fill Latest Okanogan, Washington, weather fill
fill Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, serving North Central Washington from Omak since 1910 Follow us on  twitter facebook fill
 
THIS WEEK'S
FRONT PAGES

Posted: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 - 11:12 p.m. PST
Ferry County voters favor non-motorized trail
By Brenda Starkey
Chronicle staff

     REPUBLIC - Ferry County voters favor a non-motorized rail trail, according to preliminary counts of a non-binding advisory measure that appeared on the Nov. 3 ballot.
     In contested, off-year preliminary election results, voters gave the nod to Larry Heming over Alex Wirt for Republic City Council, Ralph C. Ellingson over Linette Richie for Republic School Board and Kim McElheran over Jim Davidson for Curlew School Board, according to figures from the county auditor's office.
     With a 53.76 percent voter turnout, 1,384 ballots, or 61 percent, favored a non-motorized rail trail, compared to 884, or about 39 percent, wanting motorized use of the 28-mile rail corridor between Torboy and Danville, according to the preliminary results.
     The county measure is an advisory vote and county commissioners are not required to abide by it, although at least one has said he would.
     In another unofficial election-night count, Larry D. Heming took 160 votes, or 57.35 percent, compared to 119 votes, 42.65 percent, for incumbent city Councilman Alex Wirt, according to the auditor's office.
     Incumbent Councilman Dave Michel received 202 votes in an unopposed race while Valerie J. Hester, running unopposed for the position being vacated by DiAnne Hewitt, got 162, according to the unofficial election night tally.
     Two school board positions, one in the Republic district and one in Curlew, were contested.
     Kim McElheran received 242 votes for 57.35 of the ballots cast in both Okanogan and Ferry counties, while former school board director Jim Davidson took 180 votes, 42.65 percent , according to the auditor's office.
     They were running for school director No. 1 position being vacated by Harold Strandberg.
     Incumbent Brad Miller received 322 votes for an uncontested seat on the Curlew School Board, according to combined unofficial returns from Okanogan and Ferry counties.
     In the Republic district, incumbent Ralph C. Ellingson received 713 votes from Okanogan County and Ferry County voters for 72.68 percent of the unofficial results, compared to 268 ballots, 27.32 percent, for Lynette Richie.
     Richard Eich, who was unopposed for the Republic School Board, received 796 votes, according to the unofficial results from both counties.
     In Ferry County Hospital District No. 1, Ron Bacon got 1,288 votes, Stella Windsor garnered 1,278 and Nancy Betschart reeived 1,220 for uncontested commissioner positions, according to the Ferry County Auditor's Office.
     In the Keller School District, Jasin Wellons received 64 votes, Particia A. Conant got 62 and Cheryl Richmond earned 61 in uncontested races, according to the auditor's office.
     For uncontested Orient School Board positions, Gabe Kerr took 91 ballots, Brad Armstrong 95 and Michele Fisher 74, according to the Stevens County Auditor's Office. This ballot count reflects unofficial results from both Stevens and Ferry counties
     In Valley School District, Karen Hoffman received 136 votes while Richard Whitney took 153, according to the Ferry County Auditor's Office. Both positions were uncontested.
     In Kettle Falls School District, which is divided between Ferry and Stevens counties, Donald A. Pratt got 967 and Erin Buckley-Noonan took 970, according to the unofficial results. Each was running for uncontested.
     Susan Dechant received 313 ballots in an unopposed race for commissioner in Fire District No. 3, while John E. Jensen received 649 votes for a similar position in Fire District No. 13 and Landon Swafford took 366 votes in Fire District No. 14, according to the Ferry County Auditor's Office.
     Troy Reynolds, running unopposed for Curlew Water District commissioner, received 17 votes, according to the unofficial election night tally.
     In state measures, 1,162 Ferry County voters, or 52.46 percent, approved Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033 concerning state, county and city revenue, while 1,053, or 47.54 percent, voted against it, according to the auditor's office.
     Statewide, the measure was failing in unofficial returns, with 428,354 voting yes and 533,476 voting no.
     Approximately 63 percent, or 1,400 Ferry County ballots, rejected Referendum 71 concerning rights and responsibilities of state-registered domestic partners, while 821, or some 37 percent, approved the measure, according to the auditor's office.
     Statewide, the measure was passing on election night, with 506,936 yes votes to 484,567 no votes.
     The final ballot count will be at 1 p.m. Nov. 24, and the election will be certified on that date, according to the auditor's office.
 
  NEWS HEADLINES
Pearl Hill detour bridge proposed near Bridgeport
Five injured in SUV crash near Okanogan
Omak man loses appeal of theft conviction
Levy song nearly makes it on the air
Oroville seeks funds for new library
Family reacts to arrest in Bauer homicide case
Omak man hears anticipated murder, rape charges
Spaghetti feed and auction will benefit Oroville fire victim
Omak man arrested for 1998 homicide  
New dock, park reconfiguration pondered in Bridgeport
Horticulture meeting tackles various topics
New library proposed for Oroville
Fish and Wildlife Commission consider reducing sturgeon harvest
Bridgeport board discusses changes to senior trip
Auditions set for state Nashville Country Star
Two Canadians plead guilty to drug charges
Six families remain homeless after fire
Omak police ask for help in locating missing man  
Baird offered seat on Douglas-Okanogan fire board
WAEF offers scholarships from tree fruit industry
Water districts will survey Bridgeport Bar residents
Grants offered for community, school projects
Two hurt in crash near Brewster
Charges against one Inchelium juvenile are dropped
Nespelem all-school reunion planned
Mood Swings will perform Jan. 30
Weight restrictions in place on county roads
One hurt when vehicle overturns
Wauconda man injured in crash
Figure skater signs autographs in Spokane
Pateros seeks two-year maintenance and operations levy
Bridgeport district seeks $180,000 for two years
Brewster district asks for two-year levy
Levy would support technology in Okanogan
Omak would collect levy in 2011 and 2012
Oroville levy would allow long-range planning
Brewster will keep a six-officer force
Small towns rely on volunteers
Red Cross offers fire safety tips
 
  RECENTLY POSTED PHOTO ALBUMS
Added Feb. 2: Super Mush Snow Dog Races at Conconully - Saturday
Added Jan. 31: World Famous Suicide Race - Sunday
Added Jan. 28: Conconully Outhouse races
Added Dec. 28: Polar Plunge - Dec. 18
Added Dec. 23: Cascade at Okanogan girls basketball - Dec. 18
Added Dec. 23: Cascade at Okanogan boys basketball - Dec. 18
Added Dec. 22: Liberty Bell at Okanogan girls basketball - Dec. 8
Added Dec. 21: Liberty Bell at Okanogan boys basketball - Dec. 8
Added Dec. 20: Reardan at Omak girls' basketball - Dec. 5
Added Dec. 18: Reardan at Omak boys' basketball - Dec. 5
Added Dec. 18: Omak PIT wrestling tournament - Dec. 5
Added Dec. 13: Christmas party at Tunk Valley Grange - Dec. 12
 
  RECENTLY POSTED VIDEOS
Added Jan. 19: April 19, 2008: Waylon Timentwa
Added Jan. 19: April 19, 2008: Shawn Best
Added Jan. 19: April 20, 2008: Waylon Timentwa
Added Jan. 14: Dec. 18, 2009: Polar Plunge
Added Jan. 14: Dec. 19, 2009: Live Nativity 2009 - Part I
Added Jan. 14: Dec. 19, 2009: Live Nativity 2009 - Part II
Added Jan. 14: Dec. 19, 2009: Live Nativity 2009 - Part III
 

newspaper for ad Get all your Okanogan County news and sports coverage delivered to you for only 54 cents a week.
 Legal Considerations
The Chronicle respects your right to privacy. Please read our privacy policy for details concerning our use of customer information.

All contents copyright © 1999-2010, The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, Omak, WA 98841, owned and operated by Eagle Newspapers Inc., unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
 
fill fill fill
Sunrise Chevrolet
Visit Remax Lake and Country
Visit Gene's Home-Owned Grocery in Omak, Washington
Visit the Breadline Cafe in Omak, Washington
MyCapture photo buying online
Visit Fogle Pump and Supply
Visit John L. Scott Realty
Visit Caring Dental Center
Chronicle Business and Service Directory