Message is ‘All lives need to be honored’ After Aimee Budrow organized a rally in Twisp to show support for police, she was jazzed. “There was such a great showing of community support” at the June 16 event, she said. But “the second one was even better, because people from the Black Lives Matter movement […]
County imposes outdoor burn ban
All outdoor burning on private and Okanogan County property is banned starting Friday (July 3) at 12:01 a.m., right after midnight. Under the ban, charcoal barbecue grills, agricultural burning, and outdoor burning of yard waste are prohibited. Gas-fired barbecues are allowed. The Okanogan County commissioners imposed the annual ban on outdoor burning because weather and […]
County commissioners issue anti-racism proclamation
The Okanogan County commissioners have gone on record denouncing racism, social injustice, and violent action and excessive force in the enforcement of local and state laws. All three county commissioners signed the proclamation on Monday (June 29) after a discussion and revisions to the earlier draft. The final proclamation acknowledges that violence is escalating across […]
Armed civilians created tension at Omak event supporting BLM
The surge of social activism has inspired a dozen events in the Methow and Okanogan County in the past month. While all the events have been peaceful, they haven’t been without tensions, and some worry that things could turn violent. In addition to the almost 500 people who came out to support the Black Lives […]
Valley’s social justice advocates embrace BLM
Local groundswell spontaneous, community-based Even for people immersed in the local social-justice movement, pulling together a rally in support of Black Lives Matter (BLM) in just 24 hours was momentous. It was even more striking that it was followed by seven more rallies in the Methow and Omak over the next two weeks. “What feels […]
MVSD works on plan for re-opening classrooms
Will include host of safety precautions Like so many things these days, what school will look like in the fall remains uncertain. “I don’t know yet where we will land,” Methow Valley School District Superintendent Tom Venable said at last week’s school board meeting. Venable said he’s optimistic about being able to hold in-person classes, […]
Jury trials to resume in July
A trial by jury is a fundamental right, but the Okanogan County Superior Court hasn’t held jury trials for months because of the coronavirus pandemic. The court has now prepared an off-site location large enough to allow for physical distancing and other safety protocols so that jury trials can resume July 7. The temporary location […]
Methow watershed subdivision ban extended
The moratorium on new subdivisions in the Methow watershed will stay in place at least through July while the Okanogan County commissioners study water use and state rules and laws on what type of water use should get priority. Among the things commissioners are studying is the 1976 Methow Rule, which sets aside a certain […]
Commissioners refine anti-racism proclamation
Includes support for constitutional rights A denouncement of racism and social injustice and support for the rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and to own and bear firearms are the focus of the proclamation currently under consideration by the Okanogan County commissioners. County Commissioner Chris Branch read the first draft of a proclamation last Monday […]
Restaurants’ recovery lacks key ingredients
Some basics still in short supply All restaurants have made adjustments to do business in the COVID era, moving tables apart and sanitizing bottles of ketchup. But some have had to change their menu because they can’t get basic ingredients. For some restaurants, ingredient shortages mean small tweaks, like substituting a different cut of meat. […]
