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Betty Ann Garvey | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Betty Ann Garvey 97 Sep 13, 1928 - Oct 14, 2025 “I wish people didn’t die; but when you die in the world, you don’t die in your families’ hearts.” Piper Cole Betty Ann Garvey passed away peacefully on Oct. 14, 2025, with her daughters and family members by her side. She was born on Sept. 13, 1928, in Ponca, Neb., to Paul Harry Engel and Neva Jane Roberts. She was even born in the same room that her father was born in. Betty and her family moved from Nebraska to Montana and eventually they made their way to Colville, Wash., where they made their home. Betty graduated from Colville High School in 1946 and shortly after, she met the love of her life, James Richard “Dick” Garvey, at a community dance. They were married on Jan. 15, 1947. Together they lived in Colville, Wash., where they started their family and were blessed with four daughters. For over 10 years, Betty drove buses for Colville Schools and even drove some of her own grandchildren. She never let her small stature scare her away from those big buses. She was very involved in numerous activities and was a member with multiple organizations where she put in a lot of time and energy. Some of these include being a 4-H Leader, Stevens County Cowbells member, Washington Mills Home Ec club member and a lifetime member of the Fort Colville Grange. Betty loved being outdoors farming and ranching, raising livestock and especially running all the farm equipment. After her and Dick retired from the farming and ranching life, Betty spent a lot of time working in the flower and vegetable gardens. She loved mowing her lawn on her riding lawn mower and did so even at the age of 97, much to the dismay of her family. She cherished her family time and loved it when everyone, including extended family, could come together and enjoy each other’s company. She especially loved being a great and great-great grandma. Her eyes lit up when the little ones would come and visit and when she could, she would join in the play time. Betty was preceded in death by her husband Dick, her parents Paul and Neva, her sisters Dolly Bar and Pauline Saffel, and her son-in-law Steve Heater. She is survived by her daughters Marilyn (Monte) Ogden of Colville, Nancy Heater of Colville, Patty (Charlie) Benner of Enderlin, N.D., Jerry Garvey of Colville, seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, numerous great-great grandchildren and her nieces and nephews. The family of Betty Garvey would like to invite you to join them for the Graveside services at Mountain View Park Cemetery on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m. with a gathering after at the Fort Colville Grange. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made In Memory of Betty Garvey, to the Colville FFA Chapter at Colville High School. Previous Item Next Item

Out of the Past: 08/27/2025 - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Out of the Past: 08/27/2025 August 27, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Fred Draper Lumber Co. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— Failure to close public dances at 1 o’clock in the morning is responsible for much trouble throughout the county, according to reports which come to the Sheriff’s Office. The use of liquor by some of the dance patrons, and the early morning escapades following the late dances, have caused the sheriff to make many trips in an attempt to preserve order. Fred Draper has moved his office from Aladdin and hereafter will be found at the Fred Draper Lumber Co. office at the mill in Colville, formerly called the Colville Lumber Co. As the days become shorter, auditor McLean finds business improving in the marriage license line. 75 Years Ago— The swimming ban has been lifted at the Kettle Falls beach. Claude E. Grieder, superintendent of the Coulee Dam Recreation Area, said tests of the water did not show pollution enough to close the beach. Residents in the Kelly Hill area are going to be asked what they think about state and national affairs this week. The Washington Public Opinion Laboratory is going to be asking for opinions in that part of the county as part of a state-wide public opinion check. Colville may obtain federal aid for development of a complete lighting system at the city airport. NORTHPORT—Members of the Business and Professional Women’s Club presented the city council last Wednesday with a deed to a strip of land formerly owned by Mrs. Stella Lowry, across the river, to be used for an airport. 50 Years Ago— The Stevens County Historical Society this week opened their drive to build a museum and build a historical complex on the Keller property in northwest Colville. In their proposal, the society announced they have entered into a 99-year lease with the city of Colville on the Keller Trust property. The Northwestern Racing Association and its fans enjoyed an exciting day of racing Sunday at Panorama Speedway. In the main event it was Dave Weaver capturing top honors in his car No. 32. Second place went to Carey Rose in car No. 54. 25 Years Ago— Six Statesman-Examiner subscribers walked away with prizes from a drawing held last week for the annual Statesman-Examiner “Subscriber Appreciation” promotion. The Colville newspaper held a three-week customer appreciation promotion to “say thanks to their long-standing subscribers.” Second year Superintendent Mike Blair indicated that approximately 850 students are expected to walk through the doors on the opening day of school Sept. 6, in the Kettle Falls School District. Alan Trusler, president and co-founder of Aladdin Hearth Products, cut a ribbon on Aug. 25, in dedication and celebration of their new multi-million dollar facility in Colville. 10 Years Ago— Preparations for the third annual Festival of Neighbors in Kettle Falls are being finalized. One of the community’s major celebrations, it will be held at Happy Dell Park on Sept. 12. COLVILLE—The Stevens County Fire Benefit will be held Saturday at the Northeast Washington Fairgrounds in Colville. According to organizers, “100% of all donations will go to fire victim recipients.” 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

Sackman, Davis Shine Again For Colville Wrestling - 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 Sackman, Davis Shine Again For Colville Wrestling January 21, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen In a pair of eastern Washington tournaments last week, the Crimson Hawks earned a fifth-place finish from sophomore Bryce Davis (138 pounds) at the Rumble in the Valley in Prosser, scoring 18 team points. Colville’s Haiden Sackman brought home a runner-up finish at the Bring Home Da Beef girls tournament. After receiving a first-round bye, Davis dropped into the consolation bracket following a loss to Cannon Meagher of Kennewick, then mounted an impressive run that included four consecutive wins by fall. Davis pinned Nathaniel Flores of Othello, Xavier Charvet of Grandview, and Trayvon Braziel-Lee of Fife before earning a major decision over Francisco Valencia of Toppenish. Davis was stopped again by Meagher in the consolation semifinals, but closed the tournament on a high note, pinning Jimmy Le of Lake Stevens in 44 seconds to secure fifth place. On the girls' side, Sackman delivered a standout performance at the Bring Home Da Beef tournament in Quincy, placing second at 120 pounds. Sackman advanced through the bracket with a pair of byes before pinning Genevieve Daly of Longview in the quarterfinals and Georgia Rowton of Longview in the semifinals. Sackman reached the championship match before falling to Victoria Black of Cashmere, a highly accomplished wrestler with a 22-5 record. 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: 07/02/2025 - 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: 07/02/2025 July 2, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Colville July 4, 1886 parade. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— Last Saturday, Sunday, and Monday were earthquake days for the west and northwest. The shock was felt more at the Colville Flour Mill than any other place in the valley. John Bresnahan stated that the building swayed back and forth, and he estimated that at the top of the building, the swaying was about six inches. July 4 Headlines—Independence Day celebration in Colville. Baseball: Colville vs. Springdale. Immense pyrotechnic display in the evening. 75 Years Ago— Negotiations are already underway for the establishment of a state park at St. Paul’s Mission on Lake Roosevelt, overlooking Marcus Flat. (Became property of National Park Service in 1974). Another Lassie film and a Western are booked together at the Alpine Theater Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Old times will come alive at the city park here Sunday. Attorney Thomas Oakshott, director of the Eastern Washington Historical Society, will be the principal speaker. His topic will be “When Stevens County Was Young.” 50 Years Ago— Rapidly nearing its anticipated opening in October is the ferro-silicon building at Northwest Alloys, Inc., the new multi-million-dollar plant at Addy. A federal court this week issued a temporary restraining order stopping arrests or citations by the State Game Department of sportsmen fishing on the Colville Indian Reservation. Four Colville boys won their way last weekend at Greenacres Raceway to the Yakima High School Moto-Cross Championships at Seattle International Raceway. Those placing in the top four in their respective classifications were Steve Fogle, Don Lentz, Mike Clark and Mickey Mumau. 27 Years Ago— CHEWELAH—One of eastern Washington’s premiere community events will unfold this weekend when the old-fashioned “Chataqua” celebration gets underway at Chewelah City Park. The town of Northport celebrated its 100-year anniversary with a three-day extravaganza full of old-fashioned fun, entertainment and food last weekend. Gabe Cruden, Orient-area resident, has joined the Statesman-Examiner reporting staff. Readers may recall examples of Cruden’s photography in past issues of the Stateman-Examiner . He has been employed previously at the Examiner as a darkroom technician and as a staff photographer. 10 Years Ago— Hawthorne Street will re-open to traffic on Wednesday after almost five months of repair work and reconstruction. The annual Colville Fireworks show promises to be more spectacular this year, according to Northeast Washington Fair manager, Lori Matlock. The Colville Community Center (The Hub) celebrated on June 16, when the final payment of $42,032.12 was made to the contractor on The Hub construction project. 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

Judy Lynn Current | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Judy Lynn Current 83 Aug 16, 1942 - Dec 8, 2025 Judy Lynn Current, a 40-year resident of Colville, Wash., passed away on Dec. 8, 2025. Born on August 16, 1942, in Seattle, Wash., Judy grew up learning to meet new people easily as her family moved often when she was young. Judy never met a stranger! She attended Colorado State University, where she earned her degree in Occupational Therapy, a field that allowed her to express her compassion and caring for others. While attending CSU, Judy met Warren Current and they were married on Dec. 26, 1964. Throughout her life, Judy cared for others, not only through her work as an occupational therapist, but also in her meaningful contributions as a certified LTC Ombudsman through the Eastern Washington LTC Ombudsman Program, for which she received special recognition for her 20 years of volunteer service. She especially enjoyed hearing the stories and varied histories of the residents at the Buena Vista Healthcare facility in Colville. In earlier years, Judy and Warren enjoyed traveling to Hawaii and the Southwest, creating treasured memories. Judy loved watercolor painting, photography, doting on her five grandchildren, and the simple joy of sitting on the porch with Warren, watching birds and sunsets. Judy is survived by her devoted husband, Warren Current, with whom she shared nearly 61 years of marriage. She is also survived by her son, Jeff Current, his wife Margriet, and their sons Evan and Jacob; as well as her daughter, Amy Paschall, her husband Jeff, and their children Sadie, Ella, and Claire. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Helen Simpson, and her sister, Carol Watson. Judy’s legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the family and friends who will carry her memory in their hearts. A celebration of Judy's life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ombuds Program at snapwa.org, or checks to SNAP (with Ombuds Program noted in memo) can be mailed to 3102 W. Whistalks Way, Spokane, WA 99224. Previous Item Next Item

Colville Notches Several Podium Finishes in East Valley - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Colville Notches Several Podium Finishes in East Valley December 31, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Colville wrestling team picked up multiple podium finishes at the East Valley Winter Clash on Dec. 22 at East Valley High School, with Crimson Hawks wrestlers competing across five weight classes against a deep regional field. Colville placed two wrestlers at 113 pounds. Andy Ussery delivered the team’s top finish at the weight, placing third after a strong tournament run. Ussery opened with an 8-0 major decision over Kettle Falls’ Mason Snider, then advanced via medical forfeit before pinning Newport’s Alex Garris in one minute. He was edged 8-6 by eventual champion Josh Bair of Kettle Falls, and dropped a tight tiebreaker match to Hanford’s Slade Clayton to settle into third place. Teammate Asher Culler also competed at 113 pounds and placed sixth, gaining experience in a demanding bracket. Vincent Canada turned in one of Colville’s strongest performances at 138 pounds, battling through the consolation bracket to place third. Canada opened the tournament with a major decision win over Newport’s Johnny Hamilton, rebounded from an early loss, and then strung together four straight victories. His run included a technical fall over Cheney’s Hawika Lourdea and three pins, capped by a 41-second fall over East Valley’s Gianni Salina in the third-place match. At 157 pounds, Trent Seitters matched that third-place finish with an all-pin tournament. Seitters recorded falls over Republic-Curlew’s Mason Simons and Cheney’s Avree Goodner before a forfeit loss in the semifinals. He responded with two more pins in the consolation rounds, including a fall over Northwest Christian’s Noah Stegman in the third-place match. Colville also earned points at 175 pounds, where Caesar Stuart placed seventh. Stuart opened with a close 15-12 loss to Colfax’s Austin Campbell and later finished the tournament with a forfeit win in the seventh-place match. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

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

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

Larry Clifford Gleave | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Larry Clifford Gleave 81 Nov 22, 1943 - Sep 11, 2025 Larry Clifford Gleave, age 81, a longtime resident of Arden and Colville, Wash., passed away on Sept. 11, at his home. Larry was born on November 22, 1943 in Colville, Wash., the son of Walter and Hazel (Titus) Gleave. He was raised in Arden where he attended grade school in a one-room school house. Larry then finished his education at the Colville High School and graduated with the class of 1961. Following high school, Larry then moved to Everett, Wash., and worked at Boeing for a year-and-a-half before returning to the Colville area. He then logged with horses alongside his brother Floyd. On March 14, 1964, Larry exchanged vows with the love of his life, Rosemary Ivana Sundheim. This began a loving marriage of 55 years where Larry doted over his Rosemary every day. He worked locally for the Vanstone Mine, and then returned to logging with Fred Lotze and for himself. The job he enjoyed most was working the cattle ranch on the homestead where he lived for 60 years. Larry retired in 2010 after running heavy equipment with his son, Gleave Excavation. Larry and his grandson, Travis had a breeding program for performance horses (roping horses). He filled his day with horse projects, tinkering and purpose throughout his retirement. Larry was cut from a cloth where long days and hard work was the only expectable course in a day, every day. He found enjoyment while riding his horse and had a passion for team roping. It was rare when Larry took a vacation, but Rosemary enjoyed bringing him to his brother's beach house on Rockwood Beach. He was always willing to “show ya” how to do something and share his great sense of humor. He traveled with his kids as they would rodeo in the summers and was always supportive with words and works of encouragement. His family will forever offer their reflections of Larry as a loving, caring and attentive husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Larry was a founding member of the Old Timers Rodeo and a longtime member of the Colville Valley Roping Club. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosemary, and siblings, LeRoy Titus, Richard Gleave, Floyd Gleave, Robert Gleave, Don Gleave and Sharon Sundheim. Larry is survived by his children, Mary Furtner of Colville, Wash., Roxane Edison (James) of Medical Lake, Wash., Larry Gleave (Erin) of Cheney, Wash.; grandchildren Cassie Haddock (Steven), Travis Eller (Taylor), Chance Gleave (Kaitlyn Meek), Tylor Edison, Cheyanne Gleave, Jake Edison; great-grandchildren Kade, Brynlee, Jon, Greyson, and Rosie; siblings Dale Gleave of Colville, Wash., Bonnie Warner of Nebraska, Eugene Gleave (Pam) of Colville, Wash., and Linda Gallo of Colville, Wash.; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of extended family and friends. A memorial service for Mr. Larry C. Gleave will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, at the Arden Community Hall in Arden, Wash. Memorial contributions may be given to the Arden Old Timers Rodeo. 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

Feed & Frippery Updated Store in Kettle Falls - 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 Feed & Frippery Updated Store in Kettle Falls July 9, 2025 By: Meredith Carroll Feed and Frippery outside view. Photo provided by Meredith Carroll. The Feed & Frippery in Kettle Falls is much more than meets the eye; it’s a one stop shop for hay, bait, small batch sourdough, locally sourced coffee, cleaning supplies, handmade jewelry, and much more. “This store used to be Weeks Outfitters, owned by my husband Jeremy, but I have reopened at Feed & Frippery,” said store owner Sarah Weeks. “Jeremy operated this as a feed supply and outfitter, but he couldn’t be here to run it. So, I took over, changed the name, and put my own style into it.” Upon reopening it, Weeks decided to add her own twist to the business. “I’ve brought in a little more feminine energy, and more homey energy. I changed the sign and added some wall décor.” Weeks said that she will continue to supply straw, alfalfa, and grain as well as sell bait and necessities for local campers in need of a general store. She’ll continue to be well stocked in dog treats, animal feed, and limited cleaning supplies. “But the ‘frippery’ part is what’s new,” she said. “‘Frippery’ applies to things we enjoy but don’t necessarily need. They’re things that bring us joy.” Weeks said she has worked to curate small batch laundry soap, local cheeses, baked goods, and all kinds of artwork and décor. “I want to add in a candy counter. I’m also hoping to sell some clothes, but that’s a whole different beast,” Weeks said, adding that she also offers engraving, custom t-shirts, metal, wood, and leather craft. “A lot of what I sell comes from consignment vendors,” said Weeks. “I currently have 26 vendors. I also have an independently owned salon in here.” The salon is called The Beauty Garage, and is owned and operated by Angelina Sink. “She is the only gal around who does permanent makeup and jewelry,” Weeks said. Sink also does nails and is currently in school to do hair. Feed & Frippery officially opened at the end of June. “It has been a smooth transition. Since my business is located at an old service station, I really want to play off the old service station vibe. We are a work in progress,” said Weeks. “I also have a store mascot. Roddy is my chihuahua. He lives with me and comes to work with me,” Weeks said. “What I offer at Feed & Frippery is supposed to make you a little happy,” she said. “We all need at least five minutes of something to make us happy.” Weeks’ hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Feed & Frippery is located in Kettle Falls at 1161 Highway 25, at the corner of Old Kettle Highway and Highway 25, and can be contacted at 509-936-4556. 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: 07/09/2025 - 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: 07/09/2025 July 9, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum George Seal hauling ore over the mountains in the late 1800's between the Columbia river and the Addy train station. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— The Colville-Spokane stage line has received the third new Pierce Arrow stage of the parlor car type, which makes all new equipment for the line from Colville to Spokane. Occasionally, there are young men and women raised and schooled in the Colville valley who rise to distinguished places among the citizens of the United States. This week we can chronicle such an item of two Colville boys who have reached another steppingstone to higher fame. The young men are William McMillan and Siegfried Strauss, both recently graduating from medical colleges as MDs. 75 Years Ago— A flying saucer traveling at a terrific rate of speed was reported seen over Christina Lake Wednesday morning. Construction of new law offices for John T. Raftis and realty offices for the Squire-Beardslee Realty Company was begun in the Forman building this week. If pigs sneeze frequently and their snouts are pushed in or twisted, swine raisers may have a serious disease problem in their herds. Addy Grange will hold a “free” dance Saturday night in celebration of full payment for their Grange Hall which was built two years ago. 50 Years Ago— With the notice from the Small Business Administration that the Jessie Webb Vocational Center’s loan application for $100,000 has been approved, the Center will proceed with the purchase of Colville Floral and Nursery from Charles and Rhoda Simpson. Karen Smith, the former Karen Wickstrom of Colville, has been named tourist promotion director for Alaska Airlines. She will be stationed at Sea-Tac Airport. Smith is a 1962 Colville High School graduate. 27 Years Ago— The Parking Commission made both its grievances and wishes known to the Colville City Council at the June 27 council meeting. Dan Blackman, chairman of the commission, said the goals largely happened. But the shortage of parking has since become a major issue in Colville, and the commission lacks both the authority and the funds to negotiate or buy new lots or spaces. Construction of the modern “giant” consumed months and months. People passing through and entering Colville’s northern city limits were continually greeted by the rather large and impressive structure being built just off Highway 395. The state-of-the-art facility, completed in April, is the new home to Aladdin Hearth Products. 10 Years Ago— On Monday evening, June 29, Stevens County experienced a wind event that caused extreme damage to properties along Highway 20 East, in the Crystal Falls area. With thousands of trees uprooted or snapped off, both state and county roads were blocked and power lines were knocked down. The windstorm affected more than 770 residents. RICE—Dan and Sally Lester of Rice, Wash., were surprised to be awarded Volunteers of the Year by the Washington State Grange organization. Nominees are not Grange members, so the competition is tough and not limited in numbers. 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

Local Ranchers Voice Complaints Against State Agencies and Policies - 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 Ranchers Voice Complaints Against State Agencies and Policies December 3, 2025 By: Tamara Lee Titus The Stevens County Cattlemen’s Association (SCCA) issued a press release on Nov. 21, urging farmers, ranchers and landowners in eastern Washington to report “aggressive” state agencies through an online portal (usda.gov/lawfare) created by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). “We are seeing our state regulatory agencies get increasingly hostile with landowners and cattlemen,” said Scott Neilson, president of the SCCA. “Whether this is with Department of Ecology (DOE) when it comes to access to water, or with the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) refusal to confirm wolf depredations or remove problem wolves, these agencies are operating in a way that hurts local residents and economies,” Nielsen stated. USDA officials said their mission is to keep America's farmers and ranchers in business and ensure the nation's meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled. They distribute federal funds along these lines and, according to Nielsen, “The money is supposed to go to helping agriculture, yet our state agencies are using it to cripple ranchers.” Per the SCCA press release, “The Department of Ecology is projected for the 2025-2027 fiscal year to receive over $469 million in federal funds representing over 20% of their combined operating and capital budgets. The WDFW is expected to receive over $172 million to their operating budget representing 21.8% of total operating budget funds.” This money is supposed to also help cover costs incurred by ranchers in loss of cattle due to predator attacks, according to Nielsen, who said, “The state is given money to give ranchers as compensation, yet they cap it at $30-$40,000 a year; the feds are saying ‘why are we giving them all this money to have them cap it out to producers?’” The SCCA press release included an announcement from Brooke Rollins, USDA Secretary of Agriculture, made in April of their move to "launch a new web portal to help ranchers, farmers and landowners report cases of lawfare from government agencies.” Rollins defined “lawfare” as legal action undertaken as part of a hostile campaign against a group.” Nielsen said, “These agencies are significantly funded using federal dollars, and we anticipate that with enough public comment, these USDA funds will either influence state management to work in a productive manner with Agriculture, or United States Department of Agriculture funds should be withdrawn from the state of Washington.” Some complaints that ranchers have voiced to Nielsen include the concern that the state agencies are not user friendly. He said, “Multiple producers have claims that are more than the department will pay out and the department protocol is to give you a form and tell you to call a number that is inactive." He explained, “You have to do the form properly and if it’s not, they send it back repeatedly and then send you an offer for only a fraction of what you asked for.” Nielsen said that claims often lead to litigation, costing the rancher time and lawyer fees, which interferes with production. He also shared that the ranchers feel they have to fight all the way through the process, which seems counterproductive. The process Nielsen referred to is to prove wolf predation on rancher’s livestock. He said, “The wolves are a major concern for producers in the area. There have been hundreds of losses in one year in Stevens county, but only a few confirmed depredations. The WDFW will say there has only been four to six, and the criteria to get a confirmed depredation is that you must have hemorrhaging.” According to Nielsen, for an animal that has been killed and not found for a few days, this is very difficult to prove because, by then, the body is scavenged. “You must prove the animal was alive when the wolf bit it; it’s a high bar. The department will push back saying the animal died there and wolves just scavenged [after the fact],” he added. Nielsen continued, “Depredation means an attack on a cow by a wolf; it doesn’t necessarily mean the cow was killed. Frankly, they are likely still alive when a wolf bites a cow…you can see the bite marks usually on the rear flanks, where wolves generally attack. It is a little bit unusual to find a dead one.” He called the process “unfair because bitten up ones we can find, but to get to removal you have to have a dead one, and you have to reach their number of three attacks in 30 days, or four [attacks] in 10 months for them to start to consider it.” Nielsen persisted, “It’s really damaged relations with local staff and ranchers. They treat us fair, they come out and do an investigation, but then it gets evaluated by a team of people who have never been to the scene and seen it. The original point of all of this is that I don’t think that that is what the Department of Agriculture intended when they gave money to Department of Fish and Wildlife.” When contacted about this recent SCCA press release, the WDFW eastern region director Mike Kuttel Jr. stated, “WDFW is committed to a self-sustaining population of gray wolves in Washington, along with livestock protection, through strategies including proactive and reactive non-lethal measures, incident response, and stakeholder engagement. Our conflict specialists work closely, and regularly, with ranchers and farmers to find solutions to conflicts with wildlife. Part of their job is to stay in close contact with producers in their area.” Regarding the SCCA’s claim that the WDFW has refused to confirm wolf depredations or remove problem wolves, Kuttel Jr. said, “WDFW received only one official request from Stevens County producers in 2025 to investigate suspected wolf depredations on livestock. If the department isn’t notified of producers’ concerns, we have no opportunity to investigate depredations. Investigations are a requirement for those seeking compensation for losses from probable or confirmed wolf depredations or for WDFW to manage wolf-livestock conflicts in a way that minimizes livestock losses by the producers.” He continued that, “In past years, WDFW has investigated livestock depredations and lethally removed wolves in Stevens [County] and neighboring counties under the guidelines provided in the Wolf-Livestock Interaction Protocol.” Kuttel Jr. asserted that the “WDFW values input provided by Stevens County farmers and ranchers and have provided opportunities for engagement and feedback regarding management through public meetings, accessibility to staff on a daily basis and through the Wolf Advisory Group (WAG), which advises WDFW’s director, Kelly Susewind, on management of wolves in Washington. It has five members that represent the ranching/agricultural community and includes a member from the Stevens County Cattlemen’s Association.” According to WAG’s website, this group is tasked with recommending strategies for reducing conflicts with wolves outlined in the state's Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. Specific issues include: encouraging livestock producers to take proactive, preventative measures to decrease the risk of loss; providing compensation for economic loss due to wolf predation; monitoring recovery of the wolf population and its effect on prey species; and providing information to the public on wolf recovery in Washington. Per WDFW website, gray wolves are listed as endangered under state law throughout Washington, and, “Under state law, illegally killing a wolf… is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.” Kuttel Jr. said, “WDFW is committed to working with the producers of Stevens County. We understand the hardship that conflict with wildlife can present and we work to find ways to mitigate it. We have staffers that not only work but live in Stevens County. The area’s farmers and ranchers are their neighbors, and staff know their concerns first-hand.” Nielsen remarked, “The more problems people have with wolves, the less they work with the department, because it’s become such a dysfunctional model. They [the ranchers] will try and do what the department asks… yet they [WDFW] keep adding on, most of what they are asking are things that serve as a stall tactic.” He said there are multiple investigations on the Sherman pack which started depredating early in the spring, stating, “They [WDFW] removed one wolf all season from that pack and I believe that pack has killed or maimed hundreds of cattle.” Nielsen commented, ”Much of that process could be working the way it’s supposed to. I am closer to it, because I am involved and can see where the breakdowns are happening. The policy side is where the problems are coming from.” Nielsen said policies coming out of the DOE have resulted in letters sent to local residents regarding water rights for cattle and the potential to pollute. This is another form of “harassment," that could be reported through the lawfare web portal, according to the SCCA press release. In a USDA’s press release, the portal is described as a way to address “senseless politically motivated prosecution” being driven by federal funds. Nielsen said, “There are ongoing battles regarding cows’ access to water, and anything short of a tank, but that’s not consistent with the law. The DOE has a terrible overreach; they don’t want cows having access to live water.” He continued, “They argue they have authority over ranchers and if a cow has access to water, it causes pollution. Yet the Natural Resources Conservation Services has said that most of that pollution is coming from home septic systems, soaps or stream temperature. I don’t believe our farms are causing the water pollution; they aren’t proving it’s impaired from livestock. They are overstepping the conservation district.” Brook Beeler, DOE eastern region director, stated, “Just three weeks ago, Ecology director Casey Sixkiller and I sat down with Stevens County ranchers, landowners, and elected officials in Chewelah to hear their concerns and talk about how we can work together to protect water quality. We are committed to building positive, collaborative relationships with landowners. These partnerships are important because they help us identify lasting solutions that support both working lands and clean water. We encourage members of the agricultural community to contact us directly with any questions or concerns about our work.” Beeler continued, “In the Colville Valley, and throughout the state, our approach is to work with landowners to offer both technical and financial assistance to support cleaner water. We also connect landowners with trusted partners, such as the local conservation district, which provides additional programs and resources. Much of the funding our agency receives gets passed on to communities in the form of grants and loans to support clean water work. This includes programs to repair and replace leaking septic systems and grants to local organizations that work with landowners.” Nielsen said, “This portal is for far more than just northeast Washington; it’s nationwide, but they are getting an amazing number of hits about agency overreach in the state of Washington. We can’t make the WDFW do anything, but they can stop funding them if they don’t do anything about this. We want to get some eyebrows raised about the DOE letters, or not being treated right in the wolf issue. The sheer volume of complaints from Washington will bring attention.” 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