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The Newport Miner THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 111, Number 22 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages 75¢
PUD turbines nearing completion Costs and benefits close to expectations BY DESIREÉ HOOD OF THE MINER
IONE – The Pend Oreille Public Utility District Board of Commissioners granted another change order during their Tuesday, June 17, meeting, making the projected cost of the Box Canyon turbine rebuilding project reach $102 million. But it also moved the controversial project one step closer to increasing power generation and a year-end completion date. The cost of the project is about $102 million, PUD Power Production Manager Mark Cleveland said. The PUD had paid more than $84.5 million by the end of 2013 and project that they will spend another $18 million before the project is complete. When the PUD started the project, the contractor, Andritz Group, SEE TURBINE, 10A
MINER PHOTO|FRED WILLENBROCK
There’s a little cowboy in us all- Two-year-old Gunner Frank is ready to rodeo Saturday night in Newport, if he could just get over the fence. Friday night’s downpour left the arena muddy but that only added to the action for Gunner and the full house Saturday night. See more rodeo pictures on 7A and 1B.
Oldtown systems better than expected BY MICHELLE NEDVED OF THE MINER
OLDTOWN – The major expansion of the Oldtown water and sewer system east of the Pend Oreille River is moving along with warmer weather, and the entire system should be done by mid to late-August, according to Mike Boeck of Tri-Pro Cedar, who is managing the West Bonner Investment Co., the investor group that is backing the project. Boeck said there’s been some renewed interest in the development by retail stores, but declined to go
into any details as they are still tentative. Tests show that production and quality of the water system are better than anticipated, he said. The entire water system is complete, and hooked up with the old system across the river, Boeck said. The wells that were drilled last summer aren’t online quite yet, but the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality recently finished testing for cross contamination from the Pend Oreille River. None was found, and the wells have SEE WATER, 2A
65th annual rodeo draw good crowds BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING
Seth Shelton of Kennewick has the far away look in his eyes as he spurs his bareback horse to a 72-point ride during Friday’s rodeo performance, before the rain started. He won second.
NEWPORT – Preliminary attendance figures for the 65th annual Newport Rodeo, held Friday and Saturday, June 27-28, showed Saturday crowds better than last year, even though the rodeo was held the same weekend as Spokane’s Hoopfest, which normally hurts rodeo attendance. More than 2,300 bought tickets for Saturday’s performance. The crowd was about half that size Friday, with 1,076 attending. It rained Friday, but let up for several hours before the 7:30 p.m. performance. Midway through the rodeo, though, a downpour hit and continued for the rest of the performance. It made for some good watching as contestants and stock slid and splashed in the arena. It was less fun for the contestants doing the splashing and sliding. “That’s rodeo,” said Ray Hanson, Newport Rodeo Association president. “We don’t have a rain delay.” Hanson said the covered grandstands were appreciated Friday when the open stands on the east side of the arena emptied. Most stayed to watch the second half of the rodeo, he said. “They just moved to the covered grandstands.” SEE RODEO, 2A
Warm memories fill old Usk schoolhouse almost hear the kids.” Gail Zigler attended Usk School in 1937.
BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING
Gail Zigler, Ella Falk and Barb McGill share a laugh as they look over old documents from the Old Usk School. People come from all over to relive memories from their time at the school.
USK – The Old Usk School has been a center of the community for more than 100 years, with countless children passing through its doors. You can almost feel the presence of the hundreds of students that have occupied the building in that time. Some of those grew up and are still in the area. No doubt they will gather at the upcoming Fourth of July pancake feed. Barb McGill is president of the Usk Community Center, which is what the former school is used for now. “I come in here by myself sometimes,” she says, enjoying the old pictures and trophies that adorn the cases and walls. “You can
‘The funnest thing is seeing the old people get together and talk.’ Ella Falk
Secretary of the Board of Directors
She went to school there until the seventh grade. “Usk was a nice place to grow up,” she SEE USK, 2A
B R I E F LY Oldtown man killed in motorcycle wreck PRIEST LAKE – Steven R. Pitts, 50, of Oldtown was killed Monday, June 30, when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a SUV south of Priest Lake. According to a press release from the Idaho State Police, Pitts was riding a 2005 Yamaha motorcycle north on Eastshore Road about 3 p.m. when he crossed the center line in a sharp turn and struck a southbound 2001 Nissan SUV driven by John M. Marshall, 67, of Spokane. Marshall was not injured in the collision. Pitts died at the scene. Pitts was wearing a helmet and Marshall was wearing a
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seatbelt. Pitts comes from the well-known area family and worked in the family business. Carl Pitts & Sons Well Drilling LLC is located in Oldtown. Details of funeral arrangements were not available at press time.
Art, drinks and music abound at 11th annual Lavender Festival NEWPORT – The 11th annual Pend Oreille Valley Lavender Festival is set for Saturday and Sunday, July 12-13, in 6B-10B
the Newport City Park, corner of First Street and Calispel Avenue. Tickets are $6 per person; children 12 and under get in for free. Gates are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The event includes various juried artists, artisans, growers and demonstrations, live music, food and a beer and wine garden. The festival artist this year is Barry Dumaw, who painted SEE BRIEFLY, 2A
OPINION
4A
RECORD
5B
SPORTS
1B
GREEN BLUFF PAGE
4B
LIFE
2B
POLICE REPORTS
5B
OBITUARIES
5B
PUBLIC NOTICES
7B-10B
GREEN BLUFF SEE PAGE 4B