Thousands of Scouts storm Camp Cowles. 3A
The Newport Miner
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THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901
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Wednesday, August 1, 2012
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 109, Number 26 | 2 Sections, 18 Pages
County board kills new sales tax idea Commissioners struggling to balance county budget BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
MINER PHOTOS|ROSEMARY DANIEL
Sun comes out for Down River Days A Shriner reaches for a high five at the Down River Days parade Saturday, July 28. The afternoon fun included the popular snowmobile watercross, which drew some female competitors, one of whom took top prize. See her story on the Sports page 2B. Go to The Miner Online for more photos from Down River Days.
NEWPORT – The Pend Oreille County Commissioners decided not to go to voters for a .03 percent sales tax increase that would be used for public safety. But they still are searching for other ways to balance next year’s budget. A couple weeks ago commissioners discussed the idea of new taxes with department heads to see if there was support for such a measure, with the sales tax increase estimated to bring in about $250,000 a year. In the end, there wasn’t enough support to justify the $7,000 it would cost to put
BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
BY JANELLE ATYEO OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – Candidates for office in Pend Oreille County don’t draw a large amount of campaign contributions, but it is the public’s right to know how the campaign is financed. The Miner researched reports to the state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). Each Monday, candidates must file an update about
the contributions made to his or her campaign. Those not expecting to raise more than $5,000 do not have to report individual donations. District 3 commissioner candidate Tim Ibbetson, a Republican involved with the Citizens Alliance for Property Rights Pend Oreille Chapter, is leading the fundraising by a couple thousand dollars. He has raised $7,953 as of this week’s report. Most of that is
in the form of a loan. Cash contributions total $1,300 and in-kind $2,370. Running against Ibbetson, Republican Steve Kiss has raised $265 and Democrat Kathleen Mayall raised $1,964. District 1 incumbent Diane Wear, a Democrat, has raised $4,862. The state’s Democratic Central Committee gave $500, and the county Democrats gave $505. The Spokane Regional
Labor Council gave $200. In all, cash contributions for Wear total $2,610, plus another $252 for in-kind. One of Wear’s four challengers, Karen Skoog, a Republican who is also involved in the local property rights group, has raised $3,766. District 1 commissioner candidates Anthony Newcomb, an independent, and Republican Doug SEE CAMPAIGN, 2A
SEE TAX, 2A
Powwow a time for visiting, competition Annual event set for Aug. 2-6 at Kalispel Reservation
Local candidates report campaign spending
the tax measure on the ballot, commissioners decided, Monday, July 30. Laura Merrill, county commission chairwoman, said that there were several reasons not to pursue the tax increase. “Once a tax is put on, it’s hard to take off,” she said. The sheriff’s office has done a good job controlling spending and bringing in revenue, she said. Commissioner John Hankey said that almost everybody he talked to didn’t think it had a chance of passing and thought the $7,000 it would cost to put it on the ballot could be better spent. Hankey will step down from the county commission at the end of the year when his term expires. He did not seek reelection.
USK – The annual Kalispel powwow is a much anticipated event each year, but maybe more so this year because last year’s powwow was canceled because of a flooding Pend Oreille River. “There’s a little anticipation every year, but probably more this year,” Francis Culooyah said. He is heading up the 37th annual powwow, which will take place Aug. 2-6 at the powwow grounds in Usk. Admission is free to the public. The powwow will get un-
derway Thursday night at the pavilion, with drumming, a dance circle and memorials to people lost in the past year. The grand entry of dancers, drummers and other participants will begin at 7 p.m. Friday night, with registration starting at 4 p.m. There will be two grand entries Saturday, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday. The Kalispel powwow has grown over the years. “It’s probably one of the biggest in the country,” Culooyah said. Powwows are a time for competition – there will be tens of thousands of dollars awarded
Throws coach retiring after standout year Bill Burnett helped lead nationally ranked athlete to state titles and records records BY JANELLE ATYEO OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – This past spring, Bill Burnett coached the most talented thrower in Newport track and field history to a double state championship and several records. He’s ending his coaching career on a high note. Burnett, 68, announced his retirement this summer.
Burnett spent the last six years coaching Newport’s throwers, working most of that time under former head coach Barry Sartz. “He was good for the sport and good for Newport,” Sartz said. During his years as throws coach at Newport High, Burnett coached numerous boys and girls league champions, as well as state meet throwers. This spring, he had under his wing the girls’ district shot put champion Adrienne Seger, state metal winner Don Burns Jr. and the throwing phenom, state shot and disc champion Aaron
SEE POWWOW, 2A
Newport throws coach Bill Burnett, center, poses with this past season’s shot and discus champion Aaron Castle and district shot champion Adrienne Seger at the bi-district meet in Cashmere. Burnett has retired after six years with Newport High School track and field.
Castle. Castle will be throwing for the University of Arizona this year. Burnett was quite the thrower himself in his high school and college days. A native Texan, he attended high school and college in California. Following an all-league high school career, Burnett attended the University of California, Santa Barbara as a scholarship athlete in football and track, winning NCAA regional and national medals in 1964 for the hammer throw. He was an Olympic hopeful until an
SEE COACH, 2A COURTESY PHOTO|BILL BURNETT
|| Library board in search of members NEWPORT – The Pend Oreille County Library District is seeking two board members after Jim Brewster resigned this week due to health reasons. Trustee Sandy Loskill spoke with county commissioners Monday regarding the shortage of board members. As she is preparing for hip surgery, she’s concerned the board will not have a quorum in future months during her recovery. The board has long been short one member. All are at-large positions. Current members include Mark Cauchy, Loskill and Nancy Svoboda. They meet on the fourth Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. in the PUD boardroom in Newport. Trustees receive no salary or compensation. The trustees oversee operation of the county’s four
B R I E F LY
libraries: Newport, Calispel Valley Library in Cusick, the Ione Library and the Metalines Library. Loskill asked the commissioners to look into reducing the number on the library board from five members to three. State law, however, states that management of rural county library districts shall be vested in a board of five trustees, appointed by county commissioners. Those interested on a position in the board can contact Liz Braun at the commissioners office at 509447-4119 or email lbraun@pendoreille.org.
Shoreline meetings wrap up Wednesday IONE – Pend Oreille County’s final meeting in the series of hearings on the Shoreline Master Plan will be held Wednesday, Aug. 1, at 6 p.m. at the Ione
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Community Center. Other meetings were Monday at Sacheen Lake and Tuesday at the PUD office in Newport. The public will be able to submit written comments until Wednesday, Aug. 8. The draft document can be viewed at the county’s website or in person between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Pend Oreille County Courthouse at 625 W. Fourth St. in Newport.
Public can help restore forest habitat CUSICK – This summer and fall, thanks to a grant from American Forests, Conservation Northwest and the U.S. Forest Service are revegetating decommissioned roads in caribou and grizzly habitat in the Colville National Forest. The public can join for the first work project Sat-
urday, Aug. 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., to pull noxious weeds on a two-mile stretch of decommissioned and obliterated road in the East Fork LeClerc Creek drainage near Cusick. Bring sturdy shoes, work gloves and a lunch. The group will try to finish early enough to cool off in a nearby lake. Abandoned and overgrown forest roads are one of the key ways noxious weeds spread on public lands, which crowds out nutritious vegetation for native wildlife. Revegetation of decommissioned roads is one of the most effective methods of wildlife habitat restoration and can substantially improve browse for game such as mule deer and elk. This project continues Conservation Northwest’s collaborative work with the Forest Service and timber-products companies to healthy forests throughout northeast Washington.
SPORTS 2B - RECORD 5B - POLICE 5B - OPINION 4A - CLASSIFIEDS 6B-7B - PUBLIC NOTICES 8B-9B - DOWN RIVER 7A - LIFE 3B - OBITUARIES 5B