The Newport Miner THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNTY SINCE 1901
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
PUD, Kalispels reach deal
Tribe would take over fish restoration in exchange for $72 million BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – A historic agreement between Pend
Volume 116, Number 37 | 2 Sections, 28 Pages
$1.00
Oreille Public Utility District No. 1 and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians will see the PUD pay the tribe $72 million over the next 25 years to avoid more than $130 million in bond, principal and interest payments on the bonds, as well as some other costs, according to PUD Director of Finance April Owen. The bonds would have been used to fiSEE DEAL, 2A
Call for Kiss’ recusal BY CANEEL JOHNSON OF THE MINER COURTESY PHOTO|KALISPEL TRIBE OF INDIANS
NEWPORT – Responsible Growth*Ne Washington (RGNEW) and Citizens Against the Newport Silicon Smelter (CANSS) are calling for the recusal of Pend Oreille County Commissioner Steve Kiss from the amendment of the public land designation section of Pend Oreille County’s Comprehensive Plan. A letter written by the Rick Eichstaedt, the attorney for Responsible Growth*NE Washington, and Norman Semanko, the attorney for CANSS dated Oct. 2 states that Kiss bought 53 acres of land near the Mill Pond Flume from the PUD Nov. 17, 2016 at $33,000. The land is currently designated public land. Responsible Growth and CANSS believe that any involvement by Kiss in re-designating the land would be unethical and give cause to question the legality of any land use action. SEE RECUSAL, 2A
The exterior of Kalispel Market, which opens Wednesday, Oct. 17, and will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Kalispel Tribe to host grand opening of Kalispel Market CUSICK – The Kalispel Tribe of Indians announced the grand opening of Kalispel Market Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 1 p.m. Kalispel Market is the latest of the tribe’s economic expansion endeavors in Pend Oreille County. Pend Oreille County is clas-
sified as a food desert. A food desert is defined as an area whose residents, many of them low-income, have little to no access to affordable and nutritious food. The Kalispel Tribe sought to solve this problem by building an 8,622-square-foot retail space
that features a large dairy cooler, weekly fresh produce deliveries from Spokane Produce, as well as a selection of popular grocery items and paper products. Outside space, located adjacent SEE KALISPEL, 2A
Pend Oreille Public Utility District Commissioner candidates answer questions Joe Onley Age: 64 Town of residence: Newport Occupation: Retired Education: Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Gonzaga Family: Wife, Lynn, three adult children 1. Did you agree with the PUD’s decision to declare Ponderay Newsprint Company in breech of contract for sending low electric use projections in 2016? Are you content with the outcome of the
settlement between the PUD and the PNC? Why or why not? What did the PUD get out of the settlement? Did the lawsuit affect ratepayers? If so, how? If not, Onley how is that possible? “I think the decision the PUD made was a kneejerk reaction (by) inexperienced management,” Onley said. “I believe when you have such a valued customer, you talk things over a little bit and figure out what’s SEE ONLEY, 14A
Dan Peterson Age: 64 Occupation: Pastor of Grace Bible Church of Diamond Lake, PUD commissioner Town of Residence: near Diamond Lake Education: Masters degree in theology, Whitworth University; undergraduate degrees in communication studies from Biola University and theology from Multnomah University Family: wife, Debbie; three adult daughters, 10 grandchildren 1. Did you agree with the PUD’s
decision to declare Ponderay Newsprint Company in breech of contract for sending low electric use projections received in 2016. Are you content with the Peterson outcome of the settlement between the PUD and the PNC? Why or why not? What did the PUD get out of the settlement? Did the lawsuit affect ratepayers? If so, how? If not, how is that possible? SEE PETERSON, 13A
B R I E F LY DOE scoping questions workshops coming up BLANCHARD – Presentations on writing scoping questions for the Washington State Department of Ecology will be held the Blanchard Community Center Monday, Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. The center is located at 685 Rusho Road. There will also be a presentation Friday, Oct. 22, 6-8 p.m. at the Sacheen Lake Fire Station, 6131 Highway 211, Newport. For more information, call 509-447-7958. Both events are non-partisan and potlucks. They
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CLASSIFIEDS
are hosted by Responsible Growth NE Washington.
Employment, Career Fair Thursday NEWPORT — The Economic Development Council and are hosting an Employment and Career Fair for students and job seekers in the community. The event is set to take place at Newport High School on Thursday, Oct. 11 from 3:30-7 p.m. Local employers, colleges, universities, apprenticeship programs, military recruiters and veteran services will be on site to share their job openings, 10B-14B
provide employment resources such as resume screening and application tips. In addition, participants can network and learn career field and job training program information. This event is free. It is brought to you by the Pend Oreille County Economic Development Council, Spokane Community College, Newport School District, Newport Hospital and Health Services, Rural Resources Community Action, and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians. For more information contact Jamie Wyrobek at 509-447-5569.
OPINION
4A
RECORD
7B
SPORTS
4B-6B
LIFE
1B
POLICE REPORTS
7B
OBITUARIES
7B
PUBLIC NOTICES
12B-14B
CANDIDATES
10A-11A
HALLOWEEN COLORING CONTEST SEE PAGES 12A, 2B, 3B, 7B, 8B