030415newportminer by The Newport Miner

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The Newport Miner THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

www.pendoreillerivervalley.com

Volume 112, Number 5 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages 75¢

Riverview camp growing with new lodge BY DON GRONNING AND DESIREÉ HOOD OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – Riverview Bible Camp is in the middle of construction on a 13,000 square foot building that will allow the camp to host more guests in the coming years.

‘We want the building to last 80-100 years. We are crossing our t’s and dotting our i’s.’ Rory Sinclair

Campus Director

The camp has 10 employees, six full time and four interns, who are doing a large portion of the construction on the new building. They have also had volunteers and contractors helping. During the summer and

busier months, they employ about 35 people, who mostly live at the camp. They broke ground on the facility in November 2013, but permitting issues stopped the pouring of the cement foundation until November 2014. They plan on having a June grand opening on the Ponderosa Lodge. Currently the workers are framing in the cabin section of the large one story building, with plumbing and electrical work being finished up. They are installing the fire suppression system also. “It’s been quite the process,” Campus Director Rory Sinclair said. “We’re going to make it happen.” The new lodge will have 10 cabin rooms that can hold up to 13 people. It will have a meeting room and dining room with kitchen. It will have 13,000 square feet on a single level and can accommodate groups from 15 to 130 people. County

MINER PHOTO|DESIREÉ HOOD

Rory Sinclair, campus director, looks at the blueprints of the Ponderosa Lodge on Saturday, a 13,000-square-foot building being constructed at Riverview Bible Camp on Highway 20.

SEE CAMP, 2A

PUD charges for Internet port BY DESIREÉ HOOD OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – The Pend Oreille Public Utility District charges $40 to the retail service providers for their fiber Internet port fee. Other port fees for IPTV and VoIP services are $5, regardless of the service provider. The retail service provider (RSP) then charges the customer for the Internet or other services. “(The RSPs) each

determine the charge to the customer for Internet services, IPTV service and VoIP phone service,” IT Director Rhonda Thomas said. “IPTV is an expensive product to deliver so the charge by the RSP to the customer is much more than this of course.” Thomas said if a customer has 100 Mb/s Internet service using the PUD fiber, they charge the RSP $40 for the port. The RSPs can sell up to two ports for home security systems or

Legislation pending that could alter state’s wolf management efforts

miscellaneous uses and up to three for IPTV and video ports. She said the PUD would charge $5 to the RSPs for the additional ports. This means a customer can have Internet service with one company and television with another company and they will not have to pay a double Internet port fee. “We charge $40 for the Internet port,” Thomas

BY COOPER INVEEN, REPORTER WNPA OLYMPIA NEWS BUREAU

OLYMPIA – As Washington’s gray wolf population continues to grow, so do concerns from those living in the areas of the state most affected by their return. “There’s two sides to this issue, and it kind of boils down to either you like them or you don’t,” said Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, who co-sponsored several wolf-related bills this legislative session. Seven bills relating to Washington’s gray wolves have been introduced to the 2015

SEE PORT, 2A

Miner newspaper business sold NEWPORT – For just the eighth time in its 117-year history, the newspaper business that includes The Newport Miner and Gem State Miner has changed hands. Fred and Susan Willenbrock announced the sale of the business they Mullen have owned for almost 30 years on Monday. J. Louis Mullen of Wyoming took over that day. “We aren’t retiring, just taking the opportunity to do something else,” Fred

Willenbrock said Monday as he stepped down from the publisher’s chair. “Louie Mullen is an experienced independent community newspaper operator. We are confident he and the great staff at The Miner will keep the strong tradition and high standards going.” The Willenbrocks, both 62, said they will continue to live on Diamond Lake and will take some time off to get their affairs in order and relax before pursuing other opportunities. “Fred and Susan have

SEE WOLF, 9A

EDC doesn’t need to elect officers after all Appoints two to vacant positions BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

CUSICK – The Pend Oreille County Economic Development Council found it didn’t have to hold officer elections, as the bylaws had not been updated to reflect the proper terms for the officers. The EDC held its annual meeting Thursday, Feb. 26 at the Cusick Community Center. EDC chairman Lonnie Johnson’s term as president was not up, as previously thought.

Fred and Susan Willenbrock

SEE EDC, 2A

SEE MINER, 10A

B R I E F LY

Daylight Savings time begins Sunday

NEWPORT – Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 8 at 2 a.m. Set your clocks one hour later. Firefighters also suggest changing the batteries in your smoke detectors. DST ends Sunday, Nov. 1.

Priest River Career Day March 6 PRIEST RIVER – Priest River Lamanna High School will hold its bi-annual career day Friday, March 6, starting at 8:30 a.m.

Legislature, with four surviving for continuing consideration in their respective chambers this week. Together they could have a dramatic affect on Washington’s wolf-recovery policy. Much of the wolf debate stems from an uneven distribution of wolves across the state. Ten of Washington’s 14 wolf packs reside in the state’s northeast corner, and the two largest recent attacks on livestock have both occurred in Stevens County. While Washington is on track to meet the state’s total wolf population objectives, there’s a long way to go

CLASSIFIEDS

There will be 28 local businesses and volunteers who will speak with students about their educational and career experiences. Five of the volunteers are student alumni. In addition to individual sessions with volunteers and businesses, 15 different colleges, technical schools, as well as representatives from the four branches of the military will attend and answer questions.

Library’s wine and microbrew event this Saturday PRIEST RIVER – The Friends of the West Bonner Library District’s 14th annual Wine and Microbrew Tasting and 7B-8B

Auction will include lots of goods and services from local businesses, handcrafted items, gift baskets, a Kindle Fire, and tickets to the 2015 NCAA Division Women’s Basketball Tournament and the Best of Broadway production of “Camelot.” The event will be held Sunday, March 8 at 4 p.m., at the Beardmore Building in downtown Priest River. Tickets can be purchased at the Priest River Library or the Blanchard Library. For more information or to check ticket availability, email library@westbonnerlibrary.org or call 208-448-2207 and choose option 3.

OPINION

RECORD

SPORTS

LIFE

POLICE REPORTS

OBITUARIES

PUBLIC NOTICES

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| MARCH 4, 2015

The Newport Miner Serving Pend Oreille County, WA

Michelle Nedved General Manager

J. Lindsay Guscott Advertising Consultant

Cindy Boober

Advertising Consultant

Beth Gokey

Advertising Consultant

Don Gronning Reporter

Desireé Hood Reporter

Pandi Gruver Production

Jeanne Guscott Office Manager

DEADLINES

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We welcome letters to the editor. Letters should be typed and submitted to The Miner and Gem State Miner office no later than 5 p.m. Friday for publication the following Wednesday. No letter will be published unless it is signed by at least one individual, even if the letter represents the view of a group. The letter must include a telephone number and address for confirmation of authenticity. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. The Miner reserves the right to edit to conform to our publication style, policy and libel laws. Political letters will not be published the last issue prior an election. Letters will be printed as space allows. HOW TO CONTACT US

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THE NEWPORT MINER

EDC: Projects $264,000 in resources, including carryover FROM PAGE 1

“We cleaned up the bylaws a bit,” EDC director Jamie Wyrobek said. She said the board had set the terms in 2011, but didn’t add them to the bylaws that were distributed before the meeting. They spent some of the annual meeting doing that. “I really thought I had three, two-year terms,” Johnson said. Instead there are two, three-year terms. While that is still six years, Johnson said he forgot the board reset the clock for the terms. Johnson says he was reelected to his second term in 2013. That term won’t expire until the end of 2016. The board had two officer vacancies – for secretary and vice chair. Pend Oreille County commissioner Mike Manus had previously filled the secretary position. Because of other commitments, he left the EDC and was replaced by county commissioner Steve Kiss. Terry Knapton, director of mentoring and training for the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, retired. He had been serving as vice chairman. The tribe appointed Ray Pierre to his

position on the EDC and the board appointed Pierre to fill out Knapton’s term as vice chairman. Neither Pierre nor Kiss attended Thursday’s meeting, but Wyrobek said both had agreed to serve as officers. The board also adopted a budget at the meeting. The EDC anticipates spending $164,000 in 2015. Most of that will be for salary and benefits for Wyrobek. She earns a base salary of $47,063 annually. That reflects a 1.5 percent increase from the previous year. Johnson would like to see Wyrobek’s pay increased to $55,642, the amount in the budget. “I hope to convince the commissioners,” Johnson said. He asked this year, but the commissioner only agreed to a 1.5 percent increase. While the EDC employs Wyrobek, she is considered a contracted county employee, eligible for health insurance and retirement benefits through the county. Johnson asked that $19,475 be budgeted for benefits. The EDC budgeted $8,000 for travel and training. Rent for the EDC office

amounts to $5,400 a year. Utilities cost $1,000, telephones and Internet $3,000 and office supplies $1,200. The EDC budgets $1,200 for advertising, $4,500 for professional services and $500 for dues and subscriptions. The EDC anticipates spending $64,084 on projects in 2015, including $2,701 on projects approved the previous year. The EDC will spend $5,000 on workforce development through the Kalispel Career Training Center and $30,000 for marketing. There is also $26,084 budgeted for miscellaneous projects. The EDC projects $264,000 in resources, including a $109,000 carryover. Johnson says the EDC tries to keep about a year’s operating expense in reserve. The EDC anticipates receiving $105,000 in .09 money from the county and $30,000 in Associate Development Organization (ADO) funding from the state. The EDC is the official ADO for the county. The EDC also budgeted $20,000 in member support. The EDC has no

formal dues structure. The bylaws say “each member shall pay annual dues as established by the board of directors,” but annual dues were never established so the current board does not pay dues. Individual entities give the EDC money. The Port of Pend Oreille gave the EDC $5,000 last year but received $5,000 for their locomotive shop expansion, EDC member

and port commissioner Bob Shanklin said. They will likely contribute $5,000 this year. The Kalispel Tribe contributed $5,000 last year, Johnson said. The PUD also contributed $5,000, as did Seattle City Light. Pend Oreille County contributed the most. In addition to the $105,000 in .09 money the county gives the EDC, the county also gave $30,000 for the marketing plan.

PORT: Video and VoIP is bundled monthly FROM PAGE 1

said. “If that customer requests additional ports from an RSP, regardless of whether it is the same RSP they take the Internet service from, the charge is $5 for up to three additional IPTV/Video ports and $5 for a 2Mb/s miscellaneous port.” The video and VoIP monthly charge is a bundled rate for one to three ports, and they can be used for either video or VoIP. Internet service is not offered over these ports. This policy has been in effect since March 2012, Thomas said, when the Standard Class Service section of the CNS Policies and Fees was introduced. Thomas said if a retail customer is not taking a 100 Mb/s Internet port and wants other service, such as Video only, the charge is $30 for the ports.

CAMP: Paintball course, zip line, climbing wall all part of camp FROM PAGE 1

commissioner Mike Manus said this is most likely the second largest single story building in the county, next to Safeway at more than 40,000 square feet. “It’s all self contained so in the winter, you don’t have to go outside,” Rory Sinclair said. “We want the building to last 80-100 years. We are crossing our t’s and dotting our i’s.” The lower section of camp, on the Pend Oreille River side of Highway 20, can hold up to 750 guests. The camp will host groups as small as 10-12 people and can go up to about 900 guests once the new building is completed. There are two separated dining areas and two meeting rooms on the lower campus to accommodate separate bookings as well. Sinclair said they were always having problems with smaller groups wanting to rent the camp but there was no room to accommodate them. Sinclair said they can now double book groups. The activities on the upper camp will mirror the lower camp, Sinclair said, including volleyball and basketball courts and an archery range. “We can have two camps at a time,” Sinclair said. A paintball course was installed about 10 years ago, with a zip line added about six years ago. The camp also offers high and low rope courses, a 40-foot outdoor climbing wall and an indoor climbing wall, a 60-foot vertical playground, a four-person repelling tower, a disc golf course and a horse-shoe pit. They have water activities such as the Blob, in-water trampoline, a heated pool and canoes. The 40-foot blue park slide has adorned the Bible camp grounds since the 1980s. “It was brought originally for the 1974 World’s Fair,” Sinclair said.

COURTESY PHOTO|TIM MASON

Riverview Bible Camp is expanding with the addition of the Ponderosa Lodge, which will hold up to 130 people. The camp is hoping for a June 1 grand opening.

Hershel Gustafson left a portion of his estate to the camp when he passed away in November 2012. He also donated the funds for the camp to build the tunnel under the highway about three years ago. Riverview Bible Camp also received a grant from the Murdoch Foundation, and with various other smaller donations, they broke ground. Sinclair said the contractors working on the project with the camp staff has been making good deals and donating some of their time to the project. “It’s a little spendy but we were able to do it through the generosity of people who believe in the camp,” Sinclair said. The camp was founded by Fourth Memorial Church. The town of Jared was for sale in 1959, so the church purchased the town for $22,500 and formed the camp. The church wanted a place for all

churches and groups, such as schools, family reunions and weddings, to have a place for a weekend getaway. It was open to the public from the beginning, and Sinclair said groups come from all over the Inland Northwest to utilize the camp. “We’ve really tried to hold to that,” Sinclair said. The future of the camp is focused on finishing the building. Dreams down the road for the camp could include an indoor aquatics center, but Sinclair said nothing is being planned. “Right now, we are really focused on getting this done,” Sinclair said. MINER PHOTO|DESIREÉ HOOD

Right: Rory Sinclair, center in red, is the campus director and is heading the construction on the Ponderosa Lodge, scheduled for completion in June. The 10 camp employees are all involved with the construction of the lodge.

T H I S W E E K ’ S F O R E C A ST

The Miner Online www.pendoreillerivervalley.com MOBILE EDITION www.pendoreillerivervalley. com/m.htm FACEBOOK

www.facebook.com/ MinerNews TWITTER

Wednesday Thursday Sunny

Partly cloudy

47/23

52/27

Friday

Saturday

Partly cloudy

56/28

58/29

Sunday Partyly cloudy

58/32

L A ST W E E K

Monday Sunny

60/34

Tuesday Partly cloudy

61/38

Source: National Weather Service and Accuweather.com, Newport, WA

www.twitter.com/MinerNews

L A ST YEAR

Feb. 25 26 27 28 1 2 3

High Low Prec. Snow 47 22 - 49 21 - 40 27 - 49 24 - 48 18 - 43 18 - trace 41 16 Source: - Albeni Falls- Dam

This week last year was cold and wet. Highs mostly stayed in the 30s and 40s, with one day reaching 50. Lows remained in the 20s and 30s and the area received more than 1.5 inches of rain.

THE MINER

MARCH 4, 2015 |

Stratton, Sadie spring cleaning underway BY DESIREÉ HOOD OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – The Newport School District maintenance department is busy during the spring-like weather the area is having, Scott Armstrong, maintenance supervisor said to the board of directors, Tuesday, Feb. 24, during the regular board meeting. The Sadie Halstead Middle School gymnasium is getting painted this weekend, changing the color scheme to match the high school and “get rid of all the yellow.” “We are trying to move away from yellow in gyms,” Superintendent Dave Smith said. “It will be nice.” The high school colors were chosen to help the younger students feel like they are in high school, Armstrong said. “We’ll keep all the graphics that are there and just paint around them,” Armstrong said. Stratton Elementary is getting exterior landscaping improvements, with the bushes in front of the building already removed. He said some areas will be replanted and other areas may turn into concrete. “They have lived their life,” Armstrong said. Armstrong added that the

maintenance department Crouch said the district appreciates their new snow- will spend about $6,218 to pushing tractor. It is heated ‘We think it’s kind and makes the job faster, Armstrong said. of a magic tractor “We think it’s kind of a magic tractor because it because it scared scared the snow away for the winter,” Armstrong said the snow away for before Monday’s snowfall. the winter.’ Armstrong has updated the Accident Prevention Program (APP), which Scott Armstrong includes a catalogue of Maintenance supervisor all of the material safety data sheets (MSDS) that purchase sand bells with is required by law for all the same grant. Sand bells chemicals used in the are a sand-filled neoprene district. The APP is an bag with grips that are OSHA requirement. The replacing dumbbells in PE program identifies hazards classes and fitness studios and offers solutions, and across the U.S. there are four manuals on Crouch said the equipdistrict properties, with one ment would be used at all of in each building and one the schools but mainly used in Armstrong’s office. It at the middle and elemenhad not been updated since tary schools. Superintendent Dave Smith Superintendent Smith joined the district. said the district is hiring “I have a material safety people to replace the emdata sheet in every buildployees retiring at the end of ing,” Armstrong said. “It’s the year. going to be online soon.” Crouch is retiring, along Business Manager Tom with food service director Crouch said the schools are Judy Henshaw, and principurchasing miscellaneous pals Terri Holmes and Janet equipment under the Physi- Burcham. In addition, there cal Education Program are about three teachers (PEP) grant. The equipment also retiring. cost $22,998 and will inThe business manager clude circuit training bands and food service director that attach to walls for positions are open currently, the students to use during with applications accepted exercising. until March 13.

“We have a couple applications for Judy’s position,” Smith said. “Tom’s is a special niche out there.” The principals will be hired through a process of a screening committee, interview committee, parent community forum and a student forum for the middle school position. These positions also close March 13. Applicants will be screened March 16-18. The Stratton Elementary position will interview March 27, and the middle school position will be on March 30. Smith said they have had some phone calls regarding the positions, so there is some interest. “The nice thing is, on this side of the state, I haven’t seen one elementary or middle school position,” Smith said. He said there are about five middle school positions and 20 elementary positions open throughout the state. The teaching positions will open internally before being posted for outside applications. “We are definitely going to be bringing in some new staff,” Smith said. Board chairwoman April Owen and directors Jim Brewster and Keith Cordes are up for reelection in 2015. Candidates must file for reelection May 11-15.

Drug offender sentence for felon with gun BY DON GRONNNING OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – A 23-yearold man with a felony record who wrecked his car with a rifle in it was given a Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (DOSA) after he pleaded guilty to first degree illegal possession of a firearm and negligent driving. Solomon K. Monkiewicz had a prior burglary conviction, and is prohibited from being around firearms, so when he wrecked his car Sept. 13 on Westside Calispell Road, and the car had a rifle in it, he was charged with the felony firearms charge and the gross misdemeanor driving charge. Monkiewicz made his plea in Pend Oreille County Superior Court Thursday, Feb. 19 and was sentenced a week later, Thursday, Feb. 26, by Superior Court Judge Pat Monasmith. Prosecuting attorney Jeremy Schmidt said Monkiewicz was evaluated and found to qualify for the DOSA, in which he will receive three to six months of inpatient chemical dependency treatment and 24 months probation. Schmidt said that chemical dependency treatment

was best for someone his age and with his record. Defense attorney Robin McCroskey said the DOSA was in the community’s interest as well. She said it would be Monkiewicz’s first time in treatment. Monasmith asked what happens if Monkiewicz left treatment early. McCroskey said he would face the full 24 month sentence. Monkiewicz said he was sorry for what he did. He said he lost his car, nearly killed his dog and himself. He said he wanted to turn his life around. Monasmith said it could have easily been a fatal wreck. “It’s like an old country western song,” he said. He agreed to go along with

A Big Thank You! Dr. Clay Kersting and the Newport Hospital staff and nurses- Bev, Pam, Kylie, Deb, Jan, Patty, and Ami!- for their very caring and professional assistance during the arrival of our newest family member, Emery Jeflyn Drum

Harly and Wendy Drum And grandparents, Dave and Kate Drum

the plea deal, noting the case was almost ideal for a DOSA. He told Monkiewicz he is an addict and needs treatment. When he finishes treatment, he should not come back to this area, Monasmith said. “You need to strike out on your own,” he said. “If you return, you’re playing with fire.” According to the statement of probable cause Monkiewicz came

around a corner and lost control of the vehicle, which hit a burm and went airborne and landed on the roof. Monkiewicz was taken to the hospital following the wreck. He admitted to knowing the gun was in the car, but said it belonged to a relative. In addition to the DOSA and probation, Monkiewicz was ordered to pay $1,100 in legal financial obligations.

COURTESY PHOTO|ROB OWEN

Sure sign of spring The first buttercup of the year was brought into Owen’s Monday, March 2. It was found by Keaton and Kinsley Shults, ages 4 and 2, just south of Newport on Saturday, Feb. 28.

Newport drivers license office hours cut BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – People who need to use the Department of Licensing office in Newport will now have less time to do so after hours were reduced to 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The office is only open on Wednesday. The hours changed Feb. 25. The former hours were 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The office is closed noon to 12:30 p.m. According to Dave Bennett, of the Department of Licensing, Newport was one of two locations to have hours reduced on the one day they are open. Hours at the office in Davenport were also reduced. The change was made for employee safety, Bennett said. It was an administrative decision and no public hearings

were required. One person staffs the Newport office. The change was employee driven, he said. That person changes periodically, but most commute from Spokane and there was concern about driving home in the dark, Bennett said. The office is located at 1600 West First St. You can get a new drivers license or ID card, renew a license or ID card, make changes to your name or address, get a copy of your driving record and take a commercial drivers license knowledge test at the Newport office. You can’t take a driving test or get an enhanced drivers license or ID card or make changes to an enhanced drivers license or ID card at the Newport office.

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Supporting Teens in Making Healthy Choices

Matt Bellace Psychologist Professional Speaker Stand-up Comedian JOIN US FOR FREE

Laugh and Learn with Matt at The Cutter Theatre March 10th at 7:00pm in Metaline Falls. This event is open to the community Light refreshments will be served For more information on Matt check out his website MattBellace.com or Call Pend Oreille County Counseling Services at 509.447.5651 Presented by Pend Oreille Youth Task Force and Drug Free Communities Grant

| MARCH 4, 2015

Viewpoint

OUR OPINION

THE MINER

LETTE RS POLICY

It’s time to pass the torch

lmost 30 years ago, I wrote my first editorial for The Miner. When I wrote the following, I was 34 years old and not thinking about the end – but that day has come. I wrote: “Becoming publisher of a community newspaper is like becoming a guardian. It’s only temporary, with a beginning and end. And during your time, you can only hope the newspaper serves the community, readers and advertisers.” For all these years I have guided this business with those simple principles. Today, when I stepped out of the driver seat for the last time, I can say I believe I had the best job in the world and have no regrets about how I spent half of my life. Running a newspaper business in a hardscrabble rural town hasn’t been an easy task from the beginning. I wrote in that first editorial: “One of the first men I met was leaving town. He said he had lived here for 20 years and loves it; this is a great place to live, but he had to find a job somewhere else.” Six hundred people were laid off at the Key Tronic plant and the paper-mill-at-Usk dream had collapsed. I had a 2-year-old son, a wife, an old station wagon and a community newspaper in a region that had 20 percent unemployment. I had found my dream job. Here I could make a difference as a community newspaperman. Like The Miner publishers before me, and many others in the community, I worked hard to improve the economy and quality of life. Although there is still much to do, things are better. The Miner staff worked hard to record and explain your world every week. We could have been better at times but we never quit trying. While doing this I was always inspired by the courage and dedication of our community leaders, volunteers, business owners, young people and parents that were at the heart of the stories. Under my watch, 30 years of your lives will never be forgotten – the records are in The Miner. Currently we have one of the best community newspaper staffs in the country who all believe in the importance of their work and love their community. There have been many other Miner staffers who have gone on to make their fame and fortunes elsewhere and I will never forget all their contributions to this valiant team effort each week. The most important contributor to the success of this newspaper has been my wife and partner, Susan. Although she started working life as a teacher, she has become one of the best newspaperwomen I know. I believe community newspapers have a bright future. The new owner, Louie Mullen, will be the next guardian of The Miner. He has all the skills and energy to take it successfully into the future. Thank you for letting me produce your newspaper – I’m going to miss it.

--Fred Willenbrock

Federal government has responsibility to forested counties Washington state’s forested counties face a life of economic and budgetary uncertainty, from the lack of management of surrounding federal forest lands to the possible end of payments under the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. Both issues are interconnected. Because the federal government promised to harvest timber and share timber receipts with counties, the SRS program has helped offset the loss of this revenue as federal timber harvests declined dramatically 20 years ago. The crisis was made clear as the federal government announced reduced payment levels to counties for roads and schools following the end of SRS subsidies. Absent a renewal of the program, payments to Washington state counties will drop from $21.5 million to $2.1 million. This is a crushing blow to those whose lands are dominated by federal ownership. Many county budgets, already cut to the bone, now require further reductions to basic services. Forested counties

also can’t count on a growing national economy to lift local revenues. Most of our communities G U E ST haven’t reO P I N I O N covered like our urban MIKE MANUS counterPEND OREILLE parts due to COUNTY the heavy COMMISSIONER federal DISTRICT 2 ownership and the loss NICK SMITH of forestry EXECUTIVE jobs over DIRECTOR, the past HEALTHY two decades. FORESTS, For HEALTHY COMMUNITIES example, 58.1 percent of Pend Oreille County’s land base is controlled by the federal government, while 1.6 percent are Tribal lands, 3.7 percent are State lands and 2.1 percent are other government owned lands. This means only 34.5 percent of the county’s land base is taxable as a revenue source to support critical functions such as public safety and roads.

SEE OPINION, 5A

We welcome letters to the editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Letters should be typed and submitted to The Miner office no later than 5 p.m. Friday for publication the following Wednesday. No letter will be published unless it is signed by at least one individual, even if the letter represents the view of a group. The letter must include a telephone number and address for authentication. The Miner reserves the right to edit letters. Political letters will not be published the last issue before an election. Letters will be printed as space allows.

WE B COM M E NTS We welcome comment on select stories on our web site. You may comment anonymously. We will review comments before posting and we reserve the right to omit or edit comments. If you want to comment only to our writers and editors, let us know that you do not want your comment published.

YO U R O P I N I O N Grizzly basketball success on and off court To the editor: We want to take this opportunity to thank the Newport Grizzlies girls and boys basketball teams for an entertaining basketball season. It was refreshing to spend time watching our granddaughter, Lauren Vaughn, and the rest of the young women and men engaged in a positive activity while representing their school. The work put in my Mr. Frederick and his staff, coaches Pierce and Stahl, Mr. Bryant and his staff, coaches Zorica, Pancho and Ownbey, was reflected by player effort during every game. School sports should focus on character building, skill improvement, team-work and having fun. Success in those areas was evident as we watched games all season long. Congratulations on a successful season. -Bob and Pat Pedersen Colbert

Cusick basketball game riveting To the editor: Watching Cusick play GarfieldPalouse from the ground floor was a buffalo stampede started by fireworks after each tip-off. These guys were brutes with finesse. When my 6-foot, 5-inch great-

nephew drew one of the first team fouls to be booed by the rather cocky Gar-Pal dominated crowd, I realized an agile, slightly shorter, third seed team, versus No. 1 State 1B ranked, upset was in the making. These guys were physical and quick, team players who didn’t let up. As proud of Cusick’s fine players and coaches I was, special note must be made of the comparative good sportsmanship the parents and Cusick supporters showed, throughout their 59-51 victory “game.” Thanks for the memories. -Duane Schofield Cusick

America’s ‘exceptionalism’ oversold To the editor: Lately we have seen politicians argue over America’s exceptionalism. We are told that America is the greatest country on the Earth and that we lead the world in every metric and category. The same sort of propaganda is being told to the citizens of North Korea. Recently, we were told that the President doesn’t love America like the rest of us. So we are now in a “who loves America the most” contest to go along with the “our God is better than your God” contest with Muslims.

READE R’S POLL Visit The Miner Online to answer our readers’ poll question through Monday afternoon. Find it on the right-hand side of the page at www.PendOreilleRiverValley.com. The results will be printed next week on this page. You need not be a subscriber to participate. If you have any ideas for future readers’ poll questions, submit them at theminer@povn.com.

After months of protests and lobbying, President Obama vetoed the Keystone XL pipeline construction project, citing security, safety and environmental reasons. Do you think the Keystone Pipeline should be built? No, this is the dirtiest oil on the planet and will contribute greatly to climate change. Yes, the oil is going to get sold one way or another and it is safer to transport it by pipeline than by rail.

These are dangerous times in the sense that we are being guided into never ending wars against Muslims, drugs, immigration and terror. Since we are so exceptional we can easily win all those wars and it won’t cost us anything. In fact, we are going to pay for all those wars with tax cuts. That’s right, we need to cut the corporate tax rates so that our treasury will be able to fund wars and build the Great Wall of Mexico securing our Southern border. I suppose the next step will be a wall between us and Canada. The Keystone Pipeline can tunnel under the wall much like the drug running tunnels along the Mexican border. How can we be competing in a global economy with nationalistic notions fueled by mindless propaganda? How can you be the greatest when you don’t have the lowest prices and the best workers? I am talking about millions of jobs where we don’t want to even pay the workers minimum wages. Remember, we have been told those tax cuts will put money in the hands of corporations who will hire the unemployed to sit behind desks of telephone banks and create more economic schemes of trickledown economics. -Pete Scobby Newport

R E A D E R ’ S P O L L R E S U LT S Would you take a one-way trip to the red planet with the hopes of colonizing Mars? No, the survival rate of 68 days is too little for me to leave my family and friends.

Yes, it would be a once in a lifetime chance to leave a lasting impact on society.

16% 26% 11% 47%

No, these people are on a suicide mission.

Total Votes: 19

Yes, if I was terminally ill and dying anyway, what better place is there to die?

Newport council agrees to spend $11,000 for meters BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – The Newport City Council unanimously approved spending $11,895 for three meter readers and associated software and services at their regular meeting Monday night, March 2. The old meters were old city administrator Ray King told the council. They were not able to be maintained anymore. The city solicited bids and received five, city clerk Nickole Schutte said. Vision Municipal Service submitted the winning bid. The readers themselves cost $1,915 each but the software and associated service brought the total to $11,895. The next closest bid was $1,995 per meter submitted by three vendors: Fondriest Environmental, National Barcode and Barcode Discount also. They did not submit more than the reader price. SNG bid $21,902 for the three readers and associated software, which broke down to $3,900 per reader. The city council also unanimously voted to award $1,000 hotel/motel tax money for Who Let

The Girls Out, a shopping event sponsored by six local women’s stores. It takes place May 16 and Nov. 7. The money is used for promoting the event. Councilmember Ken Smith, Mayor Shirley Sands and King went to Olympia to meet legislators. Smith said the Newport council needed to set a schedule to solicit public input in case the county decides to try to plan differently than under the Growth Management Act. King said if the city didn’t object to opting out of the GMA, it would be assumed they agree. City council members and King have spoken in favor of the benefits of planning under GMA, noting some funding is dependent on planning under GMA. The county hasn’t made a decision about GMA. “I’m pretty sure our thinking isn’t the same as the (county) commissioners,” Smith said. In other business the city council agreed to put a 22inch Hewlett Packard flat screen monitor and a Pitney Bowes postage machine on the surplus property list. They will be thrown away because they no longer work.

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Man gets nine months for sex offense NEWPORT – A 32-yearold man who pleaded guilty to communicating with a minor for immoral purposes was sentenced to nine months in jail when he appeared before Pend Oreille County Superior Court Judge Pat Monasmith Thursday, Feb. 26. Jason Allen Zaragoza pleaded guilty to the crime Jan. 8 and was sentenced following a pre sentence investigation. Zaragoza, who has a juvenile conviction for rape of a child, admitted he touched a then 13-year-girl on the thigh and later kissed her. The crime occurred in 2011 and was reported in 2013. “This happened a very long time ago,” defense attorney Robin McCroskey said. Charges came after a family argument, she said. Prosecuting attorney Jeremy Schmidt said the victim agreed with the sentence. Zaragoza apologized in

court for his actions. Monasmith said there was some dispute whether Zaragoza touched the girl in a sexual manner, but no dispute that he touched her on the thigh and kissed her. “It’s disgusting, is what it is,” Monasmith said. He noted Zaragoza cooperated with authorities. He pleaded guilty and didn’t force the victim to testify. “That’s all to your credit,” Monasmith said. In addition to the nine-month sentence, Zaragoza was ordered to be evaluated as a sex offender and undergo any treatment recommended. Monasmith noted Zaragoza was now a two time convicted sex offender. He has six months left on his sentence. In addition to the jail time, Zaragoza was sentenced to 12 months community custody and ordered to pay $1,350 in legal financial, including $500 for public defender services.

MARCH 4, 2015 |

Learn about improvements on Highway 2 north of Spokane SPOKANE – Increased commercial and residential development on Highway 2 just north of Spokane has caused traffic volumes to increase by nearly 9 percent in the last 10 years. As a result, the number of congestion-related collisions is on the rise. In late 2014, WSDOT unveiled several potential changes to the lane configuration on this busy highway corridor between the SR 206 intersection and Day-Mt. Spokane Road. Citizen and business owners then followed up

with questions, concerns, and comments on the design, giving WSDOT planners some additional challenges to work through. On Thursday, March 12, the Washington State Department of Transportation will host a public open house to present the new design refinements for this section of Highway 2. WSDOT representatives will be on hand to explain the revised potential improvements for the SR 206 to Day-Mt. Spokane Road section. Information and

suggestions from area residents, business leaders, and drivers will be used to shape the final plan for the highway. The team will also have displays showing collision data and potential improvements for the northern half of the corridor, from Day Mt. Spokane Road to Elk-Chattaroy Road. The open house is Thursday, March 12 from 5-8 p.m. at Mountainside Middle School, 4717 E. Day-Mt. Spokane Road, Colbert WA.

$13,250 restitution ordered in stolen cabin case NEWPORT – The case over a cabin stolen in 2012 was resolved in Pend Oreille County District Court Thursday, Feb. 26, when Joby K. Rasmussen, 49, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in stolen property, a gross misdemeanor, before Superior Court Judge Pat Monasmith. Prosecuting attorney Jeremy Schmidt said the case dates back to August 2012.

“We originally saw it as civil action,” Schmidt said. He said there was some confusion whether the cabin theft was reckless or intentional. Schmidt said Rasmussen was involved with planning the cabin sale and should have known it was stolen. Defense attorney Robin McCroskey said there definitely was recklessness involved. She said the case had been complicated by the fact that the cabin now belongs to someone else. Monasmith

said the case was a criminal one now, regardless of how it started. He said restitution was the most important part of the resolution. He ordered Rasmussen pay $13,250 in restitution within 24 months. He also sentenced him to 24 months bench probation. He warned Rasmussen to make sure the restitution gets paid. “If it doesn’t get paid, I won’t have much patience,” he said. In addition to the probation and restitution, Monasmith ordered Rasmussen pay $950

in legal financial obligations. According to the statement of probable cause, a Georgia man reported he bought 80 acres of land from Rasmussen in about 2009. He later bought a 12-foot by 25-foot cabin that was placed on the land. When the man came up to go hunting in 2012, the cabin was gone. The man hired a private investigator, who distributed flyers about the missing cabin. The cabin was located about a week later.

Leadership from our congressional delegation will be necessary to fixing the agency “analysis paralysis” and constant environmental litigation that has plagued federal forest management since the 1990s. Increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration is just the first step. Over 9.5 million acres of forests on the eastside of Washington State and Oregon are in immediate need of treatment, according to the Nature Conservancy. However, as long as the costs

of preparing, implementing and defending forest projects remain high, the rate of forest restoration will continue to be slow. Eastside collaboration has shown some progress in bringing diverse stakeholders together to advise the Forest Service on projects that support forest health and rural economies. The Spokesman Review has reported on a pilot project in the Colville National Forest that seeks to treat 55,000 acres while providing wood

to a local mill. While collaboration is seen as a model for resolving contentious land management issues, collaborative decisions are still subject to the same kind of obstruction, delay, and administrative costs that commonly tie up forest management activities. Removing the barriers to federal forest management is essential to moving forest projects forward and giving counties and rural forested communities greater certainty for the future. This includes

giving counties the certainty in revenue to fix their budgets and restore critical services. It includes giving Forest Services officials the certainty in management policy to pursue forest restoration and timber projects, and giving businesses certainty in raw material to continue manufacturing projects and keeping their workers employed. Washington state’s congressional delegation has the ability to provide this certainty, and we should urge them to make the most of their opportunity.

BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

OPINION: FROM PAGE 4A

Yet even on these taxable lands, only 7.8 percent are taxed at full value because the rest are taxed at reduced rates as designated forest land and Current Use Ag Land. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that we have less opportunity for growth. We now have only one lumber mill operating in our county and it is operating at 50 percent capacity and in jeopardy of closing. Ferry, Stevens and Okanogan counties in Washington and Northern Idaho counties have similar circumstances. To address this crisis, our congressional delegation must not only provide a

short term extension of SRS, they must tackle the root causes that have stagnated rural economies and county budgets in the first place. The federal government controls the majority of forest lands in Eastern Washington, yet provide just 11 percent of the harvest. The 83 percent decline in federal timber harvests over the past two decades has resulted in higher unemployment and poverty in rural communities throughout the region. Forest health has also suffered as forests have become overstocked and more vulnerable to insect infestations and catastrophic wildfires, including the record-breaking Carlton Complex fire last year.

BONNER COUNTY SPORTSMEN’S ASSOCIATION 32nd Annual

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| MARCH 4, 2015

THE MINER

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March is Meals on Wheels month The concept of neighbors serving neighbors in need is the hallmark of the Meals on Wheels program. Meals on Wheels delivers a nutritious meal, a safety check and the smile that serve as a lifeline to seniors of limited mobility. This combination goes well beyond fighting the battle against the hunger that threatens one in six of America’s seniors – it provides the support and peace of mind that enable them to remain safely and securely in their own homes as they continue to age. Thus, they remain happier, extend their independence and can

Sunday

stay connected to the communities that provide them comfort. The month of March mobilizes hundreds of local Meals on Wheels programs across the country to reach out to their communities and build the financial and volunteer support that will sustain them all year long. In 2013, more than 13,000 meals were served to disabled and homebound seniors in our tri-county area, providing vital sustenance and cost-effective independence. In 2014, this grew to over 15,500 meals, and more growth in this service is expect-

Monday

Tuesday

ed this year. You can be a part of making our communities stronger and our aging neighbors healthier by supporting the work of our local Meals on Wheels program. Starting in March several banks in the tri-county area will be hosting a silent auction. All proceeds from the auctions will go to sustaining the work of Meals on Wheels. These gift baskets have been generously donated by local businesses and individuals. Consider dropping in and bidding on one of a number of gift baskets that will

be available. The dates for the auctions will be held March 9-20 at AmericanWest Bank in Chewelah, Colville and Kettle Falls, and Key Bank in Colville. At Washington Federal in Republic it will be held March 4-18, and at Washington Federal in Chewelah March 16-27. You can also make a cash donation to the program through the Rural Resources website or by contacting Anita Sailor at 509-6856054. In doing so, know that your contribution will make a difference to, and touch the hearts of, many of our aging neighbors.

Wednesday Thursday Friday

Saturday

Senior Activities March

• 8 a.m.: Coffee Hour at 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 • 8 a.m.: Coffee Hour at Hospitality House • Noon: Potluck at Hospitality House • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hospitality House Open for Activities