Case# 22D00219
On 1-14-2022, at approximately 9:46 PM, Douglas County Deputies received a request for a welfare check to be completed on Kevin S. James, a 56 year old Des Moines, WA resident. Mr. James was last reported to be on Spring Canyon Road in Orondo, WA and had not been heard from in over 24 hours.
Due to limited access, deputies utilized a track equipped UTV to access the area. As a result of the search, Mr. James was located deceased next to a snowmobile which was located off of the roadway.
A cause of death is still yet to be determined, however; based on initial findings it appears Mr. James suffered a medical incident and there was no evidence to suggest foul play.
Case# 22D00227/22D00228-SCAM ALERT
On 1-15-2022, five reports were received by our office in regards to local area victims receiving phone calls from subjects posing as employees of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
One of the victims were told they had warrants for their arrest and they needed to pay money to have the warrants cancelled. The other four victims reported being told they had court documents which they failed to complete and they needed to respond to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to provide signatures. One victim reported the phone call they received was from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office business phone line. The other four victims reported receiving their calls all from the same number using a (509) area code.
As a reminder, our office will not contact anyone by phone making these types of notifications and/or requests. Be aware of all the various types of telephone scams which are currently in circulation and do not disclose your personal information to anyone you do not know. Please continue to report all scam related incidents to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Original tune stars local Leavenworth musicians
LEAVENWORTH, WA - Dec. 21, 2021 - The Bavarian-themed village of Leavenworth, Wash., has just released a new Christmas carol of its own and it seems to be catching on.
“Merry Christmas from Leavenworth” has garnered tens of thousands of views and heartfelt comments on social media since it was first posted last week. The production, featuring nine local Leavenworth musicians, was filmed in various iconic locations around Leavenworth, and seeks to impart a message of peace and community. Incorporating instruments ranging from the banjo to saxophone to alphorn, it’s an unusually beautiful piece of music.
A project of the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, the music video was created and produced by director Jamie Howell of Howell at the Moon Productions, with original music and lyrics from Leavenworth musician Eric Link.
“It’s hard to find a place with more Christmas spirit than Leavenworth,” said Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Troy Campbell. “And fortunately, we’re also blessed with the musical talent to back it up. There is real joy in this project and we couldn’t be more excited to share it.”
With 30,000 views on Facebook already, and thousands more on Instagram and YouTube, the sharing is going as planned.
The original song which was recorded in the Snowy Owl Theater at Icicle Creek Center for the Arts in Leavenworth. The musicians involved all live and/or perform regularly in Leavenworth.
They are:
•Eric Link - vocals, acoustic guitar
•Beth Whitney - vocals, banjo
•Seth Garrido - vocals, saxophone
•Erin McNamee - vocals
•Corban Welter - mandolin
•Aaron Fishburn - bass
•Aaron Gibbs - percussion
•Todd Smith - piano
•Janet Mano - alphorn
Howell at the Moon Productions is known for the creation of Woody Goomsba, the sentient nutcracker character (and now Leavenworth mascot) who has garnered more than a million views online in his various commercials and music video entitled “Gitcha Goomsba Up!”
The production crew directed by Jamie Howell included Nick Dirk, director of photography; Shane Wilder, camera/drone operator; Eric Frank, sound mixing/editing; Arlene Kaufman, set decorator; and Rylan Browning, production assistant.
On November 17, 2021 at approximately 10:00 am Douglas County deputies were advised of an individual firing a handgun in a trailer park located in the 900 block of Maple Street, Bridgeport.
Prior to law enforcement arrival the individual was seen leaving the area in a passenger vehicle.
After initial investigation and search, deputies identified the individual shooting as Guadalupe C. Martinez, a 21 year old male of Bridgeport.
Guadalupe was arrested and booked without incident on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment.
BUCKNER HOMESTEAD HERITAGE FOUNDATION FALL UPDATE
In this Issue
Priority Projects
On the Bright Side
The Kiosk
Harvest Fest
Small Projects
Work Parties
An Unusual Orchard Visitor
The John Deere riding mower donated to NPS by the Foundation,($2,085.42) and below budget, has been a huge asset this summer. Acquired in March, the mower has 95+ hours of mowing in the Orchard and other areas, making weed, fertilizer, and water management easier and more efficient. And, the Orchard looks great! Kudos's to Laurie and Nicole!
The Kiosk, a major interpretative and electrical project begun in 2019, then stalled for various reasons, is near completion. Budgeted at a cost of $11,000 by BHHF, it should be very close to, if not under budget. NPS interpretative information is scheduled for installation in May of 2022, if not sooner.
Music at the Orchard, in lieu of the Square Dance, made good use of the generator-free power! Thank you Agnes on Fire for making this happen. Attendance, 252!
Harvest Fest, in its limited format, was a success; with visitors and local residents providing a steady stream of pickers and pressers throughout the three days we provided all the materials for picking and making cider.
Those who chose to social distance were able to easily do so, a major goal for a far less formal Harvest Fest. We even tried some new things that will continue in future years. Placing boxes and picking bags under a canopy near the packing shed for nearly two weeks expedited picking, distancing, and distribution. About 125 empty cardboard boxes were used during that time, and picking bags were far easier to find and use.
Using cleaning materials acquired in 2020, no costs were incurred for Harvest Fest 2021. On the other hand, the second year without a raffle resulted in loss of income it generates.
Other small projects were completed utilizing volunteers, NPS and donated materials during the third quarter, and with no additional cost to the Foundation.
* Metal culvert ends were capped with wood as an aesthetic improvement.
* 28 wooden ditch gate boxes were constructed. (Thank you Phil Russell and Herb Sargo) Boxes may be installed in November.
*Lights and standards at the packing shed were upgraded significantly (Thank you Tom Courtney-welding, Phil and Libby Gans-poles, and Herb Sargo-tires and pipe)
Three Work Parties totaling 108 volunteer hours, were held June 17, July 17, and October 1. Unlike most years, thinning was not a major chore. Cleaning the main ditch along Buckner Lane and improving the path tread were a nice change for a warm July day. At the same time, others were literally painting a slurry of diatomaceous earth on tree trunks for ant control. Fuel reduction, nail pickup, picking apples, winterizing and more provided a variety of interesting tasks.
A Unusual Visitor joined the Canada Geese at the Orchard early this fall. An immature Greater White Fronted Goose was seen frequently with the Canada's at the Orchard, and was immediately noticeable by its smaller size and more aggressive feeding.
Not uncommon in migration east and west of the mountains, Greater White-Fronted Geese are usually in large flocks; so it is unusual that the goose was here alone and here in the Stehekin Valley. Interestingly, the bird was gone from the Orchard for a four-day period of time in late September, and a single immature GWFG was photographed at high alpine Cutthroat Lake during that time period. The same bird? Likely.
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)
On October 28, 2021 at approximately 2:52 PM, Douglas County Deputies were dispatched to 15th Street and Douglas Avenue in Bridgeport for a report of a male subject who had been shot.
When Deputies arrived they found a 25 year old male, of Bridgeport, with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Deputies provided medical assistance until the Ambulance arrived and transported him to the Hospital.
Due to the proximity of the incident to the school, Deputies requested the schools “Lock down”.
After Deputies determined the area was safe, the School released the students.
The incident is under an active investigation.
I would like to thank the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, Washington State Fish and Game, and Brewster Police Department for their response and assistance.
It is believed this is an isolated incident and there is no immediate community risk.
Sheriff Kevin W. Morris
WASHINGTON-BASED organic farm Diamondback Acres is taking strides to cut plastic pollution by moving to compostable packaging.
Diamondback Acres in Lake Chelan, Washington, has been farming organic produce since 1991. Bill and Angell Clark, the farm’s owners, have put sustainability at the heart of the business for more than 30 years. They distribute produce direct to consumers online at chelanbeauty.com to minimise emissions through transport.
The Clarks focus on quality over quantity, and the farm is set in 200 acres of land producing the highest quality organic apples, cherries, and blueberries on the market.
In a bid to combat plastic waste, Diamondback Acres has partnered with TIPA Compostable Packaging to package its organic cherries in TIPA’s certified home-compostable zipper bags.
By moving to compostable zipper bags the farm has reduced its use of plastic by 3000 pounds in the first year.
TIPA’s compostable zipper bags perform like conventional plastic but can be disposed of using existing composting infrastructure including home compost bins, leaving no waste behind.
Not only does compostable packaging reduce plastic pollution, it also helps maintain farm-to-table freshness and is proven to increase the shelf-life of fresh produce by up to two times. This helps to minimise food waste – a major contributor to carbon emissions.
Washington state has committed to reducing its plastic footprint, banning single-use plastic bags effective on October 1 2021. The state signed the 2021 Plastics Law in May this year to be phased in over the coming decade aimed at reducing single-use plastic.
Bill and Angell Clark say their goal is to set an example for grocery giants to follow in their eco-friendly footsteps.
Bill Clark, Diamondback Acres owner said: “For almost 30 years we have worked hard to produce the finest organic produce, passionately believing in the practice for the environment, the soil, our workers and ultimately the consumer.”
“We’re extremely excited to be working with TIPA to supply our cherries in its compostable zipper bags, allowing us to help reduce plastic and food waste. We strongly believe that if smaller companies make these small changes, we can make huge strides to protect the planet and encourage the bigger producers to do the same.”
Michael Waas, Vice President of North America at TIPA, said: “We are delighted to be helping Diamondback Acres continue their drive for sustainability by supplying them with compostable bags for their cherries. The farm is an example of a small business showing how to lead on sustainability, and we are excited to help them take this further with our packaging solutions.”
About TIPA®
Inspired by nature, TIPA®'s compostable packaging solutions are designed to break down within months under compost conditions just like any organic matter.
TIPA® packaging provides solutions for the food and fashion industries, and is built to fit existing machinery and supply chains.
The company’s packaging solutions are currently being implemented worldwide by leading global brands in Europe, Australia, and the US.
For more Information: www.tipa-corp.com
About Diamondback Acres
Bill and Angell Clark started their farm in 1991.
The family later launched Chelan Beauty®, a farmer-owned company and brand name for their farm and store.
Diamondback Acres believes that organic farming should come before popularity or profitability. The farm cultivates organic produce such as apples, cherries and blueberries.
For more information: https://chelanbeauty.com/
SEATTLE, Sept. 20, 2021—Applications are being accepted through Oct. 17 for the 2021-2022 class in the Museum’s Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) program. This STEM program is open to Washington state high school juniors, and participants have the option to earn five science credits from the University of Washington. WAS provides lessons in Earth and Space Science and NASA history, and offers interaction with STEM industry professionals, hands-on engineering activities, and a national alumni network that tracks student progress from high school until after college graduation.
Over 70 percent of the 1791 college-aged WAS alumni are currently involved in a STEM college or career pathway.
Phase 1 of WAS is offered online for free, enabling students throughout Washington state to participate. During the Phase 2 summer program participants have a six-day residency at The Museum of Flight, where they work in teams to plan a human mission to Mars. Students also tour local aerospace companies including Boeing and Blue Origin.
“WAS has allowed me to join and add to a community unlike any other that I’ve previously been exposed to,” said one WAS graduate, “I’ve gained leadership experience, communication skills, and a renewed appreciation for engineering, innovation, and space research.”
Applications for the 2021-22 WAS class are available now at www.museumofflight.org/WAS