The new Quincy Aquatic Center has been incredibly popular since opening, and that is something worth celebrating. After years of discussion, planning and construction, families are clearly excited to use the new facility.

But popularity can also create challenges, and we are beginning to hear some mixed feelings from local residents about how the Aquatic Center is being scheduled and managed for community use.

Some parents have told Welcome to Quincy WA News that they purchased family season passes early, expecting the Aquatic Center to be a regular part of their summer. Instead, they say limited open swim times, combined with heavy demand and facility capacity limits, have sometimes made it difficult to actually use those passes when their families are available.

At the same time, a packed pool is a sign that the community wanted this facility and is using it. Programs, lessons, activities and other scheduled uses are also part of what the new Aquatic Center was built to provide.

The question is whether the current balance is working.

Life in the 98848 wants to hear from the community before we take a closer look at the issue.

If you purchased a season pass, has it worked the way you expected? Have you had trouble getting into open swim because of capacity? Are the available swim times working for your family? Do you think the current schedule strikes a good balance between open community swimming and other programs?

Or has your experience been completely different?

We are not looking for only complaints or only praise. We want to understand what is actually happening for the people using the facility.

Vote in the poll and share your experience in the comments below. If you purchased a season pass, we would especially like to hear whether you feel you have had reasonable opportunities to use it.

Please keep the conversation constructive. The goal is not to attack the facility, its staff or other users. It is to better understand whether the new Aquatic Center is working for the community the way residents expected — and, if not, where the challenges may be.

For years, people across the 98848 have been asked a deceptively simple question: What would make this a better place to live? There has been no deception mind you, but the most important answers don’t always come from complex research and studies. Frequently, they are very simple conversations.

The answers came at community dinners and listening sessions. They came through surveys, focus groups and conversations that began long before there was a finished plan. People talked about places for teenagers to go, jobs that might give young people a reason to stay, stronger support for seniors and families, better communication between communities, more restaurants and services, safer places to walk and bike, affordable housing, stronger local businesses and a future where agriculture remains part of the identity of this region.

Now, for the first time, many of those hopes have been gathered into one document.

The Better Together 98848 Community Action Plan, released July 1, is the culmination of community listening that stretches back to the Voice of Community conversations in 2018 and includes the 98848 Discovery Report released in May 2025, two Community Dinner and Action Planning sessions this spring and a bilingual community-wide survey.

The finished plan does not promise that every problem will be solved tomorrow. It does something more practical: It takes what residents said and organizes those ideas into a shared picture of what the 98848 could become, what can begin now and what may take a decade or more to build.

TL;DR

• Healthy Youth & Families: Create stronger career pathways for young people, develop more spaces and activities for teens, revitalize senior support and expand access to mental health and family services.

• Community Connection & Belonging: Improve communication across all four communities, build stronger connections across languages and cultures, protect the region’s agricultural identity and develop leadership that better reflects the people who live here.

• Outdoor Recreation & Tourism: Beautify local communities, improve walking and biking connections and capture more of the economic opportunity created by the Gorge Amphitheatre and regional tourism.

• Local Business & Economy: Expand dining, shopping and services, strengthen small business and workforce support and work toward long-term solutions for affordable housing and regional transportation.

• The plan includes 15 priorities divided into goals for the next one to two years, the next three to five years and the next five to 10 years or longer.

• Better Together 98848 is not promising to complete every project itself. Its role is to share the plan, champion the priorities and help bring together the people, organizations and resources needed to move them forward.

• The complete Better Together 98848 Community Action Plan is available to download with this story. The full document includes every priority, proposed early wins, long-term aspirations and the commitments intended to show whether progress is actually being made.

From Dinner Table Conversations to a Community Plan

This plan did not begin in a conference room with someone deciding what the community needed. Its roots are in years of listening.

The process began with Voice of Community conversations in 2018. Over the past two years, hundreds of residents have participated in additional listening sessions, focus groups, community dinners and surveys. They were asked what they love about this place, what concerns them and what they would like to see change.

Readers of Life in the 98848 have followed parts of that process. We reported on the community dinners where residents gathered around tables, talked through priorities and began turning broad concerns into possible actions. Those conversations built on the 98848 Discovery Report and were followed by a bilingual survey that gave more people a chance to weigh in. We joined in the conversations too, because this is our community and we wanted to contribute to its future. There was a lot of excitement at these dinners and conversations.

The final document is the next step in that story.

Rather than trying to become a massive master plan covering every possible issue, the Community Action Plan is intentionally focused. It identifies the priorities residents raised most often, places them on a rough timeline and includes both an “Early Win” and an “Aspirational Win” for each.

That distinction may be one of the most important ideas in the entire plan.

A community does not build a regional trail network connecting Quincy, George, Crescent Bar, Ancient Lakes and White Trail overnight. But it can begin by mapping the safe walking and biking routes that already exist and identifying the gaps.

It may take years to create a stronger regional housing and transit system. But the community can begin by bringing local government and housing advocates together to identify barriers and opportunities.

A fully revitalized senior center may be a larger project. But an intergenerational meal or reading program connecting young people and seniors can begin much sooner.

The plan asks the community to hold two ideas at the same time: dream about what is possible, but identify what can be done next.

A Place Where Young People Can See a Future

The first focus area, Healthy Youth & Families, begins with one of the most important questions facing any rural community: What happens to our young people after they grow up?

The plan calls for stronger connections between local employers, the school district and businesses to create meaningful work experiences for teenagers and students beyond seasonal positions. The goal is to build clearer pathways into technology, healthcare, the trades, agriculture and hospitality.

The early step is simple: Make the opportunities that already exist easier for students and families to find. The larger dream is that more Quincy High School graduates will have the option to stay in the community or leave for education and experience and later find a path home.

That goal connects directly to several other priorities in the plan. Residents also called for more welcoming places where middle and high school students can gather outside school hours, including spaces for art, music, athletics and leadership development. The plan suggests beginning with existing spaces such as the Recreation Activity Center, library, churches or schools while also beginning planning and design for a skate park.

The vision extends across generations. Residents asked for stronger senior supports and a revitalized senior center that would help people age in place while remaining active and connected. They also called for expanded mental health and family support services, with the long-term goal that every family in the 98848 can find needed support regardless of language or income.

Taken together, these priorities tell a larger story. Residents are not simply asking for more programs. They are describing a community where people can build an entire life from childhood through retirement without feeling that they must leave to find opportunity, connection or support.

Four Communities, One ZIP Code

The second focus area may be the most fundamental to whether the rest of the plan succeeds.

Quincy, George, Sunland Estates and Crescent Bar share a ZIP code. They also share services, an economy, schools, roads, recreation assets and many of the same challenges. But residents do not always know what is happening beyond their immediate neighborhood or community.

The plan calls for stronger communication across the 98848 through newsletters, community bulletin boards, Spanish-language outreach, social media and neighborhood connections. It specifically recognizes the need to reach seniors, new residents and people in rural areas who may not receive information through the same channels.

The larger dream is what the plan describes as a shared information infrastructure: a place where an event in George is known in Quincy, a resource in Crescent Bar reaches Sunland Estates and residents are not excluded because of language, geography or access to technology. This is an area that I am personally working on here at Welcome to Quincy WA News

That is not simply a communications problem. It is a belonging problem.

The plan also calls for stronger relationships across cultures and languages through block parties, community celebrations and shared experiences. It asks local institutions to intentionally invite more people into the places where decisions are made and, over time, build leadership bodies that more closely reflect the people who actually live here.

There is another kind of identity the plan seeks to protect: agriculture.

As data centers and other industries continue to reshape the local economy, the plan states plainly that agriculture is more than an economic sector. It is “the identity and soul of this region.” One early goal is to bring agricultural employers and data center leaders together to begin building a formal partnership and shared advocacy agenda.

The long-term vision is not a choice between agriculture and growth. It is growth that does not erase the place that was already here.

Turning the Landscape Into an Opportunity

People who live here can become accustomed to the landscape around them. Visitors often see it differently.

The 98848 sits near the Columbia River, the Gorge Amphitheatre, Ancient Lakes, Crescent Bar and miles of open country. Thousands of people travel into and through the area, yet the community does not always capture the full economic benefit of those visitors.

The Outdoor Recreation & Tourism section imagines the 98848 as a premier outdoor destination in Central Washington. That begins with communities that look cared for and welcoming, including improved gateways, more trees and shade, flowers, banners, lighting and better wayfinding.

It also includes one of the plan’s biggest dreams: a connected network of walking and biking trails linking neighborhoods in Quincy and eventually reaching George, Crescent Bar, White Trail and Ancient Lakes.

That kind of project could take many years and significant funding. The plan labels it accordingly as a long-term priority. But the first step is far more achievable: Map the routes that are already safe to walk and bike, identify the gaps and give residents a useful resource while larger infrastructure is planned.

Tourism is treated in much the same way. The long-term vision includes additional lodging and even a community shuttle connecting visitors to local destinations. The first step is making sure people who already come here know where to eat, shop and explore.

The opportunity is not merely to attract more visitors. It is to give the visitors who are already here more reasons to spend time and money in the communities they came through to reach their destination.

Building an Economy Where People Can Stay

The fourth focus area addresses a familiar frustration: too many everyday purchases, meals, services and opportunities are purchased outside of the area.

The plan calls for more dining, retail and services, including food trucks with a central gathering place and better access to amenities for residents throughout the community. One proposed early step is a “Shop 98848” campaign highlighting businesses that are already here.

That point matters. Economic development is not only about recruiting the next business. It is also about making sure residents know and support the businesses already operating in their own backyard.

The plan also calls for stronger support for new and existing small businesses, including help navigating resources, permitting, training and peer networks. The larger goal is an economy where entrepreneurs can find capital, mentorship and residents can build meaningful careers without automatically looking elsewhere.

The hardest issues are placed on the longest timeline. Affordable housing and regional transportation are identified as long-term priorities, with a vision of better housing options for families, seniors, agricultural workers and working residents, along with stronger connections between Quincy, George, Sunland Estates, Crescent Bar and Wenatchee.

None of those problems has a simple solution. The plan does not pretend otherwise. Its proposed first step is to get the right people around the same table, identify the barriers and begin mapping the opportunities.

That may sound modest compared with the size of the problem. But nearly every major community project begins that way.

The Plan Is Not a Promise From One Organization

One of the most important things residents should understand about the Community Action Plan is what Better Together 98848 is and is not promising to do.

Better Together is not presenting itself as the organization that will personally build every trail, open every business, create every youth program, solve the housing shortage and operate every future service.

Its stated role is to share the plan widely, champion it publicly and bring together the partners, institutions and resources needed to make the priorities real.

“The work belongs to the whole community,” the plan states.

That sentence may be the dividing line between whether this becomes another document on a shelf or something that actually changes the 98848.

Many of the ideas require local governments. Others require schools, businesses, nonprofits, churches, healthcare providers, agricultural employers, technology companies, funders and residents. Some will need grants. Some will need private investment. Some may begin with little more than a few people deciding to work together.

The plan is also intended to serve different purposes for different groups. Local governments can use it as a community-validated picture of priorities when discussing budgets and planning. Funders can see where residents believe investment would have the greatest impact. Community organizations can see where their work overlaps with larger goals. Residents can use it to understand what has been heard and ask what is happening next.

Better Together has also committed to reporting progress through community updates, a visible progress tracker, an advisory team that reflects the demographics of the region and continued listening sessions as priorities change.

That accountability will matter. A plan built through years of listening will ultimately be judged by whether people can see movement.

The Dream Is on Paper. What Happens Next Is Up to the Community.

A teenager graduates from high school and sees a career path here. A senior can age here without becoming disconnected. A family can find the support it needs. A small business owner can get help turning an idea into a livelihood. Visitors discover local restaurants and shops instead of simply passing through. Residents can walk and bike more safely. Agriculture remains part of the land, the economy and the identity of the region even as new industries grow around it.

Those are not individual projects. Together, they are a picture of a place.

The Better Together 98848 Community Action Plan does not provide every answer, and it does not guarantee that every dream residents shared will become reality. What it does is preserve those conversations, organize the priorities and put a map on the table.

For years, people across Quincy, George, Sunland Estates and Crescent Bar were asked what would make this a better place to live.

Now the 98848 has answered.

The dream is on paper. What happens next will depend on what we decide to build together.

Download a full copy of the BETTER TOGETHER 98848 COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN right here

Bettertogether98848 Finalactionplan 2026 06 17 (1)

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The Fourth of July in the 98848 is not a quiet holiday. It is flags at the Quincy Valley Cemetery before breakfast, a parade in George by midmorning, runners at Crescent Bar, music along the Columbia, family barbecues in backyards, fireworks after dark and traffic moving between all of it. This year, with America marking its 250th birthday, the celebration feels even bigger.

But today also comes with a hard local truth: it will be hot, dry and windy enough for a Red Flag Warning this afternoon and evening. In our part of Grant County, that matters. A spark here does not fall on green lawn and damp timber. It falls on dry grass, sage, fields, fence lines, boat launches, parking lots and backyards that have been baking in July sun.

That does not mean people should stay home. It means we should celebrate like people who know this place.

Start With the Weather, Because the Weather Is Part of the Story

Around here, heat can sneak up on people because it does not always feel dramatic at first. A sunny morning at the cemetery, a pancake breakfast in George or a color run at Crescent Bar can feel pleasant early. By midafternoon, the same day can turn into a test of water, shade and patience.

Think of today like a long-distance event, not a quick errand. You would not head into Ancient Lakes with one small bottle of water and no plan. A full Fourth of July in the 98848 deserves the same respect.

Practical steps:
• Drink water before you feel thirsty, especially if you are walking, standing in line, dancing, working a booth or helping with events.
• Bring more water than you think you need, especially for children, older adults and anyone spending time on pavement or near the river.
• Use sunscreen early and reapply it. A hat is not old-fashioned; it is smart.
• Build shade into the day. A canopy, umbrella, wide-brim hat or even a planned break inside can change the whole afternoon.
• Watch for dizziness, confusion, headache, nausea, heavy sweating or suddenly not sweating. Those are not “push through it” symptoms.
• On the river, wear life jackets and keep sober adults watching the water. Heat, alcohol and moving water are a bad combination.

Big Events Need Small Plans

This year’s celebration stretches across the valley. Quincy starts early with veterans flags at the cemetery. George has its full day of breakfast, the Cherry Bomb Run, vendors, parade, patriotic program, cherry pie, music and fireworks. Crescent Bar has the 5K Color Run, live music, beer garden and fireworks along the Columbia. Sagecliffe is offering a quieter resort-style celebration, and Quincy Valley Shuttle and Tours is helping people move between Quincy and George without fighting traffic and parking.

That is a lot of people moving through a lot of heat.

The best safety plan is usually the one made before anyone is tired, sunburned or frustrated. Pick meeting spots. Charge phones. Decide where the car is parked. Take a photo of your kids before heading into a crowd so you know exactly what they are wearing if you get separated. That sounds overly cautious until the first time a child turns left when the rest of the family turns right.

Practical steps:
• Choose a family meeting spot at every major event before splitting up.
• Put your phone number in a child’s pocket or write it on a wristband.
• Take cash, water, snacks, sunscreen and a small first-aid kit.
• Use the shuttle if it fits your plans. Avoiding traffic and parking is also a safety choice.
• Be patient with volunteers, vendors, deputies, firefighters, event workers and traffic crews. Many of them are giving up their holiday to help everyone else enjoy theirs.
• Keep an eye on older neighbors and relatives. They may not complain until they are already overheated.

Do Not Forget the Pets

For people, fireworks are tradition. For many pets, they are thunder, lightning and a marching band all at once. Dogs do not understand patriotism. They understand noise, vibration and panic.

Every year, pets slip collars, jump fences and bolt through open doors because someone thought, “He’ll be fine.” The better assumption today is that your pet may not be fine, and plan accordingly.

Practical steps:
• Keep pets indoors before fireworks begin, not after they are already scared.
• Make sure collars, tags and microchip information are current.
• Use a quiet interior room, fan, television or white noise to soften the sound.
• Do not take pets to fireworks shows unless you are absolutely sure they can handle crowds and explosions.
• Walk dogs earlier in the day before the heat and noise build.
• Keep pets away from spent fireworks, food scraps, alcohol and hot grills.

Travel Like Everyone Else Is Tired Too

A three-day Fourth of July weekend brings a particular kind of traffic to the 98848. Some drivers know every curve between Quincy, George, Crescent Bar, Sunland and the Gorge. Others are visitors following GPS, pulling trailers, looking for parking or trying to find a turn in the dark after fireworks.

That mix requires patience.

The most dangerous drive of the day may not be the one heading to the celebration. It may be the late-night drive home, when people are tired, roads are dark, kids are asleep in the back seat and headlights are coming from every direction.

Practical steps:
• Decide on a sober driver before the day begins.
• Leave early enough that you are not rushing between events.
• Watch for pedestrians near George, Crescent Bar, the cemetery, resort areas and fireworks viewing spots.
• Give farm equipment, trailers, buses and shuttles extra room.
• Do not park in dry grass. A hot exhaust system can start a fire.
• Expect delays after fireworks and accept them. Getting home ten minutes later is better than not getting home safely.

Fireworks Require More Than a Lighter

Fireworks are part of the Fourth for many families, but this is where local conditions matter most. In a wet, green place, a mistake may leave a scorch mark. In dry central Washington during a Red Flag Warning, a mistake can become a field fire, a fence-line fire or a call that sends volunteers away from their own families.

If you are using fireworks at home, treat the setup like a small job site. The goal is not to remove the fun. The goal is to make sure the fun does not end with sirens.

Practical steps:
• Review the fireworks rules for your specific area before lighting anything.
• Spray down the yard, landscaping and nearby dry areas before beginning.
• Keep a hose charged and ready, not coiled up somewhere behind the house.
• Use a bucket of water for spent fireworks.
• Use a dirt bucket or stable launch area so fireworks do not tip over.
• Keep children back and assign one sober adult to handle lighting.
• Never relight a dud. Wait, soak it and dispose of it safely.
• Keep fireworks away from fields, dry grass, vehicles, fences, roofs and decorations.
• Stop if the wind picks up or sparks are drifting where they should not go.

Celebrate Like People Who Know This Place

The Fourth of July in the 98848 is one of those days that reminds us why people love living here. We can honor veterans in the morning, wave flags at a parade, eat cherry pie in George, run at Crescent Bar, listen to music under the open sky and watch fireworks over the river or from our own neighborhoods.

But living here also means understanding the land we are celebrating on. It means knowing that July heat is real, wind matters, dry grass catches fast, roads get crowded and pets do not enjoy fireworks the way people do.

A safe Fourth does not happen by accident. It happens because families plan ahead, neighbors look out for each other, drivers slow down, pet owners prepare, and anyone lighting fireworks remembers that one spark can change the whole day.

Celebrate big. Celebrate proudly as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday. But this year, across the 98848, let common sense be part of the tradition too.

For many people around the 98848, the arts are something they notice a few nights a year. They see the marching band leading a parade, attend a school musical, admire student artwork at Arts Night, or hear the choir perform during the holidays. Those moments are easy to appreciate, but they only reveal the finished performance. During the Quincy School Board meeting on June 23, district leaders pulled back the curtain to show what has quietly been built over the past decade: a comprehensive K-12 visual and performing arts program that has become one of the district’s strongest examples of long-term planning, community support and student opportunity.

TL;DR

• Quincy School District now offers visual and performing arts opportunities from transitional kindergarten through high school.

• The district employs 11 arts educators this year and will add a 12th next school year.

• Student participation and achievements continue to grow across music, theater and visual arts.

• New middle school theater programming and expanded high school band offerings are planned for next year.

• District leaders say the success reflects years of intentional collaboration rather than rapid growth.

• Program leaders hope more community members attend performances and experience the programs firsthand.

Building Something Bigger Than Performances

Kylie Youngren, Quincy High School choir director and the district’s K-12 Visual and Performing Arts facilitator, opened the presentation by explaining that the district’s arts program reaches students at every level. Elementary students participate through music, STEAM, adaptive music and Jackrabbit Choir. Middle school students have opportunities in band, choir and multiple visual arts courses, while Quincy High School offers a wide range of classes including concert and honors band, multiple choir ensembles, theater, ceramics, visual arts, guitar and piano. The district currently has 11 certificated arts educators and expects to add a twelfth for the 2026-27 school year.

Youngren emphasized that these programs are not simply extracurricular activities or elective classes. Like math, science and English, they follow national and state learning standards centered on creating, performing or presenting, responding and connecting. Those standards help teachers align instruction across grade levels while allowing each discipline to maintain its own identity.

That work has become increasingly intentional in recent years. When School Board Director Dayana Ruiz commented that the presentation showed a clear progression from elementary school through graduation, Youngren agreed that the district’s arts educators have spent the last several years focusing on better alignment.

“I would say especially within the last three years, there has been intentional work,” Youngren said. “I’m glad it’s recognized.”

That alignment extends beyond the classroom. Elementary music teachers have revised lesson planning so students receive consistent instruction across the district’s schools, while every elementary grade level, including transitional kindergarten and kindergarten, now participates in a concert or performance during the school year.

Success Measured in Students, Not Just Awards

The presentation included plenty of accomplishments that would be easy to celebrate on their own.

The district hosts nearly 20 concerts each year, produces two full-scale theatrical productions, organizes District Arts Night, participates in regional and state competitions, sends students to honor ensembles and festivals, performs in parades across Washington, and has expanded educational travel opportunities, including this year’s San Francisco tour.

Students continue to earn recognition across every discipline. High school art students captured top honors at the Regional High School Art Show. Theater students qualified for national competition and earned multiple Wenatchee Apple Awards. The Quincy High School band won first place at the Grand Apple Blossom Parade and received the Gold Standard Award at Spokane’s Lilac Parade. Both the band and choir reported their largest student participation in program history.

Yet some of the evening’s strongest moments came before any of those accomplishments were discussed.

Four Quincy High School students spoke directly to the board about what the arts have meant in their own lives.

Owen Yeates described participating in band, choir and theater, saying the programs “bring so much light to just everybody.”

Juan Ferreyra explained that music helped him discover his future career, leading him to pursue music education and trumpet performance at Central Washington University.

Belle Rollins said the programs taught her communication, teamwork and lifelong friendships, while Ruby Gonzalez told the board that choir and theater had given her confidence and opportunities she never expected.

“I think it’s so special that we have this in Quincy,” Gonzalez said.

For board members, those comments reinforced that the presentation was about more than trophies or performances. It was about the role the arts play in helping students discover interests, build confidence and prepare for life after graduation.

A Culture That Has Been Years in the Making

Superintendent Dr. Nik Bergman used the presentation to provide some historical perspective.

When Youngren joined Quincy School District in 2017, the secondary music program consisted of a single teacher. Next year, the district will have four secondary music educators, reflecting years of gradual investment rather than rapid expansion.

Bergman credited much of the program’s success to the culture among its educators.

“The vision was a robust, engaging K-12 music program,” he said. “When they’re in the room, there is no ego in the room. They build each other up, and as a result, that’s what you see.”

The district plans to continue building on that foundation next year. A new after-school theater program will launch at Quincy Middle School, creating an earlier pathway for students interested in theater before they reach high school. Expanded band instruction will also allow Quincy High School to offer additional advanced classes as enrollment continues to grow.

For a community the size of the 98848, that breadth of programming is unusual. Students are able to participate in multiple performing arts disciplines simultaneously, something Youngren noted is often more difficult in much larger school districts.

Looking Beyond the Stage

The June 23 presentation was ultimately less about celebrating another successful school year than explaining how that success has been built.

Years of steady investment, collaboration among educators, support from district leadership and involvement from parents and community volunteers have produced a program that now reaches students from their earliest school years through graduation. Awards, performances and packed concert halls may be the public face of that work, but they are only the visible results of a much larger effort.

The next time residents of the 98848 watch the marching band step onto a parade route, attend a theater production at the PAC or walk through the student artwork displayed during Arts Night, they will be seeing more than a performance. They will be seeing the product of years of planning, collaboration and community support that continues to shape the next generation of Quincy students.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Police and Fire Chief Joint Statement on Fireworks Safety

As your Police Chief of the City of Quincy and Fire Chief of Grant County Fire District 3, we would like to emphasize the importance of fireworks safety, especially as we approach the 4th of July Holiday. While fireworks can be a source of joy and entertainment, they also pose significant risks if not handled responsibly.

Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our community members, and we urge everyone to follow these essential guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience:

1. Legal Compliance: Familiarize yourself with the laws and regulations governing the use of fireworks in our jurisdiction. Understand what types of fireworks are legal and where they can be used. Respect these rules to avoid potential legal consequences. Quincy Municipal Code 9.16.100 states that fireworks are only allowed to be discharged in the city between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. on July 3 and from 9 a.m. till midnight on July 4th.

2. Purchase from Reliable Sources: Only purchase fireworks from reputable and licensed vendors. These vendors offer products that meet safety standards and have undergone proper testing. Avoid purchasing fireworks from unregulated sources or those that appear homemade.

3. Adult Supervision: Fireworks should only be handled by responsible adults who are familiar with their safe usage. Always keep fireworks out of the reach of children. Children should never be allowed to handle or ignite fireworks.

4. Designated Igniter: Assign a responsible adult as the designated igniter. This person should be knowledgeable about fireworks safety and should abstain from alcohol or any substances that impair judgment while handling fireworks.

5. Safe Location: Find an open, outdoor area away from buildings, dry vegetation, and other flammable materials. Ensure there are no overhanging trees, power lines, or other obstructions that could pose a risk.

6. Read and Follow Instructions: Carefully read the instructions and warning labels on each firework before use. Understand how to properly ignite them and maintain a safe distance from the point of ignition.

7. Protective Gear: Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from debris and sparks. Consider wearing ear protection to minimize the impact of loud noises.

8. Water and Fire Extinguishers: Have a water source nearby, such as a hose or a bucket of water, to extinguish fireworks that may malfunction or cause unintended fires. Keep a fire extinguisher readily accessible as an additional precaution.

9. Disposal of Used Fireworks: After fireworks have completely burned out, soak them in water before disposing of them in a non-flammable container. Never dispose of fireworks in a regular trash bin.

10. Reporting Emergencies: In the event of a fire, injury, or any other emergency related to fireworks, immediately contact the appropriate authorities by dialing 911.

Remember, fireworks are explosives and should be treated with the utmost respect and caution. By adhering to these safety guidelines, we can ensure a memorable and incident-free celebration for everyone.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our community safe.

Sincerely,

Ryan Green- Police Chief, City of Quincy Police Department

David Durfee- Fire Chief, Grant County Fire District #3

This statement is published as an official press release issued by Grant County Fire Protection District No. 3 Chief David Durfee and the City of Quincy Police Department Chief Ryan Green. The content has not been altered, edited, or modified in any way by the staff, ownership, or affiliates of this publication.

This platform is providing distribution of this material solely as a public information service on behalf of the District’s public information office. Responsibility for the content rests entirely with Grant County Fire Protection District No. 3 and the City of Quincy Police Department

Some families across the 98848, have experienced a new and frustrating change in health care. A loved one goes to Quincy Valley Medical Center, is evaluated in the emergency department and receives treatment, yet instead of being admitted to the hospital they are placed under observation, sent home with follow-up care or transferred to another facility.

Over the past few months, Welcome to Quincy WA News readers have asked variations of the same question: “If the doctor thought they needed hospital care, why couldn’t Quincy just admit them?”

That question was not the focus of Monday night’s Grant County Public Hospital District No. 2 Board of Commissioners meeting. However, during a discussion about hospital operations, administrators and clinical leaders provided one of the clearest public explanations yet of why those situations are becoming more common. Their comments painted a picture of a healthcare system that has changed dramatically over the past decade, where physicians continue making medical decisions but the standards governing inpatient admissions have become increasingly restrictive.

TL;DR

• Hospital leaders say many illnesses that once qualified for inpatient admission no longer meet today’s admission standards.

• Physicians still make medical decisions, but inpatient admissions must also satisfy nationally accepted medical necessity criteria.

• Quincy Valley Medical Center remains committed to providing as much care locally as possible within those requirements.

• Hospital leaders believe expanded swing bed services will help more patients recover closer to home.

The Rules Around Admission Have Changed

Chief Nursing Officer Danielle Hodge told commissioners that one of the most significant changes she has seen is the steady decline in the number of conditions that qualify for inpatient admission. She explained that many diagnoses physicians routinely admitted only a few years ago no longer meet the criteria required for an inpatient stay.

“Inpatient is kind of going by the wayside in general,” Hodge said. “It’s harder and harder to admit people, and all the things we used to admit for, they don’t even allow admissions for anymore.”

Hospital Administrator Glenda Bishop followed with a question that likely reflects what many people wonder when they hear a family member was treated but not admitted. She asked whether those decisions are now being driven more by insurance coverage than physician judgment.

Hodge answered that the better word is “allowability.”

She explained that physicians continue to evaluate patients and determine the care they need, but officially admitting someone to the hospital now requires that the patient’s condition meet nationally recognized clinical criteria used throughout modern healthcare. Those standards help determine whether an inpatient admission is medically appropriate, and hospital staff use clinical decision-support tools to document whether those standards have been met.

The Doctor’s Judgment Still Matters

One point that emerged repeatedly during the discussion was that physicians have not surrendered their medical judgment to a computer or an insurance company. Doctors still examine the patient, review laboratory results, consider the patient’s overall condition and decide what care is medically appropriate. What has changed is that today’s healthcare system also requires an inpatient admission to meet established medical necessity criteria before it qualifies as an inpatient stay.

Bishop illustrated the change with an example familiar to many healthcare providers. Only a few years ago, patients suffering from pancreatitis commonly remained in the hospital for several days while receiving intravenous fluids, pain medication and repeated laboratory testing. According to Bishop, those same patients frequently no longer qualify for inpatient admission under today’s standards even though they may require many of the same treatments. For many families, that means a condition that once almost guaranteed a hospital stay may now be treated very differently, even though the patient’s symptoms may feel just as serious.

Instead, patients may receive care under observation status, continue treatment as outpatients or be transferred if they require services beyond what Quincy Valley Medical Center is equipped to provide. Hospital leaders acknowledged that physicians can still admit patients who fall outside those criteria, but doing so often results in an extensive review of whether the admission met current medical necessity standards.

“We just… they don’t meet criteria to admit,” Bishop said while describing how those decisions have changed over the past several years.

A Different Reality for Rural Hospitals

The discussion also highlighted the challenges facing rural hospitals like Quincy Valley Medical Center. As a Critical Access Hospital, QVMC was established to provide emergency and acute care close to home while operating under federal and state requirements designed specifically for rural communities. Those hospitals play a critical role in stabilizing patients and providing essential care, but they are not designed to offer every specialty service available at larger regional medical centers.

Hospital leaders emphasized that the hospital’s limited specialty services are only one part of the equation. Even when Quincy has the staff, equipment and ability to care for a patient, today’s admission standards may still determine whether that patient qualifies for inpatient status. That distinction can be frustrating for both families and healthcare providers because it often feels different from the way rural hospitals operated in years past.

For many patients and families, those decisions can be difficult to understand. From the outside, it may appear the hospital simply chose not to admit someone who needed to stay. Listening to Monday night’s discussion, however, painted a more complicated picture. Hospital leaders described a healthcare system in which physicians continue making medical decisions, but inpatient admissions must also satisfy increasingly specific clinical standards that did not exist in the same way a decade ago.

Looking Toward the Future

Although administrators acknowledged the challenges surrounding inpatient admissions, they also expressed optimism about another area of care they believe will become increasingly important: swing beds. The hospital is continuing to work toward expanding its swing bed program, which allows patients who no longer need acute hospital care but are not yet ready to return home to recover locally while receiving skilled nursing or rehabilitation services.

Several staff noted that families throughout the Quincy area regularly ask about the program because they have experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to find rehabilitation beds elsewhere. They believe expanding swing bed services will allow more patients to remain close to family while continuing their recovery, even as traditional inpatient admissions become less common.

The conversation reflected a broader reality facing rural healthcare. While the number of patients qualifying for inpatient admission has declined, the community’s need for local healthcare has not. Hospital leaders said their focus remains on adapting to those changes while continuing to provide as much care as possible close to home.

A Commitment That Hasn’t Changed

The regulations governing hospital admissions have changed dramatically over the past several years, but one message came through clearly during Monday night’s discussion. Hospital leaders said Quincy Valley Medical Center’s commitment to caring for the community has not changed, even as the healthcare system around it continues to evolve.

For families across the 98848, understanding those changes may not make an unexpected transfer or outpatient treatment any less disappointing. It does, however, provide a better understanding of why those decisions are made and why today’s hospital experience often looks different than it did just a few years ago. Behind every admission decision are physicians, nurses and healthcare professionals who still want to provide as much care locally as they can while working within a system that has fundamentally redefined what it means to be admitted to a hospital.

The room on the upper floor of Cave B Estate Winery was already filling Tuesday evening before Vince and Carol Bryan stepped to the front of the room. Community leaders, business owners, educators, tourism professionals, and local residents gathered overlooking the Columbia River Gorge to hear what organizers described as the next chapter in a vision that began more than four decades ago on the cliffs above the Columbia.

Most attendees arrived knowing they were about to hear details about a new nonprofit called The Hilltop. Few appeared to know the full scope of what would be presented over the next two hours.

By the end of the evening, after a presentation, questions, and a walking tour of the proposed site, the conversation had expanded far beyond a nonprofit organization or a fundraising event. Instead, it had become a discussion about what the future of the 98848 could look like as it continues to grow and evolve.

The Bryans unveiled The Hilltop, an ambitious long-term vision for a cultural campus overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. The project, which is being established as a nonprofit organization, seeks to create a destination focused on four interconnected pillars: arts, science, environment, and human experience.

Organizers acknowledged that the project remains in its earliest stages. The facilities presented Tuesday night have not yet been built, fundraising efforts are only beginning, and significant planning remains before the vision can move toward construction.

Yet the presentation captured attention because of who was presenting it.

For nearly half a century, Vince and Carol Bryan have been involved in projects that many initially considered unlikely. Their vineyards helped establish part of Washington’s modern wine industry. Their concert venue evolved into what is now known worldwide as the Gorge Amphitheatre. Their hospitality investments helped transform a remote stretch of cliffside property into one of the most recognizable tourism destinations in the Pacific Northwest.

The proposal raises a broader question about the future of the property and the region: can the next chapter of this landscape be built around education, discovery, culture, and community as much as entertainment?

TL;DR

• Vince and Carol Bryan introduced The Hilltop, a nonprofit cultural campus planned on the Cave B property overlooking the Columbia River Gorge.

• The project would include multiple performance and gathering spaces designed around arts, science, environmental education, and cultural experiences.

• The inaugural SOAR Festival on Aug. 22 will serve as both a fundraiser and a public introduction to the concept.

• Organizers believe the project could eventually attract visitors from around the world while creating new educational and cultural opportunities for local residents.

• The proposal raises larger questions about what the 98848 will look like as the region continues to grow over the next 25 years.

A History Written on the Cliffs Above the Columbia

To understand why Tuesday night’s presentation drew so much interest, it helps to understand the history behind it.

Long before the Gorge Amphitheater became a destination known across North America and the world, before Cave B became a recognized winery and resort, and before thousands of concertgoers began arriving each summer, much of the property overlooking the Columbia River was viewed very differently.

When the Bryans purchased the land more than four decades ago, it was not considered particularly valuable. The ancient Missoula Floods had stripped away much of the topsoil, leaving behind exposed basalt, steep cliffs, and rocky terrain that many considered unsuitable for traditional agricultural uses.

During Tuesday’s presentation, Vince Bryan recalled learning that previous owners had viewed portions of the property as little more than a cliff. Parts of it even became a dumping ground for old farm equipment. The landscape’s dramatic beauty had not yet become its economic value.

The Bryans believed the property held opportunities that others had overlooked.

Washington’s wine industry was still in its infancy. Today there are more than 1,600 wineries operating throughout the state. When the Bryans began planting grapes in 1980, Washington’s wine industry was still in its infancy. In 1982, Champs de Brionne Winery (now Cave B) produced its first vintage, becoming part of the early wave of wineries that helped establish Washington as a major wine-producing state.

As the winery attracted more visitors, the Bryans began experimenting with live music events on the property. Those early performances would eventually evolve into what became the Gorge Amphitheatre.

The first concerts were modest by today’s standards. A few thousand people gathered to hear musicians perform in a natural amphitheater formed by the landscape itself. What began as a local experiment eventually attracted the attention of major promoters and evolved into the Gorge Amphitheatre, a venue now regularly listed among the most iconic outdoor concert destinations in the world.

While that history does not guarantee success for future projects, it does provide context. Every new idea must stand on its own merits, but the people presenting The Hilltop have a track record that many attendees considered relevant when evaluating the proposal.

The people presenting The Hilltop are individuals whose previous visions have already helped reshape the regional economy, tourism industry, and identity of this portion of the Columbia Basin.

What Was Actually Announced

At its core, The Hilltop is being organized as a nonprofit cultural institution.

According to organizers, the mission is to create a place where arts, science, environmental education, and human experience intersect in a setting unlike any other in the Pacific Northwest.

The vision includes multiple gathering spaces integrated into the existing landscape.

One proposed venue, known as The Grotto, would transform a naturally occurring rock formation into an intimate indoor theater capable of hosting performances, lectures, educational programs, and other cultural events.

A second venue, known as The Terraces, would create an outdoor performance space using the natural contours of the hillside. Rather than constructing a traditional amphitheater, the design seeks to work with the existing topography of the property.

Additional gathering areas, walking paths, educational spaces, and event venues would connect the various components into a larger campus. Vince and Carol repeatedly emphasized that the project is not intended to become another Gorge Amphitheater.

Instead, they envision something fundamentally different.

The Gorge draws people together through a large music venue. The music may change form concert to concert, but the experience is designed around one concept. People coming together over their love of big outdoor concert venues frequently regardless of who is performing.

The Hilltop would draw people together through multiple forms of learning, creativity, and discovery.

The concept includes symphony performances, theatrical productions, scientific presentations, environmental education programs, speaker series, artist residencies, leadership gatherings, and multidisciplinary festivals designed to expose visitors to ideas and experiences they might not otherwise encounter.

Throughout the evening, Bryan repeatedly returned to the idea that exposure to new experiences can shape individual lives and communities. He argued that people often discover new opportunities when they encounter unfamiliar ideas, disciplines, and perspectives.

The Hilltop, organizers say, is intended to create those opportunities.

Walking the Future Campus

Following the presentation, some attendees took their cars and some attendees boarded a shuttle provided by Quincy Valley Shuttle Tours for a tour of the portion of the property where organizers hope The Hilltop will eventually take shape.

For many Attendees, the tour provided important context for understanding the project. Presentations can help explain a vision, but walking the landscape offered a clearer picture of why the Bryans believe the site is uniquely suited for the concept they are proposing.

The area being considered for development differs significantly from many traditional event venues. Rather than beginning with open ground and designing facilities to fit it, the concept has evolved from natural features already present on the property. Throughout the tour, Vince Bryan repeatedly described the process as one of discovering opportunities within the landscape rather than imposing a design upon it.

Visitors were guided through several locations that organizers believe could become key elements of the future campus. Among the most striking was a naturally formed circular space known as The Grotto. Hidden within the rock formations overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, the area feels secluded and personal. Organizers envision transforming the space into an intimate performance and gathering venue capable of hosting lectures, theatrical productions, musical performances, and educational programming. It is a large enough space for 1000 - 1200 seats if developed in the way Vince described, while still feeling very intimate. A mix of natural rock formations that are acoustically perfect and modern architecture to enclose it one day.

Nearby, attendees visited an area known as The Terraces. The site naturally creates a tiered amphitheater, with sloping elevations that provide clear sightlines toward a natural central performance area. The natural contours of the hillside create sightlines that strongly resemble a purpose-built amphitheater. Organizers noted that many of the seating terraces already exist as natural seams within the landscape, reducing the amount of excavation they believe would be necessary. Organizers noted that many of the terraces already exist as natural seams within the rocky landscape and described the site as an example of allowing the terrain itself to shape the design. Vince said preliminary concepts call for approximately 2,000 seats within the outdoor venue.

Vince and Carol explained that the whole concept of the Hilltop relies heavily on the existing topography rather than extensive earthmoving or large-scale alterations to the landscape.

As attendees between locations, conversations naturally turned toward the possibilities the spaces could create and of course, the views. Some discussed performances and concerts, while others focused on educational opportunities, tourism potential, and the ability to host conferences, symposiums, and community events. Participants commented on the uniqueness of the setting and the opportunities created by combining cultural programming with one of the most recognizable landscapes in Washington State.

The tour reinforced a point that had been emphasized throughout the evening: organizers are not proposing a single venue or event space. Their vision is for a campus that can support multiple activities simultaneously, creating opportunities for visitors to engage with music, education, science, environmental learning, and cultural experiences in one location.

Not Another Gorge

One of the most common assumptions surrounding the project is that it represents an attempt to build another version of the Gorge Amphitheater. Throughout the presentation, Vince and Carol worked to distinguish The Hilltop from that comparison.

The Gorge Amphitheater

was designed around large-scale music performances and has become one of the most successful outdoor concert venues in North America. Its focus remains on bringing thousands of people together to experience major touring artists in a world-class setting.

The Hilltop is being developed around a broader mission.

While music remains an important part of the concept, organizers envision programming that extends well beyond concerts. Discussions Tuesday evening included symphony performances, chamber music, theater, educational programming, scientific presentations, environmental learning opportunities, leadership events, and speaker series. The goal is to create a destination where multiple forms of learning, creativity, and discovery can coexist.

Vince Bryan spoke at length about experiences throughout his career that shaped this philosophy. Drawing from his years in medicine, he described the influence that exposure to accomplished individuals, new ideas, and unfamiliar disciplines had on his own professional development. He argued that many of life’s most important opportunities emerge when people encounter experiences they would not normally seek out on their own.

That belief appears central to the vision behind The Hilltop. Organizers hope the project will create opportunities for students, educators, professionals, artists, and visitors to interact with ideas and experiences that broaden perspectives and inspire future pursuits.

While the Gorge focuses on entertainment, The Hilltop is being positioned as a place where entertainment, education, culture, and community engagement intersect. Understanding that distinction is important to understanding the project itself.

Why Stakeholders and Investors Are Paying Attention

Although much of Tuesday night’s discussion focused on arts, education, and community experiences, the potential economic implications were also evident throughout the presentation.

The Columbia Basin has experienced several major periods of economic transformation over the past century. Agriculture established the region’s foundation. Hydropower expanded opportunities for industry and growth. More recently, data centers and technology investments have brought national and international attention to the area.

Rather than focusing on industrial development, the proposal centers on destination development and experience-based tourism. Organizers believe the project could build upon existing tourism infrastructure while attracting new audiences to the region.

The Gorge Amphitheatre provides a useful example of what that impact can look like. Each year, visitors travel from throughout Washington, across the United States, and from other countries to attend events at the venue. Vince shared that an average of 60% of concert attendees are actually international visitors. Those visitors support hotels, campgrounds, wineries, restaurants, retailers, and numerous other local businesses.

The Hilltop seeks to expand upon that foundation by creating reasons for visitors to come to the region outside traditional concert weekends.

Educational conferences, scientific symposiums, cultural festivals, leadership gatherings, theater productions, and environmental programs all attract different audiences. Unlike a single concert event, those activities could occur throughout the year and appeal to a broader range of visitors.

For local businesses, that possibility carries obvious implications. Additional visitors create demand for lodging, dining, transportation, retail services, and recreational opportunities. They also create opportunities for partnerships with educational institutions, cultural organizations, tourism operators, and community groups.

Supporters believe visitors would be drawn by a variety of experiences rather than a single attraction. Successful destination regions often develop ecosystems of complementary attractions that encourage visitors to stay longer, return more often, and explore multiple aspects of a community.

The Hilltop is being presented as one potential addition to that broader ecosystem.

The Cultural Question

Beyond economics, The Hilltop raises questions about the role culture plays in the long-term development of a community.

For many people, the word culture is associated primarily with entertainment. During Tuesday night’s presentation, however, organizers described a broader understanding of the term. Their vision includes arts, education, science, environmental awareness, history, and opportunities for shared experiences.

As the 98848 continues to grow, conversations about quality of life are becoming increasingly common. Economic development remains important, but many communities eventually reach a point where residents begin asking additional questions. What opportunities exist for lifelong learning? What experiences are available to local families? How can a community attract and retain talented people? What resources are available to young people growing up there?

Many of the themes discussed Tuesday night echo conversations that emerged during the recent 98848 Vision initiative, where residents identified quality of life, educational opportunities, recreation, cultural amenities, and long-term community identity as important topics for the area’s future. Communities throughout the country regularly invest in museums, performing arts centers, libraries, educational institutions, and cultural facilities because they view those investments as contributing to the overall strength of a community.

Supporters of The Hilltop see the project through a similar lens. They believe exposure to the arts, science, education, and new ideas creates opportunities that can influence lives in ways that are not always immediately measurable. A student may discover a career path through a lecture or workshop. A young musician may find inspiration through a performance. A family may gain access to experiences that would otherwise require travel to larger metropolitan areas.

Whether The Hilltop ultimately achieves those goals remains to be seen. However, the discussion itself reflects broader questions about what types of opportunities residents want available within the 98848 as the region continues to evolve.

Looking Toward the Next 25 Years

By the time the tour concluded, the sun was beginning to disappear behind the Cascades. Golden light stretched across the cliffs and coulees surrounding the property as small groups lingered, continuing conversations about what they had just seen.

Standing near the edge of the Columbia River Gorge after walking much of the proposed campus, it became easier to understand why Vince and Carol spent so much time talking about place. Vince explained the geology, history, and natural formation of the area. The venues being discussed were not designed first and then assigned to the landscape. The landscape itself appeared to be the starting point.

As attendees returned from the tour as the final light of day was fading across the cliffs overlooking the Columbia River, it was difficult not to reflect on how dramatically this landscape has changed during the past half-century.

The vineyards that helped establish the region’s wine industry once existed only as an idea. The Gorge Amphitheater began as a small concert series before growing into an internationally recognized destination. Hospitality businesses, wineries, restaurants, and tourism followed.

Today, those developments are woven into the identity of the 98848.

Whether The Hilltop eventually joins that list remains uncertain. The project is still in its earliest stages, and significant work lies ahead before its success can be measured.

What Tuesday night’s presentation demonstrated, however, is that organizers are thinking beyond the next event, the next season, or even the next decade. Their proposal is rooted in a longer view of what the Columbia Basin could become and how arts, education, science, and culture might contribute to that future.

Twenty-five years from now, the community will almost certainly look different than it does today. New businesses will have arrived. New families will have settled here. New opportunities will have emerged.

The question raised Tuesday night was not simply whether The Hilltop should be built. It was what role projects like it might play in shaping the future of the 98848 and the experiences available to the generations that will call it home.

For More information on The Hilltop go here

The SOAR Festival Offers First Glimpse

The first public demonstration of their vision will arrive Aug. 22 with the inaugural SOAR Festival.

Vince and Carol describe the event as both a fundraiser and a proof of concept for what The Hilltop could eventually become. While the permanent venues have not yet been constructed, attendees will have an opportunity to experience the property, view architectural renderings and participate in programming designed to showcase the broader vision. The majority of the event will happen on the Cave B Stage

The evening’s entertainment lineup reflects the project’s multidisciplinary approach.

Scheduling include world-class performances by acclaimed producer, composer, and songwriter David Foster and Friends, including acclaimed vocalist, actress and Broadway performer Katharine McPhee, along with the Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra. Organizers also announced with special appearances by Broadway veteran and celebrated Northwest stage actress Mari Nelson, and Alexander Kilian of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Ticket levels range from community-access pricing to premium philanthropic packages intended founding supporters and major donors. Organizers acknowledged that the initial event is structured as a fundraiser, it is priced higher than future events for that reason with proceeds supporting development of the nonprofit organization and future campus.

Tickets Available Here

For anyone raising children in the 98848, one question sits beneath every report card, test score, and school improvement plan: Are our kids actually learning and growing?

That question was at the heart of Ancient Lakes Elementary Principal Whitney Gregg’s presentation to the Quincy School Board on June 9. The report included encouraging signs—kindergarten students showing exceptional literacy growth, fifth graders posting some of the strongest academic gains in the school, and dozens of struggling readers reaching grade-level decoding proficiency. Yet Gregg also shared a challenge that many educators recognize: students made significant gains during the year, only to see some of that momentum level off by spring. The result was a candid look at both the successes and the ongoing work happening inside one of the district’s largest elementary schools serving families across the 98848.

TL;DR

• Ancient Lakes Elementary serves 368 students with 28 certificated staff members.

• Fifth-grade students posted some of the strongest academic growth in the school, with 83% meeting expected growth in math and 62% meeting expected growth in reading.

• Kindergarten students showed exceptional early literacy growth, with 90% meeting expected growth targets.

• Thirty-four students exited intensive reading intervention after demonstrating grade-level decoding proficiency.

• Ancient Lakes’ Math Is Cool team placed fifth at the Masters Tournament, with three students finishing in the top 15 individually.

• More than half of school families completed the annual family perception survey, providing feedback for future improvement efforts.

• School leaders are continuing to focus on helping students sustain academic growth throughout the entire school year.

Celebrating Growth at Both Ends of Elementary School

One of the clearest themes in Gregg’s presentation was that Ancient Lakes is seeing some of its strongest results at the beginning and end of a student’s elementary experience.

According to STAR assessment data presented to the board, 90 percent of kindergarten students met expected growth targets in early literacy during the 2025-26 school year. Across kindergarten and first grade combined, 66 percent of students met expected growth expectations. Those results suggest students are building strong foundational reading skills during their earliest years in school.

At the other end of the building, fifth-grade students delivered some of the school’s strongest academic results. Sixty-two percent met expected growth targets in reading, while an impressive 83 percent met expected growth targets in mathematics. Schoolwide, 53 percent of students met expected reading growth and 55 percent met expected math growth, making the fifth-grade results stand out even more.

Gregg told board members that seeing such strong results in kindergarten and fifth grade gives staff confidence that many of their instructional strategies are working. The challenge now is ensuring that students continue making those gains consistently throughout the elementary years.

The success of the school’s fifth graders extended beyond classroom assessments. Earlier in the meeting, Gregg recognized four members of Ancient Lakes’ Math Is Cool team, which placed fifth at both the regional competition and the Masters Tournament. Three of the four team members also finished among the top 15 individual competitors at the state-level event. The accomplishment highlighted a theme that surfaced repeatedly throughout the report: when students are given opportunities to develop their skills, they are capable of achieving at a high level.

Reading Intervention Program Produces Results

One of the most significant pieces of data in the report involved students receiving reading intervention support.

Ancient Lakes uses the Really Great Reading program to provide targeted instruction for students struggling with decoding and phonics skills. During the 2025-26 school year, 105 students received intervention services. By the end of the year, 34 of those students had demonstrated grade-level decoding proficiency and no longer required intensive decoding support. That represents approximately 32 percent of intervention students successfully exiting the program.

Gregg spent time during the board meeting explaining what that data actually means. Decoding refers to a student’s ability to connect letters and letter patterns to sounds and use those skills to read words. For younger students, that may mean mastering letter sounds. For older students, it may involve more complex skills such as decoding multisyllabic words, vowel teams, and advanced word patterns.

The strongest intervention results appeared in fifth grade, where 16 of 17 students receiving support reached grade-level decoding proficiency and exited intervention services. Fourth grade also saw notable success, with 11 students exiting intervention.

At the same time, Gregg noted that reading proficiency involves more than decoding alone. Some students who master decoding still need support in vocabulary, language comprehension, reading fluency, and overall comprehension before reaching full reading proficiency. That distinction helps explain why schools often celebrate intervention success while continuing to focus on broader literacy development.

Family Partnerships Continue to Drive School Culture

While much of the presentation focused on academic data, Gregg also highlighted the role families play in the success of Ancient Lakes Elementary.

The school’s Parent Volunteer Committee remained highly active throughout the year, supporting field trips, assemblies, enrichment opportunities, classroom incentives, and teacher wish-list purchases through fundraising efforts. Activities included the Super Silly Fun Run, Butter Braid sales, Jackrabbit spirit gear sales, Popcorn Fridays, Candy Grams, Scholastic Book Fairs, the Christmas Store, and Noche de Lotería.

More importantly, families continued participating in school improvement conversations. Parents attended committee meetings focused on school improvement efforts, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and survey data. More than half of school families completed the Panorama Family Perception Survey, giving school leaders valuable feedback about school climate, safety, communication, and overall effectiveness.

For a school where nearly 42 percent of students are multilingual learners and nearly 73 percent qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, maintaining strong family engagement is particularly important. The data suggests Ancient Lakes continues to build those relationships and create opportunities for families to remain connected to their children’s education.

Looking Beyond the Numbers

One of the most revealing moments of the presentation came when Gregg described what she saw in the data. The school appeared to be “starting really strong and ending really strong,” she told board members, while staff continue working to understand what happens in the middle of the journey.

That observation may ultimately be the most important takeaway from the evening.

The story of Ancient Lakes Elementary is not simply about percentages on a chart. It is about hundreds of students learning to read, solve problems, build confidence, and prepare for the next stage of their education. The data presented to the board shows meaningful progress, but it also reflects a school committed to continuous improvement rather than celebrating numbers alone.

For families across the 98848, that may be the most encouraging result of all: a school willing to celebrate its successes, acknowledge its challenges, and keep searching for ways to help every student reach their potential.

This past week felt less like a week of big headlines and more like a week of reminders.

Reminders of what actually makes a community work. Reminders that growth is about more than buildings and businesses. Reminders that some of the most important things happening around us are not the loudest things. They are often the quieter investments in people, pl…

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Friday afternoon I sat down in the Quincy Middle School PAC with low expectations. I have worked with young kids in a variety of ways throughout the years and so I had some idea of what was ahead. They only had one week with a bunch of first through fifth graders, which is a lot to take on in any scenario. They had to cast it, learn lines, learn songs, learn choreography, cues and so much more. It was a momentous undertaking by Stage Kids of Washington and a handful of local volunteers.

If you have ever attended a kids program like micro soccer or kids choir, you know it is not about it being good; no one expects it to be Broadway. That is why only friends and family members usually turn out for these events. That is why we were there, our friends’ kids and my daughter being a volunteer. So we settled in for what was about to happen as the director took the mic.

What happened in the next 40-some-odd minutes was what I will call chaos of the most beautiful kind!

I am a fan.

Quite honestly, I would gladly watch their performance again over a Broadway production of Cats even though I am an Andrew Loyd Webber fan, the blend of Rainbow Fish and Once Upon a Tide was a lot more fun than Cats will ever be.

I am sure some uptight theater critic probably retched a little when they read that last statement and thinks I am a theatrical Philistine, but critics are about as useful as….

I come back to that thought when I figure out what they are useful for.

I have seen some of the very best performances over the years. I have seen the Broadway productions of Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King and a few others. I have seen college, high school and community theater. I have even seen some spectacular Shakespearian adaptations made into movies. I am one of the only people I know that truly love to watch Kenneth Branagh’s 4 hour production of Hamlet.

As a theater kid myself, while I don’t want to participate in them, I have a deep love of children’s theater and while I enjoy the other, seeing kids light up the stage is truly a magical experience.

Let’s Be Honest

No one goes to a micro soccer game, a recital of any kind, a Jr sports anything or any other kids program expecting much. We do it because we know the kids, have a kid in it ourselves, know their parents or are tied to it in some other way. I have exchanged knowing glances with other parents at basketball games, soccer games, football, drama and other things. We do it because we love someone.

That, however, is where the magic starts.

Programs like Stage Kids, start with love, imagination and joy.

About Stage Kids

Stage Kids is an educational theater program that focuses on developing character based out of Wenatchee. Confidence. Humility. Teamwork. Responsibility. Creativity!

Theater skills are life skills delivered in an incredibly fun, engaging, age-appropriate way. Whether your child already loves singing, dancing, and acting, or could just use an opportunity to explore who they are and make new friends in a positive environment.

Stage Kids summer Camp Came to Quincy June 15^th-19^th to work with kids in our area for Grades 1 through 5.

Stage Kids’ summer camps are a great way to create more empathetic, creative, and outgoing children. It’s great for new children to give Stage Kids a try, as kids have a chance to build friendships and have fun over a short period of time. (taken directly from their website)

You can’t run a successful children’s program without loving kids and really seeing them. The Stage Kids team and their local volunteers clearly do

Willy Wonka Would be Proud

The magic of a children’s production is that it truly is what childhood is supposed to be. Children should sing, dance, play and laugh out loud for no reason at all other than the joy that resides in their hearts naturally. Childhood is a magical time in life that they will never have again; it is a time to explore, create and try. Childhood is a special time; a Journey of Pure Imagination and children’s theater allows them to embrace that.

There is also something deeper happening when children play, imagine and express joy. Child development experts have long recognized that imaginative play helps children develop language, emotional regulation, problem-solving abilities and social skills. Pretending to be someone else, singing loudly, acting out stories and creating imaginary worlds allows children to practice empathy, build confidence and learn how to navigate emotions in a safe environment.

Joy itself is not a frivolous thing for children. Laughter, play and creative expression are essential parts of healthy development. They help reduce stress, strengthen social connections and foster resilience. Children who have opportunities to create, explore and express themselves often develop a stronger sense of identity and a greater willingness to take healthy risks and try new experiences.

In many ways, play is the work of childhood, and imagination is one of the tools children use to discover who they are and who they may become.

So many kids were singing, dancing, cheering, acting and trying their very best on stage for the very first time. They laughed and were silly. Some spoke their first lines into a microphone, and for some of them, that moment may change their lives forever.

Some of them just got to shine brightly as children should every day.

All of them got a chance to try new things; to learn new skills, to experience something fun and extraordinary. They all stood proudly as people cheered for them, some maybe for the first time. They all got to be what children are meant to be, bright lights full of life, hope and love.

Some of the older kids involved got to be mentors for the first time. To help shape young children, to help them experience something new. They learned responsibility and leadership, to help children pursue new adventures and dreams.

There’s Magic in the Arts

I love the fact that there are a lot of options for kids these days. Sports, scouting, church programs, community programs and arts programs.

As a former 5^th and 6^th grade boys’ basketball coach and little league umpire, the thing that gets me about kids and sports is the parents. Maybe it is the competitive nature of sports, but once you get past “micro” level sports then parents start to develop expectations. We want our kids to get better, improve their skills and become better at the game. Then we want them to win, we want them on better teams, we want them to be champions, win titles, trophies and scholarships.

It’s no longer about being a kid.

In the arts young people separate themselves based on their own passion over time. They find what they love and work on that. Very few ever pursue it as far as college. So when I say there is magic in the arts it is this. Last week, not one parent sent their kid to Stage Kids thinking their child would be the next Sir Ian McKellen, Kenneth Branagh, Julie Andrews or Idina Menzel.

Not one parent was angry because their child didn’t perform up to expectations. Instead, a room full of parents and friends; laughed, smiled and even sang along with some great old favorite songs. They cheered as kids stumbled through their lines and at times looked a little lost. There were warm smiles for kids who looked a little intimidated and overall there was joy.

In the end there were some really tired volunteers as things got packed up and a lot of happy kids who had a great moment in the sun just being themselves.

Some Final Thoughts

Friday afternoon, I walked into the Quincy Middle School PAC expecting exactly what most people expect from a children’s production. A few cute moments, some forgotten lines and forty minutes of organized chaos.

I got all of those things.

I also got something more.

I watched children sing loudly, dance fearlessly and laugh with complete abandon. I watched volunteers pour themselves into young people. I watched parents smile at nervous kids and cheer for every little success. For forty-some-odd minutes, I watched childhood happen exactly the way it should.

And that is why I would gladly watch this production again.

Because the best performances are not always the polished ones. Sometimes the most memorable productions are the messy, joyful, imperfect ones where children discover they can do something they never thought possible and a community gathers simply to celebrate them for trying.

It was chaos.

The most beautiful kind.

I interviewed 2 candidates (all were invited for an interview) for the Grant County  Auditor’s race for 2026.

• All 3 Candidates were invited to be interviewed

• 2 Candidates that responded were asked the exact same 20 questions in the exact same order

• They never saw each others answers

• The answers have not been altered, edited, modified, editorialized, changed, or edited in any way by the staff, ownership, or affiliates of this publication.

• For each I have posted the transcript, not a story, their words. (transcripts by AI)

• For each I have posted the audio from the interview.

• A full list of the questions

• Below the interviews I will post their posted bio from their candidate website, their sign and a link to their website and or FaceBook

The Interviews

I reached out to candidate Darci Homesley but never received a response.

Disclaimer:
These interviews are presented as part of our commitment to providing accessible, local information to the community. All candidates in the 2026 Grant County Auditor’s race were given the same questions, in the same format, and the opportunity to share their perspectives directly.

The responses published here are the candidate’s own words, presented without editing, interpretation, or commentary beyond basic transcription. Audio recordings are provided alongside transcripts to ensure full transparency.

Welcome to Quincy WA News does not endorse, support, or oppose any candidate. Our role is to provide information so residents of Grant County—including the 98848 communities—can make informed decisions based on their own judgment.

I interviewed 2 candidates for the Grant County  Commissioner Auditor’s race for 2026.

• All 3 Candidates were invited to be interviewed

• 2 Candidates that responded were asked the exact same 20 questions in the exact same order

• They never saw each others answers

• The answers have not been altered, edited, modified, editorialized, changed, or edited in any way by the staff, ownership, or affiliates of this publication.

• For each I have posted the transcript, not a story, their words. (transcripts by AI)

• For each I have posted the audio from the interview.

• A full list of the questions

• Below the interviews I will post their posted bio from their candidate website, their sign and a link to their website and or FaceBook

The Interview Begins Here

Andrew Koeppen Interview Audio File

Andrew Koeppen Interview Grant County  Auditor

Race for 2026

Brent Dowlen: [00:00:00] All right. Andrew, for people who may not know you yet, tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and your connection to Grant County.

Andrew Koeppen: Okay. My name is Andrew Koeppen, and I moved to Grant County about five years ago. Previous to that, I was on the, uh, west side in Redmond, and I am an immigrant to the United States, and I gained my citizenship after 18 years of blood, sweat, and tears.

And I-

Keep going. Yeah, keep going. And, uh, I-

Brent Dowlen: Why, why are you in Grand County? Why did you move to Grand County?

Andrew Koeppen: I moved to Grand County because I really appreciated the community and, uh, the culture here, and I wanted to continue my business here and to come and work, uh, and build Grand County.

Brent Dowlen: Okay. What experiences in your professional or personal life do you believe has best prepared you for public service?

Andrew Koeppen: I think it’s the broad [00:01:00] background that I have. Um, I have experience with high-tech companies. I’ve worked for companies like AT&T, for Harris Corporation, for, uh, multiple, uh, international companies. I’ve also owned my own business for 20 years. I’m also a real estate agent, so I understand various documents, and I’m also a notary.

And I’ve also been working in the community doing public service, uh, probably my whole life.

Brent Dowlen: Tell us about your career path and the experiences that led you to this point in your life and a public service journey.

Andrew Koeppen: Uh, my career path started, uh, when I finished schooling in Edmonton, Alberta. I moved to Northwest Territories, where I spent two years working for a telecommunication company.

After that, I moved to, uh, Calgary, Alberta, uh, for [00:02:00] Novatel, where we were developing, uh, cellular systems. After Novatel, I moved to Alcatel Engineering in Germany, and from Germany, I, uh, moved to Bethesda, Maryland, working to develop a system for BellSouth with Alcatel Engineering. Then I moved back to Calgary, Alberta, uh, for Novatel, which then became Harris Corporation.

After that, I moved to Redmond, working for AT&T Fixed Wireless, which moved to AT&T Wireless, and then I worked for a company, uh, uh, doing nine one one systems, and I was helping integrate nine one one with the VoIP systems. Uh, because I didn’t wanna continue moving all over the country, I decided to buy a business, which was a printing and marketing business, and that [00:03:00] was, uh, where I continued.

Uh, during that time, I also became a real estate agent, and then we moved over here about five years ago, continued with the business, and, uh, worked with the various communities here.

Brent Dowlen: Outside of politics and government, what values or life experiences have shaped you, the way you approach your leadership and decision-making?

Andrew Koeppen: I really do believe in the, uh, servant leadership model, and I’ve, uh, seen it exemplified by many people throughout my life. There was a police chief that I saw, uh, setting up tables and chairs and working with the community. People like that really inspire me, and that is the type of servant leadership that I want to emulate.

Brent Dowlen: What motivated you to run for Grant [00:04:00] County Auditor specifically, and why now?

Andrew Koeppen: The Grand County Auditor position is a very unique position and a very important position that people really do not understand fully, for most people do not understand fully the whole responsibility. It does the day-to-day operations of financial operations of Grand County. It also does, uh, the licensing and such of vehicles.

It also does, uh, titles and deeds for homes, and it also does the election, uh, division. And because it’s those four broad positions, my broad background in, uh, systems engineering, product, uh, maintenance systems and various process improvements, I believe that that’s where my experience can come in and [00:05:00] be used for it.

As somebody who had to earn my right to vote, uh, voting is very passionate for me, and I wanna make sure that that is done right and that every vote is counted, and that, uh, it is done efficiently and practically as possible. And if anybody has taken a look at the Grand County budget, it has gone from approximately a hundred and fifty million dollars to well over three hundred million.

And when any organization over just a few years expands that much, they need to have professional leadership, leadership which I think I can provide.

Brent Dowlen: Okay. Was there a particular issue, experience, or moment that made you decide that this was the right time to step forward and run?

Andrew Koeppen: I think it’s just that we’re seeing that the budget has expanded from 150 to well over 300 million.

And in my own past, I have seen the issues that come [00:06:00] when budgets increase so phenomenally, and that if it’s not managed carefully and properly, there’s just gonna have a lot of downstream effects that aren’t positive. Mm-hmm. And I wanna make sure that as Grand County grows and as the budget grows, that it is, uh, watched over carefully because I really do believe, uh, every penny counts and every vote counts, and that’s something that I really think right now is a time somebody with my experience can really step in and do the job well.

Brent Dowlen: For people who may not fully understand the role, how would you actually explain what the Grant County Auditor actually does and why the office matters to everyday residents?

Andrew Koeppen: The office matters to everyday residents because it impacts them daily. Uh, every time you sign a, uh... Every time you do a transaction for a vehicle, every [00:07:00] time you sell or buy a house, every time you vote, every time you pay your taxes to Grand County- Mm-hmm

you’re involved in what’s going on with the Grand County Auditor’s office. And I think everything needs to be working well so that it functions in a proper manner so that people can get their houses sold, that they can get their titles for their vehicles, and that the taxes are spent the way that the commissioners, the way the people have wanted the taxes to be spent.

Brent Dowlen: Why are you the best person for this job compared to the other candidates in the race?

Andrew Koeppen: I think it’s the broad experience that I have, uh, and also the independence that I have. Uh, the auditor needs to understand finance, and I have worked for large, uh, companies. I did, uh, verification of AT&T’s [00:08:00] billing systems.

I’ve owned my own business for twenty years, and because of that, I do know that if you don’t watch the pennies, the dollars will be lost. So for the financial parts, I think that’s where I have a lot of skill and experience. Also, with the, uh, property, with the public records for properties, for the titles and the deeds, as a real estate agent, I really understand that those need to be done correctly and that you can’t be, uh...

You, you really need to make sure that that is done right, because if it’s not done right, it can impact a person’s life because they can’t sell their house or can’t buy a house. And for the vote, voting, right now there’s a lot of people questioning the votes, and I think we need to make sure that everybody has [00:09:00] one hundred percent confidence that the votes are done correctly, that they are done in a nonpartisan way, and that people can trust the vote count, and that’s something that my experience, my independence really leads up to.

Brent Dowlen: Election integrity has become one of the most discussed issues in, in the country. How would you help maintain public trust and confidence in the Grant County elections regardless of political affiliation?

Andrew Koeppen: As a conservative, I believe that you need to be independent and you need to have ethics. And for me, what I would really do is make sure that everything is transparent.

Uh, several of the ways you can do it is to make sure that the observers are treated with respect when they are observing, uh, the vote counts. There’s, uh-- We need to make sure that there is [00:10:00] proper policies and procedures for a ballot, uh, when they’re, from when they’re cast to when they’re counted, so people can observe the chain of custody and that that is done right.

And the ways that can be done, we can have more cameras, that they are live-streamed twenty-four/seven, and they are live-streamed so that the ballots are never out of sight. Okay.

Brent Dowlen: What steps would you take to improve transparency and communication between the auditor’s office and the public?

Andrew Koeppen: One of the ways to do that is to make sure that our website is up-to-date and current.

Right now, there’s-- the website has a lot of old information in there, and that doesn’t really give confidence that everything is done correctly on the website. So what I would do is make sure, uh, [00:11:00] we would review the website, make sure that the current information is there, and whatever, whatever possible is to push it onto the website to make sure that the information is correct and current on there.

Brent Dowlen: Many residents in rural communities across Grant County feel disconnected from county government’s best. How can the auditor’s office better serve communities outside of Ephrata and Moses Lake, including, including places like Quincy, George, Mattawa, Royal City, and the smaller surrounding areas?

Andrew Koeppen: I have been to those communities, and I have heard that same comment that you have said that they feel disconnected from what’s going on in Grant County.

And that’s a shame because I do believe that every voice and every community matters. And I think, uh, the best way to do it is to actually physically be present in those communities, go [00:12:00] show up, go have discussions, go have community forums in there, and that’s something that the auditor can do. The other way of doing that is being fully transparent on our website by, by pushing information out there, what is happening in Grant County, what’s happening in the courthouse.

Because I’ve heard from many people they don’t know what’s going on in the courthouse. And for me, I think that’s something that should be very obvious. Uh, if somebody doesn’t know what’s going on, you say, “Have you looked at the website?” “No.” “Well, here’s the website. Here’s the thing, uh, where you can get this information.

If you don’t do website, let me give you some information manually. Is there something where we can send it to you?” But just be very communicative and understand that different people get information in different ways, and try to accommodate the people.

Brent Dowlen: The auditor’s [00:13:00] office oversees elections, licensing, recording services, and financial operations.

Which area do you believe needs the most improvement or modernization right now?

Andrew Koeppen: I think all four really need the modernization right now. Uh, as I said earlier, the budget has increased from a hundred and fifty or approximately a hundred and fifty million dollars about five years ago to well over three hundred million right now. Processes and procedures that were good for a hundred and fifty million oftentimes are not good when, uh, uh, when budgets have increased by double.

I’ve seen that in the high tech industry. I’ve seen that in my own personal business. You have to be flexible, and you have to change. The licensing and the public records aspect, uh, there’s so much [00:14:00] that’s going on right now with technology. We have AI that is going to influence, uh, records and will in some ways, um, uh, increase the likelihood of fraud.

So you have to be ready to deal with those systems. So that needs to be updated. And the election integrity part of it, we’re seeing all the time, uh, different threats that are coming onto the election integrity. Uh, again, uh, AI is going to make election integrity more difficult in one way, but on the other hand, it can also solve some of the problems.

And I’m hearing from residents they want more ballot boxes. They want more security on their ballots. So I really think it’s, uh-- all four need to be looked at, looked at closely, and [00:15:00] evaluated and improved.

Brent Dowlen: Technology continues to change rapidly. How should the county balance modernization and online accessibility while also protecting cybersecurity and sensitive public records?

Andrew Koeppen: On the public records side of it and to protect public records, oftentimes the lowest tech solution works the best. Uh, for me, I have seen it in practical cases where checklists, before documents are released, that a checklist is followed saying, “Did you check this? Did you check this? Did you check this?”

Yes, sign it. Then you release the documents. Uh, with the rest of the modernization, you have to have a broad experience with technology because you have people that are salespeople that are gonna come and try to sell you solutions to problems that really don’t [00:16:00] exist. And I’ve seen it over and over again as a small businessman.

People want to sell me something over and over again, and I’m going, “What does it s- what problems does it solve?” Well, not really, and it’s gonna cost me four times more than the solution that I have right now. I think this is where the experience with technology, uh, what it can and can’t do, is so very important.

If you just are looking at numbers, it might make sense technically, but practically, it’s gonna cause all sorts of problems and cost more money than what it’s gonna save.

Brent Dowlen: Residents often become frustrated with long wait times, confusing processes, or difficulty navigating government services. What would you do to improve customer service and efficiency within the auditor’s office?

Andrew Koeppen: I think the best way to do it is to [00:17:00] learn the best practices. Uh, the license and licensing, uh, the vehicle licensing branch in Moses Lake, I have to give them real kudos. They know what they’re doing. Usually, when I had to go and get a license plate or get tabs or whatnot in any other location worldwide, it was usually, uh, something that caused me terror, if we wanna go that way.

But going into Moses Lake, they’re fast, they’re efficient, they’re friendly, and I really wanna say they do a really good job. And I think coming from somebody that works with customers every day, I understand that we need to make sure that things are done fast, efficiently, accurately, and I think that comes from the top down.

When, when you’re trying to make a good, positive impression [00:18:00] on any taxpayer, any resident of Grant County I think that can be done and it needs to be done because as servants of the people, we need to act that way and work for the best interest of the people, not the system

Brent Dowlen: Public trust in institutions has declined in recent years.

How do you ensure the Auditor’s Office remains nonpartisan, professional, and focused on serving everybody fairly?

Andrew Koeppen: I do believe that the Auditor’s Office should be a nonpartisan position. Uh, I’ve made the example like it’s a dog catcher. We shouldn’t care if the dog catcher is a Republican or a Democrat.

They just have a job to do. One of the things that I like about the Auditor’s Office is there is really, uh-- or let’s go backwards. The Auditor’s Office is in a box. It is to do certain things, and it’s [00:19:00] supposed to do them well, and I think the way to do the-- build the trust in it is to do that, uh, do the job well, do it transparently, and work with the people, uh, whether, uh, they are Democrats, Republicans, Independents, because really the Auditor’s Office is sup- is to be the protection of the citizens of Grant County, the taxpayers, and it’s not meant to be a partisan position, in my opinion.

Brent Dowlen: Washington State conducts elections almost entirely by mail. What safeguards do you believe are the most important to protect election accuracy and voter confidence?

Andrew Koeppen: Uh, as somebody who’s watched the process, I do believe the best way to do it, and I’m encouraging people to do this, is when you do a ballot, go to the elections office and give your ballot to the elections office, number one.

Number two is if you can’t go to the elections office, [00:20:00] go do-- go give your ballot, uh, drop it off at the ballot box. And only if, uh, if you have to, go do it by mail. And if you do it by mail, go into the mail, um, mail office and have them, uh, stamp it, date stamp it, so that way you’re sure that it’s, uh, received properly Uh, I think that’s the process and making sure that the system is functioning well.

Brent Dowlen: How would you approach concerns from residents who question election pro- procedures and feel uncertain about how ballots are handled?

Andrew Koeppen: Can you say that one more time?

Brent Dowlen: How would you approach concerns from residents that question election procedures and feel uncertain about how ballots are handled?

Andrew Koeppen: One, I would encourage them to come down and watch how the procedure is done, and it-- that’s the full [00:21:00] transparency.

Encourage them to monitor how the ballots are being counted, again, by putting it online so that the cameras are, are watching the ballots so that they can observe the procedure, and just doing things as transparently as possible.

Brent Dowlen: Grant County continues to grow and change. What challenges do you believe the auditor’s office will face in the next five to 10 years?

Andrew Koeppen: One is the budget increase from a hundred and fifty to three hundred million. That’s going to be a big issue in Grant County. The other one is the, uh, development of AI. Again, that’s going to impact Grant County and the elections office and the auditor’s office in many ways. I think those are the two big challenges, plus the changing in the demographics in Grant County.

Brent Dowlen: If elected, what would be your top [00:22:00] priorities during your first year in office?

Andrew Koeppen: My top priorities would be to really go through the contracts that have been signed in the auditor’s office, in the, the contracts with the budget. I think, uh, because the budget has increased so much, I think it’s a good time to review all the contracts that have been signed, especially the service contracts that come with the various lease purchases.

I would also like to go through and improve the transparency in the elections department. I would like to get more, uh, online cameras. I’ve talked to the people in the elections office. They really would like to have cameras in the vault where the ballots are stored. And the other one is to have more transparency when there are the vote counts.

We need to just have those [00:23:00] cameras on twenty-four/seven. There is no reason why we can’t live stream the election process, even if it’s just a live stream of an empty office while the people are going home. Because people have come up with all sorts of strange theories of what’s going on. If you are transparent, then there would be less, uh, conspiracy theories going out there.

At the end of your term, what would success look like to you, and what would you hope residents across Grant County would say about your leadership? I think for the leadership, that it was done well and that it was done honestly and effectively What I would really like is that Grant County becomes the l- uh, the role model of auditor’s office, uh, statewide, that people will see that we are doing the best practices, that they can learn from us, and that [00:24:00] we are, even though we are not the biggest county, but that the counties can learn from us.

If we are on the top, I think that’s where I would like to leave the auditor’s office.

Brent Dowlen: All right. Thank you for your time, Andrew.

Andrew Koeppen: You’re welcome, and thank you very much, Brent, for putting this on.

Grant County Auditor Questions

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Website Bio (condensed)

Andrew Koeppen is a father of four, business owner, and technology professional with experience in telecommunications, public safety systems, real estate, and entrepreneurship. He and his wife own and operate a family printing and marketing business serving clients across Washington, the United States, and internationally. A former telecommunications systems expert who worked on cellular networks and E911 infrastructure, Andrew also holds a U.S. patent and is a licensed Real Estate Broker and Notary Public. Since making Grant County home in 2021, he has served as Chair of the Grant County Republican Party and has been active in local community initiatives. He believes government should be accountable, transparent, and fiscally responsible, with every vote and every taxpayer dollar handled with integrity.

Website: https://andrew4auditor.com

Back to Candidate Hub

Disclaimer:
This interview is presented as part of our commitment to providing accessible, local information to the community. All candidates in the 2026 Grant County Auditor’s race were given the same questions, in the same format, and the opportunity to share their perspectives directly.

The responses published here are the candidate’s own words, presented without editing, interpretation, or commentary beyond basic transcription. Audio recordings are provided alongside transcripts to ensure full transparency.

Welcome to Quincy WA News does not endorse, support, or oppose any candidate. Our role is to provide information so residents of Grant County—including the 98848 communities—can make informed decisions based on their own judgment.

I interviewed 2 candidates for the Grant County  Commissioner Auditor’s race for 2026.

• All 3 Candidates were invited to be interviewed

• 2 Candidates that responded were asked the exact same 20 questions in the exact same order

• They never saw each others answers

• The answers have not been altered, edited, modified, editorialized, changed, or edited in any way by the staff, ownership, or affiliates of this publication.

• For each I have posted the transcript, not a story, their words. (transcripts by AI)

• For each I have posted the audio from the interview.

• A full list of the questions

• Below the interviews I will post their posted bio from their candidate website, their sign and a link to their website and or FaceBook

The Interview Begins Here

Shannon Falstad Interview Audio File

Shannon Falstad Interview Grant County  Auditor

Race for 2026

Brent Dowlen: [00:00:00] Interview Shannon Falstad, Grant County Auditor question ends. Shannon, for people who may not know you yet, tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your connection to Grant County.

Shannon Falstad: So I was born and raised in Ephrata, so I’m a lifelong resident. I am married to Mark Falstad. He used to work for the pub, but is now retired.

I have two full-grown sons, and they followed in their father’s footsteps where they entered the electrical field. Um, I’ve worked at Grant, the courthouse, Grant County Courthouse, for 30 years. So- Wow ... my currently ten years i- in the Grant County Clerk’s office. Mm-hmm. But my first 20, 1996, was in the Auditor’s office as the recording deputy.

So I did that and then advanced to, um... Well, a little history because some people, when I talk to them, don’t realize that the Auditor’s office consists of four completely different offices. It has the recording department, the licensing department, elections, and accounting. So people are amazed when they hear that, or sometimes they confuse it and think [00:01:00] it’s the assessor’s office, so.

Um, but I started in recording- Mm ... as a recording deputy in 1996, and then I later advanced into the recording licensing lead deputy, so I oversaw both departments. I became certified as a licensing deputy ‘cause I wanted to not only just supervise, lead them, but I wanted also to be able to help them and help the customers as well.

As you all know that all of us are-- work eight to five, so we’re limited on time, so when customers come in, they’re limited on time. They’re on their lunch break, uh, break, so if I saw there was a backup, I’d get up and help that. Um, we will also... Anybody that works for the Auditor’s office would, uh, help in the election department.

So, so 20 years, I helped with the election department. I even helped, um, when Mr. Varney, the old auditor, great man, helped him run the tabulation machine back then, the, the big one, different than how they do it now. So I entered payroll for the recording licensing [00:02:00] lead, so I knew somewhat of the system in accounting.

In my current job, I enter payables- Mm ... into the accounting system, so I’m familiar with that. Um, they are getting a whole new system, so it’s-- I’m getting to know that system, so that’s gonna be beneficial.

Brent Dowlen: What experiences in your professional or personal life do you believe has best prepared you for this job?

Shannon Falstad: Well, I guess I kind of answered that working in the auditor’s office for 20 years, and, and working for the county, too. I mean, yes, I worked in the auditor’s office for 20 years, um, but working just in the courthouse, you get to know a lot of people, and being born and raised, a lot of those people I know I, I grew up with and friends with.

So I’m hoping that when I come in, having those professional and personal relationships, um, that we can come together and, and have conversations and be more cohesive. I think the more that we work together, the better [00:03:00] service we can give to the public, so...

Brent Dowlen: Tell us about your career path and the experiences that led you to this point in your life of public service.

Shannon Falstad: Like I said, I’ve been working there. Where I’m at right now in the clerk’s office, I am the accounting deputy, so I’m not on the front line. And I have to say, when I talk to other people who work at the courthouse who started, you know, across the counter from people working with the public and then go somewhere else in the county, and they’re not, it’s something that you actually miss.

I mean, you great-- you see them, at least in the auditor’s office with licensing. We got to see the same people over and over, so you kind of build a relationship with them. So I, I miss that, and I miss the people that I got to know. I’ve even had people, you know, when I’m out doing stuff say, “Oh, gosh, I really miss you in the auditor’s office.”

So, um, with the current auditor ending her term, I just, I felt that I was ready. [00:04:00] Um, learning the jobs and doing what I do in the clerk’s office gave me a, um, bigger, a better insight in the accounting side. So I, I feel like I’ve kind of hit all four of those departments, so... and I’m ready to be there. And some of the staff, most of the staff has even come to me and said, “Hey, we really think you should run.”

So that’s why I’m doing it.

Brent Dowlen: Outside of politics and government, what values in your life experiences have shaped the way you approach leadership and decision-making?

Shannon Falstad: I just really commitment, really committed to stuff that I do. Um, I-- over time, when I make decisions, I really think about how it affects people.

And so when I-- I think knowing that and my past experience and the leaders that I’ve That I’ve worked for other bosses, uh, Mr. Varney [00:05:00] and other people, they’ve just really helped develop what community service, public service is, and it’s really been helpful. It’s given me a broader, um, picture of how, how to be.

Um, there’s... We’ve always said, you know, when you’re working at a counter and you’re helping someone, that person, you should treat like it’s your mother. When you’re working for a business, you should treat that like it’s your own business. It needs to succeed. And when you are overseeing financials, you need to act like those are your financials.

That’s your account. That’s money coming out of your account. So that’s how over time and all the things that I’ve done has, has shaped me into those, those categories of how I see and, and, and work, so.

Brent Dowlen: I think we’ve already answered this, but what motivated you to run for Grant County Auditor specifically and why now?

Shannon Falstad: Yeah. We did cover [00:06:00] it, but yes, um, I think I’m ready. Being well-versed in all those four departments-

Brent Dowlen: Mm-hmm ...

Shannon Falstad: just the relationships I built and the staff that I’ve known for, for quite a long time. So I think they are really wanting that kind of leadership that I have to offer. So, and like I said, I, I miss the public, and I think that they deserve the best, best customer service we can possibly give them.

Brent Dowlen: Is the timing just about to step down for the current auditor? It’s just time or-

Shannon Falstad: Y-

Brent Dowlen: They’re not running again, right?

Shannon Falstad: They’re not running again, so yeah

Brent Dowlen: Was there a particular issue, experience, or moment that made you decide this was the right time to step forward besides them?

Shannon Falstad: Uh, well, besides her stepping down and, um, so just Wanting to make sure that those four [00:07:00] departments are being led in a way that the staff has someone that they can turn to.

I’m, I, my goal really is I wanna, um, I will be, not that I want to be, but I will be an active auditor. And having that background and working those departments, not only can I, will I lead, but I’ll be able to step in and help out, and I think that’s really important ‘cause when you’re working with staff and you show that, hey, I, I’m here to help, I’m here to answer questions, it’s a mutual respect.

You know, the commitment you give is the commitment you’re gonna get back, so.

Brent Dowlen: For people who are not fully aware, ‘cause I’ll, I’ll be the first to admit I had to look up what an auditor does, okay? Uh, for all of us who are not fluent in government speak, how would you explain what the Grant County Auditor actually does and why the office matters to everyday residents?

Shannon Falstad: Well, like I said, it, it covers... And I, you’re not the only one ‘cause my time working in the auditor’s office when I first started and [00:08:00] I’d tell people, I would tell them what it all entails, and now that I’m running, same thing, and I get the same thing. “What? Are you kidding? Uh, really?” So yeah, it’s the four completely departments.

So recording is your land documents, it’s your loan documents when you get a loan, issue marriage license, and then all those documents, um, are sent to state archives for permanent preservations. And then you have Department of Licensing for, really should probably be Department of Motor Vehicles ‘cause title transfers, tab renewals, farm permits, which is farm use or farm exempt, doing what you’re doing, and some people that’s over their head, so familiar with that.

And then the election department, I think everybody understands the election department. And then the accounting oversees all the financials of, of the county and, um, helps prepare with all the financials that they get in and all the accounts that go to prepare the county budgets and oversees the financials, so budgeting.

Brent Dowlen: See, I, I’ll admit, I had no idea the auditor had anything to [00:09:00] do with elections. At all. I, I thought that was a whole separate thing. Yep. So.

Shannon Falstad: Yeah. I get... It’s so, though, it’s funny ‘cause it’s usually people know that it’s elections or people know that it’s, you know, accounting, auditing because it’s auditor.

But besides the recording and licensing, they’re like, “Really?” And not only that, but people don’t realize also, um, the county has two sub agents. When I first worked there, it had three sub agents, Department of Licensing. So we have a contract with those sub agents. The two that are now, right now, is Moses Lake, which is Windsor Licensing, and then the licensing, Peterson Licensing here in Quincy.

Mm-hmm. So we’re contracted with them, so you have contract compliance is that you gotta make sure that they’re up to standard with, with those contracts and, um, they’re certified, so you gotta make sure people are doing the necessary steps, so.[00:10:00]

Brent Dowlen: See, I wrote all these questions before I met you. Now I feel a little silly on some of these. Why are you the best person in the job? Obviously, you’ve been with the county for a long time. Obviously, this is your background.

Shannon Falstad: It- it’s my background. It’s my background, it’s my

Brent Dowlen: commitment.

Shannon Falstad: Aside from that. I’m just a lifelong resident wanting to serve the community.

It’s, it’s, it’s home. So, you know, like I said, when I’m out and about and people are like, “Oh my gosh, I miss you. I don’t see you anymore,” and, “Loved coming in,” and it, it, it’s nice. So it’s like, okay, it’s time. Yeah, let me come back, and let me make sure that the office is being run like it was when I was there.

I mean, when I say back in the day, the commitment that we had, like in licensing, anytime there was some new rules, like when they started, um, the emissions stuff, you had to have a sticker, and you had to have proof. We’d go out. We would go out and go to their car [00:11:00] and show them where it’s at and help them fill out the documentations.

We’d have customers come in that were elderly and needed help with- Mm ... um, preparing or getting their, you know, p- disabled placard. We’d go out there. Sometimes we’d even go out and help them put on tabs. That’s the customer service that we provided, and that’s the customer service I wanna make sure we continue providing, so.

Brent Dowlen: Election integrity has become one of the most discussed issues in the country. How would you help to maintain public trust and confidence in Grant County elections regardless of political affiliation?

Shannon Falstad: Uh, working in them. There, I... People always ask, “Do you think there’s fraud in Grant County?” And I, I, I, I would say no.

Working in there, we get all the ballots in. I help, you know, when they come in from the mail and separate them all and get them all right. Watch the election deputies verify every single signature. There’s times that they’d have to call and say, “Hey, it doesn’t [00:12:00] match.” And, um, so I saw the process, and I can, I can tell you it, it’s, it’s...

The fraud is No. It, it’s sad ‘cause when people do that, it’s, it’s, it’s like how okay, so we have observations. People are more than welcome. So I say, “Well, have you come and watched any of the, the process?” “Well, no.” I’m like, “You come and watch.” And now they have live stream on it. Come watch. Watch for yourself and see for yourself ‘cause that’s the best way to ensure in your mind and how you feel.

I can probably sit here all day, but you know, until someone actually watches it and sees the process from beginning to end, I, I think it’ll open a, a bigger picture of, of how it is and that it doesn’t... It’s not as fraud as people think, as the news media wants, you know, the national news media wants to present, so at least not here in Grant County.[00:13:00]

Brent Dowlen: What steps would you take to improve transparency and communication between the auditor’s office and the public?

Shannon Falstad: Uh, I think we have a pretty good communication. Um, that’s been pretty much a standard since when I first worked there, a standard that’s continued through it. I would be more than happy to have open conversations for anybody that thinks that there isn’t, because that’s one thing I, I value and think is really necessary.

I mean, everything that the county does should always be transparent. So I would be more than happy to have any conversation with anybody if I was elected that they, they think there isn’t and, or if there seems to be a lack of communication. Um, communication, what they say top three, communication, communication, communication.

So I, I’d be more than happy to take any suggestions ‘cause that’s my goal. I wanna make sure that we’re... I have open communications and that we are transparent. So

Brent Dowlen: Many residents in rural communities across Grant County [00:14:00] feel disconnected from county government, especially if you live farther away from, like, Ephrata.

How can the auditor’s office better serve communities outside of Ephrata and Moses Lake, including our more rural communities that are farther out there, like Sunland Estates or Desert Aire or some of those that are a ways away from the county hub?

Shannon Falstad: Well, I would have to ask first, what, what is it that they’re looking for?

What, what, what do they think is services that aren’t being-

Brent Dowlen: I think that may be the hardest question of all- It, it is ... is figuring that one out.

Shannon Falstad: You know, we do, um, like I said, with the sub-agents in, in Moses Lake and the sub-agent in Quincy. We used to have one in Grand Coulee, uh, so we have that. People talked about the drop boxes for elections.

So, uh, I think we have quite a few. I don’t have the current list of how many we have, but I would say go online and, and make sure that you aren’t ... That, that we may have something, like, if [00:15:00] you wanna drop off instead of mail. Go online and check to see where those drop boxes are, because you may not be aware that we have one in your area.

So, and call. Say, “Hey, I think this needs to be done.” With- without suggestions, we, we can’t improve on, on that. So once again, I’m open for conversations and seeing anybody’s ideas and suggestions of how we could do that, so.

Brent Dowlen: The auditor’s office oversees elections, licensing, recording services, and financial operations, as we discussed.

What area do you believe needs the most improvement or modernization right now?

Shannon Falstad: Well, like I said, the accounting department is right now, I think we’re pretty modernized. First of all, the licensing is state, so we don’t have control of that, and they keep up on it as well. The recording side, it has, um, Eagle Recorder, and that was implemented [00:16:00] when I first started, and there’s many, many counties that are still running that system.

I f- I believe it’s still current and offers an... what we can do in recording-wise. Um, elections is fairly new also, and then like I said, the accounting department is currently in implementing their new system, which happens to also be Tyler Technologies, just a accounting called Tyler Hub. Um, and it’s funny because working in the clerk’s office, the module for the clerk’s office is from Tyler Technologies.

It’s called Odyssey. So a little bit familiar with Tyler Technologies. I, I, but I do feel that we are pretty current on it- Mm-hmm ... on all our systems. Okay.

Brent Dowlen: Technology continues to change rapidly. How should the county balance both modernization, online acce-accessibility, if I can say that word, while also protecting cyber-cybersecurity and sensitive public records?[00:17:00]

Shannon Falstad: Um, well, I think we have a, the IT department, which I’m sure you know of, Seth. They’re in charge of that, so that would be a, a, you know, on their side. But I feel like we are pretty... They do a really, really good job. So, and, like, recording is online. Um, people can, if they wanna record, they have e-filing. If they wanna look at documents, they can log o- log on, and they have to register, so that helps with that.

Um, I think, think we’re pretty current, and, um, have a pretty good IT department that makes sure that we stay secure.

Brent Dowlen: Even in our crazy AI era.

Shannon Falstad: I know. Yeah. You know, I, we always get stuff from them saying, w- warning us and, and keeping us informed of what to watch out for and, and what they will and will not allow us to have, like the AI copilot, whatever that may be.

And I think that’s a good, I think [00:18:00] that’s a good thing. It really is. Yeah, we have to be careful.

Brent Dowlen: I’ve issued a lot of those security bu- bulletins when I worked in IT.

Shannon Falstad: Yeah.

Brent Dowlen: No, no, no. Don’t play with those. They, they...

Shannon Falstad: Yes, yes. And, you know, they’re, they’re pretty good. We get... They send out any emails and keep us well informed and so

Brent Dowlen: Residents often become frustrated with long wait times, confusing processes- Yes ... difficulty navigating government web services, which, I mean, you obviously cannot totally control.

Shannon Falstad: Right.

Brent Dowlen: What would you do to improve customer service and efficiency within the auditor’s office?

Shannon Falstad: It does get frustrating. Um, I try to, when I work there, and it’s something that I’ll definitely make sure that the staff does too, is you really have to be investigative.

And I always, when a customer would come in, I say, “I don’t wanna sound like I’m, you know, snooping, but if I know exactly what you’re trying to accomplish, I can better help you.” [00:19:00] So asking questions, if you... And I-- the, the thing I did, if they thought, if having that discussion we thought they were to go to a different department, I wouldn’t just send them to a different department.

That’s where it gets frustrating for people. They hear-- Some people hear a keyword, and so they send them to that department. Well, that keyword is something they may have said because they’re not familiar. So you really need to pull information from customers and, and actually try to figure out what they’re trying to do.

And like I said, if I didn’t know for sure, I wouldn’t send them until I make call, an I call of the department, ‘cause we have public work that’s out up on the hill. We have planning across the street. And so I would make phone calls-

Brent Dowlen: Mm-hmm ...

Shannon Falstad: to make sure before I sent them, because I understand people would come into us and they would complain and be frustrated.

So that’s-- it’s very important to ask questions and, and communic- communicate. It’s, it’s a wonderful thing. And when people call-

Brent Dowlen: [00:20:00] Mm-hmm ...

Shannon Falstad: if I don’t know, I get their name and phone number. I says, “You know what? Let me investigate it for you. I will find out for you, and I will call you back.” So I-- it’s, it’s, it’s not that, in my eyes, to give that type of customer s- service is...

I don’t think it’s that difficult. So that’s something I wanna ensure that I make sure employees do. And quite honestly, other people that I know, they’re, they’re on that, so

Brent Dowlen: Public trust in institutions has been declining, as we’ve covered, in recent years. So how do you ensure the Auditor’s office remains nonpartisan, professional, and just focused on serving everybody fairly?

Shannon Falstad: Excellent question, because we are nonpartisan. When people come in, we serve everybody. And once again, it’s, it’s getting to know your customers, making that connection- Mm-hmm ... and helping them out. And like s- in recording and licensing, we do get a lot of the same customers, so you get to know them, and it’s [00:21:00] important.

It’s important to have that connection. Look up, make eye, make eye contact. The- sometimes that’s all it takes. It starts a conversation. You get to know them better. You get to know what they’re trying to do. But if your head’s down and you’re just typing away and doing that without con- making that connection, I think you’re really missing out, and you’re missing out on the opportunity to, to help them further.

Sometimes you can help them with what they’re doing, but another question arises that has nothing to do with your department, but you can still help them go, “Oh, yes, I know what you’re trying to accomplish. You need to go Assessors or Planning or Building or wherever it may be.”

Brent Dowlen: Mm-hmm.

Shannon Falstad: So... And I would-- It’s beneficial also that the employees know all the departments and what they do, so when people need to go to another department, you just don’t, “Oh, I don’t know.”

No, let’s help them. Let’s find out and get them to the right place.

Brent Dowlen: It’s cross-training.

Shannon Falstad: It is. And like you, like I said, they’re on a time limit. We all work from 8:00 to 5:00, [00:22:00] even the people at the courthouse. So when-- If they’re getting sent to the wrong departments because someone didn’t take the two seconds to find out-

Brent Dowlen: Mm-hmm

Shannon Falstad: you could-- then they have to go, “Well, now I gotta do this whole thing again tomorrow.” And then I can see their frustration and I’m, I’m not for that at all.

Brent Dowlen: I wanna work 8:00 to 5:00. That sounds fun. I don’t think I’ve ever done that in my life.

Shannon Falstad: Oh my gosh.

Brent Dowlen: I’ve been at work at 6:00 AM or earlier pretty much my entire life since I was 16.

Shannon Falstad: Yeah?

Brent Dowlen: Yeah. I don’t know what it feels like to start that late. That’s- Ah. Except when I was on graveyard, but yeah.

Shannon Falstad: Yeah, no.

Brent Dowlen: Washington State conducts elections almost entirely by mail. What safeguards do you believe are most important to protect election accuracy and voter confidence?

Shannon Falstad: I think the... I, I know people don’t like the mail voting by mail, sorry.

Um, but I worked there when we did it. I feel like it’s pretty secure [00:23:00] But I do what’s set in law, so whatever the people vote on, that’s what I-- that’s what we’re gonna do. But I s- I think it’s secure, and I would... If there’s a review procedures and if there’s anything that sticks out that might question that-

Brent Dowlen: Mm-hmm

Shannon Falstad: I would most definitely-- that’s, uh, something that would have to be reviewed to make sure that those standards and what I’m going to do are in line with state law.

Brent Dowlen: How would you approach concerns from residents who question election procedures or feel uncertain about how to handle ballots?

Shannon Falstad: Once again, observation.

Uh, c-come on in, talk to us, and when-- I think there’s a procedure on how many can be in there, so we’re more than happy to have-- welcome people to come and observe or s- go onto the live stream. Uh, it’s important. If, if people are really concerned, I think that would answer a lot of their questions. So [00:24:00] I would encourage people to do that.

Brent Dowlen: I love the fact that you guys have a live stream now.

Shannon Falstad: Yeah.

Brent Dowlen: That’s, that’s a good thing.

Shannon Falstad: Yep.

Brent Dowlen: Grant County continues to grow and change. What challenges do you believe the auditor’s office will face in the next five to 10 years?

Shannon Falstad: I don’t know. We’ve it’s grown since I’ve been there, and we’ve stayed pretty current on, on software and the procedures that we do and offering, you know, like recording online, um E-filing, the pick up the tabs, you can choose to pick up instead of mail. I, I think we’ve really kept up on it, so the only challenge that I think I wanna make ensure is, uh, keeping staff, making sure there’s not an overturn.

That way, you know, when I talk about having that, that communication and that one on [00:25:00] long- one-on-one with customers, that tends to get lost if you have a big overturn. So I’d like to make sure that whatever procedures we’re doing in office, we’re making sure that not only we give good public service, but we do what we need to do to ensure that our, um, staff stays in, in there.

So like I said, I think with me wanting to make sure I’m fully engaged, there to help, there to ask questions, jump in whenever I can, will build a, a rapport that will hopefully make people wanna stay and, and so... You know, they have to feel valued.

Brent Dowlen: Mm-hmm.

Shannon Falstad: So...

Brent Dowlen: If elected, what would be your top priorities during your first year in office?

Shannon Falstad: Um, well, it’s kind of a hard question in the fact that I won’t be... If I get elected, it won’t be until November, and a lot of things can happen because as of I see right now [00:26:00] with, um, the new system being implemented in accounting, it’s kinda thrown a loop into getting reports to departments, getting reports on time.

Brent Dowlen: Mm-hmm.

Shannon Falstad: But I’ve seen that could be resolved once it, it’s been implemented and things start progressing. Um, we’re sh- there’s only two election deputies. We really need three, so I’d like to make sure that that’s done and make sure they’re certified. Once again, retaining people, ‘cause if you don’t retain them and you get a new one, then you gotta go two years through a cert- certification process and then- Yes

same thing with licensing. They have to be certified. They have to have so many hours. So it’s really important to make sure you retain your employees- Mm-hmm ... appreciate and value them. It’s a home. I mean, you spend eight, nine hours there. So y- um, it’s va- it’s valuable to realize that your employees are valuable, and you want them to keep them there.

It’s beneficial not only to the office, but to [00:27:00] the public.

Brent Dowlen: At the end of your term, what would success look like to you, and what would you hope residents across Grant County would say about your leadership?

Shannon Falstad: Uh, success would be that they come in and say, “I’m so glad that you ran for auditor. We’re happy that we voted for you.

Um, you’ve communicated with all of us and, and shown great leadership, um, improved Customer service and communication, and that they’re happy with the service that they are provided, that they feel like they’re getting secure elections, and that all, uh, the departments of the- within the county are like, “Yes, all those accounting reports that we’re supposed to receive, we’re getting them when we need to.”

And, and, and make sure I build a rapport with all the county elects, that we can communicate and all work together, so.

Brent Dowlen: Last one’s for you. [00:28:00] What, what am I missing? Tell me what we need to know about Shannon going into this. I...

Shannon Falstad: Well, I hope I’ve covered it, but I just... Like I said, it’s- I think it’s very important that people know what...

That it has four departments, and I have those experiences in there, and I really value the public and giving them the best customer service possible, and I’m always open for communication. I, I f- I hope that people don’t feel like they can’t come in and talk or call or whatnot and, and see, express any concerns that they have.

‘Cause quite honestly, if you aren’t being told, can’t fix it.

Brent Dowlen: Fair enough.

Shannon Falstad: Yeah.

Brent Dowlen: Shannon, thank you for taking time to sit down with us.

Shannon Falstad: And thank you for inviting me. I appreciate it.

Grant County Auditor Questions

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Website Bio (condensed)

Shannon Falstad is a longtime Grant County public servant with more than 30 years of experience in county government. Beginning her career in the Auditor’s Office in 1996, she has served in recording, licensing, elections, accounts payable, and payroll, developing a comprehensive understanding of county operations and finance. Throughout her career, Shannon has built strong relationships across county departments and earned a reputation for integrity, professionalism, and dedicated public service. She and her husband, Mark, have raised two sons, Gunnar and Leif, in Grant County.

Website: https://www.falstad4auditor.com

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Disclaimer:
This interview is presented as part of our commitment to providing accessible, local information to the community. All candidates in the 2026 Grant County Auditor’s race were given the same questions, in the same format, and the opportunity to share their perspectives directly.

The responses published here are the candidate’s own words, presented without editing, interpretation, or commentary beyond basic transcription. Audio recordings are provided alongside transcripts to ensure full transparency.

Welcome to Quincy WA News does not endorse, support, or oppose any candidate. Our role is to provide information so residents of Grant County—including the 98848 communities—can make informed decisions based on their own judgment.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Quincy School District Refinancing Project Expected to Save Taxpayers Nearly $3.6 Million

QUINCY, WA — The Quincy School District has successfully refinanced a portion of its existing school bonds, a move that is expected to save local taxpayers nearly $3.6 million over the next several years.

The refinancing replaces older bonds with new bonds that have lower borrowing costs. The refinancing will reduce the amount the district needs to pay on these bonds over time, resulting in nearly $3.6 million in savings for local taxpayers.

“By refinancing these bonds at the right time, we were able to reduce costs and save taxpayer dollars. This successful bond refinance reflects the careful planning and financial stewardship that help us make the most of every dollar entrusted to our district,” said Superintendent Dr. Nik Bergman.

The refinancing exceeded the savings goal established by the Quincy School Board and is expected to generate approximately $3.59 million in total savings through 2035.

The bond sale attracted strong interest from investors across the country, illustrating investor confidence in the Quincy School District’s financial stability and future.

One reason for that confidence is the district’s strong financial standing. Earlier this year, Moody’s Ratings, one of the nation’s leading independent credit rating agencies, assigned Quincy School District an Aa3 credit rating. Moody’s recognized the district’s stable financial position, careful budgeting, healthy student enrollment trends, and a strong local tax base.

The district would like to thank the Quincy School Board for their leadership and commitment to responsible financial planning. The Board’s focus on long-term financial health helped make this refinancing opportunity possible and ensured that taxpayer savings remained a top priority.

The district also extends its appreciation to the Business Services Department for its dedication and careful financial management. Their work has helped position Quincy School District for success, allowing the district to take advantage of favorable market conditions and achieve significant savings for taxpayers.

This statement is published as an official press release issued by the Quincy School District from the office of Jessica Blancas, Communications Coordinator for the Quincy Washington School District. The content has not been altered, edited, or modified in any way by the staff, ownership, or affiliates of this publication.

This platform is providing public distribution as a public service of this material at the request of the Quincy School District. This platform is not under contract with, an official representative of or associated with the Quincy WA School District

Most school board meetings are filled with budgets, policies, and reports that can feel removed from everyday life. But on June 9, Quincy School Board members spent a significant portion of their meeting discussing something that touches nearly every family in the 98848: whether local students feel connected, safe, hopeful, and emotionally equipped to handle a world increasingly shaped by screens and digital relationships.

The conversation was driven by new results from Quincy School District’s Spring 2026 Student Survey and the statewide Healthy Youth Survey. The numbers themselves were not alarming. In many cases, they were encouraging. Students reported strong relationships with trusted adults and peers, safety scores remained high, and many risk factors compared favorably with state averages.

Yet as board members and district leaders dug deeper into the data, several questions kept resurfacing. Why are emotional regulation scores declining? Why are students reporting high amounts of screen time? And if schools are seeing strong relationships inside their buildings, what happens to students once they leave campus each afternoon?

Those questions turned what could have been an ordinary presentation into a much larger conversation about the well-being of young people throughout the 98848.

TL;DR

• Quincy School District reviewed results from its Spring 2026 Student Survey and the 2025 Healthy Youth Survey.

• The district surveyed 1,404 students through its local survey and received strong participation rates in the statewide survey.

• Supportive relationships remain one of QSD’s greatest strengths, with 92% favorable responses in grades 3-5 and 86% in grades 6-12.

• School safety scored 76% favorable in both grade bands.

• Emotional regulation declined in both younger and older students and emerged as one of the district’s biggest areas for growth.

• District leaders said screen time remains a concern and will continue to be studied.

• Students reported strong connections with adults inside schools but lower levels of connection with adults in the broader community.

• District leaders said many of the issues identified in the survey cannot be solved by schools alone and require partnership between families, schools, and the community.

Relationships Remain One of Quincy Schools’ Greatest Strengths

If there was one area of the report that board members could celebrate, it was relationships.

According to the district’s student survey, 92 percent of students in grades 3 through 5 reported favorable scores for supportive relationships, while 86 percent of students in grades 6 through 12 did the same. Students also reported high levels of trust in adults and friends at school. Survey data showed that 93 percent of younger students reported having a trusted adult at school, while 82 percent of older students said the same. Student belonging also showed modest improvement in both age groups.

Student comments provided context behind those numbers. Younger students frequently mentioned caring teachers, friendships, recess, and fun learning opportunities as things they appreciate about school. Older students pointed to supportive adults, safety, extracurricular activities, clubs, electives, and feeling respected and included.

During the discussion, district leaders noted that Quincy students appear to have strong connections to adults within the school system. Teachers, counselors, coaches, and support staff continue to serve as important protective factors for many students.

Those relationships matter because decades of educational and mental health research show that one caring adult can significantly change a young person’s trajectory. The survey suggests that many Quincy students already have those connections inside their schools.

Safety Scores Are Strong, But Students Are Still Pointing Adults Toward Areas of Concern

Safety was another bright spot in the report.

Both grade groups recorded a 76 percent favorable rating for school safety, and elementary scores improved by eight points since the previous survey. Students frequently cited locked doors, security staff, cameras, and adult presence as reasons they feel safe. Many also simply said they already feel safe at school and would not change anything.

At the same time, student comments reminded district leaders that safety is about more than physical security measures. Some students raised concerns about bullying, fighting, harassment, and whether reports of inappropriate behavior receive adequate follow-through.

Board members discussed the possibility of combining future survey information with school safety and security data to better understand what students are experiencing inside school buildings. The discussion suggested that district leaders view student feedback not as criticism, but as a roadmap for where additional attention may be needed.

The message from students was not that schools are unsafe. Rather, it was that students notice the details. They notice whether adults are present, whether concerns are taken seriously, and whether systems work as intended.

Screen Time Became One of the Evening’s Biggest Conversations

One of the longest discussions of the evening centered on screen time.

The Healthy Youth Survey asks students about spending three or more hours per day on screens outside of school-related learning, including social media, videos, games, and internet use. District leaders clarified during the meeting that the question does not specifically measure classroom technology use. Instead, it reflects students’ overall digital habits.

Board members expressed concern about how much time young people spend on screens and how technology may be affecting relationships, behavior, and emotional health. District administrators said the district’s Digital Education Committee plans to study how much time students spend on screens during the school day and may eventually offer recommendations.

The conversation highlighted a challenge facing communities everywhere, including the 98848. Schools are expected to prepare students for a world increasingly dependent on technology, yet many parents, educators, and health professionals are simultaneously concerned about excessive screen exposure and its impact on attention spans, emotional regulation, sleep, and social interaction.

District leaders acknowledged that this issue cannot be solved by schools alone. The devices students carry home each day place the conversation squarely in the shared space between families, schools, and the broader community.

Emotional Regulation Emerged as the District’s Largest Area for Growth

The most concerning data point in the presentation involved emotional regulation.

Among students in grades 3 through 5, only 42 percent reported favorable scores in emotional regulation, a decline of six points from the previous survey. Among students in grades 6 through 12, favorable scores dropped seven points to 53 percent. For younger students, it was the lowest scoring category in the survey.

Board members asked what emotional regulation means in practical terms. District leaders explained that it is not about whether children have emotions. Everyone experiences frustration, disappointment, anger, embarrassment, or anxiety. Emotional regulation is the ability to pause and think before acting.

A child being told no for the first time, a middle school student embarrassed by a social media post, or a teenager frustrated after an argument all face the same challenge. Can they stop, process what they are feeling, and make a decision before their emotions make the decision for them?

District leaders said both the student survey and other climate data suggest social-emotional learning remains an area that deserves continued attention. They also noted that emotional regulation difficulties are increasingly visible when young children enter school, particularly among students who have spent significant time in highly digital environments.

The decline in these scores does not point to a crisis, but it does serve as an important warning light. If students are struggling to regulate emotions, it can affect learning, relationships, discipline, and overall well-being.

The Healthy Youth Survey Offers a Window Into Life Beyond the Classroom

The statewide Healthy Youth Survey provided a broader picture of student experiences.

The survey, administered every two years to students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12, showed that for most risk factors, Quincy students rated at or below state averages, while for most protective factors they rated at or above state averages. Several indicators also showed improvement since the previous survey cycle.

District leaders noted that eighth-grade students were sometimes an exception, reporting less positive ratings on several factors. The report also found that student ratings involving depression and low levels of hope were not as positive as state averages.

Another finding that drew discussion involved students’ connections outside of school. While district surveys suggest students are highly connected to adults inside school buildings, the Healthy Youth Survey found fewer students reporting that they have an adult in their neighborhood or community they can talk to about something important.

For the 98848, that finding may be one of the most significant in the entire presentation. Schools see students for roughly seven hours a day. The rest of their time is spent with families, friends, employers, churches, sports teams, and community organizations. Those relationships may ultimately shape a young person’s sense of belonging and hope just as much as what happens inside a classroom.

More Than a School Conversation

The June 9 school board meeting could have easily been remembered for policies, contracts, or end-of-year business. Instead, much of the evening focused on relationships, hope, emotional resilience, and whether young people have trusted adults guiding them toward the future.

The presentation offered a reminder that schools are often the first place where communities notice broader social changes. Rising screen time, declining emotional regulation, and questions about hope are not challenges unique to Quincy. But they are showing up here, in the experiences of local students.

The survey may have been presented in a school board meeting, but its biggest questions belong to the entire 98848. If Quincy students are telling adults they need relationships, guidance, and help navigating an increasingly digital world, then the responsibility does not rest solely with schools. It belongs to families, neighbors, community organizations, and every adult who has the opportunity to become one more trusted person in a young person’s life.

For months, people throughout the 98848 have watched the new Quincy Aquatic Center rise from a construction site into a finished facility. We’ve driven by it on our way to work, followed drone videos and progress photos on social media, and tried to imagine what it would look like when it finally opened. Earlier today, I got an early walkthrough of the facility with Quincy Recreation Director Russ Harrington, and I brought my 14-year-old daughter with me. What I discovered was that seeing it in person and seeing it through the eyes of both a parent and a teenager completely changed my perspective on what this new facility will mean to our community.

TL;DR

• The new Quincy Aquatic Center feels significantly larger in person than it appears in photos.

• The facility includes three large water slides, a lazy river, climbing wall, rope swing, diving board, and expanded zero-depth play area.

• Family amenities and accessibility features have been improved from the old aquatic center.

• Shade may be one of the biggest challenges during the first season.

• The facility appears poised to become one of the primary gathering places for families in the community.

• A teenager’s reaction during the tour suggested local kids and teens are already excited to spend time there.

Bigger Than We Realized

I don’t live far from the aquatic center. Like many Quincy residents, I’ve watched this project take shape for months. I’ve walked near it, driven by it countless times, and photographed its progress as the pools and structures slowly came together.

But pulling into the parking lot for the first time felt different. Instead of looking at a construction project, I was pulling in as if my daughter and I were there to spend the day. Suddenly, I noticed things I had never paid attention to before. I noticed the exterior concession window and how the parking wraps around the building. I noticed the entrance and the layout from a visitor’s perspective.

For the first time, it felt like a destination instead of a project. Walking through the front gates only reinforced that feeling. The giant slide tower immediately commands your attention, but it is the sheer size of everything that surprises you. The drone photos and social media updates have been helpful, but they do not accurately communicate scale. The water slides are taller than they appear. The play structure in the zero-depth area is much larger than it looks in photographs.

Standing on the pool deck, you quickly realize this is a much bigger facility than many of us imagined.

Designed for Families and Activity

One of the biggest differences from the old aquatic center is how open the new facility feels.

The old pool was naturally divided by buildings and structures that broke up the space. Here, most of those support areas have been moved to the side, creating one large recreation area with numerous activities happening at once.

As a parent, that immediately caught my attention. There is simply more room for children to move around and more places for them to play. The zero-depth area, the lazy river, the slides, and the deep-water attractions all create a larger, more active environment than the old pool.

I also understood immediately why the city has hired more lifeguards this year. Parents are going to need to remain attentive because younger children can move between activities much more freely than they could at the previous facility. That’s not a criticism of the design. In many ways, it’s a compliment. The aquatic center has been designed to encourage exploration and activity.

Russ also pointed out several practical improvements that should make life easier for families. The facility includes multiple outdoor showers, additional family restrooms, and water bottle filling stations. The multiple outdoor showers, in particular, should help ease traffic through the changing areas by giving families another way to rinse off and prepare before entering the water.

The details suggest a great deal of thought was put into how families actually use an aquatic facility.

The Features That Stole the Show

As a former competitive diver in high school, the first thing that caught my eye was the diving board.

Quincy hasn’t had a diving board in a very long time. Seeing one again brought back memories and reminded me how much fun diving can be. It also made me realize it’s something I have never really been able to share with my own children.

The three new water slides are also impressive. Not only are they bigger than they appear from the road, but they use a newer design that ends in a runoff lane instead of dumping riders directly into the pool. It may sound like a small detail, but it preserves valuable swimming space.

The deep-water area may end up becoming a favorite for local teens. In addition to the diving board, there is a 15-foot climbing wall and a rope swing that slides outward before swinging riders into the water.

The younger kids, however, may have a different favorite.

The giant play structure in the zero-depth area is difficult to appreciate until you stand beside it. It features bucket drops, water cannons, small slides, fountains, and multiple play elements happening simultaneously. Even my daughter, who is 14 years old, was almost as excited about the play structure as she was about the large slides. Honestly, I wanted to climb on it myself.

Some attractions simply make you smile the moment you see them. This is one of them.

Seeing It Through My Daughter’s Eyes

I intentionally brought my daughter because I wanted the perspective of someone who would actually use this facility with friends. Her first observation was practical. There isn’t much shade.

The old aquatic center benefited from several mature trees, and she immediately noticed that there is more concrete and significantly less natural shade at the new facility. With her fair skin, that was the first thing she keyed in on.

Then she started seeing possibilities.

She was excited about the climbing wall and the rope swing. She loved that the pool reaches 12 feet deep instead of 10 feet. The first thing she said when she realized that was that she couldn’t wait to try diving to the bottom.

Interestingly, she wasn’t most excited about the water slides. She wanted the deep end. The moment she realized the pool was 12 feet deep, she started talking about diving to the bottom and trying the climbing wall and rope swing.

She could already picture herself and her friends spending time there, climbing the wall, swinging into the water, and challenging each other. When Russ mentioned the possibility of future movie nights at the pool using the Recreation Department’s inflatable screen, she immediately lit up. The idea of hanging out with friends while watching a movie in the water sounded like exactly the kind of experience she wants to have.

Somewhere in the middle of our tour, I realized something important about this facility and what it may mean to the 98848. My daughter wasn’t talking about a swimming pool, she was talking about a place where she wants to spend time.

Your Chance to See It for Yourself

Everyone has been waiting for the new Quincy Aquatic Center to open, and next week residents will finally get their own sneak peek.

The Quincy Aquatic Center will host an Open House on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m., giving community members an opportunity to walk through the new facility before it officially opens. While there will be no swimming during the event, families can explore the aquatic center, get a closer look at the slides, lazy river, play areas, and other amenities, and begin planning for the summer ahead.

The open house will also give residents a chance to purchase season passes, ask questions about swimming lessons, review facility rules, and learn more about upcoming programs and activities planned for the new center.

And because no community celebration is complete without a treat, WaFd Bank will be providing free ice cream during the event.

After months of driving by construction fences and watching updates online, this will be the first opportunity for many residents to walk through the gates and see for themselves what the community has been waiting for. Come enjoy the evening, ask questions, and take your first look at what is poised to become one of the new gathering places of summer in Quincy.

A New Chapter for Summer in Quincy

I’ve covered this project since before the fences went up. I’ve taken pictures from the berm while excavation work was still underway and watched the pools slowly take shape. Walking through it today felt different.

Construction workers were still completing final details. Equipment was still being moved. The facility isn’t officially open yet.

But it is close.

Close enough that I could already picture families floating in the lazy river, kids racing down the slides, and parents sitting nearby talking while keeping an eye on their children. Sun shades and lawn chairs will probably be competing for space around the pool deck this summer, a small trade-off for a facility that is unusually large and feature-rich for a community the size of Quincy.

On the drive home, my daughter was already talking about who she wanted to bring with her, whether she could reach the bottom of the deep end, and how fun a movie night at the pool could be. Listening to her, I realized she wasn’t thinking about construction costs, project timelines, or years of planning. She was thinking about memories that haven’t happened yet.

Multiple generations have grown up at the old Quincy Aquatic Center. It became part of their summers and part of their memories. For months, the new aquatic center has been a project we drove by and watched take shape. After walking through it this week, it no longer feels like a project. It feels like a destination. And for families throughout the 98848, another generation of summer memories is about to begin.

First, I owe you an apology for missing last week’s newsletter. Graduation week got away from me. Between wrapping up the school year, covering daily news, interviews, and trying to keep up with everything happening around the 98848, there simply weren’t enough hours in the day. Honestly, that probably says something about where our community is right n…

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On February 18, 1967, a 12-year-old Snohomish County boy with dreams of playing professional baseball went to spend the night with a friend, never knowing that one moment around a campfire would change the direction of his life forever. Gasoline was poured onto the fire, the can exploded, and Michael Mathis was burned over 64 percent of his body. Nearly six decades later, that boy’s story is helping bring hundreds of people together in Sunland Estates, where volunteers have raised more than $400,000 to help burned children and their families.

TL;DR

• Sunland Estates will host the 10th Annual Burned Children Recovery Foundation fundraiser June 19 and 20.

• The event includes live music, a golf tournament, silent and live auctions, raffles, and a beer garden.

• The Burned Children Recovery Foundation was founded in 1989 by burn survivor Michael Mathis.

• Mathis suffered burns over 64 percent of his body as a child and later dedicated his life to helping other burn survivors.

• The foundation reports helping more than 139,700 children and family members since its founding.

• Programs include Camp Phoenix, Phoenix House, family assistance, counseling, transportation help, school support, survivor mentoring, and recovery resources.

• Organizers Stan Chambers, Dan Lambert, and local volunteers have helped make the Sunland fundraiser a decade-long community tradition.

• Organizers estimate the event has generated more than $400,000 for the Burned Children Recovery Foundation over its lifetime, including more than $70,000 raised last year alone.

The Boy Behind the Mission

Before there was a foundation, there was a boy who loved baseball.

Michael Mathis had recently received an all-star award as a catcher in Snohomish County Little League and carried the kind of dream many young athletes understand. He wanted to play professionally one day. He had a future in front of him, a sport he loved, and a childhood that, until that February night, looked ordinary in the best possible way.

That changed just after 11 p.m. when the gasoline can exploded near the campfire.

Mathis survived, but the accident left him with burns across 64 percent of his body. What followed was not a quick recovery or a single hospital stay. It was years of surgeries, healing, and learning how to live in a world that often did not know how to respond to someone with visible scars.

In telling his story, Mathis has said the hardest part of burn recovery was not only the physical pain. It was learning how to handle the staring, name-calling, and inappropriate reactions from others.

Over time, he came to understand something that would later shape the foundation’s entire mission. He learned to separate his scars from the person he was inside.

“After years of surgeries and negative reactions to my scars, I learned that I had been given a unique gift,” Mathis wrote. “I now have the opportunity to share my wisdom with the children that are burned in America every year.”

That realization became more than a personal lesson. It became a mission.

Building a Foundation for Other Children

In December 1989, Michael Mathis founded the Burned Children Recovery Foundation.

The organization was created to help children and families facing the long road that follows serious burn injuries. Hospitals and medical teams can treat wounds, perform surgeries, and help save lives, but recovery often continues long after a child leaves medical care.

Families may face transportation needs, lodging costs, counseling needs, medical-related expenses, school disruptions, and the emotional weight of helping a child adjust to life after a traumatic injury. Children may be learning how to return to school, answer difficult questions from classmates, regain confidence, and believe they are still whole even when their appearance has changed.

The foundation was built for that space between medical survival and life after the injury. For many families, that is where the hardest part of recovery begins.

Since its founding, the Burned Children Recovery Foundation reports helping more than 139,700 children and family members after fire and burns changed their lives. Its work is rooted in the belief that burn survivors need more than treatment. They need support, connection, confidence, and people who understand what recovery really requires.

Mathis has credited volunteers and supporters for helping carry that mission forward.

“I could not have done this alone,” he wrote. “This is a legacy for all who have loved our children.”

While the organization serves families nationwide, Chambers said the foundation’s impact has reached communities close to home as well. According to organizers, children and families from Quincy, Wenatchee, Yakima, Spokane, the Tri-Cities and other Washington communities have received assistance through foundation programs over the years.

More Than Medical Recovery

The foundation’s work reaches into the parts of recovery that are often hardest for families to manage alone.

One of its best-known programs is Camp Phoenix, a week-long national recovery camp for burned children. The camp gives children an opportunity to spend time with other burn survivors and adult mentors who understand their experiences firsthand. For children who may feel isolated or different at school, in public, or even among friends, that kind of peer connection can be life-changing.

Camp Phoenix is not simply about outdoor activities or summer fun. It is about helping children rebuild confidence, form friendships, face fear, and discover that they are not alone.

The foundation also operates Phoenix House, a recovery facility designed to support children who are struggling with trauma, isolation, or difficulty adjusting during recovery. For some children, physical healing may happen before emotional healing. Phoenix House exists to help children through those harder stages of recovery.

The foundation’s broader services include family assistance, counseling, transportation help, lodging support, compression garments, prescription assistance, school-related support, clothing, shoes, extracurricular activity assistance, vocational training, and survivor resources.

Those details matter because they help explain what a fundraiser like Sunland’s can actually support. A donation may help a family travel to care. It may help a child attend camp. It may help with school needs, recovery supplies, or counseling. It may help a child take part in sports, dance, band, or another activity that restores a sense of normal life.

For burn survivors, healing is not just about what happens to the skin. It is also about what happens to the spirit.

Why Sunland Keeps Showing Up

The fundraiser’s roots stretch back further than many people realize.

According to organizer Stan Chambers, the event began as a fundraising poker run organized by the motorcycle club Zacky’s Backroads. Community members Tom Finken and Jim May envisioned something larger and launched what became known as the Sagecreek Music Festival, using live music and community events to raise awareness and funds for burned children.

Chambers said much of the event’s success can be traced back to the vision Finken and May shared from the beginning. They believed a community event could do more than raise money. It could raise awareness, build connections, and help people better understand the challenges burned children and their families face. Although Finken has since passed away and May has retired from the fundraiser, their original vision continues through the work of volunteers, sponsors, and organizers who return each year.

They later asked Chambers to help promote the effort, making him the event’s marketing director. More than a decade later, he is still involved.

After Finken’s passing and May’s retirement, longtime friend Dan Lambert stepped in to help continue the fundraiser. Chambers credits Lambert’s passion, generosity, and organizational skills with helping the event grow into one of Sunland Estates’ signature community traditions.

“This combined with Sunland Estates and many volunteers donating time, love and money has steadily increased awareness and helped raise over $70,000 last year alone,” Chambers said.

Over the life of the fundraiser, organizers estimate the event has generated more than $400,000 in gross revenue for the Burned Children Recovery Foundation.

For Chambers, however, the event has always been about more than fundraising totals.

The foundation has helped burn survivors throughout the country, including children and families in Quincy, Wenatchee, Yakima, Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and other communities across Washington.

Last year’s fundraiser remains one of Chambers’ favorite memories.

“Seeing hundreds of people in my community all coming together for such a great cause,” he said. “The volunteers were amazing and the community was so generous and really involved with helping the charity.”

He believes the foundation’s mission resonates because burn injuries affect far more than a child’s physical recovery.

“Over 280,000 kids are burned each year,” Chambers said. “This not only affects them physically but mentally as well. We believe in giving back, especially to our kids who get bullied, hide in their rooms and are afraid to reach their true potential.”

For Chambers, raising money remains important, but awareness may be even more valuable.

Success for this year’s event looks much like success did last year: a strong turnout, an engaged community, and more people learning how to support burn survivors and their families.

“We want to educate parents and kids on how to lift up the victims instead of ignoring them,” Chambers said. “Not being afraid of them because they look different. Including them in friendship and activities instead of bullying them. Helping the parents to be healthy and giving them the support and tools to navigate through difficult times.”

That mission is what continues bringing volunteers, sponsors, musicians, golfers, and community members back year after year.

The 2026 Event Details

This year’s fundraiser begins Friday, June 19, at Sunland Estates Park.

Music starts at 7 p.m. with 1980s dance and rock hits featuring DJ Roman Havens, a laser light show, and a House and EDM dance party.

On Saturday, June 20, the event continues with the 10th Annual Sunland Golf Scramble at Colockum Ridge Golf Course. Check-in begins at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Tournament registration includes golf, carts, lunch, and drink tickets. Organizers will also host prizes, raffles, and trophies as part of the tournament.

Saturday evening activities return to Sunland Estates Park with a silent auction from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and a live auction from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The evening will also include live music from Hell on Heels, a Northwest country and rock band. Organizers will host a 50/50 raffle and a beer garden sponsored by Iron Horse Brewing.

In addition to attending the event, community members and businesses may support the fundraiser through donations, auction items, and banner sponsorships. Organizers are offering space on banners at the golf tournament and music festival for a $500 donation.

Checks for donations should be made out to BCRFC.

A Legacy Worth Continuing

Nearly sixty years after Michael Mathis survived burns over 64 percent of his body, the foundation he created continues helping children and families facing challenges he understands personally. For the 10th year, volunteers in Sunland Estates are carrying that mission forward.

Organizers hope the event raises money, but they also hope it changes perspectives. Every child recovering from a burn injury deserves the chance to be seen for who they are rather than the scars they carry. That belief helped inspire a foundation in 1989, and it continues bringing people together in the 98848 today.

In the end, the fundraiser is not simply about music, golf, auctions, or raffles. It is about helping children find confidence, helping families find support, and helping ensure that no child has to navigate recovery alone.

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Every update shared, every meeting covered, every community story told, and every daily newscast delivered is made possible in part by people who have chosen to invest in the future of local information for the 98848.

These members are more than supporters. They are helping build the communication infrastructure our community needs to stay informed, connected, and engaged. They understand that local news is not simply content, it is a vital community resource that helps residents, businesses, organizations, and civic leaders stay connected to what matters most.

The businesses and individuals listed here have stepped forward to help ensure that Quincy, George, Winchester, Crescent Bar, and Sunland Estates continue to have a reliable, locally owned source of information focused on the people who live and work here.

Their support helps make this work possible, and we are proud to recognize them as champions of local news and community connection in the 98848.

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Quincy Partnership for Youth

Quincy Partnership for Youth (QPY) is a community coalition serving the Quincy School District area that brings together schools, healthcare providers, law enforcement, youth, parents, local organizations, and community volunteers around a shared mission: preventing substance use and promoting the wellbeing of young people. Founded in 2003, the coalition works to strengthen protective factors that help youth thrive, including family connections, positive peer relationships, community involvement, and a sense of belonging. Through programs such as Strengthening Families, healthy alternative teen activities, medication safety initiatives, community education, and prevention outreach, QPY focuses on creating opportunities for young people and families to build healthier, stronger futures. Rather than operating as a standalone organization, Quincy Partnership for Youth serves as a collaborative hub that helps connect partners, coordinate resources, and support efforts that benefit youth and families throughout the 98848.

Quincy Partnership for Youth

Address
105 2nd Ave SE Quincy, WA 98848

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Quincypartnership.org

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I interviewed all 4 candidates for the Grant County  Commissioner District 3 race for 2026.

• All 4 Candidates were asked the exact same 20 questions in the exact same order

• They never saw each others answers

• The answers have not been altered, edited, modified, editorialized, changed, or edited in any way by the staff, ownership, or affiliates of this publication.

• For each I have posted the transcript, not a story, their words. (transcripts by AI)

• For each I have posted the audio from the interview.

• A full list of the questions

• Below the interviews I will post their posted bio from their candidate website, their sign and a link to their website and or FaceBook

• All 4 Candidates will be at the County Commissioners Dist #3 Candidate Forum Wednesday June 17th at 5:30 PM at the Port of Quincy Business & Event Center for public questions

The Interviews

Grant County Commissioner District 3 Candidate Interview Questions

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All 4 Candidates will be present for the County Commissioners Dist #3 Candidate Forum Wednesday June 17th at 5:30 PM at the Port of Quincy Business & Event Center

Official Statement:

Regarding the Grant County Commissioner District 3 Forum Recording

Due to unforeseen technical complications, there is unfortunately no complete recording available of the Grant County Commissioner District 3 Forum held on June 17, 2026.

Our primary live-streaming system, which successfully recorded the Sheriff’s Forum and had been tested earlier that same day, experienced an unexpected failure during the event. As a contingency, we immediately relied on our backup camera system. While the backup camera successfully captured the video portion of the forum, it failed to record any audio.

We understand that many community members who were unable to attend in person were counting on the recording to stay informed about the candidates and issues discussed. We share your disappointment and recognize the importance of preserving these conversations for the public.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and frustration this may cause. Transparency and community access remain central to our mission, and we will be reviewing our recording procedures and backup systems to reduce the likelihood of a similar issue occurring in the future.

Thank you for your understanding and for your continued support of local community coverage.

– Welcome to Quincy WA News

Disclaimer:
These interviews are presented as part of our commitment to providing accessible, local information to the community. All candidates in the 2026 Grant County Commissioner race were given the same questions, in the same format, and the opportunity to share their perspectives directly.

The responses published here are the candidate’s own words, presented without editing, interpretation, or commentary beyond basic transcription. Audio recordings are provided alongside transcripts to ensure full transparency.

Welcome to Quincy WA News does not endorse, support, or oppose any candidate. Our role is to provide information so residents of Grant County—including the 98848 communities—can make informed decisions based on their own judgment.