News

OROVILLE – Oroville approved regulations protecting “critical areas” while the city hammers out a new ordinance required by the state.

The city council unanimously approved the “interim” regulations at their first meeting of the new year. The “Oroville Critical Areas Ordinance” is currently in draft form. This draft will be used by the city until the final ordinance is approved following public input. The ordinance is required under the state’s Growth Management Act.

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.

OROVILLE – The Oroville City Council heard yet another request to annex property located north of the current city limits at their final meeting for 2007.

Several property owners, owning 344 acres in 93 parcels, have submitted a letter of intent to annex into the city, said Oroville City Planner Chris Branch. The request was made by property owners representing 20 percent of the annexation boundary’s total valuation. Property owners representing a minimum of 10 percent of the valuation are required, according to the planner to request annexation from the city.

TONASKET – The final city council meeting of 2007 ended with a sendoff for Councilman Patrick Plumb and a celebration of Tonasket’s official incorporation into Okanogan County in December 1927.

Harry Hayter, a member of the Coulee Corridor council and publisher of the Coulee Corridor Publication, addressed the Council.

At their last meeting, the council decided to pull the $500 they gave to the publication.

OROVILLE – The Oroville Chamber of Commerce elected a full slate of officers for the upcoming year at their Thursday, Dec. 13 meeting and chose Rich Solberg to head the business organization in 2008.

The building on Western Avenue in Tonasket has been many things since the 1930s.

It was once a mechanic shop. Then a Studebaker dealership. A temporary music and band room for Tonasket High School. It was the Valley Tire Store in the 1980s.

But soon, the building on Western will be renovated to suit exactly what it’s been since 1992: The Community Cultural Center.

A standing-room-only crowd greeted Nov. 27′s city council meeting, eager to voice their opinions, whether supportive or objective, to the North Valley Hospital’s proposed expansion plans.

Though the hospital asked for a delay in the decision to vacate 2nd Street, the council still allowed public comment. The new meeting was scheduled for Jan. 22, 2008.

OROVILLE – The Oroville City Council discussed a preliminary 2008 budget that is $92,505 more than the amended 2007 budget and still doesn’t include several items like city hall expansion, sewer improvements and a hoped-for airport grant.

TONASKET – The Skitzmark Ski Club slalomed closer to the season with a benefit auction Nov. 17 at the Tonasket Eagles Club, raising more than $6,000.

About 100 people turned out for the silent auction and dinner, and more arrived later to bid during a live auction. Silent auction items ranged from a basket of potatoes, ski items and gift certificates at local spas.

OROVILLE – Okanogan County Public Utility District has decided to renew its efforts to obtain a license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to restore Enloe Dam on the Similkameen River above Oroville in order to once again generate hydroelectric power.

The dam, which has not been used to make electricity since it was decommissioned in 1958, has the potential to generate an average five megawatts of power and up to nine megawatts at peak generation, according to Okanogan County PUD Commissioner Ernie Bolz.