she enjoyed Facebook and keeping up with her friends via telephone. She was preceded in death by her parents, Luke and Eva Sutherlin, and her spouses, Ron Harsin, Bill Michael, and Ron Harbolt. She is survived by her daughter, Tracie L. Harsin; her son, Brian W. Michael; Andy and Tony Harbolt; eight grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. At her request, there will be no services at this time. Previous Item Next Item

Steven Charles Omage | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Steven Charles Omage 65 Mar 16, 1960 - Sep 21, 2025 Steven Charles Omage passed away on Sept. 21, 2025, in Rice, Wash. He was born on March 16, 1960, to his parents Norman Charles Omage and Donna Lee (McAdam) Omage in Tacoma, Wash. Steven graduated from Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor, where he soon after became a commercial fisherman and an equipment operator for Spadoni Bros. Inc. He met the love of his life, Javene A. Teitzel, and married on Sept. 16, 1992. Steven and Javene Omage enjoyed being in Stevens County, Wash., and frequently made trips together to visit Yuma, Ariz. Steven served as a volunteer for the fire department district 12 for many years. He was a part-time farmer, gravel hauler, and equipment operator in his community. Steven loved to fish, hunt, hike, and frequented yard sales to add to his various collections. Steven Charles Omage is preceded in death by his father Norman Charles Omage, and his mother Donna Lee (McAdam) Omage. He is survived by his wife, Javene A. (Teitzel) Omage, his sister, Wendy Boyd, her husband, David Boyd, many sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews on the Teitzel side of his marriage, and missed by his loving labrador, Molly May Omage. Steven was a wonderful and kind man loved by many friends and acquaintances. A celebration of life for Steven Charles Omage will be held at a later time next spring in Gig Harbor, Wash. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with his care. Previous Item Next Item

Colville Girls Rebound with Dominant Win Over Newport - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Colville Girls Rebound with Dominant Win Over Newport January 28, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen Colville's Rylee Brisby hauls in a rebound for the Crimson Hawks during their victory over Newport on Saturday, Jan. 24. Photo by Brandon Hansen. The Colville girls basketball team bounced back from a Northeast A road loss with a nonleague victory Saturday, Jan. 24, rolling past Newport 68-28 at home to improve to 10-5 overall. The Crimson Hawks came off of a 57-44 league loss at Lakeside on Jan. 20 where they struggled to keep pace offensively against a hot-shooting Eagles squad. Colville trailed 30-18 at halftime and could not close the gap in the fourth quarter. Blakleigh White scored a game-high 20 points for the Eagles, including four 3-pointers, as Lakeside pulled away late. Andee Kroiss tallied 11 points for Colville, while Georgia Beardslee added another 11 points, and Kelsea Lewis finished with nine points. The Crimson Hawks were limited to just one 3-pointer in the loss. Colville turned the page Saturday in a big way, jumping out to a 19-7 first-quarter lead against Newport and never letting the Grizzlies back into the game. Rylee Brisby led the Lady Hawks with 16 points, while Kroiss added 12 and Lewis chipped in 11 points. Colville’s defense held Newport to just 17 points through the first three quarters. The Crimson Hawks moved the ball well offensively, getting scoring contributions from throughout the lineup as they ascended to a 40-point win. Sammi Tellessen scored 18 points to lead Newport. Results from the home game against Lakeside on Tuesday, Jan. 27, were unavailable at press time. The Crimson Hawks are set to play at Riverside on Friday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. and at Medical Lake on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 3:45 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

George Allen Hoiland | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. George Allen Hoiland 76 Apr 6, 1949 - Nov 21, 2025 George Allen Hoiland, age 76, passed away peacefully on No. 21, 2025, surrounded by love and held in the dignity he earned through a long life of courage, resilience, and redemption. Born on April 6, 1949, in Council, Idaho, to Arthur and Frances Hoiland, George lived a life marked by quiet strength, sharp humor, and a deep dedication to helping others. George spent many years working through the challenges of addiction before beginning a journey of sobriety that transformed his life. He celebrated 35 years sober, using his own struggles as the foundation for helping countless young men fight addiction and rebuild their futures. His wisdom, honesty, and willingness to speak truth made him a trusted mentor and friend to many who were searching for hope. George’s father served honorably in World War II, and the legacy of service, sacrifice, and family history meant a great deal to him. George preserved the stories, heirlooms, and memories of those who came before him, ensuring that the next generations would know where they came from and the strength that Previous Item Next Item

Statewide Fishing Opportunities Offered on Black Friday - 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 Statewide Fishing Opportunities Offered on Black Friday November 19, 2025 By: Staff Report Washington lakes will be stocked with fish ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officials announced they plan to stock nearly 65,000 jumbo rainbow trout in 25 lakes statewide, including two in Stevens County, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, offering anglers a chance to get outside for Washington’s annual Black Friday fishing. According to officials, the holiday special rainbow trout weigh up to three pounds and measure up to 17 inches each. “WDFW has offered Black Friday fishing for more than a decade, and it’s a great way to get outdoors over the holiday weekend,” said Steve Caromile, WDFW inland fish program manager. “We stock jumbo trout in lakes near communities, making it easy to spend a few hours on the water with friends and family.” This year, Hatch Lake and Williams Lake will be stocked before Nov. 28, WDFW officials stated.For stocking information, anglers can refer to the catchable trout stocking report on the WDFW website at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/stocking/trout-plants.WDFW officials stated anglers 16 years and older must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license, valid through March 31, 2026, to participate. Licenses can be purchased online, or at any of the hundreds of license vendors across the state. Officials also warned that, though uncommon in November, cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) can still be present in lakes and recommended reviewing advisories at doh.wa.gov/fish . 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 City Council Swears in New Mayor - 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 City Council Swears in New Mayor December 10, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Lindsay Baxter (left) is sworn in as the new mayor of Chewelah in the Chewelah Council Chambers. Courtesy photo. Chewelah’s new mayor and two council members took the oath of office Dec. 1, but the first order of business at the Dec. 3 city council meeting was a resignation. Council member Katie Roberts submitted a letter stepping down from Position 1, effective immediately after accepting a job as the city’s deputy billing clerk. “It has been an honor and privilege to have been elected to serve the residents of Chewelah,” Roberts wrote. “My decision to step down is due to a recent professional opportunity… Unfortunately, if I accept the position, I would not be able to continue in my appointment for the city. Therefore, I must vacate my council position.” The council later voted to advertise the upcoming vacancy in the Chewelah Independent and on the city’s website, with the intention of having the new council appointment seated in January. Following the reading of Roberts’ resignation, the city turned to swearing in its newly elected officials. Incoming mayor Lindsay Baxter took the oath of office; two council members – Lonnie Hoxie, Paula Randall – were also sworn in for four-year terms. Baxter acknowledged the steep learning curve of his first four-and-a-half days on the job. “It feels a little like drinking from a fire hose,” he said, “but I’m very honored to be here. This is an awesome responsibility and an awesome opportunity.” Baxter emphasized that he wants robust but respectful discussion on the dais. “One of the things that’s important to me is discussion and debate,” he said. “We’re all capable of respectful discord. I hope you feel comfortable sharing opinions, especially as we run through ordinances and issues for the city. I think it’s valuable for us as a group and for the public to understand why you vote the way you do.” Baxter added that while council members are not required to speak before voting, he may occasionally call on them by name to see if they have comments to share. The mayor also noted he has begun visiting with department leaders and touring city facilities, including a lengthy ride with public works staff to see city assets and boundaries first-hand. “I’m really impressed with the leadership and employees here,” he said. “It was a great learning opportunity.” Public comment topics ranged from zoning code to holiday lights to a plea for a kinder civic climate. Resident Tom Ward, who lives across from the city campground, asked the city to consider amending its fence code to allow a 4-foot fence in his area instead of the current 42-inch height limit. Ward said pre-fabricated steel and vinyl fence panels commonly come in 48-inch sections, and he argued that raising the allowed height by six inches would still be consistent with neighborhood character while matching standard manufacturing. He also noted that “six blocks that way and six blocks that way” would reveal numerous fences already out of compliance with the current code. “I’m putting in a really nice fence, not just a little metal thing,” he told the council, adding that the planning department had indicated it would support the change. “Fences are like locks – they keep the curious people out. The determined ones are going to get in no matter what.” Another speaker, reading on behalf of Chamber of Commerce coordinator Sherry Lindstrom, thanked nearly 20 volunteers and city staff who helped install a large Christmas light display in the city park, featuring a 25-foot tree, four 10-foot trees, and other pieces obtained from the longtime “Winter Spectacular” display in Spokane. The remarks framed the lights as one of several recent investments in town – from business sales to building remodels and major grants – as signs that “people believe in Chewelah.” Community member and business owner Carl Pickens urged both winners and losers from November’s elections to remember that public service is, at its core, the work of a servant. City Administrator Tonya Wallace delivered a wide-ranging report on staffing, finances and major projects. Wallace said interviews for the vacant police chief position are scheduled over the next two weeks and will include at least two rounds: one panel composed of staff who will work with the new chief and a second, larger panel composed of community members. The goal, she said, is to have a new chief in place by late spring. On the finance side, the city has filed its 2025 property tax levy with Stevens County. Wallace noted the levy did not include the 1% increase the council approved at a previous meeting; that increase is being “banked” for potential use in a future year. “The impact of the revenue decrease is something we will be considering for possible amendments in the 2025–26 budget,” she said. The city has ordered a new bucket truck, expected to arrive before the end of December, according to Wallace, and staff are preparing to close out the year’s books and complete state-required annual reports. The city is also undergoing a two-year audit of its energy efficiency programs for 2022-2024. Grant-writing is in full swing, Wallace added, including a request for roughly $1 million to continue the city’s energy efficiency program in 2026 and a separate application for a historic cemetery grant, which was discussed later in the meeting. Wallace said the new municipal well project is scheduled to go out to bid next week, with an award expected in mid-January, while work on a gas line extension at the airport began this week. The city’s website will begin data migration Dec. 19; the vendor estimates three to four weeks, though Wallace joked she is “doubling that” expectation. She added that staff are continuing to implement new campsite management software to improve reservations and tracking at the RV park. The mayor and administrator also recently attended Association of Washington Cities meetings on the upcoming legislative session, and Wallace said her team met with the Recreation and Conservation Office regarding park projects and with the Tri-County Economic Development District at the golf course. In formal action, the council unanimously approved Resolution 25-41, authorizing the city to apply for up to $50,000 from the state’s Historic Cemetery Grant program administered through the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. Wallace said the city’s application will focus on three areas: cemetery management software to replace paper maps and records; weed fabric and gravel for roadways at Chewelah Memorial Cemetery; and headstone repair and fence work at the historic Pioneer Cemetery. “We have several flat headstones that are almost completely overgrown,” she said, adding that better records will help families and visitors locate graves – including the many veterans interred there, some dating back to the Civil War. Council member Ron McCoy noted the city had previously taken criticism for the condition of its older cemetery. “This is what Chewelah needs,” he said. “We’ve been slowly trying to improve it, and this will help us take care of all of our cemeteries.” The council also passed Resolution 25-42, changing how the city pays stipends to its volunteer firefighters. Instead of monthly checks, volunteers who meet minimum participation requirements under state law – 10% of training drills and 10% of calls over a 12-month period – will receive a single annual payment each December. Wallace said the change is meant to match state requirements for participation in the volunteer firefighter pension system and to simplify recordkeeping. The stipend amounts, set in a previous resolution, are not changing, she said. Council member Aaron Alvarado, also a volunteer firefighter, told the council the checks are modest and not the reason people serve. “When I first joined the fire department, I didn’t even know we got paid,” he said. “We’re volunteers – that’s the keyword. The pay is more like a nice dinner out.” Council members took the opportunity to praise the department and to affirm the city’s commitment to keeping a local volunteer force rather than shifting to a county-run model. McCoy, the mayor pro tem (the council member who presides when the mayor is absent), announced this was his last meeting, and the council briefly discussed how and when to select a new mayor pro tem. Because two additional council members will be sworn in at the first meeting in January, several members said they preferred to wait and allow the new council to choose its own mayor pro tem for the coming term rather than appointing someone for just one December meeting. No action was taken. In the final action of the night, the council voted to advertise the Position 1 council vacancy created by Roberts’ resignation. The council was advised that appointing someone on Dec. 17 would only seat that person until the first meeting in January because of how the election cycle is structured, so the council opted to begin recruitment now with the intent of having the new council make a longer-term appointment early in 2026. The Chewelah city council is scheduled to meet next on Dec. 17, at 6:30 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

Ron Snyder | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Ron Snyder 83 Nov 1, 1941 - Oct 8, 2025 Ron Snyder, 83, passed away Oct. 8, at his home in Kettle Falls. Born in Chewelah on Nov. 1, 1941, Ron was a very active member of the local community throughout his life. As a young man, he served in the Washington State Patrol as a trooper, later earning “Trooper of the Year" in 1972. The only officer in Pend Oreille County for seven years, he was soon promoted to sergeant. During his time in the WSP, he trained and certified others in First Aid to assist with accident scenes. Ron would be invited to then train and certify local school staff members, and went on to teach bicycle safety to the students as well. Changing careers in 1978, Ron and his wife Anadee purchased Kettle Falls Realty Inc. They would join the Windermere Real Estate organization in 1993. Together they built a highly respected and successful business, giving back to their community through donations, and many local events. Always willing to lend a hand, Ron would plow driveways and walkways, collect garbage for family and friends, and focus on community efforts, like installing the Kettle Falls net pens along Lake Roosevelt in 1985, and generating current awareness for the Kettle Falls Pool Slide Fundraiser. Never one to sit still, Ron was a licensed pilot, winging throughout Washington State, even flying with his son Don to the 1992 Oshkosh, Wisconsin annual air show and fly-in. An avid boater as well, Ron and his family and friends enjoyed many excursions on the Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. As a farmer, Ron grew and harvested alfalfa, feeding and caring for the deer and wild turkeys that would visit him in the fields. Ron is survived by Anadee, his loving wife of 64 years, and his daughter Debbie, son Don and daughter-in-law Julie, grandchildren Brittney, Kevin and Joel, and Gia, and great granddaughters Caitlyn and Kara. He is also survived by his siblings Judy, Bob, Paula and Ed. In honor of Ron, a private memorial service will be held for his family and friends this spring. Please consider making donations in Ron’s name to either the Kettle Falls Pool Slide Fundraiser, or to the American Cancer Society. Previous Item Next Item

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