080917newportminer

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The Newport Miner the voice of pend oreille county since 1901

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

www.pendoreillerivervalley.com

Volume 115, Number 28 | 2 Sections, 16 Pages $1.00

Questions raised over smelter

Plenty of obstacles to developing housing Housing forum highlights needs

By Don Gronning

By Don Gronning

Of The Miner

Of The Miner

NEWPORT – An overflow crowd turned up at the Pend Oreille County commissioners meeting Monday, Aug. 7, seeking answers about the proposed HiTest Sands Inc. silicon smelter. The Edmonton based HiTest Sands has tentatively proposed building a $300 million smelter south of Newport. Ann James of Newport said a major concern was the lack of information about the project. She said she and others had questions about air quality, infrastructure, as well the financial strength of the company. John Cain said he had worked at a silicon smelter in Moses Lake. “Many things we thought were safe turned out not to be,” he said. He said there was a spontaneous explosion at the facility that injured 11, with three people dying. Cain urged commissioners to proceed cautiously and with as many redundancies and safeguards as possible. “We’re depending on you to do a thorough investigation of HiTest,” he said. Roger Castle pointed out the proposed site was not covered by any fire districts. “It’s in no man’s land,” he said. He asked if HiTest would handle firefighting. How would people be warned to evacuate Newport if a catastrophic event happened, he asked. James pointed out that HiTest hadn’t filed any documents with the state to do business here. Geoffrey Thompson asked about water. He said there were city wells near where the site is proposed to be located. He pointed out that south Pend Oreille County was in the Little Spokane River watershed. He wondered how much water the smelter would use and how it would be disposed of. Dallas Johnson said he worked at the Kaiser Aluminum smelter in Mead. He said waste wasn’t taken off site when the plant closed. Instead it was capped with two layers of cement. He said water has been contaminated as far away as Chattaroy as a result. He cautioned commissioners that “once a company like that is in, they’re in.” Another questioner asked if the county offered any incentives for HiTest to move here, such as tax incentives.

NEWPORT – There seems to be no doubt there is a shortage of housing in the Newport area, with librarians, surgeons and school principals having trouble getting housing when they are hired in Pend Oreille County. “We continually hear about a housing shortage,” county commissioner chairman Mike Manus said at the housing forum held Thursday, Aug. 3, at the PUD building in Newport. “We need to get involved and come up with a strategy.” The forum was put on by the Pend Oreille Economic Development Council. In addition to a need for housing for professionals, there is also a need for affordable housing for low-income people. “When you’re on TANF, you don’t have much money,” said a woman from the state Department of Social and Health Services. She was referring to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Miner photo|Michelle Nedved

Kalispels host pow wow for all The 42nd annual Kalispel Pow Wow was held this past weekend. The three day event included a buffalo barbecue, all Indian softball tournament, fun run, vendors and of course dancing and drumming. See more photos on page 4B.

See smelter, 2A

See housing, 2A

Train rides return this Saturday, Sunday By Sophia Aldous Of The Miner

Miner photo|Sophia Aldous

Volunteers check out one of the coach cars as they get briefed at a training session for the upcoming SPORT train rides, which start this weekend.

NEWPORT – The time-honored train rides grown by the North Pend Oreille Valley Lions Club return this Saturday, Aug. 12, and Sunday, Aug. 13, with a new name and a new location. Rides depart from the train tracks behind the Pend Oreille Public Utilities District (PUD) parking lot at noon and 3 p.m. both days. Hosting the train rides has been passed on to the Newport/Priest River Rotary Club, who purchased the Lions’ interest in the train rides in late April for $20,000. The ride has been renamed Scenic Pend Oreille River Train (SPORT). “It’s going to be very similar to the Lions’ train rides that people know and love, just a different route and more enhanced experience,” says Nadine Parker, chairwoman of the Rotary

train ride committee. Parker says 250 tickets have been sold for the first day. Train rides will run through the weekends of Aug. 26 and 27, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, Oct. 7 and 8, and Oct. 14 and 15. The new route runs from Newport to Dalkena and back. The 24-mile round trip will take an hour and a half. There are three historic coaches and three covered open cars, along with the caboose. Those in the open cars can stand and walk around to get a 360 degree view during the ride. Riders should be on the lookout for train robbers (Pend Oreille Playhouse volunteers) dressed in period garb that could be old west or 1930’s gangsters, depending on the mood of the day. All proceeds raised from the “robbery” go to the Playhouse. See train, 8A

B r i e f ly Jogger killed in logging truck incident PRIEST RIVER – A fatality crash occurred last Thursday near Priest River when a logging truck hit a jogger. The incident occurred Aug. 3 at 9:53 a.m., in the 16000 block of Dufort Road just east of Priest River. A 1992 Kenworth Tractor

pulling a fully loaded log trailer, driven by Jesse R. Flory, 22, of Bonners Ferry, was negotiating a left hand curve at the same time Katherine Malone, 36, of Nashville, was jogging in the roadway. Flory’s truck overturned and a portion of the truck struck Malone. She was pronounced deceased

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at the scene and was transported by Sherman Campbell Funeral Home in Newport. Flory was not wearing a seatbelt. The investigation is still ongoing.

Relay for Life Friday NEWPORT – The annual Pend Oreille Valley

Relay for Life returns to Newport High School, starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, and ending at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12. The 24-hour event is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and benefits local cancer patients. Relay for Life events take place around the

world and continues to be a time-honored tradition in the Pend Oreille Valley. People can form teams to raise money or just come with friends and family to have a good time for a good cause. Teams can be comprised of families, friends, businesses, churches, schools, clubs or any

classifieds

6B

Opinion

4a

Record

5B

Life

1B

Police Reports

5B

sports

2B

Obituaries

5B

Public Notices

7B-8B

Bonner County Fair

3B

group of individuals that wants to get involved. This year’s theme is “Cancer doesn’t take a vacation.” There will be food vendors as well as games and music for people to enjoy throughout the event. For a list of events at Relay for Life, go to www.relayforlife.org/pendoreillevalleywa.com.

Kalispel Powwow

See page 4B highlights of the weekend


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080917newportminer by The Newport Miner - Issuu