Valley’s ballots had an influence With the highest overall turnout in the county, Methow Valley voters influenced the outcome of the November election in several key races. Picking candidates who were often rejected by the rest of Okanogan County, voters from the Methow appear to have been decisive in two crucial contests — for District […]
NEWS
Okanogan PUD commissioners adopt $69.5-million 2023 budget
Includes 3.75% average increase for ratepayers The Okanogan County Public Utility District (PUD) commissioners have adopted a $69.5-million budget for 2023, which includes an average 3.75% increase for ratepayers. The commissioners approved the budget on Nov. 14. The PUD expects $69.5 million in revenue, including $54 million from retail electric sales and $3.2 million from […]
What’s news to you in ’22?
Help pick the “Top 10 News Stories of the Year” The top Methow Valley news stories of 2022 had some overlap with 2021, but the past year also saw its share of emerging and developing stories that grabbed headlines. Meanwhile, some major stories from the past few years ran their course. For our annual Year […]
Methow Conservancy announces Conservation Award winners
The Methow Conservancy announced the 2022 winners of its annual Conservation Awards at an event on Tuesday (Dec. 6). • Jay Morrison is the 2022 recipient of the Susie Stephens Award for providing outstanding volunteer service to the Methow Conservancy’s efforts. “The Conservancy considers Morrison to be one of the volunteer heroes of Homestream Park […]
Last chance to sign up for Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Registration ends Friday (Dec. 9) for The Cove’s annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors program, which delivers holiday food baskets to local families before Christmas. Holiday food baskets will be delivered to over 130 Methow Valley households on Dec. 17 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Registration forms can be requested via email at thecovecares@gmail.com; at The […]
Community Briefs: Dealing with grief, Natural history class, Christmas at Very End
Dealing with grief Methow At Home offers a free online presentation, “Connecting Around Grief: Supportive Tools for Ourselves and Others,” with Oori Silberstein, on Thursday, Dec. 15, from 4 – 5:30 p.m. Silberstein is trained in meditation and mindfulness instruction and trauma resiliency. To register and for more information, visit methowathome.org. Natural history class The Methow Natural Journal […]
Help shape Northwest Forest Plan
People with an interest in the future of national forests, ecosystems and landscape management can help shape the next Northwest Forest Plan. The U.S. Forest Service is seeking nominations for a federal advisory committee to work on the update of the plan. The committee will provide input on modernizing landscape management to promote sustainability, climate […]
Opioid crisis grows in Okanogan County
Spread of deadly fentanyl dramatically increases ODs Okanogan County has seen an alarming spike in overdoses from opioids in the past two years. The crisis has escalated as fentanyl has become ubiquitous in Okanogan County, said James Wallace, Okanogan County’s health officer and a family physician at Family Health Centers (FHC). Fentanyl, which can be […]
Twisp gets look at Konrads’ proposed housing project
Preliminary plans part of application for annexation Annexation is a long, complicated process, but the Town of Twisp got a preliminary view of what an affordable housing development on property owned by Hank and Judy Konrad might look like when it’s completed. The Konrads’ proposed development is on a total of about 10 acres along […]
UW study tracks how foraging mule deer adapt after wildfires
Behavior altered to find food, protection Wildfires have burned vast tracts of forests surrounding the Methow Valley in recent decades, forcing wildlife to adapt to changing landscapes. Mule deer, one of the Methow Valley’s signature species, change how they use forests after forests burn. Wildlife researchers, in a recent paper, described how mule deer alter […]
