Property taxes due
Okanogan County taxpayers are reminded that 2026 second-half property taxes and irrigation assessments this year are due Oct. 31. Because that date is on a weekend, the due date has been extended to Monday, Nov. 2. Postmark will be accepted. Interest will start accruing on Nov. 3, at 1% per month.
If you have 2023 year or older in property taxes or irrigation assessments owing you could be subject to tax foreclosure. Contact the Treasurer’s Office at (509) 422-7180 for more information.
Tax or assessment payments can be mailed to Okanogan County Treasurer, P.O. Box 111, Okanogan, WA 98840. If paying by credit card or debit card, go to www.okanogancounty.org/government/treasurer, or call 1-877-737-4772. When using credit card or debit card, a processing fee by third-party vendor will apply.
The Treasurer’s office is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Prescribed fires in Okanogan County
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) plans to conduct prescribed burns this fall on WDFW-managed lands in Okanogan County, as weather, fuel moisture, air quality, and other conditions allow.
Burning may occur between mid-October and late November. The timing and duration of all burns depend on conditions, and operations may occur later if safe burning conditions are not available during the planned windows.
Areas to be burned include the Golden Doe Unit of the Methow Wildlife Area, approximately 90 acres, 4 miles south of Twisp.
The burns at the Golden Doe unit are funded in part by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to restore shrub steppe and enhance wildlife passage in these areas.
“Prescribed fire is often used after other forest management work has reduced fire-fuel levels,” said Matt Eberlein, prescribed fire program manager for WDFW. “It improves and maintains wildlife habitat and ecosystem health and resiliency by regenerating important plant species … It also improves access for hunters and others using these natural areas for outdoor recreation.”
All prescribed fires are weather dependent. WDFW will not conduct burns unless conditions are appropriate for safe, effective operations and acceptable smoke dispersal. Burn plans may be postponed, adjusted, or canceled if conditions do not meet those requirements.
Three Rivers survey, meetings
Three Rivers Hospital in Brewster is conducting an online survey, seeking input from residents of the hospital district including the Methow Valley.
The anonymous survey takes about seven minutes to complete and asks about households’ healthcare experiences and needs.
The survey is available in English and Spanish at threerivershospital.net/survey until Oct. 16. The hospital district’s commissioners will use the survey results to inform a strategic planning meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 29 at the Brewster Fire Station, 412 W. Indian Ave.
The hospital will also host a presentation about Three Rivers’ $48 million bond issue request on the General Election ballot, at the Winthrop library on Thursday, (Oct. 15) from 11 a.m.-noon and 5-6 p.m.
Red Shirt Mill tailings
The Methow Watershed Council will host a special meeting on the Red Shirt Mill tailings leeching into the Methow River just outside the south city limits of Twisp, on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Winthrop library from 3-4 p.m.
Justin Rice, the Department of Ecology’s Contaminated Mine Site Program Engineer, will be featured by Zoom, presenting information on the nature of the toxics leeching into the river, past cleanup efforts, current monitoring and possible future initiatives. The event is free and open to the public.
Medicare Open Enrollment
To help local residents navigate their options, two Medicare Open Enrollment assistance events will be held at the Winthrop library on Thursday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m.-noon, and Thursday, Nov. 19, 2-4 p.m. Trained volunteer Medicare counselors from SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to answer questions and provide personalized guidance. Bring your laptop or tablet or smartphone if you are interested in navigating the Medicare.gov system yourself or a with a bit of assistance. For more information about Medicare Open Enrollment, go to https://www.insurance.wa.gov/insurance-resources/medicare.
Medicare’s Open Enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, giving beneficiaries the opportunity to review their current coverage and make changes for the coming year. In September, Medicare beneficiaries receive notices from their insurance providers about updates for 2027. These notices include important information about Medigap Supplements, Prescription Drug Plans, or Medicare Advantage Plans. Reviewing these updates carefully is essential to ensure that your coverage continues to meet your needs and remains affordable.
