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2 weeks ago | 
methowvalleynews.com | Ann McCreary
$2 million RCO grant funds 25-acre expansionAlmost $2 million in state funds have been allocated to buy about 25 acres of private land on the north end of Pearrygin Lake State Park to include within the park boundaries. Acquisition of the property is intended to protect it from future development and allow completion of a public trail around the lake.
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2 weeks ago | 
methowvalleynews.com | Ann McCreary
Housing Trust’s Easement Program is ‘first of its kind’For years, Becky Nelson and Keith Comstock hoped to buy a home in the Methow Valley. But like many people who earn a living in the valley, they found the price of homes far out of reach. So Nelson and Comstock rented for the last 14 years, and were forced to move every couple of years. “The rental housing situation here is so unstable,” said Nelson.
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2 months ago | 
methowvalleynews.com | Ann McCreary
New pack found in Okanogan CountyThe number of gray wolves in Washington decreased last year for the first time since state wildlife officials began counting them 16 years ago. Although the overall population dropped statewide, the number of wolf packs increased by one — including a new pack identified in Okanogan County northeast of the Methow Valley.
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Feb 28, 2025 | 
methowvalleynews.com | Ann McCreary
A U.S. Forest Service employee who has seen nine colleagues fired from the Methow Valley Ranger District in the past two weeks said federal workers are traumatized in the wake of the Trump administration’s firings, and are “bracing for what’s to come.” The employee, who still has a job at the ranger district and asked to remain anonymous, said the effects of losing the workers won’t be felt for a while, but will ultimately impact the safety of people using Forest Service lands, and the...
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Feb 28, 2025 | 
methowvalleynews.com | Ann McCreary
A shiny fish with a big ego learns that kindness is a greater gift than beauty in the upcoming production of “The Rainbow Fish Musical,” opening Thursday, March 6, at The Merc Playhouse in Twisp. A cast of 21 young actors, ages 8-13 years old, sing and dance and portray an array of sea life in the musical presented by the Tom Zbyszewski Children’s Theater, directed by Jane Orme. “The Rainbow Fish Musical” is adapted from the popular children’s book written and illustrated by Marcus Pfister.
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Feb 20, 2025 | 
methowvalleynews.com | Ann McCreary
$24 million needed for expansion project in TwispJamie’s Place has launched a campaign to raise money for a new long-term senior care facility in Twisp, which will replace its 12-resident facility in Winthrop and double capacity to 24 residents. Last fall Jamie’s Place — the Methow Valley’s only long-term senior care provider — confirmed plans to build a new, larger facility on the east side of Twisp.
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Feb 6, 2025 | 
methowvalleynews.com | Ann McCreary
AARP program is open to all agesFor many people, the looming deadline to submit federal tax returns evokes immense anxiety. Fortunately for them, the Methow Valley has a group of volunteers who actually enjoy doing tax returns, and are ready to offer free help preparing and filing federal taxes. The free tax help is offered through a program of the AARP Foundation called Tax-Aide. This year there are five local volunteers who have undergone training and certification to provide help to taxpayers.
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Jan 30, 2025 | 
methowvalleynews.com | Ann McCreary
Increased use spurred new management planAs anyone who enjoys outdoor recreation in the Methow Valley knows, the popularity of recreation on state and federal lands has been growing for several decades. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, recreation on public lands surged to new levels throughout the West. In Washington, the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) saw a 21% increase in visitation on DNR lands between 2019 and 2020, and trend is continuing.
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Jan 23, 2025 | 
methowvalleynews.com | Ann McCreary
Mountain snowpack hovers below normalAlthough the Methow Valley looks and feels plenty wintry these days, the valley is designated as “abnormally dry” by the U.S. Drought Monitor, and snowpack in nearby mountains is below normal. Early winter storms in November and December brought rain and snow in amounts that moved most of Washington — more than two-thirds of the state — out of drought conditions.
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Jan 16, 2025 | 
methowvalleynews.com | Ann McCreary
Propose ‘landscape-scale’ management Grizzly bears will be protected in western states under a “new and comprehensive approach to grizzly bear recovery” announced last week by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The federal wildlife agency proposal retains the bears’ designation as a threatened species, and manages them as one population in a large geographic area that encompasses all of Washington state and large parts of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
