UPDATE: Peshastin Man Found Cold But OK.

Read the Wenatchee World Article

Chelan County Sheriff - Sheriff Mike Harum reports on Monday March 1, 2010 at 6:15pm west county deputies were dispatched to the 8300 block of Main Street in Peshastin, WA concerning a missing 84 year old male with severe dementia. It was determined Jarvis P. Boyce walked away from his home sometime after 4:00pm. Family members at the residence did not realize Mr. Boyce had left the house. Neighbors reported seeing a subject matching Boyce’s description walking from the area of the residence northbound toward the railroad tracks. Other reports advised Mr. Boyce may have been seen walking toward Derby Canyon prior to the time he was reported missing.

Boyce was last seen wearing a red windbreaker type jacket with white lettering on the back and blue jeans. He may have been wearing a baseball cap. He is 5’8” in height, 110lbs, with blue eyes and gray hair. Family members advise Mr. Boyce suffers from Alzheimers disease severely affecting his memory and ability to communicate.

The search effort was coordinated by the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance from Fire District volunteers from Peshastin, Dryden, Cashmere, and Monitor. A bloodhound from Douglas County Fire District #2, and several Chelan County Volunteer Services personnel also responded to the search area. An extensive search of the Peshastin area continued until 2:00am. The search will resume again around 6:00am Tuesday morning.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking citizens residing in, or traveling through, the Peshastin, Dryden, and Leavenworth areas to be on the lookout for Mr. Boyce and to call 663-9111 immediately if he is observed in the area.

Senator Linda Evans Parlette checks in with Olympia's solution to their money woes: Raise taxes on the already overtaxed citizens. 

Senate passes suspension of taxpayer protection act, governor signs it into law

On Monday night the state Senate passed Senate Bill 6130, a measure that suspends key portions of the taxpayer protection law enacted by Initiative 960. Although the bill passed the Senate Feb. 10, the House amended it slightly so it came back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. I voted "no."

The bill as passed:

• removes the two-thirds vote requirement for the Legislature to raise taxes;

• takes away the public advisory vote on tax increases;

• removes the requirement to put information in the voter's pamphlet about tax increases and how legislators voted on them; and

• includes an emergency clause, so the bill takes effect immediately and does not give the public an opportunity to repeal it via referendum.

Senate Republicans sent a letter to the governor asking Gov. Gregoire to veto SB 6130, or at least the portion of it that removes the advisory vote and information in the voter's pamphlet. Regretfully, the governor declined our request and signed the bill into law on Wednesday.

This week USA Today and KING-5 TV conducted a poll on the repeal of the taxpayer protection act. Here is the question they asked:

The Washington state Legislature and the governor have suspended Initiative 960, which requires two-thirds of lawmakers to vote yet in order to raise taxes. Was suspending Initiative 960 the right thing to do? Or the wrong thing to do?

Here are the responses:

Wrong thing - 68%

Right thing - 24%

Not sure - 8 %

Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce - Two important meetings are being held this Friday:

 Friday, 2/26

Chamber Coffee Connection

7:15-8:15am.

Lake Chelan Chamber:

Join fellow members for this weekly program connecting local business representatives. Explore issues regarding worker compensation and unemployment insurance. Coffee & pastries provided.

Friday, 2/26

Chamber Membership Anniversary Meeting

8:30-9:30am.

Apple Cup:

Chamber Members whose anniversary date is during the month of February are invited to join Director, Mike Steele, and other chamber Board Members for an intimate conversation and a cup of coffee (breakfast is available for purchase!). This is an opportunity to share what strategies are working for your business and to give your input and suggestions about what you think could enhance your business. It is also a great time for questions.

These important meetings will be taking place on the last Friday of each month during 2010. The First Quarter meetings will take place in the Chelan area, the Second Quarter meetings will take place in the Manson area.

All Chamber Members whose anniversary date is (that) month are invited and encouraged to attend. Watch for e-mails from the Chamber during your Anniversary month!

Kim Ustanik

MBA Chairperson

Manson Parks and Recreation - Given the appointment of 2 new board members at this meeting, it was recently decided to conduct an additional executive session in allowing the new 4th member to take part in the selection of the 5th member. This would allow a more “team approach” as intended by the current board members.

- Wai Peterson

Jeff Adamson of WSDOT writes:

Hi all,

The project started this morning and the "full closure" dates have changed again.  Instead of starting March 8, they won't begin until March 15.  Here's the new schedule:

• Mar. 15,16,17,18.

• Mar. 29,30,31, Apr.1.

• Apr. 12, 13,14,15.

Jeff Adamson, WSDOT

Project web page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/US97A/NWenatcheeSlope/

From Kim Ustanik, Chairperson, Manson Business Advisory:

Good Afternoon, Manson Supporters! (That's a color of Spring!)

I am sorry that it has taken so long to get out a good update for our community.  As may know, the Manson Business Association has undergone a trial transformation for this year to the Manson Business Advisory, a proud committee of the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce.  Our process of communication is part of that transformation so there's been some delay, but I think we've got the bugs all worked out...

Don't forget!  If you are a member of the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce, you are an automatic member of our Advisory committee!

Mark your calendar:

For the moment, here are some important dates for you to either mark your calendar or to just be aware of:

• Manson Business Advisory Committee meeting - 2/23, 10am, Manson Business Center (agenda to follow)

• Manson/Northshore Scenic Loop Committee meeting - 2/24, 10am, Manson Parks Department meeting room (agenda to follow)

• 4^th of July Committee (called by Jonny Kludt) - 3/2, 10am, Wapato Point Cellars meeting room; All interested parties are welcome!

In addition to these meetings, please know that our Manson Community Council, Manson Parks and Recreation Department, Manson Kiwanis, Manson Grange and Manson School District hold regular community or board meetings.  These important organizations want and need your participation, as well.  Please find your spot and jump in the fun!

Announcements:

• Lake Chelan Cheese Co., dba. Fromaggio on the Bay... Grand Opening May 2010! Take a look at the fabulous new business to open soon in Manson! Timi Starkweather and Team have been working very hard to bring this exciting opportunity to fruition. This could be a natural anchor for Manson and part of our community team that will, obviously, fit right in with the entire Lake Chelan Valley! Go to http://lakechelancheese.com for a peak into the near future!

• TEAM NEEDED to help take down the Christmas Train, and possibly the Christmas tree lights. A group of 4 would make pretty quick work of it. Please reply to this e-mail! Thanks!

• PLEASE remember to shop local and help out where you can. There is so much we can do - TOGETHER!

My final message today is to wish you a ton of sun in your life.  It has been a wonderful, inspirational and bright day; the crocuses are already blooming in the garden.  Winter always passes and whatever brings us down will also pass and the flowers will bloom again.  The sun I wish you comes from within and it is ALWAYS there... let it shine!

See you around town,

Kim Ustanik

Chairman

509-687-9505

Manson Business Advisory

Sen. Linda Evans Parlette

From a press release from Sen. Linda Evans Parlette:

On Wednesday, Governor Gregoire proposed increasing taxes by about $825 million to balance the 2009-11 budget.

Among other things, her proposal would:

· tax bottled water at one cent per ounce (about $3.84 per case);

· tax soda at the wholesale level at five cents per 12 ounces;

· tax cigarettes by an additional $1 a pack (to $3.05 a pack);

· make candy and gum subject to the sales tax for the first time;

· triple the tax on “hazardous materials,” including oil imported into Washington (a proposal estimated to raise gas prices by at least three cents a gallon); and

· eliminate some existing tax incentives.

In addition to raising these taxes, the governor’s plan relies on almost $700 million in fund transfers – one-time monies that do not solve our budget problem long-term – and counts on $435 million in hoped-for federal Medicaid money.

It should also be noted that the $825 million tax increase is a one-year figure. These increases are projected to cost taxpayers $1.93 billion in the next (2011-13) biennium.

Even with this level of increase, the governor’s outlook for the next biennium shows a general fund budget deficit of more than $2.1 billion. The likelihood of a budget with new taxes moving forward increases with the repeal of the taxpayer protection act.