Slices of Wenatchee: Recent Episodes
Wenatchee World
Explore the people, news and events that keep the Wenatchee Valley moving forward with Wenatchee World's podcast. Slices of Wenatchee brings you insights into the vibrant Apple Capital of the World three days a week.
https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/
This is our last episode for now. We’ve loved bringing you a closer look at the stories and people that are making a difference across North Central Washington every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday… and we’re grateful for every listener who came along for the ride.
Make sure to head to wenatcheeworld.com. It’s the best place to stay connected to local news and everything happening in North Central Washington.
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Today - Blewett Pass is holding barely a quarter of the snowpack it had this time last year, and wildfire agencies say what happens next will shape the severity of the summer ahead.
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Today - A landmark piece of Wenatchee Valley art is headed for a comeback, with major funding now set aside to restore it and put it back on public display.
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Today - In Wenatchee, churches and immigrant advocates are adjusting in real time as concerns about immigration enforcement continue to circulate across the region.
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Today - A Douglas County judge has dismissed a criminal case after allegations that the county’s top prosecutor directed staff to withhold key information from a colleague.
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Today - A Wenatchee family says they have not heard from a local mother and her 9-year-old son since the two were detained at a scheduled federal immigration check-in last week.
Read more: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/family-unable-to-locate-wenatchee-mother-son-after-ice-detention/article_8be27a2c-e35c-44bd-aaa6-4abb62abeca9.html#tncms-source=homepage-top-story
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Today - A packed auditorium, a student battling leukemia and a community rallying together — Wenatchee High School’s annual talent show raised nearly $3,000 to help one of its own.
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Today - Powder-keg warning signs were there nearly a year early — and a family in East Wenatchee is still living with what happened when help didn’t arrive in time.
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Catherine Ross arrives in a room like a confetti cannon disguised as a person: bright, a little sparkly and impossible to ignore once she’s gone off.
This year’s Washington State Apple Blossom Festival Royalty Selection Pageant emcee did not take a straight path to the microphone. Her story zigzags from Tacoma childhood stages to New York boardrooms, from operating roller coasters at Disney World to yoga training in Thailand, before circling back to Wenatchee: the place she now calls, simply and with relief, home.
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Today - At 100 years old, a Wenatchee soda fountain continues serving memories alongside milkshakes, holding steady as downtown changes around it.
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Today - Canceled citizenship ceremonies leave hopefuls in limbo across North Central Washington.
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Today - With backpacks, clipboards, and compassion, Wenatchee volunteers hit the streets to count — and connect with — their homeless neighbors.
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In this episode, a single narrator takes you inside Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort as ski instructor Otto Ross celebrates his 100th birthday at Hampton Lodge. The story traces Ross’ path from skiing on homemade gear as a kid to teaching his first lessons in 1950, training in Chamonix, serving on ski patrol and the 1960 Winter Olympics honor guard, and helping build Mission Ridge’s ski school when the resort opened in 1966. Along the way, it highlights the impact he had on generations of skiers—including his role in adaptive skiing—and ends with Ross’ simple perspective on longevity and what he hopes stays the same at Mission Ridge.
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Today - A candlelight vigil in Wenatchee gave community members a space to grieve and reflect on the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis VA nurse by Border Patrol.
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Mike “Maddog” Magnotti is a former Wenatchee police sergeant turned talk show host, columnist, and community theater actor whose life has swung from near-fatal infancy and a turbulent youth to decades of public service, performance, and outspoken commentary. Grounded by his nearly 50-year marriage to his wife Rosie and a faith that drives his views on justice and adoption, he’s built a local persona that’s loud, opinionated, and willing to challenge both his own institutions and the politics of the moment.
https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/whos-who-sday-mike-maddog-magnotti/article_b5631f6a-561c-4854-bca2-81ef9cb561fa.html#tncms-source=homepage-top-story
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Today - Ever wonder what happens when strangers gather over tea and cake to talk about death? In one Wenatchee group, that’s exactly the point.
https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/wenatchee-death-cafe-conversations-about-dying-life-and-loss/article_8b2beac7-88c9-43c2-949d-c88d77f003be.html
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Today - You might know his name, or maybe just his smile — today we’re spending time with Cameron Miller, a man whose daily walks have become part of the heartbeat of downtown Wenatchee.
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Today - Highway 2 through Tumwater Canyon is on the mend after December’s destructive flooding — but crews still face weeks of work before it’s safe to reopen.
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Today - Some longtime businesses on South Wenatchee Avenue say customer traffic is the slowest they’ve seen in decades — and they’re pointing to everything from inflation to industry shifts to safety concerns right outside their doors.
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Today - Wenatchee schools brace for major cuts as the district prepares to shrink its budget by more than $5 million next year.
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Today - A $5 million jury award to a former East Wenatchee Water District employee has been overturned by a federal judge.
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Today - A New Year’s arrival comes with a special title — Chelan County’s very first baby of 2026.
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Today - Federal rural health funding could bring big changes for Chelan and Douglas counties — but local hospitals are still waiting to find out just how much they’ll get.
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Today - Wenatchee residents gathered at Memorial Park to protest President Trump’s strike on Venezuela, calling it a dangerous precedent for U.S. military intervention.
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In this episode, we step inside HoneyHour Market at The Side Street Cashmere, a new grocery, café and wine lounge built around small producers and everyday community connection. Through narration, we explore the market floor, the shared Cottage Kitchen and the Velvet Den wine bar.
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Today - A Wenatchee man will serve 17 years in prison after being convicted on serious drug trafficking and firearm charges — we’ll walk you through what investigators found and how the case unfolded.
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Today - A new tax financing district near Malaga moves ahead despite strong opposition from Chelan County leaders and residents.
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When U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Snyder visits 85-year-old Vietnam veteran Don Welter at home in Wenatchee, a simple knock on the door becomes a rare moment of recognition, honor, and brotherhood that Alzheimer’s can’t erase.
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Today - A beloved Wenatchee tradition returns to the stage, showing how a volunteer-run fundraiser has quietly shaped generations of community giving.
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Today - Leavenworth’s lights are back on, but behind the glow is a story of grit, generosity, and a holiday season like no other.
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Today - A multigenerational pear orchard in Cashmere is beginning the long road to recovery after devastating flooding — and they’re not alone across Chelan County.
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Today - A mid-afternoon construction mishap forced evacuations and street closures in Wenatchee this week, after a gas line was struck near downtown — briefly disrupting traffic and daily routines before crews brought the situation under control.
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Today - A Washington town is cut off as landslides and flooding force evacuations and raise new concerns for recovery.
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Today - Most power has been restored around Leavenworth, but crews are still clearing debris and repairing lines as Chelan County enters the weekend with a cautious eye on the forecast.
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Today - A major funding loss looms for the Wenatchee School District, with staff and student programs likely to feel the impact.
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Today - A failing HVAC system left students and staff at Wenatchee High School struggling through smoke-filled classrooms this fall, as wildfires intensified across North Central Washington.
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Today - A changing retail landscape brings fresh energy to Wenatchee Valley Mall, thanks to a new wave of women- and minority-owned businesses redefining the mall experience.
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Today - A father-son Boy Scout project planted the seeds of a family legacy—one that’s now marking 60 years of Christmas tree traditions in Cashmere.
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Today - Leavenworth lights up for the holidays, and behind the sparkle is a carefully built economy that thrives on winter tourism and festive spending.
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Today - As harvest season winds down in North Central Washington, new data shows just how much agriculture is driving the economy in Chelan and Douglas counties.
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Today: Downtown Wenatchee embraced a festive shade of pink last week as dozens of local shops kicked off the holiday season with a growing national event focused on supporting small businesses.
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Today - A Wenatchee teen traveled across the world to reunite with the bone marrow donor who saved her life — and found family on the other side.
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Today - Coming soon to downtown Wenatchee: a dessert shop expansion with a twist — Zully’s is adding a family-friendly gaming zone just in time for the holidays.
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Today - Ageless love blossomed at East Wenatchee Senior Living, where two residents found each other late in life, and just tied the knot at 83 and 90.
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Today - A Wenatchee jeweler leaves the city behind to build a business rooted in sustainability, creativity, and mountain views.
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Today - A familiar voice, a timeless mission — today we celebrate Dave Herald’s remarkable 50-year career behind the mic and at the heart of his community.
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Today - One Army veteran’s road from six-figure success to homelessness — and how he’s rebuilding his life in East Wenatchee — highlights the power of local support systems.
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Today - Today, a longtime college access program for migrant students has come to an unexpected halt — and the loss of support could ripple far beyond the classroom.
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Today - Food banks across Washington are seeing an overwhelming surge in demand as SNAP benefits stall during the prolonged government shutdown.
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Today - A new WSU research facility and a massive water reservoir project are both under review in the Wenatchee Valley.
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Today - Chelan County moves forward with a $62 million preliminary budget, despite a lingering deficit — and introduces a hiring freeze to tighten the reins.
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Today - Wenatchee schools are bracing for a steep enrollment drop in the years ahead — and officials say it could reshape the district for the next decade.
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In just one year, 24-year-old Haley Pond transitioned from social media manager to full-time tattoo artist and opened her own studio, Manuka and Moon Tattoo, in Cashmere. Inspired by nature and guided by an inclusive, self-taught philosophy, Pond has quickly built a clientele drawn to her black-and-gray botanical designs and welcoming approach to body art.
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Today - As Día de los Muertos approaches, families in the Wenatchee Valley are keeping tradition alive—despite fear, grief, and the long shadow of immigration enforcement.
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Today - After a devastating flood forced seven businesses out of the Midtown-Halbert building, tenants are now picking up the pieces — and moving forward with grit, gratitude, and community support.
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Today - A packed house at Eastmont Junior High signals deep community concern — as East Wenatchee’s City Council presses pause on a controversial banner policy change.
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Today - More than 1,500 people gathered in Wenatchee this weekend for a high-energy rally that’s part protest, part call to action — and all about rejecting political overreach.
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Today - A favorite Leavenworth brewery is expanding across the river, bringing creativity, community, and a little neon nostalgia to downtown Wenatchee.
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Today - Wenatchee High School’s phone-free policy is creating louder hallways, better attendance, and a surprising boost in student connection.
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Kelly Thompson has served on the Pybus Foundation for seven years, shaping its direction. She became president in January after chairing the business development and leasing committee.
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Today - A game-changing $4 million donation is propelling the Lake Chelan Community Center into its next phase of development — and inviting the community to help double the impact.
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Representatives from Weidner Apartment Homes presented preliminary designs for its Streetscape project last week. If approved, public infrastructure improvements and street enhancements along the South Wenatchee Avenue right-of-way from Orondo Avenue to Kittitas Street could begin as early as February.
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Today - Fire officials say the Lower Sugarloaf and Labor Mountain fires won’t be fully out until fall rains arrive — and that may still be weeks away.
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Today - After the Lighthouse soup kitchen closed its doors, local organizations are stepping up — but the strain is starting to show.
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Today - It's time for another installment of Rotten Apples — our regular movie review. Our team will talk about the latest film releases, what they loved, what fell flat, and whether it’s worth your time.
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Today - The newly rehabbed runway at Pangborn Memorial Airport is ready for takeoff — but not before the community gets one last chance to walk, run, or roll down it.
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Today - The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Travis Decker after he murdered his three daughters has come to a grim conclusion, bringing both closure and lingering questions for the Wenatchee Valley community.
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Today - As immigration policies shift, domestic farmworkers in Washington’s agricultural heartland are feeling the squeeze — caught between fear, lost hours, and a growing reliance on foreign guest workers.
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The chambers at East Wenatchee City Hall could not contain the number of people who crowded in Sept. 18 to hear councilmembers discuss the city’s banner display policy.
More than 50 people sat or stood in the foyer following social media posts by Wenatchee Pride and Chelan Pride, which raised concerns about the nature of the discussion listed on the workshop agenda.
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Today - A tragic chapter may be nearing its end, as investigators believe they’ve found the remains of Travis Decker — the man accused of killing his three young daughters in June.
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Today - North Wenatchee is in the middle of a major transformation as construction ramps up on the Confluence Parkway — promising progress, but not without growing pains.
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Today - Volunteers step in to protect Washington’s iconic Enchantments as Forest Service staffing drops to a crisis low.
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Today - This year’s Northwest pear harvest is bouncing back in a big way, with growers expecting a 60 percent increase after last year’s devastating freeze.
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Today - Gov. Bob Ferguson is taking a major step toward strengthening labor protections on big public construction projects — and he made that announcement right here in Wenatchee.
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Today - A rural pilot program in Washington is doing more than training new nurses — it’s helping small towns keep the caregivers they trust most.
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Blue Bird Inc. and Peshastin Hi-Up Growers, operating as Peshastin Pear Packers LLC, have invested in a multimillion-dollar pear packing line that will increase production by 20% to 50%.
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Chelan County Sheriff's Office's K9 Ruben and his handler, Detective Mark Hegberg, have built that with countless hours in training over their careers. But now Hegberg must continue without man's best friend.
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Today - Despite drought and rising costs, Washington’s apple growers are pushing through to deliver another standout harvest.
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Today - As the FBI continues its search for Travis Decker, agents have uncovered bones in a remote area of Chelan County — the latest development in a case that has gripped the community since June.
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Today: It's time for another installment of Rotten Apples — our weekly movie review. Each Thursday, our team will talk about the latest film releases, what they loved, what fell flat, and whether it’s worth your time.
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Today - Washington’s new Right to Repair law promises more control for consumers—but for farmers, it’s a missed opportunity that keeps them locked out of fixing their own equipment.
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Today - A brand-new business incubator is opening its doors in Douglas County, and every space is already spoken for.
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Today: A surge in rescues across Chelan County has officials sounding the alarm — as social media lures unprepared hikers into dangerous backcountry terrain.
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Today - A longtime day shelter and soup kitchen in Wenatchee has closed its doors after losing its permit, leaving a big gap in services for people experiencing homelessness.
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Today: Vicci Martinez is back with her original band — and tonight, their music takes center stage in Leavenworth.
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Today: It's time for another installment of Rotten Apples, our weekly movie review. Each Thursday, our team will talk about the latest film releases, what they loved, what fell flat, and whether it’s worth your time.
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today: Wenatchee’s police chief is stepping into double duty, ready to lead both the department and City Hall while the search for a new administrator continues.
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Read more: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/go/piano-prodigy-executive-director-of-wenatchee-valley-symphonys-next-movement/article_ddb0cbb1-a1f4-4baa-9468-c0b30a8f664d.html
Classically trained pianist and arts administrator Anton Zotov has taken the helm as executive director of the Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra. In this conversation with The Wenatchee World’s Jessica Drake, Zotov discusses his journey from Ukraine to Wenatchee, his plans to expand programming and grow audiences, and his vision for the symphony as it enters its 79th season and prepares for its 80th anniversary.
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Today: A promising health care expansion for undocumented immigrants in Washington has turned into a source of fear after sensitive data was shared with federal authorities.
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Today: Five years after the pandemic began, NCW Libraries is still redefining what it means to serve the community, one innovation at a time.
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Today - A groundbreaking moment in Malaga could mark the beginning of a new era in clean energy, as Helion starts construction on what it hopes will be the world’s first fusion power plant.
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Today we hear from Gary Hesse, who’s spent nearly 30 years bringing characters to life at Leavenworth Summer Theater, including all three of their productions this year.
https://leavenworthsummertheater.org/
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Today:w A longtime East Wenatchee utility worker says he was fired for getting hurt on the job — and now a federal jury has awarded him $5 million for wrongful termination.
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Lorene Vehrs wakes each day when she pleases. The coffee is always black — no sugar, no cream, no apologies — and it flows constantly, all day, every day.
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Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes of Leavenworth Summer Theater’s production of The Sound of Music at the Ski Hill Amphitheater.
First up, we’ll be chatting with Emily Rollie, the director who’s bringing this beloved classic to life under the open sky. Then later, we hear from Fiona Palazzi—playing the part of Maria.
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Today - A new tax increment financing district proposed near Malaga could bring major infrastructure investment and reshape economic development in Chelan County.
Read more: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/chelan-county-chelan-douglas-regional-port-authority-weigh-details-of-proposed-malaga-tif-district/article_6717c5a7-0fb1-4c7e-beea-50acac65ec76.html
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Today: A former crypto site in Douglas County is being transformed into a launchpad for local entrepreneurs, and two new small businesses are leading the way.
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Today: Rogers and Hammerstein’s Carousel has come to the Leavenworth Summer Theater. We talked with one of the show’s stars to learn all about it.
Read more: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/go/carousel-song-lyrics-tell-sad-yet-hopeful-story-on-the-lst-stage/article_8c473c3d-83dc-4fb0-8c56-c7d65d700da0.html
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Today - Downtown Wenatchee is transforming fast, but as new apartment complexes rise, some small business owners are sounding the alarm about being left behind.
Read more: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/business/wenatchee-grapples-with-growth-as-downtown-businesses-voice-concerns-amid-new-development/article_d4c080bc-0f2f-46dd-a604-7893a03b7883.html
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Today - Students in Wenatchee and Eastmont are getting hands-on experience in tech careers before graduation, thanks to a growing apprenticeship program that’s helping meet the needs of local employers.
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Today - East Wenatchee’s City Council has just passed a new code aimed at addressing homelessness, specifically targeting unlawful camping on public property.
And later - Yesterday afternoon, a false report of an armed robbery caused quite the stir, resulting in a significant law enforcement response.
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Today - Ever since Planned Parenthood moved to a new location, the clinic has seen a daily presence of demonstrators. And residents in the area are getting frustrated.
And later - Mission Ridge is planning a major expansion over the next 20 years.
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Today - On Thursday, more than 50 people gathered at Perico's Lounge in South Wenatchee for the 2024 Small Business Conference.
And later - Gaucho Coffee Co. opened on October 23rd and is already a hit with the locals.
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Today - On Tuesday, the Chelan County commissioners passed a new resolution aimed at tackling unauthorized use of county property. This new code, formally known as Chapter 8.42, focuses specifically on homeless encampments.
And later - we’re back to our "30 Under 35" series, where we spotlight young leaders making a difference. Today, we're featuring Courtney Mitchell.
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Today - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service is awarding $4.2 million to the Housing Authority of Chelan County and the City of Wenatchee. This funding is aimed at rehabilitating three apartment complexes that provide crucial housing for agricultural workers in the area.
And later - Wenatchee is taking steps to replace a massive piece of its infrastructure—a four-million-gallon water reservoir located near the corner of Okanogan Avenue and Gehr Street.
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Today - There’s a new permanent addition to Leavenworth's food scene — Bavarian Bagel Co.
And later - a story that shook Waterville: the conviction of Ului Teulilo for the 2018 murder of his wife, Peggy Teulilo. This week, he was sentenced to nearly 27 years in prison.
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Today - We're diving into the financial challenges currently facing Wenatchee and East Wenatchee. Both cities are dealing with a "slow down" in their local economy, and they're trying to navigate their 2025 budgets in a way that accounts for increasing costs and slower revenue growth.
And later - we're talking about Chelan's Siren Song Wines, which is making waves with two new locations.
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Today - we’re taking a closer look at Lions Locomotive Park, where every Thursday at noon, the city rolls in for their weekly cleanup of the area beneath the Senator George Sellar Bridge.
And later - Over 200 attendees gathered last week for the Wenatchee School District’s Migrant and Multilingual Night.
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Today - Gerald's Place moved to a new location, and the change has been transformative—bringing in new faces and doubling business.
And later - we're highlighting Kathryn Jackson, a vocational program manager and recent 30 under 35 winner.
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Today - During the recent PUD candidates' forum, issues like electric vehicle infrastructure, wildfire mitigation, and large corporate electric demands were at the center of discussion.
And later - The Wenatchee School District is hosting a bus driver job fair this Saturday. They’re looking to fill open positions for both full-time drivers and substitute drivers.
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Today - we’re highlighting a conversation with bestselling author Erika L. Sánchez, who recently spoke at an event hosted by North Central Washington Libraries. Erika is the author of "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter," a book that’s made waves for its raw depiction of identity, family, and the experience of being Mexican American in the United States.
And later - The P'Squosa Plaza, a tribute to the P'Squosa/Wenatchi Tribe, will be completed next year.
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Today - we're diving into a major financial hiccup that's set to impact community and technical colleges across Washington state.
And later - we're highlighting Tatiana Betancourt—a dynamic professional, entrepreneur, and mom who's balancing it all.
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Today - we'll be exploring a new initiative making waves in Wenatchee—the Wenatchee Rescue Mission's pallet shelters. These tiny homes are part of an ongoing effort to provide shelter to some of the community's most vulnerable members: the chronically homeless.
And later - Leavenworth’s Oktoberfest is a three-weekend celebration of German heritage, drawing tourists from across the country. And this year’s festivities are a sellout, with tickets for the second and third weekends already gone.
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Today - the Eastmont School District is considering implementing a dual language program
And later - In East Wenatchee, a 5-year-old boy was involved in a frightening incident early Monday morning.
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Today - 16-year-old Danielle "Dani" Maytrychit from East Wenatchee, has been recognized with the Patients of Courage: Triumph Over Adversity award by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
And later - In the Eagle Creek Canyon owners of Neu Flessenow Cellars are are proud to add more representation of Latinos in the wine industry.
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Today - Wenatchee School District support staff are calling for better wages amid ongoing financial struggles.
And later - The Wenatchee World has acquired NCWLIFE, a local television station, from LocalTel Communications.
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Today - A new member has joined the East Wenatchee police force. But this isn’t just any officer—it’s a three-year-old black German Shepherd named Maverick.
And later - we’ll be discussing a report recently released by the NCW Digital Access and Equity Coalition.
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Today - a local entrepreneur has turned a lifelong dream into reality. Dianne Hall, a mother and grandmother, has opened the Loop Trail Cafe, a cozy spot for walkers, runners, and bicyclists along the popular Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail.
And later - A 31% drop in the pear harvest has been projected, largely due to cold weather damage.
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Today - we bring you the story of Ului Teulilo, a man from Rock Island, who was found guilty of murdering his wife in 2018. This trial, which has been ongoing for six years, came to a conclusion in the Douglas County Superior Court, where Teulilo took the unusual step of testifying in his own defense.
And later - Chelan County is now accepting applications for programs aimed at addressing substance abuse disorder. The county will be awarding funding to local agencies and organizations through October 11th.
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Today - Café Columbia, a beloved coffee shop at Wenatchee’s Pybus Public Market, is now under new leadership.
And later - a 72-year-old man has been arrested following a disturbing attack on two Latino men. The man, identified as Curtis W. Truitt, now faces multiple charges, including hate crimes.
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Today - we’re looking at a case of fraud that recently took place at the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee.
And later - Wenatchee World News Editor, Peter O'Cain, was recently named one of the top military veterans in journalism by Military Veterans in Journalism.
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Today - we’re taking a look at a naturalization ceremony held in Cashmere, on September 11, 2024. This Patriot Day marked the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and 30 individuals from eight countries took the Oath of Allegiance, officially becoming U.S. citizens.
And later - As climate change and drought worsen, the threat of catastrophic wildfires continues to grow, destroying homes and vital old-growth forests. In Washington state alone, we’ve lost around 100,000 acres of old-growth forest to wildfires.
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Today - Last month, an East Wenatchee police sergeant was demoted following an internal investigation into an off-duty incident that occurred back in January.
And later - as part of our '30 Under 35' series, we’re highlighting Susan Schott, a 32-year-old case resource manager at the Developmental Disabilities Association within the Department of Social and Health Services. Her journey exemplifies determination, lifelong learning, and community engagement.
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Today - We’re diving into a topic that’s gaining attention in Washington State—specifically in the Eastmont School District. It’s about a new proposal for transgender and nonbinary athletes in high school sports.
And later - an inspiring event that brought together local residents and leaders to celebrate community, peace, and growth.
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Today - we explore the story behind Velveteen, a new fine dining restaurant in downtown Wenatchee.
And later - Landon Donald Jensen, a former officer with the East Wenatchee Police Department, stepped down from his position in late August after facing criminal charges related to an altercation on Interstate 90.
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In December 2023, an Army veteran from East Wenatchee was involved in a shooting at a veterans clinic, leading to his sentencing under a new mental health law. Today – we’ll explore the details of the case and the implications of the court's decision.
And later - Chelan County Public Utility District is looking ahead with a new plan called Imagine 2075, asking customers what the PUD must focus on to improve by the year 2075. To gather feedback, they’ve launched a survey where customers can rank priorities.
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Today - we turn our attention to Pangborn Memorial Airport, where significant developments are underway. The airport, located in Washington's North Central region, will soon undergo a rehabilitation of its 82-year-old runway. This decision follows an assessment that found a full reconstruction of the runway too costly for the time being.
And later - we’ll be discussing an important topic for residents of Chelan County—living with grizzly bears. Throughout September, residents will have the chance to learn and discuss this issue with someone who knows the subject well.
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Today - we’re looking into the impact of dual language programs in Wenatchee School District. These programs are reshaping education by fostering bilingualism, biliteracy, and bicultural understanding in a rapidly diversifying community.
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And later - we're covering a major theft at Ulta Beauty in Wenatchee.
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Today - Jessica Drake, the Arts and Entertainment reporter here at the Wenatchee World recently sat down with Nikki Darling of Darling Productions.
And later - The Washington State Department of Health has awarded $750,000 through its Climate and Health Adaptation Initiative Community Capacity Grant to eight organizations, including Wenatchee’s own nonprofit, Our Valley Our Future.
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Today - we'll be exploring the plans by local law enforcement agencies in East Wenatchee and surrounding areas to install license plate-reading cameras. This move is intended to enhance their ability to track vehicles and assist in various investigations.
And later - In Wenatchee, Aztec Burgers and More just marked its one-year anniversary. Despite rain and thunder canceling a planned night market, the celebration went on indoors.
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Today - Two large steel crosses, one in Malaga and another under construction outside of Leavenworth, have recently come under scrutiny from local authorities.
And later - A soon-to-open brewery in downtown Wenatchee, Pinnacle Beerworks, has unveiled a striking mural on its north wall.
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In this episode, Jessica Drake, the Arts and Entertainment reporter here at the Wenatchee World recently sat down with Katie Grove, the Interim Executive Director of the Numerica Performing Arts Center, to learn more about the dynamic lineup of shows, concerts, and events that are set to light up the stage over the next year.
And later - Washington State University football fans in the Wenatchee Valley area now have a new way of getting to Pullman games as the Wenatchee Valley Shuttle is now offering round trips to the games.
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Today - we cover U.S. Representative Kim Schrier's recent visit to Wenatchee, where she highlighted the impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act.
And later - Don Schaechtel, a resident of Leavenworth has been named the Arthur R. Kruckeberg Fellow by the Washington Native Plant Society, or WNPS.
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Today - Detectives have concluded their investigation into the non-fatal police shooting involving an Army veteran, Troy Allen McMaster, in East Wenatchee.
And later - Wenatchee’s Big Lots!, located at 151 Easy Way, is set to close its doors. This closure is part of a broader plan by the company to shut down 315 stores across the United States.
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Today - we focus on a contentious legal case in Douglas County, involving over 80 current or former employees of Confluence Health, the largest healthcare provider in the region. The case centers around COVID-19 vaccination mandates and the intersection of public health policies with individual religious beliefs.
And later - The city’s Community Development department is preparing to review plans for a new Chick-fil-A restaurant on North Wenatchee Avenue.
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Today - we focus on a recent complaint filed against the Wenatchee School District, alleging violations of state election law.
And later - The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority has launched a major project to overhaul the General Aviation Terminal Building at Pangborn Memorial Airport.
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Today - An effort to modify the RiverCom 911 administrative board by adding new voting members has faced opposition from both East Wenatchee and Wenatchee.
And later - East Wenatchee is on the verge of a potential population increase as the city council has initiated the process to annex nearly 70 acres of land currently outside its limits.
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Today - we'll explore the financial implications of declining student numbers on schools and communities, and discuss the state's education funding model.
And later - Wenatchee Valley College has announced that it will hold orientation sessions for new students and their families in September.
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Today - The Wenatchee School District has faced significant challenges due to a decrease in student numbers. So what does this mean for the upcoming school year?
And later - In Bridgeport, the Upper Pearl Hill Bridge, which sustained significant structural damage during the 2020 Cold Springs and Pearl Hill Fire, is set to be replaced.
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Today - Wenatchee has shown remarkable growth in the construction sector over the past five years.
And later - On Wednesday night, a 38-year-old man from Wenatchee was involved in a violent altercation after reportedly pointing a gun at another person.
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Today - we take a closer look into recent developments in wolf management.
And later - A major milestone has been reached in the race for Chelan County Commissioner, Position 3. Candidate Brad Hawkins has set a new local campaign fundraising record.
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Today - we're discussing the recent decision by the Wenatchee City Council to move forward with the Confluence Parkway project, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at alleviating traffic on North Wenatchee Avenue. The council's decision to use eminent domain has sparked considerable debate and concern among property owners.
And later - Over the weekend, law enforcement carried out a significant operation, resulting in the arrest of twelve individuals. This operation was part of a child sex trafficking sting aimed at those soliciting minors online.
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Today - we'll be discussing important decisions regarding cougar hunting seasons and the listing status of gray wolves in Washington state.
And later - On Wednesday, a fire broke out at the Chelan Recycling Center, resulting in the total loss of the facility.
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Today - we’ll be discussing the future vision for downtown Wenatchee as presented by the city's Reimagine Wenatchee Target Area Master Plan.
And later - The latest on the Pioneer Fire and its early response tactics.
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Today - we're focusing on Washington State Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Bob Ferguson, who made a campaign stop in Wenatchee.
And later - we turn our focus to the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, where fire restrictions have taken effect.
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Today - we're taking you to Cashmere, where a new commercial hub, Side Street Cashmere, is reshaping the local retail experience.
And later - a quick update on the upcoming primary elections.
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Today - Mary Big Bull-Lewis, a local business owner and Native American advocate, has been appointed to the Washington State Arts Commission by Governor Jay Inslee.
And later - An East Wenatchee man, 54 year old Troy Allen McMaster, has pleaded guilty to charges related to a shooting incident at the Department of Veterans Affairs' Elwood “Bud” Link Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.
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Today - Ground Control, a bottle shop and taproom located in Wenatchee, is marking its one-year anniversary with a community party.
And later - a tragic accident on Highway 97 has left one person dead and two others injured.
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Today - a look into the recent developments surrounding the planned merger between Kroger and Albertsons, which includes the potential sale of the East Wenatchee Safeway.
And later - we have some exciting news from Washington State University's Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center.
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Today - we’re looking into the upcoming opening of Garden City Academy in Wenatchee. This new private K-12 Christian school is set to open its doors this fall after a contentious permitting process.
And later - This Saturday, a funeral procession will honor Jake Pospical, a former Marine who recently died by suicide. The procession will extend from East Wenatchee to Leavenworth.
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Today - Douglas County is facing a potential $20.5 million reduction in revenue over the next 25 years
And later - The unemployment rate in the Wenatchee MSA, which encompasses Chelan and Douglas counties, has stabilized in May 2024 after experiencing a three-month decline.
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Today - Wenatchee Mayor Mike Poirier has announced his selection for the city’s new police chief. Capt. Edgar Reinfeld has been tapped for the top position in the Wenatchee Police Department.
And later - we turn our attention to East Wenatchee, where significant progress is being made in improving pedestrian and bicycle access across Sunset Highway.
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Today - we'll discuss Airbnb's recent announcement, highlighting Wenatchee as one of its top trending destinations for the Fourth of July weekend.
And later - an exciting opportunity for prospective college students in Wenatchee.
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Today - On June 28th, a former middle school teacher from Seattle, was exonerated after prosecutors dismissed all charges against him in a 2023 case, including first-degree rape.
And later - Independence Day is coming up this Thursday, but if you were hoping to celebrate with personal fireworks, you'll need to adjust your plans.
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Today - we're discussing a lawsuit filed by three public utility districts in Washington State against the Bonneville Power Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
And later - Dutch Bros Coffee is set to expand its presence in the Wenatchee Valley with a fourth location. The new store is currently under construction on Easy Street in Wenatchee and is expected to open in October.
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Today - Weidner Apartment Homes is set to embark on a transformative project that will reshape Wenatchee Avenue.
And later - Authorities arrested a man in Entiat on Tuesday after a multi-hour standoff with law enforcement. The man was at his mother’s home and had armed himself with two rifles.
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Today - we’ll discuss the Number 2 Canyon Fire near Wenatchee, and the warnings issued by the Wenatchee Valley Fire Department.
And later - a look at the rededication of the Tree of Peace at the Cashmere Museum.
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Today - The Washington Apple Commission has announced a change in leadership.
And later - In East Wenatchee, a significant development in a recent homicide case has emerged.
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Today - Earlier this month, the 56th annual Hamfest, organized by the Apple City Amateur Radio Club, transformed the Dryden Gun Club grounds into a vibrant hub of activity, learning, and camaraderie.
And later - The Eastmont School District is cutting its two art teacher positions as part of budget reductions for the upcoming school year.
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Today - we're diving into the recent measures taken by the Wenatchee City Council to address homelessness in the city.
And later - we’ll explore the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum's annual make-your-own-nutcracker contest.
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Today - we’ll focus on the opioid crisis and efforts to combat rising overdose deaths in our community.
And later - A 28-year-old woman of East Wenatchee was found dead in her apartment Tuesday night after East Wenatchee police responded to a welfare check and discovered a small boy at home, alone, and crying.
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Today - Douglas County has recently taken action to close the tasting room and event space at Bianchi Vineyards.
And later - We’re joined by the Wenatchee World’s Oscar Rodriguez as he talks about an event focused on addiction resources.
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Today - Joseph Hunter knows firsthand the challenges of recovering from opioid addiction. Now, he and other local advocates are more hopeful about the available help for people battling addiction.
And later - After a thorough search for an interim director, the Numerica Performing Arts Center in Wenatchee, or NPAC for short, has announced that Katie Grove will step into the role starting mid-June.
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Today - Touch Of Soul, a former catering business, has brought authentic Cajun cuisine to KAOS Bar and Nightclub.
And later - The Webb Fire near East Wenatchee was contained Tuesday evening after burning 554 acres.
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Today - Tyler Chambers owns approximately 66 acres near the end of No. 1 Canyon Road, a property he acquired after a decade-long search for his family's dream home. However, for the past three years, Chambers' earthmoving and grading work has been a point of contention.
And later - The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority has plans for a New Indoor Firing Range.
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Today - After 82 years of fostering fellowship and community service among local educators, the Zeta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma is closing its doors.
And later - A newly-created nonprofit, OUT North Central Washington, launched its inaugural Equity in Leadership Summit at Wenatchee Valley College on Friday
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Today - we’re discussing a critical environmental issue affecting the Columbia River and the communities that depend on it.
And later - To let dogs use up some of their pent up energy, one local man has launched Dawg Zoomies, a mobile dog gym service.
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Today - Wenatchee Valley College's Assistance Migrant Program, known as CAMP, has been awarded a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Migrant Education.
And later - The search for the next chief of police in Wenatchee is drawing to a close. The city has narrowed down the candidates to three finalists: Brian Chance, Edgar Reinfeld, and Doug Shoemaker.
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Today - we're spotlighting a remarkable achievement in high school sports. Eastmont High School freshman Kaelyn Peterson has clinched the Washington State trap shooting championship.
And later - we remember someone whose story reflects the quiet heroism of countless Americans.
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Today - The Eastmont School District announced the appointment of a new principal for Eastmont High School.
And later - We're turning our attention to a recent visit by a delegation from Uzbekistan to the Wenatchee Valley, where they explored innovations in the agricultural sector.
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Today - As we head into the long weekend, we’re excited to explore the vibrant bar scene in Wenatchee.
And later - An exciting update from the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm.
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Today - The city of Wenatchee has officially approved the sale of its former police station.
And later - On May 9th, Icicle Brewing Company hosted a festive release event for their new lager in Leavenworth. This beer marks the first collaboration between Icicle Brewing Company and the historic Hofbräuhaus München from Germany.
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Today - We’re looking at a major decision by the Wenatchee School Board—a unanimous vote to close Columbia Elementary School for the upcoming school year.
And later - The election race for County Commission is heating up. A new candidate recently announced her candidacy, bringing the total to five contenders vying for the open District 2 seat.
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Today - This summer, Wenatchee will welcome its first The Human Bean coffee franchise.
And later - we turn our focus to the findings of the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey, which gives an encouraging glimpse into the mental health trends among the state's youth.
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Today - a tense situation unfolded late Wednesday afternoon, leading to the arrest of a 45-year-old woman after a nearly four-hour standoff with local police and SWAT teams.
And later - we remember Matt Primomo, a cherished member of the Leavenworth community and a respected avalanche forecaster and mountain guide, whose life was tragically cut short last week.
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Today - The Wenatchee Convention Center is embarking on an ambitious expansion project. And on Monday, community leaders, city council members, and residents gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony.
And later - We spotlight Cakes for College, a non-profit that recently celebrated raising over $1 million for scholarships at the Apple Blossom Festival.
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Today - The Wenatchee Valley Humane Society sees up to around 130 kittens per month during kitten season. And they rely on volunteers to help, since they can’t house all of the kittens.
And later - Former Westside High School art teacher, Steve Wellman, recently spoke to us about his design and engineering in the Wellman hyperbike prototype called Nagual.
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Today - We look back at the life and legacy of Dorothy Reed, a beloved Wenatchee resident, who passed away last month at the age of 110.
And later - Construction for the expansion of the Wenatchee Convention Center is set to start on May 7th, marking the beginning of a significant development phase that will last approximately 15 months.
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Today - we revisit the story of Julie Agens Kuntz, who in 1974, wore the crown as the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival Queen.
And later - Where Dusty’s In-N-Out diner once stood, a new establishment, Huckleberry North, has opened its doors.
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Today - We're looking into the complexities faced by the Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council, as they prepare to open a new community pantry and food distribution center in Wenatchee.
And later - This Friday, the Columbia River Community Flute Choir will enchant audiences with a concert at Wenatchee Valley College.
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Today - The family of Elias Mora-Ontiveros, a 23-year-old Rock Island man who was tragically killed, has expressed profound disappointment following the sentencing of Erik Farias Reyes.
And later - We look into the Eastmont School District's bond proposal which is currently failing to secure the necessary approval.
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Today - The Wenatchee School District has partnered with the Community for the Advancement of Family Education to enhance interpretation services during school board meetings and public hearings.
And later - Freddy’s Kitchen, a popular Mexican restaurant, is on the move again, while another local favorite plans expansion.
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Today - Mike Malmin, the former pastor at Wenatchee Nazarene Church, has assumed the role of executive director at Serve Wenatchee Valley.
And later - Rock Island Mayor Randy Agnew has officially declared his candidacy for the role of Douglas County Commissioner, aiming to fill the seat currently held by Commissioner Kyle Steinburg.
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Today - The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority is steering a significant redevelopment effort in Wenatchee, starting with the early stages of discussions with Blewett Brewing Company to establish a new location at the site of the former Badger Mountain Brewing.
And later - Washington State University has launched a naming contest for its new apple variety, the WA 64. This novel variety is a crossbreed between the Honeycrisp and Cripps Pink.
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Today - Local authorities have recently completed the purchase of a strategically important property. The acquisition involves a 2.75-acre parcel located on Ohme Garden Road in Wenatchee.
And later - We’re highlighting recent "30 Under 35" winner, Paola Silva Mota. Paola is a 21-year-old from Douglas County who has made significant strides early in her career.
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Today - we explore the world of craft distilling in North Central Washington through the lens of Blue Spirits Distilling.
And later - we’re highlighting an urgent appeal from the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Alaska and Washington chapter. They’re in search of air mileage donations to fulfill the wishes of children with critical illnesses who dream of traveling.
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Today - Helion, an Everett-based nuclear fusion company established in 2013, has recently signed a letter of intent with the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority.
And later - we look into the role of The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust in our community.
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Today - The Eastmont School District is taking its $117 million construction bond back to the ballot in an attempt to secure approval from voters on April 23rd, after narrowly missing the mark by 34 votes in a February special election.
And later - This Thursday, the city council will decide whether to enact a ban on the use and possession of exotic and wild animals for entertainment, a measure sparked by public concern over circus animal welfare.
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Today - We dive into the challenges facing pear orchardists in Cashmere, Washington.
And later - A look inside the life of Ella Stimmel, the Apple Blossom Festival Queen.
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Today - The Supreme Court has signaled its approval for Washington's newly proposed legislative district maps, bringing significant changes to the representation of Wenatchee Valley.
And later - Duane Chapman, whose life has been a public spectacle through the lens of his reality TV show "Dog the Bounty Hunter," has embarked on a mission to share his testimony of faith and transformation. Scheduled to speak at Awaken Church in Wenatchee on April 6th and 7th, the Chapmans aim to reach out to individuals seeking a relationship with Jesus.
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Today - Four local businesses —Taco Loco, Becky's Beauty, Jade Nails, and Ditto Thrift Store—are being compelled to vacate their premises to make way for a new redevelopment project.
And later - We're looking into the unfolding situation at the Leavenworth Adventure Park, which has stirred considerable debate within the community.
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Today - On Tuesday, Grace City Church's private Christian school began its wait for approval from the City of Wenatchee's hearing examiner.
And later - Todd Fryhover, the Washington Apple Commission president, will retire in November after an 18-year tenure.
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Today - The "Be There" campaign, launched by Thriving Together NCW, the Grand Columbia Health Alliance, and the Washington State Hospital Association wants to increase awareness about substance use disorder.
And later - The Chelan-Douglas Health District has reported an outbreak of whooping cough, with 58 confirmed cases in East Wenatchee's Chelan and Douglas counties.
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Today - The school district recently hosted a public hearing about the proposed closure of Columbia Elementary School. This event drew attention from approximately 80 parents, staff, and community members, all converging at the Wenatchee High School commons to express their views.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NSEWAJdPeA
And later - The Apple Cup Cafe, a community staple since 1957, faced a severe fire early Sunday morning.
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Today - we dive into a recent decision by the Link Transit board of directors, capturing a moment of civic engagement in action in Wenatchee.
And later - On March 2nd, VonHart Goods Bakery & Deli in Mason officially opened their doors. They’ve quickly become the talk of the town.
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Today - The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, has officially declared the 2023 cherry harvest a disaster. So what does that mean for farmers in Washington?
And later - Wenatchee Police Chief Steve Crown, has announced his retirement after an eight-year tenure.
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Today - 19 Orondo students recently got free bikes as part of the “Move Ahead Washington” program.
And later - Ziply Fiber is set to acquire LocalTel Communications, an East Wenatchee-based company.
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Today - a tense situation unfolded late Wednesday afternoon, leading to the arrest of a 45-year-old woman after a nearly four-hour standoff with local police and SWAT teams.
And later - we remember Matt Primomo, a cherished member of the Leavenworth community and a respected avalanche forecaster and mountain guide, whose life was tragically cut short last week.
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Today - The Wenatchee Valley Islamic Center has officially opened its doors at 38 North Chelan Avenue.
And later - we dive into the financial challenges facing the Wenatchee School District and their exploration of alternatives to closing Columbia Elementary.
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Today - 383 Threads is a new thrift store that's capturing the attention of the local community.
And later -Meet this year’s Business Impact Award winner, Travis Hornby.
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Today - we're looking into the escalating cost of policing in the unincorporated cities of Douglas County.
And later - Meet Darci Christoferson, this year’s winner of the The Community Connection Award.
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Today -The Wenatchee World recently honored five exceptional individuals and organizations at the fourth annual Community Impact Awards.
And later - the inspiring yet challenging journey of John Miklosh, a resident of Peshastin, who navigates life with ALS.
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Today - a significant incident involving the derailment of several railcars has led to the arrest of a 38-year-old woman.
And later - we’re taking you behind the scenes of Wenatchee High School’s latest theatrical production, the Tony Award-winning musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
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Today - we dive into the transformative work being done by the Wenatchee Valley Community Transitions program, a pioneering initiative aimed at bridging the gap between education and employment for adults with disabilities.
And later - an update on the proposed closure of Columbia Elementary School.
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Today - In Wenatchee, Grace City Church is taking steps forward with its plans to open Garden City Academy, a private K-12 Christian School, at the King's Orchard Church of Christ.
And later - In an upcoming series of town hall discussions, the Chelan County commissioners, along with key department heads, are set to engage directly with the community.
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Today - In a significant move to combat the growing threat of wildfires in Washington, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has allocated nearly $22 million in funding aimed at enhancing wildfire prevention efforts in Central and Eastern Washington communities.
And later - we’ll highlight 30 under 35 winner, Morgan Thornton.
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Today - The Wenatchee School Board is still grappling with a decision that has sparked concern and mobilized the local community: the potential closure of Columbia Elementary due to declining enrollment and budget constraints.
And later - we explore a compelling story of survival and care from Chelan County, following the Twenty-Five Mile Creek Wildfire in 2021.
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Today - We sit down with Mrs. Chelan County, Clory Dahlgren, and Mrs. Capital City, Vanessa Ruiz, to learn more about their journey as the first mother and daughter competing for the Mrs. Washington America title.
And later - East Wenatchee City Council member Sasha Sleiman has declared her resignation due to health complications.
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Today - we're diving into a significant development involving the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority and the Washington Army National Guard.
And later - we spotlight the NCW Bridal Premiere in Wenatchee, an event that stands as a testament to love, creativity, and community involvement in the wedding planning process.
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Today - we dive into the recent announcement by the Wenatchee School District regarding the planned consolidation of Columbia Elementary.
And later - the inspiring story of a unique local duo, setting a historic precedent in the realm of pageantry.
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Today - In a significant legal development, the Eastmont School District has reached a settlement with the family of a disabled student, ending a lawsuit that accused the district of discrimination.
And later - we explore the inspiring journey of Lauren Head, a local nutritionist with a deep-seated passion for enhancing community health through plant-based nutrition.
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Today - A queen and two princesses were chosen at the royalty selection pageant for the 2024 Washington State Apple Blossom Festival Saturday at the Numerica Performing Arts Center.
And later - We're highlighting Sarah Kate Deenik, a recent 30 under 35 winner.
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Today - recent legislative efforts could see the Lunar New Year become an official state holiday.
And later - Wenatchee's Pybus Public Market is set to host its ninth annual Nonprofit Day
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Today - A closer look at the recently reported increase in unsheltered individuals currently living in Chelan and Douglas counties.
And later - The Wenatchee Valley Senior Activity Center is currently raising funds for a $4 million capital improvement project.
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Today - we dive into a pressing issue affecting our veterans and communities: the intersection of mental health crises and law enforcement responses.
And later - Sunday’s Superbowl 58 pairs the San Francisco 49ers against the Kansas City Chiefs. So where should you go to watch it locally?
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Today - we dive into a recent legal development from Wenatchee, where a state appeals court has rendered a decision in a highly scrutinized negligence lawsuit.
And later - we’ll commemorate Black History Month by spotlighting three influential African Americans who significantly impacted North Central Washington during the 1800s and 1900s.
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Today - A significant development unfolding at the Greater Wenatchee Regional Landfill. This facility, known for managing waste, is set to become a pivotal player in the renewable energy sector.
And later - We'll explore the unique bond between a mobility service dog and his owners, and how this special dog has become a beloved fixture at local hockey games.
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Today - we’ll focus on a significant development in the state legislature concerning short-term rental properties.
And later -we’ll look into the closure of Dusty's In-N-Out, a longstanding eatery in Wenatchee, and its transformation into a new dining concept.
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Today - The Wenatchee School Board recently held a meeting that attracted over 100 people, including parents and teachers, voicing their concerns about the proposed closure of Columbia Elementary.
And later - We're delving into Meta's recent initiative to enhance the safety of teenage users on Instagram.
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Today - we're diving into the remarkable journey of Delilah Cabrera, a 16-year-old from Wenatchee, whose musical aspirations have taken her from local stages to signing with a major record label.
And later - a look at the recent production of J.B. Priestly's "An Inspector Calls" by Music Theatre of Wenatchee, staged at Riverside Playhouse.
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Today - Columbia Elementary School is set to close its doors next year, marking a major shift in the local educational landscape.
And later -The Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council recently hosted its Empty Bowls fundraiser, a unique initiative blending art, community spirit, and a commitment to combating food insecurity.
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Today - Wenatchee Valley residents experiencing homelessness will be surveyed this coming week as part of a nationwide yearly count.
And later - Pet-royalty is called to be elected canine king and queen to march in the Apple Blossom Festival Stemilt Parade on May 4th.
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Today - We look into the paradoxical situation faced by the Washington cherry industry in 2023. While the season yielded excellent quality cherries, it is being termed a “disaster” by industry leaders. This intriguing scenario unfolds in the backdrop of unique weather patterns and market dynamics.
And later - we're diving into a unique and exciting event that's taking the Wenatchee Valley by storm - "Dancing with the Wenatchee Stars."
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Today - The Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center hosted the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Multicultural Fest over the weekend. The gathering was more than just a commemoration; it was a vivid display of the region's rich cultural tapestry.
And later -we spotlight Brenda Alcala, a recent "30 Under 35" winner.
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Today - We're delving into a significant development in the Eastmont School District, which is poised to make substantial changes in its infrastructure, pending a crucial bond vote. This episode is based on a report by Gabriel Garcia, a staff writer for the World.
And later - The Wenatchee Rescue Mission has opened its doors as a 24-hour cold shelter for the weekend.
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Today - we delve into the ongoing developments in Wenatchee, where the city is reevaluating the application of Grace City Church to establish a private K-12 Christian school. This story was originally reported by World Staff Writer Oscar Rodriguez.
And later - We’ll discuss the "Energy Extravaganza" at the Rocky Reach Discovery Center.
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Today - we dive into the significant changes and developments in law enforcement in Chelan and Douglas counties. We explore the transition from traditional methods to modern practices, focusing on officer-involved shootings, de-escalation techniques, mental health considerations, and the incorporation of technology in policing.
And later - Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison reviews the principles of patrol tactics that all deputies in his department learn as part of ongoing training.
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Today - we're talking about a notable move by the Town Toyota Center.
And later - A look into New Year's Day polar plunges at Lake Wenatchee.
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Today - we dive into the heartwarming story of the Wenatchee Rescue Mission and its latest developments.
And later - Wenatchee Mayor Mike Poirier and city council members are having a "Meet Your City Council" event.
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Today - World War II veteran, Ben Read, recently received surprise honors in an East Wenatchee ceremony.
And later - A nine-month learning experience specially designed to empower local women entrepreneurs.
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Today - In August, a tragedy shook the community: a 15-year-old boy lost his life in a gang-related shooting. The event sparked a vital conversation and action regarding youth and gang involvement.
And later - we’ll dive into the recent confrontation involving veteran Troy Allen McMaster and local law enforcement.
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Today - we’re exploring the impactful tenure of Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz, a leader whose approach to civic leadership could very well be considered a master class in effective governance.
And later - we’ll talk about “Whisky Trail”, Wenatchee's celebrated classic rock band and two-time winner of Wenatchee World’s Best Band.
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Today - we're exploring the vibrant exhibit "Pocket Full of Dreams: Journeys of Hope" at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center.
And later - we’re spotlighting a vital but often overlooked community resource in Wenatchee.
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Today - we're exploring a magical destination that's capturing the hearts of visitors globally: the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm.
And later - The U.S. Department of the Interior is allocating over $1 million to Chelan County as part of a larger $51 million national initiative.
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Today - we're discussing a pivotal moment in Leavenworth's ongoing efforts to tackle affordable housing.
And later - we’re highlighting recent 30 under 35 winner Chelsea Crouch.
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Today - A story of courage, resilience, and the pursuit of justice.
And later - Big news in East Wenatchee—Larry's Drive-In, the legendary chicken spot, is up for grabs!
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Today - we're discussing a pivotal environmental appeal in Washington state.
And later - we’ll diving into a story that lights up the Wenatchee Valley with holiday spirit.
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Today - A closer look at the East Wenatchee City Council's decision to renew their jail contract.
And later - A local landscape artist is having her final show at the Pybus Public Market's Art Alley.
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Today - It's the end of an era for Badger Mountain Brewing, a business that's been serving the community since 2013.
And later - Meet Alisha Lewman, a dynamic leader featured in our prestigious "30 Under 35" list.
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Today - We're focusing on a groundbreaking initiative by Upper Valley Cares Behavioral Health.
And later - We're saying goodbye to a long-standing member of The Wenatchee World news staff and welcoming a new face into the fold.
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Today - A closer look at a pressing issue in state politics: the budget and economic outlook as we approach the next legislative session, just a little over a month away.
And later - The city of Wenatchee has taken a major step forward in its Confluence Parkway project.
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Today - we're diving into a story that celebrates the career of a remarkable individual in the world of photojournalism.
And later - After a closely contested election, the Wenatchee School District Position 2 seat now officially belongs to Maria Iñiguez.
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Today - the Wenatchee School Board has recently undergone some significant changes in its leadership roles.
And later - we’ll highlight a remarkable achievement by the Icicle Brewing Company.
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Today - It's been nearly three weeks since the general election, and the race for Wenatchee School Board Position 2 remains on a razor's edge.
And later - we're taking you to the Entiat Valley, a hidden gem for those seeking the perfect natural Christmas tree.
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Today - a heartwarming tale of resilience and care from the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm. It's the story of a six-month-old reindeer named Cupid - or as affectionately known, Baby Cupid.
And later - we're highlighting the achievements of Terry Sanders, a dynamic 32-year-old high school principal at Chelan School of Innovation.
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Today - In honor of Small Business Saturday we’ll dive into why it’s essential to understand the unique challenges our local businesses face and why they need our support now more than ever.
And later - holiday events happening around Wenatchee this week.
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Today - a comprehensive look at the latest financial developments from Wenatchee and East Wenatchee as they finalize their 2024 annual budgets.
And later - where you can grab a bite this Thanksgiving without the hassle of cooking.
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Today - A closer look at the increase in Wenatchee's stormwater utility rate that’s set to take effect next year.
And later - we're shining a light on one of Wenatchee’s inspirational young leaders and Wenatchee Business World 30 under 35 winner, Minerva Zayas.
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Today - We're diving into a groundbreaking legal decision that's making waves in international custody law.
And later - On Thanksgiving, the Community Foundation of NCW will host the Give NCW Turkey Trot along Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail.
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Today - we're diving into a story of civic participation – or the lack thereof – in Chelan and Douglas counties during this year's general elections.
And later - there's a special event capturing the essence of this holiday spirit: the Wenatchee Festival of Trees.
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Today - we’re delving into a surprising announcement from Hilary Franz, the state Public Lands Commissioner.
And later - A story of entrepreneurship and community engagement from Leavenworth.
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Today - Today, we're shining an army of veterans in Wenatchee who are dedicated to supporting their fellow servicemen and women as they transition from military to civilian life.
And later - Jiffy Lube will offer free oil change today for veterans and active duty military.
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In the spotlight today is Proposition 1.
And later - the Chelan County PUD made a game-changing move by reopening improved sport courts at six parks. They've also added a dozen more pickleball courts.
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Today - Recently, nearly 6,000 residents received a mailer that mimicked the look of a legitimate newspaper. Branded as The Wenatchee Record, this publication has sparked a debate about the boundaries of political advertising.
And later - Leavenworth has been honored in this year’s Governor's Smart Communities Awards with the Judges Merit Award.
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Today - Today, a story from Rock Island, where the Columbia River Drug Task Force's dedication to their duty took a dramatic turn.
And later - An important announcement from the Chelan-Douglas Board of Health.
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Today - Chelan County has been awarded a substantial grant of close to $1 million to enhance the region's resilience against wildfires and hazardous smoke.
And later - We've got some updates for you regarding the North Central Educational Service District.
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Today - Just over a year ago, Wenatchee introduced an ordinance focused on the towing of illegally parked vehicles. But despite the ordinance, the Wenatchee Police Department hasn't towed a single vehicle where they believe someone is living inside.
And later - we spotlight RISE Espresso in Wenatchee, a game-changer in the coffee scene.
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Today - A recent school board meeting saw a prominent member, Katherine Thomas, defend herself via Zoom from her home in Texas. The root of the issue? Residency concerns.
And later - the newly opened Nature’s Window: Museum of Wildlife, Natural History and Art in Chelan.
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Today - a financial deep dive into Wenatchee and East Wenatchee's 2024 preliminary budgets.
And later - Halloween events going on in the area that you should know about.
https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/go/north-central-washington-halloween-costume-parties-entertainment-for-all-ages/article_5db6a6bc-6dd5-11ee-bf4f-5360d8557125.html?block_id=774215
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Today - we take a closer look at the recent growth of Columbia Valley Community Health.
And later - we shine a light on the story of an inspiring individual, and recent Wenatchee Business World 30 under 35 winner, Christian Barragan.
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Today - we dive into the recent mayoral candidate forum in Leavenworth, where incumbent Mayor Carl Florea and challenger Rich Brinkman discussed their stances on issues facing the community.
And later - an incident involving Wenatchee City Council member and mayoral hopeful, Mike Poirier, has resurfaced.
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Today - The Wenatchee School District has embarked on a mission to tackle the escalating demand for mental health services among students.
And later - Dale Young’s life has come full circle at age 92.
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Today - We’re diving into the notable changes that took place in the Wenatchee City Council last Thursday.
And later - Four Wenatchee World journalists earned awards last week at the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association annual convention in Kennewick.
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Today - This past Wednesday marked a bumpy day for Wenatchee School Board member Katherine Thomas and Douglas County Commissioner Kyle Steinburg.
And later - Link Transit will commemorate the completion of Leavenworth's new roundabout this coming week.
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Today - The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority has made a notable move that’s bound to have a positive ripple effect on our community’s health and wellness scene.
And later – A new exhibit, poignantly titled “All the Sacrifices You’ve Made or Todos los Sacrificos Que has Hecho,” has opened its doors at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center earlier this month.
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Today - A look at the two candidates running for the Wenatchee City Council District 5 seat who faced off in a debate last week.
https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/q-a-wenatchee-city-council-member-candidates-atkinson-williams/article_36367020-63be-11ee-91bc-738bf1b28a4a.html
And later - The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission recently approved acquiring about 650 acres to promote the recovery of the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit, Columbian sharp-tailed and greater sage-grouse.
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Today - we dive into the complicated world of addiction recovery, unraveling the essence of healing through the eyes of those who've walked the path of recovery, as well as professionals dedicated to making a difference.
And later - exciting updates around the new softball complex at Wenatchee High School.
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Today - we delve into a recent incident that unfolded at a Wenatchee diamond manufacturing hub, Diamond Foundry.
And later - North Central Washington Libraries, in collaboration with Sustainable NCW, is hosting a series of creative crafting events aimed at promoting a "Low Waste Holiday."
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Today - The story of a Wenatchee teen whose passion for history, heritage, and education has earned him a prestigious recognition.
And later - Beer gardens, food carts, and musical acts are set to entertain attendees over the next three weekends in both downtown Leavenworth and at Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee.
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Today - Katherine Thomas, an outgoing Wenatchee school board member, recently found herself at the center of a heated debate concerning her eligibility to continue serving on the board.
And later – The North Central Washington Dahlia Society invites all Dahlia growers to submit their best flower for judging at the annual Dahlia Show.
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Today - The Washington Conservation Action has put out their annual report card grading the efforts of the state Department of Natural Resources. So, how did we do?
And later - Crumbl Cookies has officially opened a store in Wenatchee, in the Valley North Shopping Center.
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Candidates for Wenatchee’s next mayor took part in a debate last week as the 2023 election season begins. Today – we’ll take a closer look at what they had to say about health related issues.
And later - The 60th Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival is underway!
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Candidates for Wenatchee’s next mayor took part in a debate last week as the 2023 election season begins. Today – we’ll take a closer look at what they had to say about the local housing inventory and homelessness.
And later – The 31st Wenatchee River Salmon Festival is back!
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Today - We're taking a closer look into Governor Jay Inslee’s recent visit to Wenatchee.
https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/inslee-promotes-climate-commitment-act-while-touring-wenatchee/article_22277720-5336-11ee-84fa-bb99e90e5617.html?block_id=774208
And later - a quick update from the Wenatchee School District, courtesy of Superintendent Kory Kalahar.
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Today - some big news regarding the leadership team at Wenatchee Valley College.
And later - some events going on this weekend that you should know about.
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Today – we're looking at Microsoft's big move in Malaga.
And later – some essential news for our hard-working farm laborers and frontline workers affected by COVID-19.
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Today - We dive into the heart of Manson where a recent visit to a local apple orchard unveiled the concerns of small growers.
And later - A look at the final days of Frank Kuntz's 12-year term as Wenatchee’s mayor.
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Today - the heartwarming reunion of two sister cities separated for years.
And later - we're unpacking Chelan County PUD's proposal on ratemaking standards.
https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/chelan-county-pud-staff-recommends-opting-out-of-federal-ratemaking-ev-program-standards/article_d06249dc-4c51-11ee-975a-d714af7cc9da.html?block_id=774208
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Today – we're shining a spotlight on the Greater Leavenworth Museum.
And later – Have you ever felt the urge to explore the great outdoors but don't want to do it alone?
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Today - Richard Weaver’s life was filled with stories, kindness, and adventure.
And later - The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival returns this month for its 31st celebration!
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Today - Air service restoration is a hot topic in Wenatchee.
And later - A local firefighter plans to swim the entire length of Lake Chelan as part of a fundraising effort for Seattle Children’s Hospital.
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Today – we're covering the bustling activity in the once dormant refrigerated warehouses on Columbia Street. These warehouses, spanning around 128,000-square-feet, have recently seen quite the revival.
And later – a moment to remember a pillar of the winemaking community, Brock Lindsay.
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Today - This week, the Columbia Valley Community Health, or CVCH for short, will officially unveil their new health clinic.
And later - In downtown Cashmere, a tragic event unfolded this Thursday.
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Today – we dive into all things North Central Washington Fair. If you're looking for a wholesome, fun-filled event, then stay tuned!
And later – A closer look at a recent resolution between the city of Wenatchee and Grace City Church.
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Today - we reflect on the tragic events that occurred six months ago on Colchuck Peak. It's a chilling reminder of nature's force and the importance of preparation.
And later - The air in Wenatchee and surrounding areas is still unhealthy due to wildfire smoke pouring in from the Cascades.
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Today - we’re diving into a hot-button issue surrounding public health and addiction services in North Central Washington.
And later - Link Transit has introduced 11 “BYD | RIDE” buses to its fleet.
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Today – we dive deep into a piece of Waterville's history that's up for grabs — but also at risk of disappearing. The property at 108 S. Rainier Street, currently on sale for $314,500, isn't just any home.
And later – we have a somber update... A family member has identified the 15-year-old boy who tragically lost his life over the weekend as Tony Figueroa.
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Today - Cuts, a clothing brand worn by celebrities and founded by a Wenatchee raised entrepreneur, is taking the world by storm.
And later - A closer look at recycling in North Central Washington.
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Today - Confluence Health, the largest healthcare provider in North Central Washington, is facing challenges with staffing, finances, and contract negotiations.
And later - David Nichols, the James Beard Award-nominated chef and a local of Wenatchee, is set to revolutionize our local dining scene with the opening of 'Brigade'.
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Today – A modern solution to an age-old challenge. How a fire department in Wenatchee is turning to cutting-edge technology for early detection of wildfires.
And later – At the Pybus Public Market, the story of Royal Produce is rooted in the aspirations of two immigrants.
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Today - A story about resilience, finding strength in a community, and how sometimes, viral fame can turn into an opportunity to inspire others.
And later - Darel and Kathleen Ansley have restarted their rattlesnake avoidance class for dogs in Wenatchee.
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Today - A Regional Sports Complex in Wenatchee Valley is inching closer to realization.
And later - Agricultural leaders from across Washington State recently met in North Central Washington to discuss priorities for the upcoming renewal of the wide-ranging farm bill.
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Today – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is often shrouded in mystery. But this summer, a different narrative is unfolding in the town of Moses Lake.
And later – A 272-unit apartment complex proposal is awaiting approval from the Douglas County Hearing Examiner in East Wenatchee.
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Today - a critical moment in the health industry in Wenatchee, as registered nurses at the Confluence Health Mares Campus choose representation through a union, ending a five-month-long saga.
And later - The State Department of Veterans Affairs is planning to host two meetings in Wenatchee next week to discuss veteran-related issues.
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Today - The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs released their 2022 Annual Crime in Washington Report this July. Findings show a statewide surge in violent crimes.
And later - The Greater Leavenworth Museum has introduced a new exhibit dedicated to the history of the Wenatchi/P’Spuosa people.
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Today - The issue of skyrocketing gas prices is gripping Washington, and Governor Jay Inslee has made it clear who he thinks is responsible.
And later - The Veterans Warehouse Thrift Store in Wenatchee has closed, as its former owner Thad Lawson Jr. is currently detained at Chelan County Regional Justice Center.
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Today - North Central Washington is being catapulted into the cinema spotlight.
And later - A discussion about a proposed 1/10th sales tax increase for Link Transit has been put on hold.
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Today – we're diving into the multifaceted issue of affordable housing right here in our city.
And later – Prusik Kitchen & Bar, a new restaurant in Leavenworth, hosted its soft opening on July 13th.
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Today - A rising tide of homelessness in the city of Wenatchee has fueled a mounting crisis that local authorities and organizations are grappling with.
https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/homeless-to-hopeful-advocates-seek-housing-solutions-for-displaced-residents/article_dbe490c4-21e7-11ee-8344-17e4c947a76e.html?block_id=774208
And later - A closer look at the recent concerns surrounding the Bird scooters in town.
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Today - A local school district takes on tech titans, suing for safe online environments. We're heading to Quincy, a district in the throes of a legal battle that may have far-reaching implications.
And later - A closer look at the transformation of the Confluence Technology Center, previously home to a Yahoo! data center.
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Today – a conversation with local business owner and holistic wellness expert, Angelina Sanchez.
And later – A closer look into Wenatchee’s Fourth of July controversy.
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Today - Some local parents are saying the newly renovated Lincoln Park is inaccessible for disabled kids – despite being ADA compliant.
And later - This year, residents found their Fourth of July missing its usual flair - a puzzling absence of flags that once adorned the streets.
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Today - The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority are taking online feedback on the proposed sports complex.
And later - In the bustling Pybus Public Market on Wednesday evenings, a unique rhythm pulses through the air. This is 2 Left Feet Dance's Tango night.
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Today – we're turning our attention to the ongoing financial struggles faced by many families here and across the country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And later – In the heated arena of American education, a new contender emerges, "Moms for Liberty", described by leader Johanna Carveth as a group of “liberty-minded” parents advocating for their right to influence what's taught to their children.
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Today - Dr. Jason Lake recently decided to step down from his role as chief medical officer for Confluence Health to pursue other opportunities.
And later - David McCarter, a longtime YMCA advocate and supporter, is about to embark on an extraordinary journey.
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Today - A closer look at the alleged racial bullying at Cashmere High School.
And later - Sophie Campbell's journey shows us the transformative power of a childhood passion when paired with perseverance.
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Today – The Wenatchee School District, in collaboration with Chelan County, are discussing a proposed marketplace in Malaga.
And later – There’s a new sushi restaurant in Wenatchee!
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Today - At just 13 years of age, Ayden Itterley, a Quinault Indian Nation teenager, managed to turn a school assignment into a force for change.
And later - Wenatchee has a new spot to satisfy its sweet tooth.
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Today - Businesses say that the East Wenatchee traffic revision has resulted in reduced customers.
And later - A new novel tells the story of the Grand Coulee Dam.
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Today – A local solution to a national crisis. East Wenatchee is pioneering a new approach to combating the opioid epidemic.
And later – On June 15, the Supreme Court voted in support of the Indian Child Welfare Act, or ICWA. But what are Washington based tribes saying about it?
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Today - a horrific scene unfolded at a music festival at the Gorge Amphitheater as a peaceful Saturday night abruptly turned into a nightmare for festival-goers.
And later - In September 1933, a collection of local wheat farmers and orchardists in Wenatchee officially formed a farming cooperative known as the Grange Supply to get better access to fuel and supplies. 90 years later, the cooperative still exists.
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Today - we're delving into an unfolding economic scenario of international concern: the battle of tariffs and its impact on Washington state's trade with India.
And later - we dive into the inspiring story of a young local soccer prodigy, Jonathan Garcia-Mendoza.
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Today – A crisis that has grown steadily over the past few years, with the average price tag for homes shooting well above the $300,000 mark, leaving the vast majority of residents facing impossible choices.
And later – Sunnyslope Church, led by openly queer minister Reverend Dane Breslin, recently marked Pride Month with a special service, a testament to their commitment to inclusion.
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Today - The heartwarming story of Dorothy Reed, the eldest resident of Wenatchee, who just celebrated her 110th birthday in a unique and unforgettable way.
And later - In a surprising development that has left the local community of Wenatchee buzzing, School Board candidate Joe Cortez has made a sudden exit from the running.
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Today - A battle between the defense and prosecution has created a legal knot that ties together community care, warrants, and murder.
And later - Ohme Gardens, a tourist attraction developed by Herman and Ruth Ohme in 1929, is raising funds to restore the Ox Yoke Lodge picnic shelter and enhance the facility's lighting and parking lot.
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Today - The new Easy Street roundabout promises not just to optimize traffic, but to add a vibrant splash of artistry to the landscape.
And later - The Wenatchee Valley Mall is hosting a food truck festival.
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Today - We take you on a journey to the gateway of Tumwater Canyon in Leavenworth. Home to the newly opened Leavenworth Adventure Park and its premier attraction: the Tumwater Twister Alpine Coaster.
And later - 38 year oldTravis Coleman, a resident of Wenatchee, vanished over a month ago on April 22nd. His disappearance continues to confound the community and local authorities.
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Today - Nearly three months ago, authorities seized over 60 animals during an investigation into animal cruelty. The Wenatchee Valley Humane Society has since found new homes for most of them.
And later - Memorial Park will host a myriad of entertainers and vendors today, honoring LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
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Today - We turn our attention to a senior living facility in East Wenatchee, Bonaventure. The facility has been fined twice since 2022 and has faced allegations of inadequate care.
And later - The Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center has a new exhibit - 'Eco Wenatchee'.
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Today - Two months ago Abel Wilkes was in an 18-hour standoff with SWAT officers at his home in Leavenworth. Now he’s sharing his story.
And later - A new apple variety, WA 64, is an exciting blend of the Honeycrisp and Cripps Pink.
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Today - Bob Goedde, a local figure in the Chelan community since 1946, serving as city mayor for almost 12 years, has ambitions yet to fulfill.
And later - the work week is behind us and the smoky allure of North Central Washington's barbecue beckons.
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Today - A local group has been working tirelessly to save an endangered plant. Now, their labor is being recognized by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
And later - The Chelan County PUD will lease land to a local fruit company.
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Today - we delve into an increasingly popular model of shared office space that's revolutionizing the way we work - coworking - and what it looks like here in Wenatchee.
And later - East Wenatchee Mayor Jerrilea Crawford will go uncontested in the upcoming mayoral race.
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Today - Linhui Yan and Yan Yang, two individuals who police allege operated massage parlors in Wenatchee as fronts for a prostitution ring, are now turning the tables on law enforcement.
And later - A fire that charred a Wenatchee restaurant early Sunday morning appears to have been caused by two drunk employees.
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Today - Bryan Campbell, a former city council member and businessman, has announced his bid for Mayor of Wenatchee.
And later - East Wenatchee officials are taking steps to alleviate traffic congestion.
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Today - We delve into the life of Elias A. Mora-Ontiveros, a young man with a love for the past and an eye for the future, whose life was tragically cut short.
And later - The Riverwalk Café opened on Saturday under a new name — the Broken Compass Café.
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Today - While her peers are busy preparing for graduation, one high school senior is balancing the pomp and circumstance with petals and bouquets.
And later - How the warmer spring weather may be affecting our waterways.
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Today - We're unpacking a story that unfolded on the tumultuous waters of the Wenatchee River near Dryden earlier this month.
And later - The Wenatchee Valley Farmer’s Market is opening for the Spring season this weekend.
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Today - The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust acquired 20 acres next to Saddle Rock Natural Area.
And later - Yesterday, five students made it to Cascade Elementary School in style, stepping off a bright red fire truck.
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Today - Chelan County PUD commissioners are chewing on a potential rate and service change before their next board meeting.
And later - Apple Blossom Festival Grand Marshal took the stage at the Wenatchee Convention Center earlier this week.
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Today - a former Bonaventure Senior Living director claims he was fired for reporting inadequate staffing levels at the facility.
And later - A Chelan County judge set bail at $2 million for each of two inmates who police say attempted to kill a corrections deputy Monday morning.
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Today - The Wenatchee City Council members agreed to negotiate a contract for initial designs on the South End Bike and Pedestrian Access Bridges segment of the Apple Capital Loop project.
And later - The Center for Alcohol & Drug Treatment received $19.6 million from the 2023 state capital budget for a new facility.
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Today - Hydrogen as a fuel can be a complex topic. That’s why we hosted a forum to highlight and expand on the Douglas County PUD’s hydrogen production facility that’s under construction.
And later - Wenatchee City Council member Mike Poirier has announced his intention to run for the Wenatchee mayor seat this fall.
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Today - Hydrogen as a fuel can be a complex topic. That’s why we hosted a forum to highlight and expand on the Douglas County PUD’s hydrogen production facility that’s under construction.
And later - A Venezuelan tattoo artist is creating a graffiti mural for kids in Wenatchee.
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Today - Hydrogen as a fuel can be a complex topic. That’s why we hosted a forum to highlight and expand on the Douglas County PUD’s hydrogen production facility that’s under construction.
And later - Local superheroes pulled together to support an Autism Awareness event.
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Today - We’re seeing more people at Wenatchee Valley food banks as the cost of living rises and SNAP allotments fall.
And later - Fans are flocking to the Gorge Amphitheatre for another year of concerts and camping.
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Today - In the coming years, the Wenatchee and Eastmont school districts could potentially ask residents once again for additional money.
And later - Anyone who happens to have a case of the munchies today doesn’t need to look any further than Peshastin.
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Today - A $4.1 million Pangborn Memorial Airport hangar site development and taxiway extension project could go out for a construction bid by the end of April.
And later - The Eastmont School District temporarily placed schools on modified lockdown Monday morning due to a threat that circulated on social media.
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Today - If you noticed more leaves on fruit trees last winter, you’re not alone. So what does this mean for next season?
And later - Mama Tina’s Pizza has served up food throughout North Central Washington for the past year and a half from a food trailer, and now the owners have opened their first permanent location.
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Today - Douglas County PUD is considering changing cryptocurrency miners’ and low-tier data centers’ annual demand charge.
And later - In a poignant moment with the Columbia Chorale’s 40th Anniversary Concert on Saturday, director Mike Hibbett will retire after 24 years conducting the choir.
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Today - Six blood collection tubes included in three separate cases of driving under the influence in Chelan County District Court are now being called into question.
And later - Dorothy Reed was recently proclaimed Wenatchee’s oldest resident.
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Today - The group of nearly 100 former employees who lost their jobs when Confluence Health enforced the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate filed a new lawsuit against their former employer.
And later - One local artist is showing her wares at two galleries this month.
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Today - Chelan County PUD is anticipating meeting its goal of providing fiber internet to 85% of the county by the end of 2026, despite continuous county growth stretching the PUD service territory.
And later - Earlier this week U.S. Representative Kim Schrier held a listening session at the Washington Apple Commission for the agricultural community to provide input on the next Farm Bill.
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Not since the 1950s has the whole country been so obsessed with trains. But after the February 3rd derailment of 38 cars carrying hazardous materials in East Palestine, Ohio, we’ve seen a renewed fixation on the state of the railroad. But is Wenatchee prepared for such an accident?
Also - while Washington high schools must now offer at least one elective computer science class, that's only the first step in ensuring a diverse set of students consider a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) field. The next step is to convince young girls they can thrive in a predominantly male industry.
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Today - RiverCom 911, the regional emergency dispatch center, is mulling over leasing the Confluence Technology Center’s entire second floor and potentially half of the basement for their new headquarters.
And later - High school student artists were awarded best of show and honorable mention earlier this month for the 44th annual Regional High School Art Show
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Today - Budget and staff cuts come as superintendents around the country look for new jobs.
And later - A traditional three-ring circus from Las Vegas touring the United States makes a stop at the Town Toyota Center today and Friday.
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Today - Following a decision by the Wenatchee School Board last month to cut staffing by 8%, teachers in the district are left to wonder: how will this impact me?
And later - A Rock Island after school program is teaching kids to have a positive outlook.
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Today - While the Wenatchee School District would have likely needed to reduce staff eventually, a budgeting mistake aggravated the issue.
And later - A Black Box Concert series is bringing crowds up on the theater’s stage at Numerica Performing Arts Center.
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Today - For years, the Wenatchee School District has seen declining enrollment with the drop projected to continue. With that trend comes a decrease in state funding. Now districts like Wenatchee are starting to deal with the fallout.
And later - A master of classical North Indian music is performing in Leavenworth this weekend.
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Today - A Douglas County Superior Court judge sentenced an East Wenatchee financial advisor who police say defrauded former clients to eight years in prison.
And later - Fans flock to the Gorge Amphitheatre for another year of concerts and camping.
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Today - A Cashmere bug farm that produces animal feed and fertilizer, Beta Hatch, is pursuing a $400,000 state grant to set up shop in Wenatchee.
And later - we’re excited to highlight another 2023 Community Impact Award winner.
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Today - The use of 14 water faucets in Vale Elementary, Cashmere Middle School and Cashmere High School has been discontinued after four rounds of testing indicated elevated lead levels.
And later - we’re excited to highlight another 2023 Community Impact Award winner.
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Today - The parents of an Eastmont School District student are suing the district for allegedly discriminating against their son on the basis of his disability.
And later - we’re excited to highlight another 2023 Community Impact Award winner.
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Today - Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison has appointed new officers to his top staff to change the agency's culture.
And later - we’re excited to highlight 2023 Community Impact Award winners.
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Today - Thanks to community members like you, the Leavenworth ski and snowboard program is thriving!
And later - Wenatchee kicks off the 'MegaKittrick' project with a groundbreaking!
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Today - A Leavenworth nonprofit is looking for help finding a stolen salmon sculpture created by an indigenous artist.
And later - Two Tacoma residents were charged in connection to three Washington massage parlors — two of which were in Wenatchee — that investigators say operated as a front for prostitution.
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Today - The Wenatchee School Board unanimously moved Tuesday for superintendent candidate Kory Kalahar to serve in the role in an interim capacity on a two-year contract.
And later - Joseph Hunter knows first-hand the benefit a support network can have on someone with a drug addiction.
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Today - A bill that requires school districts to adopt an inclusive curriculum passed the Senate on Tuesday.
And later - From sisters-in-law became business partners.
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Today - Governor Jay Inslee visited Leavenworth last week to meet with local elected officials and nonprofit organizations to discuss the shortage of affordable, workforce housing in the area.
And later - Think first, paint later. That’s how artist Allen Gossett approaches a creative process.
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Today - Law enforcement have identified the three people who died Sunday afternoon after a snow slide near Colchuck Lake.
And later - Colorful and whimsical performances of 'Alice' will showcase the creativity of Stage Kids.
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Today - Chelan County PUD commissioners voted unanimously to establish anchor tenants.
And later - After decades of development, a display of ceramics by Ruth E. Allan is at the MAC Gallery.
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Today - The Side Street Cashmere, a self proclaimed “neighborhood hub,” debuted its boutique vacation rental at a grand opening party last week.
And later - Since 2012, Team Naturaleza has provided Spanish language environmental education for Spanish speakers who want to learn about the outdoors.
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Today - The number of unsheltered people surveyed locally has decreased about 14% from 2022, but that may not reflect the reality of the situation.
And later - A former Wenatchee library manager has taken a position at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center.
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Today - A new trio of Wenatchee Valley girls were crowned Apple Blossom Royalty for 2023 at the Royalty Selection Pageant.
And later - The Wenatchee Public Library will be hosting an Anti-Valentine’s Day Party today to allow broken-hearted tweens and teens with a safe space to escape the pressure of the national day of love.
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Today - Forty-four pallet shelters will arrive at the Wenatchee Rescue Mission in April.
And later - North Central Washington Bridal Premierè is coming up later this month.
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Today - The Wenatchee School Board has selected four superintendent candidates to move ahead to the next steps of the district’s interview process.
And later - Chelan County PUD entered into a 20-year contract with Puget Sound Energy.
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Today - High School senior Luke Byrd is educating people on how to preserve the natural beauty of our parks.
And later - Sonia Ramsey has chosen more than 20 pieces of art to be installed in the front room of the freshly renovated Two Rivers Art Gallery for the month of February.
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Today - The unemployment rate for North Central Washington ticked up over a percentage point to 6.1% in December.
And later - The Wenatchee Valley College Foundation has partnered with the NCW Hispanic Empowerment fund to award scholarships to WVC students.
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Today - Chelan County PUD is strategizing how to accommodate increased electric vehicle use and trying to maximize customer benefit as the state implements the Washington Clean Fuels Standard law this year.
And later - Country musician Ian Jones is packing his guitar into a tour van for a five-week radio tour around the country, but before that, he stops at two venues in the Wenatchee Valley this weekend.
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Today - Saturday’sCOVID listening session drew roughly 500 individuals to the convention center.
And later - Last week Wenatchee Rescue Mission outreach coordinators and their director surveyed the homeless individuals who make this area their home.
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Today - It’s our final day of key takeaways from our forum with Wenatchee’s newest sports team - the Wenatchee Bighorns.
And later - The first local showing of a documentary film by Cashmere-based Voortex Productions was received by a packed house at the Numerica Performing Arts Center.
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Today - We’re continuing to take a closer look at key takeaways from our forum with Wenatchee’s newest sports team - the Wenatchee Bighorns!
And later - Former NBA player John Stockton will serve as the keynote speaker for a Saturday event billed as an opportunity to share harm caused by COVID-19 restrictions.
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Today - Key takeaways from our forum with Wenatchee’s newest sports team - the Wenatchee Bighorns!
And later - Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson will visit Wenatchee next week to discuss public safety and retail theft.
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Today - A child molestation case filed against a former Lake Chelan School District teacher was dismissed Wednesday in Chelan County Superior Court.
And later - The Link Transit Board of Directors approved an interlocal agreement with the city of East Wenatchee for a new park and ride in East Wenatchee.
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Today - Chelan County PUD commissioners applauded staff efforts during the power outage that spanned the upper valley and other pockets of Chelan County during the December cold snap.
And later - Growing up in the Wenatchee Valley, Jesus Celaya would work in the orchards and packing sheds with his family. Now, the Eastmont High School alumna is winning competitions and awards for the films he writes and directs.
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Today - Around 30 community members gathered Thursday to talk about the Confluence Parkway Environmental Assessment and Draft Individual Section 4(f) Evaluation.
And later - In a "passing the baton" ceremony on January 21st, the Wenatchee River Institute will celebrate a change of leadership from outgoing Executive Director Carolyn Griffin-Bugert to incoming Executive Director Canuche Terranella.
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Today - A new fish counting raft deployed by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife now sits atop an ice flow.
And later - Criminal charges filed in a September homicide in Cashmere were dismissed Wednesday after prosecutors determined the shooting of 22-year-old Gustavo Urbina-Sotelo was in self-defense.
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Today - Brave Warrior Project’s local, nonprofit respite program offers caregivers a window of rest while providing activities for children with chronic illness, cancer and disabilities.
And later - Nineteen educators have tossed their hats into the ring as candidates to be the Wenatchee School District’s next superintendent.
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Today - The family of a Wenatchee woman who died in the custody of the Chelan County Regional Justice Center has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against Chelan County and others.
And later - The East Wenatchee City Council approved entering an agreement with the Douglas County PUD to launch an electric vehicle pilot program.
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Today - Data from a Bloomberg article suggests that Wenatchee saw its cost of living rise up the ranks faster than any other American metro area over the past decade.
And later - The Wenatchee School Board will host several special meetings in January as members begin the heavy-lifting on several long term projects.
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Today - Local agencies have been feeling the weight of fentanyl’s presence in the community.
And later - The city of East Wenatchee recently received more than $2 million in two grants from the state’s Transportation Improvement Board for two street improvement projects.
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Today - East Wenatchee Police Department recovered six catalytic converters Thursday night after the arrest of a 39-year-old Seattle man following a foot pursuit.
And later - Don West, KPQ host, wrestling commentator and professional pitchman, among other hats worn throughout his career, passed away last week.
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Today - With temperatures dropping below zero, warming shelters are providing safety to those who need to escape the cold outside.
And later - When not working as an architect, Brad Brisbine likes to backpack in the Cascades to take photographs and find natural vistas to paint on canvas.
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Today - Chelan County commissioners awarded $328,000 this week to a number of tourist-related organizations.
And later - Eight people were displaced and three pets died after a home caught fire early Christmas morning in Wenatchee.
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Today - The Columbia River Drug Task Force arrested a 34-year-old East Wenatchee man on suspicion of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl.
And later - Link Transit announced some changes to several Wenatchee Valley routes to take effect in the new year.
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Today - Chelan County PUD emphasized broadband funding as a legislative priority during the Tri-Commission meeting last week.
And later - Chelan County commissioners have drafted a letter opposing federal agencies' plan to reintroduce grizzly bears into the North Cascades.
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Today - The Wenatchee School District has begun a two-month budget review that could ultimately result in staffing reductions.
And later - Four hundred and thirty acres of land connecting Saddle Rock Natural Area and the Jacobson Preserve soon will more than double the size of the Saddle Rock area.
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Today - The former Collins Fruit warehouse in Monitor is a total loss after an early morning fire on Thursday.
And later - An event coming up that you should know about
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Today - The city of Wenatchee will be ordering 45 pallet shelters from Everett-based company Pallet PBC to provide additional housing at the Wenatchee Rescue Mission.
And later - The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 191 has opened a new facility in East Wenatchee to train the next generation of electricians.
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Today - Local stakeholders — including municipalities, government agencies and business representatives — are forming a steering committee to spearhead an estimated $300,000 feasibility study for the proposed Regional Aquatic Center-Sports Complex.
And later - World renowned Ukulele performer set to perform a holiday concert in Wenatchee.
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Today - The Chelan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is currently reviewing the investigation into the fatal police shooting of Alexander J. White outside the Living Hope Community Church in May.
And later - The Music Theatre of Wenatchee is putting on a Christmas production at Riverside Playhouse.
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Today - A new Wenatchee business, Lone Peak Overland, an outfitter for lightweight truck bed campers, raked in $500,000 in pre-order sales its first day of business and $1 million by the end of its first week in November.
And later - A new format brings a smaller, but lively crowd for Leavenworth lights.
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Today - After exhibiting 50 shows, Collapse Contemporary Art Gallery is closing with one final show this month.
And later - winter thrill-seekers now have another adventure at their disposal.
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Today - During the holiday season, school family advocates are partnering with the Grace City Church to provide students in need with what they hope will be a fulfilling Christmas.
And later - Did you know that the abandoned Pioneer Hotel building on the corner of First and Mission Streets, was Wenatchee’s first real hospital?
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Today - Nick Nelson has been wowing the Wenatchee Valley with holiday decorations placed on his front lawn — including icicle lights, a host of mini-trees, a couple of 20-foot light trees and hundreds of other decorations — since 2014. All of it has been free to enjoy since he began with just 60 lights.
And later - State authorities have suspended the license of a Wenatchee vape shop after it allegedly sold tobacco or vape products to underage people.
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Today - Chelan County prosecutors filed nine charges against a Bible study leader accused of sexually assaulting two men at his home.
And later - Meet 30 under 35 winner Edwin Fonseca.
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Today - Chelan County PUD commissioners unanimously voted to table the decision to choose a development proposal for the PUD’s soon-to-be former headquarters.
And later - An electric cellist and a videographer combine talents for an atmospheric show experience this weekend at the Snowy Owl Theatre at Icicle Creek Center for the Arts.
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Today - Opening day for this season at Mission Ridge Resort attracted skiers and snowboarders from just about every age, skill level and experience.
And later - Every two hours, four logs are fed into the furnace that heats over 25,000 square feet of rooms at the Wenatchee Rescue Mission.
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Today - Wenatchee City officials hosted an open house Tuesday to tell people about two designated RV lots for those without a home, known as Safe Parks, managed by the Wenatchee Rescue Mission.
And later - If painters can jam like musicians, there’s a duet to be enjoyed at Collapse Contemporary Art Gallery this month, featuring two artists who both play with oil paints and cold wax medium.
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Today - Despite the uncertainty that came with the pandemic, one local sculptor has just had the best two years in his career.
And later - The Wenatchee School District is hosting first responders at the high school for a career fair!
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Today - Local skiers can rejoice — Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort will open this Saturday. The November 19th opening date will be the earliest the ski area has done so in five years.
And later - The Wenatchee City Council updated a grant agreement with Wenatchee Rescue Mission Thursday night at the recommendation of the Columbia River Local Homeless Task Force to extend the agreement through December 2024 in the amount of $2,090,554.
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Today - Marine Corps veteran Guy Miner’s nature photography is spotlighted this month at an exhibit at Pybus Art Alley in Wenatchee. It’s called “Butterflies to Bears, Northwest Wildlife”.
And later - The Wenatchee Valley Symphony is paying an orchestral tribute to veterans and current service members with its show on Saturday night. Nikolas Caoile will conduct the concert of works honoring those who have fought to defend our country.
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Today - The 25 new citizens originating from eight different countries took the Oath of Allegiance at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. They’ve come from Canada, India, Iraq, Italy, Laos, Mexico, Morocco, and Vietnam.
And later - A Veterans Day parade to honor veterans will continue its long tradition locally.
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Today - For the Wenatchee High School Panthers football team, once the playbooks close, the textbooks open.
And later - A trendy lobby with wireless charging tabletops, rooms with smart TVs, an electric vehicle charging station. It's all part of the new Avid Hotel that opened last month.
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Today - Meet Denver, a 7-month-old, 400-pound Black Angus heifer living in East Wenatchee.
And later - The Chelan Goats volleyball team heads into the playoffs today after winning State last year for the second time in three years.
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Today - More than a hundred people gathered at the YWCA North Central Washington’s Drag Queen Story Hour for children on Saturday in Wenatchee, most in support of the abruptly relocated event.
And later - We’ll recognize Wenatchee 30 under 35 award winner – 30 year old Cody King who owns Blue Spoon Dessert Bar.
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Today - Last school year, Eastmont transported about 3,300 students a day, and the buses traveled nearly 300,000 miles, each route beginning and ending at the roughly 50-year-old bus facility.
And later - While many celebrate Día de los Muertos privately at home, there are plenty of public events planned for this weekend!
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Today - The Robert Graves Gallery is selling its entire collection of fine art this weekend to raise money for a Wenatchee Valley College arts scholarship fund.
And later - Those wishing to see the new Microsoft data center north of Pangborn Memorial Airport might soon get a chance.
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Today - Dirt was moving last week for another Safe Park, on about 1 or 2 acres on Ohme Garden Road, to help get those living in RVs get off city streets.
And later - Unusually poor air quality for this time of year may have caused an increase in respiratory problems, especially for children.
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Today - Impromptu discussions about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine safety will no longer be allowed following a vote at Monday’s monthly Chelan-Douglas Board of Health meeting.
And later - A little over a month into the new school year, the two largest districts in the Wenatchee Valley have more students than expected.
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Today - Wenatchee native Oscar Licon-Eusebio has a new position as the first executive director of NCW Equity Alliance.
And later - The city of East Wenatchee has officially recognized Indigenous People’s Day.
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Today - TheTitle IX fix could cost Wenatchee millions.
And later - Chelan County Fire Marshal Steve Rinaldi has a plan: Water tanks at a dozen sites throughout the county to save time and property during wildfires.
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Today - Two Wenatchee School Board members want more information on a plan that requires all five seats to be up for election next year.
And later - One case of monkeypox has been confirmed in Chelan County, according to Chelan-Douglas Health District.
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Today - This Sunday marks the last worship service of the Trinity United Methodist Church in East Wenatchee.
And later - Desert Canyon golf pro Rob Clark will make his competitive PGA debut Thursday at the Senior PGA Professional Championship in New Mexico.
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Today - U.S Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited the Wenatchee Valley on Thursday.
And later - For the city of Leavenworth, it’s the first time the Chamber of Commerce has produced its own Oktoberfest. For the non-profit Projekt Bayern, it’s the first time to bring the 24-year-old “original” Leavenworth Oktoberfest to Wenatchee.
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Today - One former and one current Chelan County PUD employee each recently received the Governor’s Safety Award for saving a life at Wenatchee Riverfront Park.
And later - Sasha Sysoeva Fair's painting of Martin-Scott Winery earned first place in last weekend's Plein Air Paint Out sponsored by Two Rivers Gallery
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Today - A renovated Wenatchee City Hall is very close to opening!
And later - Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg will visit Wenatchee this week as part of his tour of Washington state infrastructure projects.
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Today - Local officials say the need for medical services has grown in Chelan and Douglas counties since the COVID-19 pandemic. And matching that need, they said, has been a struggle.
And later - Wick Communications, The Wenatchee World’s Arizona-based parent company, is adding to its newspaper holdings.
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Today - A new park has opened for people living in RVs on Wenatchee Valley streets. Safe Park provides, as the name indicates, a safe place for unhoused people to park and live out of their RVs. The site includes fencing, portable toilets, a dumpster and will soon have security.
And later - A federal judge has denied a city of Leavenworth effort to stop a rival Oktoberfest in Wenatchee from billing itself as “Leavenworth Oktoberfest.”
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Today - Projekt Bayern, former organizer of the Leavenworth Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, is hosting the Leavenworth Oktoberfest this year at the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee. The city of Leavenworth, is hosting Oktoberfest in Leavenworth ... in Leavenworth. The two parties are now suing each other.
And later - A hacker took over the Chelan County Emergency Management Facebook page.
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Today - A regional aquatic center, Pangborn Memorial Airport, economics and more will be discussed at the Chelan County Tri-Commission meeting today.
And later - Hana Wright is one of about 70 members of the Sunshine Bowling League, a group for disabled people. She joined several years ago.
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Today - About 238 Peshastin Water District customers could see their monthly water bill jump $38 due to system upgrades in a “worst case scenario”
And later - Link Transit has begun the process to replace its longtime General Manager Richard DeRock, who’s retiring next year.
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Today - Intermountain Infrastructure Group wants to submerge a 75,000-foot-long fiber optic cable in the Columbia River to connect Microsoft’s data centers in the Wenatchee Valley.
And later - Eastmont opens the first inclusive playground in the region.
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Today - A pharmacist fired after he allegedly provided false COVID-19 vaccine cards to two firefighters now potentially faces suspension or loss of his license… and other sanctions.
And later - Lake Chelan regular Dan Quigley is set to perform at a few upcoming events.
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Today - A look inside Chelan County PUD's new headquarters in Wenatchee's Olds Station
And later - More night skiing options for the experts and a new “magic carpet” tow for the novices are coming this winter to Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort.
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Today - Wenatchee Wild’s play-by-play hockey broadcaster Arch Ecker died earlier this week from a heart attack. He was 56 years old.
And later - One case of Monkeypox has been identified in Grant County, bringing the total of confirmed cases across the state to 506 as of Monday.
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Today - Forest landowners looking for help with everything from wildfire preparedness to wildlife stewardship now have a one-stop shop.
And later - Heavy wildfire smoke reduced air quality throughout much of Chelan County to hazardous levels yesterday.
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Today - Chelan County PUD is moving forward with trying to give the Horan Natural Area a special noise classification.
And later - Michael Carter Rallis left the football field for the ring of World Wrestling Entertainment in 2014. This weekend he will be at Town Toyota Center as Madcap Moss and part of WWE’s Sunday Stunner event.
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Today - A second school resource officer is one step closer to roaming the halls of Eastmont schools.
And later - A proposed 200-home development in Peshastin, which had been stalled by environmental concerns from neighbors earlier this year, has been approved by the Chelan County Hearing Examiner.
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Today - A new job that requires a move out of town has prompted Chelan City Councilmember Servando Robledo to step down from his elected post.
And later - On Thursday and Friday mornings this week, the Wenatchee Valley Symphony in partnership with Confluence Health and the Wenatchee Valley Medical Group will bring the theatrical production of “Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage” to the Numerica Performing Arts Center.
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Today - Specialty lumber and custom millwork have been mainstays of Lombard's Hardwood Supply for more than three decades, serving the various needs of cabinetmakers, custom home builders and general woodworkers throughout the region.
And later - Investigators are asking for the public’s help to determine the cause of the Union Valley Fire that prompted evacuations this week and burned outbuildings.
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Today - Wenatchee School District is rolling out a new brand to reflect the changes in the community over the past two decades.
And later - New art exhibits open at galleries and venues in downtown Wenatchee, with receptions on the First Friday of each month. So what can you expect to see tomorrow?
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Today - The Wenatchee School Board set aside millions to construct softball facilities at Wenatchee High School. But, it’s still unclear when the team could take to the new field.
And later - As another school year begins, Wenatchee High School is ready to assist students in need of food, clothing, toiletries, backpacks and other school supplies.
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Today - Two plots of land in the Cashmere Mill District might be home to a new business park, creating more jobs.
And later - Two big events are going on this weekend that you won’t want to miss.
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Today - The Wenatchee School Board began its next superintendent search on Tuesday evening.
And later - The Paperboys and Locarno are two bands with the same lead singer, Tom Landa. And both groups play at Icicle Creek Center for the Arts this Saturday on the outdoor Meadow Stage!
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Today - Link Transit is eliminating or reducing service on a number routes from October to January due to an ongoing shortage of bus drivers.
And later - Confluence Health — the region's largest health care provider — announced plans to change the name of several of its hospitals and clinics to present a more unified entity sometime in summer of 2023.
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Today - Wenatchee’s sparkplug second baseman Joichiro Oyama posted one of the best seasons in AppleSox history this summer.
And later - Efforts to enhance broadband services could soon be available in Chelan and Douglas counties thanks to an $8 million state Department of Commerce contract awarded to Washington State University Extension and the Washington State Broadband Office.
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Today - These days, tubing at Icicle Creek on weekends, especially in the afternoons, it’s not always the peaceful experience one would expect.
And later - A retired communications officer for the Wenatchee School District and a former librarian is a finalist for the “Nancy Pearl Literary Award”.
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Today - For 31 years, Encouraging Words sold bibles, books, gifts and fudge, and hosted ministry events. On Aug. 24, it will close its doors.
And later - A local winery and local winemakers recently earned top honors at the 2022 Washington Wine Awards in Seattle.
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Today - There’s a new face in the Mariners locker room; and four legs and a wagging tail.
And later - “The Chicks” have embarked on tour after a five-year hiatus, and will play the Gorge Amphitheater on Saturday.
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Local officials will soon talk about creating a regional aquatic center in the Wenatchee Valley.
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Today —Plans for a new fruit packing and refrigerated storage facility north of East Wenatchee were recently approved by the Douglas County Hearing Examiner.
Later — Swimmers returned to a stretch of the Columbia River Friday after a health advisory was lifted.
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Today - Chelan County PUD commissioners officially shortlisted two developers for the Fifth Street Redevelopment project.
And later - Local nonprofits, community agencies and small agricultural businesses qualify to apply for part of $4 million in grants from the federal American Rescue Plan Act through Chelan County.
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Today — A measure to combine the Wenatchee Valley’s two fire districts appears headed for approval with nearly 60% of voters in favor of the merger.
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Today —With a state law to eliminate gas cars and regular gasoline prices hovering around $5 a gallon, electric vehicles may seem more appealing in Chelan and Douglas counties.
Later — It’s official: a pilot program allowing police to collect donations and provide immediate relief is coming to the Wenatchee Valley.
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Today - Brandi Buck, a candidate for the Chelan County Clerk’s office, faces two charges of first-degree driving with a suspended license.
And later - Wenatchee and Eastmont school districts provided another summer of programming to help keep students caught up or ahead in their education.
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Local fire chiefs say that state COVID-19 vaccine requirements could drastically reduce the number of volunteer firefighters able to respond to large fires.
After nearly 11 years of serving local homeless people, PowerHouse Ministry Center is closing at the end of the week.
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Today — Before it had the AppleSox, the city of Wenatchee had the Chiefs, a minor league baseball team founded in 1937 that operated until 1965.
Later — In just two short months, visitors to the Wenatchee Valley will have another option for where to stay.
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Today - Part of the old Deaconess Hospital on Okanogan Street will be converted into a re-entry program for people leaving the Washington prison system.
And later - Mosquito treatment at Confluence State Park and Horan Natural has officially begun.
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Today — If a police officer comes across a community member in immediate need, they can now buy them clothes, food, lodging, or anything else that would improve their circumstances — without spending a dime out of their own pocket.
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Today — A 5,000-foot-long water line is being ordered to ensure its debut next year as part of upgrades to the Malaga Water District.
Later — Wenatchee Grocery Outlet’s new owners are planning a major reset of the store to highlight the change in management.
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Today - If it’s raining cats and dogs, the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society is flooding. In fact, the shelter has reached maximum capacity due to high intake numbers.
And later - The Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center's current exhibits introduce the geology of the region with storytelling and photography.
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Today — Three candidates are running for Chelan County Clerk this year in a race to succeed Kim Morrison, who is retiring after serving 12 years on the job.
Later — One Wenatchee boys soccer team won big in Colorado over the weekend, earning a national title.
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Today – Mosquitoes are on the rise and out for blood this summer, especially at Walla Walla Point Park and Horan Natural Area.
Later - Leavenworth Summer Theater at the Ski Hill has come alive with the 27th annual production of “The Sound of Music.”
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Today - The nonprofit Robert Graves Gallery will lose its location on Wenatchee Valley College campus due to the replacement planning for Sexton Hall.
And later - The Wenatchee Summer Concert Series is on with five shows at Centennial Park on Fridays through August 5th.
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Today — At 3,835 feet, the Chelan Butte creates a backdrop for the city of Chelan. Besides some trails, the land is largely undeveloped. And that’s how Chelan Basin Conservancy board members would like it to stay.
Later — School is out for summer, but NCW Libraries has programs for visitors of all ages.
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The Wenatchee Brethren Baptist Church United has sold its historic church on Okanogan Avenue and is instead renting space from the new owners, Trinity Church.
Link Transit’s new route to the Saddle Rock trailhead opens to light refreshments and prizes for the first time on July 11th.
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Today — The Wenatchee School District officially welcomes interim Superintendent Bill Eagle this week. Current Superintendent, Paul Gordon, announced his resignation in April after three years to take a Superintendent’s job near Chicago.
Later — The Walla Walla Point Park island is underwater, which means a move for the Wenatchee Valley 4th of July fireworks launch site.
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Today - Demonstrators rallied in Wenatchee on Friday to support abortion rights after the Roe v. Wade decision.
Later - Vape company Juul Labs, which is appealing Thursday’s order by the Food and Drug Administration banning its products from store shelves, is facing some other push back.
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Today - The end of the month will mark the end of both Eastmont Superintendent Garn Christensen's and Wenatchee Superintendent Paul Gordon's time in the valley.
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Today — The Skookum sign — a 14-foot, double-sided sign of a grinning and winking Native American — was removed Sunday to be disassembled and put into storage.
Later — With its entire inventory replaced, the Wenatchee Target is ready to reopen.
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Today - With five officers off-duty following two police shootings since May, the Wenatchee Police Department says to expect longer response times to 911 calls.
Later - The Chelan Valley Housing Trust — a nonprofit housing developer in Chelan and Manson — has purchased two new lots in Chelan.
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Today - A familiar face has made the Eastmont School Board whole once more.
And later - This week Epoch Game Lounge finally welcomed gamers to play together on the latest consoles.
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Today — The largest Chelan County government project in history — the West Cashmere Bridge — opened to the public Monday, after two years of construction.
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Today - The Wenatchee School District wants to improve relations between schools and the Hispanic community, and has tasked a longtime educator to lead the efforts.
Later - we’re taking a moment to recognize 30 under 35 winner Yuritzi Lozano. Yuritzi is the Dean of Allied Health & Workforce Education at Wenatchee Valley College.
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Today - All of Chelan County has an elevated fire risk.
And later - Some events going on this weekend that you should know about.
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Chelan County PUD commissioners are expected to sign off on an interconnection agreement with Microsoft at their June 20th meeting.
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Today - The city of Wenatchee may take ownership of the Numerica Performing Arts Center to help with its upkeep.
Later - Meet 30 under 35 winner Carolyn Morley. Carolyn is the Manager of the North Central Washington Fair.
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Today - The bases are loaded for Wenatchee Valley’s sports tourism industry as plays line up for a COVID comeback.
And later - In a couple of nondescript warehouses downtown, a small, locally-owned business is shipping everything from tennis shoes and snow skis to solar panels and condiments — all over the world.
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Yet another school shooting last week has thrust student safety and security into the national spotlight once again. Now, local officials say several efforts have been undertaken to reduce the chance of a similar event happening in North Central Washington.
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Today — The Wenatchee School District has joined a lawsuit against Juul and the company’s investor, Altria, seeking compensation for the rise in nicotine use among teens.
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Today - Dennis Bolz, a 16-year Chelan County PUD commissioner, has decided not to seek re-election.
Later - The top prize at this year's Flywheel Investment Conference went to Seattle-based company, BrainSpace.
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Today - Infant formula supply in the Wenatchee Valley was low on this week but not impossible to purchase.
And later - A group working to help Ukrainian refugees in North Central Washington are hosting a concert Sunday to benefit people who’ve fled from the war-torn country.
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Today — Plans are underway to create more space for private airplanes near Pangborn Memorial Airport, which also could help make room for the Washington Army National Guard.
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Title IX fix could cost Wenatchee millions
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Today - Local Law enforcement and school officials had a nearly two-hour-long forum this week about Wenatchee Valley gang prevention. Their message? Know the signs of gang activity, connect with your child, and work collaboratively.
And later - Six months after nationwide search and the sudden departure of the previous CEO-elect, Confluence Health has found its new CEO in Dr. Andrew Jones.
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Today — One person was killed and one police officer was wounded in a shooting Saturday morning in Wenatchee.
And later — The Eastmont School Board unanimously approved the purchase of about 20 acres near Pangborn Memorial Airport Monday for a possible future school site.
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Today - McNeil Canyon Road near Beebe Bridge Park has seen 45 crashes since 2012. That includes two fatalities. This has prompted Douglas County commissioners to order changes to the road’s signs and the road itself.
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Today - East Wenatchee City Council member John Sterk has resigned as the city’s representative on the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center board. Why? An upcoming drag show event.
And later - A little over 1,300 Douglas County residents could become a part of the city of East Wenatchee before the end of the summer.
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Today —Earlier this week Chelan County PUD commissioners delayed a decision on when to increase power rates for three cryptocurrency mining operations.
And later — Downtown Wenatchee’s First Friday lineup has something for everyone — including a childcare service for parents looking to venture out without the little ones!
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The Wenatchee Valley received some national attention over the weekend from a CNN report about cryptocurrency mining’s hold here.
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Today - A committee formed to help Ukrainian refugees who’ve relocated to the Wenatchee Valley has been awarded a $286,000 grant.
And later - Shooting enthusiasts are expected to receive a blow to their hobby next week when Chelan County commissioners discuss possible fire-hazard-related county code amendments.
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Microsoft will turn on the switch at its land near Pangborn Memorial Airport next month.
Also - The Apple Blossom Queen enjoys the moment while keeping an eye on the future.
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Bike, skate and pedestrian traffic scoot over — electric scooters may soon be coming to Wenatchee.
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Today - Authorities say gang activity is on the rise in the Wenatchee Valley.
And later - A Cashmere construction company was ordered to pay a former employee more than $327,000 after a jury found they wrongfully fired the man.
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Today — Outgoing Wenatchee School District Superintendent Paul Gordon has been named superintendent of a school district near Chicago.
And later — Masking is now optional on all Link Transit buses.
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Today, last week, a conservation group officially transferred ownership of Nason Ridge to Chelan County.
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Today - A third official contender has joined the race for Chelan County Commissioner District 2. Leavenworth City Councilwoman Anne Hessburg announced her candidacy on Wednesday.
And later - what ever happened to that infamous photo of Wenatchee High School band members practicing in February 2021 while in green tent enclosures?
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Today — Fighting fires in the Wenatchee Valley could get a little easier in the near future, as the Washington Army National Guard wants to have a home at Pangborn Memorial Airport.
And later – The Washington State Apple Blossom Festival’s Funtastic Shows Carnival will be at the Wenatchee Valley Mall this year.
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Today, eighty-four former Confluence Health employees have filed a class-action lawsuit against Confluence Health after resigning or being fired due to the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
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East Wenatchee City council voted 4-3 to table a motion concerning fireworks. Specifically, the motion would ban the sale or discharge of fireworks for Fourth of July but not New Year’s.
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Residents, government and elected officials finally had a chance to come together and discuss the proposed changes to the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail.
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Today - How can the Wenatchee School District be more equitable? The district wants to find out. Learn more: bit.ly/WSDequityconvo
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Today - Chelan County PUD Commissioner Ann Congdon announced that she will not seek reelection after 18 years on the board.
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A Grant County woman has been found responsible for the death of her husband… who’s also her uncle… in a rare civil murder case.
And later Eastmont School Board member Joy Dawe resigned on Monday, just months into her first term. Why? She was fired from Confluence for not being vaccinated which forced her to find work in another
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Chelan County’s recent survey shows that short-term rentals make up more than 6% of all housing units in Leavenworth, Plain and Lake Wenatchee. Now, the county will not allow new short-term rentals in those areas until the percentage drops below 6%.
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Nine major initiatives and more than 40 new projects are included in “Our Valley, Our Future’s” new five-year plan. So what’s included?
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A proposed 200-home development on 43 acres of former Peshastin pear orchard has been stalled by concerns that Chelan County did not fully consider the project’s environmental impacts.
Also, Mathew Pippin is not walking to Seattle to raise money for the Numerica Performing Arts Center. But the local actor and director is walking over 150 miles near Wenatchee.
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The Wenatchee Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department can soon dive into a project with ease — repairing the city pool.
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Out of 827 staff members in Eastmont, more than 100 multilingual are multilingual, but they want more.
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This week at Lincoln Elementary School looked like thousands of other mornings. With one exception… about half of the students weren’t wearing masks.
Also, The East Wenatchee City council has rejected bans on the sale and discharge of fireworks… but they did give the mayor the power to ban fireworks under certain conditions.
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The only thing that can drown out a freight train passing by Dave Johnston’s Leavenworth home is his 1925 Kimball pipe organ. In fact, Johnston’s full-size organ is loud enough to shake the floors and walls of his addition built onto the home’s garage specifically for the instrument.
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On the day of the Russian invasion, Alex Zaytsev got a 6 a.m. call from a friend. All the big cities in Ukraine were under attack.
Zaytsev grew up in Wenatchee and is now an ordained pastor at a church in Eastern Ukraine. And at 6am that morning his friend told him to get a taxi and evacuate.
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The spike in gas prices has struck local businesses and agencies. AAA Washington on Monday reported the highest recorded average price of regular unleaded gasoline in the state at $4.45 per gallon. The average price a week ago was $4.00, and a year ago, it was $3.17.
Teens looking for a space to hang out will soon have another great option: the Wenatchee Library. NCW Libraries has launched the second step of a two-part modernization project at the Wenatchee Library. The second phase includes a gathering space for teens and areas to host live programming and other features.
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Today, The Wenatchee School District is coming up with a plan that could change how board members are elected.
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The process to fill five new seats on the Chelan-Douglas Health District Board of Health will now take several more weeks to allow for administrative work and candidate interviews.
We're also recognizing this year’s winner of the 2022 Progress Award, Randy Lewis. Lewis is an elder of the Colville Confederated Tribes, and he works hard to remind us all of the deep Native American history of the Wenatchee Valley. He won the 2022 Progress Award in recognition of moving our community forward.
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East Wenatchee City Hall was packed Tuesday night with people wanting to give public testimony about whether the council should ban fireworks.
Also, several local venues have relaxed their vaccine and masking policies in light of new state and federal COVID guidance.
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Plans are in the works to build 290 apartments in Douglas County, but some of the project’s neighbors worry about the extra traffic it may create. About 510 people would live in the development.
So what exactly is this project? Well, it includes the construction of a gated apartment complex with 29 apartment buildings for “middle- to high-income workforce housing”. It includes an office and clubhouse, maintenance building, parking, dog park, a playground and a walking trail.
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Pinnacles Prep opened its doors in the fall as the Wenatchee Valley’s first charter school. So how’s it going so far?
And stay tuned to hear from this Eastmont School District Superintendent Garn Christensen, who recently won the 2022 Public Life and Leadership Award.
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Chelan High School principal Brad Wilson was named the 2022 Washington State Principal of the Year by the Association of Washington School Principals.
Wilson said he was “shocked” by the announcement which was made earlier this month. He also said he’s grateful for the recognition of not just his position but of the students, staff, and community.
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Often described as a protector of Wanapum culture, Chief Rex Buck Jr. died on Feb. 11. In October 2015 Buck helped welcome visitors to the new $20 million Wanapum Heritage Center. Today, we’re sharing our report from that day.
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On Thursday, Governor Jay Inslee announced that Masks are coming off at schools, restaurants, gyms and most businesses beginning March 21. And beginning March 1, large events will no longer require organizers to do vaccine verification.
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If you’re a student at Wenatchee Valley College who received a letter stating the school canceled your outstanding tuition debt, it may not be a scam. The college used $353,131 in federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds to cover depts of 556 students. The average amount of canceled debt per student was $635.
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An area task force historically charged with combating drug-related and gang-related crimes might be expanding its mission to include homeless issues. The move is intended to divert the workload that accompanies homelessness issues away from patrol officers and onto members of the Columbia River Drug Task Force.
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Washington is not lifting its indoor mask mandate just yet, but an end date is near according to Gov. Jay Inslee. As other Democratic-led states, like California and Illinois, set end dates for their mandates, Inslee said Washington is not quite ready. But he did say that “It is no longer a matter of if,” “It is a question of when.”
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The city of Wenatchee is asking legislators to prioritize building Confluence Parkway, a 2.5-mile stretch bypass that would connect downtown Wenatchee to Highway 2/97.
And later, an update on the COVID situation in Wenatchee.
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Since the state instituted vaccine requirements on large events in October, attendance at Wenatchee Wild games is down 40%, according to the team’s general manager.
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A Wenatchee mother who claims her daughter was the victim of sexual assaults while riding a school bus is now suing the Wenatchee School District for negligence.
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You’ve probably noticed the bright building shell going up in Old Station if you’ve driven on Highway 2/97 lately. And while the color is eye-catching, it's what's inside that has Chelan County PUD seeing green.
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In this episode - A Wenatchee Church has put the brakes on an ambitious homeless housing proposal as their congregation voted to rescind the offer.
Also, Wenatchee downtown retailers and restaurants are joining art galleries and cultural centers to help make the first Friday of the month a big deal — for the community and customers. The plan is to have information on fun opportunities downtown on the First Friday each month starting this month!
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When Mary Cooper took a DNA test five years ago, her only motivation was curiosity. Cooper was adopted from a South Korean orphanage by a Seattle couple — a Boeing engineer and a stay-at-home mom — in July 1958 and had few clues about her background.
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The COVID-19 triage site in a parking lot at Saddlerock Evangelical Presbyterian Church is helping to alleviate the strain that local hospitals have come under during this latest covid surge.
And later - the city of Wenatchee has chosen Pinnacles Prep and Yogi Grind owner Elvis Garcia as the recipients of the 2021 Civil Rights & Social Justice Awards!
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If someone said they saw a man from the circus walking through Pybus Market on stilts over the weekend, they were telling the truth.
Youth organizations from across the region took part in Saturday's Bundle Up Fest and the Youth Sports and Activities Fair at Pybus. Organizers say the event encouraged kids to get involved in the community.
Caryl Andre of Wenatchee's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department explained that the goal is to get information out to families about youth sports and activities in the valley. He also wants to make it clear that there are scholarships available!
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Wenatchee Valley College President Jim Richardson will retire this June, bringing to a close a 17-year run in the post. He announced the move during Wednesday’s Board of Trustees meeting. Richardson, who has held the job since July 2005, is WVC’s longest-serving president.
During his tenure, he oversaw the development of new academic programs, including WVC’s first four-year degrees. Bachelor degrees in applied science in nursing and engineering technology were introduced in 2017, followed in 2019 by an applied science degree in teaching. Two-year degrees and certificates also were added, including pharmacy technician, engineering technology, drafting, machining and criminal justice.
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With a large Spanish-speaking student population, the Wenatchee School District is looking for new ways to get its message out to the community. Enter Alfonso Lopez, principal at the dual-language Lewis & Clark Elementary School and host of the weekly radio program En Vivo con el sr. Lopez, or “Live with Mr. Lopez,” on La Nueva.
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Removing an unprecedented two feet of snow across the city didn’t come cheap for Wenatchee. As of Friday, the city had spent $200,000 on contractors and rental equipment, according to Public Works Operations Manager Aaron Kelly. The city will be updating the 2022 budget at a later date to account for that amount.
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On Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that he has asked the state National Guard to deploy 100 non-clinical personnel to hospitals across the state, including to Central Washington Hospital. The governor made the announcement as a response to the dramatic increase of COVID-19 hospital admissions.
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COVID-19 cases in Chelan and Douglas counties reached a new all-time high this week, but hospitalizations remain constant. The Chelan-Douglas Health District reported a 14-day case rate of 1,589 per 100,000 for Chelan and Douglas counties as of Monday. The previous highest rate for the area was 1,091 per 100,000 back in late-August amidst a wave of delta cases.
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When Steve Wright signed on as general manager of the Chelan County PUD, he didn’t expect the position to be long term. He said the work was fun, but even more importantly, he’s driven by doing meaningful and important work that makes a difference in people's lives.
But eight years later, he’s saying a bittersweet goodbye. Wright stepped down from the post at the end of 2021. Kirk Hudson, who has two decades of experience with the PUD, took his place.
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Snow pounded the Wenatchee Valley and North Central Washington earlier this week, shutting schools, highways and businesses.
Wenatchee got around 22 inches of snow between Wednesday evening and 7 a.m. Thursday. According to the National Weather Service in Spokane, Leavenworth got 22-24 inches, Ardenvoir received 17 and Winton near Lake Wenatchee received 18.
It was so much that it was the most snow to fall on Wenatchee in 24 hours since 1996 according to Meteorologist Robin Fox. A blog post from the weather service even indicates it could be the most since 1971.
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This week Local health officials have urged the community to get vaccinated and mask up using better masks as the Chelan-Douglas Health District expands the region’s testing capacity and creates a new triage center. One major concern with an upcoming wave of omicron COVID-19 cases is that the area may get to a point that the number of people exposed to COVID-19 exceeds the area’s testing capacity according to health district Administrator Luke Davies.
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For Mayor Frank Kuntz, the Wenatchee City Council is more than just agendas and meetings. He calls it a big sort of dorky family. But two of that family’s familiar faces will be missing from the council’s first meeting of 2022: Ruth Esparza and Jim Bailey. The two attended their last council meeting on Dec. 9 after opting not to run for re-election. Esparza concluded just over seven years on the council, while Bailey finished up 14 years.
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Cascade Medical fielded about 600 phone calls Monday, most of them from people looking for COVID-19 tests. They offer about 80 COVID-19 tests a week, prompting the Leavenworth hospital’s spokesperson, Clint Strand, to post on Facebook asking people to consider other alternatives. The influx of calls has several health officials now focusing their testing resources toward symptomatic COVID-19 people.
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Wenatchee Valley’s homeless population has two options for cold-weather shelters with a combined 28 beds this season. The cold-weather shelters are up earlier than last season, which only had a single one that couldn’t open until Jan. 1 due to COVID-19 delays. And they’re both low-barrier and were funded by private individuals.
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Today - T. André Feagin joined Central Washington University in 2020, as Director of Bands, right as the pandemic was in full swing. CWU’s music department has a strong reputation, and Feagin said he felt pressure when he stepped into the role. So how’s it going?
Also, the selection has begun for the 2022 Washington State Apple Blossom Festival Royalty with 32 candidates from the Wenatchee and Eastmont school districts announced.
Learn more about these stories at wenatcheeworld.com
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Today - Dan Barrett, a Wenatchee man with Santa Claus looks, has worked as Santa for 15 years. Barrett, on top of the Santa Claus look, also has the St. Nicholas spirit of all kindness, patience and trustworthiness that the man in the red suit needs.
Visit us at wenatcheeworld.com for more.
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The Chelan-Douglas Board of Health reached consensus this week on the size of its new board. The update will comply with legislation that requires the addition of members of the public, including a medical professional. The eight members of the current board decided to increase the size of the board to 12.
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Sen. Brad Hawkins, with the help of Leavenworth Mayor Carl Florea, has put together a bill looking to redirect some tax revenue to fund affordable housing projects. The goal of the bill is to help make living in tourism towns — such as Leavenworth and Chelan — affordable and available for workers.
Also, Wenatchee Valley's Pangborn Airport is set to receive $1 million from an infrastructure bill. It’ll bring just over $1 million in funding for the airport.
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Link Transit has approved a $21.7 million operating budget for next year, which is a 12% increase from 2021. The largest factor behind the increase is the addition of new routes and more frequent service, which comes out to 10,000 more service hours on fixed routes that Link plans in 2022.
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Today - The Wenatchee School Board unanimously approved a contract Tuesday evening to run an equity audit in the district. The board previously approved the plan for Education Northwest to run the audit for $169,436. Funding will come from the American Rescue Plan.
Also, Horned creatures roamed Leavenworth’s streets for the first weekend of December, dancing, spooking and adding their own holiday flair as a part of a rebranded month-long festival, Christmastown.
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Wenatchee will have another tool in its belt to serve the homeless population come January. The city council unanimously approved a two-year contract with Wenatchee Rescue Mission for 20 low-barrier shelter beds for adult men, which will bring the shelter to 70 beds. Five of those beds will be reserved for police referrals from Wenatchee and East Wenatchee.
Also, Brigitte Wiegand has coached the Foothills Middle School Robotics team for six years. There are 14 students who play competitively. Wiegand said they’re definitely trying to just get that awareness out and open it up because not everybody wants to play sports.
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Today - East Wenatchee made three appointments to the Columbia River Homeless Housing Task Force Tuesday night. The task force makes recommendations on Wenatchee and East Wenatchee’s homeless housing plan, including the construction of a low-barrier shelter and the use of homeless tax revenue.
Also, a Michigan man suspected in the assault of a Wenatchee hotel employee in May is now charged with attempted murder. Chelan County prosecutors on Monday filed a charge of first-degree attempted murder in Chelan County Superior Court against James Lawrence Jackson-Smith. This is in addition to charges of first-degree assault and first-degree kidnapping filed in May.
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A King County jury recently awarded $10 million to a retired Eastmont Junior High School assistant principal who developed mesothelioma as a result of his contact with asbestos. George Kraemer, 79, and his wife Patricia filed a lawsuit in October 2020 against Lone Star Industries claiming that George was exposed to asbestos in the 1940s when his father came home from work at a Puget Sound shipyard.
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Glenn Wilson has become the de facto leader of a homeless camp on South Columbia Street, The camp has grown to about 30 people.
Also, Wenatchee officials say the homeless camp would likely be disbanded if a low-barrier shelter is built nearby. The city, in partnership with East Wenatchee, plans on building a low-barrier shelter next year. The shelter would be funded through a one-tenth of 1% sales tax increases the cities passed earlier this year to fund housing projects.
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Today - Chelan County had a higher-than-average number of rejected ballots during the 2021 General Election. In fact, the county rejected 211, or 0.9%, of the just over 24,000 ballots that were returned. So what happened?
Also, a few upcoming events that you should know about…
And finally - With Thanksgiving behind us — if you still have leftovers you might want to cut your losses and toss them — it’s time to set our sights on Christmas and the bright lights of the season. We want to know where to find the brightest, most festive holiday light displays this year. We’ll publish a map in print and online on Dec. 16.
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Short-term rental operators have until New Year’s Eve to apply and have their units grandfathered into Chelan County’s new regulations.
The application period opened in late September and after about two months the county has about 215 applications processed. But officials think there are more than 1,000 existing rentals.
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Today - Wenatchee Valley College is one of 150 community colleges advancing to the second round of a competition for a portion of $1 million in prize money from the Aspen Institute.
And later, More than 60% of people in the state are fully vaccinated with booster doses and pediatric COVID-19 vaccines now becoming available.
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Today - After three months of virtual meetings due to maskless attendees and an online threat of violence against two board members, the Wenatchee School Board returned to in-person meetings this past week.
The meeting was calmer and quicker than the board’s previous meetings, with around 50 masked people in the audience and no disruptions. Items on the meeting’s agenda included the election and appointment of several board positions and also the swearing in of two incumbents and one newly elected member. Those election results were certified Tuesday afternoon by Chelan County.
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Today - most Wenatchee Valley food banks have not yet felt the strain of nationwide supply chain issues, but that could change as the holidays and 2022 get closer. Food prices have risen nationwide as a result of supply chain disruptions and labor shortages, making it hard to get certain items. And for food banks, that’s become most apparent as they ramp up for holiday boxes.
Also, on Saturday, November 27th, from 9am to 4pm, head over to the Wenatchee Convention Center to get a jump on your holiday shopping. Shop local on small business Saturday with more than 30 local vendors who will be there selling their crafts.
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Today - The State Redistricting Commission’s reworked 12th Legislative District boundaries could reshape North Central Washington politics. But the Commission released Legislative and Congressional District maps late Tuesday after missing the deadline for final deliberations the previous night. Their failure punted the redistricting to the Supreme Court, which now has until April 30 to draw new district boundaries.
Later, we'll introduce you to a Wenatchee World's 30 Under 35 winner from the 2021 awards. These were made possible by Chelan County PUD. Today we’re highlighting 31 year old Nicole Germain - the Website manager at Confluence Health.
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Today - The Wenatchee School District will be auditing curriculum, learning materials, instructional policies, disciplinary procedures and other materials to ensure equity for students.
Also, Wenatchee Valley businesses are still struggling to find employees. In fact, Glaze Bakery is no longer open Mondays. They’ve cut their hours on other days and can’t always offer the full menu. Glaze co-owner Jim Eakle says they’d ideally have around 15 people. And at times, Eakle has had up to 30 employees. But right now there are just 10.
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Today - Chelan County PUD is anticipating record growth over the next few years — but expanding its operations will come with a high price tag, meaning the district may add a new fee.
Also, Collapse Gallery in Wenatchee is offering life drawing starting tomorrow. Sessions will include a live nude model.
Finally, we’re excited to share a Wenatchee 30 Under 35 winner from the 2021 awards… These were made possible by Chelan County PUD. Today we’re highlighting 30 year old Eliza Zuniga - the staffing manager at Confluence Health.
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Today - Nearly one in every six of the 596 homes sold in the Wenatchee real estate market in the past six months closed for more than $701,000. So what’s in store for the future?
Also, it’s not often — or ever, really — that East Wenatchee goes through two Christmas trees in one year. A two-tree Christmas wasn’t the original plan. But when the first tree broke in half, city employees quickly had to come up with a Plan B.
And two pediatric COVID 19 vaccine clinics are available today in Chelan and Wenatchee.
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A 65-unit affordable housing complex in Entiat that will primarily serve farmworkers is slated to be completed by October 2022. The $20 million development was announced Monday by non-profit Enterprise Community Partners, the Housing Authority of Chelan County, the city of Wenatchee and the Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing, also known as ORFH.
The Mountain View Family Housing community, on the site of a former orchard, will consist of 12 buildings, including two-story townhomes, single-story apartments and a single-story common building. Of the 65 units, 52 will be set aside for local farmworkers.
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Today - Wenatchee residents will see an increase in property taxes next year. The city council approved the property tax levy increase last week on a 6-1 vote. Councilmember Keith Huffaker was the one who voted no.
Also, volunteers raise more than $5,000 for Wenatchee Valley Humane Society. During Kenneled for a Cause, volunteers sat with either a dog or a cat while encouraging friends and followers on Facebook to donate money to the shelter. Incentives included treats, books and toys to make use of while inside of the kennel or even a victory lap around the shelter.
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Today, The Star Wars movies are known for their elaborate special effects, costumes and music. But, for Charlie Ross, the creator of the One Man Star Wars Show, there aren’t any special effects, no costumes and no music.
Also, two East Wenatchee City Council members say they unintentionally voiced support for an agreement regarding the revenue from the city's homeless housing tax. The council first voted on an agreement with the city of Wenatchee regarding the tax funds on Oct. 5. However, the city’s legal counsel determined that a revote would be necessary due to a parliamentary procedure mix up.
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Today, the contentious Wenatchee School Board races produced razor-thin results. Among the hot-button issues is, of course, masking and mask mandates.
Also, town workers removed roughly 90 padlocks from the bridge last week using mechanical grinders and bolt cutters. And they have plans to remove any new locks in the future. Mayor Sally Ranzau said she heard there had been a couple cases of keys winding up inside of salmon. learn more at wenatcheeworld.com
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Today, Chelan and Douglas counties might start translating their election information in 2022 — a step that would improve voting access among Hispanic voters.
Also, visitors heading into Leavenworth may soon be able to spot construction crews climbing up near the Wenatchee River as they begin setting up the Leavenworth Adventure Park.
Finally, we’re excited to share a Wenatchee 30 Under 35 winner from the 2021 awards. These were made possible by Chelan County PUD. Today we’re highlighting Caden Stockwell. He’s a Mechanical engineer with Pacific Aerospace.
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Today - The Wenatchee School Board passed a strategic plan Tuesday evening that outlines the district’s vision for the next five years and beyond. The approval was the end of a two-year process that began soon after Gordon started on the job in July 2019.
Also, The end of October is here, which means Halloween festivities are already happening across the Wenatchee Valley! Spooky-themed events this year range from classic trick-or-treating to a pet parade in Pybus Public Market. That Howl-o-ween Pet Parade starts at 10:30 a.m. today and will include a costume contest, giveaway and a photo station, perfect for that scary yet cute pet outfit.
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Today - The six candidates for the three Wenatchee School Board races have raised more than $100,000. That makes this one of the most expensive school board races in the state. The candidates say COVID-19 and interest in school curriculum are a big part of the reason for increased donations.
Also, Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort is part of a film that made its debut earlier this month about independent ski areas around the world. The film, produced by Teton Gravity Research, is called “In Pursuit of Soul.”
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Wenatchee is in the process of finalizing a $138 million unbalanced budget for 2022.
Also, Confluence Health got a manpower boost last week from the U.S. Defense Department to support the center's operations as it struggles with low staff counts.
Finally we're highlighting one of Wenatchee World's 30 under 35 winners, Meaghan Greydanus. Meaghan is a Certified professional accountant and tax director at Homchick Smith & Associates.
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Today -After a year and a half of scrambling for products, the owner of Sony’s Oriental Market, is looking for a break. She’s hustled to stock her shelves during the pandemic. But it’s becoming increasingly more challenging to get specialty products her customers are looking for because of supply chain issues.
Also, October’s spooky time has arrived and there’s more than a few ghoulish souls ready to startle guests at Wenatchee’s Haunted Museum. The fundraising event, put on by the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center, is taking this year’s visitors on a journey through a wellness sanitarium-turned-evil.
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Right now, vaccination rates in Chelan and Douglas counties rank among the top 11 counties in the state for first-dose COVID-19 vaccinations. Still, over 100 Confluence Health and state employees and other residents met on the intersection Ninth Street and Chelan Avenue to protest the state’s vaccine mandate for health care and state employees. Among the protesters was Shawna Caddy, a Tonasket resident and administrative assistant with Confluence Health for 10 years who took a leave of absence rather than get vaccinated.
The East Wenatchee City Council unanimously approved an agreement with Wenatchee around homeless housing funds and a corresponding task force after being split on the matter in a previous vote.
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Today - Attending a Wenatchee Wild hockey game or a concert at the Town Toyota Center will require proof of vaccine or negative COVID-19 test results starting November 15th. So what does this mean for events going forward?
Also, Sophia Xiao is not the kind of person with a lot of free time — but it seems she likes it that way. Xiao opened Cute Dumplings, which offers handmade Chinese bao buns and dumplings, in April and has been working non-stop to make the business a success ever since, expanding across the state, including the Wenatchee Valley.
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Today - City officials say the remodeling of city hall is making good progress despite some recently discovered issues with the building. The Wenatchee City Council approved a $134,000 deduction from the project’s contingency fund Thursday night to cover the issues.
Also, have you ever wanted to be in a rom-com movie? Well… now’s your chance. Amazon Studios will be filming in Leavenworth between Nov. 3-5 and they’re looking for extras! The film is called "Somebody I Used to Know." and it’ll debut on Amazon Prime Video worldwide next year.
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Today - There will be two Oktoberfests next October. One in Leavenworth and another in Wenatchee. Why? Well, Leavenworth’s annual Oktoberfest, as many know it, did not return this year and will not be back next year.
Also, locked behind five doors, hidden in a dark container and wrapped in cellophane sits a 95-year-old artifact: Clyde Pangborn’s sandwich. Yes. That is correct. The Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center has a sandwich from 1926, and plans to keep it, permanently.
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Today - local businesses say their customers are adapting well a week into a statewide plastic bag ban. The ban went into effect Oct. 1st. Now customers are required to pay 8 cents per bag or bring their own.
Also, the third annual Big Chill Ciderfest & Harvest Festival pulled in about 400 guests over the weekend, offering vendors a chance to showcase a twist to the valley’s persona as the apple capital of the world.
And finally we're highlighting Wenatchee World's 30 under 35 winner Jolyn Hull.
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Today - an agreement between the cities of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee for a homeless housing task force narrowly passed Tuesday night, with Mayor Jerrilea Crawford casting a tie-breaking vote.
Also, library branches in Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Okanogan and Ferry counties will be getting facelifts and other improvements in the coming years. How? Well, NCW Libraries is set to spend $10 million renovating 28 of its 30 branches, tapping into its strategic initiative fund created in 2018 by the library board.
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Today - the story of Wenatchee Valley renters and their struggle to meet rising prices. A growing number of individuals are experiencing rent increases across Washington and the country at a time when pandemic restrictions have strained both renters and apartment owners. Meanwhile, vacancy rates in the Wenatchee area hover around 1%, which at least one expert said should spur more apartment development. But until that happens, double-digit rent increases have become the norm, forcing tough decisions on renters.
Also, fire officials have determined the Rooster Comb Fire that scorched a Wenatchee hillside in August was caused by a person cutting a metal culvert.
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Today - twenty-eight COVID-19 patients died in September at Central Washington Hospital, the most in a single month since the pandemic began.
Also, last week a crowd of roughly 200 gathered at Memorial Park before marching through Wenatchee to protest a recent Texas abortion law.
Finally we're taking a moment to highlight a Wenatchee 30 Under 35 winner from the 2021 awards. Henry Hernandez. Henry is a Business adviser at Quincy Financial Services.
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Today, the Wenatchee School Board members debated returning to in-person meetings -- more than a month after a large group of unmasked people disrupted the August 24th meeting.
Also, Over a year since they last performed in front of an audience, members of the Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra are excited to return to the stage.
The 2021-22 season kicks off Saturday with the group’s “Diamonds” concert featuring works by Mozart, Haydn and Finzi. This season is noteworthy, as it’s the ensemble’s 75th anniversary season.
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Today, the story of a mother and daughter who ended up in Central Washington’s ICU after contracting the coronavirus. How hospital workers are coping.
Also, keep listening to learn about some great events coming up this weekend!
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Today - Construction for a BMX pump park in Lincoln Park will not be completed this fall. Instead, it’ll be pushed to next summer.
Also, the cities of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee are one step closer to a low-barrier homeless shelter. The Wenatchee City Council approved an agreement between the cities Thursday night. The East Wenatchee City Council is expected to vote on the agreement in October.
Finally we're highlighting World 30 under 35 winner, Yuritzi Lozano.
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Today - After a year away, and a consistent worry that the event would be canceled altogether, the Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival returned to Leavenworth yesterday.
Also, the Pacific Northwest’s pear growers expect a bigger harvest than last year. According to forecasts by Pear Bureau Northwest, this year’s harvest is expected to yield about 16.1 million standard box equivalents of pears between Washington and Oregon. This represents a 5% increase from last year’s 15.3 million boxes.
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Today, monoclonal antibody therapeutic treatment can serve as a short-term boost to the immune system to help the body fight against COVID-19, but locally, it’s in short supply.
We’ll also be talking about the latest news on the agreement between Confluence Health and Premera Blue Cross, as well as The Chelan County PUD’s announced that Kirk Hudson has been named as the district’s next general manager.
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Today - A Colville Tribes’ casino, golf course and concert venue, along with a 100-home development are being considered for a 640-acre property between Chelan and Pateros.
Also, today we’re highlighting 33 year old Alisa Franklin. Alisa is a Registered investment associate at Stifel Financial. She’s described as a self-starter, wise beyond her years, someone who succeeds in male-dominated industries of agriculture and finance.
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Today - The Wenatchee median home sale price has hit $435,000, that’s up from $360,000 in 2020
Also, the newest building at Wenatchee Valley College was officially dedicated to Gloria Atkins, also known as Mish ee twie. The new building is named Mish ee twie in honor of Atkins who is a higher education advocate, tribal elder and proponent of tribal fishing rights at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Icicle rivers.
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Today, the nine COVID-19 deaths reported Friday by the Chelan-Douglas Health District were all people who were unvaccinated. And now, COVID-19 cases seem to be trending downward or plateauing.
Also, we’re excited to share that Chumstick Wildfire Stewardship Coalition, North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative, and the Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative are among nine organizations splitting $425,000 in state Department of Natural Resources grant funding aimed at increasing forest health and resilience.
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Today - Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shiloh Burgess is leaving her post to take on a role with Douglas County PUD.
Also, we’re excited to share a Wenatchee 30 Under 35 winner from the 2021 awards. Today we’re highlighting 32 year old Rachael Goldie. Rachael is an Executive assistant at the Chelan Valley Housing Trust. She’s also a fourth-generation Chelan native.
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Today - it’s the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Together, they were the deadliest terrorist attack in human history... 2,977 were killed, more than 25,000 were physically injured, and long-term health consequences followed for so many first-responders who dug through the rubble looking for survivors.
We sat down with four Wenatchee residents to hear how the events of 9/11 affected and shaped their lives.
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Today - Emergency alerts in our community are only available in English. For many, this makes it challenging to figure out what’s going on around them.
Also, Chelan and Douglas counties had 3,700 more jobs this July than last and, for the second month running, its labor force expanded. The result? A 3.7% unemployment rate — one of the lowest in the state.
To learn more about these stories visit us at wenatcheeworld.com
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Today - A handful of employees at Confluence Health and Cascade Medical have resigned over the state’s mandate requiring all private healthcare workers to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
Also, highlighting Rachel Bishop. Rachel is the Community programs manager at the Wenatchee River Institute and a winner of Wenatchee World's 30 under 35 awards.
To learn more visit us at wenatcheeworld.com
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Today - A Snohomish man found guilty of a 2013 murder in Sun Cove will have his prison term reduced by five years. Why? Because his attorney neglected to factor the defendant’s ADHD diagnosis.
Also, Wildfires and structure fires have stretched American Red Cross volunteer resources thin this summer. They've also put a spotlight on the wide range of services the organization provides.
To learn more about these stories visit us at wenatcheeworld.com
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Today - COVID-19 hospitalizations at Central Washington Hospital show early signs that this latest surge is disproportionately impacting Latinos.
Also, Firefighting crews are still working to contain the Twentyfive Mile Fire. It started on Aug. 15 near Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park along Shady Pass Road. We spoke with spokeswoman Nancy Jones.
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Today - As COVID-19 hospitalizations rise the staff of Central Washington Hospital are being stretched to their limit.
Also, we’re highlighting 30 year old Derek Todd. Derek is the Counselor, Chelan High School and a recipient of the World's '30 Under 35' awards.
To learn more about any of these stories visit us at wenatcheeworld.com
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Today - Cars and trailers lined up for hours Wednesday afternoon at the Douglas County Fairgrounds as exhibitors waited to check their animals in for the North Central Washington Fair.
Also, The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office revealed that human remains found earlier this year on a Bridgeport hillside have been identified as those of Roy L. Groeneveld, a man missing for the last decade.
visit us at wenatcheeworld.com to read more about these stories.
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Good Morning it’s Thursday August 26th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today --- A group of about 30 unmasked and vocal people disrupted the Wenatchee School Board meeting Tuesday night. It caused the board to empty the room and take the meeting online instead.
Before we jump in, The Wenatchee Wine & Food Festival has been postponed because of an increase in COVID-19 activity in Chelan and Douglas counties.
Our Publisher announced the postponement over the weekend. We still hope to hold the festival later this year, so stay tuned. Details on ticket refunds or exchanges will be announced next week.
Now our feature story…
A group of about 30 unmasked and vocal people disrupted the Wenatchee School Board meeting Tuesday night. It caused the board to empty the room and take the meeting online instead.
The incident began when some board members expressed concern about those in the room that weren’t wearing masks.
Board member Martin Barron, specifically, suggested that anyone who wished to comment be masked. And that’s according to the state mandate. But board member Julie Norton made a motion to continue the meeting and take public comment despite the majority of people in the room without a mask.
Board President Laura Jaecks and board member Maria Iñiguez then said they were uncomfortable being in the same room with so many unmasked people, and at that point they took a recess to decide how to proceed.
As this was all happening, people from the audience started yelling at the board. Jaecks began to pound the gavel on the table for order.
And after a 15-minute recess, the board, minus Jaecks and board member Michele Sandberg, came back into the room and voted to continue the meeting online. They also invited those who wished to comment to do so... online.
She explained that public comment is always welcome and appreciated, but they can’t conduct the business of the board in a disorderly fashion when folks are calling out from the audience. She emphasized that she realizes it’s emotional and tempting, and that people are only standing up for what they think is right - but it’s their job to keep an environment where they can conduct the business of the board at the same time.
And while several people signed up to comment, only four people actually commented online.
One Wenatchee parent, Rachel Petro, said she was really looking forward to testifying in person.
Petro explained that she’d like to encourage the board to take a look at their governance and how they operate meetings in terms of interaction with the public. She continued to say that having public comments after a presentation on a policy is pretty much standard procedure in all legislative bodies.
Jeff Ovitt was also in attendance. He said he was feeling a little disappointed with the way the board handled things. In his opinion, the board didn’t have to push everyone out - they’re local people and tax supporters. Ovitt asked the board to keep the forum open and allow all people to speak, masks or not - they need to be heard.
This meeting came just ahead of the start of school in the Wenatchee and Eastmont School districts. It also follows Governor Jay Inslee’s decision to require vaccinations for teachers and staff.
So far, Wenatchee Superintendent Paul Gordon said it’s still early to talk about staff leaving due to the vaccination requirement. At this point they’re still waiting for the official forms to come from the state for both medical and religious exemptions.
But the clock is ticking for employees to meet the October 18th deadline set by Inslee. That deadline means employees must get their first shot of Pfizer or Moderna in early September… if they haven’t already.
Ultimately Garn Christensen, the Eastmont superintendent, summed up the situation by saying that all of us want to get angry. But that doesn’t help anyone at this point. This is a time we need to be understanding and patient. There are many individuals that are sick with this and many families who’ve lost loved ones. And we have health workers that are just overwhelmed. We need to take a big deep breath and look backwards. We’re better than we were a year ago.
Stay up to date on this story at wenatcheeworld.com.
Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
Next - More than two dozen people who went to the Omak Stampede earlier this month have tested positive for COVID-19.
And on Wednesday Okanogan County health officials urged anyone who attended the four-day rodeo to watch for COVID-19 symptoms. This applies to people who have been in close contact with someone who attended as well.
As of yesterday the cases that were identified were residents of Okanogan and Skagit counties as well as the Colville Reservation.
Okanogan County Public Health is working with the Colville Federated Tribes Health and Human Services and other county public health partners to identify other cases in people who may have attended the event.
Now, some history -
Did you know that Surviving the Game is a 1994 action thriller film filmed in and around Wenatchee? Starring Ice-T, Rutger Hauer, and Gary Busey, it is loosely based on the 1924 short story "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell. The film revolves around a homeless man accepting a businessman's offer to work in a remote cabin, only to be tricked into being bait for a hunting game. You can stream the film on YouTube, Amazon, and Apple TV for $2.00.
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!
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Good Morning it’s Tuesday August 24th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - The Chelan County PUD’s new Discovery Center is truly a sight to behold. Complete with unique interactive exhibits it’ll certainly attract visitors far and wide.
Before we jump in, The Wenatchee Wine & Food Festival has been postponed because of an increase in COVID-19 activity in Chelan and Douglas counties.
Our Publisher announced the postponement over the weekend. We still hope to hold the festival later this year, so stay tuned. Details on ticket refunds or exchanges will be announced next week.
Now our feature story…
That was Rachel Hansen from the Chelan County PUD
The Chelan County PUD’s new Discovery Center is finally finished and it’s set to open tomorrow - August 25th.
Debbie Gallaher, who’s been the Rocky Reach Visitor Center Manager for 19 years, said it’s something that she and Bob Bauer, the PUD outreach education specialist, have been planning for 14 years. The total project cost was $7.7 million.
And she’s thrilled to see it come alive.
In 2016 when a study was done on what the Discovery Center could be, PUD Senior Project Manager Casey Hall explained that after a lot of research they were able to narrow it down and decide on what they wanted this place to look like.
Then, in 2018 design renovations began. The Museum of the Columbia and visitor center closed in fall 2019. New big fish viewing windows were installed in early 2020. Remodeling of the building started in October 2020. And finally the installation of exhibits started in May of this year.
Hall said one of the most challenging parts of the project was the remodel. In fact they ran into all kinds of issues. Another issue? Nothing in the building is straight — everything is curved.
Luckily, they had a great contractor and superintendent.
Another big challenge was, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic caused a huge backlog of supplies and materials. There were delays getting the materials to build the project.
So what can you expect to see now that the center is finished?
Well, the new Discovery Center is built on STEM principles. The goal is to reach as many kids and guests in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math because that is what the hydro industry is all about.
The displays are designed to be interactive and to teach people of those four areas. Visitors will also learn about the history of the Columbia river, the history of the early people, the history of the PUD and the wonderful marriage between a PUD and its community.
Bob Bauer, the Chelan County PUD outreach education specialist, said the center allows the PUD to showcase not only the Columbia River but also the PUD and its partnership with the community. He explained that the PUD’s visitor center presents hydropower in the Pacific Northwest as a clean, renewable, reliable, and affordable energy source.
And he can’t wait to show off the facility to students.
For Gallaher, he’s most excited about how everything is hands-on. And this is totally new. Now, Gallaher says families and children can come in and push buttons to see how things work.
Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
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Finally, we’re excited to share a Wenatchee 30 Under 35 winner from the 2021 awards… These were made possible by Chelan County PUD...
Today we’re highlighting Dylan Kling. Kling is a Counselor at Quincy High School, as well as an elected Quincy City Councilman.
Needless to say, he’s giving back to the Quincy community on two fronts.
Through his career — as a counselor
And through his activity on the city’s planning commission from 2016 through 2019 and currently as an elected member of the city council.
Kling graduated from Quincy High School in 2009 and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Eastern Washington University in 2014. He worked as the Gear Up site director in Quincy, helping students explore educational opportunities ranging from tech school to four-year colleges. He has five years on the board of the Quincy Partnership for Youth. It’s a nonprofit designed to foster a healthy, drug-free community through activities and prevention and intervention programs.
We asked Kling what challenges he sees ahead and what needs to be done.. He told us that it’s all about trying to make the best decisions that will help set our community up for the future. From infrastructure and activities to diversifying our community economically and culturally all while still staying true to our roots.
To him, it’s a delicate balancing act and making sure we have community involvement and the best resources to make sure our community is a better place for the next generation of Quincy residents.
Some of the biggest challenges in education are getting students identified and connected to services. His position works with students who suffer from substance use and abuse issues but with COVID it’s been extremely difficult to identify these students and get them to the resources that they need. Kling explained they don’t know the full extent of this problem yet and won’t know for some time.
He thinks the best thing to do is talk to and form connections with all the agencies in the area so once a youth is identified they can streamline the process to help these individuals get the help they need.
Did you know that the 1994 Steven Seagal film, On Deadly Ground, was filmed in and around Wenatchee? Seagal plays a firefighter who decides to fight back against the environmental destruction of his former employer. Seagal’s only directorial effort, it also stars Michael Caine, Joan Chen, John C. McGinley and R. Lee Ermey. The film wasn’t well-regarded and was nominated for 11 Golden Raspberry Awards including winning Worst Director for Seagal. Nevertheless, Roger Ebert wrote in his review: "if you like to see lots of stuff “blowed up real good”, this’d be a movie for you." Over the last 25 years, the film has attained cult classic status in some circles.
Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Saturday August 21st, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - A new count of the homeless population in Chelan and Douglas counties shows higher numbers this season.
Before we jump in, we’re excited to let you know that Wenatchee Wine & Food Fest is back this year on August 28th at the Town Toyota Center! Ticket holders will get a chance to sample small pours of amazing local wines, local ciders and beers… and of course, enjoy tasty bites from area restaurants and caterers.
Make sure to get tickets in advance! We’ll see you there!
Now our feature story…
A new count of the homeless population in Chelan and Douglas counties shows higher numbers this season.
A Point-in-Time count showed twice the number of individuals in vehicles or RVs. They also counted 47 more homeless individuals in East Wenatchee and Wenatchee during July 6th through 9th compared to a previous count taken in January.
But it’s important to understand that the two counts are not directly comparable. Of course, one was done in the winter, while one was done in the summer.
The Wenatchee Housing Coordinator, Oliver Crain, told us that we don’t have enough data yet about the summer trends.
Still, one conclusion that can be drawn from the summer count is how homeless populations are distributed across the two counties. Both the summer and winter counts showed that about 98% of individuals experiencing homelessness are located in Wenatchee or East Wenatchee.
The July count, which covered 13 communities, was the first time the counties had done a count during the summer. Unlike an annual count completed across the country each January in accordance with state and federal requirements, the summer it was a local initiative.
Crain said elected officials, community members and homeless service providers in Douglas and Chelan counties opted to do a summer count to better understand the needs of homeless individuals year round. Anecdotal information had suggested homeless services were used more during the summer and the recent count helps quantify that.
And Crain added that as more summer counts are collected, it will be easier to understand whether homeless populations experience high and low points between seasons.
Now, we have another data point that the counties and the cities can use when planning their responses and informing the community about the needs and the extent of homelessness.
To read more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com
Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
Next, The hunt to find a location for a low-barrier shelter to serve Wenatchee and East Wenatchee may be over soon.
The two cities are eyeing a possible location across from the Salvation Army Social Service Office on South Columbia Street in Wenatchee.
The shelter will fill a need for additional beds in the area. The goal is to give police greater flexibility in their interactions with individuals experiencing homelessness.
Cities can’t enforce ordinances that prohibit sleeping or camping on public property when there aren’t sufficient homeless shelter beds.
We spoke to Glen DeVries, Wenatchee’s community development director. He said that the Salvation Army expressed interest in partnering on the shelter earlier this year. That was after the Wenatchee and East Wenatchee city councils passed a sales tax to help fund the shelter and expand services for those experiencing homelessness.
The organization has a few vacant lots as well as an adjacent property owner with a vacant property who is willing to participate.
So far, the cities have provided the private land owner and Salvation Army with a mock layout of the shelter. And both parties were interested. They expect to hear back from the parties within the next two weeks. From there we’ll know more about whether or not they’ll be moving forward.
According to the mock layout, the location would hold 46 shelters. That includes some units accessible for people with disabilities. There would also be a mix of single and double units. The facility would also have a storage area for personal items, a dog off-leash area, wrap-around chain-link fencing, two picnic tables and an administrative building.
From the cities’ perspective, the location has a number of advantages… Like its accessibility to bus and pedestrian routes. It may also save money since the Salvation Army’s existing facility across the street has components like laundry services and a commercial kitchen.
DeVries says obviously, the details would have to be worked out, but as far as a starting point - it has key components that are necessary.
He explained that the cities hope to have the shelter at least partially open by winter, but construction season, the approval process and availability of materials may drag out the timeline.
Meanwhile, the East Wenatchee and Wenatchee are working on an agreement that would lay out how the cities will share shelter responsibilities.
Stay up to date on this story at wenatcheeworld.com
Now, some history…
Did you know that Malaga Springs Winery opened in 2004 with a tasting room to follow in 2010? Al and Kathy Mathews started with 9 grape varietals and have sought out cuttings from the original grapes grown in the area during the late 1800s when the railroads arrived. They’ve won a number of awards and you can sample the vintages in-person, pick it up in local shops, or have it delivered.
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Thursday August 19th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today --- Yesterday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be required for all school employees — kindergarten through college — and most childcare and early learning workers in the state as well.
Before we jump in, we’re excited to let you know that Wenatchee Wine & Food Fest is back this year on August 28th at the Town Toyota Center! Ticket holders will get a chance to sample small pours of amazing local wines, local ciders and beers… and of course, enjoy tasty bites from area restaurants and caterers.
Make sure to get tickets in advance! We’ll see you there!
Now our feature story…
Yesterday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be required for all school employees — kindergarten through college — and most childcare and early learning workers in the state as well.
Inslee also announced an expansion of the statewide indoor mask mandate to all people, regardless of vaccination status.
The announcements come with the rapidly increasing case and hospitalization numbers for COVID-19 across the state, including Wenatchee.
So what’s the vaccination deadline for school employees?
All K-12 educators, school staff, coaches, bus drivers, school volunteers and others working in school facilities will have until October 18th to be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment.
The requirement includes public, private and charter schools. But it doesn’t include tribal schools.
It’s also important to note that employees won’t have the option to provide test results instead of the vaccination. And, just like the state worker mandate, they can apply for limited exceptions to getting the vaccine. That includes legitimate medical reasons and sincerely held religious beliefs.
And those who refuse to get vaccinated will be subject to dismissal.
The vaccine requirement applies to anyone who works in licensed, certified and contracted early learning and childcare programs as well as contractors who work in license-exempt early learning, childcare and youth-development programs including coaches, volunteers and trainers.
The mandate doesn’t include family, friends and neighbors providing childcare.
Inslee also expanded the statewide indoor mask mandate, which is effective Aug. 23, will include vaccinated people. Prior, only unvaccinated people were required to wear masks at indoor public places.
This expansion comes after the state broke the previous record for COVID hospitalizations. That record was set back in December. And now, every county in the state currently falls within the CDC’s substantial or high transmission. On top of that, each of the state’s 35 local health officers recently recommended all individuals wear masks indoors.
The mask exception includes office spaces not easily accessible to the public where vaccinated people are working and working alone indoors or in a vehicle with no public face-to-face interaction.
Small, private indoor gatherings where all attendees are vaccinated are also exempt.
Still, the Department of Health strongly recommends individuals also wear masks in crowded outdoor settings, such as outdoor concerts, fairs and farmers markets.
Stay up to date on this story at wenatcheeworld.com.
Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
Next - Rapunzel is letting down her golden hair. And the evil stepmother is refusing to let Cinderella go to the ball. There’s Jack and his beanstalk. And little red riding hood visiting her grandmother in the forest.
See it all at “Into the Woods" at Ohme Gardens County Park.
We spoke to Michelle McCormick, the production manager for the show. She explained that it's a lot of fairy tales intertwined.
The story focuses on a baker and his wife, who are unable to have a child since a witch had previously cast a spell on the baker’s father. The witch agrees to grant their wish for a child if they collect something as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, slippers that look like gold and a white cow.
Of course, Cinderella has a slipper, and Jack has to sell a cow. So, that’s how all of these other fairy tales are intertwined. And really, the story is more about ‘What are you willing to do for what you really want? Are you willing to compromise your ethics for what you really want?’
The Stage Teens production includes a cast of 36 members playing 18 roles, with each role being double cast. A majority of the cast is between 13 and 18 years old.
Stage Teens typically does a show every August with a cast consisting of performers through their senior year in high school. Since there was no show last year due to the pandemic, several of last year’s seniors have returned for this year’s performance.
Caleb Clifton, who plays Cinderella’s Prince, said his character is compassionate but will do what it takes to get what he wants in the show.
And Carly Orstem, who plays Little Red Riding Hood in the performance, describes her character as bubbly, but naive.
Director Alex Stroming has actually allowed cast members to do their own blocking for the performance, and be creative with their role.
He says that he basically sent the two separate casts away and said ‘Figure out your own staging. You decide what your scene’s going to be about, you make all the choices here. Through that, the kids were really able to see that there is no one right or wrong way to play a scene or play a certain character.
Stroming also said the creativity reduces the competition and ego that comes with a double-cast show while also allowing students to make the show their own.
Most of the show’s choreography was organized by three performers. Parts of the show incorporate American Sign Language, which was suggested by another performer and is something McCormick has no previous experience with. And several cast members organized the lobby so the experience of the show begins as soon as the audience arrives.
The audience is immersed in the performance, with the play taking place on three sides.
Performances will take place Aug. 18, 19, 20 and 22 at 7 p.m., with 10 a.m. shows Aug. 20 and 21.
It’s at Ohme Gardens, and you can get tickets at stagekidswa.org.
There is fixed seating in the audience, though you can also bring chairs or blankets to sit on.
Before we go, some local history. Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR. Now, some history -
Did you know that if you drove from Leavenworth to Plain, you’d be passing through Chumstick, a small unincorporated community surrounding Chumstick Road connecting the two towns. Surrounded by the Wenatchee National Forest and the Cascade Mountains.
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Tuesday August 17th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - The Washington State Tree Fruit Association is forecasting a crop of 124.8 million 40-pound boxes of apples during the 2021 harvest. That would be an increase of 2.3% over last year.
Before we jump in, we’re excited to let you know that Wenatchee Wine & Food Fest is back this year on August 28th at the Town Toyota Center! Ticket holders will get a chance to sample small pours of amazing local wines, local ciders and beers… and of course, enjoy tasty bites from area restaurants and caterers.
Make sure to get tickets in advance! We’ll see you there!
Now our feature story…
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association is forecasting a crop of 124.8 million 40-pound boxes of apples during the 2021 harvest.
This would be an increase of 2.3% from last year, but down from 2019.
But Tim Kovis, a spokesman for the tree fruit association, said the forecast will continue to change over the coming months.
Kovis explained that each growing season is different. So, crop sizes vary from year to year based on a whole litany of conditions and market forces. Harvest will go until the end of November, so there are a lot of variables.
These variables include things like hail that could bruise the fruit, wind damage and labor supply for growers. Higher than average temperatures will also impact the harvest.
And Ed Schaplow, the owner of Allview Orchards in Chelan, said the damage to the fruit isn’t always visible from the outside.
During the record-breaking heat this summer, the apples are essentially cooked from the inside, which makes it difficult for workers to know what fruit they should pick off the tree. This issue is most prevalent on apples on the sunny side of the tree.
Schaplow said through sampling and checking crops, he estimated that at least half have been damaged this way.
And in addition to the heat wave, Schaplow said he’s had difficulty finding labor this year to pick the apples on his 30-acre orchard.
He thinks, to increase the number of workers, the federal government should expand guest worker programs.
But while demand for Washington apples remains high, once the fruit is picked the potential challenges continue.
Todd Fryhover is president of the Washington Apple Commission. He said transportation costs for shipping the fruit domestically and internationally have increased drastically.
Washington typically exports about 30% of its apple crop to 60 countries around the world.
And right now there are tariffs in China and India, so that slows down movement.
Rebecca Lyons is the international marketing director for the Washington Apple Commission. She said freight issues have made it difficult to promote Washington apples in global markets.
So what should we expect from this year’s crop?
Gala apples will be the most popular variety, at 21% of the crop produced. Red Delicious are expected to be at 16% of the crop. Honeycrisp and Granny Smith will both be at 14% and Fuji apples will be 13%.
This is a change from 20 years ago when Kovis said Red and Golden Delicious apples represented 68% of the state’s apple crop.
Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
Here’s what else you need to know today.
The three-day Watershed Music Festival two weeks ago has been connected to more than 160 COVID-19 cases across the state.
The event, which was held July 30 through Aug. 1 at The Gorge Amphitheatre, was the origin of cases in multiple counties as well as one case in Oregon, according to the Grant County Health District.
The district reported cases among residents of King, Grant, Pierce, Skagit, Kittitas, Okanogan, Whatcom, Kitsap, San Juan, Lincoln and Stevens counties.
“As of today, we are aware of over 160 lab confirmed COVID-19 cases across Washington state in people who attended the event. We expect more cases to be confirmed in the coming days,” said Laina Mitchell, the district’s communicable disease coordinator. “The outbreak is the first one traced to an outdoor entertainment event since the lifting of statewide COVID-19 prevention measures at the end of June.”
The county health district is working with local, state and tribal public health partners to identify other cases in people who may have attended the music festival. Individuals who attended Watershed are encouraged to self-quarantine and seek testing.
Finally, we’re excited to share a Wenatchee 30 Under 35 winner from the 2021 awards… These were made possible by Chelan County PUD...
Today we’re featuring 34 year old Yuritzi Lozano. Lozano is the Dean of Allied Health & Workforce Education at Wenatchee Valley College
She is also the first Latina dean at Wenatchee Valley College.
Hired in early 2021 to oversee allied health and workforce education, this is just the latest accomplishment in her academic career.
A 2005 graduate of Eastmont High School, she earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies and Spanish, with a minor in diversity, in 2010 from the University of Washington. Then, in 2013, she earned a master’s degree from the UW in educational leadership and policy studies. She is now pursuing a doctorate at Oregon State University in adult and higher education.
After completing her bachelor’s degree, she worked as an adviser and guidance counselor for Latino high school students, then transitioned into the role of outreach coordinator.
She also created and implemented college access workshops, which ultimately led to her decision to pursue a master’s degree.
After graduating from the UW, Lozano worked at Highline College, providing support and services to first-generation, low-income and disabled students. And in 2014, she returned to the Wenatchee area, accepting a position as the director of the College Assistant Migrant Program at Wenatchee Valley College. The program provides support, guidance and advocacy for students from agricultural backgrounds.
Her work there led to her moving into the dean position early this year, continuing her goal of improving policies and practice to be more inclusive of underserved students.
Lozano told us that from a professional standpoint, Wenatchee Valley College will continue to work collaboratively with our business and industry partners to ensure they are providing a service to keep talent and work accessible to those who are from the area. Through their work they want to continue to be catalysts for change.
Did you know that Sunnyslope kids used to attend school in a small frame house at the turn of the century? Known as Beacon Hill School and built in 1901, it originally consisted of just just two rooms. It was sold in 1915 to L.D. Merritt when the newer Sunnyslope School took its place.
Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Saturday August 14th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority opted not to renew a $2 million purchase-and-sale agreement with S.P.O.R.T. Gymnastics on Tuesday.
Before we jump in, we’re excited to let you know that Wenatchee Wine & Food Fest is back this year on August 28th at the Town Toyota Center! Ticket holders will get a chance to sample small pours of amazing local wines, local ciders and beers… and of course, enjoy tasty bites from area restaurants and caterers.
Make sure to get tickets in advance! We’ll see you there!
Now our feature story...
The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority opted not to renew a $2 million purchase-and-sale agreement with S.P.O.R.T. Gymnastics on Tuesday.
A previous agreement expired Aug. 2 after S.P.O.R.T. failed to secure financing and file a completed building permit with the City of Wenatchee by the stipulated deadline.
If those conditions are met, Port Authority CEO Jim Kuntz said the port would close on the sale. The property is now open to other buyers, but the port is not actively marketing it.
The developer, Flint Hartwig, said he miscalculated how much time he would need for the project when the agreement was initially signed in August 2020. Although he has turned in preliminary plans, the city has not yet deemed them complete.
Hartwig said “I should have seen that coming...I was just being overly optimistic about the timing.
Despite the setbacks, the port’s board remains supportive of the project.
Kuntz told us that: “S.P.O.R.T. can and should continue to work on plans to submit to the city and to finalize its financing plan.”
Hartwig said he has 60 individuals who may be potential investors and that the port’s decision not to renew the agreement won’t impact investors’ interest in the project.
S.P.O.R.T is planning a multi-use activity center using three buildings on the corner of Columbia Street and Orondo Avenue, a property formerly owned by Lineage Logistics, that total 36,830 square feet. The center would include a roof-top bar, zip-lines, batting cages and a ninja course.
Hartwig said “It’s going to be a crying shame if it turns into another apartment house or mini storage or car lot or some industrial use. I think it needs to have a community vibe to it.”
The Merc Playhouse in Twisp is currently looking for submissions for its first, in-person performance since the start of the pandemic last spring.
The show, “CoronAnthology: The year we held our breath,” will be a collection of stories of what 2020 meant to different cast members. Missi Smith, executive director of The Merc, said they had a similar performance in 2014 after an especially destructive wildfire season.
Smith said: “It was very powerful when we did it before, to hear what everybody went through. It was super healing and valuable to reconnect with everybody in that way.”
The show is flexible depending on what the director selects, and Smith encouraged all age groups to submit.
Submissions must be shorter than 5 minutes and be either written, audio or video recordings, and can be submitted to hoochamungus@gmail.com. The deadline to submit is Aug. 30. An in-person submission session will also be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 25 at Yourspace in Building N on the Twispworks Campus.
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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
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Next,
If you’re a tomato aficionado or just curious about which varieties you like best, here’s your chance for a free, tomato-tasting bonanza. Visit WSU Chelan/Douglas Master Gardeners’ 11th annual Tomato Gala between 9 and 11 a.m. on Saturday the 21st at the Community Education Garden in Wenatchee.
Whether you’re a fan of tomato varieties like Super Fantastic, Early Girl, Sun Gold and Sweet Million, or little-knowns like Abe Lincoln, Orange Strawberry, Hillbilly, Black Krim and Pink Elephant… or you don’t know what any of this means (!), this is your chance to taste and learn.
You’ll get to talk with master gardeners, hear about some of their favorite tomatoes, and pick up growing tips. You’ll also be able to vote on your favorites. The winners will appear in a future edition of Wenatchee World.
Read our full story on this at wenatcheeworld.com
Did you know that nearby Mansfield gets its name from... Mansfield, Ohio? R.E. Darling named the area after his hometown in 1905. Originally part of the Great Northern Railway, it took until 1911 to be officially incorporated. In 1914, a booming Mansfield had two hotels, a bank, a doctor’s office, and had become a popular resort destination for travelers.
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Thursday August 12th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today --- Some local health officials and providers have already affirmed their support of Gov. Jay Inslee’s most recent mandate that state workers and private health care workers be vaccinated.
Before we jump in, we’re excited to let you know that Wenatchee Wine & Food Fest is back this year on August 28th at the Town Toyota Center! Ticket holders will get a chance to sample small pours of amazing local wines, local ciders and beers… and of course, enjoy tasty bites from area restaurants and caterers.
Make sure to get tickets in advance! We’ll see you there!
Now our feature story…
Some local health officials and providers say they support Gov. Jay Inslee’s most recent mandate that state workers and private health care workers be vaccinated.
Inslee’s new vaccine mandate requires that the 60,000 or so state workers and 400,000 licensed health care providers in the state be fully vaccinated by October 8th.
Elected officials, boards and commissions, K-12 and higher education schools do not fall under the governor’s mandate.
So what did local health officials have to say about this news?
Luke Davies, the Chelan-Douglas Health District Administrator, said that this is a public health measure.
He explained that people who are vaccinated and have contracted the delta variant spread it less. That’s why it’s really important that we do this together -- to prevent the variant from spreading even within hospitals.
Andrew Canning, the Confluence Health spokesperson said that they will be requiring all of its staff, regardless of work location or role, to be vaccinated in accordance with the governor’s mandate.
Canning said that it’s never been more critical than right now to confront the COVID-19 pandemic with every tool we have.
As of Tuesday, 72% of Confluence Health’s 4,400 employees are fully vaccinated. And about 94% of its 300 physicians are fully vaccinated.
Columbia Valley Community Health, which has facilities in Wenatchee, East Wenatchee and Chelan, is also supportive of the governor’s mandate.
Manuel Navarro, CVCH chief operating officer, noted that they were actually already working on steps to mandate staff to get the vaccine. To him, it’s the right thing to do.
About 84% of its total 300-person staff and all 25 or so doctors are already fully vaccinated.
But Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay said he thinks that the governor’s mandate may push away employees in smaller communities and jeopardize people’s options.
So what’s the situation in hospitals now?
At Confluence Health’s Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee, 26 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19 as of Monday, up from 18 patients listed on Friday. And five patients were in the intensive care unit as of Tuesday morning.
COVID-19 cases continue to rapidly grow in Chelan and Douglas counties… yes due to the delta variant.
And The health district still recommends that the public vaccinate as soon as possible if they haven’t already. In the last few weeks, they have seen an increase in vaccinations, weekly numbers going from 400 to around 600.
Davies says that they’re seeing hospitalizations across the state at the highest level they have been in 2021. There are very few beds available.
Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
Next - Investigators still aren’t certain what caused the Red Apple Fire last month, but they’ve ruled out an illegal burn. That’s what was first suspected.
The fire ultimately burned 12,288 acres, threatened to destroy hundreds of homes and led Chelan County authorities to order varying levels of evacuations to 1,500 homes in Sunnyslope. Luckily - No homes were lost, but five outbuildings were damaged.
Chelan County Fire Marshal Bob Plumb says that they have two theories for what caused the fire: soot from an exhaust…. or grass may have ignited from contact with a muffler or engine.
But they’re still not even sure about the exact spot. Plumb says the only thing they’re sure of right now is that it didn’t start in the burn pile on that one piece of property that they were focused on to begin with.
To determine where a brush fire began, experts look at what Plumb called “macro indicators.” This can include the burn pattern.
The Red Apple Fire appeared focused at the bottom of a hill — and the intensity that vegetation burned.
Sometimes, investigators will also look at individual stalks of grass with a magnifying glass. They can tell if the fire was advancing or moving to the side or backing.
One investigator narrowed the point of origin down to a 2-foot area, though Plumb cautioned he wasn’t “totally sold” on that location.
The only thing he believes is that the fire started on the property to the north of where the burn pile was.
Now, some history -
Did you know that the Wenatchee area is home to towns that saw booms and then ultimately… busts. Bonita is one. Although no longer on any map, the town post office was established in 1903 and remained in operation until 1927. According to local legend, the community was named by Lieutenant Edward Nealer after a place where he spent time in the Philippines.
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Tuesday August 10th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - Last week, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation filed a lawsuit against the United States for damages from the North Star and Tunk Block fires.
Before we jump in, we’re excited to let you know that Wenatchee Wine & Food Fest is back this year on August 28th at the Town Toyota Center! Ticket holders will get a chance to sample small pours of amazing local wines, local ciders and beers… and of course, enjoy tasty bites from area restaurants and caterers.
Make sure to get tickets in advance! We’ll see you there!
Now our feature story…
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the United States for damages from the North Star and Tunk Block fires.
The fires burned more than 240,000 acres on the Colville Reservation in 2015. Now, the Colvilles allege that the U.S. failed to fulfill legally required duties before and after the fires.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. It also alleges that the U.S. failed to provide adequate firefighting resources for the Colville Reservation by prioritizing off-reservation, non-trust property.
The North Star and Tunk Block fires began back in August 2015 and burned more than 590 square miles and 800 million board feet of the Tribes’ commercial timber. It all happened over a two-month period.
The lost timber was 20% of the commercial timber on the Colville Reservation and is the largest fire-related timber loss on any Indian reservation in recorded history.
Colville Business Council Chairman Andrew Joseph Jr. said the fires also caused long term damage to cultural resources on the Reservation.
He explained that tribal members hunt, fish and gather food and medicine throughout the Colville Reservation, and in many areas the fires burned so hot that they sterilized the soil and created a moonscape. Joseph noted that it will take decades for our resources to completely recover in those areas.
He also added the United States’ insufficient preparation for and response to the 2015 fires have not been addressed and that the Colville Tribes remain gravely concerned about future wildfires on the reservation.
The Colville Reservation is currently dealing with the impacts of two active fires. One of them - the Chuweah Creek Fire - is 92% contained. But it destroyed five homes and burned 36,752 acres. The other - called the Summit Trail Fire is 18% contained and burned 28,036 acres. It’s threatening 236 homes and other structures.
Joseph says he hopes this lawsuit will result in the Department of the Interior finally living up to its trust responsibilities to the Colville Tribes
To stay up to date on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com
Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
Here’s what else you need to know today.
Wenatchee Valley College will require vaccines for students enrolled in in-person classes.
Fall classes begin on Sept. 27. And students are expected to be fully vaccinated prior to the first day of school. They’ll also need to document their vaccination status by that date using WVC’s free online tool.
Laura McDowell, director of communications, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges says that the majority of community colleges in the state are now also requiring students to be vaccinated.
In fact, she said that 27 of the 34 state’s community and technical colleges have decided to require vaccination as a condition of coming to work and learn on campus.
Still, waivers are available for medical, religious or philosophical reasons.
The decision was made in light of the governor’s higher education proclamation last month, and in response to new information surrounding the COVID-19 delta variant.
WVC spokeswoman Libby Siebens said that staff are not currently required to be vaccinated, however, they must attest to their vaccination status.
For now, it’s hard to say what the vaccination requirement will do to college enrollment. Some people will feel reassured about going back to school because there are vaccination requirements, while other people may view that as a hurdle they have to go through, but one they are not ready for.
And it turns out that college age students are one of least vaccinated populations statewide.
So will the vaccination requirement to attend college push more of this population to get vaccinated?
Finally, Children of various ages will be taking to the stage floor for the 43rd annual Short Shakespearean’s production of “As You Like It” this weekend at the Riverside Playhouse.
Short Shakespeareans is a children’s theater program with a cast aged 16 and below. And this year’s show includes 35 young actors.
Cast members have been “amping up their excitement everyday,” according to Mark Belton… he’s the show producer. And this year’s show is being directed by Kelly Atwood.
If you’ve never been - the plays are put on by volunteers with children and parents helping out. It is a fun time for everybody.
And the set has just been painted in preparation for Wednesday’s opening night.
So what can you expect from “As You Like It?” Well, the comedy tells the story of two couples who fall in love while being caught between the court and the forest. And of course, cast members will then add their own fun to it. Tickets for the performance are $15 each, and are available at numericapac.org.
“As You Like It” has daily performances at 7 p.m. Aug. 11-14, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Aug. 14.
See you there!
Before we go, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History, is brought to you by NABUR.
Did you know that Cashmere was originally called Mission and became a flag stop on the Great Northern Railroad in 1900? At that time, a small section house was built manned by two employees. This building has been preserved and you can visit it today at the Cashmere Museum and Pioneer Village. A few years later, the booming economy resulted in the construction of a larger train station and the renaming of the town to Kashmir with a K before finally taking the more Americanized spelling starting with a C.
Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Saturday August 7th,, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - The city of East Wenatchee is in good financial shape, according to its latest financial report. According to the presentation to the City Council earlier this week, the city’s cash balances for all funds at the end of June were at $11.2 million.
Before we jump in, we’re excited to let you know that Wenatchee Wine & Food Fest is back this year on August 28th at the Town Toyota Center! Ticket holders will get a chance to sample small pours of amazing local wines, local ciders and beers… and of course, enjoy tasty bites from area restaurants and caterers.
Make sure to get tickets in advance! We’ll see you there!
Now our feature story...
The city of East Wenatchee is in good financial shape, according to its latest financial report.
The report, which compares revenue and expenditures from June 2021 to June 2020, paints a positive picture of the city’s finances.
East Wenatchee Finance Director Josh DeLay said that they’re in a great financial position. It’ll allow Wenatchee to continue to upgrade and modernize city infrastructure.
DeLay noted that people can expect to see increases in expenditures in the next few years for these upgrades, but these are all planned and that’s the reason why cities build up their fund balances.
During a presentation of the financial report to the City Council on Tuesday night, DeLay said the city’s cash balances for all funds at the end of June were at $11.2 million.
He explained that he doesn't think the city has ever been over $10 million.
A lot of that increase is thanks to $1.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds, but tax revenues have also contributed.
So in all, DeLay had a positive outlook on tax revenues during his City Council presentation.
He said sales tax is up 24.1% from last year, which is incredible. The numbers are just rolling in.
Gambling taxes are also up - 104% from last year.
Revenue from operating funds is up 59% compared to June 2020 and non-operation funds increased by 38%.
The revenue increase is more than just recovery from the pandemic. Operating funds revenue in June 2020 also increased from the previous year. Non-operating funds revenue did too - it rose by a whopping 722.42%.
DeLay said the increases are a combination of what appears to be a recovery from the pandemic, federal dollars received for the American Rescue Plan and a limited tax general obligation bond the city took out for capital purchases and improvements.
To read more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com
Also,
Local artist Dan McConnell will have an exhibit displayed in the Pybus Market Board Room through August. So check it out!
The show, which is called Images in Grids, pulls together a variety of topics, dating back to watercolor paintings that McConnell painted in the 1970s. The show’s name references McConnell’s process when he was fresh out of college and would paint with watercolors and draw using an underlayment of gridded pencil drawings. Several of the pieces of art in the exhibit were created with this method.
Among the art pieces on display are Giclee prints, graphic novel page prints and original watercolors as well as original graphic novel pages.
McConnell will also have several bowls that depict presidents as caricatures.
The show will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays.
Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
Next,
Over 36,000 patients with Premera Blue Cross health insurance will be considered out-of-network with Confluence Health in February of 2022… that is unless the two sides settle a price dispute before then.
Confluence Health began negotiations back in April by informing Premera that they would not renew their contract. Why? Because of disagreements about Premera’s pay rate.
Dr. Peter Rutherford, Confluence Health CEO explained that Health insurance contracts typically last between two to three years. And after months of negotiations, there was no real progress.
But David Condon, Premera vice president of Eastern Washington, doesn’t believe that negotiations are at an impasse.
He said that they still have quite a ways on the runway, and they really do believe that they can come to an agreement. They want Confluence to come back to the table - it’s in the best interest of members and for the community.
Still, Confluence Health says the issue is that Premera refuses to a pay rate consistent with other commercial insurance payers in the market.
For now, Confluence Health is not allowed to discuss any details of the contract, but Premera is the outlier among the many commercial insurers Confluence Health works with.
What we do know is that in 2020, Premera paid Confluence Health $167 million in claims, up from $160 million in 2019. The increase is attributed to rising hospital costs.
And if Confluence Health does not renew the contract, more than 36,000 patients across North Central Washington will be “out-of-network” which could mean higher deductibles and other fees for patients.
These Premera-affiliated health insurance providers will also be “out-of-network” or affected in some way starting in February of 2022…. LifeWise, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Regence Blue Shield, and Uniform Medical Plan.
Read our full story on this at wenatcheeworld.com
Now, some history…
Did you know the three lakes golf course was proposed in 1951? The course went through a number of fundraising efforts to put together the money needed to hit the links including a land donation from Harold Weed, a non-profit stock offering for $25,000, and a charity tournament with Bing Crosby and US amateur champion, Jack Westland. Originally only 9 holes and relying on volunteer labor, the early players had to go around twice to complete a full round.
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Thursday August 5th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today --- A statewide ban on single-use plastic bags will go into effect Oct. 1, but business owners in Wenatchee say the transition may be rocky.
Before we jump in, we’re excited to let you know that Wenatchee Wine & Food Fest is back this year on August 28th at the Town Toyota Center! Ticket holders will get a chance to sample small pours of amazing local wines, local ciders and beers… and of course, enjoy tasty bites from area restaurants and caterers.
Make sure to get tickets in advance! We’ll see you there!
Now our feature story…
A statewide ban on single-use plastic bags will go into effect Oct. 1, but local business owners say the transition may be rocky.
The ban was initially scheduled to begin on January 1st, but Governor Jay Inslee delayed it.
Still, local business owners’ have many concerns about the ban.
Those concerns include things like supply chain issues, cost increases, and of course… customer reactions.
So who will be affected? The ban applies to restaurants, grocers, retailers, convenience stores, farmers markets, food trucks, temporary stores and home delivery services. But food banks will be exempt.
Under the new law, stores can use paper bags made with 40% recycled content and plastic bags made with 20% recycled materials and that are a minimum of 2.25 mil thick.
Both plastic and paper bags will come with an 8-cent charge. According to the Department of Ecology, there won’t be any restrictions on customers bringing in their own bags.
So how are local business owners feeling?
Francisco Cuevas, the owner of Futbol-Era Soccer Store on South Mission Street, is concerned about where he’ll find bags that are compliant with the new law. He’s currently looking into plastic and paper bags and hopes his current bag vendor — which is Costco — will sell ban-compliant bags.
Depending on the cost, he said he may end up not giving out bags at all. He’s hopeful that customers will understand the ban and its implications for small businesses.
And Victor Garcia, the general manager of Original J’s Teriyaki in East Wenatchee, is also concerned about bag pricing.
Garcia said It’s gonna be a little frustrating at first, but there’s no choice.
He also explained that the restaurant is evaluating ways to absorb the increased cost of bags, including discontinuing specials, switching plates or changing prices. Unfortunately, he said that these higher bag costs come in conjunction with other increased supply costs. Just this week, for example, their chicken went from $68 a case to $110.
Original J’s Teriyaki is also still researching what kind of bags it will use. As a restaurant that relies heavily on takeout, Garcia said the staff is concerned about how paper bags would handle possible food spills.
Although the bag ban law mandates that businesses charge 8 cents a bag, that may not be enough to offset the higher costs of bags that are compliant with the law.
In fact, AnaMaree Ordway, the owner of Ye Olde Bookshoppe, said that doesn’t even put a dent in the cost of the bags a small business pays.
Ordway already uses bags that would be compliant with the ban. They range from 12 to 54 cents a bag, but she’s unsure whether prices will go up as demand for them goes up under the ban.
Finally, we spoke to Super Plaza Jet owner Jeff Lau who also worries about how an already strapped supply chain system will handle the transition.
He has yet to see paper bags that comply with the law. He added that with supply costs fluctuating so much, it’s difficult to know what the new bags will cost. But he anticipates the store will be able to absorb the cost in sales.
It will be harder, however, for the store to adapt logistically to the new law. The ban exempts customers using food assistance programs like WIC from the bag fees, even if those customers are also using another purchase method.
Lau said that the ban’s exceptions for WIC and other programs will present some logistical problems for the store as it revamps its checkout systems and technology. He’s also concerned about customers’ reactions. He said when the ban was originally slated to go into effect in January, he received a number of emails asking if the store would really go through with the ban.
But it’s not a choice for them; it’s the law. And they have to comply.
More information about the ban can be found on the Department of Ecology's website at wwrld.us/bagban.
Linda Haglund, executive director of the Wenatchee Downtown Association, has been working toward helping businesses prepare for the ban. She said at this point, after more than a year of changing COVID regulations for businesses, the ban is just one more thing owners have to navigate.
She’s currently focused on getting clarity for businesses about how the ban will impact them and where they can source ban-compliant bags. She hopes to partner with other organizations, like the Chamber of Commerce to ensure businesses are read to go once the ban begins.
Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
Next - Access to child care is a huge challenge for families in North Central Washington. In fact, here, the number of available licensed slots meet only a third of the demand.
For Kailee Tanneberg, access to child care is crucial to being able to continue her work in financial analysis at Gebbers Farms in Brewster. Tanneberg and her husband Kelsey live in Mansfield, where he helps operate the family’s fourth-generation wheat operation.
Their 3-year-old daughter, Palmer, goes to the Activity Based Child Care in Pateros. It’s operated by Carlene Anders and her husband Gene Dowers. Right now, it’s the only licensed child care facility in Pateros.
But when Dowers and Anders started talking about retiring from that business a few years ago, the news sent panic waves through the households of ABC parents. So Anders and Dowers started working with parents to find a way to continue their work.
Tanneberg, a native of Tonasket, was recruited onto the board of The Treehouse child care nonprofit that Dowers and Anders envisioned as a way to continue and expand child care opportunities in the community. She now serves as president and has been at the forefront of handling the administrative paperwork for the organization.
Tanneberg was drawn to becoming involved partly out of her commitment to having a quality place for Palmer to receive care and further develop as a youngster and partly out of a sense of service to the community.
The Treehouse will serve infants to school-age children, thereby expanding the types of services that are available for families. Every study has shown that early childhood learning is essential for the development of young minds. Children who start out in school behind other students almost invariably complete their K-12 journey behind their peers.
That’s what makes projects like the Treehouse early learning effort so crucial.
The economics of child care in our country are such that it’s difficult for businesses to make ends meet. Child care tuition doesn’t cover the costs of running most businesses, so most child care facilities rely on fundraising to balance their budgets.
So the Pateros Treehouse Early Education Organization will accept state funding, so parents who are eligible for tuition assistance will be able to participate. That’s great news because without that commitment, families on the lower end of the income scale would be hard pressed to afford child care for their kids.
Tanneberg said being president of the board has been a great learning experience and has given her a new appreciation for how creative one must be to get things done.
So far, the Treehouse has raised $760,000 out of an initial goal of $780,000. You can support this work by visiting paterostreehouse.com.
Now, some history -
Did you know that Bridgeport was settled in the late 19th century and originally named Westfield? Developers purchased the town in 1892 and renamed it Bridgeport after their former home in Connecticut. Officially incorporated in 1910. The biggest economic boom to come to the city came from the building of the Foster Creek Dam, later renamed the Chief Joseph Dam, just upstream from the city limits
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Tuesday August 3rd and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - There are new state laws in place pertaining to police policies… And one of them places tight guidelines on when officers can pursue a vehicle. So how have authorities been adapting?
Before we jump in, we’re excited to let you know that Wenatchee Wine & Food Fest is back this year on August 28th at the Town Toyota Center! Ticket holders will get a chance to sample small pours of amazing local wines, local ciders and beers… and of course, enjoy tasty bites from area restaurants and caterers.
Make sure to get tickets in advance! We’ll see you there!
Now our feature story…
On July 24, a yellow school bus belonging to Osprey Rafting was stolen in Leavenworth. Deputies from Chelan and Douglas counties attempted to stop the bus in their jurisdictions... but each ended their pursuits after about 10 minutes.
The suspect drove the bus to Moses Lake and then hitchhiked to Spokane then Chewelah where he allegedly stole a front-end loader, drove it through a house and flipped a vehicle into the home before he was arrested.
The incident was likely the first example of new state laws pertaining to police policies. One of them places tight guidelines on when officers can pursue a vehicle.
In April state lawmakers passed several police reform bills that changed when and how police respond to calls. Most of these took effect on July 25th.
Officers treated the pursuit as if the new regulations were already in effect.
Why? Because the incoming policies allow for uses of force to be re-examined retroactively.
Wenatchee Police Chief, Steve Crown, explained that the bills change how officers approach law enforcement.
He said that they’re bound by these laws, and quite frankly, they’re the type of reform measures that really do restrict law enforcement… and in some cases, their effective ability to solve crimes quickly.
So what exactly are the the new laws?
First, there’s House Bill 1267. It creates an Office of Independent Investigations to investigate all uses of deadly force.
There’s also House Bill 1310 which requires more de-escalation, sets new standards for uses of force and requires police establish probable cause for an arrest before detaining a suspect.
House Bill 1054 bans neck restraints, no-knock warrants, military equipment and requires four-prong authorization before pursuing a vehicle.
Senate Bill 5051 makes it easier for officers to lose their certification.
Senate Bill 5066 requires officers to intervene when they witness other officers using excessive force or misconduct.
And finally, Senate Bill 5259 requires collection of data related to deadly uses of force.
Sgt. Brent Frank oversees part of the training division at the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office — patrol tactics, in particular. He explained that House Bill 1310 mandates that police must have probable cause to make an arrest before detaining a suspect for questioning. That’s a stark contrast from the previous standard when police were allowed to stop people for questioning in order to build probable cause.
He explained that what that means is that it allows a suspect to flee the scene and there’s no way to prevent them from leaving.
Frank added that officers aren’t sure yet how to follow all of the changes and are worried that, with the confusion, they could lose their certification or possibly end up in jail.
He noted that officers want so badly to keep criminal behavior out of our communities, to hold criminals accountable, to keep people safe, to respond in the most heinous of circumstances, and to essentially provide a service on the worst day of someone’s life.
But Crown is optimistic about some of the changes...
He said he thinks that there is some benefit that can come out of this. For example, slowing down the pace of our contacts with suspects or subjects that we received calls on is a good thing.
The Chelan County Sheriff's Office is hosting meetings with the public to explain new policing laws and how they'll impact the public.
In fact, there’s one today at 6pm in Cashmere at Riverside Event Center.
For the full list of meetings visit our full story at wenatcheeworld.com
Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
Here’s what else you need to know today.
It’s in with a new restaurant and out with a body care shop at Pybus Public Market.
Wenatchee’s newest entry to the culinary scene will be a spot named The Huck, operated by Angie and Eric Decker, who also own The Wild Huckleberry. The new restaurant is to open on September 1st.
The Huck is offering modern American cuisine - think eggs benedict, omelets, pork chops and pastas.
They’ll be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. And for those of you looking for a late-night drink, you can also expect to see cocktails, wines and beers on the menu.
The Huck will open where Pybus Bistro previously was located, which closed in June.
And moving out of Pybus is the goat-milk body care shop, Farm to Face & Body. The store was a part of the Anderson Family Farm and first sold goods at Pybus back in 2015.
Pybus Market is aiming to fill that vacancy by the end of October.
Finally,
After a year away, "The Sound of Music" once again echoes throughout the hills of Leavenworth.
It’s an annual event, but this year’s run has more significance than usual. Not only were last year’s performances canceled, but this year also marks the 25th anniversary of the first show. And this year's play is the only production of the Leavenworth Summer Theater. For those who don’t already know, typically they only do three different shows a summer.
Tiffany Mausser, this year’s director, told us that people are so ready to perform again, the joy in this cast is absolutely tangible. The first time they were able to have an audience up there at the ski hill, it was just electric.
The musical tells the story of Maria Rainer, who is training to be a nun, but becomes a nanny for the von Trapp family. And after bringing the joy of music to the family, Rainer works with the family to escape from Nazi-occupied Austria.
So what can you expect at the show? Well, keep in mind there are several adaptations as a result of the pandemic. Expect fewer actors... This means several actors have taken on multiple roles in the performance. For example, a chorus of nuns that includes 14 to 18 in a typical year was reduced to 12. The set was also altered to allow more space between the performers.
And with cast members coming from across the country, even the auditions were different.
They were actually conducted completely virtually through actor-submitted videos of prepared music. And after the cast was selected, the initial rehearsals happened before the state’s COVID-19 guidelines were relaxed, which meant the performers sung while wearing masks.
It turns out breath control is critical when singing, which is challenging to do with a mask on.
But Mausser said the show’s outdoor venue is beneficial for the audience and the performers.
She said she’s glad that people are able to feel safe, and to feel comfortable, in an outdoor theater setting. It has been such a challenging time to get through for the Leavenworth Summer Theater, and really all theater companies.
Performances of Leavenworth Summer Theater's production of "The Sound of Music" are at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through August 21st. Tickets range from $14 to $35.
Masks are not required in the venue, but unvaccinated audience members are asked to wear one.
For information, and tickets, go to wwrld.us/SoundofMusic.
Did you know that nearby Soap Lake is quite an unusual place? The lake gets its name from the naturally occurring foam that gives its water a soapy appearance and because the lake’s mineral rich waters have a slick, soapy feel. The body of water has long been thought to have medicinal value and native Americans as well as settlers ventured there to see if they could cure their illnesses. Like the Dead Sea, the high mineral content makes the water very buoyant. Only an hour away from Wenatchee, it’s worth a visit.
Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Saturday July 31st, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - A collection of Wenatchee-area residents is in the early stages of forming an art alliance. They want to be a support system for artists in the community and a resource to connect residents with artists.
Before we jump in, we’re excited to let you know that Wenatchee Wine & Food Fest is back this year on August 28th at the Town Toyota Center! Ticket holders will get a chance to sample small pours of amazing local wines, local ciders and beers… and of course, enjoy tasty bites from area restaurants and caterers.
Make sure to get tickets in advance! We’ll see you there!
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Now our feature story...
A collection of Wenatchee-area residents is in the early stages of forming an art alliance. They want to be a support system for artists in the community and a resource to connect residents with artists.
Kmbris Bond, the chairperson of the group explained - looking at other cities and towns that have kind of an art hub, those centers really help people stay connected to each other. And though Wenatchee has so many rich arts available, Bond said we really don’t have that connective center.
An art alliance that previously operated in Wenatchee folded decades ago, and Bond said several other groups have tried and failed to revive it. But members are confident that the time is right.
A seven-member steering team consisting of local artists, educators and activists are surveying residents to see what they’re looking for.
While they don’t have any financial resources yet, the group did just receive a grant through the Community Foundation for a strategic planner.
The grant didn’t include money, though the group is optimistic about receiving grant money in the future.
Scott Bailey, a committee member and the director of Wenatchee Valley College’s Art Program, said this group will eventually need to hire someone to run it full time.
The previous efforts to establish an art alliance were on a volunteer basis, which isn’t necessarily sustainable in the long term.
For now, there’s no timetable to be fully operational. Several steps will need to be taken before the alliance actually becomes a reality.
In addition to talking to a strategic planner, the group is trying to form partnerships in the region. They’ll also need to be either an established nonprofit or fiscally sponsored by one.
And finally, several members said for the group to be functional long term, they’ll also need to seek out other grant funding opportunities.
And as I mentioned, the group is also surveying Wenatchee residents, to see what the size and scope of the alliance should be.
More than 80 people have filled out the survey so far.
Bond says people seem passionate about this.
By establishing a support network, the group would hopefully help inspire more art in the community while also motivating artists to stay in Wenatchee.
To read more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com
Also,
The state Redistricting Commission is holding an online public outreach from 1 to 3 p.m. today. It’s for residents of the 8th and 10th Congressional Districts.
Washington congressional districts are redrawn every 10 years in consensus with the release of new census data.
Now, District 8 is a mix of suburban and rural areas, including East Wenatchee, Wenatchee, the Cascade Mountains and parts of King and Pierce counties. And Democrat Kim Schrier currently represents the district.
The meeting is part of the commission's efforts to better understand communities that have common interests as they weigh redistricting. It’ll be streamed online through TVW’s website, tvw.org, in English and Spanish.
Afterwards, the full meeting with ASL interpretation will be available on the Washington State Redistricting Commission YouTube channel.
Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
Next,
Voters who live in the public hospital district served by Three Rivers Hospital are being asked for a one-year special levy that will raise $840,000.
The ballot measure, if approved on August 3rd, will cost property owners 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. It would be collected in 2022.
The hospital district, which includes areas of Douglas and Okanogan counties, provides service from Mazama to Monse to Mansfield.
Money raised from the special levy will be used to pay for healthcare services and facility expansion, maintenance and development.
Services include an emergency room, physician clinic and acute care hospital.
In order for this to be approved, it requires a 60% yes vote.
Ballots are due Tuesday.
Before we go, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR [this is pronounced just like neighbor] – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur
Now, some history…
Did you know that nearby Quincy gets its name from Quincy, Illinois? Located on the western edge of Illinois on the Mississippi River, Quincy, IL itself gets its name from John Quincy Adams. Founded as a railroad camp during the construction of the Great Northern Railway in 1892, the town was officially incorporated in 1907.
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Thursday July 29th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today --- Central Washington Hospital is seeing the highest number of COVID hospitalizations since early January. Why is this happening, and what does this mean for masking and restrictions?
Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.
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Now our feature story…
Central Washington Hospital is seeing the highest number of COVID hospitalizations since early January.
Rising cases across the state come alongside concerns about the highly infectious Delta variant.
One case of the Delta variant originating from Chelan County was identified as of July 21, according to the state Department of Health. Another five Delta cases were identified in Grant County, and two in Okanogan County.
But these numbers might not represent the full story. Not every positive COVID test is sent to the state Department of Health to be studied for mutations.
In fact, only About 18% of all COVID-19 cases in the state were sequenced in June.
Chelan-Douglas Health District Administrator Luke Davies explained that with the unvaccinated populations, the main concern is that we're going to see a lot more people get sick. He noted that it's just burning through our population very quickly.
So what makes the delta variant different? First, it’s four times more contagious than the original strain.
As of July 19th, about 92% of cases statewide can be attributed to the delta variant, according to estimates from the state Department of Health.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also updated its masking guidance on Tuesday, recommending fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors in public settings where risk of transmission is high.
And yesterday. Gov. Inslee addressed this during a press conference to discuss the state's response to the pandemic.
Chelan County's 14-day COVID-rate climbed to 126.8 new cases per 100,000 population as of July 23. That's up from 61.5 cases per 100,000 people reported on July 5th.
And as of Tuesday, 24 people were in Central Washington Hospital fighting COVID-19. That’s more than double the number hospitalized at the start of July.
It compares to 26 people hospitalized with COVID-19 a year ago, before vaccines were available.
Chelan-Douglas Health District Administrator Luke Davies is very concerned. The concern is that the delta variant produces about three times more vaccine breakthrough compared to other COVID-19 variants.
He also noted that none of the patients currently hospitalized had been fully vaccinated.
And Governor Inslee made similar remarks yesterday - renewing the assertion that COVID-19 vaccines prevent severe disease and hospitalizations.
About one-third of the people hospitalized locally are younger than 65 with the youngest being in their early twenties.
Stay up to date on all things COVID-19 by visiting us at wenatcheeworld.com
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Also,
Icicle Broadcasting Company has just sold three radio stations to Chelan Valley Media Group. Chelan Valley Media Group is a partnership of four former Seattle-area media professionals with ties to the Chelan Valley.
The sales includes KOZI AM, KOZI FM and KZAL, “Z-Country”. Icicle Broadcasting will continue to own and operate KOHO 101.1 “Hometown Radio.”
The sale should be completed by fall with approval from the FCC. It’ll take around six to nine months to finalize the sale of the stations, which combined have six employees.
Karen Heric will take over as president and general manager. Heric has 35 years of media experience at King 5, GreenRubino, iHeartRadio and Root sports.
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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
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Next - What started as a 13-year-old’s letter to the Wenatchee City Council has turned into a push from the local skateboarding community to improve safety at Hale Park Skatepark.
We talked about Sam Wagner in an episode on July 10th, and how he had petitioned the city to extend Hale Park Skatepark’s closing time from dusk to 10 p.m. -- with the lights on.
And it turns out the city listened. They’ve decided to follow Wagner’s suggestions for a two-week trial period.
Wagner told us it feels good to make a positive change and see his community supporting him.
He and other skateboarders went to a city council meeting on July 22nd to report back to the council and mayor about the lights.
The group presented a video of skaters using the park and keeping it clean. They also showed a photo of dozens of needles they had found behind a rock near the edge of the skatepark. The slide that followed read “This is why we need the lights to stay on all night!”
One skater, Josh Johnson, said two days following the discovery of the needles, he found a bag of drugs and drug paraphernalia in the park. It was during the day. He explained that at night time, after the lights shut off, it becomes a dark area in the bowls where people can hide.
Johnson also brought up the idea of dedicated security for the park that would be funded by community members.
Mayor Frank Kuntz said there are security guards who lock bathrooms at the parks, but the city would work with community members if they did want to hire someone or raise money for security.
Tina Wagner, Sam’s mom, thanked the council for turning on the lights and said the park has felt much safer since they’ve been on.
But she also agreed the lights should be kept on all night.
One drawback - apparently there’s been more vandalism reported since the lights have been on.
Wenatchee Parks Director David Erickson confirmed his maintenance staff has seen an increase in things like graffiti. They’re having to respond on a daily basis.
But Wenatchee Police Capt. Edgar Reinfeld said his department is fine with leaving the lights on all night.
And as far as increased vandalism goes, Reinfeld said it’s impossible to say whether that’s been caused by the lights.
He explained that indeed, leaving the lights on may be causing some more problems. But it also allows us to better detect something going on when we get down there.
So for now, the city will turn on the lights all night... at least temporarily. But that won’t change the park's hours.
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Before we go, some local history. Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR [this is pronounced just like neighbor] – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur
Now, some history -
American attorney and politician, John W. Ladenburg Sr. was born in Leavenworth. Ladenburg served as Pierce County prosecutor for three terms before becoming the county executive in 2001.
He was re-elected County Executive in 2004, terming out November 2008. One of Ladenburg's principal accomplishments in office was spearheading the development of Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place. He is considered largely responsible for bringing the U.S. Open to the site in 2015.
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Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Tuesday July 27th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - In an effort to inform the community where it stands on controversial topics, the Wenatchee School District recently posted about two of the more controversial topics out there…. sexual health education and Critical Race Theory.
Now our feature story…
In an effort to inform the community where it stands on controversial topics, the Wenatchee School District recently posted about two of the more controversial topics out there…. sexual health education and Critical Race Theory.
District spokesperson Diana Haglund said the district office and school board members have been receiving a lot of calls and emails on those two topics from community members and parents. They’ve been asking questions about how the subjects relate to Wenatchee schools.
Most of the people contacting the district were concerned and looking for more information. Some were emotional.
Haglund also said that the district felt it was important to make information publicly available to help dispel any inaccuracies.
She also explained that the statements are related to current state legislation.
It was important to them to tie the information to the passage of legislation, so parents in the community can know what those bills look like and what was included in them. It’ll also help connect families and the public with information about what is happening with comprehensive sexual health education.
In fact, the Wenatchee School Board received a presentation on the sexual health legislation in January 2020, shortly after it was approved by state voters.
Haglund said Wenatchee School District curriculum was aligned even before the passage of the bill and again, available on the website.
Still, parents do have the option to opt their student out at any time during the curriculum.
They also have the right to review the curriculum at any time.
In terms of addressing Critical Race Theory, Haglund said the district office has been receiving a lot of questions from parents.
Parents are concerned it is happening in schools specifically related to recent legislation, House Senate Bill 5044. House Senate Bill 5044 requires Cultural Competency, Diversity Equity and Inclusion training for school staff.
The new law requires school districts to use one of the professional learning days to train school district staff in either cultural competency, diversity, equity or inclusion.
But Haglund said Critical Race Theory is not part of the new law, nor is any other specific curriculum mentioned in the law.
She did explain that there is some concern that CRT is part of that and being taught in our schools. That’s why they wanted to come out with a very clear position that they are not teaching CRT.
The district is not required or mandated by the state to do so.
This is something they want to be really clear with the public on.
We encourage you to read our full story and join the conversation by visiting NABUR at wenatcheeworld.com/nabur.
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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
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Here’s what else you need to know today.
Another year of Fiestas Mexicanas has gone the way of the pandemic.
The two-day, free event — which features music, food and vendors in a celebration of Latin American Independence Day each September — won’t be held in 2021. It was also canceled in 2020.
Martha Zaldivar, who has organized Fiestas Mexicanas for 14 years, said many of the event’s sponsors were not able to contribute this year because of the economic impact of COVID-19.
The event is also facing long-term obstacles in the form of space.
Zaldivar said Fiestas Mexicanas averages 20,000 people each year — a big crowd for the limited space at the event’s usual venue - Lincoln Park.
The city of Wenatchee is working on a number of improvements at Lincoln Park, but Zaldivar said the changes won’t benefit the event.
For example, the park’s new stage won’t be large enough. And parking will also still be an issue.
Wenatchee Parks Director David Erickson said no additional parking is in the works since the existing lot has enough space for the majority of the park’s regular uses.
So, Fiestas Mexicanas is looking for a new venue but they still haven’t found the right place. One concern is that at least 30% of the event’s attendees are individuals who walk to the event from areas surrounding Lincoln Park. That means switching locations could have an impact on attendance numbers.
Despite these issues, Fiestas Mexicanas hopes to return stronger than ever in 2022. They are also planning a second, smaller fiesta in May.
Their priority? To give the community a free band and a good quality event.
Finally,
Fishers, a mid-sized member of the weasel family, are making a comeback in the Pacific Northwest and Chelan County.
The species was eliminated from Washington state in the mid-1900s. How? Due to trapping - for their fur.
But Fish and Wildlife, the National Park Service, Conservation Northwest, and Calgary Zoo released 89 fishers in the North Cascades between 2018 to 2020 to help restore the species.
Since then, state wildlife biologist Jeff Lewis says fishers have started having babies in the wild and have gotten as far as between Stevens Pass and Lake Wenatchee.
In March 2019, a resident of Plain caught an image of a fisher on a game camera. At the time, the picture was a unique find as Lake Wenatchee is so far between two of the recovery zones.
It now seems that fishers are doing quite well in upper Chelan County. The animals are found predominantly on the west side, where there are dense, Douglas Fir forested canyons.
The state agency is working to return fishers to the landscape for several reasons...
For one, they were a part of the natural landscape before human settlement caused them to be overhunted.
That means they have a role to play in the ecosystem.
Fishers are one of the only real predators of porcupines for example. They are also predated on by bobcats and mountain lions.
The state agency is now working on a camera trap study to track fishers in the wild and see how broadly they’re distributed on the landscape. This will help them decide if they need to relocate some of the animals or release more on the landscape.
Eventually, state biologists may do a camera trap study near the Lake Wenatchee area.
For now, the fisher population isn’t sustainable yet around Lake Wenatchee, but it might be someday.
Stay up to date by visiting us at Wenatcheeworld.com
Did you know that the Wenatchee Confluence State Park is a great place to birdwatch? Officially created in 1990, more than 30 breeding species will make their homes there and 224 total species including falcons and bald eagles have been spotted. With more than 97 acres designated as natural and wetland environment, you’re bound to see something incredible.
Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Saturday July 24th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - A solar energy company has its sights set on land in Douglas County, the Wenatchee Valley, and a site near Trinidad.
Construction time frames aren’t clear yet for the three projects, which apparently are very early on in their planning.
This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.
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Now our feature story...
Residents on Badger Mountain say a solar energy company has its sights set on land near their homes. It’s one of three solar farm projects whose backers are scouting spots in Douglas County.
The other two are looking at 5,000 acres with a view of the Wenatchee Valley along Badger Mountain Road and a 2,500-acre site near Trinidad.
Construction time frames aren’t clear yet for the three projects, which apparently are very early on in their planning.
This comes after passage of a state law in 2019 that strongly encourages the development of alternative energy.
One Badger Mountain resident, Lorianna , said she first heard of the solar project near her home when the company, EDP Renewables North America, approached her about leasing her property.
She said no.
But now she believes the project could surround her property.
For Breiler, the EDP Renewables North America project presents a simple choice: Thousands of acres of rolling hills, wildlife and creeks or a giant solar farm. And she’s set out to stop it from happening.
She explained that workers with EDP have called, mailed and driven out to residents in the hopes of signing leases for their solar farms. They are “very aggressive, and they’re very hush-hush,”.
Breiler started going door-to-door in early June asking residents on Badger Mountain if they knew what may be happening in their backyard. But even those who signed contracts with EDP didn’t know the full extent of the development.
Breiler is worried that this is going to ruin the way of life that we know today, because we’re going to be surrounded by solar panels. The acreage surrounding her land has been a part of her family for four generations.
Breiler has created signs and even a Facebook page called Save Badger Mountain — No to Solar Panel Farms. It’s all a part of her campaign.
Jon Stein, a resident and owner of over eight acres in Badger Mountain, agrees with Breiler. A large development on the hills of Badger Mountain, for Stein, would be more than just an eye sore.
Stein says he’s pretty concerned. He moved to Badger Mountain from North Dakota to retire. Up here was the only place with affordable land at the time.
Stein said his house and views from home face south, where the solar panel farms may be developed.
For him, even if he has to chain himself to a dozer - he will.
Douglas County PUD General Manager Gary Ivory said residents in the county have been reaching out to him with concerns about the developments, but the PUD has not been in contact with these companies yet.
But Ivory did say that these groups are looking at interconnecting with other transmission providers. He also explained that the PUD doesn’t have a policy that would allow for large-scale solar or wind farm connections.
Blair Matocha, a spokeswoman with EDP, did say that the company has energy projects throughout the continent.
Matocha also noted that they’re actively prospecting development opportunities for renewable energy projects in Washington.
So why is this happening now?
Douglas County officials started working to update the county’s code after renewable energy companies reached out to them. The county imposed a moratorium on renewable energy development to buy time to decide what renewable energy projects should look like before accepting permits.
The county used the time to study wind and solar farms around the state.
Douglas County commissioners lifted the moratorium on July 20 and approved new rules for the planning and permitting of large alternative energy projects.
The approved rules include requirements that solar facilities be located at least 7 miles from cities and Pangborn Memorial Airport. It also needs to be apart from habitat associated with sensitive, threatened, or endangered plants or wildlife.
To read more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com
Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
Next,
Streaterieswere a child of the COVID-19 pandemic as restaurants searched for ways to operate under stay-at-home-orders. But they may become part of East Wenatchee’s new normal going forward.
The term is a mash-up of street and eatery. It refers to a small outdoor dining area on a street.
The East Wenatchee City Council approved a six-month pilot streatery program along Valley Mall Parkway during a council meeting last week. The vote was unanimous.
Permits issued under the program are free and will expire on November 30th. Businesses can use up to three parking spaces in front of their establishment for outdoor seating.
The program follows a temporary ordinance the city adopted in August 2020 that allowed streateries along Valley Mall Parkway between 6th Street and 9th Street. That followed a request from a downtown restaurant.
This was the only option for outdoor seating in this area.
Businesses with off-street parking already had the ability to convert some of their parking spaces to outdoor seating and service areas.
However, those without off-street parking, like the business along Valley Mall Parkway, were out of luck.
Sidewalk cafe-style dining was also not an option since sidewalks in this area are generally 7-8 feet in width, which can’t simultaneously accommodate a seating area and meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for pedestrian access.
Although the six-month program the council approved last week is only temporary, city staff will be evaluating whether to make streatery seating available on a more permanent basis.
That discussion will happen in a public hearing during the city council meeting on Aug. 24.
For more information, and to stay up to date visit us at wenatcheeworld.com
Now, some history…
115 years ago, in 1906 the route for Great Northern Railway’s line between Wenatchee and Oroville was finalized. Construction began that fall with trains in operation by the following summer.
This was one of the largest land deals in the history of Douglas County. It was completed with the purchase of 4,000 acres in the Moses Coulee by the Wenatchee Fruit Lands Co.
The property was formerly owned by three pioneers — Christianson, Shmidt and Crisp — who settled there about 23 years prior.
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Thursday July 22nd, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today --- COVID-19 cases in Chelan and Douglas counties are ticking upward again.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.
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Now our feature story…
COVID-19 cases in Chelan and Douglas counties are ticking upward again.
As of July 16th, 77 new COVID-19 cases have been reported over the past 2 weeks in Chelan County.
And in Douglas County, 53 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the past 2 weeks.
Dr. Malcolm Butler, Chelan-Douglas Health District’s health officer, said that it might be the case that we’re starting up here just because we’re starting up into another cycle.
Butler also said that the case increases are probably related to the Delta variant. It turns out, like many communities in Washington, the Delta variant has made its way here.
It is about twice as infectious as the Alpha variant, which already was twice as infectious as the original COVID-19 strain.
And now, Butler says the Delta variant is squeezing out the Alpha for its position as the dominant strain.
Another concern? The number of breakthrough cases the Delta variant is producing is higher than expected.
What does that mean? Vaccine breakthrough refers to a case where someone fully vaccinated against the virus gets infected.
So unlike the Alpha variant, cases of the Delta variant are producing breakthroughs at a disproportionately high rate.
Only about 4% of all COVID-19 variants scanned for mutations in the state are from the Delta variant, but it accounts for 12% of breakthrough cases with a variant.
And so far, the state identified about 2,925 breakthrough cases from January 17th through July 10. That’s about .07% of total full vaccinations.
But Luke Davies, the Chelan-Douglas health administrator, says that those most at risk of severe COVID-disease and most likely to be hospitalized are still the unvaccinated.
He stresses that we still need to be cautious.
And public guidelines echo that. People who are not fully vaccinated in public spaces or in close proximity to other people while indoors are required to mask up.
There’s still work to be done, in Chelan County, about 66% of eligible people have initiated vaccinations and about 59% in Douglas County.
Yes - the state has reopened and relaxed some COVID-19 restrictions, but it could have reopened sooner if 70% of people 16 and older had gotten at least one dose.
To hit this goal in the two-county region, another 915 people would need to be vaccinated.
Stay up to date on all things COVID-19 by visiting us at wenatcheeworld.com
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Also,
A Wenatchee teacher and Methow Valley school nurse were honored this month by the North Central Educational Service District for their outstanding work with students.
The 2022 Regional Teacher of the Year is Wenatchee educator Tina Nicpan-Brown. And the 2021 Regional Classified School Employee of the Year is Adriana Vanbianchi of the Methow Valley School District.
Nicpan-Brown is a fifth-grade remote learning teacher at the Wenatchee Internet Academy. She leads her classroom instruction by focusing on drawing connections to the students' family interactions, culture and the community.
She’s one of three elementary science teachers in Washington who have been selected as a state-level finalist for the 2020 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. That’s the highest honor bestowed on science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science teachers.
Regional Classified School Employee of the Year Adriana Vanbianchi serves as the school nurse for all schools in the Methow Valley School District.
Vanbianchi has dedicated her career to improving the health of other people.
To her, being a school nurse during the pandemic is an undertaking that she wouldn’t have wished on anyone. Still, she admits, she’s enjoyed the challenge because she knows what a difference it made in the lives of our students, community, and economy.
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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
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Next - After several years of waiting, East Wenatchee’s Caroline David has a new set of lungs.
56 year old David underwent surgery for a double lung transplant in March in Phoenix and is now recovering and doing quite well. She had been diagnosed in 2016 with pulmonary fibrosis, a condition where her lungs were covered in scar tissue and decreased in size.
In 2019, David and her sister Donna Taylor were working to raise money for David’s $1 million lung transplant. Her insurance would cover the cost of most of the surgery, but they also faced expenses for the recovery.
They tried to raise about $50,000 thanks to the members of the community who supported her like co-workers, family and organizations.
The original plan was for David to get her lung transplant at the University of Washington, but after two years on the waitlist, she decided to look elsewhere.
And it turned out that the lung transplant might not have taken place if it wasn’t for COVID-19.
When COVID hit she started working from home. So, she took the opportunity to look at other programs outside of the University of Washington..
She eventually looked into the program at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center — Dignity Health in Phoenix. The medical center has a larger pool of potential donors and so the chance of getting an organ was higher.
Then, she was accepted in November. On March 11, she got a call that they had a pair of lungs for her and went in to prep for surgery. But the lungs weren’t viable.
Then the next Monday, David got the call again. She came in prepped for surgery and this time the lungs were good.
David is still in Phoenix and plans to stay for the following year as she undergoes testing.
In the first year, doctors are able to stop most types of rejection, which is where the body’s immune system attacks a person’s lungs.
And for the rest of her life, David will still face the possibility that her body could start rejecting her transplant. She’ll have to take immune suppressing medication. But so far everything has been going well….
At least except for the altitude sickness.
When David gets back to Washington one of the first things she wants to do is go on a hike, she said. She discovered she had pulmonary fibrosis when hiking up to Clara and Marion lakes at Mission Ridge in 2016.
But now with a new set of lungs, she’ll be able to return to the trails she loves.
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Before we go, some local history. Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR [this is pronounced just like neighbor] – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur
Now, some history -
In 1991, the property that’s now home to the Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort in Leavenworth was put up for sale. Harriet Bullitt, a longtime owner of the neighboring property, bought all 67 acres to preserve the land.
Bullitt named the property Sleeping Lady after the mountain profile above the narrow valley. Historical and environmental considerations saved all 18 of the original buildings for the new site plan.
Then, in 1994, the buildings were remodeled to meet building and energy codes. New buildings were constructed to blend in with the original style.
Finally, Sleeping Lady welcomed its first guests in August 1995.
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
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Good Morning it’s Tuesday July 20th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - After more than nine months of construction, Dry Fly Distilling's production facility is now complete in downtown Spokane.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.
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Now our feature story…
After more than nine months of construction, Dry Fly Distilling's production facility is now complete in downtown Spokane.
The 24,000-square-foot production facility opened on Thursday in The Spokesman-Review's former newspaper press building.
It has a tasting room, bottle shop, restaurant, event space and offices. This new facility will replace Dry Fly's former location on Trent Avenue near Gonzaga University.
It’s actually more than four times the size of the former location. This will help the company to boost canning and bottling operations.
In fact, Dry Fly will be able to increase production capacity from 20,000 to 75,000 gallons. And that might increase in the future.
The distillery will start with four 650-proof gallon fermenters but can house 10, along with an additional column still in the new facility.
The facility also provides Dry Fly with the ability to optimize its bottling line to 1,000 bottles per hour and increase canning capacity of its popular 'On the Fly' cocktails from 40 to 100 cans per minute.
Ultimately, everything is more efficient and faster.
Don Poffenroth, Dry Fly Distilling president and CEO told us that he’s excited for people to come in and see it. He explained that when you come into the tasting room and see absolutely everything in the building. The goal was to make it an immersive experience.
Dry Fly is planning to host tours of the facility once it receives permit approval.
And the facility's full-service restaurant is slated to open in a month.
Once the new production facility is fully operational, they’ll employ more than 35 employees.
So how did they end up in this new space?
Well, after Dry Fly maxed out space at its Trent Avenue location, the company initially considered a move to a larger facility in north Spokane. But that building failed an engineering test.
About a week later, Poffenroth was contacted by the Cowles family about a potential vacancy in The Spokesman-Review's former newsprint and press building.
The building is owned by a subsidiary of Cowles Co., which also publishes The Spokesman-Review.
Now, Dry Fly, which began producing gin, whiskey and vodka in 2007, will feature items in the production facility that showcase history of the distillery, manufacturing in Spokane and the newspaper.
We encourage you to read our full story and join the conversation by joining NABUR at wenatcheeworld.com/nabur.
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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
-
Here’s what else you need to know today.
A fire that may have been started by fireworks damaged 12 condos Sunday night. So far, one person has been arrested.
The fire was reported at 11:14 p.m. in the Aspen Heights Condos - less than a block south of Lincoln Park.
Fire spread from a bush below the building beside a sidewalk and into the three-story condominiums.
Police say surveillance footage from nearby St. Jude's Landing Apartment shows an occupant of a white Toyota Tundra throw a firework onto the road.
Then, within 2 hours, 20 year old Devin Rushing from East Wenatchee was stopped for questioning by Wenatchee officers.
Rushing told a detective he was driving by condos when a passenger threw a large firework. He told the detective he was unaware any of his two passengers had a firework and that he didn’t realize it ignited the fire until later.
Still, Rushing was arrested on suspicion of complicity to first-degree arson and possession of a dangerous weapon.
The case is still under investigation.
It wasn’t immediately clear how many people were displaced, but McKellar said 12 units are uninhabitable.
Finally,
In earlier episodes we’ve talked about what’s going on in the investigation into 18-year-old Hannia “Paulina” Mosqueda Rodriguez’s death.
And…. we have another update. The Chelan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed a second murder charge against Julius Ceballos.
Detectives with the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office believe Ceballos, who’s 21 years old, stabbed Mosqueda to death back in October 2019. They also believe he disposed of her body in the Horse Lake Preserve.
Witnesses say he killed her because she disrespected his gang.
Ceballos was arrested June 29 at his home in Wenatchee.
Both First-degree murder and second-degree murder are both punishable by up to life in prison, but first-degree carries with it a longer standard sentence.
For now, Ceballos is being held at the Chelan County Regional Justice Center on $2 million bail.
Stay up to date by visiting us at Wenatcheeworld.com
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Before we go, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History.
The Spokesman-Review was formed from the merger of the Spokane Falls Review and the Spokesman in 1893. It was first published under the present name in 1894. It later absorbed its competing sister publication, the afternoon Spokane Daily Chronicle.
The paper's opposition to the New Deal and the Fair Deal disturbed President Harry Truman to the point that he declared it to be one of the "two worst" newspapers in the nation… The Chicago Tribune was the other.
Today, The Spokesman-Review remains one of the few remaining family-owned newspapers in the United States.
Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!
Additional audio from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6__4vqBqeYQ
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Saturday July 17th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - we spoke with a handful of residents about the Red Apple Fire and their experiences.
This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.
Now our feature story...
We spoke with a handful of residents about the Red Apple Fire and their experiences.
Sunnyslope resident Brian Voth described the Red Apple Fire like lava coming out of a volcano.
He said it was surreal. Most years in July, Voth and his wife are out of the valley on vacation but this year they stayed home.
It was around 7 p.m. when Voth first noticed smoke, and through the evening and night, they decided to pack their belongings like photo albums - things that couldn’t be replaced.
His phone kept shining every hour, two hours saying level one, level two, and then it was level three.”
At that point they went outside and it was super smoky, and hard to breathe.
Like many of his neighbors, they evacuated to the Sunnyslope Elementary School parking lot where Voth said he and some neighbors watched the fire unfold through the early morning.
Luckily, when the Voths eventually came back home in the morning, their home was intact.
We also spoke with Penny Los. Los and her husband woke up in their Sunnyslope home to the smell of smoke and the sound of a warning notification. It was about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Along with their two children, Los said they evacuated to the Sunnyslope Elementary School with their two dogs, some baby chicks, and a rabbit.
Los is a seven-year resident of Sunnyslope. She’s seen other wildfires in the area, but to her, this one was a little scarier.
Los and her family returned home around 10 a.m. Wednesday, their homes unscathed.
Another resident, Kevin Ohme, was sitting in a pickup with Ohme Gardens behind him as he watched the fire directly in front of him on Wednesday morning.
Ohme said he remembers 30 years ago when a wildfire actually made it to the gardens and killed some of the trees. But so far, there hasn’t been a need to run.
In fact, some of the residents near Ohme Gardens had not evacuated around noon Wednesday when the area received Level 3 evacuation notices.
Finally, we spoke to Patti Jones. Jones is a resident in the area and retired forest aviation officer for the U.S. Forest Service.
Jones’ husband, m of Chelan County Fire District 6, got word of the fire early when her husband left a bit before 7 p.m. Tuesday to respond.
She said that she began to worry for her friends and family that live in the area. She actually called her husband a couple times to make sure that everybody’s homes were OK.
To stay up to date visit us at wenatcheeworld.com
To read more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com
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Also, keep in mind there are lots of resources if you are concerned for your safety… here are a few. For the full list visit our website.
The Red Cross Disaster Responders in the Greater Inland Northwest chapter has an evacuation shelter at Wenatchee Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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If you have been evacuated due to the wildfires and left without Pet food or supplies, Firehouse Pet Shop is offering to provide supplies. They can deliver supplies as well.
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Mercantile Wenatchee is offering complimentary day passes this week to those who have been evacuated from their homes and need a place to work. They are open Monday thru Friday 8am to 5pm.
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Lullaby Farm in Cashmere said that the farm is open for anyone - including animals - they have a paddock and some grain. There is lots of space for camping.
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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
--
Next,
Will state legislators prioritize the Apple Capital Loop highway project or pursue other transportation projects?
That was a main question the Chelan-Douglas Transportation Board discussed during a meeting last week.
Earlier this year, the board submitted a list of funding priorities totaling $225 million. Among other things, it consisted of five Apple Capital Loop projects.
And although the federal grant covers a large portion of the loop, $133 million is still needed to complete the project. The board hopes the state will choose to close that funding gap.
Board members questioned whether including priorities other than the Apple Capital Loop might give state legislators the opportunity to pass over the project in favor of other options.
The board weighed whether to take more time to submit an updated list of priorities to state legislators, but ultimately decided against it.
Now, some history…
Did you know that in 1995, Costco opened up its 200th store location right here in East Wenatchee? That was the same year that they introduced their now-famous Kirkland Signature brand. While many things have changed in Wenatchee over the last 26 years, one thing hasn’t… a Costco hotdog and soda costs $1.50, the exact same it did when it opened.
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Thursday July 15th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today --- Fire ran along the northern edge of Monitor and Sunnyslope has prompted hundreds of evacuation notices over the past few days.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.
Now our feature story…
Fire ran along the northern edge of Monitor and Sunnyslope Tuesday night and Wednesday, prompting hundreds of evacuation notices.
The Red Apple Fire was estimated at 4,000 acres at 9 a.m. Wednesday. And luckily, as of then there were no reports of damaged structures or injuries.
The fire was reported at 6:55 p.m. on Tuesday. It was on the 3300 block of Red Apple Road, so just about 1 and a half miles north of the intersection of Highway 2/97 and Easy Street.
Less than an hour later, by 7:33 p.m. authorities called for a third alarm to bring in help from outside the area.
Air tankers began dropping retardant on the fire by 8:15 p.m. There were also at least two float planes, a helicopter and a spotter plane that responded.
By 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday, the fire had threatened 234 homes, orchards and a Chelan PUD substation on Easy Street.
Rich Magnussen, Chelan County emergency management specialist, noted that homes on West Eaglerock Drive were of particular concern since they were right in the fire’s apparent path.
Most homes on Easy Street were shielded by orchards and an irrigation ditch along the base of the burning hillside. But that wasn't the case for the neighborhood off American Fruit Road.
Through the night and into yesterday morning, the fire bridged Warm Springs Canyon near American Fruit Road.
Officials issued new Level 3 evacuation notices — which means get out now - starting just before midnight on Tuesday.
Residents are also asked to avoid the Easy Street and Sunnyslope area.
We spoke to Rachelle Johnson, who lives on Easy Street not far from where officials were headquartered on Tuesday. She said that after she heard about the fire she raced right home.
About 500 feet of orchard separated her yard from the fire’s edge. She was issued a pink paper copy of a Level 3 evacuation advising her to leave.
Her family had actually moved into the home recently. and many of their belongings were still in boxes. So she grabbed cash, her laptop and Lululemon leggings.
Firefighters continued to focus on protecting homes yesterday. They also worked hard to secure the lower end of the fire. Crews worked to contain fire on the east side of Burch Mountain where flames had spilled onto pavement.
After that they turned to the northern edge, which due to the lack of homes between it and Swakane Canyon, hadn’t received as much attention.
As of 5pm yesterday evening Easy Street West to Highway 2 - and above American Fruit Road from Burch Mountain West to Easy Street - had been reduced to a level 2 advisory. That means get ready.
Also as of yesterday evening Warner Canyon and Nahahum Canyon were upgraded to a level 2 advisory.
Stay safe, and stay up to date by visiting us at wenatcheeworld.com.
Also,
Despite the fires, and record breaking temperatures we’ve seen in our community, it actually hasn’t been the worst year for salmon returns. Still. It hasn't been the best year for salmon returns either.
The number of salmon returning has been fairly close to averages, but concern remains about river conditions as the snowpack melts off quickly under high temperatures.
Temperatures are high this year, but not as high as 2015. In 2015, temperatures in the Columbia River led to thousands of fish dying.
Overall, things are improving for salmon. Why? In the last 10 years, there has been a major push towards conservation and restoring habitat.
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Next,
Yesterday, Governor Jay Inslee announced a statewide drought emergency.
Right now, the only areas in the entire state not under a drought warning are the Tacoma, Seattle and Everett metro regions.
The drought emergency means that water supply is projected to be below 75% of average for this time of year. It also means water users are expected to experience undue hardship.
But because of the emergency declaration, the state Department of Ecology will be able to take emergency relief measures. It will also be able to temporarily transfer water rights and assist public entities.
The governor also released a wildfire emergency declaration and statewide burn ban last week.
According to a state Department of Ecology, this year’s March through June period was the second driest in recorded history, since 1895.
June also saw record-breaking, triple-digit temperatures. This has led to stressed fish, farmers cutting back on irrigation water and increased wildfires.
The agency expects to see some relief in the fall, but until then officials plan to curtail irrigation use.
The Pybus Market opened in 2013.
The 25,000 square foot building was originally constructed in the 1940s as a warehouse for Englishman E.T 'Tom' Pybus' steel company.
Pybus was one of Wenatchee's early pioneers. He arrived in 1911 and built his blacksmithing business into one of the area's premier steel companies.
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Tuesday July 13th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - Restaurants in the Wenatchee Valley are seeing customers return in full force after the state fully reopened June 30.
But between staffing shortages and higher food costs, it hasn’t been easy.
Now our feature story…
Grateful to finally see COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, restaurants in the Wenatchee Valley are seeing customers return in full force. The state fully reopened on June 30.
Indoor capacity has returned to 100% with the exception of large indoor events.
So here’s a rundown of the new guidelines:
Fully vaccinated individuals are not required to mask indoors or outdoors unless the business requires it.
Still, unvaccinated individuals should continue to mask indoors.
And all people, regardless of vaccination status, still need to wear masks in certain places like schools, public transit, and in healthcare settings.
We spoke to some local businesses about how they’re feeling now that things are fully opening back up.
Todd Mill, owner of the Rail Station & Ale House, said it's a double edged sword.
Back in March 2020, Mill and his staff distributed about 17,000 free meals in the two months after Gov. Jay Inslee shut down businesses across the state.
That project started as a way to avoid wasting the excess food. But it ended up becoming popular, so they decided to continue as long as possible until the money ran out.
Now a year later, it's a huge relief to move forward with business as it is meant to, but the restaurant doesn’t have enough employees to serve at full capacity.
At 21 employees and a maximum capacity of about 400 people at the restaurant, the staff can handle, at most, about 80% capacity.
Meanwhile, customers are dying to come out and eat. One day last week they had to turn away 40 people who wanted to come in and eat. Why? Just because they didn't have the staff to serve them.
Pre-pandemic, Mill said, the restaurant operated with about 28 employees. So now, he’s looking for experienced cooks and prep cooks along with some servers and dishwashers to bring the restaurant back up to speed.
Concerns about labor will likely continue until the majority of the workforce returns sometime in the fall or winter. At least that’s what Shiloh Burgess says, the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce executive director.
Burgess said that for many families, it’s an issue of childcare.
Parents want to make sure their kids are going back to school full-time. There's a lot of folks that are hesitating making any kind of move until they know their kids will have stable care.
Unfortunately this labor shortage may be the valley's fate for the summer.
The community has done well in a lot of ways, but there's still some ground that we need to cover before we can really be back to full operations.
We also spoke to Salvador Rubio, the owner of two Mexican restaurants in Wenatchee and Yakima. He told us his businesses have avoided this issue by holding onto their pre-pandemic employees.
The entire staff all decided to return or stay on while working fewer hours when they reopened back in February. And now that the state has fully reopened, his 19 employees are working full-time and are happy to be back to normal.
And his customers are happy to be back too.
During the first weekend after reopening, Rubio saw many familiar customers coming back.
One thing that has not returned to normal though, is the price of food. In fact it’s skyrocketed since last year according to Rubio.
Transportation issues and increased labor costs in manufacturing may be affecting this increase in price.
Restaurants like Ay Caramba Tres Amigos and Rail Station are seeing food prices double, with some items becoming scarce.
For example. a 40-pound box of chicken that cost $60 pre-pandemic has now doubled in price.
Along with cost increases, there are supply shortages altogether.
Mill explained that he’s three and a half weeks out now that he can’t get lemon juice.
For South restaurants co-owner Price Gledhill, the full reopening also brings mixed feelings.
Sales this year so far have been about 15% better than in 2019 despite getting a late-start into the year.
Gledhill said that people are hungry. They want to be out. They're tired of being cooped up.
But the issue, like Rail Station and so many other businesses, is that South restaurants don't have enough staff to increase to full capacity.
The restaurant at Pybus Public Market is doing well, but their Leavenworth restaurant is still at about 50% capacity.
Gledhill said he has added benefits and increased wages to try and make the positions more desirable, but for now they’ll have to make do with what they have.
We encourage you to read our full story and join the conversation by joining NABUR at wenatcheeworld.com/nabur.
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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
-
Here’s what else you need to know today.
A Bridgeport man’s push to recall the entire Bridgeport City Council was unsuccessful.
The petition to remove the five-member body was brought forth on June 10th to the Douglas County Superior Court by Bridgeport resident Michael Knox.
Knox claimed the council failed to provide Bridgeport Transportation Benefit District spending reports.
But earlier this month Judge Brian Huber ruled that Knox’s allegations weren’t enough to warrant a recall. Judge Huber also noted that there was no evidence of intent to violate the law.
The city established the district back in 2016 to collect a $20 vehicle licensing fee from citizens. That would go towards transportation-related projects and equipment.
But Knox claims the council has not released the required annual reports.
In his decision, Huber said that Knox did not show that the city council members who also serve on the TBD board, were responsible for publishing the reports. And not the city clerk and treasurer Judy Brown either.
You can learn more about this story by visiting us at wenatcheeworld.com
The Great Northern Railway Company came to Wenatchee in 1892. It was the first US transcontinental railroad that was built without public money. It crossed the Columbia River at Rock Island and went on to Seattle. It changed the region's commerce forever. It also attracted new citizens.
Today, Columbia Station is the home of the Wenatchee Valley’s Link Transit and bus systems. It was built in 1997.
Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Saturday July 10th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - Chelan County now has two wolf packs and maybe as many as six wolves, with one breeding female suspected in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness.
This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.
Now our feature story...
Chelan County is home to a new wolf pack, as of last winter, located near Lake Chelan.
State Wolf Biologist Ben Maletzke said that Chelan County now has two wolf packs and maybe as many as six wolves. One of those wolves may be a breeding female in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness.
In 2018, the Naneum wolf pack was identified as the first pack to return to Chelan County with about two wolves.
It now appears that the Naneum wolf pack is up to three adults with one suspected to be a female.
Maletzke has two male wolves collared in the Naneum pack, but he’s only spotted the female from a helicopter. From that high it’s hard to tell gender.
The Naneum pack splits its time between Kittitas and Chelan counties.
Maletzke has heard some evidence of wolves in the Stehekin and Holden Village areas as well, but they may have just been passing through.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife says there are at least 132 wolves in the state overall. That’s up from about 108 in the 2019 report.
And the Eastern Washington recovery area in particular continues to exceed recovery goals, with four successful breeding pairs for three consecutive years.
In fact, the North Cascades recovery area is getting close to being taken off of federally endangered status, with four successful breeding pairs in four packs.
The South Cascades and Northwest Coast recovery area, though, still don’t have any established wolf packs. But the agency has heard reports of individual wolves moving through the area.
For the state to reach its recovery goals, all three regions must have four breeding pairs of wolves for four years. And statewide there would need to be an additional six successful breeding pairs.
If you’ve seen any wolves or any tracks you should take a picture and upload it to the Fish and Wildlife database.
To read more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com
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Here’s what else you should know today…
People are banned from using fires on U.S, Bureau of Land Management and U,S, Bureau of Reclamation land.
The ban began earlier this week in Eastern Washington counties, including Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan. The restrictions will remain in place until the potential for wildfires decreases.
People who would like to do target shooting are encouraged to use private and public target ranges. Also, people are prohibited from off-roading and smoking on public lands.
Wenatchee’s annual Summer Concert Series is back this year with five shows featuring a mix of local and non-local artists.
The Centennial Park concerts are free to the public and start at 7 p.m. on Fridays.
Concert Fridays will also have a taco truck and activities for children. It’s an “event for everybody,” she said.
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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
--
Next,
Nancy Barrett’s Class with a Glass art studio was built around the idea of inviting would-be artists to spend a couple hours following step-by-step instruction while socializing and drinking some wine. And at the end participants create a take-home masterpiece.
That was the “paint-and-sip” model of the then 3-year-old business when Barrett purchased it in 2017.
But she’s since expanded on the idea, adding summer and holiday art camps for kids. And, in addition to acrylic paint, introduced watercolor and mixed media classes.
Then, when COVID-19 canceled in-studio gatherings, she adapted by offering online classes and art-at-home art supplies, which served its purpose, but wasn’t ideal.
Now, as pandemic restrictions eased this spring, she recognized an opportunity to “make the most of a difficult year,” by making a move, literally to a larger, more visible space.
The 5,000-square-foot building has room for small to medium-sized group events, an art gallery to feature local artists’ work, and retail space.
She’ll still continue to offer online classes, but they won’t be the focus.
A grand opening is planned from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. TODAY, with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at noon.
The event includes light refreshments and tours of the new art studio space. There will even be an interactive art demonstration following the ribbon cutting ceremony.
For information on the art class schedules, group events and private painting parties, go to classwithaglass.com.
Before we go, some local history, Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR. Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur.
Now, some history…
Did you know that Sierra Vista resident, Glynn R. Donaho, nicknamed “Donc”, was a submarine commander during World War II for which he received the Navy Cross four times, the Silver Star Twice, and the Bronze Star? He held a number of positions in the Navy including teaching at the National War College, liaison to the United Nations, and commander of a base in the Philippines. He retired from the Navy as a Vice Admiral and retired to Sierra Vista. When he passed away in 1986, his ashes were scattered over the Pacific Ocean from the fantail of a US Navy submarine.
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Thursday July 8th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today --- Link Transit is offering free rides on all routes as part of a one-year program that began on July 1.
Now our feature story…
Link Transit is offering free rides on all routes as part of a one-year program that began on July 1.
Link planned to resume fare collection in January after suspending fares in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but doing so while maintaining the safety barriers separating drivers and passengers was challenging.
Link Transit General Manager/CEO Richard DeRock said Link was conducting an analysis of its fare policy prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said that in many cases, some of the most low-income users ended up being the people that were paying the highest average fares.
While this phenomenon is common in the transit industry, many of the solutions used by larger cities, such as electronic fare collection, aren’t available to Link.
The cost of implementing that kind of technology would be around $4-5 million. Meanwhile, Link collects around $650,000 in fares a year.
He added that resuming fares also has the potential to depress ridership, which is already down about 30% from pre-COVID levels.
Both Link and an outside consultant came to the same conclusion: The cost of collecting fares while addressing safety and disparity concerns is not currently worth the revenue it would generate.
During the next year, Link will monitor ridership, success of the free fare program and new technology solutions.
But DeRock said Link staff are concerned about a number of potential problems with free fares, including public transit becoming a hang out place for vandals, those experiencing homelessness or mentally ill individuals.
Free fares also impact the paratransit services, like Dial-a-Ride. Under civil rights law, Link must make specialized services for disabled individuals free if other fares are also free.
But despite over a year of fare suspension, DeRock said Link has not taken a hit financially.
How? COVID relief funding and the fact that fares have made up less than 6% of Link’s revenue.
To read more about this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com.
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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
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Also, did you know that you can now register for the Apple Century Bike Ride?
The 34th annual bike ride — organized by Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary — will take place Sept. 25. The bike ride features three distances: a 100-mile ride, a 50-mile ride and a 25-mile ride.
The route starts in Wenatchee and continues to Lake Wenatchee and then returns back to Wenatchee. The scenery includes the high sage desert, orchards, rivery valleys and ponderosa pine forests.
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Next, Sam Wagner started skating when he was 5 years old. Today, as a 13-year-old attending Pioneer Middle School, it’s still his favorite thing to do. In fact, he’s at Hale Park skatepark nearly every day.
It’s that love for the sport that motivated him to petition the city to extend the closing time from dusk to 10 p.m. and turn on the lights at the skatepark.
The park opened in September 2019, and lights were installed in 2020.
When they weren’t turned on, Wagner assumed it was because of COVID. But now, he’s questioning why the lights still aren’t on.
In the evenings as soon as the sun goes behind the buildings, it casts shadows . Wagner says this causes people to get hurt.
And now, it’s too hot to skate during the day, so Wagner and his friends skate in the evening.
So why aren’t the lights on?
Dave Erickson, the city’s parks and recreation director, said the code was changed following a six-month study. The goal was to reduce vandalism and other incidents.
Tina Wagner, Sam’s mom, agrees that there can be troublemakers in the parks at night, but her solution differs from that of the city.
She explained that people that are up to no good are going to be around anyway… So why not have light to protect innocent people?
Wagner had emailed each city council member on June 30th, but hasn’t received any responses. He also wrote a letter to the council.
Tina Wanger posted to Facebook encouraging others to attend the meeting or contact local leaders about the issue. Her initial post was shared over 150 times and has over 80 comments.
Ultimately, despite their frustrations, Sam and Tina Wagner said their experience with the city has been positive overall and that they are grateful to have the skatepark.
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Before we go, some local history. Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR
Now, some history - Did you know that Orondo is named for a mythical Great Lake Native American? Settled by Washington politician, John B. Smith, in the late 1800s the town is known (like much of the Wenatchee area) for its great fruit and agriculture. Orondo’s Auvil Fruit Company, which is headquartered there, helped introduce Granny Smith and Fuji Apples to the state and even developed a new fruit known as the Daroga Peach!
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Tuesday July 6th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - The topic of transient vehicles in Wenatchee has come up in complaints from residents. At city council meetings to conversations between community members on NABUR - The Wenatchee World's online discussion forum.
Also, the Batterman Fire, which was first reported at 12:15pm on Sunday just northeast of Pangborn Memorial Airport grew to 2,500 acres.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.
Now our feature story…
The topic of transient vehicles in Wenatchee has come up in complaints from residents at city council meetings to conversations between community members on NABUR, The Wenatchee World's online discussion forum.
In a report published Friday, World reporters Pete O’Cain and Sydnee Gonzalez investigated the issue of transient vehicles in the area. They also took a look at the laws, and what the city is planning to do in response.
Gonzalez explained that a specific individual was spreading his stuff around town, and the city removed it and arrested him multiple times. Each time, the courts just declined to see the case. It became a cycle, and the city was frustrated.
There was nothing that they could really do about it, but at the same time, they were getting complaints from residents.
At a recent city council meeting there were complaints of a lot of trucks or trailers around town that people were using as homes.
So Gonzalez and O’Cain set out to talk to people. They soon met two individuals who were experiencing homelessness.
To them, one thing that jumped out about the situation is just how complex it is. For people who are experiencing homelessness, it's very difficult. It's also a challenging situation for the city.
There are laws that really limit what the city can and can't do. Homeless people have rights.
Gonzalez also explained that people who haven't experienced either homelessness or dealing with it may not necessarily understand that and how difficult it is to get out of homelessness and how difficult it is for the city to manage that.
But there is a low-barrier shelter in Moses Lake, and Wenatchee and East Wenatchee are trying to model theirs after that.
If you have any questions about homelessness in the Wenatchee area, they can send them in and we’ll investigate. Reach out to newsroom@wenatcheeworld.com.
We also encourage you to read our full story and join the conversation by joining NABUR at wenatcheeworld.com/nabur.
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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
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Here’s what else you need to know today.
The Batterman Fire, which was first reported at 12:15pm on Sunday just northeast of Pangborn Memorial Airport, grew to 2,500 acres.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said that by the afternoon 80 homes were under various evacuation levels.
Grace Debusschere, spokeswoman for SE Washington Interagency Incident Management Team 1
Said that the fire spread to Rock Island Grade by early evening. That's where crews were holding the fire on Monday morning.
So what happened?
Fire crews from around the region had responded to the fire on Sunday. 11 aircrafts were used in areas unreachable by fire engines. Aircrafts included three heavy air tankers, two water scooping planes, five helicopters and an Air Attack plane.
Winds shifted in the afternoon, which prompted engines to protect structures in the Rock Island Grade area. The incident management team took command of the fire Sunday night and worked overnight.
More crews and equipment arrived Monday. In fact, State crews were approved to help fight the fire and assumed command Monday morning.
The grass fire is estimated at more than 1,600 acres and new Level 3 evacuation notices were in place as of yesterday from Moses Stool down Road Island Grade Road to Highway 28.
Thankfully, Kay McKellar, Douglas County Fire District 2 spokeswoman said there were no reports of injuries.
Still, evacuees who need help with pets and animals can contact the Wenatchee Valley Animal Care and Control at (509) 888-7283.
You can learn more about this story by visiting us at wenatcheeworld.com
Did you know that film and television actress, Noreen Nash, was born in Wenatchee in 1924? Nash’s career took off when she was crowned our town’s Apple Blossom Queen. She had initially intended to attend Stanford University but was contracted to MGM as a showgirl. Her screen debut came in the musical “Girl Crazy” with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. and in 1942, she worked as a model alongside Marilyn Monroe. Eventually, she landed bigger film and TV roles including The Southerner, and Giant…. both recognized at the Academy Awards. She retired from acting in 1962, got her degree from UCLA and went on to write three books, and she’s still alive…at 97.
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Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Good Morning it’s Saturday July 3rd, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today - The Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council has seen an influx of calls and questions from landlords after the governor announced a “bridge” proclamation to protect tenants from evictions.
This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.
Now our feature story...
The Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council, a local nonprofit providing rent assistance, has seen an influx of calls and questions from landlords. Why? The governor just announced a “bridge” proclamation to protect tenants from evictions.
The state’s eviction moratorium ended at midnight on Wednesday, and in its place, Gov. Jay Inslee enacted a temporary and, some say, confusing “bridge” emergency order.
An additional $650 million will become available for landlord and tenant assistance approved by the state legislature for rental assistance and programs like the eviction resolution program.
But since the funds are not yet available, the governor has instituted a “bridge” proclamation to tide things over in the meantime.
This bridge makes it so that landlords and tenants can take advantage of rental assistance and an eviction resolution program to resolve COVID-19-related past due rent. Also, tenants will need to take steps to pay rent or avail themselves of rental assistance beginning August 1.
Staff at the council have been doing their best to explain the changes to landlords and tenants, but not everything in the governor’s proclamation is clear.
Alan Walker, Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council executive director said it’s always tricky when you start trying to interpret something that has been laid out there but really hasn’t been vetted out.
One point of confusion rests on the involvement of eviction resolution programs.
According to the governor’s proclamation, landlords are prohibited from evicting a tenant until there is an operational rental assistance program and eviction resolution program in place in their county.
For now, the Wenatchee resolution center provides an opportunity for tenants and landlords to negotiate and solve their problems before going to court.
The center’s executive director, Jennifer Talbot, said that she encourages landlords and tenants to reach out by calling 509-888-0957.
People can also find information on rental assistance on their website at cdcac.org.
To read more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com
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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health. Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com
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Next,
One hungry osprey accidentally started a brush fire when its fish brunch apparently caused a electric short on Wednesday morning near Peshastin Pinnacles State Park.
Chief Phil Mosher of the Chelan County Fire District 6 told us that Firefighters responded to reports of a brush fire at 9:30 a.m. near a power pole by an orchard between the Wenatchee River and Highway 2/97.
Crews stopped the fire, which was burning grass and brush, before it grew past an eighth of an acre. They also found a fresh, but toasted, fish on the ground below the utility line pole.
Mosher thinks an osprey grabbed the fish out of the Wenatchee River and then dropped its food off on a pole-top nest.
The fish must have fallen out of the nest and just landed wrong on the power lines. Obviously the fish cannot get up to the top of the pole itself, he said.
Fires have been sparked by items landing on power lines before, he said. But this time a fish just happened to start it.
In Mosher’s words...“You don’t see this every day”
Did you know that Chelan County derives its name from a Salish Native American word? Chelan means “deep water” and it’s likely a reference to the 55 mile long Lake Chelan which is, in fact, really really deep… at some points reaching 1,486 feet! Today, it’s estimated that more than 77,000 people live in the county and more than 1/3 of the households had children in them.
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Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com
The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!
Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.