By Don Nelson Forgive me if I’m a bit loopy. I’m composing this column past midnight on Monday after a long day that included writing more than 2,000 words about the state Criminal Justice Training Commission’s revocation of Winthrop Marshal Dan Tindall’s peace officer certification (see story, page A1). I didn’t even start on that […]
No Bad Days
In the Halloween spirit
By Don Nelson I feel like I’ve been a little grumpy in this space lately, not my favorite demeanor. So this week I thought I’d have some fun by imagining what various valley residents might like to find in their trick-or-treat bags on Halloween, as if we could just knock on the right door and […]
About those cartoons …
By Don Nelson Some of you may be wondering, “where’s Melanie?” Along with the rest of her family, the super-cute wolverine (who surely believes she is the star of the Harts Pass comic strip) has been missing from our pages the past several weeks. Harts Pass creator Erik Brooks has drawn more than 400 cartoons […]
Read all about it — and vote
By Don Nelson Beginning this week we’ll be devoting a large amount of newspaper space, representing a whole lot of reporting time, to covering local races on the Nov. 6 general election ballot, as well as several statewide initiatives. In addition to helping deciding important local races, Methow Valley residents will have a say in […]
A week isn’t enough
By Don Nelson Next week, Oct. 7-13, is the 78th National Newspaper Week, which recognizes and promotes the contributions of newspapers and their employees across the country. Each year, it seems a little more challenging to define what we mean by “contributions,” as they are literally eroding. Shrinkage continues among daily newspapers — in sheer numbers, and […]
Nearing the finish line
By Don Nelson The much-anticipated news came last Friday, and the Methow Valley’s residents and friends have been happily sharing it since: The U.S. Forest Service has recommended to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that 340,000 acres in the upper Methow Valley should be withdrawn from consideration for mining for at least 20 years. […]
Gettin’ some ink
By Don Nelson Some familiar Methow Valley figures got a little love from the Seattle Times last week. Ann Diamond, who faces Republican Keith Goehner of Leavenworth for the Position 1 seat representing the state’s 12th Legislative District, was featured by columnist Danny Westneat under the headline, “A political unicorn? Meet the candidate chasing the […]
After the groundbreaking
By Don Nelson It’s been a challenging but interesting summer on the TwispWorks campus. For all of the “partners” whose businesses or organizations reside here, patience and endurance have been required. TwispWorks is in the middle of a massive remake that includes a new brewhouse and adjoining taproom for the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, extensive landscaping, […]
A bright light fades
By Don Nelson The last time I saw Don Reddington was at the Methow Valley News office. He was, with assistance, making some rounds in town and wanted to say “hi” to me. It was an emotional few minutes. While Don clearly seemed to know who I was (dementia patients can adapt and compensate for […]
The force is (finally) with us
By Don Nelson You have to have been here for a while to understand and appreciate the significance of this sentence: For the first time in years, the Winthrop Marshal’s Office has a full complement of three full-time police officers. A little more than a year ago, the town had exactly zero law enforcement officers […]
