Clearwater Tribune

Welcome to Clearwater Tribune Online! We are proud to be the official newspaper for Clearwater County, which is situated in the scenic region of north-central Idaho. While Orofino is our county seat, we cover news and stories from all towns within Clearwater County, including Weippe, Pierce, Ahsahka, Elk River, and Greer, as well as Peck and Lenore from the neighboring Nez Perce County.

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Rotary Ripples for the week of June 25, 2025

3 days ago | clearwatertribune.com | Elizabeth Morgan

People of ActionThis year Rotary received 28 applications for four scholarships to be awarded to Joint School District 171 graduates. Rotary President Randy Bowen and soon to be President Elect Cindy Wines attended the Scholarship awards ceremony on June 5. Three of the four Orofino Rotary Scholarship recipients for 2025 were Livia Johnson, Camden Waggener, and Ava Goetz were students at Orofino Junior/Senior High School.
Orofino City Council member Loretta Stout resigns

1 week ago | clearwatertribune.com | Nancy Butler

Orofino City Council member Loretta Stout submitted her resignation due to health reasons and Mayor Mark Swayne thanked her for her service. He continued that she did a thorough job and he appreciated her service very much. Any resident of the city that would like to serve on the council through the end of the year is asked to submit their name and a statement about why they would like to serve and submit it by June 23.
Providence and Peaches

2 weeks ago | clearwatertribune.com | David Anthony

Next year will mark 45 years since Ed and Linda Wylde planted 2,000 peach trees in Lenore. Five years later they’d have their first crop. This is their story—as much about providence as it is about peaches. Ed…1971 was a turbulent year in America. Bombings and arson attacks by radical groups like the Weather Underground and the Chicano Liberation Front had the government and country on edge.
Orofino Junior/Senior High School seeing the beginnings of Natural Resources Pathway

2 weeks ago | clearwatertribune.com | Nancy Butler

It isn’t often that small rural communities have the resources to offer their students career ready training and skills, but Orofino Junior/Senior High School and Timberline School are among the lucky ones.
New building, zoning official hired for City of Orofino

3 weeks ago | clearwatertribune.com | Nancy Butler

During the regular City Council meeting May 27, Mayor Mark Swayne announced that a new Building and Zoning Official, Ben Austin, has been hired for the City of Orofino. Austin is scheduled to start work June 2. Swayne said they have received nine applications for the Administrator position. Interviews will start June 11. The applications were being reviewed and ranked.
City Council approves memorandum with county for building inspections

1 month ago | clearwatertribune.com | Nancy Butler

During their regular session May 13, Orofino’s City Council agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Clearwater County’s Building Inspector to help the city with their inspections. Mayor Mark Swayne has been working with the county to develop the MOU and after review by the city’s attorney, it was ready for council approval with a few minor corrections.
Rotary Ripples for the week of May 21, 2025

1 month ago | clearwatertribune.com | Elizabeth Morgan

People of ActionMembers enjoyed a special presentation as President Elect Phil Petersen shared highlights of his recent trip to New Zealand and Fiji at our meeting May 16. The opportunity to learn more about the people and countries in our world is always appreciated. One of Phil’s roles as President Elect is to seek and coordinate our guest speakers each week. We commend him in his diligence to always provide informative as well as entertaining programs.
Rotary Ripples for the week of May 14, 2025

1 month ago | clearwatertribune.com | Elizabeth Morgan

People of ActionThank you to everyone that supported the Rotary Club of Orofino with the fourth annual community Reduce, Reuse, Recycle estate sale last month. From those that donated items, our booth space vendors, those that purchased items, and our hardworking team that made this happen. There are a number of residual items which are presently advertised on Facebook Marketplace. We are excited for the possibilities before us to put the funds raised back into the community with matching funds.
Orofino’s Historic District focus of Clearwater Historical Museum display

1 month ago | clearwatertribune.com | Nancy Butler

Orofino’s Historic District is the focus of the currently featured photo display at the Clearwater Historical Museum. Orofino’s Historic District represents the town’s commercial and residential architecture and plan as it was developed from 1895 (when founder Clifford P. Fuller took up the land comprising the district) through 1932, by which time the district had achieved its present character.
Orofino Main Street input needed answer and help spread the word

1 month ago | clearwatertribune.com | Susan Jacobson

The Idaho Department of Commerce chose Orofino as one of three cities selected to compete to be awarded a Main Street America Transformation Strategy Workshop. Last week, we were notified that Orofino was selected. This initiative, at no cost to the city, is designed to support community-led economic growth and create sustainable, revitalized downtowns through focused strategy and resource alignment.