2020 Election Analysis for Primary Election See page 6 August 12, 2020 • Volume 118, No. 33 YOUR BEST SOURCE OF NEWS FOR LOWER OKANOGAN AND DOUGLAS COUNTIES Single Copy $1.00 Okanogan Commissioners issue coronavirus proclamation County cases Director Lauri Jones ap- surge pealed to the commission- ers to draft a strong state- Okanogan Public Health BY MIKE MALTAIS ment voicing a unanimous STAFF WRITER support of health depart- ment recommendations to seeks campout members OKANOGAN – The county residents regarding METHOW – Okanogan posure,” said an August 4 Board of County Commis- use of cautionary measures County Public Health OCPH media release, “but sioners (BOCC) issued a to prevent the spread of (OCPH) officials are ask- due to the size of the event one-page coronavirus proc- COVID. Jones also urged ing citizens for help lo- (over 100 people in atten- lamation following a special the county sheriff to support cating individuals who dance), Public Health may meeting held last Wednes- COVID guidelines. participated in a two-day not have been able to contact day, August 5, to finalize “If I could get you guys campout north of the town everyone who attended.” the wording and sign the and the sheriff to make that of Methow on July 24-25. “If you know someone document that was issued stand, people will listen,” As many as 100 persons who attended this event, to the public on Thursday, said Jones. attended the event and please share this informa- August 6. Jones described the re- OCPH believes the attend- tion with them and ask The proclamation con- cent surge of positive CO- ees may have been ex- them to contact Public tains the board’s resolve VID-19 cases and ER rates posed to COVID-19. Health,” the release con- to address with a unified as “ridiculous” and overbur- “Public health has been tinues. voice “a significant surge dening health care facilities working hard to notify all The phone number for in coronavirus cases over like Central Washington attendees of potential ex- OCPH is 509-422-7140. the past few weeks” and Hospital to the point where the commissioners’ con- 100 participants may have cern that “the economy been exposed to the coro- and the health and well be- navirus. ing of the people of Okano- Campers sought gan County are severely Okanogan County Emer- compromised by our lack gency Management (OCEM) of urgency in controlling issued a news release on its Courtesy okanogancounty.org the virus…,” the proclama- Alert System (see sidebar) The one-page Okanogan County Commissioners’ tion said. asking that anyone who at- Proclamation releases August 6 urges citizens to follow The proclamation goes tended the event to contact health department cautionary measures to combat on to state that action by Okanogan County Public the increase in COVID-19 cases. Commissioner Andy Okanogan County residents Health. Hover’s signature on the proclamation was approved at the “grass root” level will As of Friday, August 7, 838 remotely. be the most effective tool positive cases have been re- to bring the rising number suggested by Okanogan pended a personal state- ported on the OCPH website of positive COVID-19 cases County Health officials,” ment to the proclamation okanogancountycovid19. under control and toward the proclamation continued. below his signature before org/covid-19-data/. That that end the BOCC’s col- The commissioners the completed document is an increase of 283 cases lective leadership plays an pledged to set an example was posted to the county Courtesy Okanogan-County-Public-Health Facebook during the past two weeks essential role in compelling to the public to follow those website, okanogancounty. As this graph shows from July 9-22, Okanogan County and 12 from the previous the public to act. health advisories and added org and on the Okanogan (top bar) has the highest incidence rate of COVID-19 day. The OCPH has reported After thanking health that the proclamation will County Public Health Face- cases in Washington State. eight deaths to date, six of care, county, business, and remain in effect “until a book page. those in in Brewster where public participation for the photograph of all three com- Jones appeals patients are being diverted ing the previous weekend. the cumulative coronavirus efforts and sacrifices made missioners together with The BOCC met in special to other hospitals. She also said a large group count is now at 503. to date, the board issued their smiling faces, without session the day following its During her presentation of people participated in a Across the river in Bridge- “a desperate appeal to the masks, is released to the regular meeting on Tues- Jones advised the commis- two-day campout on pri- port the COVID case count Okanogan County commu- press,” the proclamation day, August 4. During that sioners of three additional vate property north of the per Chelan-Douglas Health nity at large to implement concluded. earlier session Okanogan COVID deaths that oc- town of Methow on July District is 164 with another the cautionary measures Each commissioner ap- County Community Health curred in the county dur- 24-25, where more than four in Mansfield. Supernova competition Okanogan Health Director Lauri Jones names four finalists counties and the Colville tells NBC’s Today of harassment PBCRC Reservation. Applicants advances submitted business plans, Nationwide audience on Wednesday, participated in workshops, August 5, when she ap- BY MIKE MALTAIS took an area tour, and were issue peared on NBC televi- STAFF WRITER screened by a committee sion’s Today show. of business professionals BY MIKE MALTAIS Jones was joined by BREWSTER – The Pate- who narrowed the com- STAFF WRITER three other public health ros-Brewster Community petitors down to 16 semi- officials from Colorado, Resource Center’s (PBCRC) finalists. OKANOGAN – County Texas, and California Commercial Kitchen Proj- PBCRC was one of 16 Community Health Direc- - two of whom either ect has been selected as semi-finalists that made tor Lauri Jones took the resigned or were fired one of four finalists in the it to the second round of story of the coronavirus from their positions - who Supernova Business Launch voting that closed July 31. pandemic’s repercus- alternately addressed Competition. PBCRC will The final round of voting sions on a rural popula- problems they encoun- now compete for the $10,000 will be available online at tion and the backlash tered with both politi- Courtesy today.com grand prize awarded to the supernovablc.com where directed at the health cians and the public on Okanogan County Community Health Director Lauri winner on August 20. voters can register to cast officials trying to protect Jones joined a Today Show discussion concerning the The North Central Wash- ballots for the business of them to a nationwide SEE JONES ON PAGE 2 harassment of heath care officials across the nation. ington Economic Develop- their choice. ment District (NCWEDD) Each of the four finalists announced the competi- will answer some ques- tion last fall to encourage tions and deliver a final Preliminary election results favor Haven, Branch for commissioner entrepreneurs to start video pitch on August 10, a business in the region before voters are allowed Pateros EMS eligible voters approving encompassing Okanogan, passing and 36 percent opposed. Douglas, Chelan and Ferry SEE SUPERNOVA ON PAGE 3 With 116 votes counted BY MIKE MALTAIS so far, 74 support the levy STAFF WRITER while 42 oppose it. Last April, 107 voters cast bal- PATEROS – Preliminary lots according to figures results from the first two from the Okanogan County vote counts from the August Auditor’s office. Of those, 57 4 primary election show opposed the measure and 50 that the Pateros Emergency supported causing the levy Services Levy that went to fall short of the 50 percent down to defeat when first simple majority needed. presented to voters last The two races for Okano- Courtesy facebook.com/supernovablc April, is passing this time PBCRC Commercial Kitchen Project around with 63 percent of Katie Haven Andy Hover SEE ELECTION ON PAGE 2 INSIDE THIS WEEK Community ....................... 1-4 Community .......................... 6 Classified Index P.O. Box 37 Church News ...................... 4 Classifieds/ Bulletin Board ...................... 4 Public Notices .................. 5-6 Brewster, WA Obituaries/Death Notices .... 4 Puzzles ................................ 5 98812-0037 Opinion ................................ 4 509-689-2507 www.qcherald.com Health Alliance 2 Community QUAD CITY HERALD • AUGUST 12, 2020 Los Angeles County Pub- McKinney lost a previous running for reelection. Lands (Hilary Franz), and JONES lic Health Director Bar- ELECTION bid for the office in 2016. McLendon lost to Habib in Superintendent of Public CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 bara Ferrer, tried to add CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 In the race for 12th Dis- 2016 and leads his nearest Instruction (Chris Reykdal) some perspective to the trict State Representative, challenger, Denny Heck in both Okanogan County the matter of COVID-19 public blowback. gan County Commissioner Position 1, Republican in- by 433 votes in the second and statewide. restrictions and enforce- “We all have to under- find District 2 incumbent cumbent Keith Goehner has round of Okanogan County Challenger Chris Leyba ment. Jones was among stand how angry people Andy Hover narrowly trail- a slim lead over Winthrop counts. Of the remaining is leading incumbent Pat three on the panel who are,” said Ferrer. “They ing challenger Katie Ha- Democratic challenger 10 candidates for the No. 2 McCarthy for State Auditor have been the target of have lost so much.” ven by 22 votes, with 1,898 Adrianne Moore by about state job, Joseph Brumbles with 61 percent of the Okan- threats. Another participant, (50.29%) for Haven and 1,876 four percentage points, has 13 percent of the early ogan County vote but losing Jones’ harassment be- San Antonio, Texas, Met- (49.71%) for Hover.