Stories by Gary DeVon

OROVILLE – It was an evening of updates for the Oroville City Council at their Tuesday, Sept. 7 meeting.

OROVILLE – Bill Robertson, guest speaker at last Friday’s Oroville Chamber of Commerce meeting, recommended more self-promotion of Oroville to take advantage of the growing number of Canadian tourists and ‘Snowbirds’ just across the border.

OROVILLE – Julie Ashmore appeared before the Oroville City Council at their Tuesday, Sept. 7 meeting to discuss various funding schemes for a new library building.

YAKIMA – The Washington Department of Ecology has issued a fine of $6,500 to Tonasket-area resident Ardith Law for a burn barrel fire that escaped, causing a larger wildfire requiring response from area firefighters.

OKANOGAN – The Drug Task Force harvested approximately 20,000 marijuana plants in Okanogan County during the month of August.

OROVILLE – Superintendent Steve Quick announced that school policies are now on the Oroville School District’s Web site and more information is being added to the site frequently.

OSOYOOS – Stunning images of Osoyoos’ hills and desert, captured last summer for the comedy western movie “Gunless,” are no longer just being seen by feature filmgoers in big-screen theaters, they are now available to view at home on DVD.

Destination Osoyoos Executive Director Jo Knight says last week’s release of “Gunless” on widescreen DVD takes the movie’s promotion of Osoyoos, Oroville’s neighbor to the north, to a new level.

“The filming of ‘Gunless’ in Osoyoos in the summer of 2009 was a fantastic experience,” Knight said in a recent press release. “The entire community embraced this opportunity to showcase Osoyoos and the film production helped to boost the local economy, providing revenue for hotels, building material suppliers, restaurants and many other businesses – even local florists. It also raised our profile as a highly desirable movie location – with gorgeous scenery, skilled film crews and great local partnerships that can really help film productions when they’re here.”

OKANOGAN- Although the results aren’t official until certified, it appears OkanoganCounty voters preferred the two Republicans for clerk over the lone Democrat inthe only local three-way race in the Primary Election held Tuesday, Aug. 17.