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Jan. 28 - Traffic Report - 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 Jan. 28 - Traffic Report January 28, 2026 By: Staff Report 395 Traffic Alert 10 am. Fatal accident between Grote Road and Larson Beach Road results in Hwy 395 shutdown for several hours. No estimated time for reopening. 395 Traffic Alert 10 am. Fatal accident between Grote Road and Larson Beach Road results in Hwy 395 shutdown for several hours. No estimated time for reopening. 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 Boys Basketball Looks to Build Consistency After Home Losses - 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 Boys Basketball Looks to Build Consistency After Home Losses December 17, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Colville's Crew Bridgeman launches a shot for the Crimson Hawks during a mid-week matchup against Reardan. Photo by Brandon Hansen. The Colville boys basketball team endured a challenging week at home, dropping back-to-back games to Reardan and Chelan. Colville fell 75-44 to Reardan on Dec. 9, after the Screaming Eagles jumped out to a fast start and never looked back. Reardan scored 25 points in the opening quarter and maintained pressure throughout, building a 43-22 halftime lead. Parker Darnold led the Crimson Hawks with 10 points, while Lareall Fredrickson added nine. Brock Benson chipped in seven points, and Cooper Haynes and Crew Bridgeman scored six points apiece. Colville struggled offensively, shooting 1-of-2 from the free-throw line and committing 15 turnovers. Three days later, the Crimson Hawks showed improved offensive rhythm but were unable to slow Chelan in a 72-53 loss on Saturday, Dec. 13. Chelan used a strong third quarter to pull away, outscoring Colville 24-12 in the period after leading 31-23 at halftime. Colville responded with its best offensive quarter in the fourth, scoring 18 points, but the deficit proved too large to overcome. Darnold again paced Colville with 12 points, while Jet Bateman added 11. Fredrickson and Brock Benson each scored eight points, and Haynes finished with six. Colville knocked down 10 three-pointers and improved at the free-throw line, going 7-of-12, but committed 14 turnovers. The boys hosted Deer Park on Tuesday, Dec. 16; game results were not available at press time. The team is scheduled to travel to Tonasket on Friday, Dec. 19, the game begins at 7:30 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

Colville United Indoor Soccer Competing in Spokane Winter League - 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 United Indoor Soccer Competing in Spokane Winter League December 10, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Colville United Indoor Soccer team has nine seniors on the roster and several underclassmen. Playing in a Spokane winter league, the team will be honing skills that the Crimson Hawks will no doubt use this spring. Courtesy photo. With a roster stacked with experience and talent, the Colville United boys indoor soccer team is spending the winter competing in Spokane, using the off-season opportunity to build momentum toward spring. Head Coach Kassy Dupuis said the team features a strong mix of upperclassmen and rising young players. “We have nine seniors, one junior, two sophomores, four freshmen, and two eighth-graders,” Dupuis said. That depth gives Colville United confidence on both sides of the ball. “Our team is well-rounded this year. With nine seniors on the roster, we expect to see depth in both offense and defense,” Dupuis said. She said she expects the group’s leaders to shine throughout the winter campaign. “Trent Rarrick, Parker Sackman, Ari Stewart, and Patrick Wolf will lead our team offensively,” she said. “With Colin Schaffer and Connor Schneider leading in defending the goal.” Dupuis added that the team’s top scorers so far have been Rarrick and Sackman, with strong support coming from Wolf, Long, and Kayson Dupuis. The Spokane indoor league is smaller this year, but Colville is still seeing top-tier competition. “The Spokane league struggled this year to gain teams,” Dupuis said. “There’s only one other team we play against who has a varsity and junior varsity program. The team is made up of many highly skilled players who play year-round in competitive club leagues.” Even with a condensed schedule, Dupuis said the development opportunity is priceless for a program with high expectations each spring. “This is a great program that allows players to play more soccer, build skills, and create team connections for the spring high school season,” she said. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Mark D. Friend | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Mark D. Friend 72 Oct 4, 1952 - Aug 27, 2025 Mr. Mark D. Friend, age 72, passed away August 27, 2025 at his home in Chewelah, Wash. Mark was born October 4, 1952 in Pasco, Wash. After graduating from high school Mark entered into the United States Marine Corp. He would serve our country from 1972-1976. Semper Fi! Mark was an avid long-distance runner. He competed in many road races throughout the area including several marathons. He found great peace when running. When he wasn’t working, you could find him pounding the pavement. Running was Mark’s passion. He coached the varsity cross-country team at Jenkins High School in the fall and the varsity track team in the spring for years. Mark met the love of his life while living in an apartment in Addy, Wash. His beloved Nora lived in the same building. They would talk often. Over a period of time, they fell in love and were married in 1981. Soon after they were married, they moved to Chewelah, Wash., where they made their lifelong home. Mark would tell people that he married the girl next door. The couple would welcome their beautiful daughter, Shelby, into their family. Mark was a hard worker. He worked at a local saw mill. Nora worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital. They attended St. Mary of the Rosary Catholic Church in Chewelah. Mark was a lector – proclaiming the word of God. The church community was a central part of his life. Mark is preceded in death by his parents, Melford and Jo Jesok; daughter Shelby; brother Mike Jesok and sister Marsha Wood. He is survived by his wife of 44 years Nora, brother Dan Jesok of Addy, Wash., sister-in-law, Mary Shovell and Robert of Colville, Wash., and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at St. Mary of the Rosary Catholic Church in Chewelah, Wash. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery also in Chewelah, Wash. Any former Cougar Cross-Country and/or Track member is encouraged to wear their “Cougar Wear” in honor of Mark. All are invited to return to the church for a luncheon and a time to share stories after the interment. Danekas Funeral Chapel & Crematory has been entrusted with his care. Please visit the online memorial website and sign his guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com . Previous Item Next Item

Lucas Guo-Jing Pancoast | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Lucas Guo-Jing Pancoast 18 Dec 8, 2006 - Jul 20, 2025 Lucas Guo-Jing Pancoast passed away suddenly in the Kettle River on July 20, 2025. He lived in Kettle Falls, Wash. Lucas was 18 years old. Lucas was born on December 8, 2006, and was adopted into the Pancoast family in China on June 5, 2017. Lucas was an outstanding Irish dancer and recently won the 2024 Western USA Regional Oireachtas which qualified him for the upcoming World Championships. He studied dance for eight years at Haran School of Irish Dance in Kettle Falls under the guidance of Claire Worley. He began studying piano with his mother when he came to the United States and rapidly became an accomplished pianist. This spring, for the 2025 Washington State Music Teacher Associations Music Artistry Program’s Honor Recital, he was selected to play Kuhlau’s Allegro from Sonatina Opus 55, Number 1. Lucas was an easy-going young man who always had a ready smile and a helping hand for all around him. He was very teachable and learned quickly due to his genuine openness to instruction. He was a high school student who had enrolled in the early college program, Running Start, for the fall of 2025. He was also a licensed driver and an amazing human being. Lucas loved to spend time with his family. He loved to fish and swim with his brothers. He loved to play card games and showed good sportsmanship, win or lose. Watching movies or playing outside in any form brought smiles to his face. He never gave up when trying to talk with people that he knew even though it was difficult with his deafness and cochlear implants. He also liked working out with his brothers, petting cats and dogs, telling jokes, and enjoyed hobbies such as drawing art, juggling, learning magic tricks from his older brother, riding a bike, reading comic magazines, and just simply chatting and playing video games with his brothers. Lucas enjoyed his life in America and said that it was better than being orphaned in China. He loved to serve in the Journey with Christ community and was going to youth direct in November of 2025. The message he wanted everyone to hear was “Trust in the Lord” and that was his chosen theme for the upcoming youth retreat. Lucas is survived by his parents, Tedric and Brandy, his siblings, David, Jonathan, Amalie, Sophie, Opal, Connor, Webster, and Mia, and a large extended family including grandparents Robert and Valerie Richartz, uncles and aunts Dorian Canelas, Dustin and Kindra Richartz, Nicholas and Alison Richartz, and cousins Andrew and Kaitlyn Canelas, Daniel, Jake, Kylee, and Piper Richartz. The funeral service for Lucas Pancoast will begin at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 9, at the First Baptist Church in Colville, Wash. A niche placement at the Mountain View Park Cemetery will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Haran Dancers (by mailing checks with Lucas Pancoast on the memo line to 1981 Rickey Canyon Road, Rice, WA 99167) or the Journey with Christ (online at journeywithchrist.org) in Lucas’ memory. Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements. Previous Item Next Item

Out of the Past: 12/10/2025 - 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: 12/10/2025 December 10, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Great Northern Railway clock from around the turn of the century. It moved from the Marcus depot to the Kettle Falls depot in 1940. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— Colville has a chance to gain fame throughout the nation by being the place of origin of a new apple, an improvement on the Delicious which is probably the most popular eating apple on the market. J.M. Scroggs, living two-and-three-quarters miles northeast of Colville, has propagated a new apple by means of select grafting. He raised two boxes of this new variety in the fall of 1921, and his trees have been bearing ever since. It was five years old when it bore its first crop. The Haun building south of the Rickey building on Jan. 1, will be occupied by a Piggly Wiggly grocery, operating on the plan of customer selecting and carrying of goods. The lease is for five years. 75 Years Ago— Charles Hodde, state representative from Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties, was virtually assured re-election as Speaker of the House of Representatives in Olympia this week. Colville residents were reminded this week that an ordinance forbids the leaving of sawdust and wood sawing refuse in the streets and alleys of the city. KETTLE FALLS—The Kettle Falls football team, co-champions of the Tri-County Football League, will be guests of the Kettle Falls Lions Club Thursday at the grade school. 50 Years Ago— Burlington Northern has informed Jim McMillan, president of the Stevens County Historical Society, that the offer for the old clock at the Kettle Falls station is still good. Students of the Baptist Christian Academy were visitors to the Statesman-Examiner last week to see how a newspaper was put together and printed. Visiting were Mike McPhee, Gordon Mace, Dale House, Carma House, Cynthia Mack, Toni Gallo, Dan Spring, Lydia Greenwood, Marty Koker, Matthew Koker, Rhonda Gallo, Becky Greenwood, Beth Vincent, Ricky Schuimaker, Randy Mack, David Rogers, and Lawrence Mace. 25 Years Ago— A county budget has yet to be approved but Stevens County auditor Tim Gray said that it is already apparent that the county will be plagued by a shortfall of approximately $1.6 million. Individual departments have been instructed to adjust their budgets as close as they can to their 2000 budgets. It was a great week for the Colville High School wrestling team. Colville won five straight matches last week to kick off the regular season. 10 Years Ago— Lou Janke secured his first full mayoral term in Colville when Stevens County 2016 election results became official on Nov. 24. OLYMPIA—Road usage charging as a potential transportation funding source will be a focus of discussion when the State Transportation Committee meets. The commission will hear feedback from its 25-member steering committee on road usage charging as it considers next steps for the state to pursue whether, when, and how to establish a road usage charge system in the future. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Out of the Past: 07/02/2025 - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Out of the Past: 07/02/2025 July 2, 2025 By: Stevens County Historical Museum Colville July 4, 1886 parade. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— Last Saturday, Sunday, and Monday were earthquake days for the west and northwest. The shock was felt more at the Colville Flour Mill than any other place in the valley. John Bresnahan stated that the building swayed back and forth, and he estimated that at the top of the building, the swaying was about six inches. July 4 Headlines—Independence Day celebration in Colville. Baseball: Colville vs. Springdale. Immense pyrotechnic display in the evening. 75 Years Ago— Negotiations are already underway for the establishment of a state park at St. Paul’s Mission on Lake Roosevelt, overlooking Marcus Flat. (Became property of National Park Service in 1974). Another Lassie film and a Western are booked together at the Alpine Theater Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Old times will come alive at the city park here Sunday. Attorney Thomas Oakshott, director of the Eastern Washington Historical Society, will be the principal speaker. His topic will be “When Stevens County Was Young.” 50 Years Ago— Rapidly nearing its anticipated opening in October is the ferro-silicon building at Northwest Alloys, Inc., the new multi-million-dollar plant at Addy. A federal court this week issued a temporary restraining order stopping arrests or citations by the State Game Department of sportsmen fishing on the Colville Indian Reservation. Four Colville boys won their way last weekend at Greenacres Raceway to the Yakima High School Moto-Cross Championships at Seattle International Raceway. Those placing in the top four in their respective classifications were Steve Fogle, Don Lentz, Mike Clark and Mickey Mumau. 27 Years Ago— CHEWELAH—One of eastern Washington’s premiere community events will unfold this weekend when the old-fashioned “Chataqua” celebration gets underway at Chewelah City Park. The town of Northport celebrated its 100-year anniversary with a three-day extravaganza full of old-fashioned fun, entertainment and food last weekend. Gabe Cruden, Orient-area resident, has joined the Statesman-Examiner reporting staff. Readers may recall examples of Cruden’s photography in past issues of the Stateman-Examiner . He has been employed previously at the Examiner as a darkroom technician and as a staff photographer. 10 Years Ago— Hawthorne Street will re-open to traffic on Wednesday after almost five months of repair work and reconstruction. The annual Colville Fireworks show promises to be more spectacular this year, according to Northeast Washington Fair manager, Lori Matlock. The Colville Community Center (The Hub) celebrated on June 16, when the final payment of $42,032.12 was made to the contractor on The Hub construction project. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Steven Charles Omage | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Steven Charles Omage 65 Mar 16, 1960 - Sep 21, 2025 Steven Charles Omage passed away on Sept. 21, 2025, in Rice, Wash. He was born on March 16, 1960, to his parents Norman Charles Omage and Donna Lee (McAdam) Omage in Tacoma, Wash. Steven graduated from Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor, where he soon after became a commercial fisherman and an equipment operator for Spadoni Bros. Inc. He met the love of his life, Javene A. Teitzel, and married on Sept. 16, 1992. Steven and Javene Omage enjoyed being in Stevens County, Wash., and frequently made trips together to visit Yuma, Ariz. Steven served as a volunteer for the fire department district 12 for many years. He was a part-time farmer, gravel hauler, and equipment operator in his community. Steven loved to fish, hunt, hike, and frequented yard sales to add to his various collections. Steven Charles Omage is preceded in death by his father Norman Charles Omage, and his mother Donna Lee (McAdam) Omage. He is survived by his wife, Javene A. (Teitzel) Omage, his sister, Wendy Boyd, her husband, David Boyd, many sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews on the Teitzel side of his marriage, and missed by his loving labrador, Molly May Omage. Steven was a wonderful and kind man loved by many friends and acquaintances. A celebration of life for Steven Charles Omage will be held at a later time next spring in Gig Harbor, Wash. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with his care. Previous Item Next Item

Jameson Judd Heidinger — 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 Jameson Judd Heidinger Jameson Judd Heidinger was born Aug. 11, 2025, to parents Kylee and Kaleb Heidinger of Colville, Wash. He weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces at birth. His maternal grandparents are Keith Frazer of Yelm, Wash., and Grace Frazer of Tacoma, Wash. His paternal grandparents are Brandon and Heather Judd of Colville, Wash., and Jacob Heidinger of Marcus, 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

Kettle Falls Basketball Edged by St. George’s - 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 Basketball Edged by St. George’s February 4, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen Mace Thivierge. File photo. Late Surge Lifts St. George’s Past Kettle Falls Liam Darcy scored 15 points, and the St. George's Dragons pulled away in the fourth quarter to hand the Kettle Falls Bulldogs a 49-46 NE2B boys basketball loss on Jan. 27. Kettle Falls (8-11, 4-7) trailed 16-12 after the first quarter but battled back to stay within striking distance throughout, entering the fourth quarter down just 36-35. The Dragons outscored the Bulldogs 14-10 over the final eight minutes to secure the home win. Mace Thivierge led Kettle Falls with 14 points, hitting five field goals and knocking down two 3-pointers. Zander Johnson added nine points, while Zac Burch scored seven points as the Bulldogs connected on five shots from beyond the three-point line. Kettle Falls stayed competitive at the stripe, going 11-of-14. Results from Tuesday’s game against Chewelah were unavailable at press time. District tournament action begins on Thursday, Feb. 5, once seeding has been settled. Big Third Quarter Sinks Kettle Falls Girls at St. George’s A strong third-quarter surge by the St. George's Dragons proved too much for the Kettle Falls Bulldogs, as the Bulldogs fell 52-33 in a Northeast 2B North girls basketball game on Jan. 27. Kettle Falls (6-13, 3-8) stayed close early and was tied 10-10 after the first quarter, but St. George’s outscored the Bulldogs 21-11 in the third period to break the game open. Brystal Neilsen delivered a dominant performance for the Dragons, finishing with 25 points and 19 rebounds. Kettle Falls was led by Wynn Edwards, who scored 22 of the Bulldogs’ 33 points. Edwards went 9-of-19 from the free-throw line and hit a 3-pointer. Cambria Thivierge added four points. Results from Kettle Falls’ home game against Chewelah on Tuesday, Feb. 3, were unavailable at press time. District tournament action begins on Thursday, depending on seeding. 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

A Look at Local Basketball - 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 A Look at Local Basketball December 31, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Georgia Beardslee has been a physical inside presence for Colville so far this season. Photo courtesy Brandon Hansen. Local basketball teams have gotten a break over the holidays, and the downtime provides a natural pause point to evaluate each team’s standing and to speculate about the remainder of the season. 1A Basketball The Colville girls entered the break at 4-3, a strong mark considering the level of competition on their early schedule. The Lady Crimson Hawks have topped 50 points three times and shown a physical presence in the paint, giving them a foundation to build on, once league play begins. Andee Kroiss, Georgia Beardlee, Aubree Kubesh and Rylee Brisby have all emerged as top scorers, and Colville appears to be well-positioned for the postseason. The Colville boys have flashed one of the more explosive offenses in the region. The Crimson Hawks have scored 70-plus points twice and topped 60 once, with Jet Bateman, Parker Darnold, Crew Bridgeman and Brock Benson all reaching double figures in multiple games. Colville’s ability to stretch defenses was evident in a 12 3-pointer performance against Deer Park, and when the offense is clicking, they are difficult to contain. The team sits at 3-4. 2B Boys Basketball Kettle Falls matched last season’s win total early, and opened the year 5-1 before running into a demanding stretch against upper-tier opponents. Close losses to 1A Omak and 2A Deer Park, along with league challenges, have left the Bulldogs at 5-5 overall and 1-3 in NE 2B play. Mace Thivierge has been a bright spot, highlighted by a 34-point performance against undefeated Northwest Christian. Chewelah continues to trend upward. The Cougars are already two wins shy of last season’s total after opening with four straight victories and later bouncing back from losses to state powers Northwest Christian and Reardan. Wins over Newport and Mary Walker, including a 67-19 rout of the Chargers, have Chewelah at 5-3 overall and 1-2 in league play. Ryen McMillin has proven capable of 20-plus point nights, while Chewelah’s balance makes them dangerous on any given evening. Franky Sety, Grady Skok and the well-named Kannon Sheppard make this a difficult team to guard. 2B Girls Basketball Kettle Falls has struggled in the win column but has a clear centerpiece in Wyn Edwards, who has been a consistent force. At 2-8 overall, the Lady Bulldogs still have league opportunities ahead, having yet to face the bottom half of the NE 2B standings. Chewelah earned a much-needed boost just after Christmas with a 34-26 comeback win over Springdale, its first victory of the season. Jessika Davis and Sara Vioni have been steady scoring threats, and the Cougars’ 34-point output marked their second-highest scoring game dating back to last season. Chewelah enters the new year at 1-7 overall and 0-4 in league play. 1B Boys Basketball Northport has been the offensive standard in northeast Washington, rolling into the break undefeated in league play (7-2 overall, 5-0 league). The Mustangs posted eye-catching wins over Curlew (92-48) and Republic (83-63), with Pete Beardslee capable of taking over games with 30-point performances. Inchelium sits firmly in the league mix at 4-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play. Derek Perez, Caleb Abrahamson, and Gaige Stensgar have all delivered double-digit scoring efforts, giving the Hornets a solid offensive core. Wellpinit has also made noise at 5-2 overall, consistently scoring more than 60 points per game and positioning itself as a team to watch when postseason play arrives. 1B Girls Basketball Republic has set the early pace in the NE 1B, entering Christmas break unbeaten at 8-0 overall and 4-0 in league play. Northport nearly handed the Tigers their first loss in a 30-26 battle on Dec. 20. Despite starting several eighth-graders, the Lady Mustangs have shown composure beyond their years and sit at 5-3 overall and 2-3 in league play, though they dropped three straight heading into the break. Inchelium remains a contender behind the scoring brilliance of Marianna Agapith, who is capable of erupting for 30 or more points on any night. The Lady Hornets are 4-3 overall and 3-2 in league play, firmly in the conversation as the second half of the season begins. As league schedules ramp up after the holiday break, northeast Washington teams appear poised for a competitive and unpredictable second half, with several squads already laying the groundwork for postseason runs. 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

Elda Lorraine Johnson-Murrow | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Elda Lorraine Johnson-Murrow 87 Mar 3, 1938 - Dec 19, 2025 Elda Lorraine Johnson-Murrow, age 87, a 67-year resident of Colville, Wash., passed away on Dec. 19, 2025. She was born on March 3, 1938 in Allen, S.D., the daughter of Van and Delia Viola (Bartlett) Simmons. Elda was raised in Martin, S.D., where she attended school and graduated in 1956 from Bennett County High School. Following high school, Elda married Jack Johnson and they resided in communities across South Dakota and North Dakota following Jack’s work in road construction. They began a family and moved to Colville, Wash. in 1958. Elda worked in the home raising her growing family and later worked retail sales at JC Penney store in Colville. She worked there for several years before purchasing the House of Fabric in Colville. Elda sold the fabric store after a couple of years. She then worked alongside her husband, Jack, in their ownership and operation of J & J Automotive. She assisted with towing, shop work and kept the books. They retired and became snowbirds to Yuma, Ariz., in the winter. They traveled south for a few years and eventually nestled in for the winters in Colville. Jack preceded Elda in death in 2008. Colville was her home and so she remained close to family in the community. Elda’s retirement job lasted over two decades as she ran parts and helped customers find parts and place orders at CarQuest/Empire Auto Parts. She retired at the age of 86. Elda was known by many as “Mom” and “Grandma,” a list of individuals that extended well beyond her own children and grandchildren. Her “How ya doin?” will be recalled fondly by the countless individuals she greeted. Elda never spoke ill of others and had a constant smile that lifted hearts and caused uncontrollable grinning around her. She loved to garden and sew and could also create needlepoint and embroidery accoutrements. Her room was filled with novels of mystery and romance and every topic in between. She spent many weekends boating and camping with her growing family over the years. Elda was a “Spunky Saint” who was outgoing, joyous and on a regular occasion “a bit ornery.” She had a wonderful wisdom of the years past and a fondness of the years ahead. Elda was preceded in death by her husband, Jack and her siblings, Earl Simmons, Alvin Simmons, Beatrice McCoy and Doreen. She is survived by her children; Douglas Johnson (Barbara) of Spokane, Wash., Leslie Harrington of Kettle Falls, Wash., DeVonne Smith (Brian) of Deer Lake, Wash., Pat Johnson of Colville, Wash., Eric Johnson of Deer Lake, Wash., Warren Johnson of Colville, Wash., William Johnson of Colville, Wash.; several grandchildren, great grandchildren and two great-great grandchild; siblings, Walter Simmons (Sandy) of Nebraska, Vernon Simmons of Martin, S.D. and Elmer Simmons of Martin, S.D., numerous nieces, nephews and a host of extended family. There are no services scheduled at this time. Memorial contributions may be given to the Diabetes Foundation. Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements. Previous Item Next Item