The Statesman-Examiner

‘No one was injured and my family is safe’

Wildfire burns through area

Leslie Kaluzny was inside the family home that she shares with her husband, Tom, and son on Slide Creek Road last Thursday when the power suddenly went out. She heard her brother yelling from the front yard. She looked out the window to see flames racing through the dry grass toward her house.
High winds much of the day caused a tree limb to fall on a power line, resulting in sparking wires that quickly turned into a wildfire that consumed over 1,000 acres of federal and private land and threatened 165 homes around 12 Mile Road. A Red Cross shelter was set up at Colville High School Thursday evening to accommodate evacuated residents from the area.

Plenty to do this weekend in Northport

One of the most enduring community celebrations in the region is back again this weekend.
The popular Northport Labor Day Celebration, started 54 years ago to help the Lions Club promote its big barbecue, returns Sept. 4-6 with something for everyone.
Much has changed over the years with the celebration, according to spokeswoman Donna Godes. But the celebration over Labor Day weekend is still centered around the barbecue.

What does parking have to do with it?

Does downtown parking affect where you shop? Some may say that the issue of diagonal parking in downtown Colville is making a mountain out of a molehill, or in this case, a passing lane out of a parking spot. But the subject was no small matter to business owners that attended the public meeting about diagonal parking last Friday at Colville City Hall.
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Underage? Don’t have a drink

Project reminds adults not to encourage teenage drinking

In an effort to provide alcohol/drug awareness through Stevens County, Stevens County Counseling Prevention Specialist Siena Smith is teaming up with local retailers for the Project Sticker Shock campaign.
“It targets adults 21 and older who might be purchasing alcohol for a minor,” Smith said of the project. “We’re not trying to be the police, we just want to make people aware of the risks you take when you purchase alcohol for a minor, not just for themselves, but for teenagers as well.”

Bus service starts this month

Ribbon Cutting scheduled for Sept. 18

    Be prepared, because it looks like the bus to Spokane is coming early.
   According to Northeast Washington Regional Transportation Planning Organization Program Coordinator, Karen Van Soest, a ribbon-cutting for the bus line that will take passengers from Kettle Falls to downtown Spokane is scheduled for September.
   “We’re so excited about this, it’s been a long time coming,” said Van Soest. “I think this will be such a boon to our community, and I hope people will turn out for the ribbon cutting.”
   The event is scheduled for Sept. 18 at the Kettle Falls Visitor’s Center. Time has yet to be announced.

School bus stop rules

    A new school year will be soon starting and many of our children will be riding the busses to and from school. The Washington State Patrol (WSP) would like you to take a few minutes to refresh your knowledge on how to drive safely around school busses as they are picking up and dropping off our children.
   The WSP has posted a video discussing rules of the road and driving safety around the school busses, when to stop and when to proceed. The School Bus Stop Rules video is posted at http://www.youtube.com/wspgovandmedia.
   The law states the $394 fine for failure to stop for a school bus cannot be reduced, suspended, or waived. If you get a ticket for failure to stop for a school bus you will pay the full amount.
   We cannot stress enough how important it is to practice safe driving, especially when children are present.
   For more information about driver safety and other WSP information videos, please visit the Hot Topics section on our Web site at www.wsp.wa.gov.