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Three additional suspects have been arrested in connection with the Chelan Hills Fire, which killed an Orondo man, injur...
09/18/2026

Three additional suspects have been arrested in connection with the Chelan Hills Fire, which killed an Orondo man, injured six firefighters, destroyed more than 100 structures and burned more than 10,000 acres, according to the U.S. Marshals Service and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

The U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force arrested Valentin Valentin Tabunscic, 18, of Tacoma; Mark Okhrimchik, 19, of University Place; and Julian Mikityuk, 19, of Pacific on Thursday, Sept. 17, during a joint operation involving officers from the Eastern and Western districts of Washington.

The arrests follow the Sept. 2 arrest of Michael Yakimov, 18, of Kent, whom the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office previously identified as the primary suspect accused of igniting the fire. Yakimov was booked on charges of first-degree manslaughter, first-degree arson, first-degree malicious mischief and six counts of third-degree assault.

Read the full story here: https://ncw.social/yybxs3xk

A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the Chelan Hills Fire, which killed a 69-year-old Orondo man and l...
09/17/2026

A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the Chelan Hills Fire, which killed a 69-year-old Orondo man and led to multiple felony charges, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

The U.S. Marshals Service arrested Mark R. Okhrimchik, 19, of University Place on Thursday, Sept. 17, on an outstanding Douglas County felony warrant, the sheriff’s office said. Douglas County detectives took custody of Okhrimchik at the federal courthouse in Tacoma and transported him to the Chelan County Regional Justice Center.

Okhrimchik was booked on charges of first-degree manslaughter, first-degree arson, first-degree malicious mischief and six counts of third-degree assault.

Similar arrest warrants have been issued for three other suspects involved in the investigation, according to the sheriff’s office. The agency said it is continuing to work with other law enforcement agencies to take those suspects into custody.

Read the full story here: https://ncw.social/4vn79w3z

A 57-year-old Cashmere man who had been reported missing in late August was found dead Saturday in the Tibbetts Mountain...
09/15/2026

A 57-year-old Cashmere man who had been reported missing in late August was found dead Saturday in the Tibbetts Mountain area, according to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.

Christopher A. Steiner was reported missing Aug. 30, prompting searches and follow-up efforts by sheriff’s deputies, other responding personnel and community members.

Two people in the Tibbetts Mountain area reported finding a deceased person in brush near a roadway Sept. 12. Deputies responded and found a man matching Steiner’s description.

Chelan County Coroner Earl Crowe subsequently identified the man as Steiner.

Read the full story here: https://ncw.social/2p8hapbb

A sharp drop in Lake Chelan visitation during August is underscoring city officials’ push to build a more diversified, y...
09/10/2026

A sharp drop in Lake Chelan visitation during August is underscoring city officials’ push to build a more diversified, year-round economy less vulnerable to tourism swings.

Mayor Erin McCardle told the City Council and Planning Commission Sept. 8 that Placer data comparing August 2026 with August 2025 showed out-of-market visitation down 47%.

“Out-of-market visitors was down 47%. Our visits were down 47%,” McCardle said. “And when you have that in our second highest revenue generating level, that’s a little concerning.”

The figures came as Community Development Director John Ajax presented the economic development chapter of Chelan’s proposed comprehensive plan update, which calls for the city to continue supporting tourism while broadening the economy around other industries and year-round employment.

Read the full story here: https://ncw.social/kjece72x

Most intersections studied in Chelan are projected to fall below the city’s traffic standard during peak summer conditio...
09/10/2026

Most intersections studied in Chelan are projected to fall below the city’s traffic standard during peak summer conditions by 2050, according to transportation modeling presented to the City Council and Planning Commission Sept. 8.

The projections are part of an update to the transportation element of Chelan’s comprehensive plan, which looks ahead to 2050 and is intended to identify projects, policies and funding strategies needed as the city and surrounding area grow.

Daniel Hendricks, senior project manager with Transpo Group, presented the findings alongside Public Works Director Jake Youngren. The city’s existing standard for vehicles is Level of Service D or better, a threshold that is not changing in the update.

Level of service grades road and intersection operations from A through F, with A representing little delay and F representing long delays and congestion. Intersection grades are based on average delay per vehicle.

Read the full story here: https://ncw.social/yckny93x

The two-day competition brings together 24 surfers, with 12 representing the United States and 12 representing Europe in...
09/04/2026

The two-day competition brings together 24 surfers, with 12 representing the United States and 12 representing Europe in a team format modeled after golf's Ryder Cup. Europe has won the Cup in each of its first three years, while the U.S. is still seeking its first team championship.

Competition begins at 3:40 p.m. Saturday and includes four rounds across the weekend. Surfers compete for individual scores while also accumulating points for their teams, with 51 team points available overall.

The event includes the Surfers Classic, two rounds of team heats and a Best Trick competition before concluding Sunday with team finals and men's and women's individual finals. More than half of the available team points — 26 of 51 — will be decided during the final rounds.

Read the full story here: https://ncw.social/bddd6xun

Fire officials said scattered rain showers over Wednesday moderated fire activity over several areas of the Little Giant...
09/03/2026

Fire officials said scattered rain showers over Wednesday moderated fire activity over several areas of the Little Giant and Sisi fires. More rain in the forecast is expected to help firefighters strengthen established containment lines.

As of Sept. 3, Little Giant is holding at around 170,000 acres, with containment jumping from 51% to 65% between Wednesday and Thursday’s updates. The Sisi Fire, 10 miles northwest of Stehekin, has remained at 2,244 acres. Containment jumped from 0% to 5%.

Read the full story here: https://ncw.social/2p83z3xj

Five more people are expected to face the same criminal allegations as the 18-year-old investigators say personally fire...
09/03/2026

Five more people are expected to face the same criminal allegations as the 18-year-old investigators say personally fired the aerial firework that started the deadly Chelan Hills Fire, Douglas County Sheriff Tyler Caille said on September 3.

Michael Yakimov, 18, was arrested Sept. 2 at his home in Kent and booked into the Chelan County Regional Justice Center on suspicion of first-degree manslaughter, first-degree arson, first-degree malicious mischief and six counts of third-degree assault.

Asked Thursday whether Yakimov had been driving the white Dodge truck investigators linked to the July 4 fire or was the person firing fireworks from its bed, Caille was unequivocal.

“He was the person holding the fireworks, riding in the back of the truck,” Caille said.

Caille later said that distinction was why investigators moved first to arrest Yakimov while continuing to prepare cases against five other adults who were in the truck.

Read the full story here: https://ncw.social/yzdtbttw

Michael Yakimov, an 18-year-old Kent resident, was arrested Sept. 2 in connection with the Chelan Hills Fire, nearly two...
09/02/2026

Michael Yakimov, an 18-year-old Kent resident, was arrested Sept. 2 in connection with the Chelan Hills Fire, nearly two months after the July 4 blaze killed an Orondo man and devastated portions of the Chelan Hills and McNeil Canyon areas.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office detectives said they developed probable cause Wednesday to arrest Yakimov as the primary suspect responsible for igniting the fire. Detectives traveled to Kent, located Yakimov and arrested him without incident before transporting him back to Douglas County.

Yakimov was booked into the Chelan County Regional Justice Center on suspicion of first-degree manslaughter, first-degree arson, first-degree malicious mischief and six counts of third-degree assault.

Read the full story here: https://ncw.social/2p873d62

Backpacks, hugs and a little first-day uncertainty returned to the sidewalks outside Morgen Owings Elementary School Tue...
09/01/2026

Backpacks, hugs and a little first-day uncertainty returned to the sidewalks outside Morgen Owings Elementary School Tuesday morning as students arrived for the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.

Principal Erin Morin was outside to meet them, greeting students by name as children and their families approached the school.

“You can either go have breakfast in the cafeteria, or you can line up next to your teacher’s name,” Morin told each student as they arrived.

The instructions were repeated throughout the morning as another student, and then another, reached the school. Some headed toward breakfast while others found their teachers’ names and joined classmates waiting for the school day to begin.

Read the full story here: https://ncw.social/msz2ry4f

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