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Donna Pauline Sampson | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Donna Pauline Sampson 88 Nov 15, 1937 - Jan 20, 2026 Donna Pauline Sampson, age 88, a lifetime resident of Cedonia, Wash., passed away on Jan. 20, 2026, in Colville, Wash. Donna was born at home on Nov. 15, 1937, in Cedonia, Wash. She was the daughter of Robert Loren and Mildred Pauline (Timken) Dashiell. She was a farmgirl through and through, raised on the family farm in Cedonia. Donna attended grade school at the one-room schoolhouse in Cedonia. In the seventh grade, Donna began attending school in Hunters. She graduated from Columbia High School in 1955 as the Valedictorian of her class. She then moved to Spokane and worked as a secretary for Bekins Moving & Storage. On March 15, 1958, Donna married her high school sweetheart, Buddy “Bud” Raymond Sampson in Spokane, Wash. They resided in Spokane for a time and then returned to Cedonia in 1959. There they began raising a family, Donna worked in the home and on the family farm. In 1963 they purchased their own farm, and with the help of Donna’s parents, Loren and Mildred Dashiell, built a “Grade A” dairy from the ground up. They proudly shipped top quality milk to Darigold Farms for 23 years, being honored as Washington State Dairy Family of the year in 1974. Donna worked hard alongside Bud; never once complaining while raising their precious girls, tending to her garden, milking the cows, farming, mowing the yard, baking, and canning. She cooked large meals for the farm’s crews and would deliver the meals to the field in the back of their Ford LTD, complete with a washing station for before and after meals. In 1986, Donna and Bud sold the dairy and became full time wheat farmers, at which time Donna earned her Commercial Driver’s License so that she could drive “Ole’ Pete” the grain truck to the Hunters elevator to store those golden kernels to feed America. Bud preceded Donna in death on May 2, 2022. She resided on the farm until just recently when her health began to decline. Donna was loving and always devoted to her family and community. She was a wonderfully-talented seamstress and shared this gift with her daughters. Their sewing entries at the local fairs culminated with them attending the state fair year after year. She always wanted the girls to do their very best and look their best in everything they did. Donna was the dough maker for the Hunters Presbyterian Church fundraisers for many years. She and Bud enjoyed golfing, snowmobiling, bowling, and traveling in their fifth wheel camper. They traveled with their camper to Alaska, the Calgary Stampede, and to Branson, Missouri. She loved her life, no matter what she was doing, be it farming, milking cows, raising her family, or on the road for family gatherings, community functions, or just for fun! Donna was the church pianist at the Presbyterian Church in Hunters as well as a charter member of the Cedonia Community Church. She was also the sexton of the Cedonia Community Cemetery for over 40 years. She is survived by her daughters: Denise Steele of Hunters, Wash.; and Pam Hergesheimer (Rod) of Chewelah, Wash. Grandchildren: Jeffrey Gibson of Spokane Valley, Wash.; J.R. Steele of Hunters, Wash.; Jessica Nelson (Corbin) of Spokane, Wash.; Alicia Hergesheimer-Grady (Joe) of Fall City, Wash.; Jonna Hergesheimer-Savitz (David) of Spokane, Wash.; and Nephew/“Bonus Son” Mark Bakken (Diana) of Carlton, Wash. Seven great-grandchildren: Adrianna Gibson, Izabella Gibson, Lyla Savitz, Brooke Savitz, Kaylyn Savitz, Charlotte Grady, and Miles “Bubba” Grady. Brother William C. “Bud” Dashiell (Edith) of Caldwell, Idaho; and sister Thelma Walker of Kettle Falls, Wash.; sister-in-law Shirley Coulter (George) of Gig Harbor, Wash.; brother-in-law Wayne Sampson (Marlene) of Cedonia, Wash.; sister-in-law Tina Sampson of Colville, Wash.; son-in-law John H. Steele, of Fruitland, Wash; many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends. Donna was preceded in death by her husband Bud; her parents, Loren and Mildred; and sister Dorothy Bakken. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. March 7, at the Cedonia Community Church in Cedonia, Wash. Donna will be laid to rest beside her husband, Bud, at the Cedonia Community Cemetery with Pastor Ed Dashiell Officiating. The family would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Buena Vista Healthcare, and Danekas Funeral Home for their compassionate care and respect that was given to our mother. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cedonia Cemetery Association in care of Pastor Ed Dashiell. Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com . Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements. Previous Item Next Item

Keith Charlie Washburn | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Keith Charlie Washburn 68 May 31, 1957 - Oct 3, 2025 Keith Charlie Washburn, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, husband and friend passed away on Oct, 3, 2025, in Seattle, Wash., due to Leukemia. He was born on May 31, 1957 in Colville, Wash., the son of Robert Dale and Charleen Frances (Hawkins) Washburn. Keith was known for his funny personality, his gift of gab and his kind heart. In his younger years, Keith enjoyed playing and watching sports, mostly wrestling and playing golf. Very rarely would he miss watching a football game. He was a big Raider fan his entire life. Keith also loved hunting, fishing, boating, camping, snow skiing and snowmobiling. He made many fun memories with his friends that will last a lifetime. Keith was raised in Colville where he attended school and graduated in 1975, as a 12-year senior from Colville High School. Keith married his high school sweetheart, Kimberley Jutila on Sept. 30, 1978 and together they welcomed two boys, Brandon and Troy. Throughout Keith’s life, his family was at the heart of everything. He especially loved watching the boys at all their sporting events. He was a proud father. Keith worked at his parent’s business, Valet Cleaners and Laundry Mat in high school. He then worked locally for several businesses including Dodson’s Paint and Glass, Colmac, and Pratts Panorama Distributing before purchasing a supply service and renaming it Keith Service and Supply. Keith was in a horrible 4-wheeler accident in June of 1989, which changed his life, but he fought hard through his issues and continued to run his business for years. Keith and Kim divorced in 1997, and he never remarried. In 2000, he lost his son Brandon in a car accident. He was also preceded in death by his parents, numerous aunts, uncles and a few of his close friends. Keith is survived by his son, Troy Washburn (Ashley); his three granddaughters, Bailey Syverson Taylor (Keon) and Brooklynn; one great-grandson, Brixton Syverson, as well as countless friends who will remember him for his kindness and great sense of humor. A memorial service for Keith Charlie Washburn, will begin at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 15, at The HUB Senior Center in Colville, Wash. 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

Kettle Falls Girls Soccer Season Ends with Playoff Loss - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Kettle Falls Girls Soccer Season Ends with Playoff Loss November 12, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Kettle Falls Bulldogs' soccer season comes to a close. The Kettle Falls Bulldogs’ season came to an end Nov. 3, with a 6-0 loss to Davenport in a District 6 2B/1B opening-round, loser-out match at The Hub in Liberty Lake. The sixth-seeded Bulldogs (5-11-1, 5-8) battled throughout but couldn’t slow down the third-seeded Gorillas (15-2). Davenport scored four goals in the first half and added two insurance goals in the second. “The girls fought incredibly hard against one of the state’s best teams and made them work for their win,” said head coach Skyler Moore. “A proud moment of mine – and I hope a proud moment for parents – was the attitudes after the game. I heard nothing but praise from our girls on how we played and everyone was there to support each other. A winning culture is only possible with a good attitude and these girls have that.” Maddison House had 12 steals in the game, while Ireland Pinkler-Moody had four and Thea Cruden had two. Chloe Goodell sent two shots at Davenport while Sergio Whitney had one shot on goal. In the goal box, Audrey Morales had 19 saves. Kettle Falls wrapped up its fall campaign with five wins, showing steady improvement over the season in the competitive Northeast 2B League. “This was a special and historical season for Kettle Falls,” Moore said. “We had a lot of firsts: first win in nearly three years, first back to back wins ever and did it twice, first time earning a playoff seed and not receiving one because everyone makes it like it has been in the past. Most wins in a season… the list sort of goes on.” Moore added the end of the season is bittersweet as the Lady Bulldogs will lose four seniors. “It’s bittersweet because I know how special and pivotal this season is for the program, and one that hopefully sets the program on course for continuous success but at the same time we lose four really special players,” Moore said. “The girls worked so incredibly hard to get to this point over the last two seasons and they know they’ll have to work even harder now without those players, the league will be a little more open next year so they and I look forward to it.” Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Bulldogs Bite Back; Bulldogs Rebound with Road Win After Tough League Loss - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Bulldogs Bite Back; Bulldogs Rebound with Road Win After Tough League Loss December 17, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Kettle Falls' Mace Thivierge goes up for a shot against Northwest Christian. He scored 36 points against the Crusaders. Photo by Reeva Mertens-Martin. After suffering its first loss of the season against State 2B power Northwest Christian, the Kettle Falls boys basketball team bounced back Saturday, Dec. 13, with a convincing 67-39 road victory over Newport, improving to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in league action. A demonstratively different team this year, the Bulldogs didn’t tally their fifth win until Jan. 14 last year. Mace Thivierge continued to be one of the most potent scorers in all of northeast Washington. Against the Grizzlies, he poured in 20 points as the Bulldogs slowly pulled away from Newport. Kettle Falls led 29-16 at halftime, outscoring Newport in every quarter. Zac Burch added 16 points to the Bulldogs’ total, meaning that the Grizzlies couldn’t focus their defense just on Thivierge. The win came one night after a hard-fought home loss to unbeaten Northwest Christian, who is fresh off a fourth-place finish at the state tournament last season. Thivierge exploded for a game-high 34 points, including five three-pointers, but the Bulldogs couldn’t overcome a fast start by the Crusaders, falling 73-61. Northwest Christian’s offense focused on two focal points – Caleb Grant and Jonah Pope – who combined for 58 points. Despite the loss, Kettle Falls showed resilience. They were outscored by 13 points in the first quarter, but didn’t wilt. In the fourth quarter, Kettle Falls outscored the Crusaders 20-7. The Bulldogs showed they can travel long distances, picking up a 61-47 nonleague road win at Tonasket on Dec. 9, improving to 4-0 at the time. Thivierge scored 18 points, while Zander Johnson added 13 and Alex Mazanek chipped in nine, including a three-pointer. Kettle Falls used a strong third quarter to take control against the Tigers, outscoring Tonasket 21-7 and holding off a late push to secure the win. Through six games, the Bulldogs have the second-most potent offense in the entire league, scoring 380 points total. Their defense has given up the second-fewest points as well. The boys team faced Davenport Tuesday, Dec. 16; results were not available at press time. They are scheduled to host Reardan on Friday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m., then travel to Omak on Saturday, Dec. 20, for a game at 4 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

Christopher James Collins — 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 Christopher James Collins Christopher James Collins was born on Jan. 5, 2026, to parents Cheyanne Cable and Richard Collins of Chewelah, Wash. He weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces at birth. His maternal grandparents are Kristi Hale of Northport, Wash., and Michael Francis of Alabama. His paternal grandparents are Angie and Christopher Collins of Chewelah, Wash. His maternal great-grandparents are Dee McLaughlin of Northport, Wash., and Daniel Villines of Everett, Wash. His paternal great-grandparents are Tessie and Richard H. Collins of Chewelah, 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

Teresa (Nana) Irene Vining | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Teresa (Nana) Irene Vining 63 Nov 7, 1961 - Oct 15, 2025 Teres (Nana) Irene Vining, a devoted wife, daughter, loving stepmother, Nana, great-Nana, friend, and faithful servant of the Lord, went home to be with Jesus on Oct. 15, 2025 at the age of 63. Her life was a testament to grace, grit, strength, determination, and unwavering faith. Teres was born in Cutbank, Montana on Nov. 7, 1961, to Nick and Joan (Hurst) Negu. Teres was then raised on a ranch in northern British Columbia, Canada, where her love for horses and ranch life began. Her first job was with George Juker, working with race and chariot horses. After moving to the United States, where she lived with her Uncle Dick Hurst and his family, Teres graduated from Kettle Falls High School in 1979. Her journey into the world of cutting horses started with Billy Collins, setting her on a path that would span states and touch countless lives. She began her professional career working for Harlan Radomske in Ellensburg, Washington, starting colts by Doc Bar Gem. Her talent and dedication led her to the Doc Bar Ranch in California under Charlie Ward, and later to Texas, where she worked with esteemed trainers such as Barbara Schulte and Tom Lyons. One of Teres’ greatest career accomplishments was participating in several NCHA Futurity Cuttings. Teres returned to Kettle Falls to visit family often. It was on one of those visits, in 1990, that she met a handsome young man, Randy Vining. After several years of dating, she moved to Washington to begin their life together. Teres jumped right into parenthood to Randy’s three young children, Joy, Ryan, and Randy Jr. She was a great cook, attended sporting events, provided structure, and created a warm and loving home for Randy and the children. Being a horse trainer, she made sure the kids also had a horse, Chaps, of their own to ride and work as well. Teres continued to work and managed the Ron Knutson Ranch in Valley, Washington, for 15 years, and later trained horses independently while also assisting with trainings and cuttings at Bonina for Bob and Nina Lundgren. Teres was a devout Christian who loved the Lord above all else. Her faith was the cornerstone of her life, and she instilled these values in her family through her example, Bible studies, and constant prayer. She played a major role in strengthening Randy and the kids’ faith. She found immense joy in her role as a wife, stepmom, Nana, and great-Nana, cherishing every moment spent with her family. Teres loved caring for and training her horses, working alongside Randy with the cattle on their ranch, working harder than anyone around, and devoting hours to reading her bible and sharing her knowledge of it with her family and all who crossed her path. Another hidden talent that she didn’t display to many was her pencil drawings, she was quite the artist. She enjoyed hunting and did so as often as she could. She was famous for calling Randy to tell him to hurry up and get home; they had work to do because she had just gotten an elk or a buck. She was tough and resilient. Her legacy of love, faith, and dedication will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. Teres could not only do anything she put her mind to, but she did it well. She is survived by her beloved husband, Randy Vining of Chewelah; her mother, Joan Negu of Kettle Falls; daughter Joy McIrvin and husband Dave of Colville; son Ryan Vining of Spokane; daughter-in-law Cristy of Deer Park; son Randy Vining Jr. and wife Rhea of Daisy; brothers Ross Negu and wife Lisa of Idaho, and Ryan Negu; brother-in-law Tracey Vining and wife Fran of Kettle Falls, and Sister-in-law Kim Frostad and husband Troy of Yakima. Teres was a proud Nana to Haley (Joel), Autumn (Chayce), Katie (Dalton), Dawson (Essence), Sydney, Mackenzie, Cooper, and Bradyn, and a joyful great-Nana to Benjamin, Gemma, Birkley, Scarlett, Wynter, Judah, Barrett, Abigail, Ivey, Rhyatt, and a baby boy on the way. As well as numerous extended family members, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. A memorial service will be held at the Colville Ag & Trade Center on Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. Previous Item Next Item

Ring the Bell - 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 Ring the Bell July 16, 2025 By: Meredith Carroll Current view of church bell. Photo provided by Meredith Carroll. There are some who might say that a church isn’t complete without its bell. According to Dolores Smyth’s article, “What Is the Origin and Purpose of Church Bells?” church bells have been associated with churches since the fifth century, when they were used to call the community together for church services, as well as to alert for danger, births, and deaths. “The church bell has been a part of the Free Methodist Church in Colville since 1898,” said Elly Huguenin, who is a member, a volunteer, and subject matter expert on her church’s history. She has also been the church’s children’s ministry director. “Our church was founded in Colville in 1895 with only six members. In 1898, Mrs. Dingle raised the money to buy a church bell.” The woman who raised money for the church bell – known only as Mrs. Dingle – supplied the remaining money herself. According to Huguenin, “No one knows what the original cost of the bell was or where it came from. “On June 6, 1966, just after midnight, the church caught fire and burned to the ground,” said Huguenin. “The bell fell clear through to the basement, but it wasn’t damaged. We thought that in the fire, it had lost its sound. It was saved through, and wasn’t hurt. We think that the furnace caused the fire.” The church, erected after the fire of 1966, was built between 1966 and 1969 and is located on the corner of Elm and First Street. The Colville Free Methodist church occupied the building until 2019, when it purchased what is now the current location on the corner of Hawthorne and Madison. Restoration on the current church site was completed in 2022, according to Huguenin. The Elm and First Street location still stands today, and it is now owned by another congregation. “Restoration was completed in time for Palm Sunday Service,” said Dale Kaufman, pastor of the Colville Free Methodist Church. “This was also my first service as pastor. More additions have been completed since, and in the next several years, the hope and plan is to construct a Ministry Center with a gymnasium and more classroom and worship spaces.” “We finally hung the bell this spring,” said Huguenin. “Why did it take so long? Well, there’s been a lot of questions about that. Mostly, it’s because there have been other priorities.” “These other priorities were that our building needed complete restoration and renovation before it could be occupied,” said Kaufman. “Also, the field where the bell sits was overgrown with weeds, so it needed to be brought into shape before the bell could be displayed in a good manner. All of that takes time and money, which needed to be raised and the work completed, all of which was done without our church going into debt or borrowing any money at all. Our people are pretty proud of this.” “Our church bell is restored and hanging outside of our building,” said Huguenin. “The only thing missing is a clinger. We are not allowed to put a clinger inside of the bell. The city won’t let us ring it.” She added, “We restored the bell quietly, without celebration or honors. We just wanted people to know the story of the bell.” “The church has plans to erect a plaque memorializing the bell in the next couple of months,” said Kaufman. 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: 10/08/2025 - 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: 10/08/2025 October 8, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Car takes off the new highway onto the old road. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— CHEWELAH—The Congregational Church of Chewelah last Sunday celebrated the 46 th anniversary of the founding of the first protestant church in Stevens County, Sept. 14, 1879. The occasion also marked the anniversary of the first public address made in Washington by the Rev. Cushing Eells, missionary, who on Sept. 16, 1838, spoke to a gathering of Indians at Chewelah on his first tour in the state. Between 50 and 100 families are to find homes on the rich bench lands south of Kettle Falls, according to plans which have been under way for some time, and which are now announced. The lands south of the town of Kettle Falls, which are watered by the irrigation ditch of the Fruitland Irrigation Co., have never been entirely utilized, although they offer some of the finest home, farm, and orchard sites in the northwest. 75 Years Ago— Next year should see the breakthrough on the new highway between Kettle Falls and Republic, over the Sherman Creek route. The completion of this road will make a direct route between the two towns. The distance will be 28 miles. 50 Years Ago— A new, $225,000 grocery store construction was started this week on the north city limits of Colville. Bob Porter, owner of Porter’s Polka Dot, along with Sasquatch Local Development Corp. of Spokane, contracted Bryan Construction Co. of Colville to build the 9,600 square foot food store. Colville has been selected by the Washington State Bicentennial Commission as one of the cities to host the performance of the State Traveling Festival “Spirit of 76.” Gracing one of the rustic old walls of the Kettle Falls Railroad Depot is an old clock. The antique, which according to Kettle Falls Depot relief agent Alton Sanders keeps impeccable time, has an interesting story behind it. The clock, which is an original piece of equipment of the Northern Railroad, will, according to a notice located inside the clock, be granted to the Stevens County Historical Society, if and when it is replaced. (Burlington Northern donated the clock to the Historical Society, where it has been on display since 1977.) 25 Years Ago— Modern firearm whitetail and mule buck season opens Saturday in most areas of eastern Washington. A three-point minimum is required for mule bucks in most areas, while any whitetail buck with visible antlers is legal. A total of 2,617 veterans and dependents turned out for the third annual Tri-County Veterans Stand Down last week. David Tonasket rushed for a career-high 309 yards and four touchdowns as Inchelium cruised to a 64-14 win Friday afternoon over outmanned Curlew. 10 Years Ago— Washington state’s minimum wage will stay the same in 2016 – $9.47 per hour – because the national Consumer Price Index did not increase. Vern Vaagen of Colville recorded his first-ever hole-in-one last week when his tee shot on the 190-yard, par 3, 11 th hole at Dominion Meadows Golf Course found the bottom of the cup. Vaagen, a regular with the Wanderer’s Senior Golf Group, was using a Nike driver. 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

Newly Completed Chewelah Mural Combines Local and World History - 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 Newly Completed Chewelah Mural Combines Local and World History November 5, 2025 By: Tamara Lee Titus Sherri Ballman and Dennis MacDonald work on the years’ long American Legion mural. Photo courtesy Sherri Ballman and Dennis MacDonald. “It tells the story in time,” American Legion member Dennis MacDonald said when discussing the final painting day of the mural on the west wall of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 54 in Chewelah. This wall faces Highway 395 and is located at 111 S. Park Street near Main Street. MacDonald added that the mural is designed to honor veterans. The timeline from conception to completion for this project has spanned two years, starting with the initial proposal in 2023. “It was my dream,” said MacDonald, who is also president of the Riders, a nonprofit motorcycle enthusiasts group within the American Legion. “We started the process of getting the approval fall of 2023.” According to MacDonald, it took four months and, “Like almost all of the American Legions, we have what we refer to as the elders, in an affectionate way. By gender, men aren’t very good at change to begin with, so you have a board of five or six elderly men, and they are of the mindset, ‘Why would we change anything?’” MacDonald, who grew up in Chewelah, said he believed that “just putting a [drab] color on the outside of the building isn’t going to attract anyone. And it’s been that way since I was a little kid here. And they’ve all been happy with that.” By completing this mural, he hopes it will change the opinion of the VFW from “a facility known mainly as a place where gentlemen get together and drink [to what] it was designed to be: a meeting place, a melting pot of nothing but emotions, stories and carrying on family names.” Sherri Ballman, a local professional artist and American Legion Riders member, was the primary artist of the mural. “I hope we get more members from this,” Ballman said. “We do a lot of cool stuff. We are trying to make it more inviting.” MacDonald explained, “I had to go to four different meetings and make everybody understand it’s not going to cost anything. We had a couple of key players that were a part of the elders group who saw the vision and knew that there’s going to be a changing of guard in every facet of life. So when that comes, we have to be able to have something to pass on, something that people want.” He said the group considered receiving funding from the city, but ultimately declined. “There was a program here in town for the beautification of all the buildings. If you spent $4,000 upgrading your building, and you complied with the colors and everything they wanted, they would give you $2,000. The difference between what they wanted and what we wanted for the American Legion was considerable,” MacDonald said. Instead, the Riders raised the money for materials themselves and supplied all the volunteer labor to make their dream possible. He elaborated, “We do tons of fundraisers, we try to help people and other organizations, and of course, you have to take care of home base. We decided we would just do it, and the legion wouldn’t have to pay anything at all. The Riders group would absorb the cost of doing the whole thing. We wanted to take it on. “Within the Riders group, there are 20 members, 17 of whom are active,” said MacDonald. “The American Legion consists of families. At the top, you have the American Legion, next, you have the VFW-Veterans of Foreign Wars. Then, there is The Auxiliary (women’s group) and Sons of the American Legion, which is comprised of people who didn’t serve, yet can become Legion members through their grandfather's or father’s service. The last one that came along is the American Legion Riders. We are the newest to the families of the American Legion, and with that we have young blood.” Ballman added, “We spent more than $4,000 making this happen. It was a lot of repairs, a lot of paint; it was all on materials, none of the labor.” She commented on her experience during the process of approval: “They [the elders] were still apprehensive and wanted to make sure it was going to be suitable. So, I drew out a concept of it. They had to see some of my artwork, so we brought some in, so they could approve.” MacDonald quipped, “It was truly like applying for a job, yet the job isn’t going to pay.” Ballman said she was raised in Chewelah and attended elementary school with MacDonald. Her five-year-old granddaughter, Margaret Holm, has also been a contributing artist on the wall, the youngest participant in the project. MacDonald’s grandson, Colton McCroskey, age 6, too, has lent a hand to the efforts. During the fall of 2023, the Riders began work. MacDonald said, “The wall was plain and it was falling apart. A lot of these buildings are what we refer to as ‘pumice block ’; grey blocks with two holes in them. A lot of places put a stucco facade on them. The facade that was put on this one was concrete. So when it was breaking out, we had to take hammers and chisels to it. We spent the majority of that fall just cleaning and repairing the wall. They knocked mud out and mudded back in, replaced wood, removed concrete…It’s a very old building.” It wasn’t until the summer of 2024, they were able to begin painting. MacDonald said of the delay, “When you think you are just going to take a wire brush to clean a building up and get to work, well, that is definitely not what happened.” He also suffered a heart attack in July 2024. “I wasn’t a lot of help to the group for a while,” MacDonald remarked. “But everyone persevered and continued to make things happen.” Members of the Riders painted the base coat and Ballman started the panels. The mural is comprised of five vertical panels touching the street, a vertical end cap on the north corner and one large horizontal expanse across the top that includes an American flag, soldiers from all the Armed Services, and images of the Battle of Iwo Jima, the Arlington National Cemetery and the Post 54 sign. “Each panel is associated with a specific war or group within the VFW. Each one has a story,” MacDonald said. MacDonald and Ballman both put forth that the mural was a collaborative experience with community influence and involvement throughout, beginning with the south end, the first panel, which depicts Vietnam. Ballman said, while painting this first panel, “I was just going to do the gun and the paratroopers, and this guy, Dennis Bean, [American Legion member] kept riding up on his wheelchair everyday to watch to see what was going on. And he finally said, ‘Are you going to do any special forces?’ And I said, ‘Well, I hadn’t thought about it, but I can. He told me his story from when he was in Vietnam. [Although] I had already painted that guy’s uniform, he said, ‘Can you make it special forces?’ So I made it be him; I had to change his uniform because he wanted it to be the tiger-striped uniform.” Ballman said she also updated the patches to accurately reflect his status. “There was only one paratrooper mission in Vietnam and he was part of that. So, that was how that panel evolved,” she said. The second panel from the south showcases the Coast Guard. MacDonald clarified, “We didn’t really have any local individuals involved in that one. The Coast Guard is kinda new, and it’s only been in the last couple of years that the American Legion recognized the Coast Guard. That one we also wanted to have for our sign that explains what the American Legion is. Sherri and my daughter, Amanda McCroskey, made the wooden scroll sign on the second panel. “The third panel represents women and WWII,” MacDonald stated. “My want was to be sure we put a nurse on there; probably one of the most unsung heroes of anywhere. Nobody really thinks of them until you are looking up at one. By the time you are looking up at one, that is the only person in the world that matters to you at that moment. If it hadn’t been for two nurses, I wouldn’t be here,” he described gravely. MacDonald added that the Legion was founded to help soldiers “Transition from wartime to civilian life and the nurses were a big part of that.” Ballman further clarified,“They didn’t know what PTSD was back then, and so they would open it up and have nurses there to help these people and give them a place to talk. They called it ‘shell-shock’” Ballman said, “The nurse we used [in the mural] was actually a long-time resident of Chewelah, her name is Marie Alm.” MacDonald said Alme served in World War II. “Her daughter, May, sent us pictures of her. Her daughter is a member of VFW, but lives back east. The club is trying to figure out if we can help her come out to see the mural. We have several people who knew this family and this lady, and they said it is more of a portrait of her than a rendition. Sherri hit it,” he celebrated. The other woman shown in the panel is local VFW member Donna Meyers, who was in the Air Force. Ballman said, “She was on surveillance plans; she didn’t fly. We had to figure out a way to use her, so we took a World War II female pilot and put her face on it.” The fourth panel is dedicated to the Navy. “If we ever got more advice from anyone, any branch, it was the Navy. The numbers on the submarine represent the gentleman in here who served on that submarine: Ben Paramore,” MacDonald revealed. “Paramore, one of the elders, was also a huge advocate of this project.” MacDonald shared an anecdote illustrating Ballman’s attention to detail in this panel, “The submarine that Sherri found that carried the name that Paramore served on, somewhere in there had an upgrade and it had hand railing put on the deck. Everything she put up there, she put up to be a representation of that vehicle, whatever it may be. Ben [Paramore] came out and looked at it; he was all excited and he didn’t say one thing. Yet, in our texting back and forth, he said, ’By the way, I didn’t serve on the one that had handrails. I served on the older one that didn’t. But everything’s great, you don’t have to change anything.’ So, I shared that with Sherri and I will be darned if that hand railing didn’t disappear.” Referring to the fifth panel depicting a code talker from World War II, when the Navajo language was used by the military to communicate in secret, MacDonald said, “[With this mural] we were fortunate to capture things that some people really don’t know anything about. We have a local Native American member [Dan Nez] who is actually Navajo as a part of our organization. He represents the code talkers.” Consistent with the pattern throughout the mural, Ballman found an anonymous picture of a code talker, and she changed the face to look like Nez’s. MacDonald stated, “This tells a local story, but it tells a worldwide story. It’s very encompassing.” Ballman also emphasized, “A big point we strived for is that we didn’t want any blood and gore and no sadness, kneeling at a cross, anything like that. Just all positive and feel good.” MacDonald said, “If you take a minute and absorb everything that she put on this building, some facet of a true American’s life, they will feel the same thing they would if there was somebody kneeling at a cross. Just because those people were represented here, it truly doesn’t mean they came home. It’s always the backstory; it doesn’t get told very often, but it’s the backstory that kept everything upfront working. Not many families don’t have a story of someone who served or multiple somebodies who served. Sherri’s family served; her husband and son served in the Marines.” The final panel is the corner piece; Ballman announced, “What I am painting today is a picture of Dennis’ grandson, Colton McCroskey, and he is going to be at the bottom of this, saluting all the above. [McCroskey] will be in color, while all the rest is black.” “All the rest” refers to a symbolic representation of all the wars post World War I that the United States participated in, starting with a motorcycle from World War II, a tank from Korea, helicopters from Vietnam, jets from Desert Storm, a black stealth bomber for anything modern, which MacDonald suggested, "looks like a bat” and “a rocket at the top for the Space Force,” Ballman finished. MacDonald explained that they added that “because NASA has become part of the Armed Forces.” “In the beginning, I thought this would just take a couple of weeks, but it’s been a couple years more like.” Ballman said. “This summer in July, my husband, who had Alzheimer’s, came up missing and he still hasn’t been found in four months, so that slowed down things. Staying busy helps,” She confessed. Overall, she said, she is “so excited to be done. I loved doing it, but it’s taken up a lot of 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

Father Charles Henry Klutz | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Father Charles Henry Klutz 91 Sep 5, 1934 - Sep 15, 2025 Father Charles Henry Klutz, age 91, a 12-year resident of the Colville, Wash., community, passed away on September 15, in Colville. Fr. Klutz was born on Sept. 5, 1934 in Patterson, Calif., the son of Frank Paul and Wilhemina Irene (Camara) Klutz. He was raised in the Patterson and Petaluma, Calif., area, where he attended and graduated from high school. He then attended college, earned his bachelor’s degree, and was ordained a priest in the Eastern Catholic Church in 1963. Fr. Klutz began a family and they resided in Seattle, Wash., where he served the Priest of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East. In the late 1970s, Fr. Klutz relocated to Chicago where he continued his work at St. John’s Holy Apostolic Assyrian Catholic Church of the East. He retired in 2008 and continued in service of the church for five years until moving to Colville with his wife, Barabara. Barbara passed away on Oct. 24, 2013 and Fr. Klutz remained in Colville near family. He was a voracious reader from titles of fiction and philosophy to history and theology. Fr. Klutz worked in participation with Arch Deacon George Toma on the creation of the Catechism. He anchored himself in the sacraments and a life in service to the church. His prayer life was unceasing to the point that he wore the sacramental beads into pieces. Fr. Klutz loved to turn introductions into friendships and was fully present to those sharing in passing moments to continued conversation and presence. His wisdom, faith and love for people will be dearly missed. Fr. Klutz was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was preceded in death by one sister, Marilyn Ginger. Fr. Klutz is survived by his sons, David Cole (Kris) of Texas City, Texas, Richard Klutz (Ruby Tamayo) of Mukilteo, Wash.; daughters, Rebecca Kouf of Colville, Wash., Ruth Ratzlaff (Terry) of Enderby, British Columbia; siblings, Robert Klutz and Marjean Cannon both of California, 19 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service for Father Charles H. Klutz will begin at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Colville, Wash. The graveside service will follow at the Calvary Cemetery in Colville. Arch Deacon George Toma will officiate. Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at danekasfuneralchapel. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements. Previous Item Next Item

Local Residents Receive State Recognition - 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 Local Residents Receive State Recognition July 2, 2025 By: Meredith Carroll Gines wins medals at district track meet. Photo provided by Kaylin Gines. A local student and a school volunteer have received awards and recognition by the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA), an organization formed to promote leadership in communities, provide legislative support for education, and assist in the development of excellence in both student learning and opportunities for leaders ( wasa-oly.org ). WASA presents annual, statewide awards to those who show excellence in certain categories, two of which have been given to local recipients. The first honor is the Community Leadership Award which was given to Elissa Dyson, of the Onion Creek School District. “The award is a nice recognition for those who exhibit leadership in the community,” Dyson said. “I have served as Onion Creek School District board chair for more than 20 years. I assist with facilities and transportation, have facilitated the successful coordination with other districts, and I have a long history of service.” In addition to serving on the board, Dyson has worked with the students to publish a newsletter, participated in summer programs, and has had a hand in educational activities. Dyson started her long career of volunteering with Onion Creek in 1985, after her family relocated from Seattle. “During my entire service, I have never been a paid staff member,” Dyson said. “I’ve always volunteered my time.” She added that, “This award is special to me because between 1998 and 2018, I was the chair of WASA’s partner organization, the Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA). Every school district in the state of Washington is a member and participates in legislation and lobbying.” Dyson said she is proud to have visited every school in Washington with fewer than 2,000 students. “It took me 12 years to visit more than 200 schools,” she said. Dyson’s award comes with her decision to retire from service. “I actually made the decision in 2021 that I would not run for reelection in 2025,” she said. “I’m almost 78 years old. It’s time for me to have a little more freedom to travel and do other things. It will be hard, though. I’ve done this longer than I’ve done anything in my life.” Some of the best aspects of Dyson’s time with the Onion Creek School District, she said, was because of the people. “There are a lot of really great people involved in public education. I appreciate getting to know wonderful people, administrators, students, and teachers. There have been so many rich experiences.” But the last few years have been very challenging, according to Dyson. “It seemed like the first 35 years I was on the school board, everyone was unified in terms of goals and beliefs. And then, once we got into the pandemic, things fractured. Politics came into play. All of a sudden there was a rift. Politics has no place in education.” Dyson continued, “One thing I learned is how important schools are in the life of small communities. I plan on continuing my involvement with the district. I will still work with students on the newsletter and stay involved with what’s going on.” Kaylin Gines of Mary Walker High School in Springdale was given the WASA Student Leadership Award. This award recognizes outstanding student leaders who exhibit a leadership role in their school and promote social justice in their community. “I was nominated by the superintendent, because I do a lot of leadership,” said Gines. She is involved in a peer mentorship program, participates in public speaking and community service, and is a member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). “I also participate in the Tree of Sharing, which is a charity that helps people in need during the holidays.” Gines is also on her school’s volleyball team and trains her horse outside of school, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. “I really like being busy,” she said. “That’s how to make school more enjoyable. It means a lot to be able to mentor eighth graders as they prepare for high school. And since I love volleyball, I help out with that, coaching little kids. I’m actually being recruited by colleges for volleyball.” Gines added, “There aren’t a lot of negatives to the things I do, but sometimes it can be a lot to handle.” For more information about WASA, visit their website, wasa-oly.org . 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

Springdale Girls Basketball has Solid Foundation - 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 Springdale Girls Basketball has Solid Foundation December 3, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Springdale is heading into the 2025-26 girls basketball season with a veteran core of players as the Lady Chargers compete in the challenging NE 1B league. Head coach Drew Curry said,"Our expectation is to be a fundamentally sound team that gives ourselves a chance to win in every game by mastering the basics." This year’s roster leans heavily on juniors and freshmen, most of whom return with valuable experience gained last season. Curry said that familiarity should help the team step forward competitively. A strong junior class will set the tone, including E’Moni Wallette, Ashlynn-Mae Ford, and Savannah Smith. The Chargers are also excited to welcome newcomer Kazlin Rainer, who is returning to basketball for the first time since middle school. Two key contributors from last year’s eighth-grade group – Nevaeh Wallette and Asa Cannon – return ready to play bigger roles. Curry said he expects that mix of experience and up-and-coming talent to be one of the Chargers’ strengths. As the players continue developing, Curry said the Northeast 1B League will once again provide tough competition, with familiar programs battling for the top spots. "We have had a couple years of growth and this year we are focused solely on cutting our mistakes down to give us a chance to win every game," Curry said. "Our league is always tough and the usual group will be fighting for the top spot." Springdale hopes to open the season with confidence and a determination to turn that progress into wins, Curry said. 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