Don Childers signs on as new Brewster City Council member

BREWSTER – Lifelong Brewster resident Don Childers was selected to fill a Brewster City Council vacancy during the council’s regular monthly meeting on February 16.  He was sworn in to his new position by city attorney Chuck Zimmerman. The vacancy occurred after the passing of former council member Tim Reib on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, last year.

“I just retired,” said Childers, “and thought it would be something interesting, would serve Brewster, and I have the time.”

Born in Brewster to a family that had a small orchard business, Childers is a Brewster High School graduate. He attended Wenatchee Valley College for two years and saw military service in Vietnam with the U.S. Army. “I’m also a Vietnam veteran,” said Childers. “I spent two years stationed with the 269th Combat Aviation Battalion (helicopter gunships) at Cu Chi.”

Childers joined the Omak Plywood Mill as an industrial electrician where he worked for the next 30-and-a-half years. Following retirement, he began a second career driving bus for Northwest Stage Lines Apple Line route from Omak to Ellensburg.

Brewster Finance Director/Clerk Misty Ruiz asked Childers, with his experience in transportation, if he would represent Brewster on the Okanogan County Transportation Board. Childers said he has always liked living in a small town. “Brewster has been a slow growing town and I love that,” said Childers. “I like traveling to big cities, but I just love this place.”As a council member Childers said he would like to offer more residential opportunities in the city. “At this stage and with population increasing so fast it would be good to promote more housing.” Childers said. He added that he is in favor of a steady, slow growth curve “We are really fortunate to have steady employment,” said Childers, “and the city has been doing a good job regulating things.”