Librarian arrested by Gary DeVon

HORNETS AND TIGERS COMPETE

FOUNDERS DAY KIDS GAMES

AT STATE QUALIFYIING MEETS

Thursday, May 29, 5:30 at the Tonasket Rodeo Grounds

See Pages B1-2

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School librarian arrested for sexual misconduct

PBR, dance and art

COMRADES REMEMBER

Faces charges for affair with 18-yearold student

is broken, it is the duty of the administration and school board to react swiftly and directly. “On May 19, Tonasket administration received substantiated evidence of misconduct by Mrs. KinKade. Mrs. KinKade, a classiBY GARY A. DE VON AND fied librarian at Tonasket Middle/ BRENT BAKER High School, was immediately put on administrative leave. A TONASKET – A Tonasket special board meeting was conHigh School Librarian was arrest- vened on May 21 to address this ed May 20 for sexual misconduct employee issue. Upon reviewing with a student 19 years her junior. the evidence, the board voted Elizabeth Ann KinKade, 37, unanimously to terminate Mrs. Tonasket, was KinKade effecarrested for sextive immediual misconduct ately. with a minor “At Tonasket after admitwe hold the ting to school trust of student officials, as well-being at a well as police, very high level. that she had I commend my been having administraan affair with tion and school an 18-year-old board for their Tonasket High direct and swift School Student. decisions on Although the this issue.” student was Turner said over 18 and he would have the affair took no further complace off school ment and that grounds, in the all informalibrarian’s home Elizabeth Ann KinKade tion regarding and in her car, the matter had state law makes been turned it clear that such conduct as a over to law enforcement. school employee is illegal. High school principal Jeff Her employment with the Hardesty also had no comment school district was terminated when contacted. Wednesday, May 21, according to According to the Tonasket Superintendent Paul Turner. Police Report, School “School employee/student rela- Superintendent Paul Turner and tionships are based on the trust KinKade met Monday, May 19, that a student’s well-being is of with Kinkade’s union representautmost importance,” Turner said tive present and she admitted to in a statement released by the dis- the affair. Later that day, Tonasket trict on Friday. “When this trust

SEE ARREST | PG A4

Quite a few changes this Founders Day weekend BY BRENT BAKER BBAKER@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

Gary DeVon/staff photo

Members of the American and Canadian Legions cast flowers and a wreath off the 12th Street Bridge and into the Similkameen River last Monday in remembrance of those who served as sea. The annual ritual is part of the Memorial Day Ceremonies that take place at the bridge and at Oroville’s Riverview Cemetery on Golden Road. For more photos see Page A4.

Oroville Council learns about Jet Ski Races

to race,” said Chinn. A year’s membership in the association is $45, according to OROVILLE – Raleigh Chinn Harnack. Chinn added the race and Roger Harnack, represent- committee would be getting insuring the Lake Osoyoos Cup Jet Ski ance for the event through the Races planned for this summer, association. “We’re excited about getting this appeared before the Oroville City Council at their Tuesday, May 20 thing as an inaugural event,” said Chinn. meeting. Harnack said “We antici“We anticipate 70 to Pateros, which pate seventy to 80 plus jet ski teams.... has a jet ski race, eighty plus jets ski teams,” said We’re excited about got the approvof their city Chinn, who is getting this thing as alcouncil to have heading up the an inaugural event.” tent camping at race committee the boat ramp for the Oroville Raleigh Chinn, Chairman, park. Lake Osoyoos Cup Chamber of “We are askCommerce. ing for camping, The racing is planned for June 28 and June 29 just tents in the park, and a place and will run from 10 a.m. until 3 to park an RV or two if we need p.m. daily, according to Chinn. He them,” said Harnack, who races “We are in communication with with his 12-year-old daughter. He said his daughter had been U.S. Customs and the Border Patrol regarding the race to the border,” racing for three years, starting Chinn said, referring to an all out when she was just nine-years-old. “We have multiple classes from endurance event that would take racers from Deep Bay Park to the beginners on up. The kids are really fun to watch,” he said. border and back again. He added that some of the top However, most of the races will be held just offshore and will be rated Canadian teams already conaround buoys on a one-half to sider Osoyoos Lake as a highly one-mile long course, according to sought after spot for jet ski races. “There were races in Penticton Harnack, who represents the Jet Ski and Skaha a couple of years ago and Association. “We have various classes that go at Kelowna. However, the Western around buoys. Anybody who owns Canadian races have moved a jet ski can participate, you just to Alberta and Saskatchewan,” have to join the Jet Ski Association SEE JET SKI | PG A4 BY GARY A. DE VON

MANAGING EDITOR

Kelly Denison/submitted photo

Kari Alexander (right), the Tonasket Founders Day Grand Marshal, will ride in Saturday’s parade with husband Matt in one of Lee Orr’s antique cars.

Kari Alexander to be front and center for a day as Grand Marshal BY BRENT BAKER BBAKER@GAZETTE-TRIBUNE.COM

TONASKET - It seems to be a recurring theme that some of Tonasket’s most honored citizens are also the people that least like to be at the center of attention. Kari Alexander, the 2014 Tonasket Founders Day Grand Marshal, fits that mold perfectly. Alexander admits to being a bit taken aback at being named Grand Marshal, meaning she will be riding in the parade waving at the crowd with her husband Matt, rather than behind the scenes organizing the parade, which is what she’s done

the past four years. “I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it,” Alexander says. “Bertha Wandler is going to be doing the parade management on Saturday; otherwise I’ve been doing it behind the scenes.” Since the Alexanders, including daughters Emma and Sara (now in sixth and fourth grades, respectively) moved to Tonasket from the Los Angeles area in 2005, Kari has been a diligent behind-the-scenes worker that has been a driving force behind a lot of what have become Tonasket staples.

SEE MARSHAL | PG A4

OKANOGAN VALLEY GAZETTE-TRIBUNE Volume 110 No. 22

SEE FOUNDERS | PG A4

INSIDE THIS EDITION

TONASKET - Tonasket’s 79th annual Founders Day weekend will see some significant changes this year, beginning Thursday, May 29, and highlighted the arrival of the Professional Bull Riders circuit Friday and Saturday, as well as Saturday night’s street dance in town. This year’s theme is, “Through a Child’s Eyes” to highlight the work being done to complete the Tonasket Water Ranch in Chief Tonasket Park and efforts to rebuild the Tonasket Municipal Swimming Pool. Kari Alexander was tabbed by the Tonasket Chamber of Commerce’s selection committee to serve as this year’s Tonasket Founders Day Parade and plans to ride in one of Lee Orr’s antique cars with husband Matt. Brisa Leep was chosen as Miss Tonasket Rodeo last October and has since been representing Tonasket in rodeos and other public appearances throughout the Northwest and Canada this spring. It all gets underway Thursday evening at the Tonasket Rodeo Grounds on Rodeo Road, just south of Tonasket, with a 5:30 p.m. barbecue, followed by kids’ games at around 6:00 p.m. Also running Thursday and Friday is the Library Board’s annual book sale from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. It will be held in the Tonasket City Council chambers at 209 S. Whitcomb Ave. All proceeds go for library needs. The Shane Proctor Invitational Rodeo, featuring the Professional Bull Riders and the World Class Bucking Horse Association, begins its Friday, May 30, session at 7:00 p.m. at the Tonasket Rodeo Grounds. Pre-sale tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for children ages 6-12 and free for anyone five or under and can be purchased at II Sisters, The Junction, or Tonasket Eagles 3002 in Tonasket; Les Schwab in Oroville; or Big R in Omak and Colville. At the gate, tickets will be $15 for adults and $10 for children 6-12. Gates open at 5 p.m. Saturday’s activities swing into action early, beginning with the Cowboy Breakfast at the Rodeo Grounds beginning at 8 a.m. The Tonasket Community 5K Community Fun Run, this year sponsored by the Tonasket/ Okanogan Valley Lions Club, will be run and/or walked at the Tonasket High School track beginning at 8 a.m. Vendors will begin opening on Third Street in town at 9 a.m. and will be there all day, until 9 p.m. A new event this year: Tonasket’s first Art in the Park, Saturday, May 31 at the Triangle Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Local

Letters/Opinion A5 Community A6-7 Founders Day A8-9

Cops & Courts A10 Sports B1,2,5 Schools B3

Classifieds/Legals B4-5 Real Estate B5 Obituaries B6

Page A4

Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune | May 29, 2014

FOUNDERS | FROM A1

arrest | FROM A1

artists will be selling their handcrafted items such as paintings, stained glass, woodworking and stone etching. For those participating in the parade, line-up begins at 9:30 a.m. with check-in located in the parking lot of the Wells Fargo Bank, 16 West 5th Street. Judging of floats will take place at 10:00 a.m., with the parade itself starting at 11 a.m. Saturday afternoon will play out differently than in recent years. The second session of the rodeo will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Rodeo Grounds, instead of in the evening. After the rodeo, there will be a street dance on Third Street (across the street from the Tonasket Visitor’s Center) beginning at 5:30 p.m. and running until 9 p.m.. Featured music will be by North Half and special guest Johannes Weber. There will be concessions and beer garden available.

Police and an Okanogan County Sheriff ’s Deputy responded to KinKade’s home after she called 911 about a domestic dispute with her husband, Mark Allen KinKade. After his wife informed KinKade about the affair he allegedly fired a shot from a 9mm handgun into the air and then left the scene. She said she was worried about his safety, though not her own. While the officers were taking her statement, Mark KinKade returned. They asked if he had a gun and he admitted he did, according to the police report. They ordered him to leave it where it was, but he reached into his pocket and pulled it out by the butt with two fingers and Tonasket Police Officer Audra Fuller confiscated it. Earlier the police had found a shell casing, but no indication the suspect had fired upon his wife, who was concerned that her husband was suicidal. She said he had PTSD after returning from Oso, Wash., where he had been doing clean up work at the landslide there. Deputy Terry Schrable released the suspect and suggested he get a mental health evaluation. The police report stated that Supt. Turner arrived on the scene and asked to speak with the librarian and advised the officers he may need officer assistance on the case afterwards. Turner returned and told the officers she had an affair with a student and that he wanted the Tonasket Police to investigate the matter since the school was within the city limits. The superintendent then left. At one point Mark KinKade asked to get a drink of water and while in the house, though not left alone, secretly took a set of truck keys and left the scene. Deputy Schrable pursued him and turned him around near Ellisforde. KinKade was placed under arrest for discharging a firearm in public. It was during this incident that Elizabeth KinKade first told the officers of her affair with the student. She said she had believed

Brent Baker/staff photo

Miss Tonasket Rodeo Brisa Leep will be busy hosting her home rodeo Tonasket Founders Day weekend.

MARSHAL | FROM A1 Her most current projects involve arranging and funding the annual visits by the Missoula Children’s Theater, which builds elaborate productions in dayslong visits using Tonasket School District students. She’s also one of the coaches for the Tonasket Elementary School’s Math is Cool teams, a fourth and fifth grade academic competition that this year both qualified for the state finals in just their second year of existence. “I’ve kind of settled into doing Missoula Children’s Theater year round,” she says, “and I’m loving the Math is Cool right now. At various times over the past eight-plus years, she’s served

as president of the Tonasket Cooperative Pre-school, served as Tonasket Chamber of Commerce Secretary, Vice President and President (“I went to the wrong meeting,” she jokes); worked for a couple of years with Americorps; served as the Tonasket PTO President; and through the PTO arranged the fourth grade classes’ annual Salmon Festival trip. Somewhere in there, she’s also found time to work her “real” job as a paraprofessional at Tonasket Elementary School while working toward her Masters Degree in Education. “By this time next year, I’ll be a certified teacher,” she says. Kari Alexander says her family moved here after enjoying the

area while visiting her grandfather, who was raised in Tonasket. Once they arrived, she realized that the best way to ensure that some of the things she enjoyed about the big city would happen here in Tonasket would be to take them on herself. “If I wanted things for the kids, I needed to be someone to step up and do it,” she says. “In L.A. things just kind of happen whether you’re there or not. In a small town, if you want something to happen you kind of have to step up and do it.” And sometimes when you do that, you end up publicly honored and recognized for your efforts, whether you prefer to stay behind the scenes or not.

“I think it’s awesome,” said Councilman Ed Naillon.

in and donated to the event,” he said.

Project Reports Rod Noel, superintendent of Public Works, was asked to report on the various city projects underway. “The North End Reservoir Project is underway and work has resumed. As of yesterday (Monday, May 19) the tank crew had got the floor together. I expect by the end of this week the tank should be fully constructed,” said Noel. “It looks like the crew that is putting it together knows what it is doing.” Noel said the waterline for the Central and Cherry Street project should also be installed by the end of that week as well. “It is on schedule and the crew should start doing the pavement grinding by next Tuesday (May 27),” said Noel. “I think they’re doing a fairly decent job... especially those new ADA ramps.”

Narcotics Task Force The city received a letter requesting Oroville’s continued participation in the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force operational agreement. “Next year they want $2000, that’s twice as much,” said Councilman Jon Neal, questioning the increase and adding that Omak’s fee had only gone up 18 percent. “That means we’re going to get twice the attention,” quipped Mayor Spieth. Chief Warnstaff said the task force was not getting the outside funding it had been and was looking to its members to help make up the difference. He also said Oroville does not lend an officer to the task force and that might be why they are being asked to pay more. “Looking at the hard drug statistics startled me... heroin use is up by 75 percent,” said Warnstaff. “Considering the list of services, I think it is worth it... our kids are worth it,” said Councilman Naillon.

Jet Ski | FROM A1 Harnack said. “The difference between us and the hydros is that for the jet ski races the pits are open to anyone as long as there is no drinking or smoking. Also, unlike the hydros we run whether it is a sunny day or pouring rain... and waves, they live for those conditions.” Chinn said the Oroville Chamber had already paid the park use fee. Mayor Chuck Spieth suggested the fee be refunded as the recent blues fest was allowed to forgo the fee for that community event and the council agreed. Harnack said he expected between 30 and 40 racers would want to camp at the park. The council approved tent camping at the park for racers, as well as $500 from the city’s Hotel/ Motel Tax funds for advertising which is part of the money that had been set aside for the annual Can Am Apple Cup Powerboat Races which have been cancelled for this year. They also approved a request for an ambulance and crew to be on standby with the understanding that it may have to leave if called to respond to an emergency elsewhere. Debra Donahue, Oroville Ambulance Coordinator questioned Harnack and Chinn about whether there were people that could respond to a water rescue and they assured her that there were. “I feel we need to have someone that is trained to get them out of the water,” she said. Chinn and Harnack said there is no charge to watch and it should be a good draw to the area and the races should prove to be an economic benefit to the town. “For one thing the racers will by as much gas as you can sell in town,” said Harnack. “It should also be good for the restaurants, grocery stores, the Pastime and the Plaza.” The mayor and council all expressed their approval of the races.

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Rally at the Border Blues Oroville Police Chief Clay Warnstaff, a member of the Rally at the Border Blues Fest Committee, reported on the event which had taken place the previous weekend. “There were roughly 225 tickets sold and we are happy about that... we were hoping for 500,” he said, adding that the weather probably played into the lower numbers. “It went well there were no incidents, no DUIs. These were pretty good people I think,” said Warnstaff, referring to those that attendance, many of whom were participants in the Run for the Border charity motorcycle ride from Wenatchee. “Hats off to the community for supporting us... everyone jumped

Angry Customer There was also some discussion about an angry utilities customer who was rude to an employee at city hall. He also called the city clerk and used profanity. In addition the customer had come to the council chambers, but left just before the meeting began. “I think if something like this happens Clay (Chief Warnstaff) should be called,” said Mayor Spieth. “The language he used could get him charged with disorderly conduct and taken away to jail,” said the police chief.

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Early season hours Fri~Mon 8 ~ 7 Tues~Thurs 11 ~6 Biscuits n gravy, pastries, hot drinks, hot dogs hamburgers, nachos, espresso, cold drinks hard ice-cream and more! Closed during bad weather. Hours will be extended as summer arrives.

she had not broken the law since the student was nearly 19-yearsold and the affair took place off school grounds. Officers allowed her to be taken by her sister to the North Valley Hospital for a mental health evaluation. On Tuesday, May 20, Officer Fuller questioned the student at the police station and he too admitted to the affair, saying the librarian and he had intercourse five times, all off school grounds. Fuller called Elizabeth KinKade to the police station where she made a statement, again admitting to the affair, which she said had been going on for one to two months. Officer Fuller arrested KinKade for sexual misconduct with a minor in the first degree and she was booked into Okanogan County Jail at 8:18 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20. She was released on her own personal recognizance on Wednesday. She was scheduled for arraignment in Okanogan County Superior Court on Monday, June 21. union representative present and she admitted to the affair. Later that day, Tonasket Police and an Okanogan County Sheriff ’s Deputy responded to KinKade’s home after she called 911 about a domestic dispute with her husband, Mark Allen KinKade. After his wife informed KinKade about the affair he allegedly fired a shot from a 9mm handgun into the air and then left the scene. She said she was worried about his safety, though not her own. While the officers were taking her statement, Mark KinKade returned. They asked if he had a gun and he admitted he did, according to the police report. They ordered him to leave it where it was, but he reached into his pocket and pulled it out by the butt with two fingers and Tonasket Police Officer Audra Fuller confiscated it. Earlier the police had found a shell casing, but no indication the suspect had fired upon his wife, who was concerned that her husband was suicidal. She said he had PTSD after returning from Oso, Wash.,

where he had been doing clean up work at the landslide there. Deputy Terry Schrable released the suspect and suggested he get a mental health evaluation. The police report stated that Supt. Turner arrived on the scene and asked to speak with the librarian and advised the officers he may need officer assistance on the case afterwards. Turner returned and told the officers she had an affair with a student and that he wanted the Tonasket Police to investigate the matter since the school was within the city limits. The superintendent then left. At one point the Mark KinKade asked to get a drink of water and while in the house, though not left alone, secretly took a set of truck keys and left the scene. Deputy Schrable pursued him and turned him around near Ellisforde. KinKade was placed under arrest for discharging a firearm in public. It was during this incident that Elizabeth KinKade first told the officers of her affair with the student. She said she had believed she had not broken the law since the student was nearly 19-yearsold and the affair took place off school grounds. Officers allowed her to be taken by her sister to the North Valley Hospital for a mental health evaluation. On Tuesday, May 20, Officer Fuller questioned the student at the police station and he too admitted to the affair, saying the librarian and he had intercourse five times, all off school grounds. Fuller called Elizabeth KinKade to the police station where she made a statement, again admitting to the affair, which she said had been going on for one to two months. Officer Fuller arrested KinKade for sexual misconduct with a minor in the first degree and she was booked into Okanogan County Jail at 8:18 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20. She was released on her own personal recognizance on Wednesday. She was scheduled for arraignment in Okanogan County Superior Court on Monday, June 2.

WE REMEMBER

After a wreath is laid (above) at the grave of Pvt. Hodges, the soldier that Oroville’s Hodge’s Post of the American Legion is named after, the canon was fired and taps were played Monday morning. Post Commander Lou Wilson, Sgt. at Arms Vicki Hart and Walt Hart at the podium. Vicki Hart read “In Flander’s Field” and “Freedom isn’t Free” before placing the wreath at Hodge’s Grave in Oroville’s Riverview Cemetery during Memorial Day Ceremonies. Gary DeVon/staff photos

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