NEWS UNBROKEN
DAILY NEWS, SPORTS, AND WEATHER, FROM COLVILLE WASHINGTON... LIVE WITH ERIC CARPENTER!
(upbeat music) - More hot, sunny weather still to come. It is the Tuesday. Eric Carpenter with you. This is K-C-V-L, K-C-R-K, so good to have you with us. Thanks a lot for listening. This past Saturday, we saw a lot of bicyclists here in Colville. They converged at the Yekpa Canum Park, and then they went north from there on Sunday. Bicycle rides northwest. They began a journey here in Colville this last Saturday. Sunday was the portion of the ride, Colville up to Northport. Yesterday, the ride went from Northport to Curlew, 65-mile trek. They took kind of the backways, crossing the Columbia, took the ride over to Curlew. Today, the bicyclists going from Curlew to Oroville. That's another 55-mile ride. Well, these bicyclists are gonna continue all the way back to Colville. On Thursday, they will be in Republic. That's when they go from Oroville to Republic. And then this coming Friday, back to Colville, Republic to Colville, a 56-mile ride. So keep your eyes open. You're gonna find a variety of bicyclists along the way. They'll have a number of support vehicles traveling with them. But again, we're having, if anything, a little bit hot weather for the bicyclists, but certainly better than pouring down rain. So the bicyclists, they are going to be back here in Colville, riding Republic to Colville Friday, and they will be here in Colville on Saturday the 20th. If you see some out of town bicyclists and support vehicles up at the City Park, they're part of the Bicycle Rides Northwest Program. Give 'em a good hello. They would enjoy talking with you about our local area. The Kettlefall School District is currently seeking a skilled and reliable bus driver for the 2024-2025 school year. Accelerate your career in this high-demand field. As a bus driver, you will be transporting students and staff on regular school routes and extracurricular activities, such as field trips. Be a part of our team and help us continue to provide safe and efficient transportation to our community. Apply online at kfschools.org or call 509-738-6625 for more information. - First, it was zebras running for days around the North Bend area. Now, well, it's reports of a wallaby loose in Pierce County. The Washington State Patrol troopers were the first on the scene. They described the runaway as having big ears and tiny forearms. Troopers from the State Patrol and the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, they tried to wrangle the animal, but it escaped, well, eventually, a State Patrol troop, eventually, a State Patrol trooper tackled it and took it away. No deputies, troopers or wallabies were hurt in the incident. The Seattle Times, they reported the wallaby was returned to Debbie Doolittle's petting zoo in Parkland. But when Debbie Doolittle's petting zoo was contacted over the phone, someone at the petting zoo says, that's not our wallaby. Well, the National Geographic says wallabies are mammals, their average lifespan is nine years and are 12 to 41 inches with a tail between 10 and 29 inches, normally weigh four to five pounds. They San Diego Zoo, they say the main difference between a wallaby and a kangaroo is that the kangaroos are bigger. However, other than their size, the two are quite similar. Attention, call the residents. Get ready to experience the ultimate fusion of comfort and community at Sondra's Furniture, a haven for quality styles and artistic flair, nestled within the walls of Sondra's Furniture lies a hidden gem. Big Al's Mercantile and Coffee where local charm meets exceptional taste. Step inside and explore a world of hand-picked furniture and mattresses, each telling its own unique story of style and comfort. And right in the heart of it all, discover Big Al's Mercantile and Coffee, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, beckons you to indulge in the finest local flavors. Browse through our curated selection of small-batch sourdough, James beef, Stephanie's sauces and spices, and more all sourced from our vibrant community. As you explore Sondra's Furniture, let the artwork on display inspire you. Just as our community's talent has inspired us to create this one-of-a-kind gathering place. Whether you're searching for the perfect piece to complete your home, or simply craving a delicious cup of coffee, Sondra's Furniture and Big Al's Mercantile and Coffee welcomes you with open arms. Come experience the synergy of comfort, style and community at Sondra's Furniture, where every visit is an invitation to discover something new, downtown Caldwell. Deputies with the King County Sheriff's Office made two arrests leading to the seizure of more than 25 pounds of drugs, more than a dozen firearms, firearm accessories, information on making illegal weapons and materials used to make homemade explosives. Due to the amount of drug contamination, the gun violence reduction unit and the bomb disposal unit were called in. That's when they discovered more chemicals and compounds for homemade explosives. 7.4 ounces of meth, 5 pounds, 5 ounces of amphenamines, 4 pounds of Xanax, 16 pounds of fentanyl, all found. They also found five complete rifles, some fully automatic with no serial numbers, 13 complete handguns that were fully automatic and no serial numbers, a three 37 millimeter launchers, a flame thrower, and six pistol sliders and rifle magazines. They also found AR-15 drum magazines, 13 assorted magazines, homemade suppressors, unbarrel pistol parts, a 3D printer used for making automatic switches, a 3D printer materials and books on the making and maintaining of firearms and accessories. Two suspects they ran from the area, but were later caught. They were taken into custody by the SWAT team. Last week, we brought you audio parts from a public hearing and the approval of a conditional use permit application for Northeast Washington Alliance Counseling Services. They want to greatly expand their operations into the county public works building that is next door to them on Hawthorne. Last week, we heard from the applicant, David Nielsen, talked about the project, also heard from people in favor of the project like the sheriff and the Northeast Tri-County Health District Administrator. Well, today we wanted you to hear some of the public comments that were made from the general public about this project and a little bit of the response and clarification of what's going on. It's from last week's Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting here in Colville. I live in the basin area of Stevens County. Not long ago, I was awakened in the middle of the night by a prowler upside my bedroom window. A very capable neighbor with a high power spotlight stopped this individual on my front porch and held him at gunpoint while the sheriff's deputies arrived. This person turned out to be a homeless drug runner in Colville with an array of serious mental health issues who makes a living stealing things and reselling them. On the street, he's known to supply fentanyl and other hard drugs to addicts throughout the Colville community. Many of whom are in drug treatment and who have run out of their medically prescribed suboxone. This is precisely the type of person that Dr. Nielsen intends to serve and that hospitals, social service providers and law enforcement officers from here to Spokane will be falling all over themselves to dump on his doorstep. When Dr. Nielsen presented his plan to the city council in January of this year, he candidly admitted that the population he intended to target consists of homeless male drug addicts with criminal backgrounds. Significantly, Dr. Nielsen stopped talking about his target population shortly after meeting with the city planners and learning what was involved in obtaining a conditional use permit. No doubt he came to understand that to obtain a conditional use permit, he would bear the burden of showing that his proposed development would have no adverse impact on either surrounding properties or on the community as a whole. And as we all know, homeless male drug addicts with criminal backgrounds create a whole load of adverse impacts. Dr. Nielsen has submitted to the zoning board a very lengthy and detailed description of his program. It addresses everything from treatment modalities to the number and type of beds, staffing ratios, house rules, and referral sources. But again, no mention of the single most relevant fact in this proceeding, the fact that his program will be targeting homeless male drug abusers with criminal backgrounds, and that the foreseeable impacts of his program are ones that no set of conditions can possibly mitigate. The result is that the record of this proceeding has been whitewashed to conceal a material fact. The single most important and outcome determinative fact that could possibly be put forward in this proceeding and the public has been equally misled and thereby deprived of the opportunity to come to this hearing prepared to address it. Just a few months ago, Dr. Nielsen was maintaining consistently that he was operating a mere outpatient crisis facility due to his lack of licensure to do anything more intensive. He said this point blank to the city council on January 23rd of this year. So which is it, Dr. Nielsen? Are you running an unlicensed inpatient crisis stabilization facility or are you being less than truthful when you represent to this board that the expanded program you have in mind is really nothing different than what you've been doing all along? And here we go again with an application that requires an analysis of real life impacts and that fails to address even the most obvious and predictable consequences of housing homeless, drug addicted men with criminal backgrounds in a facility located on only a matter of yards from the city park and surrounded by schools, playgrounds, homes and churches. It does in fact appear that this issue was decided well in advance of this hearing behind closed doors. The city knows it, the county knows it and Dr. Nielsen knows it. This is not how the process is supposed to work and it makes a mockery of the public hearing process which so many citizens have come to regard as just another futile exercise. (audience applauds) I attended the May City planning meeting that included discussions on community based behavioral health facilities zoning code amendments. At the meeting, Lou Janki, Shelley Short and I all expressed our feelings of advanced notification to the public. There was mention of workshops, whether the public would be provided the opportunity to express, discuss their thoughts, good or bad. Shelley brought up the Chewila facility, how they did not seek advanced public input, the pushback that came from this and suggested to review the processes that they followed to prevent the same from happening here in Kavil. I mentioned something about agreeing with Lou and preventing gossip by bringing the public in in advance. My concern here is upon review of the minutes from this meeting that were approved at a special meeting on June 19th, these parts of the discussion were excluded. I am not sure why but would like to know at the same meeting, Aaron did talk about his assistance with the city of Chewila zoning as it related to their facility. He mentioned they created a local licensing requirement, applicants to show proof that they maintained a state license like a business license. This brings me to another couple of my concerns today. At this meeting, it was mentioned that Nielsen's facility was operated all these years unlicensed. My specific concern here is this seem to be common knowledge amongst those in attendance. I did not hear which license was lacking. So afterwards, I tried to figure it out. I found that Northeast Washington Alliance Counseling has never held and as of today, does not have a state license for its Kavil facility that it operates on Stevens County owned property. Lastly, I'm worried with the close proximity to the adjacent family apartment complex, as well as Benny's motel right across the street, the college, our public swimming pool, and of course, the park. So many children coming and going. I would hope that you do not approve. - Owner and manager, president of Benny's Kavil Inn, I'm here not in favor of this movement because of my experiences. I work with many entities across the community through the hotel, rural resources, DSHS, the counseling center, many of the churches, as well as a couple other entities. We housed folks once in a while at the hotel that other people pay for. These are people in between housing, crisis situations, sometimes mental health situations. I have had to buy one of the most sophisticated surveillance systems in Kavil because of issues and situations, and it doesn't all stem from the counseling center. We know that as a community, it's coming from everywhere. However, some of it does come from across the street, it's counseling center. My business never closes. I'm up at all hours of the night, addressing concerns, arguments, fights, not on my property, but across the street, up the street, maybe even on my property. The crisis house that sits behind the counseling center, I've watched a lot of stuff come and go. Mr. Nielsen just made comment, it's not a locked door. My biggest concern is my clientele that comes from out of town, the stain in Kavil, this community is an incredible community. It makes it very, very tough to try to continue to do business when a portion of our livelihood is chewed away, a little bite here, a little bite there, a little bite there. We are already taxed to death. Makes it really tough to support something like this when it's in your backyard. When you watch it week after week, there's hundreds of things. David, I've been trying to have a meeting with you for over two months. Before I knew about this, we still got to have that meeting. Our community is a small community. How do we continue to empower what we have here? We've got to protect it. There is an absolute need for what David and that organization is doing. There's a lot of things I don't agree with. I've got to protect my guests every single day, every single hour. How do I do that? I'm up at night a lot. I'm watching stuff go on in this community a lot. I've watched a lot of stuff come and go from that crisis house that hasn't gotten reported. Some of you don't need to. Some of us are concerned. You just watch it and okay, it's dwindled, it's gone away. I've watched people urinate, defecate, do drug deals in the alley behind that. The beauty behind the dumpster for new alliance. Security is a problem. Security is a big issue and that is my biggest concern. If I have a guarantee, for the most part, we can't guarantee anything, right Brad? For security. Society is what it is. But for me to be okay with this move, serious security would have to change. Thanks. (audience applauds) - Those are some of the public comments made at that four hour hearing held last week at Colville City Hall. You need water? You need fogle, fogle pump and supply. From the ground up to the pump, from the pump to your faucet. Not enough water? Hydro fracturing may be the answer. Hydro fracturing opens water producing veins to increase flow or maybe an underground holding tank providing a consistent ready source of water. Call the Fogle professionals or stop by their sales and service office on the North Highway. You need water? You need fogle. Fogle pump and supply, the water professionals. Today's local weather forecast brought to you by Colville Auto Repair offering complete automotive repair service for all makes including expert Dodge Diesel Repair and maintenance. Call 509 684-3581. Make your appointment today. Stop in at 505 South Maine. More sunshine 95 the high this afternoon 54 overnight. There is a slight chance of some thunderstorm activity midday Wednesday 97 the high 97 again on Thursday. Sunshine 95 Friday over the weekend gonna get even warmer. Sunny and 99 Saturday 103 Sunday. Still sunny hot and dry 98 the high next Monday. Do keep in mind that is a full ban. No campfires, no outdoor burning whatsoever on County DNR Lake Roosevelt. The fire prohibitions are in effect in all of Northeast Washington. We do appreciate you joining us here on the radio. It is a Tuesday. I'm Eric Carpenter and this is KCVL, KCRK. K.