Pool gets ready to open
Wenatchee City Swimming Pool employee Robbie Reid vacuums the pool to get ready for pool opening June 1, for the three-day Apple Capital Invite Swim Meet. The pool will open to the public June 16.
Traffic under the bridge
Usually the bridge goes under the truck. But, after giving his presentation on his senior project, Cashmere High School senior Ian Mock loads up his 21-foot long replica of Wenatchee’s Sen. George Sellar Bridge on a truck to take home. After graduation he’ll be heading off to get an engineering degree at Washington State University.
Park and hike
Brian Burke, left, and Sean Collins of Wenatchee Fence Inc. install fencing around the perimeter of the new parking lot for 20 cars at the base of Saddle Rock.
Get ready for the blooms
Wenatchee Downtown Association Board President Alan Walker joins others in the groups annual planting day at the greenhouse at the Wenatchee Cemetery, Tuesday. Participants planted about 90 hanging baskets for downtown’s streets. The baskets of petunias of different colors line Wenatchee Avenue from Second Street to Kittitas Street.
Crafting a tradition
Nerida Palacios gets help from Larry Rankin in trying on a bracelet while her boyfriend, Mario Mota, watches. The two were looking at bracelets at the Simplistic Designs booth during setup of the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival 37th Annual Arts and Crafts Fair in Memorial Park on Thursday.
Show time in the park
Dancers from Fabulous Feet perform on Tuesday evening at the Memorial Park Stage during the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival.
Pom Powwow
Fifth grader Stephanie Soto joins in cheering along with other members of the Columbia Cougars Pom Pom Team practice during a weekly after school rehearsal at Columbia Elementary School in Wenatchee on Wednesday. According to team instructor Donna Young, it’s the third year the school has had the team and this year it consists of eleven eleven fourth and fifth grade girls. “We talk a lot about the word team and the commitment you need to make to be part of a team,” said Young. Rehearsals started in February and the group will have five performances during their season, including a couple of appearances at Apple Blossom Festival events.
Spring in their step
John Lunt of Wenatchee walks Rosie at Riverfront Park in Wenatchee past daffodils in bloom at the xeriscape garden. As the weather warms up, traffic on local trails is getting brisker.
Teeming trail
Thatching ants on their mounds are a common site in the foothills this time of year. This mound was spotted on the Sage Hills trail.
Time to get busy
Area orchards will be buzzing with activity over the next few weeks and trees begin to blossom. These bees were working apricot trees in Wayne and Dawn McKenzie’s orchard in Sunnyslope. Bees and other beings will get a dose of real spring weather today as temperatures rise to the low 70s. Showers are expected to move into the region tonight as light winds blow clouds in from the west. The chance of showers will increase to 50 percent Wednesday with a decreasing chance of rain through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Highs will be in the low 60s increasing to the mid-60s by the weekend, which should be mostly sunny and dry.
Open air bypass
Work continues on the Grant Road bypass route. Crews are building a wall for the road south of the Fred Meyer parking lot. The road is scheduled to be finished by late summer.
Miss Veedol prepares for flight
Spirit of Wenatchee crew members put one of the wings on the Miss Veedol as the aircraft is reassembled after its trip to Japan last year. The aircraft arrived back in Wenatchee last September, but because it was the end of the flying season, the crew decided to wait till spring to reassemble it. According to spokesman Jake Lodato, it takes about two days to put the plane together and they plan to have it ready for Apple Blossom Festival appearances. Cadets from the Pangborn Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol were also onhand to assist with the work day.
Double booked
Suzanne Wood, left, and her daughter Shelby, 13 of Puyallup read in the sun on Thursday afternoon at Eastmont Community Park in East Wenatchee.
Getting the canal ready for water
EAST WENATCHEE — Crews are been busy preparing the Highline Canal for water. Filling is expected to start the week of April 9.
Sprinkle toes
Rain droplets cover Ped, an Art on the Avenues sculpture in the sculpture garden at Riverfront Park this morning.
Bighorn sheep
California bighorn sheep along the Tarpiscan Road south of Malaga. They are part of the Quilomene herd.
Home Show: Setting the stage
Mike Zenk of Malaga sets up the Wenatchee Senior Softball Association booth at the KPQ Home and Garden Show at Town Toyota Center on Thursday afternoon. The 36th annual event starts at noon today and runs through the weekend.
Apple Blossom junior royalty kids named
WENATCHEE — Apple Blossom Queen Samantha Allen crowned Gwen McQuaig, daughter of John and Melanie McQuaig, while in her classroom at Washington Elementary School in Wenatchee on Wednesday. Also named were princesses Megan Creek, daughter of Darth and Jennifer Creek, and Savannah Slife, daughter of Eric and Daphne Slife.
Getting carried
Brisk wind on Tuesday afternoon allows Zach Potter of Wenatchee to get a little hang time while flying his kite at Walla Walla Point Park.
Bulldog eyes
Brendan Wagner’s team has eyes for the basket as the Cashmere High School boys basketball team beats Kalama 58-39 to advance in the state basketball tournament in Yakima Thursday.
Getting it off the ground
New SeaPort Airlines customer-service employee Debbie Walker, left, gets training from SeaPort Portland station manager Teresa Ricks after the airline’s first plane landed at Pangborn Memorial Airport on Thursday.
Rollover, but no injuries
Wenatchee Police Officer Ron Wilson looks inside a Jeep that rolled onto its side during a non-injury two-car accident on Ninth Street just east of the intersection with Miller Street, in Wenatchee about 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Not quite spring
The Wenatchee High School boys soccer team warms up at snowy Triangle Park Wednesday. With the Panthers’ first action set for March 9, they braved the cold and snow on what was the third day of spring sports practice. Wenatchee opens play on March 9 when it hosts a jamboree with Eastmont, Cashmere and Cascade. Wenatchee will play 20 minute games with Cashmere and Cascade during the event.
Hikers pacing as spring approaches
Katie Dolan carries her 14-month-old son Dash in the Saddle Rock area with friend Elisabeth Tilstra early Monday morning. They are both from Wenatchee.
Grit-getter
City of Wenatchee Public Works employee Larry Johnson uses a street sweeper to clean up Crawford Street in Wenatchee on Thursday morning. The department has been out for the last few days starting its spring cleaning.
Snipping season
Alonso Ruelas prunes apple trees in an orchard leased by G&P Orchard Leasing Inc. near Pangborn Memorial Airport.
Engaging encounter
Athena Neville, Wenatchee, photographs her friends for their engagement announcement Wednesday afternoon at Kirby Billingsley Hydro Park. A March 10 wedding is planned for Trevor Moon and Cassie Rolfs of Wenatchee.
Winter view
A robin sits on a tree in an orchard on Monday afternoon. According to local birder Steve Easley, we have robins in the area year-around, but some migrate further south for the winter. Many are passing through the area now as they make there way back north.
Petal passion
Floral designers Janine Raymond, left, and Anita Campbell of Floral Designs by the Tumbleweed in East Wenatchee, crank out Valentine’s Day orders coming into the business on Monday morning. According to owner Campbell, Valentine’s Day is the business’ single busiest day, but she thinks the week of Mother’s Day is busier. It’s not uncommon for the florists to be working until 10 the night before Valentine’s Day — or even pulling an all-nighter.
Gander in flight
Canada geese fly near Kirby Billingsley Hydro Park on Thursday morning.
Cool climb
Ice climber Bill Wicheta of Wenatchee works his way up the 50-foot-tall Trotsky’s Folly ice flow on the cliff walls east of Highway 155 along Banks Lake. Mark Shipman of Wenatchee is above.
Silver in the hills
The sun glistens off snow and ice covered fields on Badger Mountain.
Eye for dinner
A bird of prey soars over dryland wheat fields, looking for a quick bite, along Highway 2 between Douglas and Coulee City.
Frosty foraging
Deer forage on a hillside south of Saddle Rock on Monday morning.
Duck diver
Water ripples out from a common goldeneye after it surfaces from a dive in the Columbia River near Walla Walla Point Park, Thursday. It was diving down around ice chunks floating down river while feeding.
Last shot before school
By Mike Bonnicksen World staff writer
Annual bird count under way
CHELAN — The annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count is underway. Bird counters around Chelan will typically find about 70 species of birds this time of year.
The more the mayor-ier?
Outgoing Mayor Dennis Johnson got pulled into the role of photographer after Frank Kuntz was sworn in as Wenatchee’s new mayor Wednesday at City Hall. Kuntz and his family smiled while Johnson clicked.
Damp outlook
Rain drops drip down the head of “Perfect on Petra,” an Art on the Avenues sculpture near the intersection of First Street and Wenatchee Avenue in Wenatchee.
Christmas comes to life
Joseph, at right, played by Nathan Smeltzer shows baby Jesus, played by Lizzy Smeltzer, to the shepherds during the Living Nativity at First Presbyterian Church in Wenatchee on Thursday. The 1400 S. Miller St. church is holding its production through Christmas Eve.
Rolling out some spirit
Chelan students toss some toilet tissue to celebrate a score.
Foggy ducks
Ducks float Wednesday on the Columbia River in the fog at Walla Walla Point Park in Wenatchee.
Festival of Trees: Friday through Sunday
WENATCHEE — Tree designer Amy Aguigui strings about 2,200 lights onto a Christmas tree sponsored by Cashmere Valley Bank in preparation for the Festival of Trees that’s starting Friday at the Wenatchee Performing Arts Center.
YWCA sponsors homeless events
WENATCHEE — Hilda Emerson, right, gets a free blanket and clothing from volunteer Sandra Morger during the Wenatchee Valley YWCA’s Warm Your Soul, Soup and Blankets event on Monday evening.
Chelan and Orondo intersection work wraps up Tuesday
WENATCHEE — Work is just about complete on improvements at the intersection of Chelan and Orondo avenues.
Tip-off time
Trea Thomas, at left, and Hayden McCall battle for the ball during “Two-man War,” a rebounding drill, during the Eastmont boys basketball team’s first day of practice Monday. “My number one focus this year is rebounding,” said Wildcats coach Mike Waters. “If we can’t rebound, we can’t win.”
Cast in stone
EAST WENATCHEE — Mark Hobbs of Frank Hamilton Masonry of Wenatchee sets stone on a planter in front of the new Walgreens Building in East Wenatchee. Work continues on the new store just west of Grant Road and Eastmont Avenue.
Bodybuilding event draws 80 competitors
About 80 competitors from as far away as California and Montana competed Saturday in the Iron Mountain Classic Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, Bikini & Men’s Physique Championships at the Wenatchee Performing Arts Center Saturday. Held in Wenatchee for the second year, the event was brought here by Gordon Myco of Marysville.
Nature’s new driveway
Traffic can once again reach the upper Icicle Creek Valley thanks to a new section of road opened Oct. 8.
Fall's golden glow
LEAVENWORTH — Cooler nights help bring out the autumn’s splendor in the upper reaches of the Wenatchee Valley.
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