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Local Salon Moves to New Location - 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 Salon Moves to New Location November 5, 2025 By: Meredith Carroll Owner Karen Wisner. Photo courtesy of Wisner. Karen Wisner, owner of A Kut Above hair salon, has moved locations and continues to style hair and provide mani-pedis after 38 years in the industry. “I started at my new location the first week of October,” said Wisner. “I needed a change, less stress in my life. A Kut Above is my name, so I took that with me and left everything else for the other girls.” Wisner stated that the salon, Bare Beauty, took over her previous location. “I didn’t necessarily sell the business. Rather, I gave the business to them,” Wisner said. A Kut Above provides services such as haircuts, manicures, and pedicures. “I’m also an esthetician, so I’m looking into getting a GLP-1 machine to tighten skin up,” Wisner said.Wisner said she spent her entire career at the old location before deciding to try something different. “I want a little less stress for myself, and I want to be able to spend more time with [my husband] Steve. Since he sold the movie theater, I’ve been wanting to spend more time with him. We just got back from a vacation with my parents to Booth Bay Harbor in Maine.” Wisner said she is accepting new clients. “I’ve been doing this for 38 years, and I have a big, faithful client base. I will take new clients depending on if I have the time. Since Colville is a small town, I need to be versatile,” adding that she does not anticipate retiring soon. Wisner said she operates the business space with Carla Schultz, a cosmetologist, and Becky Droter, an esthetician. “I’m with them, but we’re all independent,” she said. Wisner said she has stayed in the beauty business for so long because she loves the creativity of hair, nails, toes. But more than that, “I love making people feel beautiful. It makes me happy doing this. When my clients leave, they feel beautiful. I love what I’m doing.” The slower pace of the A Kut Above’s new location allows Wisner more time to spend with customers. “It’s a more relaxed atmosphere, and I don’t feel like I’m running,” she said. “I want people to know that I’m still working and would love for them to come to my new spot and hang.” The new location of A Kut Above is 530 S. Main St. in Colville, in the same building as Farmers’ Insurance. 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

Wendy Rae Lloyd — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Births Wendy Rae Lloyd Wendy Rae Lloyd was born on Aug. 25, 2025, to parents Pamela and Gideon Lloyd of Kettle Falls, Wash. She weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces at birth and has two brothers, David Lloyd, age 7, and Arlyn Lloyd, age 4, as well as one sister, Judy Lloyd, age 5. Her maternal grandparents are Pamela and Carl Tenney of Northport, Wash. Her paternal grandparents are Barbara and Brian Lloyd of Kettle Falls, Wash. Previous Next LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Local Library Encourages Creativity Through Art - 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 Library Encourages Creativity Through Art January 21, 2026 By: Meredith Carroll Kettle Falls Library begins new creative program for children. “Every child is an artist.” It is Donna Matter’s heartfelt belief that all children contain untapped creativity and that it is her purpose to provide them with an outlet. The Kettle Falls Children’s Art Program, located at the Kettle Falls Library, was launched 10 years ago by Donna Matter and her husband, George Matter. Children can come in after school on Tuesdays – no enrollment necessary – where they have a snack, and can jump right into creating art. “We have different tables set up that the children can choose from,” said Matter. “For example, they can go to Recycling Art, Painting, or Build / Create Your Own Design. Sometimes we’ll have beads or self-drying clay. One day, I hope to have art classes with the option to fire your own clay.” The art classes are run entirely by volunteers. “Right now, all the volunteers are seniors, except for two girls who are in high school now that used to come to the class. I like to see things come full circle. “Our rural community is filled with talented kids,” she said. “It’s about what they want to do. I don’t do cookie-cutter art. I want to help them to be creative and do what they want to do.” Matter said she hosts anywhere between 30 and 60 young artists in her class. “It’s organized chaos. During the fall, we get a lot more people from the community, and the class grows. It can get loud, but it’s always safe.” She added, “There are only three rules that the young artists have to follow: Be safe. Be creative. And have fun.” According to Matter, the Kettle Falls Children’s Art Program is funded entirely through monetary donations and supplies, with the remaining costs picked up by herself and George. “We get lots of donations,” Matter said. “Some of it we get to store at the library, but most of it I keep at home. My entire spare bedroom is filled with art supplies.” Matter said she moved to Kettle Falls in 2009 after retiring from a teaching career. She got her inspiration to start the art program from the library itself. “The library wanted me to make a quilt with some of the kids to raise money for art for kids. The program took off from there. I met George, and he helped. He’s been my friend and with the program the entire time. We got married three years ago. George helps a lot with the art program, and he oversees the recycling art. “The library saved my life. I love the library. “The art program is more than just about art. It’s about building self-esteem and positive affirmation. We come home happy but tired.” The Kettle Falls Library provides staff supervision during the class sessions. “The library keeps track of the kids who attend, and this helps with funding for books for the library,” Matter said. Christine Evans, a librarian with the Kettle Falls Library, has helped Matter with the art program for the entire three-and-a-half years she has worked there. “It is one of our most popular programs in the district,” Evans said. “We’ve gotten a huge response. Librarians from all over Washington state say they’ve heard about the program and come to our library here in Kettle Falls to visit. It really is impressive. We have more participation in this program at our little library than many large libraries see on the coast.” Evans said she helps with setting up the art tables and with guiding the children as needed. One of the tables is referred to as the Recycling Table, because people drop off random items for the kids to use in their projects. “They come up with the most amazing things out of the random items that people drop off,” Evans said. “They come up with dollhouses, outfits, and usable disc throwers. The level of creativity these kids have is amazing. Donna pours encouragement into all of these kids. She and her program foster such a good attitude of appreciation for others.” Donna said the Kettle Falls Children’s Art Program can always use volunteers to help out. The art program meets at the Kettle Falls Library located at 615 Meyers Street, every Tuesday from 3-4 p.m., September through April. For more information, contact the library at 509-738-6817. 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

Ivy March Hinds — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Births Ivy March Hinds Ivy March Hinds was born on Jan. 28, 2026, to parents Darby Fox and Jack Hinds of Colville, Wash. She weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces at birth. Her maternal grandparent is Kathy Fox of Colville, Wash. Her paternal grandparents are Bob and Mickey Hinds of Colville, Wash. Previous Next LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Uncertainty Persists After Government Shutdown Ends - 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 Uncertainty Persists After Government Shutdown Ends November 19, 2025 By: Emma Lee Conyer Although the federal government shutdown has concluded, certain programs and departments still face uncertainty in the upcoming weeks. After a record 43-day shutdown, the federal government reopened on Wednesday, Nov. 12, after President Donald Trump signed a funding package. The U.S. House approved Resolution 222-209, funding parts of the government through January, and others through fall 2026. According to the resolution’s language, the agreement will also reverse the mass federal layoffs that occurred during the shutdown. One concern voiced by officials during the shutdown was how, and if, states would be able to fund programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. According to officials, some states briefly issued full SNAP benefits before the Supreme Court paused a lower court order that required the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fully fund the program. Other states, including Washington, began sending full and partial benefits to some residents, officials said, although it is unclear what the criteria were. Lexie Kuznick, director of policy and government relations for the American Public Human Services Association said many states could distribute full SNAP benefits within one to three days, though some might take up to a week. In an interview with CNN, she added that states that initially issued partial benefits would need to calculate the additional amounts owed to recipients, a process expected to take approximately one week. According to Rep. Baumgartner (R-Spokane), the funding package aims to provide full-year allocations for agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, military construction, and legislative branch appropriations, “marking significant wins for eastern Washington.” Baumgartner stated that his vote helped secure funding for several local projects under the Agriculture Appropriations Bill, including: $1 million for Washington State University’s Agricultural Research Service building furnishings project. $2 million for NEW Health Association’s Chewelah expansion and regional workforce development center. $1 million for Tri-State Health’s family medicine residency project. The funding package received support from Republican representatives Dan Newhouse and Baumgartner, along with one Democratic breakaway, Rep. Marie Glusenkamp Perez. The other seven democratic representatives from Washington state voted against the package, according to officials. Although the shutdown has ended, delays are still expected as departments catch up on research grants, economic reports and six weeks of missed communications. Officials said that with funding for some agencies only guaranteed through January 2026, similar disruptions could arise in three months. 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 and Kettle Falls Wrestlers Cook at Apple Pie Invite - 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 and Kettle Falls Wrestlers Cook at Apple Pie Invite January 21, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen Local wrestlers turned in strong performances at the Apple Pie Invite on Saturday, Jan. 17, highlighted by podium finishes from Chewelah’s Dakota Katzer and Titan Tapia, as well as a deep showing across multiple weights by the Kettle Falls Bulldogs. Katzer advanced to the championship bout at 157 pounds and finished second overall. He opened with a bye before pinning Yandel Mata of Chelan in 1:32, then followed with another fall over Andrew Alcala of Chelan in the semifinals. In the title match, Katzer ran into Tristan Sharpe of Cascade (Leavenworth), falling by decision to cap a strong tournament run and score 22 team points. Teammate Tapia also reached the podium at 157 pounds, placing third. Tapia pinned Ryder Vassar of Tonasket in the quarterfinals, dropped a semifinal to Sharpe, then rebounded with a technical fall over Mason Simons of Republic-Curlew in the consolation semifinals. Tapia closed the day with a 10-5 victory over Alcala to secure third place. Kettle Falls had multiple wrestlers place, led by a pair of strong finishes at 150 pounds. Ezekiel Evans placed second after earning a fall in the quarterfinals and a technical fall in the semifinals before falling to Logan Stucker of Tonasket in the title match. Baylor Rosen added a third-place finish at the same weight, stringing together four consecutive falls through the consolation bracket and closing with another pin over Nik Morrow of Blaine to score 22 team points. At 132 pounds, Joseph Young placed third, winning four of five matches, all but one by fall. Young pinned his way through the early rounds, rebounded from a semifinal loss, and closed with a pin over Aengus Gillikin of Cascade. In the upper weights, Hunter Smith-Rowe placed third at 215 pounds, responding to an early loss with four straight wins by fall, including the third-place match against teammate Harley Rowe. Rowe finished fourth after advancing through the consolation rounds. Kettle Falls also saw solid efforts from Michael Winn (fourth at 120 pounds) and Gideon Evans (fourth at 126 pounds), each rallying through the consolation bracket with multiple falls to reach the placement rounds. 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 Dancers Qualify for Regionals at Spokane Feis Competition - 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 Dancers Qualify for Regionals at Spokane Feis Competition October 1, 2025 By: Emma Lee Conyer From left to right, RyanRose Robinson, Claire Worley, Kylee Espenhain and Brittany Robinson. Photo courtesy Claire Worley. The Haran School of Irish Dancers, located in Kettle Falls, and its sister school in Spokane, held the fourth annual “Feis at the Falls” and “Deirdre Abeid Memorial Feis” Sept. 14-15. Originally founded in 1990 by Deirdre Abeid, the Kettle Falls school was taken over by her daughter, Claire Worley, in 2004 following her passing. Prior to that, Claire’s older sister, Caitlin Trusler, opened a second school in Spokane. The Haran School of Irish Dance holds the title of the first certified Irish dance school in the Inland Northwest. The Haran Irish Dancers have been hosting two feisianna, or Irish dance competitions, titled “Feis at the Falls” and “Deirdre Abeid Memorial Feis” since 2022. Located at the Spokane Convention Center, these are Spokane’s only feisanna, with placements determining whether dancers are eligible to compete in regional, national, and world championships. Four of the dancers from the Kettle Falls school qualified for the western U.S. regional championships, Oireachtas. Kylee Espenhain placed first in both the Hard Shoe and Set Dance categories for ages 17 and over. She also took first place overall in the Preliminary Championship for her age group. RyanRose Robinson swept the Under 17 division, taking first place in Soft Shoe, Set Dance and the Preliminary Championship overall. Espenhain placed third in the Championship Special Traditional Set Dance for dancers aged 15 and over, and earned third place in the Open Championship Soft Shoe dance for ages 18 and over. Brooklyn Thompson took first place in the Adult Advanced Championship and also claimed first in the Adult Special Championship Treble Reel event. Amalie Pancoast placed second in the Adult Advanced Championship and later earned a first place finish in a solo category. In honor of Lucas Pancoast, who had previously danced for the school before his passing, a dance-off was held, where judges picked based on stage presence and how they made them feel, according to Worley. Oireachtas will be hosted in Spokane Nov. 21-23, where several hundred dancers from across the western U.S. will travel to compete. 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 Drops Pair of League 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 Boys Basketball Drops Pair of League Games January 28, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen Jaxon Fandrey scored nine points in Kettle Falls' loss to Reardan on Jan. 20. File photo. The Kettle Falls boys basketball team dropped a pair of NE 2B league games last week, falling to Reardan and Davenport. Kettle Falls opened the week on the road Jan. 20, with a 70-26 loss to league power Reardan. The Screaming Eagles jumped out to a 21-10 lead after one quarter and never let up, outscoring the Bulldogs 43-15 over the middle two quarters. Reardan (15-2 overall, 9-1 league) was paced by Fred Frolov, who scored a game-high 23 points, while Justin Vaughn added 14 points and knocked down four 3-pointers. Kettle Falls was led by Jaxon Fandrey with nine points, followed by Mace Thivierge with eight points. The Bulldogs struggled offensively throughout the night, shooting just 10 field goals as a team. Kettle Falls returned home Friday, Jan. 23, but couldn’t slow down visiting Davenport in a 66-51 league loss. The Bulldogs were locked in an 11-11 tie after the first quarter and trailed just 20-22 at halftime before Davenport used a strong second half to pull away. The Gorillas (9-7, 5-4) erupted for 46 points after the break, including a 25-point fourth quarter, behind Bennett Wagner’s 23-point performance. Wagner connected on four 3-pointers and also fouled out late in the game. Caige Colbert added 20 points for Davenport. Thivierge led Kettle Falls with 21 points, hitting three 3-pointers and going 4-for-5 from the free-throw line. Zac Burch and Fandrey each chipped in eight points. Following the losses, Kettle Falls sits at 8-10 overall and 4-6 in NE2B play. Results from the Bulldogs’ road game at St. George’s on Tuesday, Jan. 27, were unavailable at press time. Kettle Falls is scheduled to host Chewelah on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 6 p.m. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Ryley Jo Body-Larsen — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Births Ryley Jo Body-Larsen Ryley Jo Body-Larsen was born Aug. 11, 2025, to parents Darcy Body and Michael Larsen of Kettle Falls, Wash. She weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces at birth and has one brother, Brantley Michael Body-Larsen, age 3. Her maternal grandparents are Diane Peterson and Larry Body of Colville, Wash. Her paternal grandparents are Laurie and Kurt Larsen of Kettle Falls, Wash. Her paternal great-grandparent is Adele Larsen of Grand Forks, British Columbia. Previous Next LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Colville Falls in Heartbreaker to Riverside - 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 Falls in Heartbreaker to Riverside November 12, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Colville girls' soccer season ends. The Colville Crimson Hawks soccer team saw their season come to a dramatic close Nov. 4, falling 4-3 to Riverside in a District 6 Northeast A loser-out match. The third-seeded Rams (8-8-1) edged out the second-seeded Crimson Hawks (4-11-2) after the two teams battled evenly through regulation and overtime. The loss ended Colville’s postseason hopes, while Riverside advanced to face Cascade (Leavenworth) in a District 6/5 1A crossover on Nov. 8, at Royal High School, with a state berth on the line. Despite the defeat, Colville capped its fall campaign with a strong late-season push and competitive play in the rugged Northeast A League. 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

Warren Thomas Gold — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Births Warren Thomas Gold Warren Thomas Gold was born on Dec. 23, 2025, to parents Mallory Lubking and Conner Gold of Colville, Wash. He weighed 6 pounds, 15.8 ounces at birth. His maternal grandparents are Tom and Cathy of Glendale, Ariz. His paternal grandparents are Rich and Jennifer of Chewelah, Wash. Previous Next LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Colville City Council Approves Funds for Local Tourism - 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 City Council Approves Funds for Local Tourism November 19, 2025 By: Isidora Patrick 11/10/2025 Colville City Council Meeting. The Colville city council meeting on Nov. 10 was full of energy as the council members juggled budgets, allocated funds to local events, and celebrated the return of local volunteers. The council got straight to business, quickly approving the consent agenda, including signing off on October’s minutes and the monthly $388,000 city staff payroll. The council then powered forward with important service upgrades. Council members discussed how police officers have access to cutting-edge safety gear for their protection, and the city’s water and sewer systems will keep running smoothly, thanks to a new Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system. A lively discussion centered on the 2026 Lodging Tax Funding, which can support local tourism and events. The Colville Chamber of Commerce secured $33,000, while a car show request received no funding. The Northeast Washington Fair got its full $8,600 request, and the Stevens County Historical Society’s projects were both funded as recommended. Colville Together’s support was set at $26,000, matching last year, and the Farm Jam festival was allotted a hefty $50,000 boost. As the meeting wrapped up, the council reaffirmed the commitment of several hometown volunteers, reappointing them to key city boards and committees. These residents will continue to lend their expertise to subjects such as historic preservation, aviation planning, city funding, and parking policy. The next Colville city council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 6 p.m. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES