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Mill reopening prompts employee workshops
OMAK — Two free workshops organized to help prospective employees of the Colville Indian Plywood and Veneer plant will be offered over the next two weeks. A job seeker workshop for wood resources will be from 10 a.m. to noon on June 27, and a workplace effectiveness workshop will be from 9 a.m. to noon on July 1. Both are at the Omak Community Center, 601 Benton Street.
Deputy forester heads to Wyoming
WENATCHEE — Clint Kyhl, deputy forest supervisor for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest since 2009, has been promoted to supervisor of the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. Kyhl, 52, will begin work in Jackson, Wyo., on July 28.
Group plans to sue over Buckhorn Mine water quality
CHESAW — Despite efforts to work closely over the last five years, the company extracting gold from the Buckhorn Mine near Chesaw and an environmental group that monitors it are likely headed to court, representatives from both groups say. David Kliegman, executive director of the Okanogan Highlands Alliance, said the Buckhorn Mine has failed to establish a working system to collect groundwater, and continues to discharge pollutants that exceed water quality limits.
Pateros man gets four years after shooting son
OKANOGAN — After getting shot in the stomach by his father last October, a 22-year-old Pateros man asked for and got leniency for his dad, who pleaded guilty to first-degree assault in Okanogan County Superior Court last week. Derik R. Darlington, 51, was sentenced to four years in prison on June 10 — about half of the low end of a standard range for the crime. Prosecutor Karl Sloan said Weldon Darlington’s request was a major reason he agreed to recommend the exceptionally low sentence.
Next generation looks for a new level of consciousness
TONASKET — To BlueJay Hankins, it’s all about consciousness. “To be aware of the effect you have on yourself, on others, and on this earth in your everyday waking,” he says. “That’s something Reggae is very much about — the positive music and the positive influence it can have.”
Winthrop ricin scare involves 25 agencies
WINTHROP — After seeing news reports last week about ricin-tainted letters sent from Spokane, a Winthrop man got concerned about a suspicious-looking yellow substance in his garage and called police on Tuesday. Before the day was over, the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office talked to or exchanged emails with 25 state and federal agencies, and finally determined that the substance was instead a “radioluminescent” marker, used by the military as a low-level light source at night or under water.
Omak Police arrest second robbery suspect
A Spokane man was arrested last week as the second suspect in a May 16 assault that left Jeff Weitman, 33, of Omak, stabbed in the leg.
Visit free at parks and forests Saturday
Day use fees at state parks and national forest parking areas are waived Saturday for National Get Outdoors Day.
Longtime clerk calling it quits
WATERVILLE — Juanita Koch, Douglas County’s Superior Court Clerk for 28 years, Koch announced this week that she will retire on July 31. Koch, who was appointed to the clerk’s position in 1985, said no one ever ran against her in the seven elections after her appointment.
A fruit pie in the pocket leads to firing
BRIDGEPORT — His wife says it was a case of having too many things to carry at once. So David Greer, 55, absent-mindedly stuck the $1.69 cherry pie in his pocket, grabbed a few more snacks and went to the cash register at M & R Supermarket in Bridgeport to pay. He brought all the food back to his fellow workers for break time at the city of Bridgeport’s public works department.