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Chamber Meeting JAN 6
North Franklin Visitor Center ~ 6PM

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We are so proud of each of you! Thank you for bringing joy, confidence, and kindness to the stage. We’re also proud to recognize Jr. Miss Winterfest Cataleya Garza and Winterfest Princess Paulina Schonder.

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Tonight we announced a brand new award! The Rising Star award! We as the Greater Connell Area Chamber of Commerce board members had the pleasure of announcing a brand new award, the Rising Star Award. This award was put in place to recognize a rising star in our community. This year’s Rising Star is a student at Connell Elementary, a sister, a friend and a kind human. Our first award recipient for the Rising Star Award was even a participant in the Jr Miss Winterfest Pageant!
CAN WE GET A DRUM ROLL PLEASE
Our rising star is none other than the Executive Director of Noras Kindness Kitchen,
Eleanora Peters.

WINTERFEST DEC 6

Big things are happening at the Reimann Industrial Center! The Port established this development site in 2019, thanks to a long-standing partnership with Balcom & Moe Inc. Based on high demand for more industrial ground, a deal was struck to double the size of the Reimann. The Port will conduct an engineering master plan analysis of the 320 acres in 2026-2027, while Balcom & Moe continues to farm the land.

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/business/article313101301.html

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Kaffrin's Coffee

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Kaffrin’s Coffee (@kaffrinscoffee) • Instagram photos and videos

Wild Olive's Charcuterie

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Wild Olive’s Charcuterie K (@wildolivescharcuteriekingdom) • Instagram photos and videos

Pizza Station

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pizza station (@pizza_station2000) • Instagram photos and videos

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WinterFest

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS

Learn More

6 December

ALWAYS 1ST WEEK OF DECEMBER

NEWS

LOCAL NEWS · LOCAL SOURCES

Elections flip Connell City Hall

Kahlotus councilman killed in crash

Movie films in Sprague

SEE ALL NEWS

- PRESS HERE-

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PO Box 401 Connell WA 99326 connellchamber@gmail.com

December 3, 2025

By: Katherine Trowbridge

As the new council and mayor are set to come into office in January of 2026, Connell City Hall has seen two big vacancies.

The first, was the letting go of Public Works Director Hallie Tuck, in November. City staff shared that this position has been temporarily filled by Tyson Steele.

Mayor Lee Barrow added, "The position was temporarily filled until the new administration decides what to do from here." The mayor did add that the city is up to a full staff in public works.

The other vacancy is that of Connell's City Administrator. Cathleen Koch quietly left the city on Monday, Dec. 1.

Mayor Barrow shared, "All indications showed she would be let go or, at least, the mayor would be pressured to let her go at the first of the year."

Mayor Barrow stated it was a "separation from service on good terms" as she chose to leave and he allowed her to, on her own terms.

[per the contract, she would have had to have been fired to receive severance, which she did]

Mayor Barrow expressed they will not seek to post positions or make any hires at this time. "It wouldn't be fair to hire now. It's best to let the new mayor and council make those decisions," he said.

Read the original article on Franklin County Graphic >>

The Franklin County Graphic (FCG) is a locally owned and operated, weekly source of community news and information across Franklin County. The Franklin County Graphic is a Legal Newspaper (approved January 11, 1955).

North Franklin News | Issue 9

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We are so proud of each of you! Thank you for bringing joy, confidence, and kindness to the stage. We’re also proud to recognize Jr. Miss Winterfest Cataleya Garza and Winterfest Princess Paulina Schonder.

WINTER FUN IN CONNELL

WinterFest

6

December

Elections flip Connell City Hall

Kahlotus councilman killed in crash

Movie films in Sprague

- PRESS HERE-

Contact

Elections flip Connell City Hall

Read the original article on Franklin County Graphic >>

Contact Info

December 4, 2025

WHAT'S GOING ON?

UPDATE

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We are so proud of each of you! Thank you for bringing joy, confidence, and kindness to the stage. We’re also proud to recognize Jr. Miss Winterfest Cataleya Garza and Winterfest Princess Paulina Schonder.

People of the YearNominations CLOSED

Man, Woman, Senior, Educator, Rising Star, Businesses

Franklin Co. Fire Dist. 1

Franklin County Graphic

NFSD Transportation

Zootopia 2

WinterFest

6

December

Contact

Contact Info

People of the Year
Nominations CLOSED