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New Year, New Laws Taking Effect on Jan. 1 - 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 Year, New Laws Taking Effect on Jan. 1 December 31, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Several new Washington state laws will take effect on Jan. 1, bringing changes for residents and businesses, according to state officials. Passed by the Washington State Legislature in 2025, these laws will increase the minimum wage, modify paid family/medical leave, and impose a higher nicotine tax. MINIMUM WAGE While the state already has one of the highest minimum wages in the country, it will increase again. Officials said Washington will raise its minimum wage to $17.13 in 2026, up 2.8% from $16.66. The federal minimum wage is $7.25.Cities such as Seattle, Bellingham, Burien, Everett, Renton, SeaTac and Tukwila all have higher minimum wages than the state, according to Labor & Industries officials.Washington employers will also need to pay overtime-exempt workers 2.25 times the minimum wage, state officials said; this can total to more than $80,000 per year. This year, the pay for an exempt employee was $69,305 for small businesses and $77,969 for larger businesses. According to the legislation, overtime exempt pay minimums will rise to $93,392 in 2028.For those aged 14-and-15 year-old, minimum wage is set to rise to $14.56 in 2026. PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE The new law says employers with 25 or more employees will be required to provide job protection for eligible employees taking Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML), based on 180 calendar days of employment, with no minimum hours worked required. The PFML premium will rise to 1.13% in 2026. CHILD SUPPORT AND FAMILY LAST Support guidelines for child support will now rise above the previous limit of $12,000 in combined monthly net income, according to the legislation passed. The new support guidelines will cover incomes up to $50,000 per month combined, with additional guidance for higher-income families. Still, the law allows for judicial discretion for income above the old limit.A previous statutory self-support reserve has been raised from 125% to 180% of the federal poverty line. According to the law, this means parents cannot be ordered to pay amounts that would leave them below this income line – except in certain classes. If a low-income parent's income goes below this amount, their child support minimum would be $50 per child, per month. Higher-income parents may be ordered to provide support of up to 45% of their net income. VICTIMS’ RIGHTS PROTECTIONS Washington has updated and reinforced victims’ rights protections under state law, outlining clear requirements to ensure victims, survivors, and witnesses are informed, protected, and supported throughout criminal and civil court proceedings. According to state officials, the law requires that victims receive a written summary of their rights at the time a crime is reported, including contact information for local victim and witness assistance programs, and mandates that law enforcement and prosecutors provide timely updates on key case developments such as charges filed and case outcomes, particularly in violent, domestic violence, and sex offense cases. The statute also strengthens protections and participation rights for victims, including access to safety information and support services, secure waiting areas during court proceedings, and the ability to attend hearings in person or remotely. Victims retain the right to submit victim impact statements for sentencing and have them included in the official court record. In addition, the law affirms victims’ ability to seek restitution in felony cases even when an offender is incarcerated, while requiring procedural assistance such as advance notice of court dates and support with employers to reduce lost wages tied to court appearances. NICOTINE TAX According to the new law, Washington state will apply a 95% tax rate for all nicotine and tobacco products. This means a nicotine product that cost $7 in 2025 will now cost $15 once sales tax and excise tax are also added. Officials said retailers and distributors will be required to report inventory of affected nicotine products on their first tax return. This includes synthetic nicotine, vapes, e-cigs and nicotine pouches. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Out of the Past: 10/08/2025 - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Out of the Past: 10/08/2025 October 8, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Car takes off the new highway onto the old road. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— CHEWELAH—The Congregational Church of Chewelah last Sunday celebrated the 46 th anniversary of the founding of the first protestant church in Stevens County, Sept. 14, 1879. The occasion also marked the anniversary of the first public address made in Washington by the Rev. Cushing Eells, missionary, who on Sept. 16, 1838, spoke to a gathering of Indians at Chewelah on his first tour in the state. Between 50 and 100 families are to find homes on the rich bench lands south of Kettle Falls, according to plans which have been under way for some time, and which are now announced. The lands south of the town of Kettle Falls, which are watered by the irrigation ditch of the Fruitland Irrigation Co., have never been entirely utilized, although they offer some of the finest home, farm, and orchard sites in the northwest. 75 Years Ago— Next year should see the breakthrough on the new highway between Kettle Falls and Republic, over the Sherman Creek route. The completion of this road will make a direct route between the two towns. The distance will be 28 miles. 50 Years Ago— A new, $225,000 grocery store construction was started this week on the north city limits of Colville. Bob Porter, owner of Porter’s Polka Dot, along with Sasquatch Local Development Corp. of Spokane, contracted Bryan Construction Co. of Colville to build the 9,600 square foot food store. Colville has been selected by the Washington State Bicentennial Commission as one of the cities to host the performance of the State Traveling Festival “Spirit of 76.” Gracing one of the rustic old walls of the Kettle Falls Railroad Depot is an old clock. The antique, which according to Kettle Falls Depot relief agent Alton Sanders keeps impeccable time, has an interesting story behind it. The clock, which is an original piece of equipment of the Northern Railroad, will, according to a notice located inside the clock, be granted to the Stevens County Historical Society, if and when it is replaced. (Burlington Northern donated the clock to the Historical Society, where it has been on display since 1977.) 25 Years Ago— Modern firearm whitetail and mule buck season opens Saturday in most areas of eastern Washington. A three-point minimum is required for mule bucks in most areas, while any whitetail buck with visible antlers is legal. A total of 2,617 veterans and dependents turned out for the third annual Tri-County Veterans Stand Down last week. David Tonasket rushed for a career-high 309 yards and four touchdowns as Inchelium cruised to a 64-14 win Friday afternoon over outmanned Curlew. 10 Years Ago— Washington state’s minimum wage will stay the same in 2016 – $9.47 per hour – because the national Consumer Price Index did not increase. Vern Vaagen of Colville recorded his first-ever hole-in-one last week when his tee shot on the 190-yard, par 3, 11 th hole at Dominion Meadows Golf Course found the bottom of the cup. Vaagen, a regular with the Wanderer’s Senior Golf Group, was using a Nike driver. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

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Barman’s Building Begins New Chapter - 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 Barman’s Building Begins New Chapter August 20, 2025 By: Meredith Carroll Barman’s owners Scott Aslakson (left) and Andrew Ross in front of the store. Photo provided by Meredith Carroll. After sitting vacant since 2017, the Barman’s building is about to reopen as Barman’s Gift and Home. Barman’s was originally established in 1887 by David Barman as a department store 115 years ago. Scott Aslakson and Andrew Ross, owners of the Alpine Theater and Auto Vue Drive-In, purchased the building in 2021. “We plan on opening in early to mid-September,” said Aslakson. “We will be selling gifts and home merchandise. There will be seasonal items, women’s accessories such as bags, scarves, and bath and body. Home décor will include linens, candles, and dishes. We will also have a kids’ section. And gourmet foods plus homemade fudge like in the previous department store. In our displays, we’ll have truffles and chocolate bars. I made sure that the merchandise we’re carrying is not stuff that can be carried in other stores in town. That wouldn’t be fair to other businesses.” He added, “We plan on keeping the big piano, and we’ll have someone come in on Fridays and weekends to play live music.” “We have good things planned for the fall and the holidays,” said Ross. “The Christmas parade used to be the Barman’s Parade. We don’t have a lot of details on that. It was decades ago. But we’re going to start that tradition up again.” Ross continued, “The Barman’s Holiday Parade will take place in partnership with Colville Together. The parade will end with Santa Claus coming on a firetruck from the North Pole. He will walk to the Colville Christmas Tree, light it, and then Santa will come inside Barman’s and pose for Christmas pictures with our old, antique sleigh.” “We’re also hoping for an announcer and small stage for the parade,” said Aslakson. “We will have a huge Christmas selection, including a gift wrapping counter. Our display window will have the Christmas sleigh, the nutcrackers, trees, and 72-inch wreaths.” “The City of Colville is on board with the Christmas event, but it hasn’t been approved as yet,” said Ross. “We’re still working on the finer details for crowd control and the contest.” Ross, a Colville native, serves on the airport board and the parking commission for the City of Colville. He met Aslakson in Redmond, and they have been together for more than nine years. Aslakson, who hails from Puyallup, works as a retail merchandiser and as a real estate broker, while Ross maintains his Seattle-based tech company. Together, they run the movie theater, the drive-in, and now, Barman’s. “We don’t have a lot of free time,” said Aslakson. “I would like to enjoy some stuff. Once the business is established, then we’ll have some free time.” But, when taking into account their five-year plan, free time appears to be a long term goal. “In the next month or so, we’ll finish up with renovations and architectural updates and open Barman’s,” said Aslakson. “In the next five years, we’ll be doing some major renovations so that we can transform Barman’s into a higher end boutique hotel. The goal is to bring more people into Colville. We’ll add a restaurant and we may make Barman’s Gift and Home into more like a hotel gift shop.” “We’ll add a rooftop restaurant and lounge area,” added Ross. More immediate plans include leasing out space inside of Barman’s to one of the local businesses. “On September 15, Milk House will be moving into the leased space,” said Ross. “The space will be completely separate from Barman’s.” Barman’s Gift and Home will be open Monday through Saturday from 1-6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store is located at 230 S. Main Street in Colville. 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 Wins Fifth Straight With Bad News Defense - 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 Wins Fifth Straight With Bad News Defense January 21, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen Georgia Beardslee and Colville shut down Medical Lake. Publisher photo. Make that five wins in a row for the Colville girls basketball team, demonstrating that the Crimson Hawks’ defense could be a very real problem for opponents in NEA League play. Colville (9-4 overall, 1-0 league) opened Northeast A League play in convincing fashion Friday, Jan. 16, rolling past Medical Lake 57-28 at home. It was the third time in the past four games that the Crimson Hawks have held their opponents to under 30 points. The Crimson Hawks set the tone early, racing out to a 23-3 first-quarter lead and never looked back. Colville led 36-11 at halftime and maintained control throughout the second half to secure the league win. Andee Kroiss led the Crimson Hawks with a game-high 18 points, knocking down eight field goals and adding three free throws. Colville showed balanced scoring behind Kroiss, with Georgia Beardslee and Rylee Brisby each scoring 11 points and Andrea Edwards adding eight points. Colville’s defense held Medical Lake to just 11 field goals for the game. The visiting Medical Lake Cardinals were led by Avae Brown and Kade Endres with seven points apiece. With precious few league games left in NEA’s four-team league, every win is more magnified than in other leagues in the area. Results from Colville’s matchup at Lakeside on Jan. 20 were unavailable at press time. The Crimson Hawks are scheduled to host nonleague foe Newport on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 4 p.m., before jumping back into NEA League play, hosting Lakeside on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 5:45 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

Out of the Past: 09/24/2025 - 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: 09/24/2025 September 24, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Tykie Cox and Skinny Painter opened the Burger-In 1950, a popular hangout for local teens. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— The number of students enrolled in high schools this year greatly exceeds that of last year. There are 274 students in high school and 109 in junior high. The student whose grade comes in the lowest 10% of his class will have the pleasure of meditating on his sins during the eighth period for the next six weeks. In the post office window has been displayed an interesting replica of the days of Fort Colville on Mill Creek. A barber chair in use at the fort has miraculously been preserved; its appearance marks the contrast between pioneer and present days. The chair is nothing but a rough board altar on which the tonsorial victim was seated until his hair could be sheared. For some reason or other, it was painted green and brown. 75 Years Ago— Governor Arthur Langlie opened the Saturday afternoon program at the Colville fair. Gov. Langlie lauded exhibitors and fair officials for the type of show presented. Two Colville businesses plan opening events in Colville Saturday. Scamahorn’s Studios will hold an open house all day Saturday, in a new studio in the Vinson building. Tykie Cox and Skinny Painter will welcome patrons at Burger-In, north of the city beginning at 10:30 a.m. Colville’s 1950 Northern Washington district fair was termed “the best in history” by exhibitors, spectators, and fair officials alike as the show closed Sunday. George Hofstetter, who can lay claim to being the oldest white child born in Stevens County, celebrated his 80 th birthday on Thursday of this week. Hofstetter is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hofstetter, and was born in Pinckney City, three miles northeast of Colville. Pinckney City was located across Mill Creek from the Fort Colville garrison. 50 Years Ago— The city of Colville received approval Sept. 17, of its proposed relocation site for the Colville Municipal Airport. The Stevens County CowBelles met Wednesday at the Fort Colville Grange. Officers for the coming year were elected as follows: president, Jean Urhausen; vice-president, Sara Lilienthal; secretary, Evelyn Bolt; and treasurer, Phyllis Fuhrman. 25 Years Ago— One of the major stories to come out of last Tuesday’s primary election in Stevens County was the number of registered voters opting to vote absentee. Four years ago, there were only about 1,500 registered absentee voters in Stevens County. This year, about 5,300 ballots were mailed to voters. The Goodwill Industries Store at 168 N. Main in Colville, sustained an undetermined amount of damage as a result of a fire in the building Saturday. 10 Years Ago— As of last Thursday, 12 deer were confirmed dead in Colville from an insect-borne, viral disease called bluetongue, which has been exacerbated by the statewide drought. CHEWELAH—The Chewelah Performing and Cultural Arts Center Board has adopted the title of “Chewelah Center for the Arts” as the name of the new facility located in the old city shop building on 3 rd St. E. in Chewelah. 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

Camdyn Helen Christensen — 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 Camdyn Helen Christensen Camdyn Helen Christensen was born on Aug. 27, 2025 to parents Kimberly Rios and Zach Christensen of Colville, Wash. She weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces at birth, and has two sisters, Lydia, age 10, and Henley, age 8. Her maternal grandparents are Mike Rios of Silverdale, Wash., and Genna Wickett of Graham, Wash. Her maternal grandparents are Dana and Larry Christensen 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

Chewelah Girls Show Early Fight at Northport Tip-Off Despite Winless Weekend - 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 Girls Show Early Fight at Northport Tip-Off Despite Winless Weekend December 10, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Chewelah girls basketball team opened its season with a pair of competitive efforts at the Northport Tip-Off Tournament this past weekend, but the Cougars came up short in both contests. Chewelah faced a sharp-shooting Inchelium squad on Saturday, Dec. 7, and fell 52-32. The Hornets knocked down seven 3-pointers, including four from Seymour and two from standout scorer Marianna Agapith, who led all players with 23 points. Chewelah continued to work the ball inside and get contributions from multiple players. Watts led the Cougars with nine points, while Vioni added seven and Nevares chipped in another seven points. Chewelah kept things close early, but Inchelium created separation with a strong first half and never let momentum slip. The Cougars opened the tournament Friday, Dec. 6, against host Northport and held a 17-13 lead after the first quarter. But Northport responded with a 20-4 run in the third quarter, powered by the inside scoring of Kate Beardslee, who finished with 24 points. Chewelah fought back with nine points in the fourth, but the Mustangs held on for a 43-36 win. Davis drilled three 3-pointers on her way to 11 points. The Lady Cougars are scheduled to host Omak on Friday, Dec. 12, at 6 p.m., then travel to Northwest Christian on Saturday, Dec. 13, for a game at 4:30 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

Kettle Falls Wrestling Turns Heads in Spokane - 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 Wrestling Turns Heads in Spokane December 31, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Kettle Falls wrestling team won first place at the East Valley Winter Clash, beating out higher classification Spokane schools with their depth across several weight classes. Photo courtesy AJ Howard. The Kettle Falls wrestling team delivered one of its strongest performances of the season at the East Valley Winter Clash on Dec. 22 at East Valley High School, piling up podium finishes across nearly every weight class, and crowning four individual champions with dominant runs through their brackets. They also did something that some may consider unexpected for a 2B team to do when up against bigger Greater Spokane League schools: they won the tournament as a whole. At 113 pounds, Josh Bair was flawless on his way to the title, finishing 5-0 on the day. Bair opened the tournament with a fall over Colville’s Asher Culler at 4:26, then pinned Newport’s Alex Garris in 1:19. He followed with back-to-back decision wins, narrowly beating Hanford’s Slade Clayton 10-8 and Colville’s Andy Ussery 8-6, before closing the championship run with a 45-second fall over teammate Mason Snider in the finals. Snider also placed fourth at 113 pounds. Another championship came at 126 pounds, where Gideon Evans went 3-0, winning all three matches by fall. Evans pinned Republic-Curlew’s Rynn Stangeland in 2:22, followed by a 1:02 pin against Colville’s Samuel Miller, and capped the title with a 1:11 fall over Newport’s Josh Turner. Teammate Tanner Schumacher added depth at 126 pounds by placing fourth. At 150 pounds, Ezekiel Evans was equally dominant, recording three pins in under one minute each to secure first place. Evans opened with a 38-second fall over Cheney’s Dylan Charlson, pinned teammate Baylor Rosen in 32 seconds in the semifinal, and sealed the championship with a 52-second pin against Deer Park’s Sage Nichols. Rosen went on to place third at the same weight. Kettle Falls’ final champion came at 190 pounds, where Aiden Fowler went 3-0. Fowler opened with a controlled 7-2 decision over Northwest Christian’s Braden Walker, then pinned Lewis and Clark’s Dexter Flores in 1:44. In the championship match, Fowler secured the title with a 2:06 fall over Republic-Curlew’s Connor Bouge. Beyond the champions, the Bulldogs continued to rack up points throughout the lineup. Lee Fowler placed third at 106 pounds, Michael Winn finished second at 120 pounds, Joseph Young earned runner-up honors at 132 pounds, and Nathan Thurman battled to third at 144 pounds. Kettle Falls also picked up strong finishes from Kincaid Freer at 165 pounds (fourth), Harley Rowe at 215 pounds (second), and Zhaine Herrera at 285 pounds (fourth). 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

Honoring the Past: Mural Highlights Cultural Legacy - 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 Honoring the Past: Mural Highlights Cultural Legacy July 30, 2025 By: Emma Lee Conyer Jami Rose Lord and her husband, Josh Lord, at the beginning stages of the mural creation. Photo courtesy Jami Lord Rose Paints and Creates, Facebook page. The Stevens County Historical Society will be unveiling the museum’s new mural on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 12:30 p.m.. The mural, painted by local artist Jami Rose Lord, is based off of an original photograph of the Columbia River’s Kettle Falls from nearly 100 years ago. Stevens County Historical Society member Richard Willner stated that his aunt, May Richardson Brittain, had said that the original photograph was taken around 1929 by a local woman named Alma Richardson. According to Don Birch, another member of the Stevens County Historical Society, the photograph was taken to the Statesman-Examiner in the early 1970s for publication. The photograph was later enlarged and hung in the publisher’s office until the newspaper was sold, and was then donated to the museum, according to Birch. The photograph now hangs in the museum entrance, and is still used to commence the society’s presentations; Birch said that, although there are several photographs of the falls located in the museum, attention remains focused on this one in particular. The photograph of the falls “connects us to the past,” stated Birch. According to Stevens County Historical Society members, Kettle Falls was a gathering place for over 10,000 years, with indigenous tribes coming from near and far to meet there. In more recent times, this holds true. Birch said that the only time the Falls has been entirely visible since Grand Coulee Dam was built (completed in 1942) was in 1974, when the third generating plant was installed at Grand Coulee Dam; thousands of visitors came to see the Falls following this event. Birch added that the Vinson Fund helped to fund the mural. JLord was chosen as the artist by the Stevens County Historical Society after they saw her work and completed an interview, according to Historical Society members. Lord said she gave herself two months to complete the mural from start to finish. According to Lord, much of the process went into ensuring that the mural was as accurate as possible, stating that, not only is the location of the original photograph no longer visible due to the dam, but the original photograph is in black and white and the mural is in full color. Lord said, “As an artist, it is an honor to be awarded a Vinson Fund and it is a great joy to be a part of Stevens County history in the making.” Because of the large amount of local history behind the mural, Lord said she finds the process and the mural important to her. She worked on the mural at her parents’ barn in Northport with the help of her husband, Josh. They installed nine panels, totalling 12 x 24 square feet on a wall they built for the project. After the mural is completed, they will bring it to the Stevens County Historical Society to be installed and displayed. Admission to the museum will be free the day of the unveiling, according to Birch, and there will be refreshments available. For more information, call the Stevens County Historical Society at 509-684-5968. 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

Letting Kids Into the Jungle - 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 Letting Kids Into the Jungle July 9, 2025 By: Meredith Carroll Jungle Kids storefront. Photo provided by Penny Pittman. A new child care center is about to open its doors in Colville: Jungle Kids is owned and operated by Penny Pittman, who has been involved in the child and day care business for 30 years. “My husband Dave and I moved to Colville about a year ago from Selah, Wash., when we bought Tri County Stove and Spa,” said Pittman. “Where we live right now, it’s too far out to run a home day care.” Pittman spoke about how she will run the child care center. “I’ll utilize BrightWheel’s top-rated curriculum to provide educational structure,” said Pittman. “We will serve nutritious meals, consisting of three meals and two snacks, daily.” According to Pittman, Jungle Kids’ focus will be on delivering high quality care, ensuring a safe environment that fosters the Early Learning Core Competencies for future growth, while supporting emotional, physical, and motor skill development. “We are currently hiring, aiming to provide care for up to 40 children and employ six full time staff members, supplemented by part time staff. Volunteer assistance is welcome,” Pittman said. ” Pittman stated that the challenge will be finding qualified employees. “Employees will have to have a TB test, first aid/CPR certification, a health card, background check, and complete 30 hours of State Training and Registry System,” said Pittman. “Some of the aspects of training include raising a child, development, health/safety, early learning curriculum. We will pay for the training for those who do not have it, but it must be completed. “Jungle Kids originated as Lil’ Playmates Daycare in 1993 and underwent a name change approximately 20 years ago,” said Pittman. “I decided to adopt a more playful name. Jungle Kids Early Learning Childcare incorporates cute animals. My longtime friend and employee, Tracy Hancock, was the one who coined the name. I came up with the motto and the toucan as the mascot.” Since moving to Colville, Pittman expanded the cast of characters with the help of Wicked Designs, who also contributed to the day care center’s new design. Pittman fell in love with the building before she even moved to Colville, but at that time, it was Kelsi’s Closet. “One day, Dave and I were driving by, and we saw that Kelsi’s Closet was moving. We called and met the owner of the building and found out that it was available for lease.” Pittman said she signed the contract in February, 2025. “It took six months to bring the building to code, put in walls and a kitchen, add a bathroom, and install floors,” she said. “We just had the fire inspection, and all we need is to put in quick release handles and carbon monoxide detectors. As soon as we do that, we will pass inspection and be able to open our doors.” Pittman has designed the facility to have four classrooms. “We will have two staff members for every 10 children, and two staff members for every eight infants. It’s really hard in this rural area to find people with qualifications in child care without having to provide the training,” said Pittman. “Two women that I’ve hired are already fully qualified. “Our community really needs a child care center,” said Pittman. “With this venture, I’m stepping into new territory.” Pittman said that everyone is itching to start working. “I plan to be open by Aug. 1, at the latest, and I already have 21 kids enrolled.” Pittman’s five year plan is to open up a second Jungle Kids location in Selah. She travels between both places frequently, spending time with family and her fifteen grandchildren. “I’m really excited for Jungle Kids and the community. Colville will have child care that can be counted upon. “I want to give a huge thank you to the Bob Stevens and TEDD Program, Rural Resources, Northside, Wicked Designs, Simply Wired, and to family, friends and all staff at Tri-County and the Colville community for supporting me in my new journey,” said Pittman. After opening on Aug. 1, Jungle Kids will operate Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jungle Kids is located at 282 W. 1 st Avenue in Colville. For more information, call Pittman at 509-952-9001. 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

Ring the Bell - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Ring the Bell July 16, 2025 By: Meredith Carroll Current view of church bell. Photo provided by Meredith Carroll. There are some who might say that a church isn’t complete without its bell. According to Dolores Smyth’s article, “What Is the Origin and Purpose of Church Bells?” church bells have been associated with churches since the fifth century, when they were used to call the community together for church services, as well as to alert for danger, births, and deaths. “The church bell has been a part of the Free Methodist Church in Colville since 1898,” said Elly Huguenin, who is a member, a volunteer, and subject matter expert on her church’s history. She has also been the church’s children’s ministry director. “Our church was founded in Colville in 1895 with only six members. In 1898, Mrs. Dingle raised the money to buy a church bell.” The woman who raised money for the church bell – known only as Mrs. Dingle – supplied the remaining money herself. According to Huguenin, “No one knows what the original cost of the bell was or where it came from. “On June 6, 1966, just after midnight, the church caught fire and burned to the ground,” said Huguenin. “The bell fell clear through to the basement, but it wasn’t damaged. We thought that in the fire, it had lost its sound. It was saved through, and wasn’t hurt. We think that the furnace caused the fire.” The church, erected after the fire of 1966, was built between 1966 and 1969 and is located on the corner of Elm and First Street. The Colville Free Methodist church occupied the building until 2019, when it purchased what is now the current location on the corner of Hawthorne and Madison. Restoration on the current church site was completed in 2022, according to Huguenin. The Elm and First Street location still stands today, and it is now owned by another congregation. “Restoration was completed in time for Palm Sunday Service,” said Dale Kaufman, pastor of the Colville Free Methodist Church. “This was also my first service as pastor. More additions have been completed since, and in the next several years, the hope and plan is to construct a Ministry Center with a gymnasium and more classroom and worship spaces.” “We finally hung the bell this spring,” said Huguenin. “Why did it take so long? Well, there’s been a lot of questions about that. Mostly, it’s because there have been other priorities.” “These other priorities were that our building needed complete restoration and renovation before it could be occupied,” said Kaufman. “Also, the field where the bell sits was overgrown with weeds, so it needed to be brought into shape before the bell could be displayed in a good manner. All of that takes time and money, which needed to be raised and the work completed, all of which was done without our church going into debt or borrowing any money at all. Our people are pretty proud of this.” “Our church bell is restored and hanging outside of our building,” said Huguenin. “The only thing missing is a clinger. We are not allowed to put a clinger inside of the bell. The city won’t let us ring it.” She added, “We restored the bell quietly, without celebration or honors. We just wanted people to know the story of the bell.” “The church has plans to erect a plaque memorializing the bell in the next couple of months,” said Kaufman. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES