Written by Jonnie Crossland, Public Relations Coordinator, Colville12 Tribes Casinos

Published: 30 April 2020

OMAK, WASH. April 30, 2020— The Colville Business Council and the Colville Tribal Federal Corporation (CTFC) Board of Directors approved a re-opening date for all three 12 Tribes Colville Casinos properties of Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

“We will continue to keep our top priority the health, safety, and well-being of our team members, valued guests, and communities,” said CTFC Chief Executive Officer, Kary Nichols. “Throughout this pandemic, we have relied on facts to help guide our decisions.”

Each 12 Tribes Colville Casinos property, 12 Tribes Resort Casino in Omak, 12 Tribes Mill Bay Casino in Manson, and 12 Tribes Coulee Dam Casino in Coulee Dam, will start with a soft opening, with the following measures in place to ensure the health and safety of team members and guests;

• Daily hours of operation at all three properties will be 8AM-2AM

• All three properties will be deep cleaned nightly and throughout the day

• All players are voluntarily visiting the property at their own risk and will be required to sign a waiver along with signing up for a Player’s Advantage Club Card (if they do not already have one)

• Masks, gloves, and sanitizer will be supplied but patrons are encouraged to bring their own masks as there will be a limited supply available

• Temperatures will be taken prior to entering each property. Any person displaying a cough, shortness of breath, or other known symptoms of COVID-19 or a temperature above 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit will be asked to visit another time

• Patrons and staff will be given placards to promote social distancing at gaming machines

• Plexiglas has been installed in key locations across each property for patrons and employee safety

• Food and beverage venues will follow strict social distancing guidelines

• The hotel at 12 Tribes Resort Casino will open, while valet, the pool, hot tub, workout room, and Renew Spa will remain closed until further notice

• Table games at 12 Tribes Resort Casino and Mill Bay Casino, Camas Restaurant at 12 Tribes Resort Casino, and Crosswinds Restaurant will remain closed during the initial re-opening• All entertainment events have been postponed, all 2020 Deep Water concerts have been canceled

• Team members will have extensive training on company policies and proper health protocols upon returning to work and will be required to wear mask until further notice.

“Our casinos are an essential tribal operation that helps support important government essential services,” said Colville Tribal Federal Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Kary Nichols. “This has been an impactful, but necessary closure that has affected our tribe, patrons, and team members, and we look forward to safely welcoming everyone back.”

12 Tribes Colville Casinos closed on March 17, 2020, six days before Washington State announced the, “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” Order.

More information regarding re-opening plans will be made available on 12 Tribes Colville Casino’s website at www.colvillecasinos.com/covid-19-prevention.

Written by Erin McCardle, Executive Director, Historic Downtown Chelan Association

Published: 28 April 2020

Monday April 27, 2020 CHELAN — The COVID-19 pandemic has created extremely difficult circumstances for small businesses in our community. In response to the financial hardship the pandemic has put on local small businesses, the Historic Downtown Chelan Association (HDCA) will launch a micro-loan program for qualified applicants starting May 1, 2020.

"This micro-loan program is a way for the HDCA to put needed resources into the hands of our local downtown businesses quickly and with a minimum of red tape." says Erin McCardle, Executive Director of the HDCA.

Loans of up to $5,000 will be available and must be repaid over a period of three years at a rate of 2%; payments deferred for the first 6 months and no interest for the first 12 months. The loans are first come first serve for qualified applicants and total program funding will cap at $100,000.

The application period will open May 1, 2020 and will close May 7, 2020. Priority will be given to eligible applicants who are physically located within the Historic Downtown Chelan boundary as defined in the HDCA bylaws and all applicants must have been members by December 31, 2019 (this requirement is waived for businesses that began operations on or after January 1, 2020). All applicants must have their 2020 HDCA membership in good standing by the time of application.

The HDCA micro-loans will be serviced by HDCA community partner, North Cascades Bank. Bank President, Charlie Guildner says, “At North Cascades Bank, we believe a vibrant downtown benefits the whole Lake Chelan community, which is why we are proud to be providing support for the HDCA micro-loan program.”

Please check the Historic Downtown Chelan Association website for qualification details and to download a copy of the application and instructions. https://www.historicchelan.org/microloan/

The Historic Downtown Chelan Association is a local non-profit working to shape the future while preserving the past of historic downtown Chelan.

Written by Kevin Morris, Sheriff, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Published: 26 April 2020

On April 19, 2020 at about 2:13 PM, Douglas County Deputies were dispatched to a report of human remains found by an individual picking asparagus.

The remains were located in the trees and brush on the hillside, in the 2700 block of Tacoma Avenue, Bridgeport. The scene was investigated and the remains were removed.

Although confirmation cannot be made as to the identity of the remains until further DNA testing, Investigators believe this to be Roy L. Groeneveld. Mr. Groeneveld was reported missing from a nearby residence in 2010 and never located.

Written by Roger Pepperl, Marketing Director, Stemilt

Published: 26 April 2020

WENATCHEE, Wash. – Stemilt Ag Services (SAS) received COVID-19 results late yesterday after coordinating with Confluence Health to proactively test 71 asymptomatic team members at an isolated East Wenatchee site over the weekend. Thirty-six individuals tested positive for COVID-19. The group is in isolation, and SAS continues to follow Chelan-Douglas County Health District protocols for confirmed cases. This was the first widescale testing done in Chelan and Douglas County on asymptomatic agriculture workers.

“Our essential business of growing fruit to feed people would not be possible without our frontline team members,” said West Mathison, Stemilt president. “We are doing all that we can to ensure our team members are well-cared for while in isolation.”

Dr. Joel Banken, who oversees the Confluence Health operated Stemilt Family Clinic in Wenatchee visited with the SAS team members at the isolation site on Tuesday. He provided them with clinic information and pamphlets on the virus.

“Everyone was in good spirits,” said Banken. “It’s great that this family medicine clinic exists and will continue to be available to serve employees.”

Stemilt has proactively followed Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for spacing, hygiene, and social distancing in its work processes.

Local public health officials and health care organizations are fully involved with these positive cases, and able to support individuals if needed. Stemilt, in collaboration with Confluence Health, will monitor each team member daily and is working on a protocol to re-test the individuals who tested negative this week while they quarantine.

“Stemilt has actively implemented social distancing, symptom monitoring and other recommended COVID control measures at its work and housing sites,” said Barry Kling, administrator at Chelan-Douglas Health District. “What these test results tell us is that asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 are so common that these measures are not sufficient in these settings even when implemented well. That means we need to think differently. Social distancing measures should be maintained at farmworker sites and housing, but we also need to greatly increase testing of workers so that isolation and quarantine can be used when needed, and uninfected workers can continue to work. We must assure that agriculture workers who are sick get the care they need. Public Health will be working with the ag industry to make this happen. We are fortunate that local health care organizations such as Confluence and Columbia Valley Community Health are also ready to play an important part in this effort to protect workers -- and to protect a truly essential local industry.”

Written by Undersheriff Tyler I. Caille, DCSO

Published: 26 April 2020

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.

Written by Sheriff Brian Burnett, CCSO

Published: 26 April 2020

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.”

Written by Jason Reinfeld, Chief of Special Operations, CCSO

Published: 26 April 2020

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.

Written by Sarah Deenik, Communications Coordinator/Finance Specialist, CDRP

Published: 26 April 2020

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.

Written by Janice Stewart

Published: 26 April 2020

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.

• Food2Schools Friday Order Form - English Version

• Food2Schools Friday Order Form - Spanish Version

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