September 15, 2010 • Volume 107, No. 37
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Salmon Festival celebrates 20 years By Ian Dunn Editor
was a Forest Service fisheries biologist workshop happening at the time. Soon, the two biologists began brainstorming ideas about special event for a natural resource. The ever curious Broaddus could not help but overhear the discussion. And as she pondered the possibilities for such
an event, she could not help but notice the bountiful run of summer chinook salmon coming coming up the Tumwater It was in the fall of 1990, and Corky Canyon. Broaddus, then public information ofThen came the epiphany. ficer for the Lake Wenatchee Ranger “As we drive up the canyon, I think..... District, was riding a car with a pair that’s it!!,” Broaddus recalled. “Look at of fisheries biologists. You see, there those salmon! Maybe this event should be about salmon.” And so it was, the idea for a Salmon Festival was hatched. The following fall, in 1991, a modest Wenatchee River Salmon Festival was produced at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Some 2,500 people attended. There were some Indian dances, a fish tent, a couple guitar players, and a hatchery tour. It was considered a success at the time. This week, as the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary, more 10,000 people will attend. It is now considered one of the premier natural resource festivals in the country. “Multiply that by 30 times,” Broaddus said, comparing this year’s festival to first one. “We have 35 activities on kids day alone. Now we have 94 classrooms from 30 schools, from the Canadian border to Zillah. We never stopped growing File photo or trying to make it better.” Education has long been the primary theme at the Wenatchee River Salmon Planning that first one was quite an Festival. In the early years, it was not known how many school children would endeavor, as Broaddus soon found out. show up. Now, more than 90 classrooms are involved from all over the state. She took her idea to Greg Pratschner,
Steelhead season opens again this year By Ian Dunn Editor Heavy rains accompanied the start of the steelhead season on the Wenatchee and Columbia rivers last Wednesday. Art Viola, a fish biologist with Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WSDFW) said the heavy rains may have induced the steelhead to run up upstream sooner. “In general, the steelhead move up the tributaries when they get the rain,” he said. “It will make a little bit of difference. It will encourage more steelhead to go up the Wenatchee and Entiat
Rivers.” Typically, Viola noted, the good fishing on the Wenatchee does not come until later in the year. Right now, the Columbia River might be the best bet to catch a steelhead. Still, it is highly likely the rains induced some steelhead to come up the Wenatchee, so fishing may not be a complete bust. With a huge run of steelhead reportedly heading up the Columbia River, Viola said they are a being pretty liberal with the catch limits and the season itself. “Steelhead over Priest Rapids is
then the Leavenworth Hatchery Complex Manager. He thought the hatchery grounds would make an ideal place for the festival. “We could set it up for however many people came,” said the now retired Pratschner. “That was the highlight of my career, together with the Cascade Discovery School program. A bunch of us just got together and talked about the wildlife heritage we have here.” One of Broaddus’ first tasks was to find a person to head up the festival, but after a long consideration, it was decided she would take on the assignment, which was to last for nine months. She would have that time to get the ball rolling on the new festival. She picked a team of people to help put it all together, including USFS Wildlife Biologist Heather Murphy, USFS Fish Biologist Ken MacDonald, Lake Wenatchee District Ranger George Pozzuto, Leavenworth District Ranger Becky Heath, Leavenworth Chamber Director Laura Jobin and Wenatchee National Forest Supervisor Sonny O’Neal. “We had this one meeting. I will never forget it,” Broaddus said. “It was in Kristall’s banquet room. I was nervous. The focus was going to be eduction, but also getting the community to know what was in our backyard. Something we
Locals savor the flavor at salmon cook off By Ian Dunn Editor The savory smell of finely prepared salmon wafted through the Lions Club Park recently. It was the first Wenatchee River Salmon Festival Salmon Cook Off. Seven restaurants participated, Wild Huckleberry, Cafe Christa, JJ Hills, Good Mood Food, Idyllwild Inn. Tumwater Inn, and Haus Dog Kaffee and Tea. Previously, the festival produced a salmon dinner event called, Salmonchanted Evening. But this year, Festival Director Betsy McIndoe thought a salmon cook off would be a worthwhile venture. “It’s more local,” she said of the cook off. “It’s just easier for us to put on. It just really gets Leavenworth more involved. It’s right in the middle of town. It’s great for the farmers’ market. There’s built in audience for both.” The cook off was held Sept. 2, in the park adjacent to the weekly Bauermarkdt, or Leavenworth Farmers’ Market. The judges were Leavenworth Mayor Rob Eaton, Jim Craig, Rhona See COOK OFF on Page 4
See SALMON FESTIVAL on Page 4
Fair means fun
See STEELHEAD on Page 4
Homeowner kills bear; cubs may be euthanized Wildlife officials advise getting rid of garbage, birdfeeders and dog food By Nevonne McDaniels Staff writer A homeowner shot and killed a 160-pound mother bear Thursday evening at 7776 Icicle Road. The two orphan cubs, that each weigh about 35 pounds, were treed and captured by state Fish and Wildlife representatives Friday morning. Rich Beausoleil, the bear and cougar specialist for the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department, based in Wenatchee, said the incident was entirely avoidable.
He said the homeowner apparently had been having problems with raccoons getting into his birdfeeder and dog food, so when he heard a noise Thursday night, he turned his dogs loose to chase away what he figured were raccoons. When one of the dogs didn’t come back, the homeowner went back into his house and grabbed his gun and went in search of his dog. He found the bear between him and his dog. “He thought something might happen, so he shot it,” Beausoleil said. “Then he By Nevonne McDaniels saw the two cubs up the tree.” Staff writer The dog was unharmed. Fish and Wildlife agents are trying The Upper Valley pear season is in to find space in a rehabilitation facility full swing. Bartletts are about finished and the pickers are moving on to Bosc See BEAR SHOT on Page 3 and Anjou. But that’s about all the information being released at the moment. “We don’t have a lot of information right now,” said Dan Kelly, assistant Photo by Nevonne McDaniels manager at the Washington GrowLeavenworth’s Beth Whitney performs ers Clearing House Association in barefoot at the Icicle Prize Main Stage Wenatchee. “They’re in the middle of Performance Sunday afternoon at harvest and no want wants to talk.” Sleeping Lady’s Chapel Theater, one But, he said, all indications are it’s goof 12 finalists in the Icicle Prize in Songwriting. Whitney won the top award and $1,000 in the “working artist” category for her song “Let’s Pretend.” By Nevonne McDaniels Brian McMahon of Leavenworth took Staff writer second place ($800) and Sandy Vaughn of Tonasket took third ($600). Preserving the land for generations to In the student category, Chloe Grace come can also mean inviting the public Caemmerer of Leavenworth won the top prize of $300, Marija Bosnar of to hike, bike, horse and bird — if it’s Ephrata took second ($200) and Claire done right. Seaman of Leavenworth took third That’s the balance the International ($100). The performance and award Mountain Biking Association’s trail crew ceremony was part of the Icicle Arts believes they have figured out. The crew Festival Sept. 10-12, which included will be in Leavenworth Sept. 16-19, at the a new art installation at the Icicle Arts invitation of the Chelan-Douglas Land Gallery, a recital by flamenco guitar Trust, to put their theory to the test. player and songwriter Andre Feriante, IMBA’s trail program, sponsored by songwriting workshops, and more. Subaru, sends two teams of experts
Photos by Nevonne McDaniels and Ian Dunn
Nina Gonzalez, 3, of Cashmere, looks to make sure mom is watching during her pony ride at the Chelan County Fair Friday evening. A lively scene (inset) looking down the main walkway at the fairgrounds.
Pear harvest underway, but packers quiet about the size of the 2010 crop
Whitney wins song contest
ing to be a good harvest. Not the best, not the worst, but somewhere in between. “The fruit looks good on the trees,” he said. He noticed that much when he was riding his bike on the back roads of Cashmere last week. The projection is it’s going to be just below last year for overall volume, but we still don’t have a good number on that,” he said. “The rain the last two days hasn’t helped, but it seems to be a temporary issue. Weather-related, we haven’t had anything too major to be concerned about,” he said. Nothing like the hail storm that hit trees in the spring several years ago.
“The next weather issue might be a possible freeze, but most of the pears should be off by then,” he said. “That’s more a concern for apples. The pears are usually done by the end of September.” The tariff on fruit shipped to Mexico remains an issue for selling the fruit, he said. “It’s not going away anytime soon. That has to be done through Washington, D.C. Easier said than done,” Kelly said, “but we’ve been able to live with it until now. It’s one of the negatives and will probably slow down our exports to See PEARS on Page 4
IMBA experts to hold trail building sessions
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“The land trust basically applied for and was able to get IMBA to come to Chelan County for a weekend of learning about sustainable trails,” said Bridget Egan, the land trust’s interim trails coordinator. The crew’s visit will start with a social event at 6 p.m. Thursday at München Haus in Leavenworth. — Bridget Egan, trails coordinator On Saturday, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Barn Beach Reserve, the IMBA crew will teach locals to build trails that last and around the country each year to lead require minimal maintenance. Lunch trail-building sessions and work with will be provided to attendees. From 1 to residents to improve mountain biking See TRAILS on Page 3 opportunities.
“The trail we have planned, maybe a mile or so, has spectacular views of the Icicle and into the Peshastin drainage.”
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