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Mayor says arena will close at least temporarily
WENATCHEE — Even if local leaders agree on a fix for the Town Toyota Center, Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz believes it will have to close its doors for at least part of this year. The city of Wenatchee has agreed to help cover the arena’s operating expenses through the end of the Wenatchee Wild hockey season in March. The facility is expected to start operating in a deficit sometime in April.
Bill would let financially ‘fragile’ Wenatchee tax without public vote
WENATCHEE — Legislation that would allow Wenatchee to impose a sales tax increase without a public vote to help pay for Town Toyota Center cleared its first hurdle on Tuesday. The Senate Ways and Means Committee passed SSB 5984, which primarily calls for a financial review of local governments and special taxing districts across the state.
Crowd gathers to support arena
About 900 people crowded on the main ice rink at the Town Toyota Center on Monday to show their support for the troubled arena. “It was overwhelming,” said Tami Gurnard, registrar for the Wenatchee Amateur Hockey Association, who organized the picture. “We had people from the local quilting group, curlers, figure skaters, hockey players, season ticket holders for the Wild, and people who were just fans of the building.”
Bankruptcy looms as groups try to rally support for troubled arena
WENATCHEE — As supporters of the Town Toyota Center try to rally the community to keep it from closing, the arena’s governing board has begun exploring the possibility of bankruptcy. The Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center Public Facilities District board on Thursdsay agreed to interview two law firms — one from Florida and one from the Northwest — to possibly retain for legal advise in case it has to file bankruptcy as a result of the arena’s outstanding $42 million debt.
Arena users wanted for group photo
WENATCHEE — Calling all hockey players, figure skaters, curlers and anyone else who uses or supports the Town Toyota Center. Youth hockey leaders are trying to get everyone together for a group picture at the arena at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Counties say ‘No’ to 0.2-percent tax measure; new plan emerges
WENATCHEE — A regional 0.2-percent sales tax increase is off the table, but local leaders are pursuing a new plan that would have Wenatchee paying an even higher tax rate and surrounding communities a smaller one.
Counties say 'No' to .2-percent tax measure
A regional .2-percent sales tax increase is off the table, but local leaders are still pursuing the possibility of a smaller one.
Investors seek extension of lawsuit window
WENATCHEE — Investors holding about one-third of the Town Toyota Center’s outstanding debt have asked the arena’s owner and nine local governments to waive the statute of limitations for being sued. The Denver-based law firm of Davis & Ceriani sent letters and e-mails Monday to the Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center Public Facilities District seeking the extension by Feb. 29.
Upper Valley walloped by snow
PLAIN — It’s a lot of snow, even for an area that gets a lot of snow. The Plain and Lake Wenatchee areas have been buried by more than 6 feet of snow in less than two weeks. That’s more than any other populated area in North Central Washington except for the isolated Holden Village up Lake Chelan, according to the National Weather Service.
Federal investigation letter sits unopened in arena safe for nearly two months
WENATCHEE — Nearly two months ago, a delivery service showed up at the Town Toyota Center with an overnight package. A part-time arena employee signed for it and placed it in a locked safe. No one saw it again until Monday. Unknown to arena officials, the package contained a letter from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission explaining that the agency had started in investigation into how the arena was built and financed. The letter requested extensive documents, emails and other communications from the arena’s owner, the Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center Public Facilities District.