October Chamber Meetings at La Presa

Chamber will be meeting this Thursday, Oct. 24, at La Presa. Meeting will begin at noon. Launi Ritter from Coulee Wall Variety Store will be the guest speaker.

Okanogan County School Retirees to Meet Friday

 The Okanogan County School Retirees’ Association meets 11 a.m., Friday, October 25, for a general meeting and no-host luncheon at Cariboo Inn, 233 Queen St., Okanogan. Following the meeting, a WA State Department of Transportation spokesman will discuss priorities, roundabout stats, Walmart intersection, and money targeted for this area. Information: Jennie Hedington: 509-422-2954.

Okanogan County/Cities to Kick Off Project to Update Hazard Mitigation Plan

 Okanogan County is beginning the process of updating its Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan examines the risks posed by the natural hazards that affect Okanogan County, and its communities, and develops strategies to reduce the impacts from those hazards.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires counties to update this plan every five years to remain eligible for federal funding for hazard mitigation projects. All cities/towns in Okanogan County, two Fire Districts, Okanogan Conservation District are currently recognized as adopting jurisdictions in the plan, along with the county itself.

This project is funded through grants from FEMA and the initial “kickoff” meeting will be held October 30, 2019 at 1:30 PM in the Commissioners Hearing room at the Virginia Granger Admin Building in Okanogan.

A planning team will work with Emergency Management throughout the update process. The team will consist of representatives from local agencies, organizations, governments, and groups. Northwest Management, Inc. has been retained by Okanogan County to provide risk assessments, hazard mapping, field inspections, interviews, and to collaborate with the planning team to update the plan.

Community input will also play a key role in the 2020 plan update. Public meetings, reviews of the plan, and a public comment period will be announced in the future. The current version of the plan (titled the Okanogan County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan) can be accessed and viewed on the Okanogan County Emergency Management website. The update project is expected to be completed by October 15, 2020.

Food Bank Hours

Normal operating hours are every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. It is located at the Church of Nazarene, Hwy 174, Grand Coulee. Clients are encouraged to provide their own containers to carry groceries home in. Call Pastor Shawn for information: 633-2566.

AA Meetings for GCD and Nespelem Area

Confused in the Coulee AA meetings are held on Mondays and Fridays at 6 p.m. at the Vets Center in Electric City. Call Paul at 633-3377 days or 633-3345 evenings.

New Hope Group meetings are held Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at the Vets Center. These are open and non-smoking.

In Nespelem, the group Bound and Determined holds its meetings Monday evening at 7 p.m. at the Catholic Church. Contact Myrna at 634-4921 for more information.