After a little more than a month of operation, the Wagner Memorial Pool in Twisp has been closed for the summer because of unhealthy conditions caused by wildfire smoke. The pool, which was closed during the summer of 2020, reopened this year on June19. “Due to the extremely unhealthy conditions caused by the wildfires near […]
NEWS
UPDATED: Cedar Creek, Cub Creek fire news, evacuations
• Update 9:25 a.m. July 27 Great Basin Team 1 and California Team 1 will be holding a joint public meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, July 27, at Mack Lloyd Park in Winthrop at 6 p.m. covering the Cedar Creek, Delancy and Cub Creek 2 Fires. An identical meeting with the same information will be replicated Wednesday, […]
Fires are ‘season-ending event’ for Methow Valley tourism
Community meeting draws large crowd By Natalie Johnson As wind and extreme dry weather continues to drive the growth of two Methow Valley fires, the best hope for the return of normal life and clear skies is fall rain, or ideally, an early snow. “We’re all working toward the goal of not allowing these fires […]
UPDATED: Cedar Creek, Cub Creek fire news, evacuations
• Update 9:15 a.m. July 23 Okanogan County Emergency Management on Thursday night issued four additional level 2 evacuation areas, meaning residents don’t need to leave immediately, but should be ready to go at a moment’s notice. The areas include: • The Pine Forest Development • The Moccasin Ranch area, starting at the intersection of […]
Delta variant’s arrival elevates COVID-19 concerns in county
Spreads more easily and quickly Okanogan County health officials are concerned by the identification of the first case of the more contagious COVID-19 Delta variant in the county at the end of June. The Delta variant has been shown to be “substantially more transmissible” than both the original strain of COVID and other common variants, […]
Smoky conditions pose health risks
Residents urged to take precautions With two active fires in the Methow Valley — and other fires raging across the west — valley residents will be living with unhealthy, smoky air for the foreseeable future, Aero Methow Rescue Service Director of Services Cindy Button said this week. “Everyone’s going to have to understand that air quality will be really […]
Dollar General chain considering store in Twisp
Other sites under review in county Dollar General, a nationwide chain with more than 17,000 stores in 46 states, is exploring the possibility of opening a new store in Twisp and in other towns in the region. “At this time, we are currently in due diligence phase for a new Dollar General in Twisp, Washington […]
Community Briefs: Blood drive, fair vendors, student news
Blood drive The American Red Cross will host a blood drive on Thursday (July 22) at the Winthrop Barn, from noon – 5 p.m. Call 1 – 800 – 733‑2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and enter MethowValley to schedule an appointment. According to a Red Cross press release, the need for blood and platelets remains crucial as the organization continues to experience a […]
Providers see drop in vaccine demand
County Fairgrounds vaccinations will be discontinued soon Due to a combination of reduced demand and a loss of federal funding, Mid-Valley Hospital is discontinuing its weekly Okanogan County fairgrounds vaccination events after this week. “Demand for first doses has tapered to the point that we can incorporate the weekly vaccination volume through our normal outpatient […]
