The city of Wenatchee is kind of a big deal this time of year It is the season of the Apple Blossom Festival the oldest such festival in Washington state which began as a one-day affair and has since grown into a two-week production The 106th Washington State Apple Blossom Festival began on April 24 this year and continues through May 4 It takes about 800 volunteers to make this thing happen While our visit was centered around the festival we discovered just how much Wenatchee has to offer My wife and I got a chance to visit Wenatchee during the first weekend of events We were able to explore a little bit around the town and were pleasantly surprised by what we found: a great hotel One of the more "colorful" events of the festival took place early Saturday morning We were there for the city's third annual Color Rush While participants stretched their muscles at the starting line volunteers were on the sidelines preparing in their own way Some were sorting bags of colored corn starch while others were preparing their leaf blowers to blast the runners with the colorful powder The Color Rush is pretty low-key compared to other fun runs Instead of running away from the colorful crew runners ran toward them; some even asked to be hit with color Members of the fire department were on hand at the end of the race They not only tossed a few more handfuls of the color dust but also doused the finishing runners with water Although the main Apple Blossom Grand Parade on May 3 gets all the attention the Youth Parade is no small fry; it was held just a few hours after the Color Rush It is estimated that over 4,500 kids participate in this parade every year including youth marching bands from other cities But one thing that we liked about the parade was that adults played a role Chairs were lined up on the sidewalks holding people's spots hours ahead of time Sidewalk real estate fills up pretty quickly before the parade we thought that we would be seeing a lot of kids riding their bikes around and maybe a few clowns We sat near the end and some of the kids were getting pretty worn out by then but others continued on with lots of enthusiasm and energy While not a single Fisher's scone was in sight There’s a nice mix of food options including smash burgers Shishkaberry's (delicious chocolate-covered strawberries on a stick) the beer garden serves up a variety of beer ciders and even a few non-alcoholic beverages with a nice view of the entertainment stage Performers are lined up every day of the festival the Funtastic Shows Carnival offers rides for every age a kids rollercoaster and a couple of thrill rides for older kids and adults We checked out the carnival on Friday night and were surprised to see that the area wasn't very busy We had a good time playing different games and winning some prizes We also enjoyed talking to many of the carnival workers Forget the scary carnival crews of your youth The kids weekend continued on Sunday with a special Youth Day Smokey Bear made the rounds and many stations were set up for kids to try their hand at different games and activities Samples and goodies were handed out and the results of a youth art show were announced these pieces of art were not on display at the park The second week of events and activities at the festival include: It's been a long time since I've been to Wenatchee It isn't the sleepy town that I thought it was outdoor sports are incredibly important here and the town is community-minded Contrasting with the "Seattle Freeze," folks in Wenatchee treat strangers like neighbors where is everybody from?”) There's also a mix of cultures here that is really quite beautiful Wenatchee is also a unique mix of old and new traditions Brand new stores and businesses sit next to historic older ones even though many shops don't open until noon on Sunday Some shops have been in business for years Others have learned to reinvent traditional ideas of what makes a business successful Woody's Classic Man is a handsome men's shop with high-end clothing a barber shop (with antique barber chairs) and a selection of beer and cigars but that doesn't make it any less special the hotel offers first-class service without the ridiculous rates It's a beautiful space with its own restaurant (serving meals at breakfast and dinner) indoor pool and incredibly friendly and helpful service but is going to be beautiful when completed A giant red apple play structure is already in place It also has easy access to the bridge that goes across the railroad tracks and ends in downtown Located adjacent to the Columbia River is the community-based Pybus Public Market It is home to 16 year-round tenants and the seasonal Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market my wife found a nice necklace at the Balsamroot Boutique while I found something delicious from Yeti Chocolates We were tempted to have dinner at the cleverly named Fire (wood-oven pizza) followed by Ice (gelato crepes and espresso) but settled on South (Latin fare) The menu consists of authentic food and beverages from Central and South America I enjoyed Peruvian Chicken Tacos while my wife was thrilled with her Carnitas Plate We also enjoyed a freshly-made tart lemonade and a sweet Herman and Ruth Ohme purchased 40 acres of land for an orchard Some of the acreage included a bluff that offered breathtaking views The Ohmes went to work building their dream “backyard” by transplanting evergreen trees creating their own pools of water and making pathways using native stones that they hauled up from the Columbia River The work only stopped when Herman passed away at the age of 80 in 1971 the gardens are owned and managed by Chelan County Having visited the gardens at least twice before I can say that the area is not as polished as it once was a number of high school kids were taking pictures before their prom But supervision is needed to keep them safe We enjoyed dining at several Wenatchee eateries Garlini's traditional Italian restaurant offers authentic dishes created with house-made pasta sauces and salad dressings Their wood-fired pizzas are also made with house-made dough The service is fantastic here and the portions are huge Happy hours are offered all week long (and all day long on Sundays) Girls Night Out is offered on Wednesdays and Man Date at the G is offered on Thursdays This incredibly unique restaurant sits within an old house offering two floors of seating plus a drive-thru The owners aim to please with both sweet and savory crepes but couldn’t pass up on the Berry Berry Crêpe filled with raspberries blueberries and strawberries and topped with a homemade blueberry jam drizzle and whip cream My wife went with the Egg & Veggies Crêpe filled with egg cheddar cheese and topped with Hollandaise sauce The espresso beverages we had were equally good This original soda fountain has been in operation since 1926 and still looks beautiful with its shiny red stools and old jukebox The lunch options are decidedly modern while the dessert menu is classic soda fountain They offer items “young folk” never knew existed I ordered a classic French Dip while my wife chose to go with a "Build A Sandwich" my wife chose to build her own ice cream sandwich with a choice of two cookies (chocolate chip) and "toppings" that get stuck on the side (chopped nuts) I went with a two-scoop sundae (I choose “kid-sized” scoops which were plenty big for me) with hot fudge and caramel If you need an excuse to visit Wenatchee, the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival is it but there is much to enjoy here any time of the year Jeff Totey is a freelance writer for Seattle Refined services and/or accommodations in this story were provided without charge the opinions within are those of the author and the Seattle Refined editorial board READ MORE | 17 of the oldest things around modern-day Seattle The 2025 Apple Blossom Festival Grand Parade in Wenatchee attracted thousands of spectators on Saturday The Festival has announced the official award winning entries for floats The Grand Sweepstakes Award went to Manson Apple Blossom Festival for most outstanding float in the entire parade Manson celebrates the 105th Apple Blossom Festival May 9th-10th The Miss Sunnyside Court float earned the Community Sweepstakes Award Awards were also presented to the entries from Deer Park (Spirit of the Festival) the Washington State Event Center (Stemilt Sponsor's Choice) the Jefferson County Rhododeron Festival (Golden Apple) and Capital Lakefair (Royalty Choice) The Miss Moses Lake Roundup and Ellensburg Rodeo Posse were chosen as top equestrian units and the Little Miss Rodeo Champions Of America Taya Asmussen was recognized as "Most Original Clean-Up Crew" Specialty unit awards were given to Wenatchee Valley Humane Society's “Canine Royalty” 2025 Stemilt Grand Parade Marching Band Awards Wenatchee does not participate in band awards as the host.  Sweepstakes winner and Best Drum Major awards are presented to best overall Best Overall Drum Major: Wenatchee High School Golden Apple Band and Color Guard Bands Sweepstakes: Mariner High School Marching Band Band Classification Awards 4A1st Place: : Kennedy Catholic High School Lancer Marching Band and Color Guard2nd Place: South Kitsap High School Marching Band 3A1st Place: Stanwood Spartan Band and Colorguard2nd Place: Bethel High School Marching Band 2A1st Place: Eastmont High School Wildcat Marching Band2nd Place: Quincy High School Marching Band A1st Place: Manson High School Trojan Marching Band Drill Team Awards4A1st Place: Kennedy Catholic High School Lancer Marching Band and Color Guard 3A1st Place: Wenatchee High School Applettes2nd Place: Stanwood Spartan Band and Colorguard 2A1st Place: Cashmere High School Bulldog Marching Band2nd Place: Sunnyside Grizzly Marching Band The Festival has announced the official award winning entries for floats, equestrian groups, specialty units and marching bands...\nRead More The Wenatchee Bighorns had their six-game winning streak snapped Friday in TBL Basketball action… Despite 30-points from Chris Cromartie and 26 from Nick Fleming, the Bighorns fell to Great Falls 131-113. Wenatchee wraps up its 7-game home stand this Friday against the Vancouver Volcanoes. Tip time at Wenatchee Valley College will be 7 o’clock. You can go to www.wenatcheebighorns.com for tickets Email notifications are only sent once a day The spring prep sports season is winding down with many league titles up for grabs this week… Read moreWeekend prep sports scoreboard and a look ahead North Central Washington racers topped the podium in four classes of racing at Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval Saturday night… Read moreNCW racers perform well on home track The Wenatchee Bighorns had their six-game winning streak snapped Friday in TBL Basketball action… Read moreBighorn winning streak haulted Friday vs. Great Falls The Seahawks held a rookie mini-camp over the weekend at the V-MAC in Renton… Read moreMacdonald impressed with Seahawks rookie minicamp The Mariners lost the battle yesterday in Texas but won the weekend war… Read moreMariners fall Sunday but take 8th straight series in Texas Mike Macdonald reflects on the Seahawks rookie minicamp that took place over the weekend at the VMAC in Renton. Read moreMike Macdonald reflects on rookie minicamp 2025-05-05 Quincy and Chelan picked up doubleheader sweeps in prep baseball yesterday… Read morePrep scoreboard and schedule 05-02-25 Eric Granstrom has the latest NCWLIFE Channel sports for Friday, May 2, 2025. Read moreNCWLIFE Sports Update with Eric Granstrom 05-02 The grand weekend of Apple Blossom Festival is also a big weekend at Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval… Read moreWVSO celebrates Apple Blossom with Speed Night The Wenatchee Bighorns won their 6th-straight TBL game last night against Great Falls 135-to-129… Read moreCummings goes off for 44 in Bighorn victory over Electric The Seahawks introduced their first-round draft pick yesterday at the V-MAC in Renton… Read moreSeahawks introduce Zabel officially The Mariners are in Texas to face the Rangers in the first of a weekend series tonight… Read moreMariners head for Texas in 1st place Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: A new improv show called Mini Quest Tavern debuted in Wenatchee in February at Host Wenatchee and brings the imaginative board game Dungeons & Dragons to life the show has relocated to the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center for their next productions on May 9th and 10th.… “Mini Quest Tavern,” allows Dungeons & Dragons players to see their adventure embodied through a cast of 14 volunteer actors players create their own world and the characters within it Each character is given strengths and weaknesses but the success or failure of each character’s action is determined by rolling a dice 20 or even 100 sides to allow for a broader range of outcomes An appointed dungeon master is in charge of deciding how each success or failure pans out for the story Mini Quest Tavern director Cynthia Brown says that the idea for the show began when she met with some friends the day after the election. She had heard of a similar D&D improv show on Broadway called “The Twenty-Sided Tavern” and was interested in doing something similar locally She reached out to local D&D players and actors the experience taught her an important lesson about wanting to up the sense of danger in the game “We allowed people who were playing to pay a dollar to re-roll the dice when they had a bad roll People did that a lot and we made some money off of it I don't think the money is that important,” said Brown “What I want is more excitement and danger in the game Brown also understood that not everyone always wants to be a player Some people want to enjoy the show without having to actively participate discounted tickets are available for attendees who wish to opt out of playing the game many of whom are big D&D fans at heart and were excited at the prospect of creating their own characters for the show They go to renaissance fairs and they cosplay,” said Brown “I costume kind of all the monsters and stuff we have a discord channel and they’re all like I’m thinking of this kind of a person.’ We all root for each other and give them ideas the actors are participating on a volunteer basis though Brown says she would like to pay them if the show continues growing “I wish we were selling more tickets and doing bigger shows,” said Brown “I would try to pay them if I could because they put a lot of their own money into it.” Griffin says the makeup wasn’t originally part of his costume “We originally weren’t going to be doing any of the makeup at first,” said Griffin I showed up to rehearsal and we painted my face green that looks awful.’ We kind of eventually wore her down to where she was like but I’m going to be the one to put your makeup on so it doesn’t look like absolute garbage.” Griffin says it takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes to paint his face green and a couple of days to completely wash off Even though the production is technically an improv show a script is still used as a guideline to give the actors somewhere to start The crew of people writes the scripts,” said Brown “We adjust the script as we go because the script splits off into different directions based on the choices that are made and being prepared to follow spur-the-moment orders can be a challenge and it’s important to know when to draw the line “There was one time we were doing a test session where the person who was controlling me thought it was the funniest thing in the world to just throw everything,” said Long Long says this quickly escalated from throwing things like a fake axe into throwing another character “It’s one of those things where you’ve got to know where to draw the line when it comes to a lot of the physicality of it There are some things that are just physically impossible or unsafe to do,” said Long but it’s important to Brown that both the audience members and actors get done in a reasonable amount of time “We’re not going to be eight hours in your mom’s basement tonight,” said Brown “We’re going to be two hours and two hours only He keeps track of the time and makes things either go longer or makes them shorter so that we’re done in time It’s still a great night of entertainment.” For “Mini Quest Tavern,” the dungeon master is Tyson Ward who comes all the way from Ellensburg to be part of the production I sort of arbitrate success and failure based on the dice rolls,” said Ward success or failure moves the story forward.” Ward says that being dungeon master and receiving creative requests from audience members is somewhat the norm for him since he has played a great deal of D&D with his wife “Mini Quest Tavern’s” next productions will be May 9 and 10 at the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center Player tickets cost $27 per person and general admission tickets are $17 per person Assistance is provided for those who wish to be players Tickets can be purchased in-person at the Numerica PAC, 123 N. Wenatchee Ave, by calling 1-509-663-ARTS, or online at the Numerica PAC’s website The cast has prepared a new story of vivid characters for attendees to enjoy ‘The Arcane Rift’ is the name of the script and it has to do with two major characters fighting for supremacy,” said Brown the audience has to decide are: we going to side with this guy A new improv show called Mini Quest Tavern debuted in Wenatchee in February at Host Wenatchee and brings the imaginative board game Dungeons & Dragons to life. Now, the show has relocated … Read moreLocal show brings Dungeons & Dragons to life J Noel Ortiz Salas Read moreimage001 (1).png Anthony 'TJ' Wilson Read moreimage002.png Javier Ortiz Lara Read moreimage003.png CHELAN — Employees at Chelan’s public hospital system accidentally destroyed personnel records that were meant to be preserved under state law, affecting the files of some 300 current and form… Read moreAudit: Chelan hospital improperly shredded staff records A attack left a wide crater near Ben Gurion airport Read moreA missile attack left a wide crater near Ben Gurion airport Israel imposed a total aid blockade on Gaza in March Read moreIsrael imposed a total aid blockade on Gaza in March Much of Gaza has been destroyed by the war sparked by the October 7, 2023 attack Read moreMuch of Gaza has been destroyed by the war sparked by the October 7, 2023 attack Israel has called up thousands of reservists for an expanded offensive in Gaza Read moreIsrael has called up thousands of reservists for an expanded offensive in Gaza Oil prices had already been slumping before OPEC+ members decided to increase output Read moreOil prices had already been slumping before OPEC+ members decided to increase output Ghana's economy has been hit by brutal inflation for years Read moreGhana's economy has been hit by brutal inflation for years Ghana's President John Mahama has promised to turn the economy around Read moreGhana's President John Mahama has promised to turn the economy around Left-leaning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese won a landslide victory on Saturday Read moreLeft-leaning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese won a landslide victory on Saturday Eight OPEC+ member countries on Saturday announced a sharp increase in oil production Read moreEight OPEC+ member countries on Saturday announced a sharp increase in oil production Former Maoist Kiran, who now joined the DRG to fight his former comrades Read moreFormer Maoist Kiran, who now joined the DRG to fight his former comrades DRG commanders say all their actions are lawful Read moreDRG commanders say all their actions are lawful Former rebel chief Yogesh Madhvi, who now fights for the Indian government Read moreFormer rebel chief Yogesh Madhvi, who now fights for the Indian government The widow of Suresh Teta, killed last year by police, with pictures of her husband Read moreThe widow of Suresh Teta, killed last year by police, with pictures of her husband Government DRG paramilitaries Sanjana Yadav (L) and Anjila Minj Read moreGovernment DRG paramilitaries Sanjana Yadav (L) and Anjila Minj Rights activist Soni Sori Read moreRights activist Soni Sori Each year the Apple Blossom Festival awards its Apple Citizen of the Year naming a fruit industry leader to take part in the Grand Parade it’s Gebbers Farms chief executive officer Cass Gebbers who heads up the orchard operations on more than 13,000 acres in Okanogan County WENATCHEE — Each year the Apple Blossom Festival awards its Apple Citizen of the Year "It's a very special award," the Brewster-based Gebbers told NCWLIFE in a Memorial Park interview Thursday I look down that list of peers and predecessors the guys like Grady Auvil right through West Mathison That's a special group of guys that laid the foundation for our industry." heads up the orchard operations on more than 13,000 acres in Okanogan County where his family has farmed and grazed cattle since the turn of the 20th century cherries and pears on 13,500 acres stretching across Okanogan County with 30% of its fruit exported to more than 40 countries Cass Gebbers serves on the Washington Apple Commission — when he's not roping cattle either for business or for recreation It's a skill he practiced growing up on the family ranch and still pursues today (He has what he calls a "toethumb" to show for it: A deep old scar to his right thumb from rope friction.) He goes by "Cass" as a variant of his full name The name Cascade has been handed down among men in his family for the family's love of the mountain range He fished and hunted his whole life in them Cass and Alycia Gebbers have been married for 39 years a majority of whom have continued on in the family business In September 2016, Gebbers narrowly survived a flurry of gunfire from a Pateros man who'd been harassing him and members of his family over the previous two years The drive-by attack happened on Old Highway 97 on Brewster Flats and shattered the window of the truck Gebbers was driving He was unhurt; his assailant is now serving 25 years in prison for attempted murder "It's tough to think back on that day," Cass says now I drive by it every day — that I don't relive every minute of it And I just make sure that I honor the Lord every chance I get because He saved my life in more ways than one." Gebbers was recognized Thursday at the Apple Blossom All-Service Club and  Community Luncheon and will ride in the Stemilt Grand Parade on May 3 A police video showed officers standing on the edge of a deep hole in the ground Read moreA police video showed officers standing on the edge of a deep hole in the ground India's Maoist insurgency's last stronghold is in the mineral-rich forests of Bastar region in central Chhattisgarh state Read more Serve Wenatchee holds their annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Saturday May 10 and they're searching for volunteers Stamp Out Hunger is a nationwide ovement organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers they collect donations of non-perishable food items to benefit local food pantries The food Serve Wenatchee receives from this drive supplements the food they purchase for their Fresh Hope Market Serve Wenatchee received almost 16,000 pounds of food Volunteers will unload and weigh food as it arrives from mail carriers They will also pick up food from the post office sorting facility and haull it back to the warehouse and weigh it You could also help sort food into boxes by categories Serve Wenatchee asks volunteers to be able to lift 30 pounds The organization says it is a physical day including being outside in the weather on your feet and lifting heavy boxes You can learn more when you click here. Gallery Credit: Mark Rattner with KPQ Newsradio 560 May 10 and they're searching for volunteers Stamp Out Hunger is a nationwide ovement organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers. Each second Saturday in May, they collect donations of non-perishable food items to benefit local food pantries...\nRead More Stamp Out Hunger is a nationwide ovement organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers You can learn more when you click here. An East Wenatchee man is in custody along with four others in a human trafficking sting Othello Police Department says they received assistance from Kittitas County Sheriff's Office and Warden Police Department to arrest 40-year-old Grurkarn Gill of East Wenatchee as well as 71-year-old Thomas Laney of Moses Lake and 40-year-old Jeffery Naegle of Kennewick They face charges of patronizing a prostitute for attempting to purchase sex and provided resources to three women such as clothing An official website of the United States government Wenatchee Valley firefighters attack a refuse fire an an East Wenatchee salvage yard in the 200 block of Urban Industrial Way EAST WENATCHEE — A fire at an East Wenatchee recycling yard on Friday sent up black smoke for about an hour until firefighters could get a handle on it The fire at Wenatchee Valley Salvage and Recycling on Urban Industrial Way was reported at 2:34 p.m Douglas County officials said the fire involved diesel and hydraulic fluid and warned nearby residents to be aware of the smoke and close windows if needed The cause of the fire is still under investigation More than a hundred parade entries made their way down Orondo Avenue May 3 for the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival's Stemilt Grand Parade. Read moreApple Blossom Stemilt Grand Parade 2025 Police at the scene of a fatal shooting April 18 in the 100 block of Ninth Street Northeast in East Wenatchee EAST WENATCHEE — A landlord is accused of shooting and killing his tenant late Friday after entering the victim's home with a handgun Witnesses flagged down an ambulance about 10 p.m in the 100 block of Ninth Street Northeast alerting the crew to a shooting at a nearby residence East Wenatchee police say Gregorio Garza Sr. was pronounced dead at the scene from a single gunshot wound to the chest were present at the shooting and identified Garza's murderer as Juan Luis Estrada Lopez Police said they found Estrada in the yard of his neighboring home and arrested him shortly after arriving Witnesses told police Garza answered a knock at the door and opened it to find Estrada standing outside with a black handgun Estrada allegedly entered the house and fired a single shot Estrada allegedly admitted to committing the crime under questioning by police Investigators say he also confessed to his own family members just prior to his arrest Police say they'll seek charges of first-degree murder and assault Estrada remains held in the Chelan County Regional Justice Center likely to appear before a Superior Court judge today The Wenatchee Valley YMCA is the honorary leader of this Saturday’s Stemilt Grand Parade The nonprofit agency earned grand marshal honors in the same month it celebrated the groundbreaking of its new facility on Fifth Street The Apple Blossom royalty surprised the YMCA board at a meeting o… WENATCHEE — A small part of Wenatchee Valley YMCA CEO Dorry Foster was upset about her board meeting being interrupted on April 1 until she noticed the Apple Blossom royalty The YMCA board of directors were surprised that day with the announcement that the nonprofit was being honored as the 2025 Stemilt Grand Parade Grand Marshal “Most of our board members have lived here So they understand the tradition and what it means.” This year is the 106th Apple Blossom Festival it’s younger than the nonprofit’s current 115-year-old facility While the current building has seen festivals come and go it is the last full year the YMCA will be inside the Orondo location as the board’s busy April also included a groundbreaking ceremony on April 10 The YMCA's Building What Matters campaign has raised over $22.2 million for the facility The facility is expected to open in late 2026 “It just perpetuates all the news related to the Y and all the great work and the legacy,” Foster said about the grand marshal recognition “It really is quite the legacy to be able to work for an organization with this rich history and she said she hopes it “means a place of belonging” to the community it serves There are things she is looking forward to like interest in the current facility to be repurposed and continued work on their program outreach I feel like our main purpose is to be there and be relevant,” she said Coming off a first-place win in the “Best Small Group” category of the TekniPlex Youth Parade Foster and members of the board will ride in a truck from Cascade Auto Center on Saturday EAST WENATCHEE — A wanted sex offender was arrested by authorities April 24 after allegedly attempting to elude police by jumping off of a motel roof into a fenced-in area of adjacent property According to Columbia River Drug Task Force Chief Ryan Roody with assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and East Wenatchee Police Department were dispatched to the Sunset Motor Inn to arrest Joshua J who had a felony warrant for eluding police and failing to notify authorities of his new place of residence as a registered sex offender When authorities attempted to convince Clark to surrender he allegedly escaped out of a motel room window onto the roof and “began displaying his displeasure for the police by using profanities and hand gestures,” according to Moody’s report Clark then allegedly jumped from the roof into a fenced area of the adjacent Douglas County PUD property Police say that Clark then jumped off of a retaining wall onto the top of a PUD vehicle but was later contained by officers and taken into custody He is now held at the Chelan County Regional Justice Center on his prior warrants as well as potential new charges of second-degree burglary and second-degree malicious mischief The Chelan County Regional Justice Center is located at 401 Washington St WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee City Council voted unanimously on Thursday to sue Chelan County over an agreement that allows the Wenatchee Police Department to house inmates in the Chelan County Regional Justice Center The jail is operated by the county while the city oversees WPD and contracts with the county to house inmates. Last year, the city paid the county $1.6 million to accept and house all of the city’s inmates, according to a letter written by Mayor Mike Poirier city officers have been unable to immediately access the Jail or the Jail has refused to take certain City inmates,” Poirier wrote “Every denied booking into the Jail means that an individual who is already suspected of a crime remains in the community with the potential to victimize other people.” Included in Poirier’s letter was information provided by the city which says it has not received “clear reasonings” for the limited or declined jail service “Our officers have had to call the Jail in advance of making an arrest to make sure Jail will take a City inmate but have been forced to make decisions based on the Jail’s service restrictions which at times have changed from shift to shift and are uncertain and inconsistent,” the city says the city and county have discussed renewing the jail service agreement and the city requested revisions to require the county to book individuals arrested by Wenatchee police Poirier also said the city proposed an increase to the annual fee for 2025 to $1.8 million the city offered an annual fee of $2.2 million to “to help cover Jail operational costs and ensure that the Wenatchee Police Department has 24/7 access to the Jail 365 days a year.” Poirier says that proposal was also rejected The letter says the county has since served the city with a letter of termination to end jail services in August Poirier said the county’s position has left Wenatchee “with limited options” and the city could “give in to Chelan County’s demands” but says it would put public safety at risk and affect law enforcement activities “I cannot in good conscience recommend that the City enter into an agreement that risks the safety of our community and our officers,” Poirier wrote NCWLIFE could not immediately reach a county representative for comment A$AP Rocky confirmed at the Met Gala that he and Rihanna are expecting once again Read moreA$AP Rocky confirmed at the Met Gala that he and Rihanna are expecting once again Rihanna made a fashionably late entrance at the Met Gala -- showcasing a new baby bump Read moreRihanna made a fashionably late entrance at the Met Gala -- showcasing a new baby bump Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard Read moreArsenal captain Martin Odegaard Regulators the world over are wrestling with how to keep children safe online Read moreRegulators the world over are wrestling with how to keep children safe online Harvard is routinely ranked among the world's top universities Read moreHarvard is routinely ranked among the world's top universities Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson has been named the NBA's Coach of the Year Read moreCleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson has been named the NBA's Coach of the Year Ford displayed its new Lincoln Navigator at an auto show in Shanghai last month Read moreFord displayed its new Lincoln Navigator at an auto show in Shanghai last month Brazilian Guaracy Carvajal, 31, says DMT can help those who take it have 'a lighter life' Read moreBrazilian Guaracy Carvajal, 31, says DMT can help those who take it have 'a lighter life' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Scholz at a memorial in Kyiv to the war's dead Read moreUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Scholz at a memorial in Kyiv to the war's dead Friedrich Merz (R) has vowed to keep up Germany's support for Volodymyr Zelensky's Ukraine Read moreFriedrich Merz (R) has vowed to keep up Germany's support for Volodymyr Zelensky's Ukraine The royal family made an appearance at the celebrations Read moreThe royal family made an appearance at the celebrations The Red Arrows fly over Buckingham Palace Read moreThe Red Arrows fly over Buckingham Palace Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a street party outside Downing Street Read moreBritain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a street party outside Downing Street People braved the damp conditions to pack The Mall en route to Buckingham Palace Read morePeople braved the damp conditions to pack The Mall en route to Buckingham Palace A World War II veteran is escorted into Buckingham Palace Read moreA World War II veteran is escorted into Buckingham Palace Romania has gained in strategic importance since 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine Read moreRomania has gained in strategic importance since 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine WATERVILLE — Douglas County Sheriff Kevin Morris paid a $500 settlement in March to void an Idaho Fish and Game infraction for killing a cougar under false pretenses of Bridgeport admitted to the violation in a press release Friday after NCWLIFE learned of the case and contacted him for an interview Documents from Latah County court in Idaho show the situation began when Morris 10 from the porch of a cabin he owns outside Lewiston and Morris had the option to claim the carcass using a deer and elk permit he already held he asked his son to buy him a new cougar-specific permit with which to claim the kill he then presented the cougar carcass at an inspection station and offered up his cougar tag the next day and according to the investigator’s report Morris at first said he bought the cougar tag before the shooting then came clean and admitted ordering the tag after killing the animal It was a legal shoot," Morris said to the game officer Oct "it was the actions afterwards buying the tag (that) was not." He was cited with a misdemeanor game tag violation by Idaho prosecutors in February The summons was served on him at the East Wenatchee sheriff's station and in March a Latah County judge agreed to dismiss the citation in exchange for a $500 civil penalty The sheriff issued a press release late Friday afternoon saying he’d disclosed the incident to his staff and to Douglas County prosecutors “I made a choice in the heat of the moment and unfortunately it was not the most prudent decision,” he wrote Morris was contacted by NCWLIFE earlier this week about the case because I feel that I've let my profession down," he told NCWLIFE by phone on Wednesday which requires prosecutors to publicly identify police officers to local defense attorneys when they're found to have lied or otherwise violated policies Douglas County Prosecutor Gordon Edgar did not respond to an email sent Wednesday by NCWLIFE asking whether Morris' acts could require disclosure on the Brady list he fired a probationary trainee deputy for lying about inappropriate statements he’d made in a police academy class session On Wednesday Morris agreed to participate in an on-camera interview with NCWLIFE scheduled for Monday the sheriff sent an email unilaterally canceling that interview It is with contrition and sincerity that I want to address the event that occurred while on personal time and property in October of 2024 as I believe the public has a right to hear directly from their elected Sheriff I hold myself to a high standard of conduct and want to ensure that my constituents and staff do not feel there is any opacity to the situation I was in possession of a non-resident deer and elk tag at the time As a Non-Resident of Idaho with an unfilled deer or elk tag I could use either of these tags to harvest a mountain lion during any open corresponding season of the open deer and elk tag (Idaho State Statute 36-1101(a) IDAPA 13.01.08.250.04) instead of notching the rightfully held tag I purchased a mountain lion tag after the fact I want to emphasize that at the time of the shooting I was lawfully able to shoot the mountain lion; it was in no way This action has caused me great consternation in the months following I was contacted by Fish and Wildlife regarding the mountain lion harvest and asked to walk through the events I told the Fish and Wildlife agent that I had shot the mountain lion with the intention of using my existing tag but made the regrettable decision to purchase a mountain lion tag after the fact I self-reported to the Douglas County Prosecutor's Office and met with my command staff team to brief them on the entire series of events I did not take any action to conceal the on-goings the case was referred to the Latah County Prosecutor's Office and a criminal complaint was filed on February 13 I took multiple steps to ensure that required parties were notified My office notified the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) within the required 15-day period I have not received any comments from CJTC I cooperated fully with the Latah County Prosecutor's Office and the offense was dismissed civilly after payment of a fine on March 20 I have requested a peer review of this incident for continued consideration I deeply regret my decision not to use the existing tag This has weighed heavily on my mind ever since I made a choice in the heat of the moment and unfortunately it was not the most prudent decision I am committed to keeping the public informed of any further outcomes that may arise from this issue A Wenatchee Police Officer received a four-day suspension without pay earlier this year for pulling over his wife and failing to investigate the stop as a potential DUI Wenatchee Police Department conducted an internal investigation of Officer Scott Moen for a stop taking place December 19, 2024. The department filed a report Jan Captain Brian Chance wrote the report and said he received a call from Sgt Mark Ward regarding the potential policy violation He says all information available clearly showed Officer Moen did not investigate the traffic stop as a possible DUI Moen pulled his wife over at approximately 7:50 p.m 19 when he suspected she drove under the influence as part of a traffic stop near the intersection of Crescent Street and Ferry Street The report says Moen did not initially recognize his wife as the su­spect of the stop An intial transmission to RiverCom did not include a vehicle plate or description Moen took several deliberate steps to at least partically conceal the situation from his supervisor and other law enforcement officers working that night Some of those steps included removing and not wearing his [body camera] during the contact not calling out the license plate of the bvehicle changing his status from on a traffic stop to a detail and indicating he was 'Code 4' on the contact." Moen allegedly said in his interview he took his wife's keys and had her father pick her up 'we can't afford this' with regard to the cost of [his wife] getting another DUI." She pled guilty to DUI in Chelan County District Court in August 2021 Correct procedure would have been for Moen to immediately notify his supervisor about the conflict of interest and for an uninvolved employee to handle the matter.Moen is still employed at the department and has returned to duty Wenatchee Police Department conducted an internal investigation of Officer Scott Moen for a stop taking place December 19, 2024...\nRead More Wenatchee Police Department conducted an internal investigation of Officer Scott Moen for a stop taking place December 19, 2024. The department filed a report Jan Correct procedure would have been for Moen to immediately notify his supervisor about the conflict of interest and for an uninvolved employee to handle the matter.Moen is still employed at the department and has returned to duty.