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‘B.J.’ Jean VanDyck

By on January 12, 2008 in Obituaries

‘B.J.’ Jean VanDyck, 68, Oroville, died on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008 at the North Valley Hospital in Tonasket.

She was born on Jan. 15, 1939 in Oklahoma City, Okla. B.J. moved to the Okanogan Valley in June of 2002 after a long and happy life of homes between here and California, including 17 years on a tug boat at 2nd Mate in Anacortes, Wash. Jean was first and foremost a wife and mother of her seven children plus adopted ones, as well as a foster parent in her last years of her life. Her hobbies included making dolls and home renovation.

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Jesse Leighton

By on January 12, 2008 in Obituaries

Jesse Leighton, 58, Oroville, passed away Jan. 2, 2008 in Wenatchee. He was born in Tacoma, Wash. to parents John and Bonnie on Dec. 27, 1949.

He is survived by his wife, Sandy, of Oroville; his children: Stacy, John III, Scott and Amanda; five grandchildren: Ryan, Connor, Tyler, Kimberly and Brandon; two brothers, two sisters, his Aunt Marilyn and three cousins: Mike, Greg and Keith.

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Gary Brotherton

By on January 12, 2008 in Obituaries

Gary Brotherton, 58, Omak, died Jan. 2, 2008 at the Mid-Valley Hospital in Omak.

Gary was born Oct. 26, 1949 to William and Betty Brotherton of Albany, Ore.

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Wayne Harold Hackett

By on January 12, 2008 in Obituaries

Wayne Harold Hackett, 69, Aeneas Valley, died at the Central Washington Hospital on Dec. 28, 2007.

Wayne was born May 11, 1938 to Lloyd and Mary Hackett of Milo, Maine.

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William Robert Curtis

By on January 12, 2008 in Obituaries

Bill Curtis passed away Dec. 3, 2007 at the Tonasket Nursing Home following a three-month stay.

Bill was born Jan. 9, 1927 in Oroville to Rueben and Lois (Brown) Curtis, the oldest of five children. After graduating from Oroville High School in 1945, he joined the Air Force. While in the Air Force acting as an airplane and engine mechanic 747, he was injured sending him to McCormack General Hospital and receiving an honorable discharge in 1947.

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Elaine Melvina Aldrich

By on January 12, 2008 in Obituaries

Elaine Melvina Aldrich, 81, of Oroville, passed away at her home on Jan. 1, 2008 surrounded by her loving family.

Elaine was born Sept. 21, 1926 to Jeremiah and Melvina Johnson of Burlington, Vermont.

She is survived by her daughter, Doreen Martineau of Oroville and family.

A memorial service is planned for the spring. A full obituary will be placed in the Gazette-Tribune giving more details on the service.

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A Pox on All Their Houses

By on December 29, 2007 in Opinion

I have always considered myself a philosophical and constitutional purist. Thus I have always opposed political term limits. After all, democratic principles should guarantee my right to reelect a superb representative until death, mine or his.

However, it has now become apparent that politicians are solely self-interested equivocators (the term “liars” being too coarse). I always thought that their words held meaning. That I could, at least infrequently, rely on their promises. That they are employed by me to pursue the general welfare of their constituency and of our nation. Ideally, their positions could be equated with that of a housekeeper, landscaper, or plumber. They are hired to do a job and the job gets done.

It has become increasingly apparent that, in reality, all our politicians share two bipartisan goals: financial success and reelection for additional financial success.

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Year in review – looking back at 2007The first six months

By on December 29, 2007 in News

Editor’s Note: This week we take a look back at just a few of the stories that made the front page of the Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune during the first the first half 2007. The rest of the year will be reviewed in next week’s edition.

January

Three vying for May Festival Queen – Jessica Santana, Alysia Cumbo and Rachel Marringer have thrown their hats in the ring for a chance this year’s May Festival Queen’s crown.

Oroville grows by over 150 acres in less than a year – The City of Oroville grew by more than 65 acres after the council unanimously accepted a petition for annexation at their first meeting of the year-bringing the small city’s total growth to over 150 acres in less than a year’s time.

It’s official: Gail Milliken can stay in the U.S. – About to get married and planning her honeymoon, little did Milliken know the journey she was about to take was not to some warm tropical isle, but rather a two and a half year odyssey to remain in her adopted country.

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Community Bulletin board 13

By on December 29, 2007 in Uncategorized

Local food banks

OROVILLE – The Oroville food bank operates every Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., excluding holidays, in the basement of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. For more information, call Jeff Austin at 476-3978 or Jessica Lakey at 476-3817.

TONASKET – The Tonasket food bank operates every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 300 S. Whitcomb Ave. Drop-offs can be made at Tonasket Tavern. For more information, call Jack Gavin at 486-2480 or Debby Curren at 486-2459.

Belly Dance Class

OROVILLE – Shake off the old year and bring in the new with a beginning belly dance class every Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the studio behind the Episcopal Trinity Church at the corner of Central and Fir in Oroville. The next session begins on Wednesday, Jan. 2. Sign up at Evolution Fitness or call Nashira at (509) 476-3219.

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Dr. Louis C. Vejraska

By on December 29, 2007 in Obituaries

Dr. Louis C. Vejraska passed away Dec. 19, 2007. Lou was born June 24, 1921 to his parents Louis and Mary Vejraska in Odell, Neb.

He graduated in 1939 from Odell High School. He entered the University of Nebraska in the fall of 1939 to pursue a career in dentistry, graduating in 1945. Lou married the love of his life, Elda M. Hamel, on Sept. 11, 1943 in Beatrice, Neb. After graduation from Dental School the couple set up practice in Pawnee City, Neb. for five years. The marriage produced two sons Steve Alan Vejraska and Craig Louis Vejraska. The family found their way to Omak in the late summer of 1949.

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