Sheriff Mike Morrison reports, on 8/26/2023 at approximately 0134 hrs, deputies responded to a report of an injury accident in the 500 blk of Klate Rd in Manson. When deputies and Manson Fire arrived, they found a side-by-side vehicle off the roadway. The single occupant driver was located and pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver was identified as 40 year old Brock W. Lindsay of Manson. The Coroner’s Office determined the driver died as a result of the crash.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office would like to express our deepest condolences to the Lindsay family. Brock’s positive influence on the community of Manson and the people in the Chelan Valley will be missed.
A tragedy in the community as a local woman in Cashmere passes away after being hit by a passing BNSF train.
On 08/24/2023, at approximately 1155 hours, Rivercom advised and dispatched Chelan County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Deputies that a person was struck by a passing Burlington Northern San Francisco (BNSF) Railroad train near Division Street and Mission Avenue in Cashmere, WA. The reporting party, an BNSF employee, advised the train had struck a person who was standing on the train tracks just east of the train crossing. Sadly, the person struck by the train did not survive the collision.
Through their investigation, CCSO Detectives, were able to identify the deceased as Melinda I Smith, a 31-year-old woman from Cashmere. Detectives and the County Coroner were able to notify her next of kin today 8/25/2023.
CCSO offers our deepest condolences to the family and to the community.
The investigation into this collision remains ongoing and there is no further information to report.
HYAK – The Washington State Department of Transportation and contractor crews will close I-90 for approximately one hour at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29. During rock blasting closures, eastbound travelers will be stopped at milepost 63 and westbound travelers will be stopped at exit 70 near Easton.
Rock blasting is scheduled to occur one to two times per week throughout the rest of summer and into the fall, one hour before sunset, and the closure will last up to one hour. This work is part of the major improvement project to widen I-90 from four to six lanes between the Cabin Creek interchange and the West Easton interchange.
WSDOT provides a variety of tools to help plan your trip over Snoqualmie Pass this summer:
Greetings friends of Manson Chelan Youth Fair Fund,
We are fortunate to live in a community that offers four programs highlighting agriculture youth activities for students 5-19, with the opportunity to exhibit at county fairs and expositions. These programs provide an opportunity for members to participate in an educational setting, designed to increase confidence, strengthen character, learn invaluable life skills and teach the importance of self-discipline. These programs encourage learning opportunities for all members.
The Manson Chelan Youth Fair Fund has been in existence for over 45 years providing funding to supplement the cost of raising animals, verses the sale price at the fair. There are three options on how you can help.
This year we have 46 kids from the valley exhibiting market livestock at the fairs. Their names are listed on page two of this letter. These young people have been raising their livestock for the past four months and will provide a quality product for sale at the fair. The Market Livestock sales will be Saturday – September 9 at 10:00 am at the Chelan County Fair in Cashmere.
Participating programs include Manson FFA, Chelan FFA, Lake Chelan Caballeros 4-H and the Manson Grange Youth Fairs. We hope you will consider supporting our amazing youth.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWText-to-911 is the ability to send a text message to reach 911 emergency call takers from your mobile phone or device. However, because voice calls to 911 provide more information to 911 call centers, you should always make a voice call to 911 during an emergency whenever possible.
Hearing and speech impaired individuals benefit from Text-to-911, as do those who may find themselves in a situation where they cannot make a voice call, such as a home invasion or domestic abuse situation.
Texting can be difficult because it takes time and effort to send the information and wait for a response. Keep text messages brief and concise; use full words, and do not send photo or video. Know your location and emergency type (police, fire, or medical).
If you accidently text 911 please send a reply indicating there is no emergency and stay on the phone to answer any additional information to confirm 911 is not needed.
When there is an emergency AND:
IMPORTANT: If you are using Text-to-911 because you are trying to not be heard, remember to silence your phone. Do not text and drive!
Remember to ALWAYS call if you can, texting can take valuable time that could make a difference.
Use WSDOT tools and tips for smoother travel
OLYMPIA – People planning their final festivities of summer before all things pumpkin spice and yellow school buses return should consult the Washington State Department of Transportation’s holiday traffic volume charts to determine best times to travel during the Labor Day weekend.
With the popular travel weekend fast approaching, now is the time to make plans for expected holiday congestion on most routes – whether by ferry, vehicle, bus, rail, foot, bicycle or plane. This year’s charts include US 2, Interstate 90 and I-5 between Lacey and Tacoma as well as Bellingham to the United States-Canada border.
Most construction will be paused over the three-day weekend to help reduce some congestion, but this is a popular travel weekend and WSDOT recommends people go early or late and give themselves plenty of extra time. Crashes or emergency road repairs also can add to travel times.
Travelers can “know before they go” and plan ahead by using WSDOT tools and tips, whether they’re traveling across town or across the Evergreen State including:
Most highway construction paused
Most state highway construction work is suspended through the holiday weekend – including Monday, Sept. 4 – to ease congestion. For central Washington travelers, on SR 970 near Teanaway River east of Cle Elum, contractor crews are working on a project to fix roadway erosion that requires around-the-clock single-lane, alternating traffic which is projected to result in delays of up to 3 hours during the Labor Day weekend. To reduce these long delays, WSDOT is restricting westbound traffic on SR 970 to local traffic only starting 7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1 through 7 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5. Travelers on southbound US 97 headed west from Wenatchee will detour to I-90. Please stay alert for new lane shifts or other work zone staging areas that may remain in place. And please give any emergency repair crews plenty of space to work safely.
Snoqualmie Pass
No construction is planned on I-90 from Friday, Sept. 1, through to Tuesday, Sept. 5. However, the usual holiday increase in traffic volumes means travelers should expect delays, especially eastbound on Friday and westbound on Monday (see charts for more detail). Text message alerts about significant delays are available by texting the words “WSDOT Snoqualmie” to 468311.
Tolling
In the Puget Sound region, weekend toll rates will be in effect on Monday, Sept. 4, on the State Route 520 bridge and SR 99 tunnel. The I-405 express toll lanes will be free and open to all drivers on the Monday holiday. Out-of-town travelers, including those using rental cars, can learn about toll roads and temporary account payment options on the Good To Go! visitors page.
Ferry travel People boarding a state ferry by vehicle should prepare for long waits. Peak travel times on most routes are expected to be westbound or island-bound Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 31-Sept. 2, and eastbound or off-island Sunday through Tuesday, Sept. 3-5. Customers can bypass vehicle lines by traveling as a walk-on passenger and usually board much faster.
Trains, airports and transit
Travelers making a trip by train, personal aircraft or bus also should plan ahead to avoid holiday delays:
UPDATE
On August 14, 2024, the Chelan County Coroner’s Office identified the victim in this case as 70 year old Eduardo Santiago (See above photo). Mr. Santiago was known to frequent the area of Locomotive Park in Wenatchee. The Coroner’s office is also asking for the public’s help in identifying any relatives of Mr. Santiago. If anyone has any information that would assist in notifying Mr. Santiago’s next of kin please contact the Coroners’ office at 509-667-6431.
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Sheriff Mike Morrison reports on August 10 2023 at approximately 0017 hours, a 70 year old male was found deceased in the roadway of Malaga Alcoa Highway near Stemilt Creek Road. Deputies from the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office and Officers from the Wenatchee Police Department responded to the area.
During the preliminary investigation, information was obtained from a witness indicating the deceased had been struck by a vehicle. After the vehicle struck the victim, the driver fled the area, north bound towards Wenatchee. The witness stated the suspect vehicle is possibly a 2010 or newer blue Honda. Damage to the vehicle may be on the passenger side.
The victim’s identity is being withheld at this time pending next of kin notification.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office is asking for assistance to identify the suspect vehicle and driver. If you have any information into the incident, please contact Deputy Mathena via the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 509-667-6845.
Sheriff Mike Morrison reports, on 7/28/23, at approximately 1150 hours, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call in Manson of a suspicious vehicle with flashing blue and red lights. It was reported the male driver was stopping to speak with young girls. When approached by the reporting party, the male identified himself as a Seattle Police detective.
Through an investigation, probable cause was obtained on 39 year old Christopher M. Alexander of Manson, WA for Criminal Impersonation 2nd degree. Mr. Alexander is not a law enforcement officer. It was discovered that he was no longer living at his address in Manson.
On 8/8/23 at approximately 1100 hrs, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office deputies received information that Christopher Alexander was at the Wenatchee High School. He was located and arrested for RCW 9A.60.045 Criminal Impersonation 2nd degree and WAC 204-21-230(4), lighting equipment prohibited.
Changes go into effect on Oct. 1
SEATTLE – The Washington State Transportation Commission approved adjustments to ferry fares beginning this fall at its Thursday, Aug. 10 hearing. The changes in fares were made to ensure the state meets revenue requirements set forth in the 2023-25 state Transportation Budget passed by the Legislature and enacted by the governor this year.
The adopted fare changes will:
The commission also adopted a policy change to the fuel surcharge rule to clarify that a fuel surcharge can only be implemented after review and approval by the commission.
For information on the commission’s fare-setting process, visit the fare-setting section of the commission’s website, wstc.wa.gov.
HYAK – Rock blasting closures will resume on Wednesday, Aug. 17 on Interstate 90 east of Snoqualmie Pass.
The Washington State Department of Transportation and contractor crews will close I-90 for approximately one hour at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug 16. During rock blasting closures, eastbound travelers will be stopped at exit 64 and westbound travelers will be stopped at exit 70 near Easton.
Rock blasting is scheduled to occur one to two times per week throughout the rest of summer and into the fall, one hour before sunset, and the closure will last up to one hour. This work is part of the major improvement project to widen I-90 from four to six lanes between the Cabin Creek interchange and the West Easton interchange.
WSDOT provides a variety of tools to help plan your trip over Snoqualmie Pass this summer:
MVT WebCam 