The Methow Valley Manger Mall, an extension of The Cove in Twisp, has launched its 2023 children’s gifting program. Parents who pre-register to personally shop will select from a variety of gifts to place under the tree on Christmas for their children, ages infant to 18. There will be toys, games, sporting goods, cosmetics, books […]
NEWS
OCEC in agreement to acquire Methownet
Merger will boost local expansion of broadband access Two of the Methow’s venerable community institutions — the Okanogan County Electric Cooperative and Methownet — are about to join forces to expedite the expansion of broadband fiber access in the valley. OCEC and Methownet have signed a letter of intent for the nonprofit co-op to buy […]
Some background on the OCEC/Methownet fiber option partnership
(Editor’s note: This article is excerpted from a story that appeared in the Methow Valley News in May of this year.) A $12 million federal grant is enabling the Okanogan County Electric Cooperative (OCEC), in partnership with Methownet, to launch a project to deliver high-speed internet, with no installation costs, to about 2,600 potential users […]
Baker took the full plunge inlaunching eqpd
Named Entrepreneur of the Year in NCW Jonathan Baker has taken to dunking himself in the frigid waters of the Methow River. He says it helps him cope with the stress that comes from creating and growing his own business in the Methow Valley. “Cold plunging is incredibly challenging. The stress of starting a business […]
Election outcomes: aquatics district, hospital bond rejected
Three MV School Board races are also decided The second round of Okanogan County returns from the Nov. 7 general election confirmed what earlier results indicated: the proposal to form a Methow Aquatics District is being soundly rejected, as is the proposed bond issue to build a new Three Rivers Hospital. In the three contested […]
WSDOT re-opens North Cascades Highway after weekend closure
After the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) closed the North Cascades Highway on Saturday (Nov. 11) because of heavy snowfall and the risk of snow and debris slides, the highway remained closed until Tuesday (Nov. 14). WSDOT said in earlier updates that it would reevaluate the closure on Monday, then announced on Tuesday that […]
Water banking discussion set
The Okanogan Conservation District and the Methow Watershed Council are partnering to host an update on the process of forming the Okanogan County Water Bank, on Friday (Nov. 17) at 5:30 p.m. at the Twisp Valley Grange. Representatives of the Water Bank Team, Okanogan Conservation District and Methow Watershed Council will give a short presentation […]
Friends of Pool to ‘regroup’ after failed pool proposal
Valley voters reject aquatics district by more than 2-1 margin After Methow Valley voters last week rejected a new taxing district to build and operate a swimming pool, backers of the proposal said “there is no clear path forward” for a new pool in the valley. “We’re going to regroup,” Bo Thrasher, co-chair of Friends […]
Despite bond issue loss, Three Rivers CEO ‘heartened’ by support
Hospital board will consider next move A $72 million bond proposition to rebuild Three Rivers Hospital in Brewster fell short of the votes it needed to pass in the Nov. 7 election. But the fact that over 43% of the voters supported the proposition is encouraging, said Scott Graham, Three Rivers chief executive officer. “Obviously […]
Winning MV School Board candidates appreciated the competition
Races have often been uncontested The Methow Valley School Board will look slightly different when it meets on Nov. 30, with Jennifer Zbyszewski replacing director Mary Anne Quigley, who didn’t seek re-election after 16 years on the board. But voters returned incumbents Frank Kline and Judith Hardmeyer-Wright to the board by generous margins. Zbyszewski was […]