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Colville Girls Soccer Falls the Lakeside in NEA District Title Match - 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 Girls Soccer Falls the Lakeside in NEA District Title Match November 5, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Colville Crimson Hawks battled to the final whistle but couldn’t crack Lakeside’s defense in the District 6 Northeast A championship on Nov. 1, falling 3-0 to the top-seeded Eagles at Spokane Falls Community College. Lakeside (10-2-4, 7-0) struck just one minute into the match on a goal by Tea Simonson, then added second-half tallies from Izzy Delzer and Lainee Huggins to pull away. The Eagles peppered the Colville defense with 17 shots, while the Crimson Hawks were limited to one shot on goal. Colville goalkeeper Joslyn Craddock turned in a busy performance with eight saves, keeping her team within striking distance until late in the match. The loss came just days after Colville also fell to Lakeside, 3-0, in their regular-season finale on Oct. 28, in Nine Mile Falls. In that contest, Delzer, Simonson and Saige Karsten provided the scoring for the Eagles, who have not lost in league play this fall. The Crimson Hawks (4-10-2, 3-4 NEA) faced Riverside in a loser-out District 6/5 crossover qualifier on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Results from the match were not available at press time. 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 Girls Soccer Split Final Regular-Season Games - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Kettle Falls Girls Soccer Split Final Regular-Season Games November 5, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Kettle Falls girls soccer team closed out its regular season with a win and a narrow loss last week, earning the Bulldogs a postseason berth in the District 6 2B/1B playoffs. Kettle Falls defended its home field with a 2-1 victory over Newport on Oct. 28, improving to 5-9-1 overall. The Bulldogs battled through a tight Northeast 2B matchup, edging the Grizzlies. Two days later, the Bulldogs hit the road to face Chesterton Academy in Spokane and fell just short, 2-1. Despite the setback, Kettle Falls earned the No. 6 seed in the District 6 2B/1B tournament and faced third-seeded Davenport on Monday, Nov. 3, in a loser-out opening round game at The Hub in Liberty Lake; results were not available at press time. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Chewelah Hospital Cuts Patient Services; More Closures Could Follow - 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 Hospital Cuts Patient Services; More Closures Could Follow August 13, 2025 By: Cami Krema Cuts to Medicaid as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, may cause hospital closures across the country, including 14 in Washington state. Of these 14 hospitals at risk, Providence St. Joseph’s in Chewelah is among them, which has already announced closures to two of their patient programs. Providence St. Joseph officials acknowledged these cuts, stating, “We are focused on the potential overall impact of the cuts while continuing to serve the health care needs of our communities.” According to the bill’s language, cuts will roll back increases in Medicaid reimbursement rates, which are the money hospitals receive for providing health care services to Medicaid patients. Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) officials stated, “To be very clear, the cuts to Medicaid will be devastating to Washington’s hospitals, rural and urban alike.” Officials added, “We are absolutely concerned that hospitals will close. For those that do not close, we expect a significant contraction of services, and it will negatively impact every patient in Washington through reduced access and longer wait times for care.” WSHA officials also cited data that suggested approximately two-thirds of the payer mix comes from Medicaid or Medicare, with higher levels in rural eastern Washington. According to Mai Hoang’s article, “14 Rural WA Hospitals Deemed at Risk of Closure from Medicaid Cuts,” published by Cascade PBS, Medicaid officials stated that reimbursements typically go back to the hospitals to help cover Medicaid-funded services. Hoang also quoted officials who stated that hospitals have an obligation to treat uninsured patients and patients on Medicaid, regardless of the rate, which means the declining reimbursements could become financially unsustainable, leading to staffing cuts or closures. In Chewelah, Providence St. Joseph officials stated that, “The passage of H.R. 1 (also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) by Congress poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of our communities, placing essential health programs and services at risk while stripping access to health care for millions of Americans.” They added that these reductions will limit health services, lead to care delays and longer wait times, especially in emergency departments, and place undue strain on overburdened health care providers. Just days after making these statements, Providence St. Joseph officials released another statement on Thursday, Aug. 7, saying that the hospital will officially close its DominiCare and the outpatient Orthopedic Physical Therapy clinics on Oct. 3. There will be 60 positions impacted by these closures, according to Providence. “This decision, though difficult, is a necessary step to ensure that Providence remains agile and responsive to the evolving needs of our community,” said Chief Executive Susan Stacey, RN. Providence officials said that Orthopedic Physical Therapy services will continue at Providence Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville. A former employee of Providence St. Joseph, not authorized to speak on the record, expressed the opinion that it’s not always feasible for Chewelah patients to travel out of the area to receive care. “Many people in our community are elderly or low-income and will have difficulty traveling, especially in winter.” The former employee also spoke of the consequences of losing these services. “Some [patients] won’t get therapy. More people will likely have falls or impaired mobility that impact their function. All will have to find a way to overcome the travel obstacle to obtain care.” Chewelah resident Chuck Ritchie spoke about how essential the physical therapy clinic has been for his own recovery. After suffering a serious illness that caused significant impacts to his nervous system and left him unable to walk, Ritchie relied on the clinic’s services for his recovery. “The therapy team at St Joseph's was absolutely crucial to my recovery. It was months of hard work, sweat, and tears as I learned to cope with my new body, then slowly, as I regained strength and my nervous system healed, I learned to walk again,” Ritchie said, adding that “the care team at St Joseph's weren't just my therapists, they became family. They were there cheering me on when I had success, and picking me up when I fell. I truly owe my life to them.” Ritchie also said the closing of the physical therapy clinic could have negative impacts on the community. “I'm not alone, I run into people who have their own stories of the care team changing their lives. It is absolutely heartbreaking to hear the physical therapy department at St Joseph's won't be there for the next person that needs them. This is a huge loss for our community. I can't express in words the value of what we've just lost.” The cuts could also mean fewer people are covered under Medicaid or any insurance program. According to Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy Center for Children and Families, 2023 data showed that 23.3% of Stevens County residents rely on Medicaid. 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

Lady Chargers Close Regular Volleyball Season Strong - 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 Chargers Close Regular Volleyball Season Strong October 29, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen The Springdale Lady Chargers closed out their regular season in dominant fashion last week, sweeping both Wilbur-Creston-Keller and Chesterton Academy to lock down fifth place in the NE 1B standings. The wins pushed Mary Walker’s record to 8-4 in league play and 13-8 overall as they head into this week’s district tournament with plenty of momentum. The Chargers handled visiting Wilbur-Creston-Keller on Oct. 21, 25-22, 25-16, 25-16 behind a balanced offensive attack led by Kaylin Gines, who tallied 12 kills and three solo blocks while hitting .478. Ashlynn-Mae Ford and Kazlin Rainer each added six kills, while McKinley Schroeder chipped in five kills on a .500 hitting percentage. Setter duties were split between Kameron Cloninger and Addisyn Matherly-Stricker, who each dished out 12 assists. Defensively, Gines anchored the back row as well, collecting 21 digs, while junior Imani Hutchinson added five. At the service line, Rainer led the way with four aces and 11 points, while senior Aubrey Ferguson added a steady nine points and Schroeder served up two aces. The team served at a 93% clip overall. Springdale carried that momentum into their road trip to Spokane on Oct. 23, where they swept Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame 25-22, 25-12, 25-23. The Lady Chargers used strong serving runs and steady net play to put away the Saints in straight sets. With the pair of wins, Mary Walker finishes the regular season riding a two-match winning streak and the Lady Chargers will open district tournament play this week, aiming to extend their postseason run and build on a strong finish to an impressive 2025 campaign. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Kettle Falls Boys Basketball Brings Back Experience for 2025-26 - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Kettle Falls Boys Basketball Brings Back Experience for 2025-26 November 26, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen After a rebuilding year that saw just five wins, the Kettle Falls boys basketball team enters the 2025-26 season with some hunger; their coach emphasized the team is ready to eat in the competitive Northeast 2B North. While he’s steering clear of specific benchmarks, head coach Cameron Stewart said the tone is clear. “As far as win totals or where we will finish in the league, I don’t like to make predictions,” he said. “I will say that I expect improvement from last season.” Steward said the Bulldogs returned only one starter last year; this year, Kettle Falls has 20 players turning out, giving the Bulldogs their strongest numbers in several years. Stewart said he expects to carry two seniors, five juniors and one or two sophomores on varsity. The lineup will be anchored by a trio of veteran seniors who logged major minutes a year ago. Mace Thivierge, a 6-foot-2 senior guard and second-team all-league pick, is expected to be the team’s focal point. “He was also our sixth man the previous season, so he’s very experienced,” Stewart said. “Mace is very competitive. He loves to win and hates to lose even more. He’s very skilled, can really shoot the ball, and has a high basketball I.Q. He’s really matured over the last year, and I look forward to seeing him become a stronger leader. I know he’s ready for that challenge. He’s going to receive a ton of attention from opposing teams, so other guys have to step up and make plays on a consistent basis.” In the paint, 6-foot-5 post Jaxon Fandrey brings strength and experience after starting every game last winter. “[Fandrey’s] a smart kid, very strong, and works his tail off,” Stewart said. “He was a difference maker for us last year and I’m excited about his progress going into his senior season.” Senior guard Cooper McKern returns after starting 20 games last year – most of them while playing through a broken shoulder suffered during football season. “Up until then, he was probably our best on-ball defender, and his offense was starting to emerge,” Stewart said. “Cooper has a big-time motor, and his skills and athleticism have improved in the off-season. Offensively, he attacks the basket, and he’s developing a nice jump shot. Defensively, he’s just relentless. He has that Dawg in him that you love to see.” Sophomore guard Zac Burch is one of the team’s emerging talents. “[Burch is] athletic and scrappy, has great hands and a nose for the basketball,” Stewart said. “He still needs a lot of refinement but he’s a kid who’s going to get us extra possessions and fill the stat sheet with his hustle. He really excels in transition, and we intend to play faster this season.” A strong junior class – Alex Mazanek, Cody Adams, Ben Higgins and Zander Johnson – adds athleticism and depth, each bringing “a different dynamic” to the lineup, according to Stewart. Versatility may also define this year’s team. “I think we can be versatile defensively because we have some quickness and, hopefully, some quality depth,” Stewart said. “We can play man or zone, fundamental half court defense, or trap and press. I think our guys will execute our offense much better this season. Our returning guys are pretty familiar with our concepts, and we will be faster in transition this season.” With an experienced roster and, elsewhere, heavy roster turnover across the Northeast 2B North, Stewart said he sees opportunity. “We feel like the North is pretty wide open, but it’s safe to say that Reardan is the favorite,” he said. “They have size, athleticism, and great shooters. More importantly, they play excellent defense.” Northwest Christian remains a contender with a returning all-league standout, while Saint George’s – despite graduating its trio of all-league seniors – remains dangerous. “I have a ton of respect for their coaching staff. They always get the best out of their players,” Stewart said. Davenport returns one of the league’s top scorers in Cage Colbert. Chewelah brings back dynamic senior guard Ryen McMillen. Newport, meanwhile, enters with a new staff and several new faces. Kettle Falls won’t be leaning on predictions, but with veteran leadership, athletic depth and more experience under its belt, Stewart said he believes the Bulldogs will look much more like the program that won 17 games two seasons ago. “I think our guys are hungrier this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing who steps up,” Stewart 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

Colville Seniors Shine in Win Over Northwest Christian - 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 Seniors Shine in Win Over Northwest Christian October 29, 2025 By: Brandon Hansen On a night filled with emotion, the Colville Crimson Hawks sent their seniors out in style Friday, Oct. 24, defeating perennial 2B powerhouse Northwest Christian 44–35 in a thrilling back-and-forth battle at home. The non-league victory capped Senior Night with fireworks on both sides of the ball, as Colville used a dominant rushing attack and key defensive stands to fend off a late Northwest Christian surge. Senior quarterback Brock Benson led the charge with 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries, while completing nine out of 11 passes for 82 yards and two scores. Fellow senior Mason Beardsley added 92 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, including a clutch fourth-down conversion late in the game that helped seal the win. “Mason has been a great player for us all year,” said head coach William Benbrook. “He did a great job running behind the excellent blocking of the O-line. We knew he was going to be getting the ball a lot this game. His 4 th down conversion helped us seal the game! It was a very pivotal play that kept NWC's offense off the field and set up a touchdown later in that drive.” After falling behind 7–0 early, Colville erupted for 22 unanswered points in the second quarter, with Beardsley and Benson finding the end zone multiple times. Benson connected with junior Baxter Phipps on a short touchdown pass and later hit senior Bridger Lewis for a key two-point conversion. The Hawks added two more scores in the second half, including a 38-yard Benson touchdown run to secure the victory despite a furious 28-point fourth quarter from Northwest Christian. For Benbrook, the win was a reflection of the team’s maturity and determination on a night that can often be distracting as it's the final home game for some players. “All week we talked about making the best possible memories on senior night,” he said. “We leaned into the atmosphere and challenged the seniors to do everything they could to win on possibly their last home game. The challenge for the underclassmen was to do everything they can and play for the seniors. It was a great win against a team that beat us last year.” The Crimson Hawks’ defense, led by Benson (10 tackles), Lewis (12), and Beardsley (eight), came up with timely stops throughout the night. It wasn't easy as the Crusaders big play ability was on display. Colville's defense, however, kept the game under wraps until a late surge by Northwest Christian made it interesting. Benbrook credited his players’ resilience and focus through a challenging schedule. After two league games, Colville had two straight games against 2A squads – both losses – and then returned home to take on a 2B powerhouse. “Our focus has always been to be playing our best football when we have league games,” he said. “With our schedule built the way it was this year, it has allowed us to grow and get better every week. As a team, the boys have been very focused on getting to week nine and playing to our full potential. Every game has been to help us get ready for this week.” Colville faces Lakeside in Suncrest on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. The winner will be crowned NEA League champion. The Crimson Hawks won the same matchup last year in a 13-12 donnybrook. 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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