Don Gronning

1 month ago | pendoreillerivervalley.com | Don Gronning

YAKIMA — The state-qualifying Newport doubles of Emmalee Doughty and Olivia Sears started their state tournament well, winning the first set 6-3 over a Forest Ridge team. But Forest Ridge came back to win the second set, then won the final set 7-6 (7-1). That put Newport in a match with Lake Roosevelt. They never got their momentum back, losing in straight sets. Newport coach Brandon McDaniel says state tournament play is different level of intensity and pressure that’s hard to replicate.

1 month ago | pendoreillerivervalley.com | Don Gronning

Continuity, department retirements a concernNEWPORT — Two-term Pend Oreille County Sheriff Glenn Blakeslee says he will run for another term in 2026. He had previously said he would only serve two terms. “There’s a lot of staff retirements between now and the end of ‘26,” he says. “So that’s part of it.

1 month ago | pendoreillerivervalley.com | Don Gronning

NEWPORT — People coming to the Pend Oreille County Historical Society Museum in Newport want to buy things that that represent Pend Oreille County. The museum came up with Pend Oreille County-shaped cookie cutters. “It was my brother’s idea,” museum president Sue Mauro told county commissioners Monday, May 19, referring to her brother Tom Owen. “We’re going to try to have more things people can buy.”The cookie cutters are made on a 3D printer and sell for $4 each at the museum.

1 month ago | pendoreillerivervalley.com | Don Gronning

Increase rates qualify town for large loans, grantCUSICK — After initially voting against a sewer rate increase, the Cusick Town Council voted 4-1 to seek an increase at its meeting Tuesday, May 20. Council members Afton Servas, Donna Dana Roger Brown and Jasmine Fitzhugh voted yes. Jon Adams voted no. “We’ll advertise it two weeks, then hopefully adopt it June 10,” Cusick Mayor Tina Alford said. If the council votes to approve the increase, it will go into effect July 1, she said.

1 month ago | pendoreillerivervalley.com | Don Gronning

SPOKANE VALLEY — Emmalee Doughty and Olivia Sears teamed up to qualify for the state 1B/2B tennis tournament, set for May 23–24 in Yakima. Doughty and Sears qualified in girls doubles after a grueling Saturday at the District tournament at West Valley High School, Saturday, May 17 in Spokane Valley. “Both days we had the last match played,” Newport Coach Brandon McDaniel says. The previous Saturday was the first day of the district tournament played at East Valley High School, May 10.