About Gary DeVon

Gary DeVon is the managing editor of the Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune and celebrated his 25th year at the newspaper in August 2012. He graduated from Gonzaga University with a degree in Communications - Print Journalism, with an emphasis in photojournalism. He is a proud alumnus of Oroville High School. His family first settled in Okanogan County in the late 1800s. His parents are Judy DeVon and the late Larry DeVon and he has two younger brothers - Dante and Michael. Many family members still call Oroville home. He has a grown daughter, Segornae Douglas and a young granddaughter, Erin.

Stories by Gary DeVon

A graph showing new construction values over the past two decades. Source: Okanogan County Assessor's Office

Methow Valley continues to lead in new construction, Oroville next

By on August 23, 2012 in Business

OKANOGAN – The Methow Valley School District represented nearly one-third of the value of all new construction in Okanogan County, according to Assessor Scott Furman’s office.

The assessor’s office uses the various school districts to determine the boundaries of each area included in their reports. While the Methow Valley was still on top of the list with $13,157,700 in new construction, or nearly 32 percent of the total, the Oroville School District was next with $6,006,600 in new construction, or 15 percent of the total.

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Garlic Festival and Chesaw Hot August Nights coming

By on August 16, 2012 in News

OROVILLE – There’s lots to do in the North County before the kids head back to school as the Okanogan River Garlic Festival, Chesaw’s Hot August Nights and the Highland Stitchers Quilt Show all vie for people’s attentio

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Oroville will make improvements to Ironwood and Fir

By on August 16, 2012 in News

OROVILLE – Oroville will do an overlay of portions of Ironwood and Fir Streets under a state Transportation Improvement Board grant of around $85,000.

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Seattle filmmakers Geoff Klein (left) and Mo Fine (right) and friends relax at the Globe at Veranda Beach Resort following the first night of the Tumbleweed Film Festival in Oroville earlier this month. The two bring their festival to Osoyoos this weeken

Tumbleweed brings three nights of short films to Osoyoos

By on August 16, 2012 in News

OSOYOOS, BC – The Tumbleweed International Film Festival rolls north to Osoyoos, B.C. for three consecutive nights of short films from around the world, Aug. 16-18, at Nk’Mip Resort’s Desert Cultural Centre.

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Oroville School Board approves $1.2 million capital levy

By on August 16, 2012 in Schools

OROVILLE – The Oroville School Board approved a three-year capital improvement levy of $1,200,129 to put a new roof on the elementary school.

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Henry "Hank" Rawson

Henry ‘ Hank’ Rawson elected to Superior Court seat

By on August 16, 2012 in News

OKANOGAN – Okanogan County has a new Superior Court Judge in Henry “Hank” Rawson, who won a winner-takes-all primary vote in a race against Prosecutor Karl Sloan.

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Environmental groups appeal Ecology permit for Enloe Dam project

By on August 16, 2012 in News
OROVILLE – This week several national, state and local environmental groups appealed a decision by the state Department of Ecology that would allow the licensing of the proposed Enloe Dam hydropower project on the Similkameen River to move forward.
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Seems to be no love for the roundabout

By on August 16, 2012 in Opinion

Seems to be no love for the roundabout

I hadn’t even heard a roundabout was one of the fixes proposed for the intersection off Highway 97 to Okanogan. That is until the Facebook links started appearing in my email towards the end of last week. And by the time we got a press release about an Open House meeting to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 19 at the DOT maintenance facility (article in Gazette-Tribune), it was old news.

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Letters to the Editor, August 16, 2012

Posted on August 16, 2012 in Letters to the Editor

Adopt a Fair Tax

Dear Editor,
Fellow Americans, there’s been a proposal before Congress for over a decade that would put America on track to a swift and permanent economic recovery. Congress won’t pass it unless we demand it. Its adoption would drastically reduce elected politicians’ power and control over US citizens. It’s called the Fair Tax.

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Brian Tanzman at the Similkameen Trailhead in Oroville. Tanzman is hiking the 1200 mile Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail and Oroville is the halfway point. He spent a few days resting up at the Camaray Motel before continuing his journey up the Sim

Take a hike

By on August 9, 2012 in Sports and Outdoors

OROVILLE – Brian Tanzman, just back from hiking 2,000 miles in New Zealand, decided he’d like to try the Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT). Oroville is the halfway point on his journey, which began in Glacier National Park on June 26.

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