Body discovered in Waterville residence fire debris
- Written by Undersheriff Tyler I. Caille, DCSO
See our previous story: Missing person sought after major structure fire
On 4/21/2020, a Unified Command Team was established to help coordinate fire investigation efforts. Members of this team included the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Fire Marshal, Douglas County Coroner, Douglas County Fire District #1, and the Town of Waterville. Due to the size of the scene, Chelan County Volunteer Search and Rescue was contacted for the assistance of their cadaver-trained detection K-9. The K-9 identified areas within the fire scene to help guide investigators to check for the unaccounted person. Due to the amount and size of the debris, heavy equipment had to be mobilized to the scene to assist with further search efforts.
On 4/22/2020, Douglas County Detectives, Coroner, and Fire Marshal re-entered the fire scene to conduct a search for the unaccounted subject and attempt to determine the cause of the fire. As a result of the search and the assistance of the heavy equipment, one deceased subject was located within the debris. The subject located has not yet been positively identified, but is believed to be the property owner, 87-year-old Waterville resident Ray D. Kope. The Douglas County Coroner will work to confirm the identity. The Douglas County Fire Marshal has concluded his investigation work at the scene and determined the cause of the fire to be accidental.
Sergeant Adam Musgrove promoted to Chief of Patrol
- Written by Sheriff Brian Burnett, CCSO
Sheriff Brian Burnett proudly announces that Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Sergeant Adam Musgrove has been selected to be promoted to Chief of Patrol, tentatively scheduled for July 1, 2020. This is following the recent announcement of Chief of Patrol Rick Johnson being selected as the next Chief for East Wenatchee Police Department.
Sergeant Musgrove has been with the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office since March 1, 2012 when both he and his wife decided to move to East Wenatchee in order to be closer to family. He was born in Hawaii and grew up in Oak Harbor where he graduated high school in 1996. He served on active duty in the Navy from 1996-2006 and he continues to serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve, as he approaches 25 years of service and holds the rank of Senior Chief. He spent a majority of his Navy career as a Patrol Leader in the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command community where he deployed several times overseas. Musgrove joined the Sedro Wooley Police Department in 2006 where he worked until being hired by Sheriff Burnett in 2012. Musgrove was promoted to Sergeant for the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office in September 2017, and is currently a nightshift supervisor for a patrol squad. He runs the Reserve Program for CCSO and is a Domestic Violence instructor. He has organized two Reserve Academies and one Citizens Academy. He has served as a Field Training Officer and is close to becoming an FTO Instructor. He created and runs the CCSO Santa’s Stars program every year. Sergeant Musgrove has completed a course in Police Leadership, “the West Point Model” and more recently a Senior Leadership Course at the Navy War College. He lives in East Wenatchee and is married with 2 daughters.
Sergeant Musgrove brings some great leadership qualities to the Sheriff’s Office and the Chief of Patrol position. Sheriff Burnett says that although he is sad to see his current Chief of Patrol Rick Johnson leave, he is equally excited about the future of the Sheriff’s leadership growth, both in the command level and first line supervisors who are such an essential part of our operations and leadership. Sheriff Burnett says, “This is an exciting time of growth for the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office and I’m personally excited and confident with the staff we have to lead us successfully into the future.”
Swakane Canyon rollover fatality
- Written by Jason Reinfeld, Chief of Special Operations, CCSO
Sheriff Brian Burnett reports on April 20th, 2020 at approximately 7:45 am, a rollover collision was reported in the area of Swakane Canyon. The reporting party, who has now been determined to be the passenger said the vehicle, a Toyota Tacoma had rolled over and was on top of the driver. The driver has been identified as 18 year old Meghann Dodge of East Wenatchee. The passenger told RiverCom Ms. Dodge was not breathing and eventually said she was unable to perform CPR due to her position underneath the truck.
Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and a Department of Fish and Wildlife Officer responded to the scene. They found Ms. Dodge deceased when they arrived. A CCSO collision investigator is investigating the collision with the assistance of a Washington State Patrol Detective for scene diagramming. So far the investigator has determined Ms. Dodge and her passenger drove from Cashmere up Nahahum Canyon Road and started down Swakane Canyon. When they were approximately 7.3 miles from highway 97A, the vehicle left the roadway at a low speed and rolled over on it’s top. Ms. Dodge was partially ejected and the vehicle came to a rest on top of her.
The investigator has not yet determined the cause of the collision. There were no other vehicles involved. The passenger was transported to CWH with minor injuries.
Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority receives over 800 applications for Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant funding
- Written by Sarah Deenik, Communications Coordinator/Finance Specialist, CDRP
The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority has been working with the Washington State Department of Commerce in administering the Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant Program. This program was announced by Governor Inslee on March 18 to assist small businesses impacted by the COVID‐19 outbreak and the response to it. Funding is being provided through the use of $5.0 million from the Governors Strategic Reserve Fund.
Grant funding up to $10,000 per business will be provided to a limited number of businesses in Washington’s 39 counties. Applicants must have been in business for at least a year and have no more than 10 full‐time employees. Grant funds can be used for operating expenses including rent, supplies/inventory, utility bills, consulting, marketing, and training. Payroll cannot be reimbursed as part of the grant program.
The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority accepted and processed applications on behalf of the Department of Commerce. The Governor’s Office will make the final small business selections. The Regional Port was flooded with applications once the Department of Commerce website went live on April 7th.
To date, the Regional Port has received over 800 applications from small businesses in Chelan and Douglas Counties with grant requests exceeding $8.0 million. The Regional Port estimates $173,000 will be available for the two county area from the Governors Strategic Reserve Fund. With so many applications and very little money, the Regional Port has requested the maximum grant amount for Chelan and Douglas County small businesses be placed at $5,000 per business. This way more deserving businesses will receive some funding instead of none at all. Grants will be made available to approximately 34 businesses in lieu of 17. Grant award announcements are expected within the next three to four weeks.
The State also requested the Regional Port submit applications for “Aspirational State Funding” in case additional state and/or federal funds could be secured for the program. That amount for the two county region is estimated at $674,000.
Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority Board of Directors President Rory Turner said, “the demand for small business grants in our region has been overwhelming. The board of directors have asked our administrative team to look at other opportunities to secure funding for our impacted small businesses.”
The Regional Port is currently working with several local governmental agencies to determine if Community Development Block Grant funding can be used to assist small businesses impacted by COVID‐19.
Manson food service going strong
- Written by Janice Stewart
https://mansontribune.com/index.php?start=30#sigFreeIdb45dcd1347
The Manson School district has been providing meals in the community for 25 days since the shutdown and has now served over 20,000 meals to kids in our community. A team of 20+ staff works to prepare and deliver meals throughout our community using our existing bus routes. Last week the staff and students took part in dress-up days to show our school spirit. For weekend meal service
THRIVE Chelan Valley is changing their weekend food support for students from a pick up process to a delivery model beginning May 1st. Families need to register by clicking the link below.
Additionally, an anonymous donor has donated $7,500 to the Manson Volunteer Firefighters Association for Manson families in need. Gift cards for use at Manson Bay Market in the amount of $100 will be mailed to 75 families that have had a financial loss due to the COVID 19 Virus
Missing person sought after major structure fire
- Written by Undersheriff Tyler I. Caille, DCSO
On 4-16-2020 at approximately 7:07 PM, Douglas County Deputies responded to assist with a commercial structure fire located in the 100 block of W. Locust Street, Waterville.
Douglas County Fire District #1 personnel were on-scene of the fire, which was reported as being fully involved upon arrival.
Fire District #1 personnel requested a second-alarm fire response which provided additional fire resources from both neighboring Chelan and Douglas County Fire Districts.
Washington State Patrol Troopers also responded to the scene and assisted with traffic control.
During the course of the fire containment, deputies learned one of the subjects reported to be at the location, prior to the start of the fire, is currently unaccounted for.
Douglas County Detectives are currently assisting the Douglas County Fire Marshal with the investigation of the fire and are working to locate the unaccounted subject.
Due to the compromised integrity of the building, US 2 will remain closed past the fire scene and WSDOT has established a detour route for motorists traveling through the Waterville area.
Guidelines on short term rentals and recreational vehicle use in Douglas County during COVID-19
- Written by Tiana Rowland
Effective April 14 2020, the Douglas County Commissioners are limiting the use of Short Term or Vacation Rentals and recreational vehicles until May 4, 2020 or until the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is lifted.
The Douglas County Commissioners find that people coming to Douglas County for recreational purposes avoiding the COVID-19 emergency directive and recommendations in other communities are negatively impacting the public health, safety, and welfare in Douglas County. Additionally, these actions are negligent in complying with Governor Inslee’s Proclamations 20-25 and 20-25.1 by not staying home. An influx of people living in recreational and other vehicles, as well as short term and vacation rentals, creates traffic, sanitation hazards, trespass, and other public safety problems further exhausting law enforcement and first responder resources.
The Douglas County Commissioners are directing all use of recreational vehicles for camping, sleeping or occupancy to cease unless occurring on owner’s own property. Furthermore, all short term/vacation rentals are hereby directed to close, whether compensated or not.
The Douglas County Commissioners are committed to the health and safety of their community and as such strive to ensure the continued operability of all emergency services. The Board believes that limiting the influx of visitor during this emergency will help reduce the strain on community resources and protect Douglas County.
Chelan Fire and Rescue welcomes seasonal firefighters
- Written by Mark R. Donnell, Fire Chief, Chelan Fire & Rescue
Firefighter/EMT Stephanie Preheim and Firefighter/EMT Mitchell Matthews will be joining the Chelan Fire & Rescue Team as seasonal firefighters for the 2020 Fire Season.
The addition of these two seasonal employees will give our community the additional staffing needed to accommodate the seasonal call volume increase during our daily peak operating periods.
Both Stephanie and Mitch are active members within the Chelan Fire & Rescue organization and have been filling available stipend shifts working as a third firefighter over the past several months.
Stephanie and Mitchell also have their IFSAC Firefighter I/II and Hazmat Operations and Wildland Firefighter Type 1 or 2 certifications in addition to being credentialed Washington State Emergency Medical Technicians. These are nationally recognized certifications which are added benefits to the organization and the community we serve.
The seasonal firefighter positions are being funded within our 2020 budget using funds that were allocated for our current firefighter stipend program.
The seasonal firefighters will start May 1st and complement our daily staffing working alongside our career and volunteer members in providing service to the community. Welcome Aboard Firefighters Preheim and Matthews!
Cascadia Conservation District offers free on-site chipping of branches
- Written by Amanda (Levesque) Newell, Education & Outreach Specialist, Cascadia Conservation District
FREE CHIPPING!
Spring is a great time to get work done around your property, including wildfire preparedness. Consider using our spring chipping program instead of burning debris piles.
Burning your piles can lead to air quality issues and is a safety concern if fires were to get out of control.
Registration is open for our chipping program until May 1 here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GKTNND9.
Chipping will take place in late May. You don’t need to leave your property, just stack your branches on the street or driveway and our contract chipping crew will take care of it!
Questions? Please contact Amanda Newell with Cascadia Conservation District: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Chelan County resolution to allow pre-existing home sales to continue
- Written by Gregory Kennedy
Resolution 2020-42 has been signed by the Board of Chelan County Commissioners. This latest resolution will allow pre-existing home sales to continue.
