Laws, geology, hydrology all affect local watershed Drought is the slowest-moving natural disaster. That arresting observation comes from Jon Culp, Water Resources program manager for the Washington State Conservation Commission. Culp was one of the presenters at Drought Planning: Water Resilience in the Methow. The forum brought together water experts from the valley, the state, […]
NEWS
Federal wildlife grant may aid Sunny M purchase
Methow Conservancy hopes to apply unused funds to buy 379 acres The Methow Conservancy is hoping to use a wildlife-habitat grant for 379 acres within the 1,200-acre Sunny M Ranch property that the Conservancy aspires to purchase. If approved, the grant would go toward the entire $8.3 million the Conservancy must raise to purchase the […]
Adding a few fresh brush strokes to a Western town
‘Let’s Paint Winthrop’ aims to revitalize downtown businesses Trace almost any major undertaking in Winthrop back to its roots and you’ll find a volunteer committee with a vision and the conviction that if others saw the same potential, they’d join the team. From the rebuilding of the Winthrop Barn after its collapse under the 1971 […]
Town of Twisp won’t lease water to Auvil Fruit
Council majority opposes request The Town of Twisp has turned down a request by AFC Fruit LLC to lease some of the town’s trust water rights for irrigation of an apple orchard near Wenatchee. Without a formal vote, a Town Council majority indicated it would not support the request by Orondo-based AFC Ranch, familiarly known […]
Twisp considers Red Tail annexation proposal
The Twisp Town Council is continuing to review an informal proposal to annex about 2 acres in an undeveloped area east of Twisp-Winthrop Eastside Road and north of Highway 20, before indicating whether it will accept a formal annexation request. The request was discussed at an earlier Town Council meeting. Mike Maples, co-owner of RedTail […]
Snow clearing will begin Monday on North Cascades Highway
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) said this week that crews will begin work clearing the North Cascades Scenic Highway for vehicle traffic on Monday, March 27. WSDOT urged people with snowmobiles parked behind the berm at Early Winters to move them so they don’t impede the highway clearing crews. The highway was closed […]
TwispWorks hosts event for local makers, manufacturers, artists
“Make It Happen,” a social gathering for Methow Valley makers, manufacturers and artists, will be hosted at TwispWorks on Thursday, March 30, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the YourSpace Meeting Room. People with an existing or potential business are invited to attend, including Methow Made Members and Methow Valley Goods vendors. According to a TwispWorks press […]
WDFW to buy 400 acres near Methow gravel pit
Will be preserved as wildlife habitat About 400 acres of upland shrub-steppe adjacent to the county-owned gravel pit above the town of Methow will soon be public land, preserving habitat for mule deer and wildlife including golden eagles, sagebrush lizards and western gray squirrels. Early this month, the Okanogan County commissioners signed an agreement giving […]
Neighbors raise concerns about new Winthrop Marshal’s Office move-in
Residents of Englar Street in Winthrop are hoping for little more neighborliness from their newest neighbor: the Winthrop Marshal’s Office. Mayor Sally Ranzau assured those residents that the town will address their concerns. The Marshal’s Office recently began its move from a small, leased building on Riverside Avenue to the much larger building on Englar […]
OCEC sets annual meeting, board elections in April
The Okanogan Electric Cooperative (OCEC) will hold its 84th annual meeting on Monday, April 17, starting at 7 p.m. in the Winthrop Barn. The meeting will include voting on three board positions that are up for election, and General Manager Greg Mendonca will discuss OCEC operations, rates, grant opportunities and energy efficiency. The meeting will […]
