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The Newport Miner THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
www.pendoreillerivervalley.com
Green Bluff Schedule See 1B
Volume 109, Number 21 | 2 Sections, 18 Pages
75¢
Land owners near Diamond Lake outlet want say Weed killing delayed, beaver permits pending
bought the property just a year after the 1997 flood. A large shed on the east side BY JANELLE ATYEO of the driveway is raised up a OF THE MINER bit. Not 10 feet beyond it, the grass squishes wet with water DIAMOND LAKE – With from the creek. Balentine said water high at Diamond Lake, it’s not uncommon. Living near lakeside dwellers are looking a stream, high water is to be at ways to get water moving expected during certain times through the outlet at Moon of the year, and homebuilders Creek. Residents that live along should plan for it when they the tree-flanked channel that build, she believes. they refer to as the boulevard, “I would love a basement, but say working in the stream is my water table doesn’t allow fine, but they’d like to be part it,” Balentine says. “Because of the process – it is their back what’s the point of having an yard, after all. indoor Some feel early The trails are flooded now, swimbut Balentine said that’s summer is not ming the time to treat typical for spring. pool?” weeds, with the high water and Are young animals all around. And beaver dams the issue? they’d like to know how the The Balentines’ boys love water level will be managed if canoeing the boulevard, swimtubes are installed to move wa- ming the ponds behind the beater through the beaver dams. ver dams and hiking the high They worry that the peaceful trail along the creek. The trails stream will evaporate to nothare flooded now, but Balentine ing once warmer weather hits. said that’s typical for spring. “In the fall, I’m lucky to getThe beaver dams have been ting a trickle out of that creek,” there in all the 14 years the said Cheryl Balentine who lives Balentines have lived there. west of Diamond Lake. Moon She doesn’t believe that the Creek flows under North Shore dam is the problem. Road and through her back “I don’t understand what the yard. big issue is,” she said. “If they drain that down by Others question if that’s the two feet, I’m not going to have area to target too. The Washany water,” she said. ington Department of Fish and The Balentines planned for Wildlife issued a hydraulic perwater when they built their house 14 years ago. They SEE DIAMOND, 2A
MINER PHOTO|DON GRONNING
Bucking stock from the McMillan-Layton rodeo company really fired at this year’s rodeo. Here Jacob Porter of Ponderay, Idaho, tries to ride Sadie, the former ProWest Bareback Horse of the Year during the Friday night performance. Porter did not make a qualified ride.
Rodeo activities not stopped by rain BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – When the lightning flashed and thunder boomed prior to the start of the Friday night performance of the Newport Rodeo, it brought with it excitement. By the time the Rodeo Parade rolled
around Saturday people were tired of it. “Parade entries were down,” Newport mayor Shirley Sands said. The parade, which normally takes about an hour, was over in 40 minutes she said. There were 65 parade entries, down from about 100 in better years. Sands attributes it to
BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
DIAMOND LAKE – A long simmering dispute between the owners of a vacation rental on Diamond Lake and Pend Oreille County was brought to county commissioners during the public comment period at their meeting Monday, June 25. At issue is Inn at the Lake, a vacation rental located at 581 South Shore Road. The county maintains it is in violation of several county codes. The owners maintain since the inn has been operating before the county established land use zoning, it is grandfathered in. The county sees it differently. According to a June 18 notice of violation letter from community development director Mike Lithgow, the Inn at the Lake is in violation of the International Building Code, the county zoning code and is an unauthorized vacation rental. Lithgow said the county issued a building permit in 1991 for a three-
bedroom, four-bathroom residence. The county issued another building permit in 2006 to convert a garage into a bedroom and bathroom. But the inn represents it has seven bedrooms and baths available for
were 226 entries this year, up from about 165 last year. For the first time, the Colville Rodeo was held the same days as Newport, which may have had something to do with the increased number of entries. Competitors could work two roSEE RODEO, 2A
Celebrate with fireworks this Fourth of July
County says inn violates vacation rental laws Inn at the Lake owners say grandfathered in
the rain. Rob Owen of Owen’s Grocery and Deli said he didn’t do as much business as he normally does on a parade day. “It was the weather,” he said. The weather didn’t keep the cowboys and cowgirls from coming to compete in the rodeo. There
rent. The three additional bedrooms were constructed without going to the county for a building permit, Lithgow wrote, and is a violation of the IBC and county code.
NEWPORT – It’s time to conjure that spirit of 1776 and celebrate our nation’s Independence. The Fourth of July lands in the middle of the week this year, but that won’t stop local communities from celebrating with a day of parades, barbecues, music and of course, fireworks to top it all off. On of the biggest Fourth of July events in the area, the festivities and fireworks display put on by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, is back on for this year. The event was canceled due to flooding at the
SEE RENTAL, 2A
powwow grounds last year. Starting at 3 p.m., there will be a free catered picnic meal. Other festivities start at 2 p.m., including live bands featuring On Tap with Darin Truitt and more. For the kids, there will be games and prizes, waterslides and a dunk tank. It ends with the largest fireworks display in the region. This is a drug- and alcohol-free event. No RVs or SEE FIREWORKS, 2A
Economic Development Council awards more than $40,000 in grants BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER
FILE PHOTO|NEWPORT MINER
The Inn at the Lake as viewed from the water. The 7,000 square foot building has seven bedrooms and bathrooms.
|| Border Patrol can sidestep environmental laws WASHINGTON D.C. – A new bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives June 19 gives the U.S. Boarder Patrol the authority to sidestep 16 environmental regulations on federal lands within 100 miles of the Canadian and Mexican borders. That would encompass the entire 41,335-acre Salmo-Priest Wilderness area in northern Pend Oreille County. Under restrictions for such designated wilderness areas, agents wouldn’t be able to drive vehicles through that area. It restricts motorized traffic, even bicycles. Agent James Frackelton of the Border Patrol’s Spokane sector said they could not comment on the pending legislation. Opponents have questioned the need for the bill to
NEWPORT – Computers, kayak storage and insurance are three of the things the Pend Oreille Economic Development Council approved funding when it met Wednesday, June 20 in Newport.
B R I E F LY
apply to the Canadian border especially. They say there is little evidence that illegal immigrants are hiking through wilderness areas in an attempt to reach the U.S., the Associated Press reported. The Obama administration opposes the bill.
Rules for park’s timber revenue still unclear NEWPORT – Pend Oreille County commissioners have considered using money from a timber sale on county park land to help balance the general fund budget. While a resolution passed by a previous board states that any revenue from trees cut within the park must be used for park projects, the commissioners may be able to change the resolution and use the money elsewhere.
Once some issues are resolved they could distribute $41,420 in funds to six organizations. The Greater Newport Area Chamber of Commerce and the Cutter Theatre were approved for funds for two projects. SEE ECONOMIC, 7A
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Commissioner John Hankey spoke with staff from the Department of Natural Resources, who gave the county the park land four years ago. He said there is some gray area as to how the money can be used. “It’s understood that it’s supposed to be put back into recreation,” he said, “but it’s never been tested.” It isn’t written in the deed for the Section 16 property that the harvest revenue must go to parks, he said. The board has made no decisions about the park money yet.
Next Miner issue to be out Thursday NEWPORT – With the Fourth of July holiday landing on a Wednesday this year, The Miner Newspaper will be delivered to post office boxes Thursday, July
5. It will also be at newsstands Thursday. All deadlines remain the same. The Miner office will be closed Wednesday, July 4, re-opening Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
Speed limit change meeting canceled PRIEST RIVER – The city of Priest River’s special meeting to discuss the lowering of the speed limit on Highway 2 east of town was canceled Monday night. A new hearing has yet to be scheduled. The owner of Harrison Dock Buildings, which is located on the south side of Highway 2 on the far east edge of the city, requested that the 45 mph speed limit be extended past his driveways, allowing his trucks to enter and exit without having to deal with traffic going 60 mph.
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