Thanks to Aero Methow Dear Editor: Like many before us, Steve and I send our deepest gratitude to Aero Methow Rescue Service! On Sept. 6, Steve went from feeling a little tired to septic in under two hours. Medics Jeff, Colton, Meg, Marissa and Stephanie immediately responded and recognized how rapidly he was deteriorating. Their […]
OPINION
Writers on the Range – Oregon forests are a test case for stripping protections
By Keats ConleyWriters on the Range Picture a clear stream where spawning salmon undulate over clean gravels, pressing upstream through waters the iconic fish once vanished from entirely. That’s Lookingglass Creek, in the Umatilla National Forest. In the Wallowa National Forest, Huckleberry Mountain sustains rare species like the Wallowa rosy finch, and on the Malheur […]
Harts Pass: September 16, 2026
Data dumps
Data centers have a bad rap right now. They earned it. The rapid spread of the energy-consuming, water-gulping, land-grabbing plants has caught residents and politicians alike off guard, all around the country. That was the plan. They have expanded stealthily and often well out of the public purview, sometimes with politicians’ clandestine assistance, until they […]
Editorial cartoon: September 9, 2026
Letters to the editor: September 9, 2026
Beaver benefits Dear Editor: Re: “Methow Okanogan Beaver Project concerned about dam damage” (Aug. 26). Beaver dam analogies (BDAs) built by stream restoration projects, and beaver dams have coincidental benefits to both humans and wildlife. The stabilization of stream flow benefits the groundwater table that our wells depend on, surface water that supports much of […]
Commissioner Melanie Rowland responds to WDFW investigation findings
By Melanie J. Rowland Editors note: This letter was sent to Gov. Bob Ferguson in response to the July 2026 final report on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission investigation of the actions of several commissioners with regard to public records and the Open Public Meetings Act. See story, page B6. When I […]
About those calls …
Many of you have been wondering, and let us know you have been wondering, what happened to our summary of the 911 call log that is provided by the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office. We have been running what we call the “911 blotter” — a compilation of calls to central dispatch that originated from the […]
Editorial cartoon: September 2, 2026
Letters to the editor: September 2, 2026
Solutions needed Dear Editor: I was heartened to see the Three Rivers Hospital (Brewster) levy approved overwhelmingly by our voters. We recognized the critical need to continue emergency services. At the same time, we should not forget that we need a long-term solution for our rural health needs. They go far beyond emergency care. We […]
