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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

www.pendoreillerivervalley.com

Volume 109, Number 44 | 2 Sections, 24 Pages

75¢

Fiber project creates jobs $24 million spent on project so far to bring fiber to every home and business BY FRED WILLENBROCK OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – When the Obama administration launched a grant program a few years ago, it was called an economic stimulus grant. With the economy slumping, the cash was to create jobs and improve high-speed communications in rural areas. The Pend Oreille Public Utility District was

MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING

These Sadie Halstead Middle School students took part in the regional Math is Cool Competition, held in Spokane Nov. 2 Pictured are: Timmi Schonewald, Kari Goodrich, Maddie Green, Stephanie Huang, Parker Martin, Alex Poisel, Brock Rosen, Travis Dillon, Rylan Hastings, Chris Ownbey, Tyler Hill, Josh Cunningham, Justin Gill, Kody Campbell, Jace Hoadley and Mikhail Hammer. Schonewald, Martin, Cunningham, Dillon and Green traveled to Moses Lake for the state Math is Cool competition. Four students and an alternate qualified for the state competition, held Dec. 1 in Moses Lake.

Math is cool for these students

Middle schoolers compete in regional, state competitions BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – Anita Urman is impressed with her middle school math students. “They’re smart, they’re funny and they are

just fun to be around,” Urman said. She has been taking students to Math is Cool competitions for about three years. This year, she took 18 Sadie Halstead Middle School seventh and eighth graders to the regional competition in Spokane. Because of a computer glitch, Newport competed against larger schools.

Drivers licensing office no longer offering tests Driver testing to be conducted outside DOL across the state BY JANELLE ATYEO OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – As of Dec. 1, the Department of Licensing office in Newport is no longer offering driver knowledge and skills tests. The tests are required for new drivers or those without a valid license from out of state. The office on Washington Avenue in Newport, which is open one day a week, used to offer the tests. The office would close for an hour after lunch to take new drivers out on the road for their drivers test. Now those needing to take the test will have to visit the Department of Licensing offices

in Colville or Spokane Valley. Two private driving school companies are approved with the state to conduct the tests. In the past Spokane’s B&B Driving School has conducted classes at Newport High School. B&B is not on the state’s list of certified testing programs. At this time, B&B does not have classes scheduled in Newport. Driver tests that have previously been scheduled with the licensing office in Newport will be honored. The drivers licensing office at 320 S. Washington Ave. in Newport will still be open Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch). While they won’t offer the tests, you can still apply

SEE LICENSING, 2A

NEWPORT – Two ballot measures approved in this fall’s election take effect Thursday, Dec. 6 in Washington. The recreational use of marijuana will be legal, and same-sex couples can get a marriage license. It will take much of next year before the state sets up rules for marijuana sales and licenses retail stores, but starting Thursday, adults 21 and over can partake in the privacy of their own homes. People can have up to an ounce of marijuana, but driving under the influence is illegal. Marriage licenses for same sex couples can be issued starting Thursday. While King County offices are planning to open at midnight Dec. 6 to begin issuing licenses, Pend Oreille County auditor Mari-

SEE FIBER, 2A

Sen. Bob Morton announces retirement PCOs to select candidates to fill seat as of Jan. 1 BY JANELLE ATYEO OF THE MINER

When they arrived, they found they weren’t in any category, Urman said. The correct classification was filled, so Newport competed with the larger schools. The students held their own, however, with the eighth grade team of Travis Dillon, Josh Cunningham, Chris Ownbey and Maddie

KETTLE FALLS – After 22 years representing Northeast Washington in Olympia, Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, will retire Jan. 1. “Sen. Morton is a big, big loss (for the district). He was well respected in all of state government,” Morton SEE MORTON, 12A

SEE MATH, 2A

Changes continue at River Mountain Village District hires new manager, investigation complete BY MICHELLE NEDVED OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – An independent investigation at River Mountain Village Assisted Living in Newport is mostly complete, after a string of complaints from residents, their families and employees. Tom Wilbur, CEO of the Newport Hospital and Health Services that operates RMV, said the investigation found nothing that wasn’t already included in a report conducted by the Department of Social and Health Services in September. Some of those issues were yet to be “cleaned up,” Wilbur said. Assessment paperwork needed to be done. The investigation was conducted

|| Marijuana, same sex marriage legal Thursday

one of the few lucky ones to get a grant. The verdict is still out on how well stimulus programs have improved the overall economy in the country but in Pend Oreille County, 115 people have been working and a high speed fiber network to every home and business in the south end of the county is only months from completion – a system that would never have been built without the $27.3 million federal stimulus grant. Other benefits from the

by Alice Femingson who owns an assisted living facility in Ritzville and has been in the business for more than 25 years. She stayed on at RMV to help with a few things because of the resignation of RN Debra Chitwood, the manager of the facility. She quit Tuesday, Nov. 20, after a tumultuous hospital board meeting Thursday, Nov. 15. The district has hired a new manager, Michele Page of Usk, who begins the position Dec. 12, Wilbur said. Page has 15 to 20 years of experience in assisted living. In the meantime, RN Sue Kowalczyk is filling in as manager. She has worked for the district at both Long Term Care and as backup at RMV. Many complaints were noted in a report from the Department SEE RMV, 2A

B R I E F LY

anne Nichols is not expecting a rush. The state changed its marriage certificate, giving couples the option of gender-neutral or genderspecific terms. The certificates now have the term “spouse” along with the existing language that includes “bride” and “groom.” Couples can check a box to choose the term they prefer. Though the state passed them, local voters were mostly against the two measures.

Case of voter fraud under investigation NEWPORT – The Pend Oreille County Sheriff is investigating a case of possible voter fraud, according to county prosecutor Tom Metzger, who recommended the case be investigated. Elections officials became aware of the situation

MINER PHOTO|ROSEMARY DANIEL

Falls decked for Christmas Alexis Hopkins poses with Santa at Metaline Falls Busta Park. Lots of kids and parents were on hand Friday evening, Nov. 30 for the annual tree lighting ceremony. Santa arrived by fire truck and greeted the children and posed for photos and helped Metaline Falls Mayor Tara Leininger turn on the lights on the town Christmas tree. On Saturday, the Cutter Theatre was filled with vendors and shoppers during the annual Deck the Falls Arts and Crafts.

||

when a man came to get a ballot on Election Day, claiming he hadn’t received one. Elections officials checked and found that the man had apparently voted, although he said he hadn’t. They let him cast a provisional ballot, but that ballot was thrown out after the canvassing board found a ballot had been cast Oct. 23 in the man’s name. The signature on the Oct. 23 ballot appeared to be close enough to the signature on file that it didn’t make officials suspicious when they first checked the signature, so they counted the ballot. Once counted, it is impossible to withdraw the vote, since elections officials don’t know how the ballot was marked, according to elections supervisor Liz Krizenesky. It is thought that someone in the man’s house

voted for him, without his knowledge.

Election results made official NEWPORT – The results of the general election in Pend Oreille County were canvassed Nov. 27, making them official. The official voter turnout was 82.6 percent with 6,832 ballots returned. Statewide, voter turnout was 81.25 percent. The final numbers for the commissioner races were Karen Skoog (3,826) over Diane Wear (2,513) in District 1 and in District 3 it was Steve Kiss (3,430) over Tim Ibbetson (2,091). On the local measures, the maintenance and operations levy for the Sacheen Lake Sewer and Water District was approved 169 to 87 votes. Fire District 5’s levy lid lift was approved 52 to 38 votes.

SPORTS 8A-9A - RECORD 8B - POLICE 8B - OPINION 4A - CLASSIFIEDS 9B-12B - PUBLIC NOTICES 11B-12B - DOWN RIVER 11A - LIFE 6B - OBITUARIES 8B


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