News

WATERVILLE – During the fourth day of testimony in Lacey Hirst-Pavek’s trial for her suspected involvement in the murder of Michelle Kitterman, a witness was able to connect her with the three people already convicted in the case.

While being examined by Prosecuting Attorney Karl Sloan, Brian Hohman from Spokane connected Hirst-Pavek to Tansy Mathis, David Richards and Brent Phillips during his testimony on Monday, Nov. 8. Hohman was a customer of Mathis’ and Mathis introduced him to Richards. Through his drug buying relationship with Richards, Hohman met Phillips, whom he only knew as “Hollywood.” Hohman knew Mathis for approximately eight months prior to the murder of Kitterman in the early morning hours of March 1, 2009, according to his testimony.

OKANOGAN COUNTY – Although the numbers have increased for all candidates in the second ballot count, those leading in the first count seem to be hanging on by about the same percentages.

As in the election night count, the second count of Okanogan County ballots held last Friday, Nov. 5, favor Jim Detro, Frank Rogers, Charleen Groomes, Leah McCormack and Henry Rawson in their respective races.

TONASKET – Officer nominations were made at the regular Tonasket Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 26.

OROVILLE – Three new teachers joined the Oroville School District staff with one at the elementary school at the start of the school year, one at the elementary school building, one at the junior/senior high building and the third splitting his time between both buildings.

CHEWELAH – Two Oroville veterans of WWII are among 15 who got to fly back east to see the WWII memorial in Washington, DC thanks to the efforts of a Chewelah, Wash. student who has raised money for the Inland Northwest Honor Flight program.

TONASKET – The Tonasket City Council continued their discussion of an ad valorem tax in 2011 to their Tuesday, Nov. 9 meeting during their meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 26.

TONASKET – The 2011 budget for the North Valley Hospital District will be presented at the next hospital board meeting on Thursday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. in the boardroom.

OKANOGAN COUNTY – Election night counts of Okanogan Countyballots favor Jim Detro as the next county commissioner and a return of FrankRogers as sheriff.

Although results are not yet official with several left tobe counted, Detro leads fellow Republican Becki Andrist for Okanogan CountyCommissioner, District 3, representing the north end of the county. Detro had4,087, or 60 percent of the votes, cast in his favor, to Andrist’s 2,765.Sheriff Rogers, the incumbent, was also leading his opponent, Deputy DaveYarnell, by a healthy margin for the sheriff’s position. Voters cast 4,795votes, or 67 percent, in favor of returning Rogers for another term as the county’stop law enforcement official. Yarnell received 2,335 votes. Both candidates ranas Republicans in the Tuesday, Nov. 2 general election.

OROVILLE – The Oroville School Board approved a second student exchange trip to the Dominican Republic at their Monday, Oct. 25 meeting.

OROVILLE – After a closed-record hearing the Oroville Council approved a request for a zoning map amendment and Conditional Use Permit on behalf of Oroville Reman and Reload.