Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Top Story
Election 2026: Chelan County results at a glance. Unofficial results; counting continues.

Election 2026: Chelan County results at a glance

Chelan County voters weighed in on 17 races and measures Tuesday, from the 8th Congressional District to a $275 million Wenatchee school bond. Here's where each stood after the first count of the night, according to unofficial results posted by Chelan County Elections at 8:31 p.m. Nov. 3. Turnout stood at 46.3%, with 25,571 ballots counted.

PUD’s Plain, Lake Wenatchee transmission project estimate rises to $100 million

PESHASTIN — The estimated cost of Chelan PUD’s project to rebuild a section of the Beverly-McKenzie transmission line serving the Upper Wenatchee Valley has increased from $60 million to $100 million after more detailed planning clarified construction challenges in remote terrain.

PUD commissioners debate smaller rate increase ahead of Nov. 16 vote

WENATCHEE — Chelan PUD commissioners debated on Nov. 2 whether to begin a five-year rate plan with a smaller electric increase, with some favoring a more gradual approach and others warning that smaller increases would leave customer payments falling further behind operating costs.
Local Features

More than a scoop: the story behind Whistlepunk Ice Cream

The Whistlepunk Ice Cream shop displays a sign featuring the ice cream cart that began it all.
LEAVENWORTH – On a busy summer afternoon, the line at Whistlepunk Ice Cream often stretches out the door and down the sidewalk as employees hustle between tubs of handcrafted ice cream, fresh …

Stay, leave, or return? Cascade High School graduates reflect on building a future beyond Leavenworth

LEAVENWORTH – Every June, another class of Cascade High School graduates walks across the stage knowing one decision still lies ahead: whether to build a life in the Upper Valley, leave in pursuit …
The handcrafted wooden sign was made by local artisans at Gibbs Graphics.

Twenty years in the making: Carta brings Chef Ben Herreid’s culinary vision to Leavenworth

LEAVENWORTH – Nearly a year after opening its doors, Carta is preparing to become the restaurant Chef Ben Herreid always envisioned. This August, the downtown Leavenworth restaurant will unveil a …
Vendors manage their own booths, which is demonstrated by the unique inventory and display of each booth.

Apple Annie Antique Gallery marks 30 years in Cashmere

CASHMERE — At 70,000 square feet, Apple Annie Antique Gallery is one of the largest antique malls in Washington state, hosting anywhere from 120 to 150 vendors and over 225 booths under one roof. …
Lindsay Schaible, owner of Mint + Sprinkle.

Leavenworth’s newest party boutique helps make every gathering special

LEAVENWORTH — Lindsay Schaible, the owner of the recently opened Mint + Sprinkle, loves a reason to bring people together – from the small everyday gatherings to the large …
Other News
CHELAN COUNTY — Preliminary results from the Nov. 3 General Election show incumbent Mike Morrison with a near 60-percentage-point lead over deputy Stan Langlow for the Chelan County sheriff’s …
CHELAN COUNTY — Preliminary results of the Nov. 3 election show overwhelming support for Sandra Arechiga over incumbent Marty Young in the Chelan County clerk race. As of 8:33 p.m. Tuesday, …
CHELAN COUNTY — Initial results show incumbent Shon Smith carrying a razor-thin lead over Clint Strand for the Chelan County Commissioner District 2 seat in the Nov. 3 General Election. As of …
Attorney Colleen Frei held a commanding lead over Malaga orchardist Aaron Young in early returns Tuesday night in the race for the Chelan County PUD's District 1 commission seat.
CASHMERE – The measure had 354 yes votes and 536 no votes, according to unofficial results posted by Chelan County Elections at 8:31 p.m. Nov. 3. Countywide, 25,571 ballots had been counted, a …
Obituaries
Kathryn passed away surrounded by friends and family in her home October 26th, 2026. Celebration of Life details to come.
Michael “Mick” D. Lamar, 72, of Plain, Washington, passed away peacefully at home on October 22, 2026, surrounded by his loving wife and children. Born at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, …
Fred Bockenstedt, 85, passed away peacefully on September 5th, 2026, in his Leavenworth home, surrounded by his family. Born January 10, 1941, in New Vienna, Iowa, Fred is dearly missed by his wife …
Genevieve Elaine Smith, age 87, passed away on August 30, 2026, wrapped in the loving arms of her namesake granddaughter, Genevieve Stephens. This Amazing Woman is now in the arms of Jesus, her …
Margery Ellen Drake passed away in Tacoma WA at age 85 after a long illness. Marge was a proud graduate and loyal alum of Lincoln High School in Seattle. She earned a degree in Mathematics at the …
Remembering Joaquin There are some people whose lives cannot be measured by dates, accomplishments, or the number of years they were here. Joaquin was one of those people. His name, Joaquin, …
Education
Class of 2027 students from Cascade High School gathered for a “senior sunrise” before their last first day of school on Aug. 27.

Cascade School District enters new school year with new principals, new priorities

LEAVENWORTH —- Summer is over for students of Cascade School District, who returned to the classrooms on Aug. 27. The start of the 2026-2027 school year is the beginning of several new …

LEAVENWORTH — Cascade School District (CSD) has named Terry Muscutt as the new interim principal of Alpine Lakes and Beaver Valley Elementary Schools. Muscutt has a bachelor’s degree in …
WENATCHEE — Two members of the Wenatchee Valley College Board of Trustees have resigned, leaving the five-member governing board with two vacancies. The college announced Monday that trustees …
LEAVENWORTH —- Cascade School District (CSD) approved a $22 million budget for the 2026-2027 school year during its July 20 meeting. The district is continuing to budget for declining …
Chelan County Sheriff's Report

Chelan County Sheriff's Report

This report is compiled from records provided by the Chelan County Sheriff's Office and RiverCom. The publisher cannot certify the complete accuracy of the information provided.

Outdoors
Icicle Creek will open to coho salmon retention on Sept. 30.

Icicle River opens to coho salmon retention Sept. 30

LEAVENWORTH — Anglers may keep coho salmon caught in two stretches of the Icicle River starting Wednesday, Sept. 30, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced.

Icicle River will not open for spring Chinook fishing in 2026

LEAVENWORTH — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that the Icicle River will not open for spring Chinook fishing in 2026, citing the timing of the fish run and successful …

WDFW urges new hunters to complete education courses before fall seasons

OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is urging prospective hunters to complete required hunter education courses this summer to avoid delays before the fall hunting seasons. …

WDFW seeking applicants for Wolf Advisory Group

OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking applicants to fill four vacant positions on its Wolf Advisory Group (WAG), which advises the department’s director on …

Sockeye fishing opens at Lake Wenatchee

LAKE WENATCHEE — Anglers will be able to retain sockeye salmon at Lake Wenatchee beginning one hour before sunrise on July 23, as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) opens the …
State News

WA officials urge leaders not to spend $51 million Meta fine yet

Meta has paid Washington state a record-setting fine of more than $51 million for violating campaign finance laws, but lawmakers are being cautioned not to get too excited about the money.

As immigrant Medicaid cuts take effect, some in WA can keep their coverage

OLYMPIA – Roughly 10,000 immigrants in Washington are losing their Medicaid health coverage due to federal cuts Republicans in Congress approved last year.

Judge permanently blocks WA sheriff standards law

OLYMPIA – A judge on Friday threw out tough new job standards for county sheriffs approved by Washington lawmakers this year that critics argued would force some out of office.

WA wildfire home damage totals at least $188M, Ferguson says

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Monday asked President Donald Trump for tens of millions of dollars in federal aid to help communities recover from devastating wildfires this summer. Across the …

It’s primary election day in WA. Here’s what you need to know

Washington voters on Tuesday will start to winnow the competition in hundreds of local, state and federal races in this busy election cycle. All 98 seats in the state House and 24 in the Senate …

Ferguson proposes statewide school cellphone ban

SEATTLE — Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Tuesday that he will seek a statewide ban on student cellphone use during school hours in Washington public K-12 schools. The proposed “Away for the …

DOJ moves to vacate Jan. 6 conviction for Proud Boys leader from WA

The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to erase the conviction of a prominent leader of the Proud Boys from Washington state for his actions during the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol. …
Sports
LEAVENWORTH — Zoie Burpee had a hat trick in each of Cascade girls soccer's two home wins this week: a 9-1 rout of Tonasket on Senior Night and a shutout of Oroville. The Kodiaks then lost 1-0 at unbeaten Cashmere.
PESHASTIN — Cascade football scored the final 14 points to beat Omak 21-14 in a 1A Caribou Trail League game Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Peshastin-Dryden Sports Complex.
LEAVENWORTH — Cascade volleyball swept Bridgeport at home this week, with road losses at Okanogan and Medical Lake on either side.

BREWSTER — Brewster edged Cascade 3-2 in a varsity soccer match Tuesday, Sept. 22, while the Cascade junior varsity team earned a 2-0 win in a shortened match. Cascade took an early 1-0 …
KENNEWICK — The Wenatchee Wild scored five consecutive goals to rally from an early two-goal deficit and defeat the Tri-City Americans 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at Toyota Center in the preseason …
Opinion
A week from today, the election will be over.
There is a difference between journalism that makes people uncomfortable and content that is designed to make people angry.

Nobody particularly enjoys being wrong.
There was a time when most of us were perfectly comfortable being bad at things.
Letters
In the April 15 Echo a letter from a land use attorney and avid golfer, was published that was intended (it appears) to spread misinformation in such a way as to prevent the citizens of Leavenworth …