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The Newport Miner

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THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901

75¢

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

www.pendoreillerivervalley.com

Volume 109, Number 46 | 2 Sections, 24 Pages

Three candidates up for Senate seat BY JANELLE ATYEO OF THE MINER

COLVILLE – The top three candidates have emerged from a field of nine seeking the 7th District Senate seat of Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, who is retiring. Republican precinct committee officers (PCOs) from around the district gathered at Colville High COURTESY PHOTO|LARRY BROWN School Saturday, Dec. 15 to make Josh Kerns, left, John Smith and Doug Simpson were selected by PCOs as the three candi- their selection. Their top pick was John Smith, dates for the seat of retiring Sen. Bob Morton.

who has a small farm just south the year. It will be county comof the Canadian border in Stevens missioners from the five counties County. Doug Simpson was in the 7th District who choose his runner-up. He is replacement from a political camWHAT’S NEXT: the three candidates. paign strategist COUNTY commissioners The district includes and lobbyist from from the 7th District will all of Pend Oreille, Colville. The PCO’s have the deciding vote Stevens and Ferry third choice was when they gather Jan. 3 counties, as well as Josh Kerns of Mead, in Colville. parts of Spokane and who was Rep. John Okanogan counties. Ahern’s legislative assistant. All 15 commissioners – three After 22 years in Olympia, from each county – will meet in Morton is retiring at the first of Colville Jan. 3 to vote. A specific

time and place has yet to be announced. A total 82 PCOs voted Saturday by secret ballot. They voted on one position at a time. In the first vote, no candidate got a majority, so the bottom three vote-getters were removed. Smith won the second vote. Subsequently, everyone but the winner comes back for another round of voting. After voting a SEE MORTON, 2A

Turbines, Boundary power drive up costs for PUD Rate increase included in budget

next spring, and work on the final new turbine will begin next year. The capital cost for the work exBY JANELLE ATYEO ceeds $20 million in the next year. OF THE MINER The entire project is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2014. NEWPORT – The Pend Oreille The new turbines are expected Public Utility District board apto produce more power. Under a proved the 2013 budget Tuesday, contract with the PUD’s largest Dec. 18. While the customer, Ponbudget, totaling deray Newsprint, “I look at it as being nearly $93 million, Canyon must proactive in managing Box is down slightly from produce 51.75 the current year, costs rate increases. We just megawatts per are increasing due to want to keep these hour. If it does the turbine replacenot, the PUD must increases manageable purchase power, ment project and other license-related to our customers.” which is budgeted work at Box Canyon for $315,000. Dam. A 2.5 percent Ponderay pays for April Owen rate increase planned Auditor, on the 2.5 power at cost. Their for in this budget will percent rate increase bill is expected generate almost a half to increase by 15 million dollars. percent next year The district will spend about to $32.9 million. $30 million on projects related to The budget shows a $30,000 relicensing Box Canyon. They will decrease in cash flow. The financial spend $15.6 million – $6.78 million team says the district has sufficient in principal and $8.85 million in in- cash reserves to cover the gap. terest payments – in 2013 for bond In other dam-related projects, payments financing this relicensing work will begin on reducing the debt. total dissolved gas that results from Those bonds cover the costs of spilling water. The project is budgetreplacing the dam’s four turbines. The third new unit will be installed SEE PUD, 9A

MINER PHOTOS|DON GRONNING

Christmas music delights at annual concert Above: Rocco Sherman, left, Daryl Walker and Mitchell Cunningham play drums and Jasmin Hanni, left, plays flute during the annual Christmas concert held Wednesday, Dec. 12 at Sadie Halstead Middle School in Newport. Music students from middle school and high school, under the direction of Barbara Bell, performed in the annual event, which was well received by a full house of family, friends and community.

Two arrested for burglaries Minnesota pair arrested in separate case BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – Pend Oreille County Sheriff deputies were busy last week, arresting two people for a burglary spree on Open Skies Road and another pair of fugitives on the run from Minnesota. Wednesday, Dec. 12, a person

called the Pend Oreille County dispatch to report a neighbor’s residence on Open Skies Road, about six miles south of Usk on the east side of the Pend Oreille River, had been burglarized. Deputies went to investigate what turned out to be multiple burglaries on Open Skies Road. Deputies found that eight residences were burglarized, with property damage and thousands

of dollars worth of personal property stolen. Their investigation, which included citizen tips and physical evidence, led them to focus attention on James L. Nenema, 25, and his girlfriend Sahah J. Luscier, 25, both of Cusick, according to Pend Oreille County Sheriff Alan Botzhiem. SEE ARREST, 10A

|| Miner closed Christmas, Christmas Eve NEWPORT – The Newport and Gem State Miner Newspaper offices will be closed Monday, Dec. 24 and Tuesday, Dec. 25 for Christmas Eve and Christmas. The deadline for classified and display advertising is Thursday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. The deadline for Lifestyle items is Thursday at noon, and news items are due by 5 p.m.

Newport Ambulance properties fail to auction NEWPORT – The properties seized by the IRS from the owners of Newport Ambulance did not sell

Kiss to serve on two boards temporarily Law unclear on whether person can serve on two county elected boards BY MICHELLE NEDVED OF THE MINER

USK – One of the newly elected Pend Oreille County commissioners plans to serve double duty for three months in 2013. Steve Kiss, who won the election for the District 3 county commissioner, plans to maintain his seat on the Port of Pend Oreille board of commissioners until March 31, 2013, port manager Kelly Driver said.

B R I E F LY

at auction two weeks ago. According to IRS spokesman David Tucker, the minimum bid on the three properties was not met. Tucker said he could not speak regarding the specific case, but in general terms, when the minimum bid is not met the property could go back to the taxpayers, Steven and Michelle Groom, or be held by the IRS and auctioned again in the future. If it is put up for auction in the future, a legal advertisement will run in The Miner Newspapers. The IRS seized three properties from Newport Ambulance, two residential properties in downtown Newport and the commercial property on Washington Avenue. Newport Ambulance has since crossed the border and operates out of Old-

Kiss did not return calls to The Miner. When asked by The Miner, county prosecutor Tom Metzger said the legality of Kiss serving on both boards is very muddy. “At the outset, I know of no existing statutory prohibition against simultaKiss neous service, by the same individual, as a Port District Commissioner and as a County Commissioner,” Metzger said in an email SEE KISS, 2A

||

town, and is now a non-profit organization. Steve Groom has said the IRS seizure will not impact operations and no other equipment was seized.

Government offices close for holidays NEWPORT – With Christmas falling on a Tuesday this year, many government offices are closing early Monday, Dec. 24. Most Pend Oreille County offices will be closed Dec. 24 and 25. Offices in the old county courthouse will be closed Monday and Tuesday, including the auditor, assessor, commissioners, extension, planning, roads and treasurer. The courts will close early Monday. The board of commissioners will not

be meeting the week of Dec. 24 or Dec. 31. The next meeting will be Jan. 2. The Pend Oreille Public Utility District offices in Newport will be closing Monday, Dec. 24 at 1 p.m. Offices will re-open Wednesday, Dec. 26. Newport city hall will be closed Monday. Ione town offices will close at noon Christmas Eve. Priest River, Oldtown and Metaline Falls offices will be open Monday. Pend Oreille County libraries will close early Monday, Dec. 24 at 4 p.m. for Christmas Eve. Branches will open as usual Wednesday at 1 p.m. The U.S. Postal Service will deliver mail Monday, Dec. 24 and post offices will be open regular hours. There will be no mail delivery Tuesday.

SPORTS 6A-8A - RECORD 7B - POLICE 7B - OPINION 4A - CLASSIFIEDS 8B-9B - PUBLIC NOTICES 10B - DOWN RIVER 9A - LIFE 6A - OBITUARIES 7B


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