See our previous story: Buckner Orchard Harvest Fest 2023 is on!
With the exception of Poetry Night on Sunday, all Harvest Fest events will be held as originally planned. A government shutdown will not impact the event.
HYAK – The Washington State Department of Transportation and contractor crews will close I-90 for approximately one hour starting at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3 and Thursday, Oct. 5. During rock blasting closures, eastbound travelers will be stopped at milepost 63 and westbound travelers will be stopped at exit 70 near Easton.
Rock blasting is scheduled to occur one to two times per week into the fall, one hour before sunset, and the closure will last up to one hour. This work is part of the major improvement project to widen I-90 from four to six lanes between the Cabin Creek interchange and the West Easton interchange.
WSDOT provides a variety of tools to help plan your trip over Snoqualmie Pass this summer:
On 9/26/23, at approximately 4:13 am, deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 14000 block of Brae Burn Rd by Lake Wenatchee. Deputies spoke with the reporting party whom advised that during an argument, her boyfriend had shot at her dog (but missed) and held a gun to her neck and threatened her. She was able to get away and call law enforcement.
Due to the nature of the threats, and the alleged use of firearms, the Eastern Cascade SWAT Team responded. An arrest warrant was obtained for the male. As the SWAT team surrounded the residence, the male exited and was taken into custody without incident.
Due to the ongoing investigation, no names will be released at this time.
It is with deep disappointment and sadness to share that the 2023 Haunted Manson Haunted House Experience is canceled. All other Haunted Manson activities will continue as planned.
What happened?
The haunted house has operated successfully for the past two years, following the guidelines originally given by Chelan County. Unfortunately, the Fire Marshal informed us of new guidelines for construction with only two weeks until opening night, making the Haunted House impossible to produce this year.
The guideline requiring that there is no cover on the "house," even something temporary like a tarp or having it raised off the bins, makes the operation of the Haunted House impossible.
Since darkness is a crucial element to many of the Haunted House's special effects, and we cannot protect it from the elements without cover, we are forced to cancel the Haunted House.
What's next?
While this is a devastating blow to our hardworking group of volunteers and the Manson community, we have a great new event planned!
Mark your calendar for a Haunted Manson Block Party on Saturday, October 28th. This will include food trucks, vendors, a Pumpkin Walk for kids, a Zombie Dash, a DJ dance party, and a live auction happening in Downtown Manson.
HARVEST FEST WILL HAPPEN!
October 6—8
VALLEY MUSIC NIGHT
PICKING, PRESSING AND POTLUCK!
If the Orchard is not available for use because of a government shutdown, the plan is to pre-pick apples as we did in 2013, then make cider at 10 AM at the school, and potluck at 1 PM. Cider presses, bins, sieves, knives, a limited number of containers, everything needed for cider making will be provide; as will the chili, the fixings, and all that’s needed for the potluck as detailed in the flyer below.
SUNDAY—7 PM
POETRY NIGHT
Should the Golden West Visitors Center not be available, Poetry Night will be cancelled.
COMMUNICATIONS
Every effort will be made to keep plans up to date in what is, at the moment, an unknown scenario. Your help will be needed with the pre-picking if we need to do so.
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CASHMERE, Wash. (Sept. 25, 2023) —Crunch Pak®, the sliced apple specialist, received the 2023 Produce Industry Advocate of the Year Award from the International Fresh Produce Association at the organization’s annual Washington Conference on Sept. 14.
The award recognizes a member and/or organization that serves as an advocate for the entire produce industry. Honorees are leading companies and associations that make an impact and drive the industry forward.
Executive Vice President Tony Freytag accepted the award on behalf of Crunch Pak and was recognized for his outstanding support for public policy advocacy through engagement with federal legislative, regulatory and other government officials. Freytag has spent many years working on U.S. federal policy objectives, on behalf of the company, to advance the fresh produce industry and has been active with IFPA produce industry political initiatives such as the Washington Conference, Advocacy Action Network and FreshPAC.
“This year's winner has contributed in numerous ways to the success of the entire produce industry, encouraging team members to serve on volunteer leadership positions, utilizing the Congressional Connection Guide to bring Members of Congress and their staffs to their operations, and generously contributing not only to the FreshPAC but also to the industry efforts to elevate the Produce Prescriptions campaign,” said Rebeckah Adcock, vice president of government relations at IFPA. “When IFPA or the produce industry asks, Crunch Pak answers with action and generous support on all our priorities.”
Founded in 2000 in Cashmere, Wash., Crunch Pak is the largest sliced apple company in the country.
Freytag said, “Crunch Pak recognizes how important it is for the produce industry to have a voice in legislative and regulatory matters. Our involvement with IFPA has been vital for us as we support the efforts to increase produce consumption overall.”
WATERVILLE, WASHINGTON — The Douglas County Board of Commissioners request that Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority Commissioners equally consider the majority will of Douglas County voters when it comes to equalizing the Port’s tax levy rate.
Appearing before voters in both Chelan and Douglas Counties in the November 7 election, Proposition 1, “The Ports of Chelan and Douglas Counties Unifying Tax Levy Rates Across Districts,” seeks to equalize the Port’s tax levy rate for Chelan and Douglas County taxpayers. If approved, Proposition 1 would increase the tax rate for Douglas County taxpayers while decreasing the rate for Chelan County taxpayers.
According to State of Washington 2023 voter data, there are 51,401 registered voters in Chelan County and 26,726 registered voters—approximately 49% fewer—in Douglas County. The Proposition 1 election results will reflect the simple majority of all votes cast across both counties, not each individual county’s majority results.
“We feel that only a majority of votes in each county would make this legitimate,” said Dan Sutton, Chair of the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners. “Otherwise, the Port’s Proposition 1 gives Chelan County voters the opportunity to decide Douglas County taxes.”
The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority (CDRPA) tax levy equalization initiative stems from the recent passing of Washington State House Bill 1663, a bill that allows consolidated port districts to adopt a joint property tax levy. The CDRPA is an esteemed partner to Douglas County—working with the Douglas County Board of Commissioners to encourage development that has created jobs, supported the local economy, and cemented the region as a premier industrial location—but the Board of Commissioners expressed concern that HB1663 will not require future equalizations to be put in front of voters.
“House Bill 1663, introduced by two Chelan County 12th District representatives—Keith Goehner of Dryden and Mike Steele of Chelan—gives the Regional Port Authority the ability to impose future tax rate equalizations without going to a vote of the people,” said Sutton.
Douglas County Board of Commissioners encourage voters to contact their Port representatives and request that Douglas County voters get equal consideration in the upcoming November 7 election results.
“No matter the results of the election, we feel that Douglas County residents deserve equal consideration when it comes to their taxes,” said Douglas County Commissioner Marc Straub. “If the will of Douglas County voters is to equalize rates in this manner, then we will continue to support our community as we always have done.”
HYAK – The Washington State Department of Transportation and contractor crews will close I-90 for approximately one hour at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26 and Thursday, Sept. 28. During rock blasting closures, eastbound travelers will be stopped at milepost 63 and westbound travelers will be stopped at exit 70 near Easton.
Rock blasting is scheduled to occur one to two times per week throughout the rest of summer and into the fall, one hour before sunset, and the closure will last up to one hour. This work is part of the major improvement project to widen I-90 from four to six lanes between the Cabin Creek interchange and the West Easton interchange.
WSDOT provides a variety of tools to help plan your trip over Snoqualmie Pass this summer:
WATERVILLE, WASHINGTON – The Douglas County Board of Commissioners adopted a new permitting process for drivers of motor vehicles exceeding 10,000 pounds in weight to regain use of McNeil Canyon Road at a public hearing on September 19, 2023.
McNeil Canyon Road closed to the operation of motor vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW) on August 29, 2023, due to road condition concerns, redesign, construction, and accidents caused by vehicle equipment failure. The closure allows for Douglas County crews to complete topography analysis, roadway curve design and evaluation of the necessary right-of-way acquisitions needed for a planned roadway realignment and safety improvement project on McNeil Canyon Road, anticipated to be complete by 2025.
Interested drivers can find the Special Motor Vehicle Permit for authorization to haul on McNeil Canyon Road linked on the Douglas County website Transportation Travel & Traffic Alerts page, by visiting http://lfforms.douglascountywa.net/Forms/SMVP, or in person at the Public Services Building located at 140 19th Street NW in East Wenatchee. Most permits can be issued on the same day if the applicant can provide the necessary information.
The McNeil Canyon Road Special Motor Vehicle Permit includes the following conditions:
Affected vehicles without a permit during the McNeil Canyon Road closure can use three alternate routes, including US Hwy 2 Pine Canyon Road, Road C NW (SR 172), and Bridgeport Hill Road.
MVT WebCam 
