The Newport Miner the voice of pend oreille county since 1901
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 117, Number 4 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages $1.00
‘It all comes down to a piece of land’ By Sophia Aldous Of The Miner
NEWPORT- It has been about a year since Pend Oreille County Library District (POCLD) Director Mandy Walters and the POCLD board announced that the Newport Public Library was looking for a new home. Architects Without Borders of Seattle, a non-profit, was on board to design a new facility, free of charge. Public meetings were held last spring in Newport, Cusick, Diamond Lake, and Ione. There were talks about the new library having a room for youth activities, business meetings, community programs—the community was asked to dream big. Then, when it came time to find a place to build, things got more complicated. “We’re at the frustrating phase,” Walters says. “That’s where the roadblock is. We’re land poor. Existing buildings aren’t big enough and any buildings that are big enough, we’d most likely have to tear down and rebuild.” Last year the district looked at a plot of land at the end of First Street and Calispel Avenue owned by the Newport School District and Pend Oreille County, but the school district is not looking to sell. Then the POCLD inquired about the acreage adjacent to Stratton Elementary School and Calispel Avenue. However, that land is owned by the City of Newport, which is including the space in its hotel feasibility study, which won’t be completed until sometime in summer 2019. “All of these lots have ended up falling through for other purposes,” Walters says. “Our architect can do nothing for us without a piece of property.” Until the POCLD knows where it can build, See POCLD, 2A
Miner photo|Sophia Aldous
Washington State Sen. Shelly Short, R. Addy, and state Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, visit with Know Your Government delegates Mattea Sigfrinius, Willow Vaughn, Peyton Distad and Abigail Ward at the Washington State Capitol building. Short and Kretz represent the 7th District Legislative District, which includes Pend Oreille County
These kids know their government
4-H program offers civic discourse By Sophia Aldous Of The Miner
OLYMPIA - Sometimes, the most succinct descriptions are the shortest. “Dude, that’s the capitol building,” marvels Burke Rees-Wright as the Know Your Government van filled with Pend Oreille County and Riverside kids pulls up to the Washington State Capitol Monday, Feb. 18. “That’s so awesome.”
Know Your Government (KYG) is a civic education program with a four-year rotating topic: the legislative system, the judicial system, elections and party platforms, and politics and the media. This year teens, or “delegates” explored the topic of politics and the media. The curriculum began in fall 2019 and culminated in the KYG Conference in Olympia, a four-day event where teenagers from counties all over Washington State gather to exchange ideas and present on varying topics and meet their state legislators. A 4-H program through the
By Don Gronning Of The Miner
See Fire, 10A
See students, 2A
Y.E.S. gets new executive director
Fire claims Cusick home CUSICK – Pend Oreille Fire District No. 4 crews were called out early Monday morning to fight a house fire at 413 Winchester St., near the Cusick schools, which were closed for President’s Day. District 4 Fire Chief Nick Knaack said crews arrived about 6 a.m. The home was engulfed in fire when they arrived. “The front end was fully involved,” Knaack said. The residents were home when the fire broke out. “The wife was up and noticed it,” Knaack said. “They got out all right.”
Washington State University Extension, there were 10 local teens that made the trip to Olympia last weekend. Juniors Mattea Sigfrinius, Brandon Hein, Willow Vaughn, sophomore Trevor Vaughan, and freshmen Abigail Ward, Burke Rees-Wright, Lindsey McElfish, Peyton Distad and Lulu Lukas. Riverside High School junior Aaron Simon was also part of the group, but was unable to attend the conference due to illness. “I like meeting up with Shelly,” Sigfrinius says of visiting with
By Sophia Aldous Of The Miner
NEWPORT – A small group gathered at Youth Emergency Services (Y.E.S.) of Pend Oreille County Friday, Feb. 15 to not so much say goodbye to former Executive Director Martina Coordes, but to celebrate a transition as she moves on and new Executive Director Sarah Phillips moves into the position. Coordes, who started working at Y.E.S. in September 2016 when Executive Director Judi Lee retired, has taken a position with the Newport School District as Student Assistance Professional, working in substance abuse prevention with junior high school and high school age students. Her first day on the job was Feb. 19. “I’m excited to work specifically
Courtesy photo|Gary Hunt
Firefighters were busy in Cusick Monday morning, Feb. 18, battling the Winchester Street blaze. Nobody was hurt and the cause is under investigation.
in prevention and one-on-one with youth, because that’s where my heart is at,” Coordes said. “The board is committed to Y.E.S.’s strategic plan and mission and I would just encourage the community to continue to support Sarah like they did with me.” Phillips, who previously volunteered with Bonner General Hospice Program, began her first day at Y.E.S. on Feb. 11. “Y.E.S. is losing a great talent, but the community is not,” YES board member Jan Searles said. “Because Martina is following her passion, we have the opportunity to have another great talent in Sarah. It’s absolutely a blessing that Pend Oreille County has these compassionate, resourceful women helping look out for our See Y.E.S., 2A
B r i e f ly Neighborhood watch meeting Feb. 23 PRIEST RIVER – A neighborhood watch meeting will be held Saturday, Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. at the River City Christian Fellowship Church, located at 381 Fourth St. in Priest River. The meeting is sponsored by the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office or and hosted by watch captain Kellie Risso, Rocky Wright and Judy Black. Members of the community watch are trained to recognize and report suspicious behavior. For more information call Kellie Risso at 208-255-8862.
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Learn the power of science NEWPORT – Learn about the science that is occurring in northeast Washington and northern Idaho. Tim Larkoski, who recently completed the process to become a Certified Silviculturalist for the Kalispel Tribe, will present a program on Silviculture Monday, Feb. 25, from 5:30-6:30 p.m., Silviculture is the practice of controlling the growth, composition, health, and quality of forests to meet its needs and values. It is no easy task and requires a rigorous academic process of review and certification. The presentation is the newest edition to the “Power of Science” series at Create Art Center. People are asked to
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Relay for Life Kickoff Party Feb. 28 NEWPORT – Pend Oreille Valley Relay for Life will have its Kickoff Party for the 2019 season, Thursday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. The party will be at the Newport Community Hospital Cafeteria. There will be door prizes, refreshments and information about our Relay for Life event, scheduled Aug. 9, 2019. The Theme for the American Cancer Society event this year is “Rock Out to Knock Out Cancer.” For more information, call (208) 627-6703 or email tivie1313@gmail.com
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Newport/Oldtown City Map On stands next week