Sheriff Mike Morrison reports on 11/11/23, at around 3:45 AM, a Chelan County Sheriff’s Sergeant located a stolen vehicle in the 1200 block of Red Apple Rd in Wenatchee. The vehicle was occupied by 48 year old male, Peter L. Parlette. Other deputies arrived to assist and Parlette was taken into custody after attempting to resist the arrest.
Parlette was booked into the Chelan County Regional Justice Center for possession of a stolen vehicle and resisting arrest.
Pack chains and supplies to be ready for increased Thanksgiving travel on most major routes
OYLMPIA – Travelers headed over the river and through the woods to Grandma’s house this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday will want to plan now for winter weather. They also should expect delays on most major routes like Interstate 90, US 2, and I-5 both between Lacey and Tacoma and from Bellingham to the Canadian border.
In addition to gratitude lists and pumpkin pie, the Washington State Department of Transportation encourages all travelers to pack their patience and “know before you go” by consulting the agency’s popular holiday travel charts to determine best times to travel, including times to avoid if possible .
Most construction will be paused over the four-day weekend to help reduce congestion, but this is a popular travel weekend and WSDOT recommends people travel early or late, if possible, and give themselves plenty of extra time. Crashes or emergency road repairs also can add to travel times.
WSDOT has many tools and resources to help plan travel, whether making a trip across town or over the Cascade mountains:
Crews are ready for winter; are you?
WSDOT crews are prepped for winter weather – including pre-treating and plowing to keep everyone moving. Travelers can help by being prepared for winter weather driving conditions , slowing down on snow and ice, putting the phone down and never driving impaired. People can sign up for area-specific communication about road closures or scheduled maintenance activities including areas close to home or areas they’ll be traveling to for the holiday .
Weather conditions over mountain passes can change rapidly so it’s important for travelers to plan ahead and follow posted chain requirements . It’s often drivers who travel too fast, without traction tires or chains or under the influence that close a mountain pass for everyone. Practice installing chains before heading out the door – and not for the first time along the side of highway during a winter storm.
No construction is planned on I-90 Thursday and Friday, Nov. 23-24. However, the usual holiday increase in traffic volumes means travelers should expect delays, especially eastbound on Wednesday and Thursday and westbound on Friday and Saturday ( see charts for more detail ). Receive text message alerts about closures and delays by texting “Start” to 85107. To unsubscribe text “Stop.”
In the Puget Sound region, weekend toll rates will be in effect Thursday, Nov. 23, on the State Route 520 bridge and SR 99 tunnel. The I-405 express toll lanes will be free and open to all drivers on Thanksgiving. Out-of-town travelers, including those using rental cars, can learn about toll roads and temporary account payment options on the Good To Go! visitors page .
Ferry travel
People boarding a state ferry by vehicle should prepare for long waits. Peak travel times on most routes are expected to be westbound (or onto an island) Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 22-23, then eastbound (or off an island), Friday and Saturday, Nov. 24-25. Customers also can bypass vehicle lines by traveling as a walk-on passenger.
Visit the Washington State Ferries website for more details on sailings schedules, vehicle reservations, ferry alerts and terminal conditions.
Travelers making a trip by train, personal aircraft or bus also should plan ahead to avoid holiday delays:
Special Board Meeting
November 14, 2023, 4:10pm
Bumgarner Meeting Room, 142 Pedoi Street, Manson WA 98831
1. Call to Order
2. Flag Salute
3. Workshops:
a. Old Swim Hole design plans
b. Leffler Field remediation, acquisition, and development
IX. Adjournment
Meeting Agenda | November 14, 2023
Manson Parks Department @ 6 pm
CALL TO ORDER Members: Kari Sorensen |Cindy Smith | John Frolker | Chris Willoughby | Pam Calhoun
FLAG SALUTE
TREASURER’S REPORT
APPROVAL OF MINUTES October 17, 2023
OLD BUSINESS
• 501 (c)(3) – Chris Willoughby
• MEMBER ELECTION IN DECEMBER – 2 positions available for election. Only 1 application has
gone out. If no one else applies, no election will be held in December. Deadline to fill out
application is December 1st no later than 5 pm to one of the Council Members or emailed to
NEW BUSINESS
• MEMBER BYLAW UPDATE. Re-combine Secretary & treasurer positions to just one:
Secretary/Treasurer. (Motion)
• Kathi Fedor to talk about Feral Cat Program.
PUBLIC COMMENT | GOOD OF THE ORDER
•
MEETING ADJOURNED
NEXT MEETING: December 19, 2023 @ 6:00 PM @ Manson Parks Department
The Manson Community Council will hold elections for two open positions on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. These positions are expiring on December 31, 2023. Any members of the community that live within the 98831-zip code and are currently registered Chelan County voters can run for office and vote in this election.
Community minded individuals who are able set aside any personal agendas and have the time to dedicate to the council are strongly encouraged to apply. Monthly meetings are held every 3rd Tuesday of each month and members are expected to attend. These positions are very important to the future development of our community. Each position will require a 3-year commitment from January 1, 2024—December 31, 2026.
Applications must be filled out IN FULL and returned to a council member, council meeting or where they originally picked up the application packet from. Deadline for any applications must be returned to any council member or to
Election will held on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 between 12-7 pm at Manson Parks Department on Pedio Street in Manson. Community members wishing to vote must be currently registered to vote in the 98831-zip code and have valid ID with them at time of voting. The 2 who get the most votes will win.
Results will be posted on Manson Community Council’s Facebook page and announced on KOZI Radio’s Second Cup of Coffee Program no later than Thursday, December 14, 2023.
Newly elected members will be sworn in at the December 19, 2023 meeting.
Applications available by request by emailing:
Please return your completed application to the place where you received it or any council member. Any questions can be directed to Kari Sorensen @ (509) 860-8409 or Cindy Smith @ (425) 501-8165.
On 11/9/2023 at approximately 10:00 am, a male (later identified as 34 year-old Michael F Koehnen) walked into Wa Fed bank in Chelan, approached the counter and said he wanted money. When the teller asked him for his account information he replied, “This is a robbery”. Koehnen was holding a hand size electronic part in his hand. The teller gave Koehnen an undisclosed amount of money and he fled on foot.
Bank employees activated the alarm and Chelan County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded. Deputies were able to obtain enough information to identify Koehnen as the suspect. Shortly after, deputies located him at a residence in the 400 blk of E. Woodin Ave, were he was placed under arrest.
Detectives responded and obtained a search warrant for the residence Koehnen was at. As a result of the search, they located money taken from the bank in addition to the clothing Koehnen was wearing at the time of the Robbery.
Koehnen was booked into the Chelan County Regional Justice Center on charges of Robbery 2nd Degree and Theft 2nd degree.
EAST WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON – Grateful to be able to help! That’s how Sarahbeth “Sarah” Simonson describes her work with the Douglas County Veterans Assistance Program. As a former Air Force Staff Sergeant E-5, her mission now is to connect local Veterans who have honorably served their country with local, state, and federal resources to deal with personal hardships, obtain medical care coverage, and access other Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and programs.
Easier said than done; but no one is more motivated to fulfill the mission than Simonson.
The Douglas County Veterans Assistance Program began in January 2019 as a state mandate to connect Veterans with critical benefits, resources, and programs. Since the Office began, Simonson has led the day-to-day efforts – assisting more than 1,950 Veterans and Veteran’s families throughout Douglas County. “I am grateful to be able to help Veterans access things they’re eligible for – benefits they may not know about, or they may not have thought that they deserve,” she said.
As part of her role, Simonson helps her clients understand their federal eligibility for things like VA healthcare, pension, records support, and end of life planning in a welcoming, no-pressure environment. There is even a local Douglas County relief fund to help Veterans who have hit hard times with things like rent, mortgage, car payment, and more.
“Whether it’s a small Douglas County Veteran’s relief claim that will offer stopgap help for a couple of months, or a renewing, continuous benefit from the VA that will offer sustained support for their family,” said Simonson. “These benefits bring encouragement.”
Firsthand experience
Before working with the Veterans Assistance Program, Simonson had firsthand experience of what it was like to try and navigate the complexities of Veteran benefits as an individual. After serving overseas in the United States Air Force, she was wrapping up her time in active duty in 2004 when she started researching medical benefits options.
“My husband and I were expecting our first child, and we were figuring out what we’d do for medical coverage since he had recently finished active duty in the Army and was attending college full time,” said Simonson. Thankfully, an acquaintance told her that she could get healthcare from the VA before wrapping up her time in active duty so there wouldn’t be a gap in their growing family’s healthcare coverage. “That’s how I found out that I had benefits that I’d be able to access as a Veteran.”
Over the years, Simonson noticed many fellow Veterans were either unaware of the federal benefits available to them or unsure about how to navigate the system. When her family moved to the Wenatchee Valley in 2009, she soon became an active member of the Wenatchee Valley Women Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3617. Through these memberships, Simonson developed a passion for helping fellow Veterans apply for and understand their earned benefits.
“We’re all individuals and we all have our own experiences,” she said. “We may fall under a general umbrella of ‘Veteran’ but we’re still individual people working through a process that’s not designed for individuals.”
An increase in demand
Simonson has seen an increase in demand for the Veterans Assistance Office since the 2022 passing of the federal PACT Act, which expanded VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances within combat zones. “Not only did the PACT Act increase the demand for claims, but I think more people became aware of the fact that this assistance exists to help with those claims,” she said.
“I am so excited when I get to see claims approved for Veterans,” Simonson said while acknowledging that it unfortunately isn’t always the case. “However, if we need to re-address a claim through an appeals process, I am here to guide clients through that process and to help them if they become discouraged.”
Simonson recalls one time when a fellow Veteran’s description of his active duty led her to guide him toward seeking benefits he didn’t know existed. “As he related his experience to me, I recognized it as a legitimate claim for the injuries he’d sustained in active duty,” she said.
“We did an intent to file, which is the first step to hold your place in line, and about a month before his intent to file was going to expire, he came in and asked me, ‘Are you sure it is worth it?’” Simonson recounts. “I told him, ‘Well, the worst-case scenario is we’ve wasted some time doing paperwork and you waste a couple of hours going to a follow-up exam.”
In that case it took the VA almost a year, but they ultimately decided in her client’s favor. “He was able to get the service-connected disability ratings that were appropriate for his conditions so it’s a financial benefit for his family.” According to Simonson, that came as a welcome surprise to the client. “He had closed that door.”
Veterans encouraged to reach out
Simonson wants every Veteran in Douglas County to know about the benefits they earned and the assistance that may be available to them. She encourages all Veterans to reach out to the Veterans Assistance Program, whether they are recently returning from active duty or have been retired for decades.
“Even if you don’t have any physical or behavioral health disabilities at this time, there are still some baseline benefits that you might be able to access,” said Simonson. “It’s always worth throwing out the question to someone who knows what they’re talking about and whose job it is to help you understand and navigate those processes instead of just taking the word of a family member, an old friend, or some random person on YouTube.”
The Douglas County Veterans Service Office is in East Wenatchee but several times a month Simonson packs up her laptop and supplies to take the Office on the road to Waterville, Bridgeport, Coulee Dam, and other locations within Douglas County for appointments with Veterans or family members seeking assistance.
When asked what motivates her work in the Veterans Assistance Program, Simonson said for her it comes down to the possibility of helping a Veteran and Veteran’s families. “One of my clients says that I ‘radiate possibility’ as part of my role. That possibility and hope is something that I appreciate being able to do for Veterans.”
Connect with the Veteran Services Office
To learn more about local Veterans services or to get involved, visit the Douglas County website or follow the Douglas County Veterans Service Office page on Facebook.
Sheriff Mike Morrison reports on 11/4/23, at approximately 4pm, a Chelan County Sheriff’s patrol Sergeant attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic infraction in the 5000 block of Sunset Hwy in Cashmere, WA. The vehicle fled in a reckless manner and did not attempt to stop. The Sergeant did not pursue as it did not meet the state requirements for a pursuit.
Conducting an investigation, the Sergeant was able to identify the suspect as Joshua D. Ray a 39 year old male who lives in the 4900 block of Yaksum Canyon in Cashmere. The suspect vehicle was located at Ray’s residence and Ray was taken into custody and his vehicle seized for a search warrant.
Ray was charged with Eluding, Driving While License Suspended 3rd, Resisting Arrest and Violation of a Trip Permit.
Chelan County Sheriff’s Deputies are committed to their duties of public safety, even when state laws are prohibitive and will continue to use means at their disposal to hold those who would break the law accountable.
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
November 7, 2023 3:00pm
Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 299 464 740 135
Passcode: q23nPY
Phone access: 1-206-677-8635, 946183029#
Call to Order
Introductions
Property and Environmental Investigation History
Discussion on the former orchard use and lead arsenate pesticide application. This has resulted in lead and arsenic contamination.
Ecology completed initial determination sampling in 2018 and confirmed lead and arsenic contaminated soil is present at the Property.
Aspect’s Remedial Investigation
Scope and objective of the RI.
Cultural resources survey information and results.
Summary of the findings and Site conditions.
Ecology Interactions and Model Remedies
Talk about our interactions with Ecology and how all work in accordance model remedies and direct input.
Discuss the model remedies and how capping and consolidation and capping are the recommend cleanup actions.
Cleanup is incorporated into property development for the park.
Site Concept Development
(Pacific’s agenda item)
Scope and objective of the potential site concepts.
Conversation with the District about what general improvements (i.e. parking, restroom/shelter, amphitheater, playgrounds, ballfields) should be considered for the creation of ROM and exhibit-displays.
Next Steps
Beyond what’s currently funded:
- Design of the park
- Design of the environmental cap
- Construction of the park and cap
- Final reporting and for NFA request and environmental covenant
Questions
Adjournment
On 10/28/2023, at the request of Wenatchee Police Department, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office coordinated an additional search for Travis Coleman in the foothills west of Wenatchee. Coleman was originally reported missing from the city of Wenatchee in April of this year. Since that time, CCSO has conducted an air search (via helicopter) and a ground search of areas it was thought Coleman might have been. No signs of Coleman were found during the previous 2 searches.
The 3rd search initiated on Saturday and concluded on Sunday. On Saturday the search consisted of the following resources:
On Sunday the search consisted of the following resources:
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all the volunteer teams for their assistance and dedication to this operation.
MVT WebCam 