The Newport Miner the voice of pend oreille county since 1901
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 116, Number 22 | 2 Sections, 16 Pages $1.00
Oregon man hired as Newport administrator By Don Gronning Of The Miner
NEWPORT – If the Newport City Council agrees, the city will hire its first new manager in 17 years after Monday night’s city council meeting July 2. The Miner went to press early, before the meeting. Russ Pelleberg, 52, is replacing Ray King, who is retiring after working 40 years for Newport, the last 17 as city administrator. Pelleberg comes from Umatilla, Ore., where he worked Pelleberg as a city manager for the city of nearly 7,000 in northeast Oregon. A committee made up of Newport Mayor Shirley Sands, city council members Mark Zorica and Keith Campbell, Newport Police Chief Mark Duxbury, city clerk Nickole North, public works director Dave North and King made the recommendation to hire Pelleberg. He was the top choice of 16 applicants, North said. The committee interviewed three people. Pelleberg will start at an annual salary of $89,952 and will receive benefits provided other city employees. According to the contract considered at Monday night’s council meeting, Pelleberg will be an introductory/probation employee for the first 12 months. During that time he may be terminated by the mayor for any legally permisSee city, 2A
County Planning Commission adopts new process By Caneel Johnson Of The Miner
NEWPORT – The process to obtain a conditional use permit in Pend Oreille County has changed, as of June 12. “Only the process has changed not the rules,” said Gregg Snow, the community planning director. The new changes will make it so that the public has more participation in the process. It used to be that applications went in front of the Planning Commission in a public forum where the public was able to present their input directly. The planning commission would then pass their recommendations to the county commissioners for a final decision. Three years ago
the process changed and applications were presented to the director of the community development department. The public was still allowed to voice their concerns, but not in a public forum. They had to submit either a letter, email, or come to the office, and the final decision was made by the director. Effective June 12, people seeking permits now have a public hearing, this time in front of a hearing examiner. A land use attorney will be contracted for the hearings as needed. As always there is a 15-day period where decisions can be appealed. The permits are still $350. The only other change was to move shoreline
Courtesy photo|Cliff Snow
Diamond Lake will be one of the places to see fireworks. Friends of Diamond Lake Washington Foundation put on the display. This is a picture from last year’s event.
Check out the July 4 festivities in Pend Oreille River Valley By Sophia Aldous Of The Miner
NEWPORT – Want to get out and about this Fourth of July? There are plenty of area events in Pend Oreille and West Bonner counties coming up Wednesday, July 4, to honor the nation’s birthday. The Kalispel Powwow Grounds will host an Independence Day Fireworks Display at dusk. There will be a car show from 4 p.m. to dusk. The powwow grounds are located two miles north of the Usk Bridge on the west side. It’s an alcohol and drugfree event. RVs, campers, and pets are not allowed. For more information on this event, call 509-447-7221. Start July 4 festivities off with the annual Pancake Breakfast at the
Usk Community Hall, 8-11 a.m. It is $6 for adults and children over the age of 5. It is all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, eggs, juice and coffee. The address is 2442 Black Road in Usk. There will also be a raffle of various gift baskets and a barbecue donated by Selkirk Ace Hardware. The tickets are $1 or six for $5. All proceeds from the breakfast and raffle go to maintaining the Community Hall. Also, the Fourth of July community parade will start at the Community Hall at noon. Anyone is invited to participate and it’s first come, first served in terms of placement of the lineup. A potluck celebration at Metaline Riverfront Park will mark the Independence Day holiday in north Pend Oreille County. The public is
invited to bring chairs, tables, eating utensils, beverages, and a dish to share and enjoy a large fireworks display at dusk. There will be a main course of beef and pork served around 5:30 p.m. No individual fireworks of any kind are allowed in the park. The event is organized entirely by volunteers, so donations for meat and fireworks are appreciated. Diamond Lake will be the setting for a plethora of activities Wednesday, July 4 starting with the 10th annual half-marathon. The event starts with an optional one-mile swim at 6 a.m. at the public boat launch. The run starts at 7:15 a.m. at the Boat Launch Restaurant and Store. Participants can choose to See fireworks, 2A
DNR hosts third annual fire camp By Caneel Johnson Of The Miner
DEER PARK – The danger of wildland fires may be low now due to the rain, but it may change later in the season. “By August all of Eastern Washington will see an above normal wildland fire potential,” Courtesy photo|Megan Hill
Students march in a practice fire line at this June’s fire training camp at Deer Park Highschool.
See planning, 7A
as projected by the National Interagency Fire Center Predictive Services division in Boise, Idaho. There is a greater chance that there will be significant wildfires this season. The prediction is susceptible to change depending on weather patterns. All the rain and cool weather has helped keep fires small and slow moving so far, but it has also encouraged the undergrowth to flourish. When See camp, 2A
B r i e f ly Free meals for kids at the library NEWPORT – Lunch at the Newport Library will be available for all children under the age of 18, Monday through Saturday, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The library is located at 116 S. Washington Ave. Free breakfast and lunch for kids is also served at Stratton Elementary, 1201 W. Fifth St. Breakfast is 7:45–8:15 a.m. and lunch from 11:40 a.m. to 12:10 p.m., July 5 through Aug. 1. The free meals are provided through the Newport School District.
Follow us on Facebook
classifieds
For more information, call Sheila Myrvang at 509447-3167 ext. 4521.
Sign up for Summer Reading PRIEST RIVER – The Priest River Library will host summer reading on Wednesdays through Aug. 1, with the exception of July 4. Everyone is invited to the Libraries Rock! wrap-up party on Aug. 1. Summer Story Time will be held at its usual time on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. 5B-6B
Teens will have a chance to win a $25 Visa gift card playing young adult summer reading book bingo. The challenge is open to young adults grades 7-12. Books must be read between June 1 and July 30, and the grand prize drawing will be held at the Summer Reading wrap-up party Aug. 1. Bingo cards are available at the Priest River and Blanchard libraries. For more information, visit the library website, call 208-448-2207 or email library@westbonnerlibrary.org.
Opinion
4a
Record
4B
sports
1B
booster
2B
Life
3B
Police Reports
4B
Obituaries
4B
Public Notices
6B-8B
Happy Fourth of July!