WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority Director of Airports Trent Moyers testified before the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation during a hearing to highlight the importance of commercial air service to residents and businesses across the Wenatchee Valley.
Moyers testified at the invitation of Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, who chairs the Committee. The Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and air transportation, held yesterday’s hearing to discuss ways to enhance consumer protection and connectivity in air transportation.
In his appearance before the Committee, Moyers detailed how the loss of air service since the outbreak of the COVID19 pandemic has impacted the ability of Wenatchee residents to reach their destinations across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
“Today, service in Wenatchee and many small airports has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, largely due to a lack of airline capacity,” Moyers said. “The number of daily flights to our airport has gone from four in recent years down to one. The post-pandemic recovery of air service continues to be challenging in Wenatchee, but we know we're not alone.”
“In the Wenatchee Valley, 850 people drive, every day, to an airport other than Pangborn because connectivity from Wenatchee is limited. A single flight per day to Seattle means only 76 people can directly access air transportation to or from Wenatchee, without spending three hours driving.”
In her opening remarks at the hearing, Sen. Cantwell also highlighted the economic benefits of commercial air service to Wenatchee:
“Next to the airport, Microsoft is building a 41,000-square-foot data center that will employ 50 full-time employees,” Sen. Cantwell said. “This a $400 million investment that would not be possible without the airport connection to the larger Washington economy. So we have to have our communities like Wenatchee thrive. And for Wenatchee to thrive, they need good air transportation connectivity.”
Moyers highlighted steps Congress could take to support air service to small and rural communities, including providing greater flexibility for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Program and increasing the share of funding the federal government contributes to airport infrastructure improvement projects.
Video of Mr. Moyers’ opening testimony is available here and a transcript is available here. A transcript and video of Mr. Moyers’ Q&A with Sen. Cantwell is available here.
Pangborn Memorial Airport is owned and operated by the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority. To learn more about current economic development projects taking place within the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority, please visit: www.cdrpa.org.
*** UPDATE February 22nd, 2023 1530 ***
Sheriff Mike Morrison reports on February 22nd no rescuers were sent in to the avalanche scene near Colchuck Peak. Two avalanche experts from Northwest Avalanche Center deployed to the Colchuck area to assess the current avalanche hazard. The bodies of the climbers killed in the avalanche remain at the scene.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office is identifying the avalanche victims as:
• Seong Cho, a 54-year-old male Korean National residing in West Hartford Connecticut
• Jeannie Lee, a 60-year-old female from Bayside New York
• Yun Park, a 66-year-old male from Palisades Park New Jersey
Recovery efforts from this point forward will be based on avalanche and weather conditions as well as overall rescuer safety.
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Sheriff Mike Morrison reports on February 20th, 2023 Deputies were contacted at the CCSO Leavenworth substation about an avalanche that occurred near Colchuck Lake the previous day. The reporting party, a 53-year-old Maryland man reported the group he was with had attempted to climb Colchuck Peak on Sunday February 19th. There were six climbers in that group and the reporting party had stayed at their base camp that day.
The lead climber triggered an avalanche while attempting to climb the Northeast Couloir of Colchuck Peak. Four of the climbers were swept down the couloir approximately 500 feet. Three of the climbers died as a result of trauma sustained in the fall. They were a 60-year-old female from New York, a 66-year-old male from New Jersey, and a 53-year-old male from Connecticut. The fourth climber, a 56 year old male form New York sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was able to hike back to base camp with the remaining two. They were a 50-year-old male from New York and a 36-year-old male from New Jersey. When they arrived at camp, they sent the reporting party for help.
When Deputies took the report, A SAR coordinator started gathering resources. A total of 22 rescuers responded to the trailhead to assist with this effort. They were from Chelan County Mounty Rescue, Chelan County Volunteer Search and Rescue and ORV unit, Seattle Mountain Rescue, Tacoma Mountain Rescue, and Yakima Mountain Rescue. A group of four from Chelan County Mountain Rescue responded to the lake driven part of the way by the CCVSAR ORV unit. They reached the base camp at approximately 1:30 pm. They were able to determine avalanche conditions were too hazardous to continue to the deceased climbers. They escorted the surviving climbers back to the trailhead.
Rescuers were not sent back in to the scene today due to hazardous conditions. CCSO continues to work with Northwest Avalanche Center to assist in a recover plan.
Colchuck Peak sits at the South end of Colchuck Lake approximately 8 miles South of Leavenworth, WA.
MEMBERSHIP REMINDER
For whatever reason, renewal and new memberships for 2023 are off to a VERY slow start. If we are to continue our work at the Buckner Orchard, your support is critical. Please consider using this link (click here) or writing a check this weekend to help make 2023 another successful year at the Orchard.
Many thanks for all you've done and will do!
Herb
Herb Sargo
President
Promoting the care and preservation of the Buckner homestead, orchard, and community atmosphere in perpetuity
2023 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
Truly A Touchstone!
As reported in our 2022 Annual Report were able to do many good things at the Homestead and Orchard thanks to your support, contributions, and volunteering. If we are to continue this good work, funding and volunteering must continue
The Buckner Orchard and Homestead need your support more than ever.
2022 Annual Report Link: http://bucknerhomestead.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BHHF2022-ANNUAL-REPORT-1.pdf
A Touchstone
The Buckner Orchard is truly a touchstone to the past; to the history found here, to a simpler life and time, to a previous experience. It can be personal, enlightening, reflective. An encounter this past summer brought this home to me in a most poignant way.
I drove back to the Orchard one morning as the Stehekin Valley Adventures bus was loading to leave. Stan, the driver and guide, came quickly over to me. "Perfect timing, there's someone here you need to meet."
As I got out of the van, visitors started getting back off the bus, as a slight, older woman, assisted by two gentlemen, walked toward me from the Buzzard Cabin.
This was a "bucket list" moment for 97 year-old Gwen. Accompanied by her three children, one at least as old as I am, this was their gift to her. Gwen was a Chelan classmate and close friend of my late aunt, Hobbie Buckner. Gwen and her family had lived at High Bridge one summer long ago,and Stehekin and the Buckner Ranch remain an important part of her life. She was especially pleased to be able to share and talk with someone who had a connection to and knew those she had such fond and vivid memories of.
The rest of the tour members stood around us, quietly listening.
At some point, someone handed us a photo album. Ten pages of small black and white photos and a single, typed page, Gwen had made the album just for this visit to Stehekin - to help her children understand just how important this was to her. The photos were from 1940, many of her and Hobbie, and several that included Hobbie's sister, Bucky. Bathing in the river at High Bridge under the guise of swimming, a hikes to a lookout, and other things teenage girls would do and share. She knew the Sisters are gone, and asked about their families, the Buckner Ranch, and Stehekin.
As our visit was coming to end, she gave me a gentle hug, thanked me, and quietly confided that, surely, this would be her last visit to Stehekin.
As I mentioned, the bus was about to leave when this all began, Stan and the other visitors waited quietly and patiently for fifteen minutes or so, knowing how important this was for Gwen.
It was a moment for all of us.
The Orchard is a touchstone to the past in many different ways, as it was for Gwen. Your support of the Foundation and Orchard can help it remain so, long into the future. You can be the difference.
Herb Sargo
BHHF President
Memberships are one form of contributing funds to support the Foundation's work at the Homestead and Orchard.
RENEWALS - Quick and Convenient, renew digitally on-line (click here)
If you prefer, a check, made out to the Buckner Homestead Heritage Foundation (BHHF), should be mailed to PO Box 184, Manson, WA 98831. As a renewal, we will have your information on file. Please include your e-mail address, as this is how we receipt and communicate with members in a cost-effective manner. And, your contribution is tax deductible as allowed by the IRS.
NEW MEMBERSHIP - Download and print the membership form found at this link (click here) and mail to PO Box 184, Manson, WA 98831. Again, be sure to include your e-mail address. Or, simply use the link above for renewals for an easy on-line membership.
Individual - $25.00
Family - $50.00
Business - $75.00
Patron - $100.00
Benefactor - $250.00
Steward - $500.00
Sustainer - $1,000.00
Or, any amount you choose!
Please join us today with whatever level of membership you choose and help us assure a productive, successful, and memorable future for the Buckner Homestead. Not sure how your contribution will be used? Then, review our 2022 Financial Summary, included in the Annual Report at the link at the top of this article. All Foundation work and administration is done entirely by volunteers.
The Buckner Homestead Heritage Foundation is a not-for-profit organization created specifically to support and preserve the Buckner Homestead and Orchard in Stehekin, Washington, and is registered as such with the State of Washington and the IRS (Tax ID #452913458)
As reported in our 2022 Annual Report, the Foundation was able to do many good things at the Homestead and Orchard thanks to your support, contributions, and volunteering. If we are to continue this good work, funding and volunteering must continue
The Buckner Orchard and Homestead need your support more than ever.
2022 Annual Report Link
http://bucknerhomestead.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BHHF2022-ANNUAL-REPORT-1.pdf
I drove back to the Orchard one morning just as the Stehekin Valley Adventures bus was loading to leave. Stan, the driver and guide, came quickly over to me. "Perfect timing, there's someone here you need to meet."
As I got out of the van, visitors started getting back off the bus, as a slight, older women, assisted by two gentlemen, walked toward me from the Buzzard Cabin.
For 97 year-old Gwen, this was a bucket list moment. Accompanied by her three children, one at least as old as I am, this was their gift to her. Gwen was a Chelan classmate of my late aunt, Hobby Buckner, and was her close friend. Gwen and her family had lived at High Bridge one summer long ago,and Stehekin and the Buckner Ranch remain an important part of her life. She was especially pleased and excited to be able to share and talk with someone who had a connection to and knew those she had such fond and vivid memories of.
The rest of the tour members stood around us, quietly listening.
At some point, someone handed us a photo album. Ten pages of small black and white photos and a single, typed page, Gwen had made the album just for this visit to Stehekin - to help her children understand just how important this was to her. The photos were from 1940, many of her and Hobbie, and several that included Hobbie's sister, Bucky. Bathing in the river at High Bridge under the guise of swimming, a hike to a lookout, and other things teenage girls would do and share. She knew the Sisters are gone, and asked about their families and Stehekin.
As our visit was coming to end, she gave me a gentle hug, thanked me, and quietly confided that, surely, this would be her last visit to Stehekin.
As I mentioned, the bus was about to leave when this all began, Stan and the other visitors waited quietly and patiently for fifteen minutes or so, knowing how important this was for Gwen.
It was a moment for all of us.
The Orchard is a touchstone to the past in many different ways, as it was for Gwen. Your support can help it remain so, long into the future. You can make it happen.
Memberships are one form of contributing funds to support the Foundation's work at the Homestead and Orchard.
RENEWALS - Quick and Convenient, renew digitally on-line (click here)
If you prefer, a check, made out to the Buckner Homestead Heritage Foundation (BHHF), should be mailed to PO Box 184, Manson, WA 98831. As a renewal, we will have your information on file. Please include your e-mail address, as this is how we receipt and communicate with members in a cost-effective manner. And, your contribution is tax deductible as allowed by the IRS.
NEW MEMBERSHIP - Download and print the membership form found at this link (click here) and mail to PO Box 184, Manson, WA 98831. Again, be sure to include your e-mail address. Or, simply use the link above for renewals for an easy on-line membership.
Please join us today with whatever level of membership you choose and help us assure a productive, successful, and memorable future for the Buckner Homestead. Not sure how your contribution will be used? Then, review our 2022 Financial Summary, included in the Annual Report at the link at the top of this message. All Foundation work and administration is done entirely by volunteers.
The Chelan store is re-opening with new features and an overall refreshed look to better serve customers
WHAT:
On Friday, February 3, at 9 a.m., the Chelan community will be invited back to the newly remodeled Walmart store at 108 N Apple Blossom Dr., Chelan, WA 98816. The store is celebrating its remodel and 16 years of local impact with a community celebration and employee recognition ceremony. The store manager, Aaron Evans, will honor 20 of the store's original associates for their service to the Chelan community since 2007.
Families are invited to attend and can enjoy local food trucks, win prizes from vendors, see the store’s updates and view a new mural inside the store that celebrates the Chelan community.
Following the ribbon-cutting celebration, the media is invited inside the Chelan store to see the remodel with innovations and improvements designed to save customers time and money.
WHEN:
Friday, February 3, 2023
Community celebration begins at 9 a.m.
WHERE:
Chelan Walmart Supercenter
08 N Apple Blossom Dr
Chelan, WA 98816
On 1/21/23 at approximately 5:18PM Douglas County Deputies were dispatched to a report of a female who had been shot in the 17000 block of Badger Mtn Rd.
Reporting parties advised they saw a female passenger fall out of a vehicle they were following. The vehicle stopped, and the male driver exited and shot the female multiple times. The male then began shooting at the witness vehicle. The witness vehicle was able to retreat, sustaining minor injuries. The suspect then fled, but with assistance from East Wenatchee PD, Wenatchee PD, Chelan County SO, Washington State Patrol and Fish & Wildlife, law enforcement was able to locate and apprehend the suspect without further incident.
The female victim of the shooting on Badger Mountain Road, was later identified as Alyssa Ann Longwell, a 37 year old female out of Kennewick, WA. Alyssa ultimately died from her injuries at the scene.
The suspect, Dalton Scott Potter, a 27 year old male out of Wenatchee, was arrested and booked into the Chelan County Jail for the crimes of Murder in the first degree (Domestic Violence) for the shooting of Alyssa Longwell, and two (2) counts of attempted murder in the second degree, as a result of shooting at and hitting the witness vehicle occupied by two people.
Douglas County Detectives and Deputies will be continuing follow up investigations.
This incident is a tragedy not commonly seen in Douglas County. I am proud of the men and women of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for their efforts to quickly and safely bring this incident to a close. I am also grateful for our partner agencies, East Wenatchee PD, Wenatchee PD, Chelan County SO, Washington State Patrol, and Fish and Wildlife, as well as all Douglas County first responders, who assisted in this incident. I would also like to extend our appreciation to all the Douglas County citizens who quickly and accurately reported suspicious activities in the area, which greatly assisted in the ability to resolve this dangerous situation.
On 11/26/22 2 reports were received by our office in regards to local area victims receiving phone calls from subjects claiming to be Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Deputies from the Warrants Department. These calls were an attempt to solicit money in the form of gift cards to avoid an arrest. The caller also attempted to solicit personal information. This is a scam.
We continue to ask citizens to be aware of all the various types of telephone scams which are currently in circulation and do not disclose your personal information, or pay money to anyone you do not know. Please continue to report all scam related incidents to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
On 11-21-2022 at approximately 7:33 PM, Douglas County Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle near mile marker 8 on State Route 173 (Bridgeport Bar, WA).
While contacting the driver of the stopped vehicle, deputies observed a vehicle approaching them on the highway. The vehicle traveled over the fog line and struck the patrol car, causing significant damage to both vehicles. The deputies were able to move out of the way and were uninjured. After striking the patrol car, the suspect vehicle proceeded to travel southbound on SR 173 towards Bridgeport.
Deputies advised RiverCom Dispatch of the incident and provided a description of the suspect vehicle. Another Douglas County Deputy located the vehicle traveling southbound on SR 173. The vehicle was missing a front tire, which caused sparks to be emitted down the roadway.
The deputy was able to stop the vehicle near approximately mile marker 4 on SR 173. With the assistance of the Brewster Police Department, the driver identified as Hendrika Isensee a 76-year-old Bridgeport resident was detained, without further incident. Washington State Patrol responded, placed her under arrest for suspicion of DUI and Hit and Run, and booked her into the Okanogan County Jail.
MVT WebCam 