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Ode to an Older Time: Peter Johnson - 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 Ode to an Older Time: Peter Johnson September 3, 2025 By: Nancy Weigel Peter Justin Johnson was born in Burlington, VT. When he was younger, he moved to Colville, Wash., with his parents and seven siblings, graduating from Colville High School. Johnson shared a memory from his earlier years – his father signed him up for ballet, which turned into 15 years of lessons. Johnson said he eventually learned how to square dance, tap dance, salsa, and much more. Johnson said his favorite subject was Physical Education. He attended the University of Washington after graduating from high school and achieved his Business Associate's Degree. Johnson said he has worked for Iron-Founded and Vaagen Brothers Lumber Mill before logging and cutting firewood independently for 40 years. Johnson said some of the skills needed for logging are awareness, quick reactions, and good maintenance on all your equipment. He said he likes his job because he's outside in nature and works independently with his own hours and wage. He said he has always loved nature since he was a kid. Johnson noted that his least favorite part is the danger and that he has broken his back twice while logging. He said he can also walk up to the equivalent of 10 miles a day while logging. Johnson shared that he married once and had a son, Justin Johnson, before divorcing. His son is now in California, teaching guitar. Johnson also has a daughter, Autumn, who is attending university at Gonzaga University. He stated one of the wildest things he's done was skydiving; Johnson said he “loved it, and would do it again” if he could. Johnson said his hobbies include fishing, bowling, playing horseshoes, coloring, and other things. One of his favorite places to go fishing for salmon is Oroville, Wash. When asked if he regrets anything in life, Johnson said, “All the time, but I'd just do it all over again anyway. I've learned a lot in my life.” Johnson’s advice for younger generations is to “go out and do something, get off your phones and get into nature, don't be afraid of it, and get hands-on experience in the world.” 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

Five Local Brothers That Served in Vietnam to be Recognized With Quilts, Aug. 17 - 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 Five Local Brothers That Served in Vietnam to be Recognized With Quilts, Aug. 17 August 14, 2024 By: Meredith Carroll Allen Thueringer present day, looking at his scrapbooks from the war. Five brothers who served in the Vietnam War and returned home safely will be honored in a ceremony hosted by Cuppa Tea Quilting and the Quilts of Valor Foundation on Saturday, August 17, in Priest River, ID. Allen Thueringer of Colville is one of those brothers. “All of us brothers enlisted in the Army instead of waiting for the draft to take us,” Thueringer said. Thomas was the first brother to join the Army, enlisting in 1964; he received an Army Commendation Medal for Outstanding Service. James followed suit and went to Vietnam in 1965, serving as a helicopter mechanic. Then, Stephen served three tours in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star and an Army Commendation Medal. Terry and Allen both joined the Army in 1970; Terry was in Army Communications and Allen, the youngest brother, served as an artillery gunner. The unique history of the five Thueringer brothers caught the attention of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, a national organization dedicated to honoring U.S. veterans and helping them to heal. Founded in 2003 by Catherine Roberts, quilts are designed and hand-made by volunteers. The quilt is then awarded to a selected veteran to thank them for their service, sacrifice, and valor in serving the nation, according to the Quilts of Valor website, www.qovf.org. “In order to be awarded a quilt, a veteran must first be nominated,” explained Theresa Wright of Cuppa Tea Quilting in Newport, WA. Cuppa Tea Quilting is the local sponsor for the Quilts of Valor Foundation and will be hosting the ceremony to honor the five Thueringer brothers. “All of the brothers will be honored. Tom, Jim, and Stephen will be awarded quilts,” said Wright. “Terry and Allen will bring the quilts that they have previously been awarded.” Wright also said that the ceremony will include the presentation of each soldier’s history and the honoring of fallen soldiers, along with a performance of Taps. “It’s been at least 15 years since all of us (brothers) have been together,” said Allen Thueringer. “We will all be united at the ceremony.” Thueringer served in Vietnam from 1971 to 1972. He had just turned 20 and quickly moved up in rank. “I outranked them all, and I was the youngest. No one wanted to take orders from a punk kid like me, so I didn’t tell anyone my age.” Thueringer earned the rank of E5 by the time he was discharged. “I was in the 2 nd Battalion 94 th Artillery,” said Thueringer as he flipped through a scrapbook of photos taken during his service. “I loaded rounds, but I was also the guy with the phone. I was the one taking instructions on where to fire the round.” Thueringer’s gun was a M107 self-propelled weapon that fired 175mm rounds from an 8-inch barrel. The rounds weighed 145 pounds and had a range of 21 miles. The use of this gun required a 13-member crew and claimed one of the longest ranges of any mobile artillery unit. “I fired the last heavy round in Vietnam, on April 9 th , 1972, at 2400 hours,” he said. “We painted that last round, fired it, and that was the last one ever fired,” Thueringer said. He was awarded his quilt on April 24 th of this year, and he thought it would be a great honor to have all of the brothers unite for the upcoming ceremony. “It’s rare enough to have five brothers serving in the same war. But it’s amazing that we all came back.” The ceremony will be held at the Priest River Community Church at 49 Washington Street, Priest River, ID 83856, and begins at 1:00 p.m. More information on the event can be found at www.qovf.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

Gunnar Nelson: More Than Fiddlin’ Around - 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 Gunnar Nelson: More Than Fiddlin’ Around February 11, 2026 By: Wayne Gorst Gunnar Nelson (left) with guitar student, Braxton Brown. Photo courtesy Gunnar Nelson. Ancient Roman philosopher Seneca said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Preparation has been the catalyst for many of the “lucky” events in local musician Gunnar Nelson’s life. Take, for instance, his appearance at the Earl Scruggs music festival in Mill Springs, N.C., in August 2025. Nelson and his bandmate, Jake Rozier, entered the festival’s Battle of the Banjos contest, which was based on public voting on Instagram and Spotify. “Over the course of several weeks we went from the top 10, to the top eight, to the top six and ended up winning,” Nelson said, with some surprise. “It was a bit intimidating playing on the same stage as the likes of Allison Krause and Sam Bush, but it was a fantastic experience.” Preparation, in the form of practice, has been a mainstay in Nelson’s life since he began learning Irish Dance. At 8 years old, Nelson’s parents drug him, along with his younger brother, into Deirdre Abeid’s Irish Dance studio in Kettle Falls. “There we were, two little boys in a sea of tutus,” he recalled. That uncomfortable beginning started the long road of preparation culminating in opportunities afforded only a “lucky” few. In the decade of practice and performance that followed, Nelson placed in the top 10 at several of the World Championship Irish Dance Contests held in Quebec, Scotland, and Ireland. The year before competing in Quebec – at the age of 17 – he’d been tapped by Michael Londra, lead singer for the Broadway show, Riverdance, and current producer of Celtic Fire, to be a dancer in the national touring show. Nelson said he started as the youngest dancer in his troop and eventually became the oldest dancer with added responsibility of “Dance Captain.” Nelson said, “I had world champion Irish dancers under my supervision, which is still insane to think about.” Not long after those early dancing lessons began, Nelson said his dad challenged him to start learning how to play the fiddle. Reluctant at first, he was soon taking lessons from local teacher, Fiddlin’ Red, and following along with the VHS-taped video lessons recorded by the young brother and sister duo, Luke and Jenny Anne Bulla. Later, Nelson said he studied with Andrew Wilson, who introduced him to a number of Irish fiddle tunes. “Whenever he gave me one of those, I would learn it with no effort. I actually wanted to practice those tunes,” he said. Around the time of his early 20s, Nelson had also completed all the prerequisites necessary to enter nursing school. With application deadlines only six months away, he said he had hoped to catch a break musically and not have to pursue a nursing career. “When I framed it to myself like that, I decided that that was ridiculous, and that if I really wanted to play music that much, and if I was willing to put in that much time, then I should just pursue music – so I did.” That decision led to multiple collaborations with other local musicians and the formation of the bands Cross Current and Fire Bottle Brothers. “I started playing at the open mic at the Pub and Grub with a longtime friend, eventually meeting more people there that played music. We ended up forming a little group that became the six-piece Fire Bottle Brothers band,” Nelson explained. With that renewed commitment to music, practicing took on a life of its own; typically around four hours a day practicing not only the fiddle but guitar, voice, and piano as well, Nelson said. Once again, preparation was rewarded when Londra called again, this time in need of a lead fiddle player for a Saint Patrick’s Day show in Boston. “I didn't get to practice with any of them in person, so I just learned the recordings by ear,” Nelson recalled. “I had anxiety every single day for like a month, but if I practiced, the anxiety would go away. So I practiced every single day, every single song. I flew to Boston and we ran through the whole show the day of,” he said. “And I did a good job. They told me I had definitely done my homework. Since then I’ve done five shows in five different states, and I am now the backup fiddle player for Celtic Fire.” Seeking to expand his musical influences and stretch his comfort zone even further, Nelson said he began attending the exclusive annual Live Oak Fiddle Camp near Hallettsville, Texas. With other fiddle teachers such as Hanneke Cassel and Bruce Molski in attendance, he said, “It’s hard not to be intimidated, but at the same time I relish every tidbit of technique they offer.” Now, teaching his own students, Nelson said he brings his years of personal and professional experience into every lesson. “Teaching has been a massive learning curve,” he said. “To begin with, I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I definitely feel more confident now. It’s always a matter of seeing what needs to improve and then filling that hole. By studying and talking to other musicians, especially teachers, my awareness expands.” In addition to teaching approximately 45 students in guitar, fiddle, piano, and voice, Nelson said he started providing group lessons, which have morphed into a “student band” with about eight of his students. The group meets every two weeks at a local church for practice, and performed at the 2025 NE Washington Fair. Nelson said, “I just want to provide the opportunity for them to learn new songs and play them together. I saw a lot of growth and a lot of effort from them when we were working toward the Fair performance.” He added, “The goal for the group performances is to work on half-hour sets, with maybe five songs in a set. I’m in charge of the open mic at Fired Up Brewery in town (Colville), so that creates further opportunity for both solo and group performances for them. “These guys are pretty talented,” Nelson continued. “So right now, the opportunity is the open mic but with this current plan of, ‘Hey, you're going to learn half-hour sets within about two or three months,’ we should have at least an hour-and-a-half of material. Then I can reach out to venues and set up some actual gigs, which would totally be the goal. But I also don't want to throw anybody into the deep end of a pool and then watch them sink. I want it to be pretty comfortable for everybody all the time.” For more information contact Nelson at gunnargnelson@gmail.com . Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Statewide Fishing Opportunities Offered on Black Friday - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Statewide Fishing Opportunities Offered on Black Friday November 19, 2025 By: Staff Report Washington lakes will be stocked with fish ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officials announced they plan to stock nearly 65,000 jumbo rainbow trout in 25 lakes statewide, including two in Stevens County, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, offering anglers a chance to get outside for Washington’s annual Black Friday fishing. According to officials, the holiday special rainbow trout weigh up to three pounds and measure up to 17 inches each. “WDFW has offered Black Friday fishing for more than a decade, and it’s a great way to get outdoors over the holiday weekend,” said Steve Caromile, WDFW inland fish program manager. “We stock jumbo trout in lakes near communities, making it easy to spend a few hours on the water with friends and family.” This year, Hatch Lake and Williams Lake will be stocked before Nov. 28, WDFW officials stated.For stocking information, anglers can refer to the catchable trout stocking report on the WDFW website at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/stocking/trout-plants.WDFW officials stated anglers 16 years and older must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license, valid through March 31, 2026, to participate. Licenses can be purchased online, or at any of the hundreds of license vendors across the state. Officials also warned that, though uncommon in November, cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) can still be present in lakes and recommended reviewing advisories at doh.wa.gov/fish . Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Out of the Past: 12/31/2025 - 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: 12/31/2025 December 31, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Society Palace Theater 1911, located where Acorn's Saloon is now located. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— Bagley’s Portrait Studio at Kettle Falls is showing some beautiful reproductions of the Kettle Falls of the Columbia and surrounding scenery; they are the personal work of Mr. Bagley, who has copyrights for about 20 pictures of the falls, and sold them for $50 each for calendar use in the east. Ownership of the Colville Theater today passes from Flint & Girtanner to D.A. and George Morgan, who for 12 years have been in photoplay production at Harrington and Ritzville. 75 Years Ago— Colville may have a first-class post office in 1951. C.F. Lee, local postmaster, revealed Wednesday that the gross receipts of the local office passed the first-class requirement. But final say in the change from second to first class will be made by the post office department in Washington, D.C. The Gifford-Inchelium ferry was closed by the National Park Service this week and commissioners from Ferry and Stevens Counties joined in efforts to have service re-stored. The Park Service ordered the ferry to stop operation Dec. 31, due to slide conditions in the area. Margaret Frye’s heroic act of saving the lives of four children at Park Rapids, 18 miles east of Colville on Oct. 18, will be broadcast over a national radio hookup on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 8:30 a.m. The broadcast will be heard in this area over radio station KHQ, The Jack Berch Show , sponsored by the Prudential Life Insurance Company. 50 Years Ago— Stevens County Population Grows—Stevens County, 1970: 17,405, 1975: 22,708. Colville, 1970: 3,742, 1975: 4,291. Chewelah, 1970: 1,365, 1975: 1,691. Kettle Falls, 1970: 893. 1975: 926. Northport, 1970: 423, 1975: 429. Springdale, 1970: 215, 1975: 244. Marcus, 1970: 142, 1975: 169. The Spokane Concert Orchestra, under the direction of Donald Thulean, will be making their biennial performance in Colville Jan. 24, at the Colville Junior High School auditorium. As an added feature, the Colville Community Choir will perform with the orchestra. 25 Years Ago— The city of Colville has sent a letter to the Department of Ecology (DOE) outlining an alternative to the new wastewater facility plan. The plan was approved by DOE in April, at which time it was estimated to cost $18 million. As design progressed, more precise estimates revealed costs closer to $22 million – an amount the city told DOE was unaffordable. Members of city staff met with DOE on Dec. 13 to discuss the issue and have since sent the agency a formal proposal for modification to the plan. 10 Years Ago— As a reminder, Washington State’s minimum wage will stay the same in 2016 at $9.47 per hour. INCHELIUM—Last week, Washington author Carmen Peone celebrated the nationwide release of her poignant new young adult novel, “Delbert’s Weir.” 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

New Coverage Tower Placed on Colville Mountain - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES New Coverage Tower Placed on Colville Mountain July 16, 2025 By: Staff Report Coverage tower placed on Colville Mountain. Area residents may have spotted a tower being placed on Colville Mountain in mid-June, raising questions about its purpose and possible benefits. The tower was installed by Day Wireless Systems, a telecommunications company with an office located in Spokane Valley, and serving Stevens and Ferry counties. According to Day Wireless Systems officials, the tower, located on Colville Mountain and placed about two miles north of city limits, provides coverage of Highway 395, from Kettle Falls to Addy. These towers are “one of the least intrusive and easiest communications towers to build,” according to the Day Wireless Systems. For more information, call 509-484-1400. Photo by Richard Willner. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Out of the Past: 02/10/2026 - 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: 02/10/2026 February 11, 2026 By: Stevens County Historical Society Empire Hwy crossing Empire Lake at Kettle Falls. Grand Coulee Dam's completion created Empire Lake; today, it's referred to as Lake Roosevelt. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— By a vote of 597 to 100 last Saturday, the patrons of Colville Consolidated School District No. 5 directed the erection of a new school building. Completion of the Inland Empire Highway will be on the Ferry County side, according to the decision of the state highway committee after viewing the site and considering the alternative site on the Stevens County side proposed by the Great Northern Railroad and citizens of Marcus. The uncompleted link of the road is between Kettle Falls and Barstow. Jessie Sparks of Addy was fined $10 and costs by Judge G. B. Ide Monday on a charge of operating a dance at Addy without a license. 75 Years Ago— Colville’s High School boxing team bowed to a slightly stronger Mead team last week in one of the most evenly matched series of bouts seen in the local gym. The locals won five bouts. Mead took six. Don’t park your cars on county roads. They may turn up missing in the morning. County commissioners who say they’ve been having trouble plowing snow because of parked cars, explained this week that it’s against the law to park overnight on the highway. They’d like people to know that stuck vehicles can be impounded. KETTLE FALLS – Ed Bailey has purchased the Chevron Service Station at Kettle Falls from Tink Cox. The sale was effective Feb. 1. 50 Years Ago— Colville’s 24 th annual Bull Sale, under the sponsorship of the Upper Columbia Hereford Association, will be held at the Colville Auction Yards Sunday and Monday. Consignors included Agar Polled Herefords, Aladdin Hereford Ranch, Dale & Price Herefords, Diamond M Ranch, L&M Herefords, Lucky Heir Herefords, Len McIrvin, Melvin Myers, Milton Myers, Jim Oneal, Stan Oneal, George Pugh, Richart Bros., and Ted Richart. ADDY – Plans for Addy’s first Firemen’s Ball are underway. In keeping with the country’s 200 th birthday, the dance will feature a bi-centennial theme. 25 Years Ago— KETTLE FALLS – The Kettle Falls Police Department is looking for volunteers who live in Kettle Falls and would be interested in a new program called “Citizens Volunteer Watch Program.” Dave Richter and Pat Lindquist, both sixth grade teachers at Kettle Falls Middle School, recently invited guest speaker Eva Lassman, a Holocaust survivor, to their classroom. Richter called her visit “a real honor and great opportunity for the students to hear about history first-hand.” 10 Years Ago— At first glance, anyone can guess that Stephanie’s Closet is a boutique for young girls. What makes this store extraordinary is that none of the clothing, accessories, or shoes are for sale. Stephanie’s Closet is a nonprofit where teen girls in foster care, or teens in need, can select outfits at no cost. Northeast A League dual meet champion Colville annexed a District 7 1A wrestling title Saturday at Medical Lake. The Indians held off second-place Deer Park and third Freeman. Colville High School will host the regional tournament 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

Colville Interact Club Champions Peacebuilding with New Peace Pole Installation - 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 Interact Club Champions Peacebuilding with New Peace Pole Installation September 17, 2025 By: Emma Lee Conyer Colville High School’s Interact Club’s meeting on Sept. 12 included the installation of a peace pole in front of the school. The group thanked school staff, Rotary Club leaders, and community members for their support and celebrated the installation with cake. Peacebuilding was chosen as the club’s 2024-2025 theme, “inspired by Rotary International’s focus areas; to support this, they learned peace literacy skills and decided to install a peace pole at their high school,” said Amy Cobos, an Interact liaison. Cobos said that it took time to receive the pole and the club was unable to install the pole last school year, so they decided to install it at the beginning of the 2025-26 year. According to May Peace Prevail On Earth International, the founders of the Peace Pole Project, peace poles serve as symbols of hope and global unity, with more than 200,000 installed worldwide. To represent the Colville High School community, the Interact club chose English, Spanish, Russian and Japanese. “Jay Shepperd and Janey Howe from Rotary District 5080 generously donated $300 for the pole,” said Cobos. According to the Rotary District 5080 website, “In May 2022, the club partnered with the Colville Rotary Club to plant and dedicate a Peace Pole at the District 5080 Annual Conference in Colville,” making this the second Peace Pole to be placed in Colville. Continuing the Rotary International Club’s tradition of “paying it forward,” the Colville Interact Club “plans to gift another peace pole, likely to Sandpoint Interact Clubs,” stated Cobos. 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

Selecky Posthumously Honored by Health District - 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 Selecky Posthumously Honored by Health District December 31, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Matt Schanz stands with Mary Selecky’s sister, Heidi Jarecki, with Mary Selecky’s award. Photo courtesy Northeast Tri County Health District. Northeast Tri County Health District announced they recently honored the legacy of longtime public health leader Mary Selecky, whose career spanned decades of service to northeast Washington and the state. According to officials, Selecky served the region at the Northeast Tri County Health District from 1979 to 1999, before going on to serve as Washington state secretary of health from 1999 to 2013. Although her work later took her to the state level, Selecky maintained strong ties to Colville and northeast Washington, which she considered home. Selecky passed away in 2025; officials said members of her family recently visited the health district, both in person and virtually, to share memories and present a commemorative plaque honoring her life and work. District Administrator Matt Schanz accepted the plaque on behalf of the agency, stating that it marked a meaningful moment for staff who remembered Selecky’s leadership, dedication, and lasting impact on public health. 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

Stevens County Justice Center Development Delayed - 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 Stevens County Justice Center Development Delayed January 21, 2026 By: Bruce Rushton Sheriff Brad Manke reviews documents for the new justice center. Photo courtesy Bruce Rushton. Stevens County commissioners said they are scaling back plans for a new jail and courtroom facility two years after voters approved taxes to pay for a justice center adjacent to the existing courthouse. “(W)e can’t build the building that we want,” Commission Chairman Greg Young said at a board meeting called to discuss the project on Jan. 15. “Like I said, it’s too darn expensive.” Stevens County Sheriff Brad Manke said he saw this outcome coming. “Delusions of grandeur on what we could build and afford during the initial phases became reality when we started putting price tags to it.” Manke said in a December interview. “And so we have to bring it back to reality, which I figured was going to happen from the get-go.” Voters approved sales tax hikes totaling four-tenths of 1% in 2023 after RS Security LLC, a consulting firm based in Nine Mile Falls, Wash., approximated construction costs at $68.8 million in a report published three months before the election. Contingencies, permitting fees, sales taxes and furnishings boosted the total to $97.5 million, with the RS Security LLC consultant determining the cost would rise to $127.8 million by the end of 2024 due to rising prices for labor and material. The consulting firm said they figured the money would pay for a building of more than 85,000 square feet that would include four courtrooms and 112 jail beds. Since then, costs and bed counts have fluctuated as county officials have estimated putting five courtrooms in a building as large as 90,000 square feet. Plans have also called for a 55,000 square foot building, with one courtroom and 145 jail beds, according to Manke. County officials said in a Dec. 4, 2025 press release that, as a cost saving measure, they intend to install metal panels instead of brick façade on the exterior, and some interior walls will be built from drywall instead of blocks. The changes have whittled expected construction costs from more than $100 million to approximately $73 million, according to the press release. County officials have also reportedly told the state Project Review Committee in December 2024 that the facility would have 160 beds and that the total cost, including construction, design, furnishings and taxes, would reach $94.9 million. The county planned to issue a $99.4 million bond, according to documents submitted to the Project Review Committee. “Honestly, the plan is going to continue to evolve,” Dean Davis, county grant administrator, said at the Jan. 15 meeting, as attendees reviewed floor plans. “So what you see tonight is not locked in at all. It’s very drafty.” Based on legal advice, the commission may have to establish a citizen committee to seek public input into where the jail should be built, Young said at the meeting. He added that the most likely option remains land adjacent to the courthouse. “I find it very difficult to believe that they (the committee) will find a site that is better,” Young said. “I’ve been looking for the last year at potential sites and haven’t seen one yet that I think would be a good site. Like I said, some of them are next to schools and churches and different things.” The project also has fallen behind schedule. Manke told the Statesman-Examiner that he expects to break ground this fall. “We were hoping for spring of 2026, but with the redesign, it pushed us back six months,” the sheriff said in December 2025. The consulting firm told commissioners at the Jan. 15 meeting that designing the jail will take a year, with construction expected to begin in the spring of 2027 and conclude in December, 2028. The county so far has collected $5.6 million from the voter-approved sales tax hike, according to the board press release, and expects to collect $330,000 per month. County officials stated that they are aiming to land $4 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help pay for the new jail, adding that they hope for a low-interest loan from the state. The sheriff said he’ll need more employees when the jail opens. “We’re going to have to increase staffing a little bit just because it’s going to go from a 44-bed facility to a 140-some bed facility,” Manke said. “But with the more modern design, we can operate more efficiently – we don’t have to triple our staff because we’re tripling our beds. I have 15. We may have to add five.” In a follow-up text message, Manke said the jail, at full capacity, could require seven additional corrections officers and support staff. The sheriff said he expects the sales tax hike will cover the cost of new employees, and he’s confident the county will have sufficient funds to operate the jail. “We won’t open immediately at full capacity,” Manke said. “We’ll phase in however many extra inmates we’re bringing in.” The county averaged between 70-80 inmates per day, last summer, Manke said. The jail population dipped below 60 in early December, with more than a dozen inmates housed at the Ferry County jail. More people should be locked up, the sheriff said, but there isn’t room. People suspected of misdemeanors are rarely booked, he said. “We’re not about throwing everybody in jail, but there’s a lot of people that we don’t put in jail who need to be there,” Manke said. “Suspended drivers, we never book them. Drugs – meth, heroin, fentanyl. It’s just a misdemeanor in Washington now. We don’t book them. Malicious mischief, hit and runs. Can’t. We don’t have the room.” Some county residents aren’t happy with the delays, Manke said. “People are frustrated, and we were lacking a little bit in keeping the public apprised on the steps,” the sheriff said. “People, I think, are feeling a little more relaxed. They still want it done today. But I think we’re doing a better job of educating the public.” Voters, Manke predicted, won’t be disappointed to see courtrooms cut from the project. “They were calling it a justice center because they were attaching courtrooms and clerk’s offices and all that kind of stuff,” Manke said. “When it comes down to brass tacks, our citizens really voted for a new jail – the jail portion is what they wanted.” Politics and money, the sheriff added, played a role in the evolution of a project that county officials hope will receive federal funds. “At the time, when we were starting this, that administration had no interest in helping build new jails,” Manke said. “They did have an interest in justice systems and court facilities. Political, very political. I’m not going to speak for the commissioners, but I think the eligibility for that federal funding helped inspire making it a justice center.” 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 Offense Finds Its Rhythm Against Deer Park - 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 Offense Finds Its Rhythm Against Deer Park December 24, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Jet Bateman goes up for a basket against Deer Park. Photo by Brandon Hansen. Colville boys and girls each split a pair of games. Colville girls bounce back with road win at Tonasket. Although Deer Park is in the 2A league, that didn’t stop Colville from putting on a big offensive show in their match last week. Colville opened the week with a dominant 67-31 victory over Deer Park on Dec. 16, at home. The Crimson Hawks had a five-point lead in the first quarter and then went on a 21-5 run before halftime. They continued to pour it on, and the Stags were outpaced 24-7 to begin the second half. Jet Bateman led Colville with 17 points, while Parker Darnold added 14. Colville’s outside shooting proved to be a major difference, as the Crimson Hawks connected on 12 3-pointers in the win. Darnold and Bateman each hit multiple shots from beyond the arc. Brock Benson added 10 points while Cooper Haynes and Quentin Huggins had nine points apiece. On Dec. 19, Colville traveled to Tonasket and came up short in a 49-36 loss. The Crimson Hawks struggled to find that same consistency on offense, losing their fourth game of the year. The Colville boys team will hang up its shoes for a few days and be back in action on Dec. 30, hosting Northport in a Stevens County showdown at 10:30 a.m. The Colville girls basketball team responded to an earlier setback with a strong road performance, defeating Tonasket 53-35 on Dec. 19, to improve to 4-3 overall. The Crimson Hawks’ 18-point victory was a bolstering bounce-back performance after a loss earlier in the week. The Lady Hawks fell 56-40 at home to Bonners Ferry in another nonleague contest on Dec. 16. Bonners Ferry’s Taren Bateman scored 38 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead the Badgers to the win. Andee Kroiss paced Colville with 14 points, while the Crimson Hawks struggled from beyond the arc, finishing without a made 3-pointer. Despite the loss, Colville regrouped quickly and found success on the road, which is important as they have a winning record and positive momentum as league play approaches. After Christmas, the Lady Crimson Hawks will head to Colfax on Dec. 29 to play at 1:30 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

Preliminary Election Results Released for Stevens and Ferry Counties - 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 Preliminary Election Results Released for Stevens and Ferry Counties November 12, 2025 By: Emma Lee Conyer The preliminary election results for Ferry County and Stevens County. General election results for Stevens and Ferry counties are still being counted, however, current tabulations provide an indication of the winning parties. According to election department officials, the election results for both of the counties will be certified on Nov. 25. STEVENS COUNTY Chewelah The candidates for Chewelah mayor are Lindsay Baxter and Tracy Ling. Election officials stated that Baxter is in the lead as of Monday, Nov. 10, with 328 (67.35%) of the 487 counted votes, followed by Ling with 138 votes (28.34%). Twenty-one votes (4.31%) were written in. The candidates for Chewelah City Council, Position 1, are Katie Roberts and Shane Fairweather. Roberts leads with 299 (65%) of the 460 counted votes, with Fairweather trailing with 75 (16.3%) of the votes, according to officials. Eighty-six votes (18.7%) were written-in. The candidates for Chewelah City Council, Position 2, are James B. Caruso and Sharon Ludwig. Election officials said Caruso is trailing with 216 (43.55%) of the 496 votes, while Ludwig sits at 278 (56.05%) votes; two (0.4%) votes were write-ins. Jon Hardy-McCauliff and Ronald L. McCoy are the candidates for Chewelah City Council, Position 3. Out of 485 votes, Hardy-McCauliff currently holds 293 (60.41%), with McCoy behind at 190 (39.18%), according to election officials. The remaining two votes (0.41%) are write-ins. Lonnie Hoxie and Tim Dollar are the Chewelah City Council, Position 6 candidates. Officials stated that Hoxie held 354 (72.69%) votes, while Dollar had 131 (26.9%) of the 487 total votes. Two of the votes (0.41%) were write-ins. Candice Capoeman and Paula Randall are the candidates for Chewelah City Council at Large. Officials indicated that Randall was in the lead with 334 (77.67%) votes out of 430 total, with Capoeman behind at 91 (21.16%) votes. Five of the votes (1.16%) are write-ins. Colville The candidates for Colville City Council at Large are Muriel S. Meyer and Thomas Carpenter. Meyer was ahead, according to officials, with 640 (66.05%) of 969 votes, and Carpenter with 321 (33.13%) votes. Eight of the total votes (0.83%) were write-ins. Marcus Chris Fox and Ethan Jennings are the candidates for Marcus mayor. Jennings was behind, with 21 (33.33%) of the 63 total votes, and Fox held 42 (66.67%). Northport The candidates for the mayor of Northport are Karene Balcom and Phillip Naylor. Balcom held 62 (82.67%) of the 75 total votes, while Naylor had 13 (17.33%) votes, according to officials. Northport School District The candidates for the Northport School District Director at Large 5 at Lisa (Fry) Warner and Chad R. Arcand. Officials noted there were three (0.8%) write-in votes, 153 (40.43%) votes for Warner, and 221 (58.78%) votes for Arcand out of a total of 376 votes. Mary Walker School District Jedd Canfield and Thad Stenlund are the candidates for the Mary Walker School District Director District 1. Canfield held the lead with 411 (73.39%) votes, while Stenlund had 144 (25.71%) of the 560 total votes, according to officials. Out of those votes, five (0.89%) were written-in. Onion Creek School District The candidates for Onion School District Director Position 1 are Deryk Lamb, who sat at 33 (37.08%) votes, and Lennifer Leone Miller, who held 54 (60.67%) votes, officials stated. Out of the 89 total votes, two (2.25%) were write-ins. Stevens County Fire Protection District 4, Proposition 1: Levy Citizens of Stevens County were called to vote on a Fire District Levy this year. Officials indicated that the levy will pass, with 422 (55.02%) of the 767 votes being “Levy Yes,” and 345 (44.98%) being “Levy No.” Fire District 12 Sharyl McBride and Duggan Harman are the candidates for Fire District 12 Commissioner 1. Out of 242 total votes, McBride led with 188 (77.69%) votes, and Harman sat at 53 (21.49%) votes, officials said. Two votes (0.83%) were written-in. FERRY COUNTY Fire District 3 The Fire District 3 Commissioner 3 candidates are Al Kowitz and Jake Cook. Officials said out of 259 total votes, Kowitz sat at 147 (56.76%) votes, and Cook held 112 (43.24%). 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