News

OSOYOOS, BC – Not since the signing of the original Operating Orders on Osoyoos Lake 25 years ago, regulating water levels on the lake between the U.S. and Canada, has there likely been so much interest in a meeting on water.

TONASKET – A wildland fire that started Tuesday, Aug. 9 blackening 408 acres and destroying an out-building is 100 contained, according to a DNR spokesman.

TONASKET – After a short public comment period about whether or not to join the Okanogan County Conservation District, the Tonasket Council decided to postpone their decision until their Sept. 13 meeting.

The city had scheduled a discussion period on the issue of joining the conservation district before the regular council meeting. Some of the more vocal comments were against joining because membership would mean a fee to property owners of $2.40 for each parcel owned. Bob Clark with the conservation district was also on hand to answer questions.

“There’s no big push for this,” said Councilwoman Jean E. Ramsey at the council’s regular Tuesday, Aug. 9 meeting.

OROVILLE – Voters living in the Oroville School District will be asked to select from among three candidates running for the District 4 and 5 School Director’s Positions in the primary election which will be held Tuesday, Aug. 16.

OROVILLE – The Oroville City Council approved another extension of the interim Critical Areas Ordinance at a public hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 2.

TONASKET – For their first piece of business at their Tuesday, July 26 meeting, the Tonasket Council officially renamed the Day Park to Founder’s Day Park.

OROVILLE – Cherry harvest should be wrapping up this week, with the overall quality of the crop excellent, according to Greg Moser, who manages the Gold Digger grower cooperative.

OKANOGAN – Okanogan County picked up new construction valued at $37,412,700 in assessed valuation in the past 12 months, according to County Assessor Scott Furman.

OROVILLE – The Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new Oroville Station of the U.S. Border Patrol located south of the U.S.-Canada Port of Entry on the west side of Highway 97 took place on Tuesday, July 12.

The new state-of-the-art secure facility meets eco-friendly LEED component certification and will be strategically located near the Oroville Port of Entry. The $15 million project supports operationally required expansion in staffing, technology and infrastructure. During the station’s year-long construction, the agents will be deployed full time on horse patrols, boat patrols, ATVs and snowmobiles and will be operating out of the current Oroville Station location.

Sound Publishing, Washington’s largest publisher of community newspapers and NCW Media Inc. of Leavenworth, the largest publisher of community newspapers and specialty publications in North Central Washington have agreed to a strategic realignment of their individual newspaper holdings. Under the deal, which is effective Aug. 1, 2011, Sound will assume ownership of the Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune and NCW will take ownership of the Wenatchee Business Journal in Wenatchee.