News

OKANOGAN – With the defense’s latest motion for a trial continuance denied, the murder trial for Lacey Hirst-Pavek is set to begin jury selection on Monday, Nov. 1 at Douglas County Superior Court in Waterville.

Hirst-Pavek will be tried on charges of first degree premeditated murder and first degree manslaughter that are the results of her alleged involvement in the murder of Michelle Kitterman and her unborn child in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 1, 2009.

TONASKET – The coronation ceremony for the 2011 Tonasket Rodeo Queen will be on Saturday, Oct. 23 beginning at 7 p.m.

This year’s candidates are Tonasket High School seniors Jerian Ashley and Cortney Ingle. Both girls are 5’10″ with green eyes, though Ashley has brown hair and Ingle has red hair. Ashley is a member of the Tonasket Comancheros Rodeo Club, 4-H, Boots and Saddles Barrel Racing Club, T-Club and the Loomis Community Club. Ingle is a member of the Caribou Trail Junior Rodeo Association, American Quarter Horse Association and the Boots and Saddle Barrel Racing Club.

OROVILLE – The Oroville Chamber of Commerce welcomed Vicki’s Unique Boutique, a new business opened in Oroville by Vicki Hart at 607 14th.

The business features unique, previously owned items and is located in the old Hart Insurance building and is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

OKANOGAN – Okanogan County Treasurere Leah McCormack is reminding people that the second half of their property taxes are due by Oct. 31, 2010.

OROVILLE – The Hart Agency in Oroville, has requested two 15-minute parking spots as there is often no parking space for those wanting to pop in to renew their vehicle tabs.

OROVILLE – An Oktoberfest celebration with local wineries and entertainment will be held on Main Street in Oroville this Saturday, Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This week we report on the candidate’s forum held inOkanogan on Wednesday, Oct. 6 and what the candidates for the Okanogan CountyCourt Commissioner, Sheriff, Clerk, Treasurer and District Court Judge had tosay. G.A.D.

OKANOGAN – Candidates for Okanogan County offices met at thePUD Auditorium in Okanogan to explain why they should get your vote in theupcoming General Election.

The candidates tookquestions from a panel made up of Jon Weis, president of the Okanogan CountyFarm Bureau; Karl Sloan, Okanogan County Prosecutor and Marcy Stamper, reporterfor the Methow Valley News. In addition, the panel asked questions taken fromthe audience, as well as online.

TONASKET – Fourteen years ago, Aristeo Maldonado fulfilled his lifetime dream of owning an orchard when he bought 40 acres off of Highway 7 just north of Tonasket.

“I grew up in the fields of Mexico and here I fulfilled my dreams,” he said. “We had two options: we could go back to Mexico or stay in the United States. My wife and children preferred to stay here and go to college. Evelia, my wife, saw an ad in the paper and we found out the government was giving credit to new farmers. I went to the bank and got the warrant from the USDA and we bought the orchard.”

TONASKET – The Tonasket High School band and Tonasket Music Boosters have begun the fundraising process to raise $35,000 for the band to travel to Disneyland this spring.

OROVILLE – The Oroville Booster Club raised just under $10,000 at their annual auction held at the American Legion Post #84 last Saturday evening.