As reported in our 2022 Annual Report, the Foundation was able to do many good things at the Homestead and Orchard thanks to your support, contributions, and volunteering. If we are to continue this good work, funding and volunteering must continue
The Buckner Orchard and Homestead need your support more than ever.
2022 Annual Report Link
http://bucknerhomestead.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BHHF2022-ANNUAL-REPORT-1.pdf
I drove back to the Orchard one morning just as the Stehekin Valley Adventures bus was loading to leave. Stan, the driver and guide, came quickly over to me. "Perfect timing, there's someone here you need to meet."
As I got out of the van, visitors started getting back off the bus, as a slight, older women, assisted by two gentlemen, walked toward me from the Buzzard Cabin.
For 97 year-old Gwen, this was a bucket list moment. Accompanied by her three children, one at least as old as I am, this was their gift to her. Gwen was a Chelan classmate of my late aunt, Hobby Buckner, and was her close friend. Gwen and her family had lived at High Bridge one summer long ago,and Stehekin and the Buckner Ranch remain an important part of her life. She was especially pleased and excited to be able to share and talk with someone who had a connection to and knew those she had such fond and vivid memories of.
The rest of the tour members stood around us, quietly listening.
At some point, someone handed us a photo album. Ten pages of small black and white photos and a single, typed page, Gwen had made the album just for this visit to Stehekin - to help her children understand just how important this was to her. The photos were from 1940, many of her and Hobbie, and several that included Hobbie's sister, Bucky. Bathing in the river at High Bridge under the guise of swimming, a hike to a lookout, and other things teenage girls would do and share. She knew the Sisters are gone, and asked about their families and Stehekin.
As our visit was coming to end, she gave me a gentle hug, thanked me, and quietly confided that, surely, this would be her last visit to Stehekin.
As I mentioned, the bus was about to leave when this all began, Stan and the other visitors waited quietly and patiently for fifteen minutes or so, knowing how important this was for Gwen.
It was a moment for all of us.
The Orchard is a touchstone to the past in many different ways, as it was for Gwen. Your support can help it remain so, long into the future. You can make it happen.
Memberships are one form of contributing funds to support the Foundation's work at the Homestead and Orchard.
RENEWALS - Quick and Convenient, renew digitally on-line (click here)
If you prefer, a check, made out to the Buckner Homestead Heritage Foundation (BHHF), should be mailed to PO Box 184, Manson, WA 98831. As a renewal, we will have your information on file. Please include your e-mail address, as this is how we receipt and communicate with members in a cost-effective manner. And, your contribution is tax deductible as allowed by the IRS.
NEW MEMBERSHIP - Download and print the membership form found at this link (click here) and mail to PO Box 184, Manson, WA 98831. Again, be sure to include your e-mail address. Or, simply use the link above for renewals for an easy on-line membership.
Please join us today with whatever level of membership you choose and help us assure a productive, successful, and memorable future for the Buckner Homestead. Not sure how your contribution will be used? Then, review our 2022 Financial Summary, included in the Annual Report at the link at the top of this message. All Foundation work and administration is done entirely by volunteers.
The Chelan store is re-opening with new features and an overall refreshed look to better serve customers
WHAT:
On Friday, February 3, at 9 a.m., the Chelan community will be invited back to the newly remodeled Walmart store at 108 N Apple Blossom Dr., Chelan, WA 98816. The store is celebrating its remodel and 16 years of local impact with a community celebration and employee recognition ceremony. The store manager, Aaron Evans, will honor 20 of the store's original associates for their service to the Chelan community since 2007.
Families are invited to attend and can enjoy local food trucks, win prizes from vendors, see the store’s updates and view a new mural inside the store that celebrates the Chelan community.
Following the ribbon-cutting celebration, the media is invited inside the Chelan store to see the remodel with innovations and improvements designed to save customers time and money.
WHEN:
Friday, February 3, 2023
Community celebration begins at 9 a.m.
WHERE:
Chelan Walmart Supercenter
08 N Apple Blossom Dr
Chelan, WA 98816
On 1/21/23 at approximately 5:18PM Douglas County Deputies were dispatched to a report of a female who had been shot in the 17000 block of Badger Mtn Rd.
Reporting parties advised they saw a female passenger fall out of a vehicle they were following. The vehicle stopped, and the male driver exited and shot the female multiple times. The male then began shooting at the witness vehicle. The witness vehicle was able to retreat, sustaining minor injuries. The suspect then fled, but with assistance from East Wenatchee PD, Wenatchee PD, Chelan County SO, Washington State Patrol and Fish & Wildlife, law enforcement was able to locate and apprehend the suspect without further incident.
The female victim of the shooting on Badger Mountain Road, was later identified as Alyssa Ann Longwell, a 37 year old female out of Kennewick, WA. Alyssa ultimately died from her injuries at the scene.
The suspect, Dalton Scott Potter, a 27 year old male out of Wenatchee, was arrested and booked into the Chelan County Jail for the crimes of Murder in the first degree (Domestic Violence) for the shooting of Alyssa Longwell, and two (2) counts of attempted murder in the second degree, as a result of shooting at and hitting the witness vehicle occupied by two people.
Douglas County Detectives and Deputies will be continuing follow up investigations.
This incident is a tragedy not commonly seen in Douglas County. I am proud of the men and women of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for their efforts to quickly and safely bring this incident to a close. I am also grateful for our partner agencies, East Wenatchee PD, Wenatchee PD, Chelan County SO, Washington State Patrol, and Fish and Wildlife, as well as all Douglas County first responders, who assisted in this incident. I would also like to extend our appreciation to all the Douglas County citizens who quickly and accurately reported suspicious activities in the area, which greatly assisted in the ability to resolve this dangerous situation.
Manson Community Council
Meeting Agenda – January 17, 2023
Manson Parks Department @ 6 pm
o CALL TO ORDER Kari Sorensen
Members Present: Kari Sorensen, Cindy Smith,J ohn Frolker, Chris Willoughby
o FLAG SALUTE Kari Sorensen
o APPROVAL OF MINUTES from December 14, 2022
o TREASURER’S REPORT Cindy Smith
o OLD BUSINESS
• Approve 2023 Bylaws
o NEW BUSINESS
• Council Position #1 Swearing In: Chris Willoughby
• Council Member Position #4 Appointment & Swearing In
• Election of Officers: Chair, Secretary & Treasurer for 2023
o COMMUNITY COMMENT
o MEETING ADJOURNED Kari Sorensen
NEXT MEETING: February 21, 2023 @ 6:00 PM @ Manson Parks Department
CLICK HERE FOR A COPY OF THE MANSON COMMUNITY COUNCIL 2023 BYLAWS (docx)
Regular Board Meeting
January 6, 2023, 5:11pm
Bumgarner Meeting Room, 142 Pedoi Street, Manson WA 98831
1. Call to Order
2. Flag Salute
3. Conflict of Interest Forms and PDC Reminder
4. Board Service Commitment Overview
5. Agenda Additions and Deletions
6. Public Comment
7. Approval of Minutes
a. December 8, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes
8. Financial Review
a. Review Monthly Financial Report
b. Review and Approve Monthly Voucher
9. New Business
a. Pacific Engineering Contract Amendment
b. Proposal update from Buckingham family
c. Approval of Travel Policy
d. Approval of Asset Management Policy
e. Approval of Meals and Light Refreshments Policy
f. Approval of Surplus Policy
10. Old Business
a. Updates:
i. Old Swim Hole development project
ii. Manson Bay Marina planning project
iii. Leffler Field soil remediation planning project
b. Director’s Report
IX. Adjournment
Next Regular Meeting: 4:10pm on February 10, 2023 at 142 Pedoi Street, Manson WA, 98831 (unless otherwise posted).
On December 8th, 2020, Chelan County Deputies responded to a male passed out in a vehicle in Manson, WA. Deputies that arrived on scene recognized the male as Caleb Ritz, a 39 year old male from Brewster, WA. Ritz was arrested on drug related charges and search incident arrest, Ritz had a loaded revolver on his person. Ritz is a convicted felon. Ritz’s vehicle was seized for a search warrant. Deputies worked with the Columbia River Drug Task Force Detectives and a search warrant was served on the vehicle resulting in suspected Fentanyl pills, suspected heroin and suspected methamphetamine seizure. Ritz was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the 1st degree, Possession with Intent Fentanyl, Possession with intent Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent Heroin.
On December 9th, 2022, Detectives from the Colombia River Drug Task Force served a search warrant in the 700 block of North Grover Place in East Wenatchee, WA. The search warrant resulted in over 8,000 suspected Fentanyl pills being seized. A second search warrant was obtained for the resident of the property’s vehicle which resulted in roughly 400 more suspected Fentanyl pills along with 2 ounces of suspected methamphetamine an ounce of suspected heroin and a large amount of cash. Shawn Drummond a 36 year old resident of East Wenatchee was arrested for Possession with intent to distribute Fentanyl, Heroin and Methamphetamine.
On December 16th, 2022, Detectives with the Columbia River Drug Task Force conducted an investigation at the Red Lion Hotel in Wenatchee, WA where it was determined Fentanyl pills were being dealt out of one of the hotel rooms. Numerous known drug users were seen coming and going from the suspect’s room. A search warrant was served at the suspected hotel room which resulted in the arrest of Kasey Cooper, a 34 year old resident of East Wenatchee, WA. When Cooper was contacted in the hotel room by law enforcement he destroyed evidence by flushing suspected drugs down the toilet. Additional drugs to include suspected Fentanyl pills and suspected Methamphetamine were recovered in the hotel room. Cooper was arrested for Possession with intent for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl. He was also charged with Maintaining a Drug Property and Obstruction.
Over the course of the investigation it was determined that Shawn Drummond, Kasey Cooper, Matthew Hendricks, Caleb Ritz, and Casey McKinstry are all part of the same drug trafficking organization. CRDTF detectives are working with our Federal counter parts with Homeland Security Investigations and the AUSA of the Eastern District of Spokane to indict these suspects under federal charges where they could face longer prison time. Ritz, Drummond, and Cooper joined their counter parts currently housed at the Chelan County Regional Justice Center.
The Columbia River Drug Task Force is committed to targeting Fentanyl drug dealers in the Wenatchee Valley. There have been too many lives lost and countless lives affected by this poison being distributed in our community. CRDTF is committed to working with our Federal partners as well as the Chelan and Douglas Prosecutor’s office to hold these drug dealers accountable to the highest extent of the law.
Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett reports that on 12/16/22 at approximately 1858 hours, RIVERCOM dispatch was contacted by an unknown male who stated he was angry over an incident that happened previously to the call.
The suspect threatened a local business establishment in the downtown Leavenworth area. He stated he had rifle with a large amount of ammunition and a pipe bomb. As a precaution, safety protocols were immediately administered by deputies to local businesses open at the time, causing them to shelter in place. This included Cascade Medical Center.
Several Chelan County deputies quickly responded to the area with additional support from the Washington State Patrol. Deputies conducted a thorough sweep of the downtown area and did not find anything to corroborate any threat. A thorough investigation commenced while additional law enforcement resources remained in the area to provide a security presence. Deputies continued to look for any individual(s) that presented an obvious threat to public safety. This investigation is ongoing. The Sheriff’s Office does not believe there is any concern for the safety of the public.
All available information appeared to point to another “swatting” incident and appeared not to be credible at the time. The investigation by law enforcement spanned approximately 3 hours. Law enforcement’s security presence remained in the area for several additional hours. “Swatting” incidents have been increasing throughout the country and are a serious drain on law enforcement resources.