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THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Wild turkeys creating a nuisance
BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
CUSICK – Rancher John Krogh is tired of wild turkeys. “I figure it costs us about $12,000 a year to feed ’em,” says Krogh, who runs cattle and hogs on his Deer Valley ranch, located near Davis Lake. He says several hundred turkeys get into his feed each year, something Severin Erickson, wildlife officer for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife can attest to. “I saw 400 or 500 there last year,” Erickson said. So Krogh was issued a special permit through WDFW so hunters can come hunt turkeys before the start of the spring turkey season, which begins April 15.
Erickson says that WDFW works with landowners to help with nuisance animals such as turkeys and deer. Erickson says they try non-lethal methods of control first, things like securing the food source and chasing the animals off. But when that doesn’t work, lethal methods are approved. The main requirement for the landowner is that they show some damage and that the public be allowed reasonable access to hunt on the land. Hunters need to have a valid small game hunting license and a 2012 or 2013 turkey tag to take the birds. Hunters can shoot only females on Krogh’s land before the spring season opens. They must get permisSEE TURKEY, 2A
Several positions up for election this year Mayors, council members amongst offices with terms expiring BY JANELLE ATYEO OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – Candidates won’t begin filing for office until May 13-17, but so far there are 71 positions in Pend Oreille County that will be up for election this year, including mayors of all five cities and towns, several council members and one county commissioner.
The primary election is Aug. 6 with the general election Nov. 5. If a special election is required, it will be April 23. Pend Oreille County voters will have their say on two offices where the candidate was appointed last year. One is for county commissioner District 2. Mike Manus was appointed last fall to replace Laura Merrill, who resigned to take a job in Olympia. Mark Zorica confirmed with The Miner that he will be running for SEE ELECTION, 2A
MINER PHOTO|MICHELLE NEDVED
Public wary of wolves Cattlemen, hunters question WDFW methods of managing listed species BY MICHELLE NEDVED OF THE MINER
CUSICK – Gray wolves are in Pend Oreille County – and across the eastern side of Washington state – but not in the numbers needed to allow property owners to kill them in order to protect their land and property, including livestock. A packed house at the Cusick Community Center the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 26, expressed concerns about their livelihoods and safety of cattle and wildlife with the reintroduction of the gray wolf, a species that was on the brink of extinction not too long ago. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted the meeting and officials explained ways ranchers and other property owners could try to protect their cattle and animals
Facility fully in compliance with state BY MICHELLE NEDVED OF THE MINER
MINER PHOTO|MICHELLE NEDVED
NEWPORT – After a tulmultuous few months, River Mountain Village, the assisted living facility in Newport, appears to once again be a harmonious place for residents. Michele Page took over as manager Dec. 12, 2012. She wants to see RMV become a place for all seniors to gather and socialize, not just those who live there.
|| Spring ahead March 10
from wolf attacks, but did not give the go ahead have reached their critical mass in other states to take lethal action. – there are 100 packs in Idaho alone – and Wolves are an endangered species throughconsequently are spreading across the state out Washington under state of Washington from both Idaho “These are big law and endangered under and Canada. In December 2011, federal law in the western two- numbers. You don’t three successful breeding pairs, thirds of the state. They have see these kinds of or packs, were counted in Washbeen delisted in other states, ington. A year later, that number however, including neighbor- growth rates with other grew to five. While 51 wolves ing Idaho, where a wolf hunt- animals.” have been counted, Martorello ing season is open at various said the actual number is much times of the year, depending on Donny Martorello larger, probably closer to 100 location. animals, based on known data. WDFW Carnivore Manager In order for Washington to “These are big numbers. You delist wolves and allow a more don’t see these kinds of growth proactive management of the animals, 15 rates with other animals,” Martorello said. successful breeding pairs have to be confirmed The exploding population and the risks posed in a three-year period, or 18 breeding pairs by wolves are changing the way the species is confirmed in one year. handled. While WDFW is not usually allowed WDFW carnivore manager Donny Martorello explained Tuesday night that wolves SEE WOLVES, 2A
RMV, operated by Newport Hospital and Health Services is fully in compliance with state requirements, as of Feb. 1. A spontaneous audit by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services uncovered a number of violations at the facility in late 2012. Page said the residents are out and about, socializing and taking trips. They recently went looking for swans but weren’t able to locate any on the Pend Oreille River. Ten residents at a time will work
SEE RMV, 10A
B R I E F LY
City finds water leak
leaking more than 40,000 gallons of water per day, according to city administrator Ray King. City crews had noticed the water loss earlier in the week but were unable to determine where the leak was located because it was underground. A resident called to alert them of the location. The area was shut down Friday as city crews worked on the leak. King said they will need to replace the pipe to the private property line. He suspects it will cost about $3,000, the biggest expense being the asphalt they will have to relay after tearing up the street.
NEWPORT – A major water leak was found in the McAvoy Addition in western Newport Friday, March 1. The old galvanized pipe started corroding and was
DIAMOND LAKE – The Diamond Lake Improvement Association will hold its monthly meeting Wednesday,
NEWPORT – Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 10 at 2 a.m. Set your clocks forward by one hour. It will stay lighter out later in the day. For Sunday, the sunrise will be at 7:12 a.m. and sunset at 6:46 p.m. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving. This year, Daylight Savings Time ends Nov. 3 when we “fall back” an hour.
75¢
A packed house gathered at the Cusick Community Center Tuesday evening, Feb. 27, to discuss the gray wolf resurgence in Washington state. There are five confirmed successful breeding pairs, or packs, in the state. Fifteen breeding pairs in three years is needed to take the animal off the state endangered species list.
Assisted living under new manager
Michele Page is the new manager of River Mountain Village, the assisted living facility in Newport operated by Newport Hospital and Health Service. Page began the position Dec. 12.
Volume 110, Number 5 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages
Diamond Lake group meets Wednesday
Anglers want lake trout left alone
IDFG fishery plan calls for further research through 2018 BY MICHELLE NEDVED OF THE MINER
PRIEST RIVER – The fisheries management plan for Priest Lake is set until 2018, but that doesn’t mean the decision about the future of lake trout has been made. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game acknowledges there is much unknown about the premiere fishery and public opinion is
split down the middle. IDFG plans to create a working group that will define what, exactly, should be done at both Upper Priest Lake and Priest Lake come the year 2018. Anglers and lake enthusiasts gathered at the Priest River Senior Center Thursday evening, Feb. 28, to hear from Regional Fishery Manager Jim Fredericks on the IDFG’s plan for the lake. Those who were vocal about the future of the lakes want to see the lake trout left alone, and point to the recover-
SEE FISHERY, 10A
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March 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the fire station on Highway 2. The high water issue will be on the agenda. County commissioners are making plans with Diamond Lake residents to have a separate meeting to discuss concerns with the water level. Details have not yet been worked out. Commissioners have been in contact with Gary Douvia, commissioner with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, who may be able to offer some solutions.
Hospital locked down after bedridden man makes threats NEWPORT – The Newport Hospital and clinic were placed on lockdown for approximately one hour at about noon, Wednesday, Feb. 27, after a
person reported threats made by a man bedridden at home. Pend Oreille County Sheriff deputies went to the home of the man, who told them he was just frustrated and not serious about the threats. His appointment was canceled and he was trespassed from the hospital, other than for emergency care. Pend Oreille County Sheriff Alan Botzheim said there was no crime, that the threats were not directed at a specific person and the man didn’t have the ability to carry out the threats. Although the threat turned out to be harmless, Botzheim said it was good the hospital took it seriously. He praised hospital staff for following their established safety plans created for just such incidents.
SPORTS 1B - RECORD 4B - POLICE 4B - OPINION 4A - CLASSIFIEDS 6B-7B - PUBLIC NOTICES 8B-10B - DOWN RIVER 9A - LIFE 2B - OBITUARIES 4B