Brewster Chamber addresses Cherries Jubilee, listens to elective candidates

BREWSTER – While the focus of the Chamber of Commerce’s regular monthly meeting last Wednesday, June 6, was tying up any loose ends for the first annual Cherries Jubilee on June 16, members found time to listen to two guest speakers, one a candidate for Okanogan County Sheriff and the other for the State Legislature’s 12th District.
Omak Police Chief Jeff Koplin delivered a summary of his years in law enforcement that led up to his present position as head of Omak’s Police Department. He spoke about his desire to increase involvement of community groups to help county law enforcement deal with growing criminal activity stemming from the rise in drug addiction.
“Opioids have gotten really bad,” said Koplin. “We cannot arrest our way out of this problem.”
Koplin endorsed the need to maintain the Okanogan County Narcotics Task Force with volunteer officers from local police departments and enough full-time personnel required for the unit to qualify for continued grant funding. He also endorsed Okanogan County Public Health’s Prescription Drug Take Back program that allows citizens to dispose of unused prescription drugs at sites at the Omak, Oroville and Twisp police departments.
Koplin took questions from chamber members about the growing incidence of drone flights over private property and replied that the FAA recently gave more authority to municipalities to regulate drone use.
Dr. Diamond, an Independent running for the office being vacated by Republican Cary Condotta, said the two priority issues of her campaign for the state’s 12thLlegislative District  are health care and the McCleary Act for funding public education.
Diamond said she will work for lower medication prices through such avenues as combining the population leverage of Washington, Oregon, and possibly California to bulk buy prescription drugs. She also addressed the need for early substance abuse treatment. Diamond took questions from members about vocational training, and the drug testing for public assistance recipients similar to urine testing for some job applicants.
Chamber president Anna Marie Dalbey announced a free homebuyer class from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 23, at the Coldwell Banker office at 525 Main St. about a new program to help homebuyers who need assistance with their down payments.
Brewster librarian Rebecca Zion announced the summer reading program under the theme “Libraries Rock!” The library wants to offer prize incentives for young readers and asked for the public’s help with donations to help fund the program. Donations can be mailed to the Brewster Public Library, P.B. 280, Brewster, WA 98812. Those wishing to help can also call the library at 509-689-4046.
The Chamber also adopted a stretch of State Route 97 from mile post 258 to milepost 60 as a cleanup project.

1st Annual
Cherries Jubilee
Saturday, June 16
7:30 a.m. Line up for 3K Fun Walk/Run
8 a.m. Fun Walk/Run begins
9 a.m. Vendors open
9:30 a.m. Line up for parade downtown
10 a.m. Parade begins
Car Show following parade
11 a.m. Beer and Wine Gardens open
12-2 p.m. 3-on-3 basketball tournament
2 p.m. Dunk Tank
3 p.m. Car Show voting closes
3:30 p.m. Face Pie Toss
4 p.m. Cherry Pit Spitting
4:30 p.m. Cherry Dessert winner announced
        Car show winner announced
5-6 p.m. Brittany Jean
6-10 p.m. Waterdog
9 p.m. Beer and Wine Gardens closes