Cusick, House of the Lord seniors graduate See page 8A
The Newport Miner
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THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 109, Number 17 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages
Electric rates set to rise
Growing and learning Cusick students learn health hands on
PUD plans to raise rates by less than 2 percent
ing 4.6 cents per kWh. With rates taking effect July 1, electricity BY JANELLE ATYEO usage during the month of June, OF THE MINER which is billed in July, would be under the new rates. NEWPORT – To help lessen the Of the proposed increase on the blow of rising costs for its custom- $101.66 monthly bill, 66 cents is ers, the Pend Oreille Public Utility tied to increasing Boundary costs, District is planning small rate and $1 is associated with Pend increases over the next few years. Oreille PUD costs – acquisition This year, management is proof power transformers and other posing an increase totaling just electric infrastructure, compliless than 2 percent. If the board ance with ever increasing federal approves the rates, they would regulatory requirements, Box take effect for billings after July 1. Canyon plant modernization efA public hearing on the matforts, and similar expenditures. ter will be Tuesday, June 5, at 1 The PUD receives some at-cost p.m. at the PUD’s power from Seattle Newport adminCity Light’s Boundistration office, W H AT ’S N E X T: ary Dam, which is 130 N. Washing- A RATE HEARING before the going through reliton Ave. There PUD commissioners will be censing. Relicensing will not be a Tuesday, June 5 at 1 p.m. at projects are expectsecond hearing at the Newport office. ed to drive costs up the north county over the next several meeting. years. Last year, the Rates are currently 4.5 cents PUD approved an automatic anper kilowatt hour with a basic rate nual rate adjustment for Boundof $24.50 per month. A year ago, ary power, which should be about rates went up 15 percent and the 1-2 percent a year. Rates tied to basic rate increased by $2.50. the PUD’s own system require a This year, the increase would public hearing before the board bring rates up another 1.7 perapproves them. cent, but the base rate would stay At budget time this past winter, the same. The annual adjustment PUD financial staff factored in a for power from Boundary Dam is 2 percent increase to take effect 0.7 percent while the other 1 permid-year. cent is tied to the PUD’s system. Director of finance and adminA residential customer currently istrative services John Jordan said paying $100 per month would see their bill increase to $101.66, paySEE RATES, 2A
75¢
BY JANELLE ATYEO OF THE MINER
CUSICK – Cusick Elementary students are sewing the seeds to a healthier future. All school year they’ve been learning about nutrition and noshing on fresh fruits and veggies. Not only are the kids eating healthier, they’ll eventually be getting nutritious food that’s grown right outside their classW H AT ’S N E X T: room window. Through the A GARDEN PARTY will be Cusick School District’s grant funded Fresh Starts project, stu- held Wednesday, June 6 from 1-3 p.m. dents helped create a community garden behind the school this spring. Earlier this year, grow lights were set up in the classroom where students could start their plants from seeds. That gave them a taste of the garden project, said Kelly Keogh, who’s leading the garden project. SEE GARDEN, 2A “Now they’re really excited to
COURTESY PHOTO|COURTNEY MONTGOMERY
Cusick first grader Jaylein Zylstra waters freshly planted sage seeds at the school’s newly built garden.
COURTESY PHOTO|COURTNEY MONTGOMERY
Cusick bus driver Kathy Brown helps first grader Linden Peterson plant basil seeds at a recent work day in the garden.
Man who left $110,000 for scholarships wasn’t wealthy
Newport graduate’s money will provide scholarships a year for 20 years BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
COURTESY IMAGE|WOLFE ARCHITECTURAL GROUP
This is what the Kalispel Tribe’s Cultural Exploration Center and Rest Stop will look like when it is constructed later this year.
Tribe unveils rest stop, visitor center Building ready this summer BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
USK – A rest stop and cultural exploration center planned for construction off Highway 20 near Cusick will provide 24 hour restrooms, parking and an interpretive center, a small group of interested people was told at a meeting held Wednesday, May
24, at the Camas Center on the Kalispel Reservation. The 2,300-square-foot, singlestory building will be constructed this summer. The site is located just north of the Kaltran and Kalispel Career Training Center on about four acres of land owned by the Kalispel Tribe. It is on the Selkirk International Loop. The building will be only part of the project. There will be a dog
park, a series of trails and space in and outside the building that can be used for a variety of events, such as craft fairs. “We want to attract people to the area,” said Charles Zanderbergan of Wolfe Architectural Group, the firm that is designing the project. “We want it to be a little oasis.” SEE CENTER, 2A
|| Liquor sales change June 1 NEWPORT – The privatization of state liquor sales begins June 1, and many local stores are prepared for the change. Safeway shelves have been stocked with bottles for a couple weeks, covered in curtains that advertise sales will be offered soon. The Food Court grocery store in Ione has received its license to sell, but owner Dave Rochlin said neither of his distributors are quite ready to deliver the product. One doesn’t have a supply and the other hasn’t determined pricing yet, he said. He believes Food Court will be selling within a week or so. Previously a state contract store, Ione’s Paradise Liquors plans to continue liquor sales. Country Lane in Newport also contracted with the state to sell liquor,
Visitors’ Center Fairgrounds
B R I E F LY
and the business applied to continue liquor sales, but they chose not to sell at this time. They’ll continue their embroidery, engraving and gift shop business, expanding their current offerings. Owner Sharon Shining said many of the little guys are hurting from the change. Costco and Safeway put much funding behind the initiative that voters passed last fall. Shining said Country Lane is retaining the rights to sell liquor again in the future. The Metaline Mini Mart has applied for a license to sell liquor. The store is less than 10,000 square feet and has applied under an exception to the rule that allows smaller stores in underserved areas to sell liquor. The state will begin considering those requests after June 1. Lady Bug Corner in Metaline Falls closed at the end of February.
NEWPORT - Verne Lindsay was known for many things. When he attended Newport High School back in the 1940s, he was the first student to own a car. He was known as a good dancer. He lettered in three sports, despite a heart condition. As an adult, bowling occupied his interest after he retired. He taught bowling and bowled around the world, throwing six perfect games after he turned 60. But what the 1949 Newport High School graduate will be remembered for around the Newport School District is the $110,645 he left to the school to be used for scholarships
when he died last September at age 82. The money will be used for four, $1,500 scholarships a year – two for vocational study and two for Lindsay academic study. The scholarship money is expected to last 20 years. “Anytime somebody generously donates money like this, we’re 1949 Lindsay very appreciative,” Newport school board president Lynn Kaney said. “It will help further the education of many students.” Lyle and Mary Balderson attended Newport High and knew Lindsay. When Lindsay’s wife, Lorrie, died in 1997, he started thinking about what SEE $110,000, 2A
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No wake zones remain at Diamond, Bead lakes NEWPORT – The no wake zones remain in effect at Diamond Lake and Bead Lake. Pend Oreille County commissioners spoke with Diamond Lake resident Bob Tully Tuesday morning and he indicated levels were still high. They asked the sheriff to check the lake this week and see if there are particular areas that could be posted with wake restrictions as opposed to limiting boat speeds on the entire lake. The no wake zone on Sacheen Lake was lifted May 22. Commissioner Diane Wear said quite a few anglers were out this Memorial Day weekend and it appeared they were catching. “The lake is alive with activity, and I’d say summer has begun,” she said.
No wake zones went into effect March 27 at Diamond and Sacheen. A restriction on Bead Lake was added April 24.
Cusick seniors graduate Saturday CUSICK – Cusick High School will graduate 18 seniors with commencement ceremonies Saturday, June 2, at 10 a.m. in the gym. The valedictorian is Courtney Montgomery, and Jasmine Minor is the salutatorian. Class colors are black, gold and silver, and the class motto is from James Dean: “Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.” The last day of school for the rest of the Cusick students is Friday, June 8. Students will be released at 11 a.m.
SPORTS 2B - RECORD 3B - POLICE 3B - OPINION 4A - CLASSIFIEDS 4B-6B - PUBLIC NOTICES 6B-7B - DOWN RIVER 11A - LIFE 10A - OBITUARIES 3B