Leavenworth Echo - Sept. 22, 2010

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47th Annual Washington State

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September 22, 2010 • Volume 107, No. 38

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City beefs up Oktoberfest foot patrols Fourth deputy added By Nevonne McDaniels Staff writer The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office and Phoenix Protection Corp. are increasing foot patrols during Oktoberfest this year. An additional deputy will be added to make a total of four deputies on foot patrol, each accompanied by a member of Phoenix Protection Corp., the company hired by Projekt Bayern to handle security. “Phoenix people will be there to clip bracelets and the deputy will be there if enforcement is needed,” Mayor Rob Eaton told the Leavenworth City Council at the Sept. 14 study session. The council was being asked to approve the expenditure for the downtown city patrols, an estimated $4,500.

Th e s e c u r i ty i n s i d e t h e Festhalle and Oktoberfest beer tents and within the beer garden fence is paid for by Projekt Bayern, the group that organizes the event. Eaton said the additional patrols were recommended by the Sheriff’s Office because the event is expanding its capacity this year, adding another tent to the venue. The deputies are hired for seven-hour shifts Friday and Saturday nights. In other city news: • The Port of Chelan County Commissioners will tour Leavenworth-area facilities at 9 a.m. Sept. 28, including the Leavenworth City Hall, Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, Festhalle and Icicle Train station. • Sandra Strieby of Community File photo Planning in Twisp has been hired as a consultant by the city of Projekt Bayern’s Oktoberfest is growing this year, with another tent, and the city is adding law Leavenworth to work on the city’s enforcement to match. The city council approved a plan to add a fourth deputy to help with foot patrols outside the gate. The deputies will be accompanied by Phoenix Protection Corp. See SECURITY on Page 3 representatives.

Noise request considered By Nevonne McDaniels Staff writer Leavenworth city staff is working on the details of a special use permit that would allow Der Hinterhof to play live music outdoors until 11 p.m. on the three Saturdays during Oktoberfest. Der Hinterhof owner Steve Demarest requested the 1-hour extension of his current written agreement with the city to end outdoor music at 10 p.m. — for the festival only. “I know live music is a political hot potato at the moment. But as long as Der Hinterhof and the city can work together on a voluntary agreement level, we won’t push to play as See NOISE on Page 3

Man attacked at Lake Wenatchee

Bears, bears and more bears

By Nevonne McDaniels Staff writer

“She kept the bear at bay, yelling and screaming at the bear while trying to attend to her husband.” The wife of a man attacked by a bear John Chelminiak and his wife, Lynn Friday night at Lake Wenatchee is Semler, were at a Lake Wenatchee vabeing credited by Washington Depart- cation cabin when he went out Friday ment of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) evening to walk their dogs, a 5-pound officers with saving his life. lap dog and a 20-pound sheep dog. Cenci “She heard a ruckus and ran outside said Semler heard her husband yell and to see him lying on the ground,” said went to see what was wrong. Deputy Chief Mike Cenci of WDFW. “Frankly, her actions made all the

By Nevonne McDaniels Staff writer Photo submitted by Chris Kelly

Many bears have been spotted in the Leavenworth area lately, including this one at Blackbird Island near downtown. Chris Kelly reports the bear swam over to check it out him and his dog, but never seemed aggressive, just curious.

Two positions up for Nov. 1 vote By Nevonne McDaniels Staff writer

The Peshastin Community Council, the seven-member advisory group to Chelan County government and organizer of local activities and events, has two positions up for election Nov. 1. Nominations for Positions 1 and 2, currently held by Kathy Springer and June Bergren, are due Oct. 4. Candidates must be at least 18 years old and live in the Peshastin area. The election is set for 7 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Peshastin Legion Hall, at the group’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Other councilmembers are Chairman Steve Keene, Vice Chairman Doug Clarke, Brian Burnett, Tricia Ortiz and Cheryl Parsley. Bergren has been serving as treasurer and Springer as secretary. The election is, in part, due to revised bylaws approved by the council earlier this year, which called for changing how councilmembers are elected and staggering the number of terms up for election each year. The bylaws call for are two-year election rotation, so not all the positions are open at once. Springer said two positions are up for election this year, two more in November 2012 and three in 2014. All of the terms are for six years and all positions are

Along the Wenatchee . . . . . . B5 Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

See ATTACK on Page 4

Bear cub orphans find shelter

Peshastin residents can serve on council

Index

difference in the world,” Cenci said. Three state Fish and Wildlife enforcement officers, along with a biologist and a Karelian bear dog named Cash responded to the call between 8 and 9 p.m. By the time the wildlife officers arrived, the victim had been transported to the hospital and eventually was

considered at-large, which means candidates can come from anywhere within the designated Peshastin area. Keene said Bergren and Springer, whose terms are up for election this year, likely will run again, “but we are looking for other people to run as well,” he said. Votes will be cast by Peshastin community members attending the Nov. 1 meeting. “The council has been around for years,” Keene said. “We don’t have a budget. We’re not a taxing authority. We operate on donations. To keep costs down, we publicize our activities through the media and on our website,” Keene said. He serves as webmaster. “The people come to us to cast their votes. For the people in Peshastin, we are their voice.” The volunteer group’s biggest projects lately have been working the Chelan County Commission on developing the Peshastin Urban Growth Area. “That’s probably the biggest thing we’ve done. It was completed in 2008. And it’s an ongoing issue, with zoning in the area and sewer and utilities,” he said. The council also has played a role in getting the Port of Chelan to allow public access at the Peshastin Mill site. “We really serve as a go-between between the public and county government,” Keene said. “We take community

Community . . . . . . . . . . . 3 - 5 Church Directory . . . . . . . . . . 6 Life & Health . . . . . . . . . . . . B5 Neighbors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

We’re ALL over the web

See COUNCIL on Page 4

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Outdoors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B6 Recipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B5 Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 - 8

cubs could not be found. At that time, the agency had been working with two shelters, one in Western Washington The two orphaned bear cubs whose and one in Boise, Idaho, and both were mother was shot Sept. 9 on Icicle Road full. have found a new temporary home. Rich Beausoleil, the cougar and bear State Fish and Wildlife agents said specialist for state Fish and Wildlife, last week the cubs would have to be said they expanded their search and euthanized if a shelter to take the found a third shelter, in McCall, Idaho,

that had just one bear cub inhouse and room for the two orphans. The cubs were given a clean bill of health by a veterinarian in East Wenatchee, who did a full work up on the animals. “They were pretty healthy. He did See CUBS on Page 4

New Amberleaf production City sales tax plays on Leavenworth Echo means visitors pay for roads By Nevonne McDaniels Staff writer

Photo by Ian Dunn

This year’s Amberleaf Theatre production takes a hilarious look at stories and other items in the past Leavenworth Echo Newspaper. The shows opens Friday at Icicle River Middle School. By Ian Dunn Editor

River Middle School, takes its inspiration from stories and other items in the Leavenworth Echo newspaper. The new Amberleaf Theatre show Writer/choreographer Briar Hoper takes a page from The Leavenworth said the inspiration for doing a show Echo, literally. “Echoes of Leavenworth,” about The Echo came about after last which opens this weekend at Icicle

Find a way to make the tourists pay. That’s part of the strategy behind asking Leavenworth residents to approve a 0.2-percent sales tax increase this November. The tax would not apply to groceries or prescriptions. But it would apply to most items sold in Leavenworth’s shops, so visitors would be paying the majority of the tax, said Leavenworth City Councilwoman Cheri Farivar. “The whole idea is to spread out the costs,” she said. The money collected over the next 20 years would then be used to pay for street improvements and transportation projects that the city cannot currently include in its tight budget. The Leavenworth City Council approved the resolution to form a Transportation Benefit District on July 13. The district’s board, made up of the city council and mayor, held its first meeting July 29 to create bylaws and a finance plan. By state law, the new district has the authority to ask voters to approve a sales tax, with the money generated to be used for transportation projects. That request will be on the Nov. 2 general election ballot. The district also can implement a vehicle licensing fee, impact fees and

See AMBERLEAF on Page 7

Sheriff’s Report . . . . . . . . . . B6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 - 8

Classifieds Index Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . B1 - B4

Businesses & Services . B3 - B4 Health Care Directory . . . . . . B5 Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B2 Real Estate Guide . . . . . . . . . B1

215 14th St. • P.O. Box 39 Leavenworth, WA 98826 Phone: (509) 548-5286 www.leavenworthecho.com

See TAX on Page 3

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