Sept. 15, 2021 - The Newport Miner

Page 1

The Newport Miner THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNTY SINCE 1901

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

www.pendoreillerivervalley.com

Volume 119, Number 34 | 2 Sections, 16 Pages $1.00

Four interviewed for Newport city administrator BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – Nearly four months after Newport City Administrator Russ Pelleberg resigned, the city has concluded interviews with four candidates and is preparing to make an offer, Mayor Shirley Sands said. “As long as resumes and references line up, I think I’ll have a pretty good idea Monday,” Sands said. When contacted Monday, Sept. 13, Sands said she is in the process of checking with city attorney Laura McAloon about final details. “I am just finishing my homework on the candidates and I have been in contact with our attorney on details and then will contact candidate,” Sands said in a text message Monday. Sands, mayor pro-tem Keith Campbell, longtime council member Ken Smith, city public works director Dave North, city clerk Nickole North and wastewater treatment plant supervisor Josh Howard reviewed resumes from nine candidates and agreed on three to interview. After they picked three a community member applied and they agreed to interview the community member. Sands said she asked Campbell, who is running against her for mayor, to be a part of the interview process because he’s mayor pro-tem. Smith was asked because he’s the longest serving council member and staff was asked because they would have to work with the administrator. Pelleberg will receive his last city paycheck the end of September, Sands said, as called for by his contract. Sands said she didn’t fire Pelleberg. When asked if she asked Pelleberg to resign, Sands said she did. Pelleberg’s contract stipulated that if he were asked to resign he would receive three month’s severance pay in monthly payments. “His last paycheck will be the end of September,” Sands said. Sands said the matter is now being handled by the city’s insurance carrier, Cities Insurance of Washington. Their attorney is in touch with Pelleberg’s attorney, Sands said. Sands said she didn’t anticipate a further payment. “That’s what I know to be true today,” Sands said Friday. “It could change, but right now that’s what I know to be true.”

MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING

Robert Rosencrantz is sworn in as Pend Oreille County commissioner by District Court Judge Robin McCroskey Thursday, Sept. 9, after his appointment as the District 2 position left vacant when Mike Manus resigned.

Rosencrantz chosen for county commissioner publican precinct committee officers. Commission chairman Brian Smiley said the selection process went pretty smoothly, with a few hiccups. Gentle said selecting the new commissioner was a hard decision. Smiley said he appreciated all the candidates who applied. He agreed with Gentle that it wasn’t an easy decision. He urged Parker and Moody not to give up on engaging in public service. Rosencrantz thanked the commissioners for the appointment and shook hands with Moody and Parker after he was named. Rosencrantz was elected to Pend Oreille County Hospital District No. 1 in 2020, which is a six-year term. “I discussed staying on as a hospital board commissioner with Pend

BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – Pend Oreille County now has a full county commission after the remaining commissioners Brian Smiley and John Gentle chose Robert Rosencrantz for the District 2 position left vacant with the resignation of former commission chairman Mike Manus. Rosencrantz was chosen after Gentle and Smiley conducted public interviews with the three people forwarded to them by the Pend Oreille County Republican Party, which had a role in choosing Manus’ successor since Manus served as a Republican. In addition to Rosencrantz, Rob Parker and Troy Moody were selected from a group of seven by county Re-

COURTESY PHOTO|JOHN NICOLAS

SEE COMMISSIONER, 2A

COVID spread worsens

Climbing the mountain to honor others

Stephanie Thomson, Jacob Hogue, Randy Miller and Jen Barcklay hiked to the top of South Baldy Mountain in honor of the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11.

Oreille County Prosecuting Attorney Dolly Hunt, an attorney from MRSC [Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington] and an attorney with WSHA [Washington State Hospital Association],” he wrote The Miner in an email. “They all thought it was best to resign from the hospital position, which I have done.” He will serve the remainder of Manus’ term until 2022, and then will have to stand election. The hospital district has started the process to fill Rosencrantz’ commissioner position, hospital spokesperson Jenny Smith said. Pend Oreille County residents can apply. The candidates will then go through an interview process in an

NEWPORT – In honor of the 343 firefighters who lost their lives 20 years ago in the 9/11 attacks in New York, four members from South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue decided to make up a team and participate in Spokane’s 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Event. The event usually takes place in the Bank of America Center downtown, but COVID-19 prevented that from happening. This year participants were asked to perform an individual SEE HONOR, 8A

BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – The amount of COVID-19 disease in the community is at an all time high, Northeast Tri County Health District Administrator Matt Schanz told reporters last Friday. “There’s significant community spread,” Schanz said. “We’re asking people to mask up in public. That’s what will help us get through the next month.” He said there have been two COVID-19 deaths in Pend Oreille County since Aug. 15, bringing the county death toll since the start of the pandemic to 11.

District Health Officer Dr. Sam Artzis said emergency rooms in all three counties are under strain, referring to Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties. “We can’t keep up,” Artzis said. “We’re in triage mode.” Newport Hospital and Health Services Chief Nursing Officer Theresa Hollinger said the surge of COVID in the community was affecting staffing levels at the hospital. Hospital staff have families and when there is an outbreak at a daycare, it can mean family members are exposed and have to isolate. SEE COVID, 2A

B R I E F LY Blanchard Library dedication this Saturday BLANCHARD – A celebration to dedicate the Blanchard Branch Library will take place Saturday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m. at the Blanchard Library. Refreshments will be served.

Follow us on Facebook

The Blanchard Library first opened its doors at 412 Railroad Avenue in February 2005. It was housed in a leased modular until 2016, when property owners Larry and Cindy Cunningham gifted land to the library district making it possible to plan for a permanent structure.

Work began on a leased triple wide office unit, which was placed on a foundation. The interior was retrofitted to the library’s specifications, the exterior was sided, and landscaping was completed. In less than two years the building lease will be up, releasing more tax dollars to go toward library services.

CLASSIFIEDS

6B

OPINION

4A

RECORD

5B

LIFE

3B

POLICE REPORTS

5B

SPORTS

1B-2B

OBITUARIES

5B

PUBLIC NOTICES

7B-8B

BOOSTER

4B

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

MEET YOUR GRIZZLIES, PANTHERS, RANGERS SEE INSIDE


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Sept. 15, 2021 - The Newport Miner by The Newport Miner - Issuu