Although keeping everyone safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major emphasis at the school district, it’s not the only job of school nurses. “Just COVID is a full-time job — trying to keep the school open. But there are still regular bumps, bruises and chronic health conditions,” school nurse Adriana Vanbianchi […]
County residents report chronic CenturyLink outages
Say dependable service is essential Although many people have abandoned them entirely, some in remote areas of Okanogan County still depend on old-fashioned landlines for day-to-day communication, health monitoring, and emergencies. But for years, people in the lower Methow Valley and in other parts of the county — particularly in isolated, hilly areas with no […]
FOWL opens the covers on the Winthrop library
More tours this Sunday Community members got a peek inside the covers of the new Winthrop library, which is holding tours of the building this month. At 7,300 square feet, the library will be more than six times the size of the current library. The expansive building will allow it to function not only as […]
Candidates for Twisp town council outline priorities in last week’s grange forum
Twisp town council incumbent Aaron Studen and challenger Dara Perez answered questions in an online forum organized by the Twisp Valley Grange last Thursday (Oct. 14). Questions were prepared by the grange and submitted by community members in advance. Okanogan County Cemetery District 2 incumbent commissioner Carol Gaston and challenger Larry Smith also participated. Twisp […]
Long-term school board director has challenger
Second position unopposed There are two seats on next month’s general election ballot for Methow Valley School Board director. Incumbent Gary Marchbank is being challenged by Mazama resident Michelle Randolph. Incumbent Dana Stromberger is running unopposed. Gary Marchbank Gary Marchbank was first elected to the school board in 2009 and is running for a fourth […]
Building moratorium stays in place while commissioners seek resolution
The moratorium on new building permits for some 235 lots in the Methow watershed will stay in place for now, but the Okanogan County commissioners have vowed to find mitigations that will allow property owners to build. Using cisterns instead of a well — with water brought in from outside the Methow basin — appears to be the quickest […]
COVID surge affecting the valley’s youngest residents, schools report
Although COVID-19 often has the most serious health effects on older people, record-high COVID infections in the past month and a half have had a pronounced impact on the valley’s youngest residents. At Little Star School, the past month has been the most difficult in the 18 months they’ve been caring for children during the […]
County comp plan could be adopted by end of 2021
Okanogan County could have a new comprehensive plan at the end of this year, the first revision since the county’s 2014 plan was challenged in court. The Planning Department released a tentative timeline for legal review, workshops with the planning commission and public comment, with adoption of the plan scheduled for Dec. 29. Planning staff […]
Sun Mountain Lodge, Freestone look forward to opening after closures
Sun Mountain Lodge and the Freestone Inn are moving toward reopening after extensive cleaning of all rooms and facilities to remove the smell of smoke after the Cedar Creek Fire came perilously close to each resort. The landscaped grounds around Sun Mountain were untouched by the fire, although there’s evidence of fire prevention efforts where […]
Twisp town council has one contested race
Aaron Studen is facing his first opponent in his six years on the Twisp town council. Studen was first appointed to fill out the term for a councilmember who resigned and served two years before running unopposed for the seat. Studen is looking to build on the town’s accomplishments in infrastructure upgrades and to continue […]
