Search Results

Hunter Eugene Beaufils — 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 Hunter Eugene Beaufils Hunter Eugene Beaufils was born on June 18, 2025, to parents Bobby Hubbs and Andrew Beaufils of Colville, Wash. He weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces at birth. He has two brothers, Akoda, 16, and Harley, 13, and one sister, Ahnaley, 11. His maternal grandparents are Regenia Hubbs of Springdale, Wash., and Paul Hubbs of Loon Lake, Wash. His paternal grandparents are LaDina Beaufils of Colville, Wash., and Michael Beaufils, deceased. 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

Statesman-Examiner Launches New Website - 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 Statesman-Examiner Launches New Website January 14, 2026 By: Staff Report The Statesman-Examiner launched its new website over the weekend at www.statesmanexaminer.com . Since acquiring the Statesman-Examiner, The Sun and the Deer Park Tribune less than two years ago, the focus has been on strengthening the print editions, where most readers prefer to access the newspapers, said owner and publisher Gabriel Cruden. “Now, we are expanding our scope to include strengthening our online presence,” Cruden said. The website, designed by local resident Amber King, is structured to resemble the print edition, while offering multiple access points to newspaper content, Cruden said. “We hope it is user-friendly and intuitive for visitors to find what they are looking for and to understand how to contact us through the most efficient channels,” Cruden said. “Amber did a great job taking the core concepts and building additional features on her own initiative, including an ad cost estimator and a really cool history of the newspaper page.” Cruden noted that there may be adjustments to make as the site is used and encouraged readers to share feedback. He also said that not all print content appears online. “We want to balance our role as a central hub for news and information for Stevens County and eastern Ferry County while maintaining the value of a print or digital subscription,” Cruden said. “For that reason, the website only includes a sampling of our large line-up of weekly content.” He said the website includes classifieds, legal notices, obituaries, announcements, letters to the editor, an events calendar, the Professional Service Directory, local business advertisements, selected local news and sports stories, and all breaking news, as well as fire alerts, school closures, road closures, and public safety information. Not included, according to Cruden, are some articles, select advertisements, local business inserts, and the games and comics page. Cruden also noted that advertising on the website is limited to local businesses. “There are no out-of-area ads all over the site and in your face,” Cruden said. “Like our news reporting, everything is local, as it should be.” 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

Susan Ann Smith | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Susan Ann Smith 80 Oct 2, 1945 - Jan 6, 2026 Sue Smith, age 80, passed away January 6, 2026, in Kettle Falls, Washington. Sue was born on October 2, 1945, in Astoria, Oregon, to Wayne and Helen Hill. After a short time in Astoria, the family moved to Farragut, Idaho, before settling in Moscow, Idaho, where Sue would grow up and graduate from Moscow High School in 1964. At the tender age of 13, Sue would say she met the love of her life, Rod Smith. Rod was two years ahead of her in school, and as the story goes, he captured her heart that day, and they began dating 3 years later, in the Fall of 1962. After receiving their associate degrees, they married in 1966 in Moscow. After brief stops in Spokane and Hawaii, they bought their first home in Yakima and welcomed their daughter, Cindy, in 1972. 1976 brought their final move, and Kettle Falls, Washington, became their forever home, where they would live for nearly 50 years. Rod, Sue, and their daughter made a lifetime of beautiful memories amongst friends in Kettle Falls. They recently celebrated Sue’s 80th birthday and 59 years of marriage in October of 2025, with a special trip to the Oregon Coast, accompanied by Cindy. Sue lived to love. She found great joy in bringing people together and making everyone feel welcome. She used her phenomenal talents in the kitchen to create amazing meals and baked goods. Breaking bread and sharing stories with those she cared about was part of a long, rich tradition she and her family shared. Sue was always the first to make sure that others had what they needed and were cared for. She took great pride in making foods and desserts that her family and friends loved. Rarely did a day go by that Rod did not have special, homemade sweet treats waiting for him (usually chocolate)! Sue had a large and cherished collection of handwritten recipes and cookbooks, and spent hours poring over them, making notes along the way. She read many of her favorites, cover to cover! Sue was incredibly proud of the home she created over the years and had a true flair for all things creative. From decorating and baking to needlework and floral arranging, her home was a beautiful representation of the life and love she cultivated within its walls. Holidays were Sue’s favorite, and Christmas was the highlight of the year. She adored the decorations that she had collected over the years, many from family generations before that held special meaning. She took extra pride in her numerous decorated trees, spectacular winter village, and snow globe collection. She would start her long list of Christmas baking the day after Thanksgiving – making sure everyone got “their favorites” … and then some! Although she adored the hustle and bustle of Christmas, she never lost sight of the true meaning of the season. From a very early age, Sue was spiritually led and found the beauty in God’s creations every day. Sue never met a stranger and had a notable way of connecting with people and putting those she visited at ease. She built countless relationships simply because of her genuine, heartfelt interest and inviting nature. When she asked, “How are you doing?” she sincerely wanted to know. Sue loved life and cherished simple blessings. She found great joy in beautiful sunsets, going to the cabin, getting her nails done, spending time at the ocean, taking drives, taking their 1940 Ford pick-up to car shows and parades, and hand-dipped corn dogs with mustard (they had to be hand-dipped) …but what she loved most was simply being with her family. She loved us in the best ways possible, was our biggest cheerleader, and a constant supporter. She treasured every moment with her family and never missed a chance to say how blessed she was by us. Without a doubt, her favorite place to do so was at the family cabin on the St. Joe River. Sue is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Rod; daughter, Cindy, and son-in-law, Chris Schneider; grandchildren, Jack and Kate Schneider; and brother, Mike Hill and family. A memorial service and reception will be held on Thursday, February 5, at 1 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Colville, Washington. Sue will be laid to rest in Moscow, Idaho, at a later date. Danekas Funeral Chapel & Crematory has been entrusted with her care, and online condolences may be made at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com . Previous Item Next Item

Lyla Ann Ackerson — 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 Lyla Ann Ackerson Lyla Ann Ackerson was born on Oct. 2, 2025, to parents Savannah and Cody Ackerson of Colville, Wash. She weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces at birth, and has one brother, Miles, age 2. Her maternal grandparents are Roxy and Ron Boone of Spokane, Wash. Her paternal grandparents are Mo O’Fearna and Brett Vanderhoof of Bullhead City, Ariz., and Gary Ackerson of San Remigio, Cebu, Philippines. 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

Lady Crimson Hawks Downs St. Georges and Newport - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Lady Crimson Hawks Downs St. Georges and Newport December 10, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Colville girls basketball opened the season largely like it did last year, with wins over St. George’s and Newport, followed by a loss to Northwest Christian. That’s promising, as last year’s Crimson Hawk team won six league games and 14 total. The season started in Colville on Dec. 2, with the Crimson Hawks blasting the Dragons 56-26. Jumping out to a 10-2 lead in the first quarter, Colville cruised in the middle quarters and finished the game on an 18-6 run. Andee Kroiss led the team with 18 points off nine field goals, while Kubesh notched 11 points off five field goals. Colville made the free-throw line on a rare occasion and did the bulk of their scoring off 26 field goals. Georgia Beardslee added eight points to the total. They followed that up with a road game on Friday, Dec. 5, where they took down Newport 54-18 and held the Lady Grizzlies to just three points total in the second and third quarters. Kroiss led the team with 16 points, and Brisby added 10 points. Beardslee also scored eight points. The Crimson Hawks traveled to Northwest Christian on Dec. 6, and suffered their first defeat against the defending State 2B Champions, 61-22. Brisby led the team with six points, while Kroiss and Beardslee added four points. The Lady Hawks are scheduled to host Reardan on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 7:15 p.m., followed by Chelan on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 4 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

Northport Girls Basketball Wins Two Games Against 1A Schools - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Northport Girls Basketball Wins Two Games Against 1A Schools January 7, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen The Northport girls' basketball team posted a strong showing at the Eagle Holiday Classic, earning back-to-back nonleague wins over 1A opponents to improve to 7-3 overall. Northport capped the tournament with a 36-23 victory over the Newport Grizzlies on Dec. 30 at West Valley High School. The Mustangs held Newport to just seven points over the final two quarters. Kate Beardslee led Northport with 16 points, while Kylie Colton added nine and Persephonie St. Marie chipped in seven points. The Mustangs kept Newport from scoring in the opening quarter and limited the Grizzlies to just eight made field goals in the game. Northport opened tournament play on Dec. 29, with a convincing 54-33 win over the Riverside Rams. The Mustangs galloped out to a 17-4 first-quarter lead and maintained control throughout the contest. Colton delivered a standout performance, scoring 20 points and knocking down four 3-pointers, while Beardslee added 18 points before fouling out. Northport built a 35-14 halftime lead and never allowed Riverside to threaten their dominant position. With the two higher classification wins, Northport will now move into a schedule against like-sized schools. The Lady Mustangs will host Nespelem on Friday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. and then play at Selkirk on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 3 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

Crimson Hawks Surge Past Chelan, Split Busy Week - 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 Crimson Hawks Surge Past Chelan, Split Busy Week December 17, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Ava Kelley puts the ball up for Colville during their nonleague game against Reardan. Colville stayed closed for most of the game, and Kelley led the scorers with nine points. Photo by Brandon Hansen. A dominant third quarter lifted the Colville girls basketball team to a convincing 49-27 home win over Chelan on Saturday, Dec. 13, allowing the Crimson Hawks to finish the week on a strong note after a midweek loss. Colville, now 3-3 overall, used a balanced scoring attack and defensive pressure to break open a close game at halftime. After leading 17-13 at the break, the Crimson Hawks exploded for 22 points in the third quarter, holding Chelan to just five and seizing full control of the contest. Georgia Beardslee and Rylee Brisby each scored 10 points to lead Colville, while Kelsea Lewis added nine. Ava Kelley chipped in seven points and Andee Kroiss finished with six points as Colville spread the scoring across the lineup. The win followed a 59-36 nonleague loss to Reardan on Wednesday, Dec. 10, a game in which the Crimson Hawks faced a Div. 1 athlete in Screaming Eagles’ guard Tenice Waters. The score doesn’t tell the whole story as Colville battled with Waters and company for three quarters, giving as much as they took in physical play. Reardan built a 29-21 halftime lead that wasn’t an easy feat by any stretch. The Eagles were able to pull away late behind Waters' 21 points. Colville was led by Kelley’s nine points, with Kroiss scoring eight and Beardslee and Kubesh adding seven points apiece. Foul trouble played a role in the outcome, with both Kroiss and Beardslee fouled out. The team faced Bonners Ferry on Tuesday, Dec. 16; game results were not available at press time. The Lady Hawks are scheduled to travel to Tonasket on Friday, Dec. 19, for a game 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

Share your happy news with the community! Submit your baby’s birth announcement for publication in our newspaper. Submit Your Birth Announcement Please complete the form below to share your happy news with our readers. Fill out all required fields marked with an asterisk (*) Double-check the spelling of names, dates, and locations Include any special details you’d like to share (optional) Once submitted, our editorial team will review your announcement before publishing Birth Announcement Form Baby’s Information * Baby’s Full Name If not yet named, allow “Baby Girl/Boy [Last Name]”. * Date of Birth Month Day Year * Place of Birth Include facility, City, and State. Birth Weight Example: 7 lb 10 oz Boy or Girl? Boy Girl Prefer not to Say Parents’ Information * Mother's Name * Father's Name * City and State * Zip Code Additional Family (optional but useful for print) Names and Ages of Siblings One per line. Example: James (11), Janet (4) Grandparents’ Names and Locations One per line; include city/state. Great-Grandparents’ Names and Locations One per line; include city/state. Photo Photo Submission Method Mailing photo Attach via form Not sending photo Contact Information * First name * Last name * Phone * Email Submit

Arnold H. Bocker (Arnie) | obituary published by the Statesman-Examiner in Colville, Washington. Arnold H. Bocker (Arnie) 88 - Oct 13, 2025 Arnold H. Bocker (Arnie) passed away peacefully on Oct. 13, 2025, with his daughter and family members at his side. He was 88 years old. Born in Sioux Falls, S.D., to Hazel and John Bocker, Arnie spent his early years in the Midwest before the family relocated to Maple Valley, Wash. In 1955, he married Sharrin Marnes, and together they had two sons, Karl and Mike. Though their marriage came to a close, the time they spent together remained an important chapter in Arnold's life. In 1957, Arnie married Elizabeth Warner, and together they had four children: Scott, Julie, Brian – who passed away shortly after birth – and Valerie. In 1967, Arnie purchased a farm in Addy, Wash., where he spent the majority of his life farming wheat, oats, and alfalfa, and operating a dairy farm. He also drove a semi-truck for several years, embodying the hardworking spirit that defined him. In 2003, Arnie faced the heartbreaking loss of his beloved wife Elizabeth to cancer. Soon after, he sold the farm and entered retirement. He eventually moved to Arizona, where he remarried, Lila Pruyne, and embraced a new chapter of life. In retirement, Arnie found joy in golfing and traveling the country in his RV – exploring new places and meeting new people – always with a sense of adventure and appreciation for life's simple pleasures. In 2020, due to the pandemic, Arnie decided to move to New Smyrna Beach, Fla., to be closer to his daughter and grandchildren. Arnie was known for his steadfast work ethic and love for his family. He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth; sons Brian, Mike, and Scott; daughter Julie; and grandson Dustin. He is survived by son Karl Shoemaker and daughter-in-law Carol; daughter Valerie Peterson and son-in-law David; grandchildren: Katie, Ashley, Colten, Angela, Jamie, Tandy, Andrew, Steven, and Michael; and great-grandchildren: Jaedon, Kloe, Hunter, Lola, Taylor, Chase, Henry, Walter, Mia, Ava, Jacob, Matthew, and Thomas. Per Arnie's request, there will be no formal services. In remembrance of him, he asks that you commit a random act of kindness – a gesture that reflects the quiet generosity and compassion he carried throughout his life. Previous Item Next Item

Colville High School Knowledge Bowl Team Begins New Season - 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 High School Knowledge Bowl Team Begins New Season November 26, 2025 By: Makenna Springman-Garland The Colville High School Knowledge Bowl team shows off their grades. Photo courtesy Tracey Delyea. The Colville High School Knowledge Bowl team is busy competing once again for another ambitious year. After achieving a third-place finish at the state championships last March, the coaches are adamant about pushing the team to their full potential this season. Coach Tracey Delyea stated, “I think that the competitions are going well this year. Our team is bigger than last year and very excited to participate. The question bank is more diverse and secure than it has been in previous years.” Co-coach Meredith McCullough confirmed the optimistic view on the season, stating, “The competitions have been a lot of fun and a great challenge for our students. We were really fortunate to be able to have a pre-season match against Republic and Curlew, and our teams got to meet other nearby competitors. Now that we're in official league play, our teams are learning how to adapt and work together to strengthen their teams as much as possible.” During this season, the coaches have expressed their appreciation for the hard working team spirit and friendly environment amongst the team members. Delyea said, “I think our teams present themselves with kindness and camaraderie. They encourage not only each other but other teams from different schools.” Although a competitive nature is important with any team or sport organization, the coaches said they believe it’s more important to create a healthy attitude towards being kind and having fun. McCullough added, “We have fun. Competition is important and all the students care deeply about performing well, but they also value spending time together while we travel. They have great attitudes and not only want to do well, but also want to enjoy every meet and experience. I think that really helps them go into the meets with focus and excitement, not just nerves about competing.” With a high stakes competition such as the Knowledge Bowl, the coaches said it’s important for the team to stay calm under pressure. McCullough said the Colville team has been working towards expanding their range of subject material and adapting to the new changes that have come with this season. “We're still adapting to changes in team rosters and honing in on specific subject areas we want to learn about in greater depth. What's most impressive to me is how reflective the teams are. They can tell you exactly what subjects they feel strongest about and which they want to study more. They ask for resources, for more practice, for time to talk strategy before going into a room together. They can only grow and improve with each meet.” The coaches expressed their confidence with the kick off of the season. Varsity student Hailey Collett echoed this optimism, adding, “We need to not second guess ourselves because more often than not we had the correct answer.” For those unfamiliar with the Knowledge Bowl has become a widespread competition throughout the state of Washington. According to Educational Service District 123, their website explains that the Knowledge Bowl “is an academic competition for high school students in Washington State where each of the nine ESDs in the state hold regional Knowledge Bowl competitions that determine which teams will advance to the state-level tournament. Knowledge Bowl is considered an "athletic event for the mind," testing high school teams on their knowledge in a variety of subjects through a fun and energetic competition that involves team building, competitive academic testing and interaction with students from across the state.” ( esd123.org “Knowledge Bowl”) 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’s Zier Caps Career with Strong State Finish - 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’s Zier Caps Career with Strong State Finish November 12, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen Zaidence Zier of Colville, Wash., finished her high school cross-country career with a 33rd place performance at the WIAA 1A State Championships. Colville senior Zaidence Zier closed out her high-school cross-country career with a performance at the WIAA 1A State Championships on Saturday, placing 33rd overall at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. Zier crossed the line in 20 minutes, 33 seconds – a time that put her in the top quarter of the state’s fastest small-school runners. Her performance came against a deep field of more than 100 competitors, led by Reed Atwood of South Whidbey, who won the individual title in 18:51.7. 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

The Heart of Being in Public Service: Dorothy Knauss - 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 The Heart of Being in Public Service: Dorothy Knauss November 12, 2025 By: Tamara Lee Titus Mayor Dorothy Knauss sits in her office, eager to hand the reins to Lindsay Baxter. Photo by Tamara Lee Titus. Dorothy Knauss is about to relinquish the reins of mayorship for a second time in her life after stepping into Chewelah’s interim mayor position in June; this time to the new incoming mayor, Lindsay Baxter. Before stepping down, she shared a little about her background and experience as a civil servant and elected mayor. According to Knauss, her family moved to Stevens County in 1946, when she was two years old, and moved to Chewelah when she was in the fourth grade. She said, “It was very interesting because I came into this building in the fourth grade, never dreaming that [one day] I would come in the door as mayor.” Describing her life’s trajectory, she recalled,“In high school, when we did our yearbook and they tried to predict what somebody’s future would be – mine was city clerk. I thought it was crazy. But in 1979, I was hired as city clerk.” Knauss said she has spent 46 years in public service, including roles such as city clerk, clerk/treasurer, city administrator, mayor and most recently, city council appointed interim mayor. After graduating from Jenkins High School in 1962, she worked as a legal secretary for two-and-half years for Larry Kristianson, who is now a retired Stevens County Superior Court judge. Knauss said she next worked at “Northwest Alloys for four years. I was the secretary to the raw materials and the ferroalloys departments and later a front line supervisor.”. Her calling to public service eventually came from her former boss. “Surprisingly enough, Larry Kristianson recommended me to the mayor, suggested that I apply, so I did,” she said. Once hired as city clerk, her career advanced into other positions, reaching city administrator in 1992. “Then I decided I wanted to retire,” she said of her first retirement. “In 1998, the mayor had dismissed his city administrator and asked me to come back. I came out of retirement to do this until 1999. Then I said, ‘That’s it, I am not going back.’” She continued. Knauss said her husband passed away from cancer in 2010. That’s roughly when she came out of her second retirement. “The then city administrator, Mike Frizzell, came and asked me if I would fill a position on city council that was vacant. He said, ‘Why don’t you put your letter in?’ So I did; I served a year-and-a-half on city council from 2012-13. And he said, ‘By the way, would you consider running for mayor?’ And I thought, ‘That’s just crazy!’” She consulted with her family, whom she assumed would advise her against it, “because the city administrator job can be pretty stressful. Instead they all said, ‘We just think that’s great.’ So, I did and I was mayor for eight years [2014-2021].” She then attempted a third time to retire. “At the end, in 2021, I could see that the city needed to move ahead in technology and just streamline the way we did things, and I did not feel like I had the mental energy to do that. So I decided not to run again,” Knauss said. In total, she said she has come back four times to the city. “After the new mayor was elected, it wasn’t long before he called me and said, ‘We have a vacancy on our civil service commission. Could you fill that?’ I came back a little over a year ago to fill that position, from late 2022 to early 2023.” When mayor Greg McCunn resigned on May 5, 2025, she was appointed by the council to come back until the elections. Despite enjoying retirement, she reported, “I was excited to come back because it was a situation where I was the only one who was really qualified. I probably have attended over 500 council meetings in my 46 years, from 1979-2025.” She described returning to conflict and tension. “We would have 100 people in council meetings, which is very unusual. There was a lot of tension between the community and within the council, and I felt like I could be a calming influence. I came back with the intent to calm things down and just keep things moving forward until the new mayor was elected. I have had a number of people tell me that the night I took the oath, you could feel the tension leave the room. That made me feel good,” she said. When asked how she explained her calming influence, she said, “I have a lot of historical knowledge of the city, but I know probably one of my best attributes is that I know, without a doubt, the role of the mayor and the role of the council. And, I don’t let them mix and that works well for everyone.” As for her role as interim mayor, she acknowledged, “They’re ready for a new administration now. I deliberately have not made changes or started anything new for obvious reasons – a new mayor is going to want to come in and have their own administration.” In terms of the new mayor, she said she has been meeting with Baxter to help him prepare. “We probably had four meetings by now, and we will have another one this next week. We spend a couple of hours just talking about what it means to be the mayor of a small town. It’s totally different from running a corporation or running a business. He doesn’t have experience in government; he has experience in business and he’s been on the board of the golf course… He attends all of our council meetings, so he has been absorbing what’s going on. I am confident he will do a good job.” She added, “He actually will take his oath the day the election is certified, Nov. 25, and then he will be mayor. I begged him to take his oath, not that I had to, he was very willing to do that. The sooner he gets started the better.” Knauss said some highlights from her time as mayor include creating a “Students in Government” program in conjunction with the local high school’s civic class. She said, “Every year, the city attorney and I would go over to the Civic’s class and talk to them about what a Second Class Code City is, which we are. Then we would challenge them to elect a mayor and seven council members to just mirror what we had here, a city attorney, a city administrator, clerk treasurer, and then the attorney and I would’ve thought of three scenarios of problems they had to solve as a council. When they were ready, we would bring them over and right before our normal council meeting, they would have their council meeting. They would do a mock council meeting, and they would solve these three areas. Then we would give them a critique after, and feed everybody pizza.” Although they don’t have this program currently, she said she has talked to Baxter about bringing it back. “My concern was that young people don’t really care about politics unless it affects what they’re doing.” Knauss continued, “We did fun things; the first one we had, we took a student who was not taking part in the council, but she was a really good actress in the Stage Time Theatre. We got her aside and got her to be a person that interrupted. Of course, they didn’t know anything about it, and here she just showed up, and started yelling at them about this, that and the other. It was hilarious!” She said she also created the Mayor’s Youth Award. “Every month someone could nominate a youth for something outstanding they had done and then we honored them with a certificate at the council meeting.”. During her mayorship, Knauss also served on a committee called the Association of Washington Cities Board of Directors for seven years, representing eastern Washington on the west side of the state. “I really felt like Olympia doesn’t understand what ‘rural’ is. The board of directors was 25 people and I often would tell them that ‘rural is not the area between Seattle and Tacoma. Come to eastern Washington and really see what rural means.’” Regarding being a mayor of a small town, she shared,“Sometimes it’s pretty stressful, sometimes the public doesn’t understand, but you try to remain calm and just put one foot forward, and go ahead and do what you need to do. But I have always had a real heart for the citizenry. When I ran for mayor the first time, I had written on the wall, ‘Every person has worth and deserves to be heard.’ And that was one of my campaign slogans. I think that made people feel they could come in and talk to me.” Mayor Knauss was presented with the Citizen of the Year award in 2021. “It was a big surprise,” she said. “I just thank the community. I felt their support through all the years, especially when I was mayor. So many people have thanked me for coming back and just being here. That is really rewarding. When people just care enough to say thank you.” When asked about the benefits of being a mayor, she said, “The satisfaction of doing something that really helps your community is probably the strongest pro. I never really cared for the title. I never really looked at myself as ‘Oh, I am the mayor;’ I looked at myself as I am a servant to the people of the city.” She also acknowledged that the salary isn’t very high, and added, “For seven-and-a-half years, I made $658 a month, gross. I think In the last six months that I was mayor before, they raised it to $1,000 a month. But you know, you really can’t do it for the money. And over the years, there has been some talk, ‘You should pay the mayor more money,’ but I really don’t want it to be a position you get in because you wanted the money. That’s just not the right reason.” She continued outlining more of the mayoral duties and personal highlights, “There’s a lot to it; I think you have to have a heart to really embrace the community and be part of the chamber [of commerce]. I am the first mayor, the [Spokane] tribe told me, that ever went down to Wellpinit to meet with the tribal council and introduce myself and say ‘How can we work together?’” She also relayed that she attended everything she could, and that she “never turned down an invitation to speak or to attend.” When asked if she ever felt nervous speaking, she replied,“I never speak with notes. I know what I need to talk about and I just speak from the heart. I think that resonates with people. They don’t want fancy words; they just want to know you as a person, and whether they can trust you or not.” When asked about how she dealt with criticism, she shared that, “It takes awhile to earn the confidence that you know what you’re doing.” She said, “Once you have that confidence and you have the confidence of the people, that they may not agree with you, but you’re always going to listen to them, I think that’s something that’s important. There’s been people over the years that haven’t liked me. You just have to treat them like people; I have never struck back at anyone. You’ve just got to take it. You have to keep the main thing the main thing, which is serving the city, and don’t get side-tracked by petty arguments or gossip that’s out there.” Reflecting on if she will return again at some point, Knauss replied, “This is it. I am 81 years old.” She is looking forward to spending more time with family now. She has three children, 13 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. “During the time I stopped being mayor and before [becoming mayor], I was an avid quilter. I quilted a lot, so hopefully I will get back to that,” she said. She added, “My main advice is to remember who you’re serving. You’re not serving yourself. You’re not serving a business. You’re serving the citizens of the city.” 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