The Newport Miner the voice of pend oreille county since 1901
Wednesday, JULY 05, 2017
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 115, Number 23 | 2 Sections, 16 Pages $1.00
Roxy slated to open at end of month Local movie theater fundraising for renovations By Sophia Aldous Of The Miner
NEWPORT – It’s official. Jason and Brittany Totland, the husband and wife team from Newport, are the new owners of The Roxy, Newport’s only movie theater that has been shuttered for almost two years. “It’s really happening,” says Jason. “There’s still a lot to do.” The couple got the keys to the building Friday, June 30, after purchasing the building through John L. Scott Realty for $200,000. However, the work has just begun. The Totlands are still fundraising via subscriptions and donations for repairs and remodeling. Their goal is to transform the threescreen multiplex back to its original one screen “Grand Theater” format. As of Saturday, July 1 they had reached $4,000 toward their $25,000 goal. “We also have to settle contracts with movie distributors so we know what movies we’re going to show, as well as order popcorn, candy and soda for concessions,” says Jason. Those looking to help can visit The Roxy’s website
Miner photo|Sophia Aldous
Brittany and Jason Totland, new owners of The Roxy movie theater in Newport, check out the reel-to-reel projector from 1952 on display in the theater’s lobby.
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Judge Reeves presides with fresh eyes By Don Gronning Of The Miner
NEWPORT – “This is the time and place to conduct court, not meet with clients,” Pend Oreille County Superior Judge Jessica Reeves told defense attorneys in late January. “It is my expectation we will be ready to go when the docket is called into session.” Reeves was in her first month of being a judge and attorneys took notice. “If she wants to be ready to rock and roll when court starts, I don’t blame her,” public defender Dana Kelly said. “But people don’t like change.” Before that, attorneys had routinely met with clients in the courtroom before appearing before a judge. Change is one thing they’re getting with Reeves, who was elected to her first six-year term last fall. She had worked a couple years as a deputy prosecutor in Stevens County, but most of her legal experience has been in family law. So she comes to criminal law with fresh eyes. She isn’t bound to do things the way they have always been done. The changes she’s made haven’t been major, but she has demonstrated her own way of doing things on the bench. One of the changes she made is to do away with bench supervision for felony cases, something she says a Superior Court judge really has no authority to do.
Miner photo|Don Gronning
Pend Oreille County Superior Court Judge Jessica Reeves has been on the bench six months. She has made a few changes.
Seed Exchange up and running at Priest Lake Library PRIEST LAKE – Seed exchanges are the latest trend at libraries throughout the nation. They are a new spin on the old tradition of harvesting seeds from your garden and saving them to plant or trade with other gardeners. Priest Lake Public Library recently became part of this movement, after the donation of a card catalog cabinet from the Selkirk Conservation Alliance (SCA), a local non-profit group. The 72-drawer wood cabinet, Up which formerly housed an oldP r i e st fashioned library card catalog at Central Washington UniverLake sity, is now home to packets of Way vegetable, flower, and herb seeds that patrons can take home and Rosemary plant. Yocum The program is part of a growing national movement that promotes the motto, “Borrow seeds, grow plants, share seeds.” Seed saving is exactly what
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See seeds, 2A
B r i e f ly Democrats to meet in Cusick
Car wreck near Ione results in injury
CUSICK – The Pend Oreille County Democrats will vote on their state committeewoman position Sunday, July 9, 3-5 p.m. at the Cusick Community Center, located at 107 First St. The group will also discuss State Committeeman and bylaws. A potluck will follow. The general public is invited to attend and encouraged (but not required) to bring a potluck dish to share. For more information, call 509-447-2059.
IONE – A Metaline man was injured when his car left the road and went 400 feet down an embankment Saturday, July 1 around 11:24 a.m. According to the Washington State Patrol, a 1998 maroon Cadillac Deville, driven by Edward W. IvesKeeler of Metaline was traveling southbound on Highway 31, seven miles north of Ione when he lost control of his vehicle near milepost 11. The Cadillac left the northbound shoulder of the
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road and proceeded to fall down an embankment. Ives-Keeler was transported by Life Flight to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. His vehicle was totaled and impounded to Newport Towing. The WSP’s report says the cause of the incident was unsafe lane usage. Ives-Keeler was charged with not having a valid operator’s license, no insurance, and traveling left of center.
classifieds
6B
Opinion
4a
Record
5B
Life
1B
Police Reports
5B
sports
2B
Obituaries
5B
Public Notices
7B-8B
green bluff
6A
Green bluff
Fruit season is here See page 6A