Top billing
Packing up
Kira Wood Cramer takes over at The Merc Playhouse
Winthrop library to close during transition
Methow Valley News
ARTS Page A6
STORY Page A5
PUBLISHED WEEKLY SINCE 1903
TWISP, WASHINGTON
VOL. 119 NO. 1
WWW.METHOWVALLEYNEWS.COM
May 4, 2022
$1
Winthrop ’49er Days Marshal, Grand Lady continue the tradition
Annual celebration part of the Mountjoys’ lives BY ASHLEY LODATO
Winthrop ’49er Days Grand Lady Marva and Marshal Jim Mountjoy caught their first glimpse of the Methow Valley in February 1972. It wasn’t much of a glimpse. Outside the windows of their Ford LTD, a blizzard raged. And although their destination — the Methow Wildlife Area headquarters at the top of Upper Bear Creek Road — usually affords truly breathtaking views of Gardner, Oval and other dramatic peaks in the Sawtooth Range, on this particular day it offered the Mountjoys nothing, not even a place to sleep, as the wildlife area manager who Jim would be replacing had not yet vacated the game department residency. Finding Winthrop completely shuttered for the season (the North Cascades Scenic Highway, which later created the Methow Valley’s viability as a year-round destination, was still months away from opening) the Mountjoys returned to Wenatchee and checked
into a hotel for the night. A Kalispell, Montana, native, Jim was fresh out of the U.S. Army in 1971, armed with a degree in forestry and a minor in wildlife management. He served as the Methow Wildlife Area’s manager for 35 years, but there’s also ranching in his roots, which is how he learned to ride and appreciate Western traditions. “My dad was born on a ranch and I worked on ranches in Jackson Hole [Wyoming] in the summers,” he said.
Wrangling a job
“We had no clue about the Methow Valley until we got here,” said Marva, who grew up in Nampa, Idaho. “We were living in Boise and we’d heard of Moses Lake but that’s about as close as we got, until Jim got the job and we packed up the U-Haul and just drove up in a snowstorm.” With Jim’s new job keeping him busy, Marva looked for her own ways to earn a paycheck. Despite having no experience riding horses, Marva was hired as a wrangler for Sun Mountain Lodge and learned on the job, quickly becoming a competent horsewoman. Soon she began wrangling and cook-
ing for Claude Miller’s backcountry trips. “Being the man that he is,” Marva said, “Claude allowed me to bring the kids out with me. Otherwise I couldn’t have done that job.” Marva’s longtime connection with Miller makes it fitting that he will be driving the carriage bearing the Mountjoys in the ’49er Days parade. The Mountjoys met in college, on a blind date. Their daughters were both born in Brewster, a few years after they’d settled into their new life in the Methow Valley. Staunch community supporters, the Mountjoys have been to every ’49er Days parade since they moved to the valley and every Ride to Rendezvous since it started 33 years ago. Marva only recently retired from working for the Washington Outfitter & Guides Association, which hosts the Ride to Rendezvous. Letting go of that responsibility, she says, the only thing that freed her up to serve as Grand Lady.
Love of community
When the Mountjoys were asked
See ‘49ER, A3
Photo courtesy of Marva Mountjoy
Winthrop ’49er Days Marshal Jim Mountjoy and Grand Lady Marva Mountjoy will mark 50 years of living in the Methow Valley when they preside over the weekend’s festivities.
Analysis of Twisp Restoration Project released Reflects smaller size, suggested changes BY MARCY STAMPER
The Methow Valley Ranger District has released the final Environmental Assessment for the Twisp Restoration Project (TRP). The TRP was reduced to 24,140 acres (a 69%
reduction) to eliminate areas that burned — or were affected by fire suppression — in the 2021 Cedar Creek Fire. People who previously submitted comments on the TRP have until June 13 to raise issues during the formal objection period. The new project footprint is primarily in the lower Twisp River, Newby Creek , Poor ma n Creek ,
Myers Creek and Alder Creek drainages, as well as on the eastern slope of McClure Mountain. A small area lies at the west end of Twisp River Road. Before it was reduced in size, it was the largest forest project ever proposed in the district. T he det ailed , 243-page Environmental Assessment describes
See RESTORATION, A2
SUNFLOWERS AND SHOWERS Photo courtesy of Bluebird Grain Farms
Bluebird Grain Farms founders Brooke and Sam Lucy will be honored this week by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Bluebird Grain Farms named Rural Small Business of the Year BY DON NELSON
Bluebird Grain Farms, the Methow Valley-based producer of legacy grains, is the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Seattle District’s 2022 Rural Small Business of the Year. The Seattle SBA office made the announcement last week. Founded in 2004 by Brooke and Sam Lucy, Bluebird Grain Farms is a certified organic producer and processor, specializing in ancient grains, fresh-milled flour and whole-grain handcrafted blends, with headquarters on Rendezvous Road north of Winthrop. Accord i ng to a n SBA press release, 18 years ago the Lucys recognized a lack of locally grown grain available in the Pacific Northwest. “With years of farming experience under their belts, they began their journey as processors and distributors with a mission to ‘cultivate and mill the most irresistible, nutrient-rich ancient grains we can, while leaving this land healthier for the next generation,’” according to the release. “What started as a grassroots business venture to provide organic
ancient grains to their local community has expanded well beyond their small rural town to become an award-winning, vertically-integrated, value-added business that supports eight employees, a regional network of grain producers, and serves more than 19,000 customers,” the release noted. “Having a business in a rural setting poses a unique set of challenges, and opportunities,” Brooke Lucy said. “I really appreciate that the rural aspect of being a business is being recognized with this award. The Methow Valley has been a critical part of our story.” Success for Bluebi rd G r ai n Farms has come with no shortage of challenges, according to the SBA release. Seasonal wildfires have forced evacuations and threatened crops. With the onset of the COVID19 pandemic in 2020, the business found an unprecedented demand for local food products coupled with the challenges of operating in accordance with evolving health and safety concerns. Bluebird Grain Farms was able to retain and hire the staff they needed with funding from SBA Paycheck Protection Program. Additionally, funds secured through the SBA COVID Economic Injury Disaster
Twisp imposes moratorium on overnight rental conversions
See BLUEBIRD, A3
See MORATORIUM, A3
ADDRESS LABEL
Photo by Steve Mitchell
Methow Valley residents Marine Bjornsen, left, and Erik Bjornsen strode through spring ground cover on the Methow Trails Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay course last weekend. Erik finished 3rd in the half-marathon; Marine was 4th overall in the half-marathon and the first woman finisher. For more photos and results, see Page B4.
Includes properties in commercial zones BY DON NELSON
The Twisp Tow n Cou ncil has imposed a six-month moratorium on conversions of existing residential housing to overnight rentals, including properties in commercial zones, while the town considers its long-term policy options for such accommodations. The council took the action unanimously at its April 26 meeting, and the ordinance imposing the ban took
effect immediately. At the Twisp Planning Commission meeting on April 28, Town Planner Kurt Danison said that a conversion application came in after the council’s meeting and was rejected because t he mor ator iu m wa s al rea dy i n place. According to the wording of the ordnance, “the Town Council of the Town of Twisp has determined that it is necessary or advisable to impose a moratorium on the filing, acceptance, processing and/or approval of applications for overnight accommoda-
THURS.
FRI.
SAT.
SUN.
MON.
TUES.
May 5
May 6
May 7
May 8
May 9
May 10
63° 43°
54° 40°
58° 36°
53° 39°
58° 35°
65° 36°
Shower in the Morning
Brief Showers
Cloudy
Mostly Cloudy
Showers
WEATHER DATA BASED ON ACCUWEATHER.COM FORECAST FOR T WISP
Clouds and Sun
Inside this week
Summer
2022
Winthrop operation recognized by SBA
Methow Valley A SUPPLEMENT OF THE METHOW VALLEY NEWS
Information for an enjoyable Methow Valley visit
Dining
and lodging guides
Activities for every interest & all ages Summer 2022
FREE1
Your guide to summer in the Methow Valley
INSIDE ... OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 HARTS PASS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . B2-B3 COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B7 VALLEY LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B8