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| Rotting roots found Dangerous trees force State Park closure |  | Photo by Nevonne McDaniels
Dan Omdal, a forensic pathologist with the state Department of Natural Resources, points out signs of the Armillaria root rot on a small lodgepole pine at the Lake Wenatchee State Park on Saturday. The tree was tagged for removal. Several trees next to it showed similar symptoms and also were tagged. |
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Rotting roots found
Dangerous trees force State Park closure
| An empty beach and the buzz of chainsaws and wood chippers aren't what you would expect to find at Lake Wenatchee State Park in late summer.
But that was the scene on Saturday, three days after State Park officials closed the park and evacuated campers because of safety concerns over tree root rot and the danger of falling trees.
Officials closed the 489-acre park Aug. 25 and by Saturday, crews were cutting down and chipping up trees that had been tagged with blue and white striped tape - those deemed infected by the tree experts surveying the property.
The immediate goal was to clear the infected trees from the day-use park so it could reopen in time for Labor Day weekend, but the decision had not yet been made by press time. The long-term goal is to make the entire park safe for campers, but that will take a little longer.
Thursday, September 02, 2010 More... |
| News
| | Movement of bears monitored as part of highway study |  |
Part 2 of 2
The grizzly bear study now ongoing in the North Cascades has two purposes. One is to get more information on the status of the bears. The other is to get information on not just grizzlies but all bears, specifically their how their movements might be affected by cross-state highways.
Researchers hope to track the movement of bears related to I-90, Hwy 2 and Hwy 20. The Western Transportation Institute was studying the movement of bears and other animals across I-90, but then expanded it to Hwy. 2 and Hwy. 20.
"It's the Cascade-Carnivore connectivity project. We are collecting genetic information," sand Robert Long, Research Ecologist, Western Transportation Institute. "From that, we'll be able to evaluate whether animals are crossing those barriers or whether it's serving as a barrier."
It is expected to take three years to collect enough data for the study, he said. While they have been able to sample bears from throughout the Cascades, they can't say much about the movement of bears across highways.
Thursday, September 02, 2010 More... |  | | City plans to purchase equipment to measure decibel levels around town | Ordering an independent, random sample of noise levels in and around Leavenworth is not as easy as it seemed when the plan was devised following a public hearing in August.
"We could find no one to come out and do it," Mayor Rob Eaton said at the Aug. 24 city council meeting.
The plan was to find an independent researcher to measure noise levels, taking random samples during all kinds of events. The council would then use the information to craft the legislation for a new noise ordinance in place of the one first approved by the council and then vetoed by the mayor in August.
"It was a surprise," Eaton said. He noted the companies contacted would measure noise levels in a laboratory, but not in the field. Instead, the city will purchase a noise meter and assign the city's contracted code enforcement officer the task of taking the measurements and reporting the information to the council.
Thursday, September 02, 2010 More... | | | High speed fiber coming to a forest near you | All but the most remote areas of Chelan County will have broadband Internet service sometime in the next three years as a result of a decision by Chelan County Public Utility District Commissioners last Wednesday. Commissioners unanimously approved acceptance of the $25 million federal grant from the Rural Utilities Service Broadband Initiatives Program at the special meeting. Acceptance of the grant requires the PUD to expand its fiber program to most of the currently un-served areas of the county.
Thursday, September 02, 2010 More... | | | Preparations for Chelan County Fair at fever pitch | Most who visit the Chelan County Fair, enjoy the many offerings, with perhaps nary of thought of all that went into making the event happen. Not the case for Chelan County Expo Center Director Marsha Clute.
For Clute, putting the fair together is a year-long process. Problem is, many aspects of the fair do not come together until the final weeks, making those final weeks quite hectic for Clute and her mostly volunteer staff.
They are booking entertainment, finding superintendents and judges for all the departments, taking registration for livestock, and receiving reservations for camping and parking. They are finalizing contracts for all the vendors.
"The advertising and the entertainment is the most difficult," Clute said. "We have to follow up with vendors to make sure they have their funds and insurance. It's a lot of work because we have 60 vendors."
Thursday, September 02, 2010 More... | | | Benefit for Camp Zanika coming up Aug. 28 | For the last 78 years, thousands of girls, and as of 1975, boys, have enjoyed the natural surrounding and camp fire atmosphere of Camp Zanika at Lake Wenatchee.
Owned and operated by Campfire U.S.A, previously Camp Fire Girls, the six day camp, which now hosts six camping sessions during the summer, including one for families, is hosting a benefit Aug. 28 to keep the tradition alive.
The event, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., will be held at the Conservatory Events Center in Cashmere.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 More... | | | Mosquito population low in Leavenworth | The mosquito population is lower than average for the month of August so far. That's according to Jennifer Mullins, manager of the Leavenworth Mosquito Control District, noting she only has trapped 12 at one time this year.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 More... | | | Leavenworth Junior Miss Scott takes second runner-up at State | She went to Pullman as the Leavenworth Junior Miss and walked away as the second runner-up for the newly-named Distinguished Young Women's state title and $1,200 in college scholarships. Now, Amanda Scott is gearing up for her senior year at Cascade High School and reflecting on her whirlwind year serving her community, and it's not over yet.
"This experience was life changing and it pushed me to do something I had never done before," she said. "It was something that was so challenging and I didn't expect it to be challenging. I had to break out of my shell and put myself in a position I have never been in before. And to come out of it and do so well and feel so accomplished, I'm proud of it, I'm happy about it, and I want to thank the community for all of their support."
Thursday, August 26, 2010 More... | |
| Business News
| | BVBA Business news | Great things are happening in downtown Leavenworth. The Leavenworth Bavarian Village Business Association (BVBA) meets at 8 a.m. on the first and third Tuesday of every month at King Ludwig's Restaurant. Please make plans to attend our meetings. We need the downtown merchants to be involved and give us their input.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 More... | |
| Outdoors
| | INSIDE INFORMATION ON THE OUTDOORS 9/2/10 |  |
Wednesday, Aug. 25
I jumped on board Shane Magnuson's boat the other day, and joined his two clients for a day's salmon fishing on the upper Columbia River. I wanted to tape a segment on the fishing for my Fishing TV Show, so he saved a seat for me. We hit a great day to be on the water. It was sunny and calm the entire day. He headed for the spot known as Pelican, which is around the corner from the mouth of the Okanogan River, and we had a fish in the boat before it was light enough to video the action. After trolling here a bit long without any action, he headed down and around the corner to try off the mouth of the Okanogan. We didn't have the bait in the water more than 15 minutes when a rod went down. The fish appeared to be solidly hooked, but we didn't get it to the boat. Shane grew impatient with the fishing here, we only saw one king landed, so we head for the launch and a new area. He put the boat in above Wells Dam and went back to work. The move paid off. We put two more fish in the boat, one weighing about 37 pounds!
Thursday, September 02, 2010 More... | | | Fires grow slowly in Icicle Canyon | Three fires believed to have been started by lightning grew in activity over the weekend, while trails and campgrounds remain closed.
The Eightmile Lake Fire, 13 miles southwest of Leavenworth, picked up activity late Friday afternoon, according to Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Public Affairs officer Susan Peterson, who added the fire is burning in a mosaic pattern that will ultimately create more diverse habitats.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 More... | | | Fire on the Mountain |
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 More... | | | Funding let to rehabilitate damaged farmland | Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) funds are being made available to farmers and ranchers in 14 states to repair farmland damaged by natural disasters in 2010.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 More... | |
| Sheriff's report
| | Sheriff's Report 8/20-8/24/10 | Leavenworth
Friday, August 20
Injury accident reported on U.S. Hwy. 2 and Chumstick Hwy. Motorcyclist was rear-ended by a Suburban. Motorcycle rider was up and walking.
Caller reported a burglary in 500 block of U.S. Hwy. 97 sometime in the previous week. A Fuji camera was missing.
Caller on Chumstick Hwy. reported a problem with the neighbor's dogs. Caller or deputy was bit in the calf by a dog.
Caller reported suspicious circumstances on River Road where shots, in groups of three, were heard to the west. Caller thought it might be a distress signal.
Caller from Deadman Hill Road received a check for $3,500 For the sale of a horse and it appeared to be a type of cashier's check that was made out to the wrong person. Caller was waiting for contact at Cashmere Valley Bank in Cashmere.
Caller reported missing two cows within the previous week. He found them at a residence at the end of Eagle Creek Road.
Caller from 10200 block of U.S. Hwy. 2 reported that a blue pit bull puppy had been missing since the end of July. Caller reported the female who used to live there was who took it. Caller had first name of subject.
Visconti's Restaurant reported that two found passports had been turned into them. Requested that a deputy pick them up.
Attempt to locate caller's sister and child, who texted caller and said they were stuck on the mountain and could not get out. They had no gear. It was unknown where they started, but they were supposed to end at the Snow Lake trailhead and they were approximately seven miles from there.
Injury accident reported on U.S. Hwy. 2 at Mile 70 where one vehicle had rolled over, off the road. It was occupied by three people and was blocking the highway.
Thursday, September 02, 2010 More... | | | Search and rescue scam hits Chelan County | Chelan County Sheriff Mike Harum warns of a "Search and Rescue Charity" potential scam occurring in the region. The alleged group randomly telephones local citizens and asks for donations/contributions to support local Search and Rescue programs. Citizens should be cautious with this organization and the Chelan County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue program does not solicit donations, nor does Chelan County Sheriff's Office work with any organization to raise funds.
Individuals wishing to contribute to Chelan County's program can call Chief Ron Hupp at 667-6835.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 More... | |
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