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Northport Volleyball Claims Fourth Straight NE 1B Title - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Northport Volleyball Claims Fourth Straight NE 1B Title October 29, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Northport is a small town in northern Stevens County, just a short jaunt from the Canadian border, that has dealt with threats from some of the state’s largest wildfires and suffered the loss of a member of its baseball team and their superintendent. Despite the hardships and losses, the Northport volleyball team has earned the NE 1B North Division title. “Our community has endured so much tragedy in the last six months that it has made all of us take a step back and reflect on what truly matters,” Northport head coach Shyanne Guglielmino said. “We have learned not to take things for granted and to enjoy every minute with our loved ones. Playing volleyball has been an outlet for all of us, and the gym is an escape from the overwhelming grief that members of our Mustang family are dealing with. At the end of the day, we're just happy to be together and be able to play a game that we all love.” Featuring a balanced lineup, a literal switch-hitter on offense and a legacy that stretches back years, the Northport volleyball team came in focused, poised and dominant. The Mustangs clinched their fourth consecutive division title with wins over Selkirk and Cusick over the weekend. They once again asserted themselves as one of the most consistent small-school programs in the region. The week started with their toughest test in league play on Oct. 23 against Republic. This match had plenty of swings and quality volleyball. Republic came out hot, winning the first set 25-11, and then survived 27-25 in the second set. Northport stormed back and dominated the Tigers 25-7 in the third set, but Republic was able to win a close fourth set 26-24. Kate Beardslee turned in one of her best performances of the year, posting 18 kills, 18 digs, and three aces, while Dalilah Colton tallied 23 assists. Liesel Stark added three blocks. It was no doubt a preview of two quality squads duking it out if they meet up in the postseason. It did, however, add some drama in Northport’s final two games of the season. “We had to beat Cusick and Selkirk yesterday, Oct. 25, to clinch the north as we tied with Republic in wins/losses,” Guglielmino said. “Our only losses were with each other, so it came down to Azzie points (we ended with 100 and Republic with 95). Yesterday were our final regular season games, which ended up being very important for those Azzie points. If we had lost either one of those games, Republic would have taken the #1 seed out of the North.” The Mustangs made quick work of the Rangers on Oct. 25, on the road behind a balanced performance that showcased both their front-line power and back-row defense winning 25-11, 25-16, 25-20. Senior Beardslee tallied nine kills and a block to lead Northport at the net, while Colton orchestrated the offense with 19 assists and added four aces from the service line. Defensively, Mallaine Hackenberry anchored the backcourt with 10 digs. On the same day, Northport took a three set victory over Cusick on the road, 26-24, 25-13, 25-21. Beardslee once again delivered, finishing with 12 kills, 13 digs, and three blocks in an all-around performance. Colton contributed 17 assists, continuing her strong playmaking down the stretch, while Stark added three aces. “We knew this season would be a challenge due to us graduating several seniors and other teams like, Republic, having lots of talent,” Guglielmino said. “We have been fortunate the last three years to take the north and have the opportunity to host the first round of playoffs. I think that was a big motivator for us this season as we recognize how important hosting playoffs is.” Injuries and lots of illness played their roles during the season, but Northport battled through those issues and are scheduled to host their first-round game on Thursday, Oct. 30. “We were still able to pull it off,” Guglielmino said. “I'm very proud of the girls, they responded well to adversity and achieved their goal.” The Northeast 1B League champs will be crowned on Saturday, Nov. 1, in Wellpinit. Northport will host their district opponent on Oct. 30, and if the Mustangs advance through the bracket, the league championship game will be at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. 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 Win Homecoming Thriller - 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 Win Homecoming Thriller October 29, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen In front of a roaring Homecoming and Senior Night crowd, the Kettle Falls Bulldogs capped their football season with a dramatic victory, edging Liberty 16-14 on a last-second touchdown Friday, Oct. 24. The win gave Kettle Falls a 4-3 record, the program’s best finish since 2011. Liberty struck first in the opening quarter, taking a 7-0 lead that held through halftime. But Kettle Falls came out of the locker room determined to respond. The Bulldogs marched down the field on their opening second-half drive, with running back Aiden Fowler capping it off and adding a two-point conversion to put Kettle Falls ahead 8-7. Liberty answered in the fourth quarter, punching in a score with six minutes left to reclaim the lead at 14-8. Still, the Bulldogs refused to fade. Behind steady leadership from quarterback Cody Adams and relentless running from Fowler, Kettle Falls drove deep into Liberty territory in the final minutes. With the game, and the storybook season, on the line, the Bulldogs faced 4 th and goal from the 2-yard line with just four seconds remaining. Fowler took the handoff and bulldozed his way across the goal line as time expired, tying the game. On the ensuing two-point attempt, Fowler again muscled through a pile of defenders to give Kettle Falls the winning points. As the clock hit zero, the crowd erupted and players stormed the field, celebrating one of the program’s most memorable finishes in years. Fowler finished with 30 carries for 103 yards, two touchdowns and two two-point conversions, while Alex Mazanek added three catches for 43 yards. 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

Thai Restaurant Opening in Chewelah - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Thai Restaurant Opening in Chewelah November 5, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen After three years of serving up Thai flavors at the Chewelah Farmers Market, Thai StreetFood by Nina is taking the next big step in opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant inside the Chewelah General Store (209 E. Main Ave.) on Nov. 20. According to owner and chef Niranut “Nina” Peck, the new location will be open Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and will feature a special Saturday BBQ menu from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. “We are so excited – we will be able to provide another option for the community to eat and enjoy our food,” said Peck. Peck’s inspiration for cooking comes from her mother, she said, who raised her as a single parent in Thailand by selling food on the street each morning. “We sold food on the side of the street every early morning till noon," Nina said. "My mum and I woke up at 4 a.m. to prepare food before I started school. Then at like 8 a.m. I would go to school, and she would cook and sell food by herself until noon.” Though Peck admitted she didn’t love waking up before dawn as a teenager, she said the lessons stuck with her. “At that age, I really hated to wake up and cook, but since moving out of my mum’s place, I realized cooking is still in my blood," Peck said. "I just hated waking up at 4 a.m. and not being able to sleep in and enjoy time.” Peck said she learned to cook entirely from her mother and through her own curiosity. “I learned all from my mum and some dishes I learned from TV and YouTube since I love cooking so much,” she said. “Sometimes when I have a chance to go to a hotel buffet in Thailand, if I have a chance, I talk to the chef and get some trick or secret from them too.” Although she’s never owned a restaurant before, Peck has years of experience cooking, selling, and learning from professional chefs. "I have never done a restaurant before in my life,” she said. “But when I was in Thailand, I had opportunities to be mentored by several chefs." After moving to Chewelah nearly three years ago, Peck said she quickly found a home in the town’s farmers market community. “I first started being a food vendor at the Chewelah Farmers Market…then I fell in love with all my vendors at the market, the town, and people here,” she said. “Most of them are so kind, helpful, and sweet. And I had a lot of good feedback about my food, so I decided to start my first business here.” Thai StreetFood by Nina will feature a rotating menu of authentic Thai dishes. “Our types of dishes we would like to serve are curry, stir-fried, soup, some noodles, and more special Thai dishes each day,” Peck said. Customers will be able to dine in, take out, or order catering, and Peck said she plans to continue offering creative specials and seasonal flavors. Peck said the community’s support has been overwhelming since announcing the opening. “I’m so surprised, everyone is so supportive and encouraging. They have been very positive and excited for us to open,” she said. “We just wanted to have something fun that celebrates food, family, and community,” Peck added. “We’re looking forward to seeing everyone there.” Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Northport Volleyball Secures Fifth Place Playoff Seed - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Northport Volleyball Secures Fifth Place Playoff Seed November 5, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Northport Mustangs battled through a grueling stretch of postseason volleyball, bouncing back from an early loss to finish fifth place in the Northeast 1B tournament, and advance to the District 6 1B playoffs. The Mustangs opened tournament play on Thursday, Oct. 30, dropping a 3-1 match at home to Valley Christian. The visiting Panthers (10-8, 8-6) proved resilient in the opening-round matchup. Northport responded with determination in the evening match, sweeping the visiting Panthers 3-0 to stay alive. Northport then traveled to Wellpinit Nov. 1, for the next stage of tournament play but fell 3-0 to Wilbur-Creston. That loss set up a fifth-place showdown with Republic later in the day. In the evening contest, the Mustangs put together one of their best performances of the postseason, sweeping Republic 3-0, a team that previously defeated them in the regular season. The victory lifted Northport to a 14-5 overall record and secured fifth place in the tournament. With the result, Northport advanced to the District 6 1B tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at Rosalia High School. Game results were not available at press time. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Local Paper Carrier Celebrates One Year on the Job - 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 Paper Carrier Celebrates One Year on the Job August 20, 2025 By: Emma Lee Conyer While some 13-year-olds may spend their after-school hours scrolling through phones or playing video games, Blake Nance of Colville has spent his Tuesdays over the last year delivering newspapers. This month marks Nance’s first anniversary of delivering papers for the Statesman-Examiner , a job he calls “the best first job.” At just 13 years old and heading into eighth grade at Colville Junior High, Nance has already built strong connections across town. “I like meeting everyone and seeing their businesses,” Nance said. “I’ve gotten to know people and have conversations. It’s fun seeing places I might want to work in the future.” Nance’s route stretches across Colville; he said it takes him two to three hours each week to complete, depending on the weather, which can be the hardest part of the job. “There was one week in December I had to go through a snowstorm, and this week it's been super hot,” he said. His motivation is a mix of short-term treats and long-term goals. “I’m saving for my first car,” Nance said. “And I like being able to buy gifts for people with my own money.” Along the way, other perks of the job have also given him more motivation. “I get fun tips sometimes, like cookies, fancy coins, candy, and pizza slices,” he said. “Sometimes I feel like a celebrity. People even gave me cool stuff for my birthday and Christmas.” Nance’s route has also opened his eyes to places in Colville he was not familiar with. He said that living outside of town, he hadn’t spent much time walking through Colville. Now, he said, “I like walking around town. I see old businesses close and new ones open. It’s cool.” He said he’s even learned a bit of local history along the way. “Some people didn’t know there were still paperboys. They tell me how they used to do it on bikes and throw the papers on porches. I think that would be fun.” Nance said he first heard of the paper carrier job from his grandmother when she noticed him working hard at yard work and asked if he’d be interested in a paper route. He said he was nervous on his first day, especially walking into businesses to hand deliver papers to people he did not know, but now he moves with confidence and curiosity. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Northport Boys Stack Personal Bests at 1B Regional Cross Country Meet - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Northport Boys Stack Personal Bests at 1B Regional Cross Country Meet November 5, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Northport’s boys turned in a wave of personal-best (PR) performances at the District 6 1B regional at Colfax Golf Club on Oct. 31, punctuating a steady, late-season climb against a deep field. Sophomore Trae Smith led the Mustangs with a 22 nd -place finish in 18:22.3 (PR), pacing a pack of seven Northport runners who all crossed within approximately two-and-a-half minutes of one another. Senior Pete Beardslee was next in 30 th at 19:03.4, with sophomores Canyon Hoskins (35 th , 19:39.0 PR) and Cameron Mawdsley (37 th , 19:44.4 PR) close behind to keep Northport’s scoring tight. Fresh faces rounded out the effort: freshman Isaiah Kingsbury clocked 20:20.1 (47 th , PR), eighth-grader Ty Smith ran 20:30.1 (48 th ), and freshman Hunter Creach posted 21:00.6 (51 st , PR). Valley Christian senior Wesley Hendrickson won the race in 16:04.1, followed by Chesterton Academy’s Gabriel Cary (16:21.0) and Colton’s Tanner Baerlocher (16:28.5). Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Chewelah Boys Basketball Aims to Climb the NE2B Under New Head Coach - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Chewelah Boys Basketball Aims to Climb the NE2B Under New Head Coach November 26, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Chewelah boys basketball team enters the winter season with a familiar core, a large group of upperclassmen, and a new coach. First-year head coach Tom Skok said he’s taking over the program with the goal of building momentum and a team identity centered on toughness and chemistry. “I would like to build on the momentum our team gathered last year,” Skok said. “We have a number of returners and a solid group of sophomores; the trick will be to build some continuity with our group so that we play as a whole and not individuals.” Turnout is slightly smaller than in recent years, but the roster brings a healthy mix of returning experience and developing talent. “We only have three seniors but that is pretty well balanced out by eight juniors, which gives us 10 upperclassmen,” Skok said. “We also have 14 underclassmen, so we are pretty even amongst the grades.” Having the numbers is key in the 2B ranks, according to Skok, and Chewelah will be able to juggle lineups and work on its developmental pipeline. Skok said he isn’t looking to center the offense around a single star. Instead, he hopes the Cougars can become the kind of team that forces opponents to guard every player on the floor. “Ideally, I would like to play as a team and make it hard for our opponents to zero in on any one player,” he said. Still, Chewelah returns a proven scorer in junior Ryen McMillan, who will be a focal point of opposing defenses. “Our most experienced scorer is Ryen McMillan, so people will have to pay attention to him, or he is capable of putting points on the board,” Skok said. The NE2B doesn’t offer many easy nights and Skok said he expects that trend to hold. “Our league is stacked,” he said. “We will look to climb up the ladder this year as compared to the last years, but every game will be a battle. I would imagine that Reardan will still be the team to beat, even though they have lost a couple great high school players.” Though new to the boys basketball position, Skok is far from new to coaching. After years as an administrator prevented him from leading teams, he said he saw this as the right moment to step back onto the sideline. “When I became an administrator in the Chewelah School District I was no longer able to coach,” he said. “So now that I am back to filling a teaching role, I wanted to get involved with coaching again. I felt this was a great opportunity, so I put my name in the arena and was fortunate enough to land the job.” His coaching philosophy is rooted in fundamentals and character. “I would like to instill teamwork, hustle, and hard work in our players,” Skok said. “There is a great group of kids playing basketball this year, and I hope to make the experience for them as good as possible.” Skok has taken several Chewelah teams to state in different sports and has created solid programs in softball and girls basketball when he was holding the clipboard. “Barring these last three years of not coaching, I have coached three sports a year for almost 20 years, so I am very excited to get back at it with the boys team,” he said. With a veteran scorer, a deep junior class, and a coach eager to return to the sideline, Chewelah aims to move up a crowded NE2B ladder this season. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Colville Girls Soccer Falls the Lakeside in NEA District Title Match - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Colville Girls Soccer Falls the Lakeside in NEA District Title Match November 5, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Colville Crimson Hawks battled to the final whistle but couldn’t crack Lakeside’s defense in the District 6 Northeast A championship on Nov. 1, falling 3-0 to the top-seeded Eagles at Spokane Falls Community College. Lakeside (10-2-4, 7-0) struck just one minute into the match on a goal by Tea Simonson, then added second-half tallies from Izzy Delzer and Lainee Huggins to pull away. The Eagles peppered the Colville defense with 17 shots, while the Crimson Hawks were limited to one shot on goal. Colville goalkeeper Joslyn Craddock turned in a busy performance with eight saves, keeping her team within striking distance until late in the match. The loss came just days after Colville also fell to Lakeside, 3-0, in their regular-season finale on Oct. 28, in Nine Mile Falls. In that contest, Delzer, Simonson and Saige Karsten provided the scoring for the Eagles, who have not lost in league play this fall. The Crimson Hawks (4-10-2, 3-4 NEA) faced Riverside in a loser-out District 6/5 crossover qualifier on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Results from the match were not available at press time. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Kettle Falls Girls Soccer Split Final Regular-Season Games - 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 Split Final Regular-Season Games November 5, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Kettle Falls girls soccer team closed out its regular season with a win and a narrow loss last week, earning the Bulldogs a postseason berth in the District 6 2B/1B playoffs. Kettle Falls defended its home field with a 2-1 victory over Newport on Oct. 28, improving to 5-9-1 overall. The Bulldogs battled through a tight Northeast 2B matchup, edging the Grizzlies. Two days later, the Bulldogs hit the road to face Chesterton Academy in Spokane and fell just short, 2-1. Despite the setback, Kettle Falls earned the No. 6 seed in the District 6 2B/1B tournament and faced third-seeded Davenport on Monday, Nov. 3, in a loser-out opening round game at The Hub in Liberty Lake; results were not available at press time. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Chewelah Hospital Cuts Patient Services; More Closures Could Follow - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Chewelah Hospital Cuts Patient Services; More Closures Could Follow August 13, 2025 By: Cami Krema Cuts to Medicaid as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, may cause hospital closures across the country, including 14 in Washington state. Of these 14 hospitals at risk, Providence St. Joseph’s in Chewelah is among them, which has already announced closures to two of their patient programs. Providence St. Joseph officials acknowledged these cuts, stating, “We are focused on the potential overall impact of the cuts while continuing to serve the health care needs of our communities.” According to the bill’s language, cuts will roll back increases in Medicaid reimbursement rates, which are the money hospitals receive for providing health care services to Medicaid patients. Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) officials stated, “To be very clear, the cuts to Medicaid will be devastating to Washington’s hospitals, rural and urban alike.” Officials added, “We are absolutely concerned that hospitals will close. For those that do not close, we expect a significant contraction of services, and it will negatively impact every patient in Washington through reduced access and longer wait times for care.” WSHA officials also cited data that suggested approximately two-thirds of the payer mix comes from Medicaid or Medicare, with higher levels in rural eastern Washington. According to Mai Hoang’s article, “14 Rural WA Hospitals Deemed at Risk of Closure from Medicaid Cuts,” published by Cascade PBS, Medicaid officials stated that reimbursements typically go back to the hospitals to help cover Medicaid-funded services. Hoang also quoted officials who stated that hospitals have an obligation to treat uninsured patients and patients on Medicaid, regardless of the rate, which means the declining reimbursements could become financially unsustainable, leading to staffing cuts or closures. In Chewelah, Providence St. Joseph officials stated that, “The passage of H.R. 1 (also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) by Congress poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of our communities, placing essential health programs and services at risk while stripping access to health care for millions of Americans.” They added that these reductions will limit health services, lead to care delays and longer wait times, especially in emergency departments, and place undue strain on overburdened health care providers. Just days after making these statements, Providence St. Joseph officials released another statement on Thursday, Aug. 7, saying that the hospital will officially close its DominiCare and the outpatient Orthopedic Physical Therapy clinics on Oct. 3. There will be 60 positions impacted by these closures, according to Providence. “This decision, though difficult, is a necessary step to ensure that Providence remains agile and responsive to the evolving needs of our community,” said Chief Executive Susan Stacey, RN. Providence officials said that Orthopedic Physical Therapy services will continue at Providence Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville. A former employee of Providence St. Joseph, not authorized to speak on the record, expressed the opinion that it’s not always feasible for Chewelah patients to travel out of the area to receive care. “Many people in our community are elderly or low-income and will have difficulty traveling, especially in winter.” The former employee also spoke of the consequences of losing these services. “Some [patients] won’t get therapy. More people will likely have falls or impaired mobility that impact their function. All will have to find a way to overcome the travel obstacle to obtain care.” Chewelah resident Chuck Ritchie spoke about how essential the physical therapy clinic has been for his own recovery. After suffering a serious illness that caused significant impacts to his nervous system and left him unable to walk, Ritchie relied on the clinic’s services for his recovery. “The therapy team at St Joseph's was absolutely crucial to my recovery. It was months of hard work, sweat, and tears as I learned to cope with my new body, then slowly, as I regained strength and my nervous system healed, I learned to walk again,” Ritchie said, adding that “the care team at St Joseph's weren't just my therapists, they became family. They were there cheering me on when I had success, and picking me up when I fell. I truly owe my life to them.” Ritchie also said the closing of the physical therapy clinic could have negative impacts on the community. “I'm not alone, I run into people who have their own stories of the care team changing their lives. It is absolutely heartbreaking to hear the physical therapy department at St Joseph's won't be there for the next person that needs them. This is a huge loss for our community. I can't express in words the value of what we've just lost.” The cuts could also mean fewer people are covered under Medicaid or any insurance program. According to Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy Center for Children and Families, 2023 data showed that 23.3% of Stevens County residents rely on Medicaid. 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 Chargers Close Regular Volleyball Season Strong - 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 Chargers Close Regular Volleyball Season Strong October 29, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Springdale Lady Chargers closed out their regular season in dominant fashion last week, sweeping both Wilbur-Creston-Keller and Chesterton Academy to lock down fifth place in the NE 1B standings. The wins pushed Mary Walker’s record to 8-4 in league play and 13-8 overall as they head into this week’s district tournament with plenty of momentum. The Chargers handled visiting Wilbur-Creston-Keller on Oct. 21, 25-22, 25-16, 25-16 behind a balanced offensive attack led by Kaylin Gines, who tallied 12 kills and three solo blocks while hitting .478. Ashlynn-Mae Ford and Kazlin Rainer each added six kills, while McKinley Schroeder chipped in five kills on a .500 hitting percentage. Setter duties were split between Kameron Cloninger and Addisyn Matherly-Stricker, who each dished out 12 assists. Defensively, Gines anchored the back row as well, collecting 21 digs, while junior Imani Hutchinson added five. At the service line, Rainer led the way with four aces and 11 points, while senior Aubrey Ferguson added a steady nine points and Schroeder served up two aces. The team served at a 93% clip overall. Springdale carried that momentum into their road trip to Spokane on Oct. 23, where they swept Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame 25-22, 25-12, 25-23. The Lady Chargers used strong serving runs and steady net play to put away the Saints in straight sets. With the pair of wins, Mary Walker finishes the regular season riding a two-match winning streak and the Lady Chargers will open district tournament play this week, aiming to extend their postseason run and build on a strong finish to an impressive 2025 campaign. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Kettle Falls Boys Basketball Brings Back Experience for 2025-26 - 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 Boys Basketball Brings Back Experience for 2025-26 November 26, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen After a rebuilding year that saw just five wins, the Kettle Falls boys basketball team enters the 2025-26 season with some hunger; their coach emphasized the team is ready to eat in the competitive Northeast 2B North. While he’s steering clear of specific benchmarks, head coach Cameron Stewart said the tone is clear. “As far as win totals or where we will finish in the league, I don’t like to make predictions,” he said. “I will say that I expect improvement from last season.” Steward said the Bulldogs returned only one starter last year; this year, Kettle Falls has 20 players turning out, giving the Bulldogs their strongest numbers in several years. Stewart said he expects to carry two seniors, five juniors and one or two sophomores on varsity. The lineup will be anchored by a trio of veteran seniors who logged major minutes a year ago. Mace Thivierge, a 6-foot-2 senior guard and second-team all-league pick, is expected to be the team’s focal point. “He was also our sixth man the previous season, so he’s very experienced,” Stewart said. “Mace is very competitive. He loves to win and hates to lose even more. He’s very skilled, can really shoot the ball, and has a high basketball I.Q. He’s really matured over the last year, and I look forward to seeing him become a stronger leader. I know he’s ready for that challenge. He’s going to receive a ton of attention from opposing teams, so other guys have to step up and make plays on a consistent basis.” In the paint, 6-foot-5 post Jaxon Fandrey brings strength and experience after starting every game last winter. “[Fandrey’s] a smart kid, very strong, and works his tail off,” Stewart said. “He was a difference maker for us last year and I’m excited about his progress going into his senior season.” Senior guard Cooper McKern returns after starting 20 games last year – most of them while playing through a broken shoulder suffered during football season. “Up until then, he was probably our best on-ball defender, and his offense was starting to emerge,” Stewart said. “Cooper has a big-time motor, and his skills and athleticism have improved in the off-season. Offensively, he attacks the basket, and he’s developing a nice jump shot. Defensively, he’s just relentless. He has that Dawg in him that you love to see.” Sophomore guard Zac Burch is one of the team’s emerging talents. “[Burch is] athletic and scrappy, has great hands and a nose for the basketball,” Stewart said. “He still needs a lot of refinement but he’s a kid who’s going to get us extra possessions and fill the stat sheet with his hustle. He really excels in transition, and we intend to play faster this season.” A strong junior class – Alex Mazanek, Cody Adams, Ben Higgins and Zander Johnson – adds athleticism and depth, each bringing “a different dynamic” to the lineup, according to Stewart. Versatility may also define this year’s team. “I think we can be versatile defensively because we have some quickness and, hopefully, some quality depth,” Stewart said. “We can play man or zone, fundamental half court defense, or trap and press. I think our guys will execute our offense much better this season. Our returning guys are pretty familiar with our concepts, and we will be faster in transition this season.” With an experienced roster and, elsewhere, heavy roster turnover across the Northeast 2B North, Stewart said he sees opportunity. “We feel like the North is pretty wide open, but it’s safe to say that Reardan is the favorite,” he said. “They have size, athleticism, and great shooters. More importantly, they play excellent defense.” Northwest Christian remains a contender with a returning all-league standout, while Saint George’s – despite graduating its trio of all-league seniors – remains dangerous. “I have a ton of respect for their coaching staff. They always get the best out of their players,” Stewart said. Davenport returns one of the league’s top scorers in Cage Colbert. Chewelah brings back dynamic senior guard Ryen McMillen. Newport, meanwhile, enters with a new staff and several new faces. Kettle Falls won’t be leaning on predictions, but with veteran leadership, athletic depth and more experience under its belt, Stewart said he believes the Bulldogs will look much more like the program that won 17 games two seasons ago. “I think our guys are hungrier this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing who steps up,” Stewart 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