The Newport Miner the voice of pend oreille county since 1901
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Volume 113, Number 45 | 2 Sections, 24 Pages 75¢
‘We’re not a growing county’ Anticipated budget reflects road levy shift
By Sophia Aldous Of The Miner
Miner photo|Sophia Aldous
Topping it off holiday style Husband and wife team Harry and Sandy Loskill put the top on the Newport/Priest River Rotary Club’s Christmas tree at The Festival of Trees. Businesses and organizations came to decorate their respective trees Friday, Dec. 2 at Sadie Halstead Middle School in preparation for the festival the following day. For more photos, see page 9A.
Of The Miner
NEWPORT – Newport water and sewer customers will see a $2 a month increase – $1 for sewer and a $1 for water – starting Jan. 15, 2017. The city council, on the recommendation of city clerk Nickole North, approved the increases to the basic water and sewer rates at its Nov. 22 meeting following a public hearing. Nobody testified at the hearing. The council also established a third tier of water overage charges for high use water users and a second tier for high use sewer users.
See Budget, 2A
Newport schools will run levy
Newport sewer, water rates going up By Don Gronning
NEWPORT – As Pend Oreille County Commissioners and department heads continue to pound out the budget for 2017, commissioner Mike Manus says that numbers are coming together, but a final definitive figure has yet to be decided upon. Commissioners are still negotiating with several unions representing county employees and it looks like there will be no building and maintenance projects or more hiring in 2017. “We’ve cut out major projects for building and maintenance next year and are currently focused on completing the projects that have already started and are funded, like the jail and residing the county shop
According to city administrator Ray King, the increases are needed to provide revenue for the new wells that are being drilled and for upgrades to the pumps at the wastewater treatment plant. He said he anticipates many expenses associated with the water system next year as well as in the future. The last increase in water and sewer rates was last year, when the council upped the rates by $1. North said the increases to the base water and sewer rates are expected to generate $30,000. The third tier for high water users – those who use
Voters will decide Feb. 14
By Sophia Aldous Of The Miner
NEWPORT – Love and a levy will be in the air
when voters in the Newport School District decide whether or not to approve a three year supplemental levy on Valentine’s Day,
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. The only question is will voters love the idea of a See school levy, 2A
See City COuncil, 2A
Levy to benefit both libraries By Michelle Nedved Of The Miner
PRIEST RIVER – Library patrons in both Priest River and Blanchard will see the benefits of the West Bonner Library District levy voters approved in November. The $800,000 levy needed 55 percent to pass, and did by six votes. “I don’t like new taxes
either,” District Board Chairman Carl Wright said, but he sees the need for the levy funds. Currently, the Priest River Library uses a 1960’s 12 by 50 foot trailer behind the library for storage and book sales. The levy will be used to build a 3,600-foot addition to the library on Main Street, which will be energy efficient and handicap accessible.
It will provide more room for seating and programs and services, as the trail cannot be used for public services because of its lack of ADA features. At the Blanchard site, the district spends $900 a month to rent a 1992 modular building from out-of-state landlords. The land where the modular building is
Miner photo|Rosemary Daniel
Santa arrives with snow Santa Claus arrived in a snowstorm Friday evening, Dec. 2, to kick off the Deck the Falls celebration in Metaline Falls. Children of all ages were excited to see him.
See WB Library, 11A
B r i e f ly Vehicle rollover results in death NEWPORT – A vehicle rollover that occurred Thursday, Dec. 1, 14-miles north of Newport resulted in the death of Mark J. Bednar, 60. According to the Washington State Patrol, Bednar was traveling northbound on Highway 211 just south of Jared Road. Around 1:36 p.m. his white 2004 Ford pickup crossed the center lane and went into the southbound ditch, down an embankment and into a field, rolled, and came to rest on its wheels. Bednar was transported to Newport Hospital where he was announced deceased. There were no passengers in the vehicle. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
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classifieds Life Obituaries
Santa is coming to Cusick CUSICK – Santa Claus will be visiting the Cusick American Legion Sunday, Dec. 11 from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Cookies and punch will be served.
Hometown Christmas in Newport this weekend NEWPORT – It’s a Hometown Christmas in downtown Newport Saturday, Dec. 10. Events begin at 2 p.m., organized by the Greater Newport Area Chamber of Commerce. 9B-10B
Make a gingerbread house at the Hospitality House from 2-4 p.m. Hang an ornament on the town’s Christmas Tree from 2-5 p.m. at Centennial Plaza on the south end of Washington Avenue. Get a picture taken with Santa Claus from 2-5 p.m. in the gazebo. The Newport High School Choir will sing Christmas carols from 3:30-4:30 p.m. along Washington Avenue, and the town’s Christmas tree will be lit at 4:45 p.m., with a Christmas Carol sing-a-long. Hot cocoa and hot dogs will be served. The cocoa is courtesy of Newport Soroptimists and Newport High School ASB. The hot dogs are provided by the city of Newport.
Opinion
4a
Record
8B
8A
Police Reports
8B
sports
6B-7B
8B, 12B
Public Notices
10B-12B
Christmas
1B-5B
Christmas is coming fast Shop locally See pages 1B-5B