The Newport Miner the voice of pend oreille county since 1901
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 113, Number 24 | 2 Sections, 20 Pages 75¢
Who can swim where? Public access to lakes raises questions By Sophia Aldous Of The Miner
NEWPORT – With summer in full swing, there’s nothing like a day at the lake to thoroughly take advantage of the season. Depending on which lake an individual chooses though, there’s an issue of public access, particularly around lakes like Diamond and Sacheen, where private residences cluster together along the shore,
and no signs designating public access are to be seen. “We’re a lake rich county,” says Mike Lithgow of Pend Oreille County Community Development. “There is some confusion regarding who can access some lakes and how they can access them.” For example, there is a controversy over some alley ways that access See swim, 2A
Service dog conflict at Priest Lake sets off Facebook storm Manager apologizes after not allowing dog, vet in bar By Don Gronning Of The Miner
NORDMAN – The facts of the incident seem mostly agreed on. Ben Votava was tending bar in the middle of the day on the Fourth of July when a group of people came in with a dog. He told them he didn’t want the dog in the bar. The dog’s owner, Scott Yochum, objected, claiming the dog was a service animal and they had a right to be there. Votava told them he had a right to refuse service and that’s what he was doing. Here some of the facts are less than agreed to. Votava says it was only as Yochum was leaving the bar that he told him he was a veteran. Yochum left and posted on his Facebook page See conflict, 2A
Courtesy photo|Renee Shawgo
Getting a drink Renee Shawgo snapped this photo of a moose getting a drink from her pond south of Newport Monday morning, July 11, about 10 a.m. Shawgo says the moose seemed pretty calm. She says she and her husband, Wayne, have seen the animal near their Foxwood Drive home before. “She seems pretty young,” Shawgo says.
Washington primary election gets under way this week NEWPORT – Ballots for Washington’s primary election go in the mail Thursday, July 14, in Pend Oreille County, where there are 8,473 registered voters. The ballot is loaded with dozens of wide-open races as voters narrow the field for each office to the top two vote-getters who will advance to the fall General Election. In all, 671 candidates are running for federal, statewide, legislative, county, judicial and local offices, and hundreds more are running for Democratic and Republican precinct committee officer. Voters will have until Aug. 2
to fill out their ballots and return them via drop boxes, by postal service, or in person to the county elections office. In-person voter registration is available until July 25 for those not currently registered. About 65,000 military and overseas ballots, including 82 from Pend Oreille County, were mailed out by June 18, and a number have already been cast and returned to their home counties. Locally, two races include more than two candidates. Incumbent Republican Karen Skoog is again running for county commissioner, District 1, against Republican Nor-
Ownbey named Clerk of the Year
ris Boyd and Democrat Bob Eugene. Three people are running for Superior Court Judge, Position 2. Incumbent Allen Nielson is not seeking re-election. Jessica (Taylor) Reeves, Dave Turplesmith and Terry L. Williams are vying for the non-partisan seat. This is a big once-every-fouryears election, notes state Elections Director Lori Augino. Voters are choosing finalists for all nine statewide elected officials, including governor. Five of the incumbents are not seeking re-election: lieu-
VANCOUVER, Wash. – Pend Oreille County Clerk Tammie Ownbey was named Clerk of the Year by the Washington State Association of County Clerks during the annual conference June 23 in Vancouver. “This award is nominated and voted on by my fellow clerks,” Ownbey said. “There is no greater recognition and I Ownbey am so honored.” Ownbey is the first Pend Oreille County Clerk of the Year. Clerks are nominated by other clerks and voted on by all the clerks in the state’s 39 counties. Ownbey said she doesn’t know who nominated her. She was one of four clerks nominated for Clerk of
See primary, 9A
See Ownbey, 9A
B r i e f ly Rural Aging Conference held in Priest River PRIEST RIVER – Resource partners from all over the Northwest will converge to answer questions and provide direction for a growing concern in rural America: aging in place. The Priest River Event Center welcomes rural adults for the 2016 Rural Conference on Aging July 23, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The day will be devoted to rural aging resources, featuring expert speakers and discussions, along with prize drawings, giveaways and socializing. Attendance is free.
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In addition to valuable resource connections, guest speakers start at 10:30 a.m. and run throughout the day. The conference begins at 10 a.m. with registration and goodie bag pick-up; 10:30 a.m.: “What Are You Eating?” (Mary Kaiser, RD, Bonner General Health); 11:30 a.m.: “Probate in Idaho vs. Washington” (Denise Stewart, Attorney at Law); 12:30 p.m.: “Coping with Dementia” (Michele Page, RN, Newport Hospital and Health Services); 1:30 p.m.: “Are You Scamming Me?” (Better Business Bureau).
Tri-Town Float Down has new starting point IONE – The Tri-Town Float Down Poker Paddle will take place July 23-24. The event, which is sponsored by the Selkirk Trail Blazers, starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 23 and ends at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 24. This year, the starting point will be at private property located just north of Box Canyon Dam (look for signs). There will be one $500 prize given for the best poker hand. For more information, including where to get registration forms, call 509-446-2449 or go to www.downriverdays.com.
classifieds
7b
Opinion
4a
Record
6b
Life
4b
Police Reports
6b
sports
1b
Obituaries
6b
Public Notices
7b
More rodeo fun this weekend See page 1B