Good Morning it’s Thursday July 29th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today --- Central Washington Hospital is seeing the highest number of COVID hospitalizations since early January. Why is this happening, and what does this mean for masking and restrictions?

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

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Now our feature story…

 

Central Washington Hospital is seeing the highest number of COVID hospitalizations since early January. 

 

Rising cases across the state come alongside concerns about the highly infectious Delta variant. 

 

One case of the Delta variant originating from Chelan County was identified as of July 21, according to the state Department of Health. Another five Delta cases were identified in Grant County, and two in Okanogan County.

 

But these numbers might not represent the full story. Not every positive COVID test is sent to the state Department of Health to be studied for mutations. 

 

In fact, only About 18% of all COVID-19 cases in the state were sequenced in June.

 

Chelan-Douglas Health District Administrator Luke Davies explained that with the unvaccinated populations, the main concern is that we're going to see a lot more people get sick. He noted that it's just burning through our population very quickly.

 

So what makes the delta variant different? First, it’s four times more contagious than the original strain. 

 

As of July 19th, about 92% of cases statewide can be attributed to the delta variant, according to estimates from the state Department of Health.

 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also updated its masking guidance on Tuesday, recommending fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors in public settings where risk of transmission is high.

 

And yesterday. Gov. Inslee addressed this during a press conference to discuss the state's response to the pandemic. 

 

Chelan County's 14-day COVID-rate climbed to 126.8 new cases per 100,000 population as of July 23. That's up from 61.5 cases per 100,000 people reported on July 5th. 

 

And as of Tuesday, 24 people were in Central Washington Hospital fighting COVID-19. That’s more than double the number hospitalized at the start of July.

 

It compares to 26 people hospitalized with COVID-19 a year ago, before vaccines were available.

 

Chelan-Douglas Health District Administrator Luke Davies is very concerned. The concern is that the delta variant produces about three times more vaccine breakthrough compared to other COVID-19 variants.

 

He also noted that none of the patients currently hospitalized had been fully vaccinated.

 

And Governor Inslee made similar remarks yesterday - renewing the assertion that COVID-19 vaccines prevent severe disease and hospitalizations.

 

About one-third of the people hospitalized locally are younger than 65 with the youngest being in their early twenties.

 

Stay up to date on all things COVID-19 by visiting us at wenatcheeworld.com

 

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Also, 

 

Icicle Broadcasting Company has just sold three radio stations to Chelan Valley Media Group. Chelan Valley Media Group is a partnership of four former Seattle-area media professionals with ties to the Chelan Valley.

 

The sales includes KOZI AM, KOZI FM and KZAL, “Z-Country”. Icicle Broadcasting will continue to own and operate KOHO 101.1 “Hometown Radio.”

 

 The sale should be completed by fall with approval from the FCC. It’ll take around six to nine months to finalize the sale of the stations, which combined have six employees.

 

Karen Heric will take over as president and general manager. Heric has 35 years of media experience at King 5, GreenRubino, iHeartRadio and Root sports.

 

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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

 

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Next - What started as a 13-year-old’s letter to the Wenatchee City Council has turned into a push from the local skateboarding community to improve safety at Hale Park Skatepark.

 

We talked about Sam Wagner in an episode on July 10th, and how he had petitioned the city to extend Hale Park Skatepark’s closing time from dusk to 10 p.m. -- with the lights on. 

 

And it turns out the city listened. They’ve decided to follow Wagner’s suggestions for a two-week trial period.

 

Wagner told us it feels good to make a positive change and see his community supporting him.

 

He and other skateboarders went to a city council meeting on July 22nd to report back to the council and mayor about the lights. 

 

The group presented a video of skaters using the park and keeping it clean. They also showed a photo of dozens of needles they had found behind a rock near the edge of the skatepark. The slide that followed read “This is why we need the lights to stay on all night!”

 

One skater, Josh Johnson, said two days following the discovery of the needles, he found a bag of drugs and drug paraphernalia in the park. It was during the day. He explained that at night time, after the lights shut off, it becomes a dark area in the bowls where people can hide.

 

Johnson also brought up the idea of dedicated security for the park that would be funded by community members. 

 

Mayor Frank Kuntz said there are security guards who lock bathrooms at the parks, but the city would work with community members if they did want to hire someone or raise money for security.

 

Tina Wagner, Sam’s mom, thanked the council for turning on the lights and said the park has felt much safer since they’ve been on. 

 

But she also agreed the lights should be kept on all night.

 

One drawback - apparently there’s been more vandalism reported since the lights have been on.

 

Wenatchee Parks Director David Erickson confirmed his maintenance staff has seen an increase in things like graffiti. They’re having to respond on a daily basis.

 

But Wenatchee Police Capt. Edgar Reinfeld said his department is fine with leaving the lights on all night.

 

And as far as increased vandalism goes, Reinfeld said it’s impossible to say whether that’s been caused by the lights.

 

He explained that indeed, leaving the lights on may be causing some more problems. But it also allows us to better detect something going on when we get down there.

 

So for now, the city will turn on the lights all night... at least temporarily. But that won’t change the park's hours. 

 

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Before we go, some local history. Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR [this is pronounced just like neighbor] – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur .

 

Now, some history - 

 

American attorney and politician, John W. Ladenburg Sr. was born in Leavenworth. Ladenburg served as Pierce County prosecutor for three terms before becoming the county executive in 2001. 

 

He was re-elected County Executive in 2004, terming out November 2008. One of Ladenburg's principal accomplishments in office was spearheading the development of Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place. He is considered largely responsible for bringing the U.S. Open to the site in 2015.

 

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Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Tuesday July 27th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today - In an effort to inform the community where it stands on controversial topics, the Wenatchee School District recently posted about two of the more controversial topics out there…. sexual health education and Critical Race Theory.

 

Now our feature story… 

 

In an effort to inform the community where it stands on controversial topics, the Wenatchee School District recently posted about two of the more controversial topics out there…. sexual health education and Critical Race Theory.

 

District spokesperson Diana Haglund said the district office and school board members have been receiving a lot of calls and emails on those two topics from community members and parents. They’ve been asking questions about how the subjects relate to Wenatchee schools. 

 

Most of the people contacting the district were concerned and looking for more information. Some were emotional.

 

Haglund also said that the district felt it was important to make information publicly available to help dispel any inaccuracies. 

 

She also explained that the statements are related to current state legislation. 

 

It was important to them to tie the information to the passage of legislation, so parents in the community can know what those bills look like and what was included in them. It’ll also help connect families and the public with information about what is happening with comprehensive sexual health education.

 

In fact, the Wenatchee School Board received a presentation on the sexual health legislation in January 2020, shortly after it was approved by state voters. 

 

Haglund said Wenatchee School District curriculum was aligned even before the passage of the bill and again, available on the website.

 

Still, parents do have the option to opt their student out at any time during the curriculum.

 

They also have the right to review the curriculum at any time.

 

In terms of addressing Critical Race Theory, Haglund said the district office has been receiving a lot of questions from parents. 

 

Parents are concerned it is happening in schools specifically related to recent legislation, House Senate Bill 5044. House Senate Bill 5044 requires Cultural Competency, Diversity Equity and Inclusion training for school staff.

 

The new law requires school districts to use one of the professional learning days to train school district staff in either cultural competency, diversity, equity or inclusion.

 

But Haglund said Critical Race Theory is not part of the new law, nor is any other specific curriculum mentioned in the law.

 

She did explain that there is some concern that CRT is part of that and being taught in our schools. That’s why they wanted to come out with a very clear position that they are not teaching CRT. 

 

The district is not required or mandated by the state to do so. 

 

This is something they want to be really clear with the public on. 

 

We encourage you to read our full story and join the conversation by visiting NABUR at wenatcheeworld.com/nabur.

 

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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

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Here’s what else you need to know today.

 

Another year of Fiestas Mexicanas has gone the way of the pandemic.

 

The two-day, free event — which features music, food and vendors in a celebration of Latin American Independence Day each September — won’t be held in 2021. It was also canceled in 2020.

 

Martha Zaldivar, who has organized Fiestas Mexicanas for 14 years, said many of the event’s sponsors were not able to contribute this year because of the economic impact of COVID-19.

 

The event is also facing long-term obstacles in the form of space. 

 

Zaldivar said Fiestas Mexicanas averages 20,000 people each year — a big crowd for the limited space at the event’s usual venue - Lincoln Park.

 

The city of Wenatchee is working on a number of improvements at Lincoln Park, but Zaldivar said the changes won’t benefit the event.

 

For example, the park’s new stage won’t be large enough. And parking will also still be an issue.

 

Wenatchee Parks Director David Erickson said no additional parking is in the works since the existing lot has enough space for the majority of the park’s regular uses.

 

So, Fiestas Mexicanas is looking for a new venue but they still haven’t found the right place. One concern is that at least 30% of the event’s attendees are individuals who walk to the event from areas surrounding Lincoln Park. That means switching locations could have an impact on attendance numbers.

 

Despite these issues, Fiestas Mexicanas hopes to return stronger than ever in 2022. They are also planning a second, smaller fiesta in May.

 

Their priority? To give the community a free band and a good quality event.

 

Finally,

 

Fishers, a mid-sized member of the weasel family, are making a comeback in the Pacific Northwest and Chelan County.

 

The species was eliminated from Washington state in the mid-1900s. How? Due to trapping - for their fur. 

 

But Fish and Wildlife, the National Park Service, Conservation Northwest, and Calgary Zoo released 89 fishers in the North Cascades between 2018 to 2020 to help restore the species.

 

Since then, state wildlife biologist Jeff Lewis says fishers have started having babies in the wild and have gotten as far as between Stevens Pass and Lake Wenatchee.

 

In March 2019, a resident of Plain caught an image of a fisher on a game camera. At the time, the picture was a unique find as Lake Wenatchee is so far between two of the recovery zones.

 

It now seems that fishers are doing quite well in upper Chelan County. The animals are found predominantly on the west side, where there are dense, Douglas Fir forested canyons.

 

The state agency is working to return fishers to the landscape for several reasons... 

 

For one, they were a part of the natural landscape before human settlement caused them to be overhunted.

 

That means they have a role to play in the ecosystem.

 

Fishers are one of the only real predators of porcupines for example. They are also predated on by bobcats and mountain lions.

 

The state agency is now working on a camera trap study to track fishers in the wild and see how broadly they’re distributed on the landscape. This will help them decide if they need to relocate some of the animals or release more on the landscape.

 

Eventually, state biologists may do a camera trap study near the Lake Wenatchee area.

 

For now, the fisher population isn’t sustainable yet around Lake Wenatchee, but it might be someday.

 

Stay up to date by visiting us at Wenatcheeworld.com

 

 

Did you know that the Wenatchee Confluence State Park is a great place to birdwatch? Officially created in 1990, more than 30 breeding species will make their homes there and 224 total species including falcons and bald eagles have been spotted. With more than 97 acres designated as natural and wetland environment, you’re bound to see something incredible.

 

 

Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!

 

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Saturday July 24th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today - A solar energy company has its sights set on land in Douglas County, the Wenatchee Valley, and a site near Trinidad.

 

Construction time frames aren’t clear yet for the three projects, which apparently are very early on in their planning.

 

This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

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Now our feature story...

 

Residents on Badger Mountain say a solar energy company has its sights set on land near their homes. It’s one of three solar farm projects whose backers are scouting spots in Douglas County. 

 

The other two are looking at 5,000 acres with a view of the Wenatchee Valley along Badger Mountain Road and a 2,500-acre site near Trinidad.

 

Construction time frames aren’t clear yet for the three projects, which apparently are very early on in their planning.

 

This comes after passage of a state law in 2019 that strongly encourages the development of alternative energy.

 

One Badger Mountain resident, Lorianna  , said she first heard of the solar project near her home when the company, EDP Renewables North America, approached her about leasing her property. 

 

She said no.

 

But now she believes the project could surround her property.

 

For Breiler, the EDP Renewables North America project presents a simple choice: Thousands of acres of rolling hills, wildlife and creeks or a giant solar farm. And she’s set out to stop it from happening.

 

She explained that workers with EDP have called, mailed and driven out to residents in the hopes of signing leases for their solar farms. They are “very aggressive, and they’re very hush-hush,”.

 

Breiler started going door-to-door in early June asking residents on Badger Mountain if they knew what may be happening in their backyard. But even those who signed contracts with EDP didn’t know the full extent of the development.

 

Breiler is worried that this is going to ruin the way of life that we know today, because we’re going to be surrounded by solar panels. The acreage surrounding her land has been a part of her family for four generations.

 

Breiler has created signs and even a Facebook page called Save Badger Mountain — No to Solar Panel Farms. It’s all a part of her campaign.

 

Jon Stein, a resident and owner of over eight acres in Badger Mountain, agrees with Breiler. A large development on the hills of Badger Mountain, for Stein, would be more than just an eye sore.

 

Stein says he’s pretty concerned. He moved to Badger Mountain from North Dakota to retire. Up here was the only place with affordable land at the time.

 

Stein said his house and views from home face south, where the solar panel farms may be developed. 

 

For him, even if he has to chain himself to a dozer - he will.

 

Douglas County PUD General Manager Gary Ivory said residents in the county have been reaching out to him with concerns about the developments, but the PUD has not been in contact with these companies yet.

 

But Ivory did say that these groups are looking at interconnecting with other transmission providers. He also explained that the PUD doesn’t have a policy that would allow for large-scale solar or wind farm connections.

 

Blair Matocha, a spokeswoman with EDP, did say that the company has energy projects throughout the continent.

 

Matocha also noted that they’re actively prospecting development opportunities for renewable energy projects in Washington.

 

So why is this happening now?

 

Douglas County officials started working to update the county’s code after renewable energy companies reached out to them. The county imposed a moratorium on renewable energy development to buy time to decide what renewable energy projects should look like before accepting permits.

 

The county used the time to study wind and solar farms around the state.

 

Douglas County commissioners lifted the moratorium on July 20 and approved new rules for the planning and permitting of large alternative energy projects.

 

The approved rules include requirements that solar facilities be located at least 7 miles from cities and Pangborn Memorial Airport. It also needs to be apart from habitat associated with sensitive, threatened, or endangered plants or wildlife. 

 

To read more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com

 

Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

Next, 

 

Streateries were a child of the COVID-19 pandemic as restaurants searched for ways to operate under stay-at-home-orders. But they may become part of East Wenatchee’s new normal going forward.

 

The term is a mash-up of street and eatery. It refers to a small outdoor dining area on a street. 

 

The East Wenatchee City Council approved a six-month pilot streatery program along Valley Mall Parkway during a council meeting last week. The vote was unanimous.

 

Permits issued under the program are free and will expire on November 30th. Businesses can use up to three parking spaces in front of their establishment for outdoor seating.

 

The program follows a temporary ordinance the city adopted in August 2020 that allowed streateries along Valley Mall Parkway between 6th Street and 9th Street. That followed a request from a downtown restaurant.

 

This was the only option for outdoor seating in this area. 

 

Businesses with off-street parking already had the ability to convert some of their parking spaces to outdoor seating and service areas. 

 

However, those without off-street parking, like the business along Valley Mall Parkway, were out of luck. 

 

Sidewalk cafe-style dining was also not an option since sidewalks in this area are generally 7-8 feet in width, which can’t simultaneously accommodate a seating area and meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for pedestrian access.

 

Although the six-month program the council approved last week is only temporary, city staff will be evaluating whether to make streatery seating available on a more permanent basis. 

 

That discussion will happen in a public hearing during the city council meeting on Aug. 24.

 

For more information, and to stay up to date visit us at wenatcheeworld.com

 

Now, some history…

 

115 years ago, in 1906 the route for Great Northern Railway’s line between Wenatchee and Oroville was finalized. Construction began that fall with trains in operation by the following summer.

 

This was one of the largest land deals in the history of Douglas County. It was completed with the purchase of 4,000 acres in the Moses Coulee by the Wenatchee Fruit Lands Co. 

 

The property was formerly owned by three pioneers — Christianson, Shmidt and Crisp — who settled there about 23 years prior. 

 

Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Thursday July 22nd, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today --- COVID-19 cases in Chelan and Douglas counties are ticking upward again.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

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Now our feature story…

 

COVID-19 cases in Chelan and Douglas counties are ticking upward again.

 

As of July 16th, 77 new COVID-19 cases have been reported over the past 2 weeks in Chelan County.

 

And in Douglas County, 53 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the past 2 weeks.

 

Dr. Malcolm Butler, Chelan-Douglas Health District’s health officer, said that it might be the case that we’re starting up here just because we’re starting up into another cycle.

 

Butler also said that the case increases are probably related to the Delta variant. It turns out, like many communities in Washington, the Delta variant has made its way here.

 

It is about twice as infectious as the Alpha variant, which already was twice as infectious as the original COVID-19 strain. 

 

And now, Butler says the Delta variant is squeezing out the Alpha for its position as the dominant strain.

 

Another concern? The number of breakthrough cases the Delta variant is producing is higher than expected.

 

What does that mean? Vaccine breakthrough refers to a case where someone fully vaccinated against the virus gets infected. 

 

So unlike the Alpha variant, cases of the Delta variant are producing breakthroughs at a disproportionately high rate.

 

Only about 4% of all COVID-19 variants scanned for mutations in the state are from the Delta variant, but it accounts for 12% of breakthrough cases with a variant.

 

And so far, the state identified about 2,925 breakthrough cases from January 17th through July 10. That’s about .07% of total full vaccinations.

 

But Luke Davies, the Chelan-Douglas health administrator, says that those most at risk of severe COVID-disease and most likely to be hospitalized are still the unvaccinated.

 

He stresses that we still need to be cautious. 

 

And public guidelines echo that. People who are not fully vaccinated in public spaces or in close proximity to other people while indoors are required to mask up.

 

There’s still work to be done, in Chelan County, about 66% of eligible people have initiated vaccinations and about 59% in Douglas County.

 

Yes - the state has reopened and relaxed some COVID-19 restrictions, but it could have reopened sooner if 70% of people 16 and older had gotten at least one dose. 

 

To hit this goal in the two-county region, another 915 people would need to be vaccinated.

 

Stay up to date on all things COVID-19 by visiting us at wenatcheeworld.com

 

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Also, 

 

A Wenatchee teacher and Methow Valley school nurse were honored this month by the North Central Educational Service District for their outstanding work with students. 

 

The 2022 Regional Teacher of the Year is Wenatchee educator Tina Nicpan-Brown. And the 2021 Regional Classified School Employee of the Year is Adriana Vanbianchi of the Methow Valley School District.

 

Nicpan-Brown is a fifth-grade remote learning teacher at the Wenatchee Internet Academy. She leads her classroom instruction by focusing on drawing connections to the students' family interactions, culture and the community.

 

She’s one of three elementary science teachers in Washington who have been selected as a state-level finalist for the 2020 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. That’s the highest honor bestowed on science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science teachers.

 

Regional Classified School Employee of the Year Adriana Vanbianchi serves as the school nurse for all schools in the Methow Valley School District. 

 

Vanbianchi has dedicated her career to improving the health of other people.

 

To her, being a school nurse during the pandemic is an undertaking that she wouldn’t have wished on anyone. Still, she admits, she’s enjoyed the challenge because she knows what a difference it made in the lives of our students, community, and economy.

 

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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

 

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Next - After several years of waiting, East Wenatchee’s Caroline David has a new set of lungs.

 

56 year old David underwent surgery for a double lung transplant in March in Phoenix and is now recovering and doing quite well. She had been diagnosed in 2016 with pulmonary fibrosis, a condition where her lungs were covered in scar tissue and decreased in size.

 

In 2019, David and her sister Donna Taylor were working to raise money for David’s $1 million lung transplant. Her insurance would cover the cost of most of the surgery, but they also faced expenses for the recovery.

 

They tried to raise about $50,000 thanks to the members of the community who supported her like co-workers, family and organizations. 

 

The original plan was for David to get her lung transplant at the University of Washington, but after two years on the waitlist, she decided to look elsewhere. 

 

And it turned out that the lung transplant might not have taken place if it wasn’t for COVID-19.

 

When COVID hit she started working from home. So, she took the opportunity to look at other programs outside of the University of Washington..

 

She eventually looked into the program at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center — Dignity Health in Phoenix. The medical center has a larger pool of potential donors and so the chance of getting an organ was higher. 

 

Then, she was accepted in November. On March 11, she got a call that they had a pair of lungs for her and went in to prep for surgery. But the lungs weren’t viable.

 

Then the next Monday, David got the call again. She came in prepped for surgery and this time the lungs were good.

 

David is still in Phoenix and plans to stay for the following year as she undergoes testing.

 

In the first year, doctors are able to stop most types of rejection, which is where the body’s immune system attacks a person’s lungs.

 

And for the rest of her life, David will still face the possibility that her body could start rejecting her transplant. She’ll have to take immune suppressing medication. But so far everything has been going well….

 

At least except for the altitude sickness.

 

When David gets back to Washington one of the first things she wants to do is go on a hike, she said. She discovered she had pulmonary fibrosis when hiking up to Clara and Marion lakes at Mission Ridge in 2016.

 

But now with a new set of lungs, she’ll be able to return to the trails she loves.

 

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Before we go, some local history. Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR [this is pronounced just like neighbor] – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur .

 

Now, some history - 

 

In 1991, the property that’s now home to the Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort in Leavenworth was put up for sale. Harriet Bullitt, a longtime owner of the neighboring property, bought all 67 acres to preserve the land. 

 

Bullitt named the property Sleeping Lady after the mountain profile above the narrow valley. Historical and environmental considerations saved all 18 of the original buildings for the new site plan. 

 

Then, in 1994, the buildings were remodeled to meet building and energy codes. New buildings were constructed to blend in with the original style. 

 

Finally, Sleeping Lady welcomed its first guests in August 1995.

 

 

Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Tuesday July 20th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today - After more than nine months of construction, Dry Fly Distilling's production facility is now complete in downtown Spokane.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

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Now our feature story… 

 

After more than nine months of construction, Dry Fly Distilling's production facility is now complete in downtown Spokane.

 

The 24,000-square-foot production facility opened on Thursday in The Spokesman-Review's former newspaper press building.

 

It has a tasting room, bottle shop, restaurant, event space and offices. This new facility will replace Dry Fly's former location on Trent Avenue near Gonzaga University.

 

It’s actually more than four times the size of the former location. This will help the company to boost canning and bottling operations.

 

In fact, Dry Fly will be able to increase production capacity from 20,000 to 75,000 gallons. And that might increase in the future.

 

The distillery will start with four 650-proof gallon fermenters but can house 10, along with an additional column still in the new facility.

 

The facility also provides Dry Fly with the ability to optimize its bottling line to 1,000 bottles per hour and increase canning capacity of its popular 'On the Fly' cocktails from 40 to 100 cans per minute.

 

Ultimately, everything is more efficient and faster.

 

Don Poffenroth, Dry Fly Distilling president and CEO told us that he’s excited for people to come in and see it. He explained that when you come into the tasting room and see absolutely everything in the building. The goal was to make it an immersive experience.

 

Dry Fly is planning to host tours of the facility once it receives permit approval. 

 

And the facility's full-service restaurant is slated to open in a month.

 

Once the new production facility is fully operational, they’ll employ more than 35 employees.

 

So how did they end up in this new space?

Well, after Dry Fly maxed out space at its Trent Avenue location, the company initially considered a move to a larger facility in north Spokane. But that building failed an engineering test.

 

About a week later, Poffenroth was contacted by the Cowles family about a potential vacancy in The Spokesman-Review's former newsprint and press building.

 

The building is owned by a subsidiary of Cowles Co., which also publishes The Spokesman-Review.

 

Now, Dry Fly, which began producing gin, whiskey and vodka in 2007, will feature items in the production facility that showcase history of the distillery, manufacturing in Spokane and the newspaper.

 

We encourage you to read our full story and join the conversation by joining NABUR at wenatcheeworld.com/nabur.

 

-

 

Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

-

 

Here’s what else you need to know today.

 

A fire that may have been started by fireworks damaged 12 condos Sunday night. So far, one person has been arrested.

 

The fire was reported at 11:14 p.m. in the Aspen Heights Condos - less than a block south of Lincoln Park. 

 

Fire spread from a bush below the building beside a sidewalk and into the three-story condominiums.

 

Police say surveillance footage from nearby St. Jude's Landing Apartment shows an occupant of a white Toyota Tundra throw a firework onto the road.

 

Then, within 2 hours, 20 year old Devin Rushing from East Wenatchee was stopped for questioning by Wenatchee officers.

 

Rushing told a detective he was driving by condos when a passenger threw a large firework. He told the detective he was unaware any of his two passengers had a firework and that he didn’t realize it ignited the fire until later.

 

Still, Rushing was arrested on suspicion of complicity to first-degree arson and possession of a dangerous weapon. 

 

The case is still under investigation.

 

It wasn’t immediately clear how many people were displaced, but McKellar said 12 units are uninhabitable.

 

Finally,

 

In earlier episodes we’ve talked about what’s going on in the investigation into 18-year-old Hannia “Paulina” Mosqueda Rodriguez’s death.

 

And…. we have another update. The Chelan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed a second murder charge against Julius Ceballos.

 

Detectives with the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office believe Ceballos, who’s 21 years old, stabbed Mosqueda to death back in October 2019. They also believe he disposed of her body in the Horse Lake Preserve.

 

Witnesses say he killed her because she disrespected his gang. 

 

Ceballos was arrested June 29 at his home in Wenatchee. 

 

Both First-degree murder and second-degree murder are both punishable by up to life in prison, but first-degree carries with it a longer standard sentence.

 

For now, Ceballos is being held at the Chelan County Regional Justice Center on $2 million bail.

 

Stay up to date by visiting us at Wenatcheeworld.com

___

 

Before we go, some local history,  Wenatchee Valley History.

The Spokesman-Review was formed from the merger of the Spokane Falls Review and the Spokesman in 1893. It was first published under the present name in 1894. It later absorbed its competing sister publication, the afternoon Spokane Daily Chronicle.

 

The paper's opposition to the New Deal and the Fair Deal disturbed President Harry Truman to the point that he declared it to be one of the "two worst" newspapers in the nation… The Chicago Tribune was the other.

 

Today, The Spokesman-Review remains one of the few remaining family-owned newspapers in the United States.

 

 

Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!

 

Additional audio from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6__4vqBqeYQ

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Saturday July 17th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today - we spoke with a handful of residents about the Red Apple Fire and their experiences.

 

This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

Now our feature story...

 

We spoke with a handful of residents about the Red Apple Fire and their experiences.

 

Sunnyslope resident Brian Voth described the Red Apple Fire like lava coming out of a volcano.

 

He said it was surreal. Most years in July, Voth and his wife are out of the valley on vacation but this year they stayed home.

 

It was around 7 p.m. when Voth first noticed smoke, and through the evening and night, they decided to pack their belongings like photo albums - things that couldn’t be replaced.

 

His phone kept shining every hour, two hours saying level one, level two, and then it was level three.”

 

At that point they went outside and it was super smoky, and hard to breathe.

 

Like many of his neighbors, they evacuated to the Sunnyslope Elementary School parking lot where Voth said he and some neighbors watched the fire unfold through the early morning.

 

Luckily, when the Voths eventually came back home in the morning, their home was intact.

 

We also spoke with Penny Los. Los and her husband woke up in their Sunnyslope home to the smell of smoke and the sound of a warning notification. It was about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.

 

Along with their two children, Los said they evacuated to the Sunnyslope Elementary School with their two dogs, some baby chicks, and a rabbit.

 

Los is a seven-year resident of Sunnyslope. She’s seen other wildfires in the area, but to her, this one was a little scarier.

 

Los and her family returned home around 10 a.m. Wednesday, their homes unscathed.

 

Another resident, Kevin Ohme, was sitting in a pickup with Ohme Gardens behind him as he watched the fire directly in front of him on Wednesday morning.

 

Ohme said he remembers 30 years ago when a wildfire actually made it to the gardens and killed some of the trees. But so far, there hasn’t been a need to run.

 

In fact, some of the residents near Ohme Gardens had not evacuated around noon Wednesday when the area received Level 3 evacuation notices.

 

Finally, we spoke to Patti Jones. Jones is a resident in the area and retired forest aviation officer for the U.S. Forest Service. 

 

Jones’ husband, m of Chelan County Fire District 6, got word of the fire early when her husband left a bit before 7 p.m. Tuesday to respond.

 

She said that she began to worry for her friends and family that live in the area. She actually called her husband a couple times to make sure that everybody’s homes were OK.

 

To stay up to date visit us at wenatcheeworld.com

 

To read more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com

 

///

 

Also, keep in mind there are lots of resources if you are concerned for your safety… here are a few. For the full list visit our website.

 

The Red Cross Disaster Responders in the Greater Inland Northwest chapter has an evacuation shelter at Wenatchee Seventh-day Adventist Church.

 

/

 

If you have been evacuated due to the wildfires and left without Pet food or supplies, Firehouse Pet Shop is offering to provide supplies. They can deliver supplies as well. 

 

/

 

Mercantile Wenatchee is offering complimentary day passes this week to those who have been evacuated from their homes and need a place to work. They are open Monday thru Friday 8am to 5pm. 

 

/

 

Lullaby Farm in Cashmere said that the farm is open for anyone - including animals - they have a paddock and some grain. There is lots of space for camping.

 

--

 

Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

--

 

Next, 

 

Will state legislators prioritize the Apple Capital Loop highway project or pursue other transportation projects?

 

That was a main question the Chelan-Douglas Transportation Board discussed during a meeting last week.

 

Earlier this year, the board submitted a list of funding priorities totaling $225 million. Among other things, it consisted of five Apple Capital Loop projects.

 

And although the federal grant covers a large portion of the loop, $133 million is still needed to complete the project. The board hopes the state will choose to close that funding gap.

 

Board members questioned whether including priorities other than the Apple Capital Loop might give state legislators the opportunity to pass over the project in favor of other options.

 

The board weighed whether to take more time to submit an updated list of priorities to state legislators, but ultimately decided against it.

 

Now, some history…

 

Did you know that in 1995, Costco opened up its 200th store location  right here in East Wenatchee? That was the same year that they introduced their now-famous Kirkland Signature brand. While many things have changed in Wenatchee over the last 26 years, one thing hasn’t… a Costco hotdog and soda costs $1.50, the exact same it did when it opened.

 

Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Thursday July 15th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today ---  Fire ran along the northern edge of Monitor and Sunnyslope has prompted hundreds of evacuation notices over the past few days.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

 

Now our feature story…

 

Fire ran along the northern edge of Monitor and Sunnyslope Tuesday night and Wednesday, prompting hundreds of evacuation notices.

 

The Red Apple Fire was estimated at 4,000 acres at 9 a.m. Wednesday. And luckily, as of then there were no reports of damaged structures or injuries.

 

The fire was reported at 6:55 p.m. on Tuesday. It was on the 3300 block of Red Apple Road, so just about 1 and a half miles north of the intersection of Highway 2/97 and Easy Street. 

 

Less than an hour later, by 7:33 p.m. authorities called for a third alarm to bring in help from outside the area.

 

Air tankers began dropping retardant on the fire by 8:15 p.m. There were also at least two float planes, a helicopter and a spotter plane that responded.

 

By 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday, the fire had threatened 234 homes, orchards and a Chelan PUD substation on Easy Street.

 

Rich Magnussen, Chelan County emergency management specialist, noted that homes on West Eaglerock Drive were of particular concern since they were right in the fire’s apparent path. 

 

Most homes on Easy Street were shielded by orchards and an irrigation ditch along the base of the burning hillside. But that wasn't the case for the neighborhood off American Fruit Road.

 

Through the night and into yesterday morning, the fire bridged Warm Springs Canyon near American Fruit Road. 

 

Officials issued new Level 3 evacuation notices — which means get out now - starting just before midnight on Tuesday.

 

Residents are also asked to avoid the Easy Street and Sunnyslope area.

 

We spoke to Rachelle Johnson, who lives on Easy Street not far from where officials were headquartered on Tuesday. She said that after she heard about the fire she raced right home.

 

About 500 feet of orchard separated her yard from the fire’s edge. She was issued a pink paper copy of a Level 3 evacuation advising her to leave.

 

Her family had actually moved into the home recently. and many of their belongings were still in boxes. So she grabbed cash, her laptop and Lululemon leggings.

 

Firefighters continued to focus on protecting homes yesterday. They also worked hard to secure the lower end of the fire. Crews worked to contain fire on the east side of Burch Mountain where flames had spilled onto pavement.

 

After that they turned to the northern edge, which due to the lack of homes between it and Swakane Canyon, hadn’t received as much attention.

 

As of 5pm yesterday evening Easy Street West to Highway 2 - and above American Fruit Road from Burch Mountain West to Easy Street - had been reduced to a level 2 advisory. That means get ready.

 

Also as of yesterday evening Warner Canyon and Nahahum Canyon were upgraded to a level 2 advisory.

 

Stay safe, and stay up to date by visiting us at wenatcheeworld.com.

 

Also, 

 

Despite the fires, and record breaking temperatures we’ve seen in our community, it actually hasn’t been the worst year for salmon returns. Still. It hasn't been the best year for salmon returns either.

 

The number of salmon returning has been fairly close to averages, but concern remains about river conditions as the snowpack melts off quickly under high temperatures. 

 

Temperatures are high this year, but not as high as 2015. In 2015, temperatures in the Columbia River led to thousands of fish dying.

 

Overall, things are improving for salmon. Why? In the last 10 years, there has been a major push towards conservation and restoring habitat.

 

--

 

Next, 

 

Yesterday, Governor Jay Inslee announced a statewide drought emergency.

 

Right now, the only areas in the entire state not under a drought warning are the Tacoma, Seattle and Everett metro regions.

 

The drought emergency means that water supply is projected to be below 75% of average for this time of year. It also means water users are expected to experience undue hardship.

 

But because of the emergency declaration, the state Department of Ecology will be able to take emergency relief measures. It will also be able to temporarily transfer water rights and assist public entities.

 

The governor also released a wildfire emergency declaration and statewide burn ban last week. 

 

According to a state Department of Ecology, this year’s March through June period was the second driest in recorded history, since 1895. 

 

June also saw record-breaking, triple-digit temperatures. This has led to stressed fish, farmers cutting back on irrigation water and increased wildfires.

 

The agency expects to see some relief in the fall, but until then officials plan to curtail irrigation use.

 

 

The Pybus Market opened in 2013. 

 

The 25,000 square foot building was originally constructed in the 1940s as a warehouse for Englishman E.T 'Tom' Pybus' steel company. 

 

Pybus was one of Wenatchee's early pioneers. He arrived in 1911 and built his blacksmithing business into one of the area's premier steel companies. 

 

 

Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Tuesday July 13th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today - Restaurants in the Wenatchee Valley are seeing customers return in full force after the state fully reopened June 30. 

 

But between staffing shortages and higher food costs, it hasn’t been easy. 

 

Now our feature story… 

 

Grateful to finally see COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, restaurants in the Wenatchee Valley are seeing customers return in full force. The state fully reopened on June 30.

 

Indoor capacity has returned to 100% with the exception of large indoor events. 

 

So here’s a rundown of the new guidelines:

 

Fully vaccinated individuals are not required to mask indoors or outdoors unless the business requires it.

 

Still, unvaccinated individuals should continue to mask indoors.

 

And all people, regardless of vaccination status, still need to wear masks in certain places like schools, public transit, and in healthcare settings.

 

We spoke to some local businesses about how they’re feeling now that things are fully opening back up.

 

Todd Mill, owner of the Rail Station & Ale House, said it's a double edged sword.

 

Back in March 2020, Mill and his staff distributed about 17,000 free meals in the two months after Gov. Jay Inslee shut down businesses across the state.

 

That project started as a way to avoid wasting the excess food. But it ended up becoming popular, so they decided to continue as long as possible until the money ran out. 

 

Now a year later, it's a huge relief to move forward with business as it is meant to, but the restaurant doesn’t have enough employees to serve at full capacity.

 

At 21 employees and a maximum capacity of about 400 people at the restaurant, the staff can handle, at most, about 80% capacity.

 

Meanwhile, customers are dying to come out and eat. One day last week they had to turn away 40 people who wanted to come in and eat. Why? Just because they didn't have the staff to serve them. 

 

Pre-pandemic, Mill said, the restaurant operated with about 28 employees. So now, he’s looking for experienced cooks and prep cooks along with some servers and dishwashers to bring the restaurant back up to speed.

 

Concerns about labor will likely continue until the majority of the workforce returns sometime in the fall or winter. At least that’s what Shiloh Burgess says, the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce executive director.

 

Burgess said that for many families, it’s an issue of childcare.

 

Parents want to make sure their kids are going back to school full-time. There's a lot of folks that are hesitating making any kind of move until they know their kids will have stable care.

 

Unfortunately this labor shortage may be the valley's fate for the summer.

 

The community has done well in a lot of ways, but there's still some ground that we need to cover before we can really be back to full operations.

We also spoke to Salvador Rubio, the owner of two Mexican restaurants in Wenatchee and Yakima. He told us his businesses have avoided this issue by holding onto their pre-pandemic employees.

 

The entire staff all decided to return or stay on while working fewer hours when they reopened back in February. And now that the state has fully reopened, his 19 employees are working full-time and are happy to be back to normal.

 

And his customers are happy to be back too.

 

During the first weekend after reopening, Rubio saw many familiar customers coming back. 

 

One thing that has not returned to normal though, is the price of food. In fact it’s skyrocketed since last year according to Rubio.

 

Transportation issues and increased labor costs in manufacturing may be affecting this increase in price.

 

Restaurants like Ay Caramba Tres Amigos and Rail Station are seeing food prices double, with some items becoming scarce. 

 

For example. a 40-pound box of chicken that cost $60 pre-pandemic has now doubled in price.

 

Along with cost increases, there are supply shortages altogether. 

 

Mill explained that he’s three and a half weeks out now that he can’t get lemon juice. 

 

For South restaurants co-owner Price Gledhill, the full reopening also brings mixed feelings.

 

Sales this year so far have been about 15% better than in 2019 despite getting a late-start into the year. 

 

Gledhill said that people are hungry. They want to be out. They're tired of being cooped up.

 

But the issue, like Rail Station and so many other businesses, is that South restaurants don't have enough staff to increase to full capacity.

 

The restaurant at Pybus Public Market is doing well, but their Leavenworth restaurant is still at about 50% capacity. 

 

Gledhill said he has added benefits and increased wages to try and make the positions more desirable, but for now they’ll have to make do with what they have. 

 

We encourage you to read our full story and join the conversation by joining NABUR at wenatcheeworld.com/nabur.

 

-

 

Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

-

 

Here’s what else you need to know today.

 

A Bridgeport man’s push to recall the entire Bridgeport City Council was unsuccessful.

 

The petition to remove the five-member body was brought forth on June 10th to the Douglas County Superior Court by Bridgeport resident Michael Knox. 

 

Knox claimed the council failed to provide Bridgeport Transportation Benefit District spending reports.

 

But earlier this month Judge Brian Huber ruled that Knox’s allegations weren’t enough to warrant a recall. Judge Huber also noted that there was no evidence of intent to violate the law.

 

The city established the district back in 2016 to collect a $20 vehicle licensing fee from citizens. That would go towards transportation-related projects and equipment. 

 

But Knox claims the council has not released the required annual reports.

 

In his decision, Huber said that Knox did not show that the city council members who also serve on the TBD board, were responsible for publishing the reports. And not the city clerk and treasurer Judy Brown either.

 

You can learn more about this story by visiting us at wenatcheeworld.com

 

The Great Northern Railway Company came to Wenatchee in 1892. It was the first US transcontinental railroad that was built without public money. It crossed the Columbia River at Rock Island and went on to Seattle. It changed the region's commerce forever. It also attracted new citizens.

 

Today, Columbia Station is the home of the Wenatchee Valley’s Link Transit and bus systems. It was built in 1997. 

 

Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Saturday July 10th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today - Chelan County now has two wolf packs and maybe as many as six wolves, with one breeding female suspected in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness.

 

This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

 

Now our feature story...

 

Chelan County is home to a new wolf pack, as of last winter, located near Lake Chelan.

 

State Wolf Biologist Ben Maletzke said that Chelan County now has two wolf packs and maybe as many as six wolves. One of those wolves may be a breeding female in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness.

 

In 2018, the Naneum wolf pack was identified as the first pack to return to Chelan County with about two wolves.

 

It now appears that the Naneum wolf pack is up to three adults with one suspected to be a female. 

 

Maletzke has two male wolves collared in the Naneum pack, but he’s only spotted the female from a helicopter. From that high it’s hard to tell gender.

 

The Naneum pack splits its time between Kittitas and Chelan counties.

 

Maletzke has heard some evidence of wolves in the Stehekin and Holden Village areas as well, but they may have just been passing through.

 

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife says there are at least 132 wolves in the state overall. That’s up from about 108 in the 2019 report.

 

And the Eastern Washington recovery area in particular continues to exceed recovery goals, with four successful breeding pairs for three consecutive years. 

 

In fact, the North Cascades recovery area is getting close to being taken off of federally endangered status, with four successful breeding pairs in four packs.

 

The South Cascades and Northwest Coast recovery area, though, still don’t have any established wolf packs. But the agency has heard reports of individual wolves moving through the area.

 

For the state to reach its recovery goals, all three regions must have four breeding pairs of wolves for four years. And statewide there would need to be an additional six successful breeding pairs.

 

If you’ve seen any wolves or any tracks you should take a picture and upload it to the Fish and Wildlife database. 

 

To read more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com

 

--

 

Here’s what else you should know today…

 

People are banned from using fires on U.S, Bureau of Land Management and U,S, Bureau of Reclamation land.

 

The ban began earlier this week in Eastern Washington counties, including Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan. The restrictions will remain in place until the potential for wildfires decreases.

 

People who would like to do target shooting are encouraged to use private and public target ranges. Also, people are prohibited from off-roading and smoking on public lands.

 

Wenatchee’s annual Summer Concert Series is back this year with five shows featuring a mix of local and non-local artists.

 

The Centennial Park concerts are free to the public and start at 7 p.m. on Fridays.

Concert Fridays will also have a taco truck and activities for children. It’s an “event for everybody,” she said.

 

--

Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

--

 

Next, 

 

Nancy Barrett’s Class with a Glass art studio was built around the idea of inviting would-be artists to spend a couple hours following step-by-step instruction while socializing and drinking some wine. And at the end participants create a take-home masterpiece.

 

That was the “paint-and-sip” model of the then 3-year-old business when Barrett purchased it in 2017. 

 

But she’s since expanded on the idea, adding summer and holiday art camps for kids. And, in addition to acrylic paint, introduced watercolor and mixed media classes. 

Then, when COVID-19 canceled in-studio gatherings, she adapted by offering online classes and art-at-home art supplies, which served its purpose, but wasn’t ideal.

 

Now, as pandemic restrictions eased this spring, she recognized an opportunity to “make the most of a difficult year,” by making a move, literally to a larger, more visible space.

 

The 5,000-square-foot building has room for small to medium-sized group events, an art gallery to feature local artists’ work, and retail space. 

 

She’ll still continue to offer online classes, but they won’t be the focus.

 

A grand opening is planned from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. TODAY, with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at noon.

 

The event includes light refreshments and tours of the new art studio space. There will even be an interactive art demonstration following the ribbon cutting ceremony.

 

For information on the art class schedules, group events and private painting parties, go to classwithaglass.com.

 

Before we go, some local history,  Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR. Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur.

 

Now, some history…

 

Did you know that Sierra Vista resident, Glynn R. Donaho, nicknamed “Donc”, was a submarine commander during World War II for which he received the Navy Cross four times, the Silver Star Twice, and the Bronze Star? He held a number of positions in the Navy including teaching at the National War College, liaison to the United Nations, and commander of a base in the Philippines. He retired from the Navy as a Vice Admiral and retired to Sierra Vista. When he passed away in 1986, his ashes were scattered over the Pacific Ocean from the fantail of a US Navy submarine.

 

Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Thursday July 8th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today ---  Link Transit is offering free rides on all routes as part of a one-year program that began on July 1.

 

Now our feature story…

 

Link Transit is offering free rides on all routes as part of a one-year program that began on July 1.

 

Link planned to resume fare collection in January after suspending fares in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but doing so while maintaining the safety barriers separating drivers and passengers was challenging.

 

Link Transit General Manager/CEO Richard DeRock said Link was conducting an analysis of its fare policy prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

He said that in many cases, some of the most low-income users ended up being the people that were paying the highest average fares.

 

While this phenomenon is common in the transit industry, many of the solutions used by larger cities, such as electronic fare collection, aren’t available to Link. 

 

The cost of implementing that kind of technology would be around $4-5 million. Meanwhile, Link collects around $650,000 in fares a year. 

 

He added that resuming fares also has the potential to depress ridership, which is already down about 30% from pre-COVID levels.

 

Both Link and an outside consultant came to the same conclusion: The cost of collecting fares while addressing safety and disparity concerns is not currently worth the revenue it would generate.

 

During the next year, Link will monitor ridership, success of the free fare program and new technology solutions.

 

But DeRock said Link staff are concerned about a number of potential problems with free fares, including public transit becoming a hang out place for vandals, those experiencing homelessness or mentally ill individuals.

 

Free fares also impact the paratransit services, like Dial-a-Ride. Under civil rights law, Link must make specialized services for disabled individuals free if other fares are also free. 

 

But despite over a year of fare suspension, DeRock said Link has not taken a hit financially. 

 

How? COVID relief funding and the fact that fares have made up less than 6% of Link’s revenue.

 

To read more about this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com.

 

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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

 

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Also, did you know that you can now register for the Apple Century Bike Ride?

 

The 34th annual bike ride — organized by Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary — will take place Sept. 25. The bike ride features three distances: a 100-mile ride, a 50-mile ride and a 25-mile ride. 

 

The route starts in Wenatchee and continues to Lake Wenatchee and then returns back to Wenatchee. The scenery includes the high sage desert, orchards, rivery valleys and ponderosa pine forests.

 

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Next, Sam Wagner started skating when he was 5 years old. Today, as a 13-year-old attending Pioneer Middle School, it’s still his favorite thing to do. In fact, he’s at Hale Park skatepark nearly every day.

 

It’s that love for the sport that motivated him to petition the city to extend the closing time from dusk to 10 p.m. and turn on the lights at the skatepark.

 

The park opened in September 2019, and lights were installed in 2020. 

 

When they weren’t turned on, Wagner assumed it was because of COVID. But now, he’s questioning why the lights still aren’t on.

 

In the evenings as soon as the sun goes behind the buildings, it casts shadows . Wagner says this causes people to get hurt.

 

And now, it’s too hot to skate during the day, so Wagner and his friends skate in the evening. 

 

So why aren’t the lights on?

 

Dave Erickson, the city’s parks and recreation director, said the code was changed following a six-month study. The goal was to reduce vandalism and other incidents. 

 

Tina Wagner, Sam’s mom, agrees that there can be troublemakers in the parks at night, but her solution differs from that of the city.

 

She explained that people that are up to no good are going to be around anyway… So why not have light to protect innocent people?

 

Wagner had emailed each city council member on June 30th, but hasn’t received any responses. He also wrote a letter to the council.

 

Tina Wanger posted to Facebook encouraging others to attend the meeting or contact local leaders about the issue. Her initial post was shared over 150 times and has over 80 comments.

 

Ultimately, despite their frustrations, Sam and Tina Wagner said their experience with the city has been positive overall and that they are grateful to have the skatepark.

 

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Before we go, some local history. Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR

 

Now, some history - Did you know that Orondo is named for a mythical Great Lake Native American? Settled by Washington politician, John B. Smith, in the late 1800s the town is known (like much of the Wenatchee area) for its great fruit and agriculture. Orondo’s Auvil Fruit Company, which is headquartered there, helped introduce Granny Smith and Fuji Apples to the state and even developed a new fruit known as the Daroga Peach!

 

 

Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.

 

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