Upgrades to the boat launch and a new dock at Patterson Lake most likely won’t be done this year. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has received a permit from Okanogan County to do construction in the water, but WDFW still needs other permits and easements before work can begin. WDFW must get […]
NEWS
Climbing accident claims life of Alabama man
A 25-year-old Alabama man died in a fall while climbing Goat Wall near Mazama on Sunday (Sept. 17). Ryan Spencer Dawes, known as Spencer, was from Athens, Alabama, and was working as a climbing guide for Northwest Alpine Guides in Sedro-Woolley, according to Okanogan County Coroner Dave Rodriguez. Dawes was climbing the 1,500-foot Methow Inspiration […]
LBHS suspends open-campus policy after accident
Liberty Bell High School (LBHS) has temporarily suspended its open-campus policy after three students were in a rollover car accident during the lunch period on Monday (Sept. 18). There were three students in the car. All were transported to Mid-Valley Hospital in Omak for evaluation and were released to their parents Monday afternoon. All three […]
Hands-on learning with an eye toward the future
WWU students explore careers while making a difference By Sandra Strieby Eighteen college students recently completed a summer-long program of work and study in the Methow Valley. Sustainability Pathways is a fellowship program of Western Washington University’s Sustainability Engagement Institute, intended to provide participants with practical experience, expose them to sustainability-related livelihoods, and help them […]
USFS field tours
The Methow Valley Ranger District is hosting restoration field tours with forest specialists and partners over the next month. Meeting locations and logistics information will be sent to registered participants in advance of the field tours. All field trips will be held on Saturdays from approximately 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Meeting locations will be in Twisp […]
Community briefs: Cider squeeze, Car seat check
Cider squeeze The Methow Conservancy’s annual Cider Squeeze will be on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 2-4 p.m. at Dave and Marilyn Sabold’s home, 17 Bean Road, Winthrop. Bring your own containers and lids: mason jars, juice jars, water bottles will work. All are welcome at the free event. For more information, visit the events page […]
Winthrop begins planning for its official centennial
Town to celebrate 100 years of incorporation Guess who is turning 100 next year? Although the community has been around longer than that, Winthrop will celebrate a century of official incorporation as a town in March 2024. Settlement began in the late 1880s and the legendary Guy Waring platted the town in 1901, but the […]
Okanogan PUD will use $30M grant to expand rural internet service
High-speed fiber optic to connect northeast parts of the county More than 700 homes and businesses in one of the most rural parts of Okanogan County will get high-speed internet service through a $30 million grant recently awarded to the Okanogan County Public Utility District (PUD). Okanogan PUD will construct over 245 miles of fiber […]
Falls prevention a focus of senior health fair
Several community organizations team up to offer lots of advice By Sandra Strieby Methow At Home (MAH) will host a free senior health fair in the Methow Valley Community Center gym on Friday, Sept. 22. The focus of the “Finding Our Balance” fair is falls prevention, and the event has been planned to coincide with […]
Project tests A.I.’s ability to detect wildfires
DNR pilot program places high-definition cameras around state People are turning to artificial intelligence (A.I.) for everything from research papers to crime investigations — and now the technology is being tested for its ability to detect wildfires. The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is running a pilot project using A.I. cameras and technology in […]
