Chelan County Government

Beginning Friday, Stage 2 fire restrictions go into effect in the unincorporated areas of Chelan County.

With Stage 2 restrictions, people can no longer have campfires at their homes and target shooting is prohibited outside of a gun range. Outdoor burning of yard debris has been banned since June 1.

Hunting is still allowed in open areas and the use of commercial barbecues and camp stoves is also allowed.

“With major wildfires now burning in Oregon and throughout Washington, firefighting resources may be stretched,” said Chris Pedersen, Chelan County fire marshal. “It’s only July – we still have a lot of fire season to get through. We need everyone to do their part and not be the spark that causes a wildfire in our area.”

With the upgrade in restrictions also comes an increase in the fire danger rating in Chelan County’s Valley Zone. The zone has been upgraded to an “extreme” rating, the highest rating on the fire danger scale in Chelan County.

The Mountain Zone remains at a “very high,” which is the last rating before extreme. Fire danger ratings refer to how fire-prone conditions are.

For more information, go to the county’s website:

https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/news/article/current-fire-hazard-designation-and-restrictions

https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/fire-prevention-and-investigation/pages/fire-danger-ratings--restrictions

Water levels in Icicle Creek are LOW! Please put in at the Wenatchee River boat launch at 8801 Icicle Road.

The Chelan County Fair's Exhibitor Guide is here! Read below for the link.

Take a look at this year's Exhibitor Guide!
Calling all exhibitors! Our 2024 Exhibitor Handbook is up on our website! Take a look at all of the great things you can enter and participate in. https://bit.ly/46cproG

Quick guide:
▪️How to exhibit starts on page 4
▪️Open Class Economics starting on page 16
▪️Open class floriculture, horticulture, vegetables, and grange booths starting on page 22
▪️Open class arts, crafts & hobbies starting on page 33
▪️Photography page 34
▪️Livestock starting on 38
▪️Open Class Youth page 45
▪️Scouts of America, Campfire, and Girls Scouts starting on page 50
▪️FFA starting on page 56
▪️4-H starting on page 61
▪️Grange starting on 82

It's time to think about what you will be entering in the Fair! Download, print it, share it, or save it! We will also have sections of the guide in all the exhibitor building during registration. It’s FREE to enter your exhibits on Wednesday, September 4th from 8am to 8:30pm.

You can plan to see your primary election ballot soon, as the Chelan County Elections Office will mail ballots to registered voters on Friday, July 19.

The primary election is Aug. 6. Visit the Chelan County Elections page (https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/elections) for a variety of voter resources, from the Voter’s Guide to a listing of addresses for ballot drop boxes to election night results.

Some important primary election dates:

• July 19: The Voting Center, 350 Orondo Ave. (Level 3), opens in the Election’s Office. Ballot drop boxes also open.
• July 29: Registration deadline for both new voters and address updates – if they are being completed by mail, online or over the phone.
• July 30: In-person voter registration begins at the Elections Office and continues until 8 p.m. on Aug. 6.
• Aug. 6: Election day! If you are mailing your ballot, it must be postmarked by Aug. 6. If you are dropping it in a ballot drop box, you have until 8 p.m. Or, stop by the Elections Office by 8 p.m. to vote in-person.

If you need assistance with voter registration, voting or replacement ballots, or if you have accessibility issues, contact the Chelan County Elections Office at 667-6808.

One of our favorite events of the year!

The Friends of the Wenatchee Library big book sale is this Friday and Saturday, July 19 and 20. Please plan to bring your own bags and/or boxes!

Checks and cash preferred, this saves the Friends dollars and means more money for your library. ($5 minimum for credit cards)

New this year, the county-operated, voluntary boat inspection program at Lake Chelan offers local boaters a fast-track option through the inspection process that seeks to detect aquatic invasive species (AIS).

The inspection program, which started its second season in May, aims to keep AIS such as milfoil and quagga and zebra mussels, non-native mussels that can quickly destroy an ecosystem, from being transported via boats into the pristine waters of Lake Chelan. After completing an inspection, boat owners are offered one of three types of stickers: Chelan Resident, Chelan/Douglas and Visitor.

Read more on our website.

Boating on Lake Chelan? Get your inspection sticker New this year, the county-operated, voluntary boat inspection program at Lake Chelan offers local boaters a fast-track option through the inspection process that seeks to detect aquatic invasive species. After completing an inspection, boat owners are offered one of three types of stickers.

Don't forget! This inaugural event is Sunday, July 14.

Starting at 2:30 p.m., our area law enforcement will face off against the Wenatchee Valley Fire Department to earn bragging rights AND support the Blue Bridge Alliance. After cheering on your favorite first responder, stay and watch as your AppleSox take on the Cascade Collegiate League.

Tickets can be purchased online through the AppleSox website or at the gate. Kids 11 and under are free. Your game ticket will get you into both games. Buy tickets here https://www.applesox.com/

Additionally, look for our folks from the Chelan County Regional Justice Center -- that's K9 Deputy Lewis, Deputy Ramirez and K9 volunteers -- who will be holding a 50/50 Raffle to further support the Blue Bridge Alliance!

The Blue Bridge Alliance provides resources to first responders to help provide relief to community members in distress while also empowering officers to use those resources with minimal administrative impediments. Such assistance could be in the form of food, shelter, clothing, fuel, auto repairs, transportation or any other means of support that would help relieve the immediate crisis.

Put it on your calendars and come watch the "Cuffs & Axes" softball tournament between your local firefighters and law enforcement on July 14th!

Your local law enforcement and firefighters witness community members in need everyday. Proceeds from this event will be used to support those that are experiencing a hardship in the very moment they need it most.

Through community support, law enforcement and firefighters will be able to provide financial support in the form of gift cards following a fire or some other significant event. We hope to see you all on 7/14. Come fill the stands and watch some mediocre athletes 🤣😅👮🏻‍♂️👨🏻‍🚒👮🏻🧑🏼‍🚒🚒🚔️

Chelan County property owners have probably received their 2024 assessment year Notice of Values for taxes payable in 2025. They were mailed out last Friday.

The Chelan County Assessor's Office is trying a new approach this year by including information on the assessment process, mass appraisal process, applicable laws and how to look up sale information on our website or pick up at our front counter to assist property owners in better understanding the process and why we do what we do in the Assessors Office.

We are also including 2024–2025 Market Sales Analysis Packets for all four cycles of the county. In these packets, you will find statistics for all of the neighborhoods in each cycle, along with maps of the neighborhoods and the sales used in our statistical analysis.

All the information is available for download at https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/notifications/article/2024-notice-of-values-will-be-mailed-out-on-friday-july-5th

Still have questions? Call the Assessor's Office at 509-667-6365 or email [email protected]

And we are open! The Coordinated Entry program of the Chelan-Douglas Homeless Housing Network opened today in its new walk-up location at Link Transit's Columbia Station in Wenatchee.

The Coordinated Entry program is a process that standardizes the way individuals and families at risk of homelessness or experiencing homelessness are assessed for and referred to the housing and services that they need for housing stability. It matches people to local programs and services as well as grants immediate needs when possible. Chelan County took over the operation of the program recently.

The Homeless Housing Network can be accessed by phone by calling 509-436-9086 or by going to https://www.cewenatchee.com/ to fill out an online form.

More details at:

https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/news/article/homeless-housing-network-opens-at-columbia-station

It's hot out there! We asked our favorite county duo how K9 Gambit keeps cool on these hot days.

Chelan County Regional Justice Center Deputy and K9 Handler Jacob Lewis said it comes down to A/C and water:

"When it comes to keeping Gambit cool during this heat wave, there are a few different things we do both at work and at home to ensure his safety. First, we limit his time outside primarily to bathroom breaks. At home he has access to a splash pad to cool off, but Gambit is kept indoors with A/C the majority of the time.

"At work we are primarily indoors. However, when we are working out of our patrol car, we keep the A/C on full blast. Our car is also equipped with a heat pop system to keep him safe. The system monitors the internal temperature of the car, and when it gets above a certain temp (92 degrees) the windows roll down and a fan activates automatically to get the temperature below the threshold. I even have the car equipped with a A/C hose that runs from air vent directly into Gambit’s area in the car to provide extra air.

"Second, I make sure he is staying hydrated and has access to drinking water. And lastly, when the temperature is hot but not extreme, we may take the opportunity to take Gambit to the river during our off time. Not only does the river really cool him off, but for border collies like him, it helps get a lot of the excess undercoat removed that a brush may not be able to remove." -- Deputy Lewis

The Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday to introduce a new proposed fee schedule for our Community Development and Fire Prevention & Investigation departments.

Both departments will go over their respective proposed increases in fees. Then the public will be able to share their thoughts.

Join us in person -- 400 Douglas St. in Wenatchee -- or via Zoom: https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/board-of-commissioners/pages/join-the-commissioners-meeting

This weekend, watch for voluntary watercraft inspections at the Old Mill Bay Marina on Lake Chelan. Inspections are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

What's our team with Chelan County Natural Resources looking for? Aquatic invasive species, or AIS like milfoil and quagga and zebra mussels. Working to Keep it Blue on beautiful Lake Chelan!

An overview of the schedule of events for the 4th of July Celebration at Walla Walla Park!
Festivities will begin at 3:30 and conclude after the world-class fireworks show set to start around 10:15 PM!

Great post from our partners at RiverCom 911. If you are reporting someone using personal fireworks in Chelan County, call the non-emergency line at 509-663-9911. If you are reporting an injury or fire caused by fireworks, call 911.

As we approach our busiest day of the year, our staff has some friendly reminders.
Please help keep our 911 lines open for emergencies! For all non-emergencies please call 509-663-9911.

We hope you all have a fun and safe celebration!

We wish you all a happy and safe holiday!

Chelan County offices are closed on Thursday to commemorate the nation's birthday. The closure includes the Dryden and Chelan transfer stations, the Chelan County Moderate Risk Waste Facility and Ohme Gardens. County facilities re-open to regular hours on Friday.

With temperatures soaring this July 4th weekend, the county fire marshal is raising fire danger ratings and fire restrictions in Chelan County.

You can still have a campfire in a fire pit or portable one. And none of our restrictions ever say you can't use a barbecue. Just be aware that conditions are changing rapidly out there.

“The landscape is browning up quickly out there, and the upcoming high temperatures are only going to escalate that drying process,” Chelan County Fire Marshal Chris Pedersen said. “Going into the holiday weekend, people need to be aware of the increasing fire danger, especially when recreating outdoors.”

Fire danger ratings on the rise in Chelan County With soaring temperatures anticipated this July 4th weekend, the county fire marshal is raising fire danger ratings and fire restrictions in Chelan County.

The new concrete overlay on the deck of the Peshastin Bridge is being laid this morning. More work comes once the concrete is cured, so we still have a little over a week of the closure. But the contractor is doing a great job!

Peshastin Bridge this morning. Looking good!

Washington Water Trust Director Greg gave a tour of the Icicle Creek project, where Cascade Orchard Irrigation Company and Chelan County recently broke ground on a new high-efficiency irrigation pump station. This new pump station will help keep important flows instream to benefit steelhead, spring Chinook, bull trout, and other species.

Heads Up: It will be a short Board of County Commissioners meeting next week. Commissioners will be in session only on Tuesday, with a limited agenda because of the upcoming holiday. The weekly agenda packet for the BOCC is available on our website: https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/board-of-commissioners

It's the Chelan County Regional Justice Center making us proud again! Director Chris Sharp recently was honored by the National Institute for Jail Operations with the Dedication to Excellence Award. Many of the programs and policies that Sharp has instituted in the last four years were mentioned when he accepted the award.

“We have an awesome team of correctional deputies and medical, mental health and support staff that make everything we strive to do a success,” Sharp said. “Without the team there is no leader.”

Read more on our website.

County's jail director earns national honors Chris Sharp, director of the Chelan County Regional Justice Center, was honored in June by the National Institute for Jail Operations with the Dedication to Excellence Award.

So much happening at the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority! Congrats on the Washington State Army National Guard Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Saturday -- and welcome to the community!

At a special ceremony honoring and thanking our local Vietnam Era Veterans, Rep. Kim Schrier presented local veterans with a Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin and thanked them and their families for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the nation.

The ceremony was Thursday at the Veterans Hall in Wenatchee. Attending were veterans, their families and some surviving spouses of veterans.

We thank Rep. Schrier for holding this special event and we thank our local vets and their families for their service and sacrifices. Just a wonderful event! Read more about the Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin at https://www.vietnamwar50th.com/about/vietnam_veteran_lapel_pin/

County offices will be closed tomorrow in celebration of the Juneteenth holiday. Offices will return to normal hours on Thursday.

Galveston was home to the first Juneteenth. Here's how it'll celebrate this year America will celebrate Juneteenth for the fourth year since it became a federal holiday. But for Galveston families, celebrations can be traced back generations.

Congratulations to Deputy Churchill, Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Marine Law Enforcement Officer of the Year! Not only is he a great marine law enforcement officer, but he's a lot of fun to be around! Congrats to Deputy Churchill and the Chelan County Sheriff's Office

We are excited to announce that our very own deputy, Garrett Churchill, has been selected as the Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Marine Law Enforcement Officer of the Year! This prestigious award is well-deserved and we couldn't be more proud of his hard work and dedication to keeping our waters safe.

We ask that you join us in congratulating and recognizing Deputy Churchill for this incredible achievement. His commitment to serving and protecting our community is truly commendable, and we are grateful to have him as part of our team.