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The Woodland Theatre Receives Support for Upcoming Projects - 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 The Woodland Theatre Receives Support for Upcoming Projects December 3, 2025 By: Tamara Lee Titus The Woodland Theatre has a rich history, including being a Volkswagen dealership in the 1940s. Photo courtesy Peggy Townley. The Woodland Theatre, built in Kettle Falls in 1940, is the main performance site for Woodland Productions, a nonprofit community of local performing artists. Thanks to donations from grants, Friends of Woodland Theatre, and other major donors, the theatre now has the funds needed to complete upgrades. The building has passed through many incarnations over the years. According to Peggy Townley, Woodland Productions member since 1978, the building was constructed by Henry Wood as a movie theater until the early 1950s, when it started losing money. Townley speculated the advent of TV contributed to its inability to sustain customers. When business slowed, she reported, “Wood’s son came and took it over as a Volkswagen dealership and theatre. They built an apartment on the back of the theatre, and below it they put in a greasepit repair shop.” She continued, “The last film showed there in 1954, and then it sat idle until the early 1970s, when the Old Mission Art Gallery purchased it for $11,000. They were running the building and we came in and started to do some productions. Eventually, in the late 1970s, the Old Mission sold it to Woodland Productions for $1 because they were running out of money to do repairs.” Townley said many repairs have been done over the years to sustain the theatre, including a new roof in the 1970s; now it’s time to update again. “It’s over 50 years old. It’s an open air roof and bats have been nesting in there. It’s not up to code,” she said, admitting concerns about the open eaves making it more susceptible to catch fire if embers got in there. An enclosed roof would be heavier though, affecting the weight on the walls, which have already started to bow. She said, “The Old Mission Art Gallery recognized the walls bowing and they put cables in to stabilize them, but the cables stretched.” According to Townley, engineers recommended they replace the cables with rods, which they received $10,000 in grant money from the Innovia Foundation to help fund. "The total cost will be about $35,000,” she stated, noting that they have also received donations from local donors. She said, “The rods will not stretch and will strengthen the structure to prepare for a heavier roof replacement planned for 2027-2029 with help from WA State Heritage Capital funds. The new roof will be gently sloped to the east to prevent snow build-up toward our neighbors to the west. It will have enclosed soffits to keep out the bats and insects and be up to code.” Plans also include “recreating the tower that was on the original theatre when it was a movie house,” Townley shared. She said they received a $10,000 donation toward those efforts from Eden Davidson, who was in the ‘Into the Woods’ performance in 2024. Townley added, “We have a screen at the theatre and have shown movies. We have a good sound system, but it’s not the same as the Alpine [Theater in Colville].” She emphasized that their main focus is music and theatre. Townley also discussed how she and her husband participate in productions. “I mostly like to sing; I have been in a few musicals, sing in the chorus, and I play flute in the concert band. My husband is a trombonist, and he sings too,” she said. “One of the amazing things about the theatre is that it is an acoustic gem. We do not mic our performances; people can hear you at the back of the theatre. I don’t know what makes it a good theatre, but it is a good theatre,” Townley concluded. Their next production is Handel's Messiah, which runs on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p;m. For more information about Woodland Theatre, visit woodlandproductions.org/index.html . 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

Wade Orval Hopkins — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. 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 Births Wade Orval Hopkins Wade Orval Hopkins was born on July 4, 2025, to parents Della Goff and Brandon Hopkins of Colville, Wash. He weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces at birth. He has two brothers, Adrian, 22, and Donavon, 18, and three sisters, Elliana, 15, Lori, 12, and Aspen, 5. His maternal grandmother is Ginni Torres, and his paternal grandparents are James Hopkins Jr., and Melissa Hopkins of Evans, Wash. Previous Next 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

Bruno Hugo Chavez Gomez — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. 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 Births Bruno Hugo Chavez Gomez Bruno Hugo Chavez Gomez was born on Aug. 7, 2025, to parents Karisma Gallardo and Victor Gomez of Colville, Wash. He weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces at birth. His maternal grandparents are Phillip Gallardo III of Northport, Wash., and Fawn Gallardo of Covington, Ky. His paternal grandparents are Victor and Yesenia Gomez of Spokane, Wash. His maternal great-grandparents are Deborah Gallardo of Northport, Wash., and Bonnie and Michael O’Connor of Covington, Ky. His paternal great-grandparent is Jose Mancilla of Mazatlán, Mexico. Previous Next 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

Altiera Stevie Rainbolt Raub — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. 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 Births Altiera Stevie Rainbolt Raub Altiera Stevie Rainbolt Raub was born on Aug. 24, 2025, to parents Avarielle Spiegel and Anthony Raub of Colville, Wash. Previous Next 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

Raymond Lewis Hedrick | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Raymond Lewis Hedrick 86 Jan 23, 1939 - Jul 1, 2025 Raymond Lewis Hedrick passed away peacefully at the Mount Carmel Hospital on July 1, 2025, at the age of 86. Raymond was born January 23, 1939, in Colville, Wash., at the original Mount Carmel Hospital to his parents William Adolf Hedrick and Esther Marjorie Kenyon. Raymond attended the Colville schools from the first through the twelfth grade. In his senior year he was the class president. He took a lot of pride and joy in his FFA activities. Adolph Hendrick, (Ray’s father) was the first FFA president. Adolph, Raymond, Andy Kroiss, and Steve Kroiss were all FFA presidents. After graduating from high school, Raymond spent six months at Fort Ord California in the Army Reserve and earned the honor of Top Rifleman in his unit. It was all that target practice on those pesky ground squirrels. Raymond returned home and attended W.S.U. for a short period. On April 5, 1959, Raymond and Sally Learn were married, and to that union three children were born, Cory Lyn, Kelly Rae and Brian Keith. In 1963 Raymond and Sally moved to Moscow Idaho, then returning home Raymond worked for Fogles equipment for many years. In 1965, the love of farming kept Ray and Sally bending ears. In 1973, they started farming and being the very successful farmer he was, Ray and Sally helped their neighbors with their resources. Raymond was a brother, husband, father, granddad, and great granddad, he worked hard, played hard, and drank a little whiskey. Raymond, Henry, Andy, and Fred loved those hunting and fishing trips and all that went with it. Growing up on the family farm with his three sisters, no wonder he had a little orneriness in him at times. Baseball was Ray’s passion. There was a lot of love, laughter, and hard work. Raymond is survived by his three children, Cory, Kelly, and Brian, grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, and his three sisters, Marie, Judy and Bobby. The greatest gift he passed was being who God created him to be. Raymond was our hero at different times in our lives. A private Service for Raymond Lewis Hedrick was held at 155 West First Avenue in Colville, Wash., at the Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory on Tuesday July 8, 2025 at 1 p.m. Previous Item Next Item

Levi Richmond Walker — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. 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 Births Levi Richmond Walker Levi Richmond Walker was born on Dec. 2, 2025, to parents Hope and Collin Walker of Republic, Wash. He weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces at birth, and has two brothers, Malachi Jones Walker, 3, and Isaiah James Walker, 1. His maternal grandparents are Leonor Hernandez of Phoenix, Ariz. and Augustine Hernandez of San Diego, Calif. His paternal grandparents are Howard Walker of San Diego, Calif. and Renee Walker, deceased. Previous Next 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

Beardslee Scores Often as Northport Moves to 2-0 - 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 Beardslee Scores Often as Northport Moves to 2-0 December 10, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Northport’s girls basketball team is just two games into the season, and Kate Beardslee has already proven herself as a potent sophomore scorer. The Lady Mustangs notched a hard-fought 43-36 victory over the visiting Chewelah Cougars on Friday, Dec. 5, in Northport’s tip-off tournament as Beardslee dropped 24 points. The next day, Northport toppled Springdale 60-38 as Beardlee led the squad with 18 points. There were defensive moments for the Lady Mustangs, and big offensive quarters as well. Against Chewelah, Northport found themselves down to the Lady Cougars 23-19 at halftime, but went on a 20-4 run in the third quarter to take command of the game. Chewelah went on a 9-4 run in the fourth, but it wasn’t quite enough to complete the comeback. Senior Kylie Colton added eight points, while eighth grader Liesel Stark notched four points. Chewelah’s Kayla Davis hit three three-pointers in the matchup and finished with 11 points, while Megan Watts added four points. A day later, the Lady Mustangs took on Springdale for the second day of Northport’s tipoff tournament, and the offense put up even bigger numbers in a 60-38 victory over the Lady Chargers. Beardlee’s 18 points were accented with 12 points apiece from Colton and Persephonie SteMarie. Northport had a five-point lead in the first quarter, then outscored the Lady Chargers 24-9 in the second for the 38-18 halftime lead. The Lady Mustangs then outscored Springdale by eight in the third quarter. After not hitting a single three-pointer against Chewelah, Northport hit four against Springdale. Colton swished two while Brooklyn Wilson hit from downtown and had eight points. Ruthie Heberling hit one and tallied seven points for the contest. Springdale was led by Asa Cannon’s 13 points. The Lady Mustangs faced Medical Lake on Tuesday, Dec. 9; results were not available at press time. The team is set to face the Columbia Lions in Hunters on Friday, Dec. 12, at 6 p.m. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Out of the Past: 07/23/2025 - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Out of the Past: 07/23/2025 July 23, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Columbia Restaurant in Addy about 1914. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— Careful watching and hard fighting on the part of the patrolmen and the forest fire fighting organizations in Stevens County have kept the forest fires from destroying or doing damage to a large amount of property. Every day calls have been coming to the office of Supervisor J. Nugent in the Lane building of new fires, but the patrolmen are put on the job at once and the fires are put out before great headway has been made. Earl Broderick, driver of a truck for the Fred Draper Lumber Company, was given a fine of $25 with $10 of the fine suspended on order of the court by Justice A. L. Knapp on Monday. He was picked up by Mr. Renne, state highway officer, and charged with overloading his truck. 75 Years Ago— Kettle Falls and Northport will go after the Colville Valley Baseball Championship at the fairgrounds here Sunday. It’s against the law to fire BB guns in the city. City police warned this week that they would confiscate guns of youths found firing the guns in the city. Attempts to use Grand Coulee Dam for flood control are costing the Inland Empire logging industry thousands of dollars in lost time, in the opinion of J.M. Aston, president of the Roosevelt Log Owners Association. RICE—A new mercantile store at Rice is now assured. The buildings were destroyed by fire last January while owned by Claire Bryan. Dave Olson of Kettle Falls has purchased the former site from Bryan and is now putting in the foundation. 50 Years Ago— Although the recession had a strong impact in Stevens County in the past year, as it did everywhere else, its effect on business was less severe than in many other communities. George Cloakey, 40, of Waterville, has been named new basketball coach at Colville High School, Don Munson, superintendent of schools, announced Wednesday. Upon receiving a certificate of need from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and approval from the Washington State Hospital Commission, Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville is proceeding immediately with a $204,000 project to renovate its plumbing and heating system and to install air conditioning. 25 Years Ago— One of Colville’s most popular mayors, Helen White, was honored last Friday in downtown Colville. “Helen White Day” gave the retired mayor and local businesswomen an opportunity to be chauffeured by another popular former local mayor, Duane Scott. Greenwood Grange is ready to celebrate their 90 th anniversary. The Grange held meetings in various members’ homes or in the Meyers Falls Town Hall – what is now the Union Hall in Kettle Falls. 10 Years Ago— After several years of hope and planning, the Kettle Falls Library is expanding. A groundbreaking ceremony was held last Wednesday at the empty lot adjacent to the building on Meyers Street. Drought conditions are prompting state officials to prohibit or limit fishing on more than 30 rivers across Washington to help protect fish. Rivers included are sections of the Kettle River. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Out of the Past: 09/10/2025 - 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: 09/10/2025 September 10, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Bank of Colville and Post Office early 1900s. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— The oldest building on Main Street, and one of the few early buildings remaining in Colville, stands in modest retirement just south of the Robbins Lumber Co. brick – former home of the Bank of Colville. This building, which has had a number of uses varying from domestic occupancy to commercial and newspaper shelter, was constructed about 1880 by John U. Hofstetter for a carpenter’s shop, and used by him for several years. Work is in progress on the permanent highway between Chewelah and Cusick over the summit, the work in Stevens County being under the supervision of John H. Savage, Stevens County Commissioner. The road into Cusick in Pend Oreille County is in charge of the Pend Oreille County Commissioner from the Cusick District. 75 Years Ago— John Acorn is the new mayor of Colville. Acorn was appointed to the post by the city council Tuesday night after Paul Burgess resigned. Burgess quit the post after moving out of the city. The Atomic Energy Commission recently was queried by a worried citizen as to whether a fast man could outrun a slow neutron. The answer is no. Even a slow neutron, one of the many nuclear particles shooting from a bomb burst, travels at great speed. KETTLE FALLS—Election of senior officers held last week at the high school ended with Francis McKern, president; Ralph Hirsch, vice president; and Pat Reader, secretary-treasurer. 50 Years Ago— A giant jump in attendance was recorded for the Northeast Washington Fair last weekend with a recorded 1,000-plus increase in attendance. According to fair manager Marion Garvey, exact figures for attendance, which she estimated passed the 15,000 mark, would not be forthcoming until all reports are final. Colville postmaster Gordon Carr announced changes in postage costs effective this Sunday. First class mail remains at 10 cents for the first ounce, but is lowered from 10 cents to 9 cents on the second ounce. Wildfires in the forests and on the range lands of Washington state totaled just over 1,500 for the period through Aug. 31, this fire season. 25 Years Ago— A spectacular Friday night fire, that sent flames upwards of 100 feet into the Colville sky at its zenith, destroyed a historic warehouse building and $1.5 million worth of surplus military clothing stored inside. The complex was located at the corner of W. 1 st and Railroad in Colville. Washington state’s first ever primary voters pamphlet is going in the mail, marking the start of a comprehensive voter education effort that offers a variety of ways for citizens to access information about the hundreds of candidates appearing on the Sept. 19 primary ballot. An outstanding array of local fruits, vegetables and meat products will be on display and available for tasting at this year’s final Farm Tour, Saturday at Riverview Orchard. 10 Years Ago— KETTLE FALLS—Preparations for the third annual Festival of Neighbors in Kettle Falls have been finalized. One of the community’s major celebrations will be held at Happy Dell Park on Sept. 12. As if a group of catastrophic wildfires in the past two years haven’t been enough, southeast Okanogan County residents were rattled on Tuesday morning by an earthquake that apparently was felt as far as 25 miles away. The quake was felt as far as a portion of the Colville Indian Reservation. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Kettle Falls Wrestling Turns Heads in Spokane - 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 Turns Heads in Spokane December 31, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Kettle Falls wrestling team won first place at the East Valley Winter Clash, beating out higher classification Spokane schools with their depth across several weight classes. Photo courtesy AJ Howard. The Kettle Falls wrestling team delivered one of its strongest performances of the season at the East Valley Winter Clash on Dec. 22 at East Valley High School, piling up podium finishes across nearly every weight class, and crowning four individual champions with dominant runs through their brackets. They also did something that some may consider unexpected for a 2B team to do when up against bigger Greater Spokane League schools: they won the tournament as a whole. At 113 pounds, Josh Bair was flawless on his way to the title, finishing 5-0 on the day. Bair opened the tournament with a fall over Colville’s Asher Culler at 4:26, then pinned Newport’s Alex Garris in 1:19. He followed with back-to-back decision wins, narrowly beating Hanford’s Slade Clayton 10-8 and Colville’s Andy Ussery 8-6, before closing the championship run with a 45-second fall over teammate Mason Snider in the finals. Snider also placed fourth at 113 pounds. Another championship came at 126 pounds, where Gideon Evans went 3-0, winning all three matches by fall. Evans pinned Republic-Curlew’s Rynn Stangeland in 2:22, followed by a 1:02 pin against Colville’s Samuel Miller, and capped the title with a 1:11 fall over Newport’s Josh Turner. Teammate Tanner Schumacher added depth at 126 pounds by placing fourth. At 150 pounds, Ezekiel Evans was equally dominant, recording three pins in under one minute each to secure first place. Evans opened with a 38-second fall over Cheney’s Dylan Charlson, pinned teammate Baylor Rosen in 32 seconds in the semifinal, and sealed the championship with a 52-second pin against Deer Park’s Sage Nichols. Rosen went on to place third at the same weight. Kettle Falls’ final champion came at 190 pounds, where Aiden Fowler went 3-0. Fowler opened with a controlled 7-2 decision over Northwest Christian’s Braden Walker, then pinned Lewis and Clark’s Dexter Flores in 1:44. In the championship match, Fowler secured the title with a 2:06 fall over Republic-Curlew’s Connor Bouge. Beyond the champions, the Bulldogs continued to rack up points throughout the lineup. Lee Fowler placed third at 106 pounds, Michael Winn finished second at 120 pounds, Joseph Young earned runner-up honors at 132 pounds, and Nathan Thurman battled to third at 144 pounds. Kettle Falls also picked up strong finishes from Kincaid Freer at 165 pounds (fourth), Harley Rowe at 215 pounds (second), and Zhaine Herrera at 285 pounds (fourth). 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

Deborah Michel McFee | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Deborah Michel McFee 79 Apr 20, 1946 - Aug 18, 2025 Deborah Michel McFee, beloved wife, mother, and friend, passed away peacefully on Aug. 18, 2025, at the age of 79, after health complications. Born on April 20, 1946, Deborah lived a life full of warmth, kindness, and devotion to her family. She will be remembered for her loving heart, strength, and the joy she brought to all who knew her. She is survived by her devoted husband, JD Beardslee of Kettle Falls, Wash.; her son, Darin Michel Colvey; and her daughter, Heather Felicia Durand. Her memory will also be cherished by extended family and friends who were blessed to share in her life. Deborah’s presence in the lives of those she touched will be deeply missed but forever treasured. Previous Item Next Item

Chewelah Girls Cross Country Place Second at State - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Chewelah Girls Cross Country Place Second at State November 12, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Chewelah girls' cross country season comes to a close. The Chewelah Cougars girls cross team capped an outstanding season with a runner-up team finish at the WIAA 1B/2B State Championships on Nov. 8, at Sun Willows Golf Course. The team was led by junior Amber Eppel’s third-place run against the best small-school runners in Washington. Eppel clocked 19 minutes, 13.2 seconds, finishing only behind Manson freshman Grace Walsh (18:22.0) and Saint George’s senior Regan Thomas (18:51.3). Her top-three performance helped propel Chewelah to second place overall with 106 points, narrowly behind Liberty Bell (94) and tied with Pope John Paul II. Behind Eppel, freshman Josie Carter placed 26th in 21:02, while sisters Mei Parsons (39th, 21:51) and Rin Parsons (40th, 21:53) finished just two seconds apart. Senior Elise Warren crossed in 50th place at 22:14, rounding out Chewelah’s scoring five. Freshman Diana Durham (60th, 22:28) and sophomore Liberty Whittekiend (93rd, 23:50) also ran solidly in the 142-runner field. Chewelah’s average time of 21:47.5 over the 5,000-meter course showcased both experience and youth depth, giving the Cougars a bright outlook for 2026 with four of their top five returning. Kettle Falls senior Isabella Tiwebemal closed out her high school cross-country career with a strong showing, finishing 63rd in 22:32.6, while freshman Avery Tobias came through in 69th at 22:56.9. 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