It’s time to start watching for weight restrictions on county roads
Warming temperatures bring temporary weight restrictions on county roads every year. Do you know when you need a Special Motor Vehicle Permit? Read more.
Chelan County News Archive
Icicle Creek Work Group to hold Feb. 26 open house
The Icicle Creek Work Group invites the public to an open house on Feb. 26 to learn about ongoing progress on a variety of projects in the Icicle Creek watershed. The event is 6 to 8 p.m. at the Chelan County Fire District No. 3 firehall. The event will follow an open house format, with a 30-minute presentation at 6:30 p.m.
Point in Time Count shows decrease in unsheltered, increase in sheltered homeless population
Results from the 2025 homeless Point in Time Count, held last month, indicate a decrease in people living unsheltered – out of doors or in a place not meant for habitation – and an increase in the number of people living in shelters or temporary housing over last year. Get all the results here.
Take our survey to give your input on Community Wildfire Protection Plan
The planning team updating the Chelan County Community Wildfire Protection Plan invites the public to review the draft plan and provide feedback on it through an online community survey. Read more and take the survey!
Vehicle licensing services down while state upgrades its system
The vehicle licensing system of the Washington State Department of Licensing will be unavailable Feb. 14-17 because it is being upgraded. This impacts both online and in-office services until Feb. 18. Read more.
County allocates nearly $525,000 to programs fighting opioid abuse
Chelan County will distribute $524,745 in grants in the first round of its allocation of opioid settlement funding. The money will be shared by the Chelan County Regional Justice Center, Chelan County Superior Court and the Center for Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Wenatchee.
BOCC to pass short-term rental code updates on Feb. 11
UPDATE: The Board of County Commissioners has continued the hearing about short-term rental code updates to Feb. 18, when the board is expected to pass the resolution approving suggested updates to the code.
Vets Program hosts blood drive March 17
The Chelan County Veterans Program is hosting a community blood drive on March 17 with the American Red Cross. Participants are invited to register now.
MRWF recycles, disposes of 76.4 tons of household hazardous wastes in 2024
The Chelan County Moderate Risk Waste Facility continues to see growth in the amount of household hazardous waste it is safely disposing of or recycling. Learn more about how to dispose of your household hazardous wastes safely.
Coroner: 37 deaths related to drug overdoses in 2024
The Fentanyl crisis continues to have growing impacts here in Chelan County. Chelan County coroner Wayne Harris and Chris Sharp, director of the Chelan County Regional Justice Center, share 2024 statistics from their departments.
Olds Station Campus: Call for bids due Feb. 10
Sealed bids will be received by Chelan County at the Board of County Commissioner’s Office for construction of the Olds Station Campus construction project until 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 10.
BOCC to take comment on updates to short-term rental code
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will hold a public hearing on Jan. 14 to take comments on proposed updates to Chelan County’s short-term rental code. The public hearing will begin at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Confluence Technology Center.
BOCC to take comment on updates to short-term rental code
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will hold a public hearing on Jan. 14 to take comments on proposed updates to Chelan County’s short-term rental code. The public hearing will begin at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Confluence Technology Center. This news item was updated after the hearing.
Grentz, Johnson honored for decades of service to county's Noxious Weed Control Board
Joe Grentz and James Johnson were honored at a recent Board of County Commissioners meeting for their decades of service to the Chelan County Noxious Weed Control Board. Grentz served 38 years on the board, acting as chairman for several of those years. Johnson served 32 years on the board. Both stepped down last year.
Jan. 16 open house on Totem Pole Road
The public is invited to an open house that will focus on Phase I of the Totem Pole Road improvement project. The open house, a drop-in event, will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16, in the commons area of Manson High School, 1000 Totem Pole Road.
Planning Commission seeks 1 new member; apply by Jan. 15
Chelan County seeks people interested in filling an unexpired term on the county’s Planning Commission, a voluntary board that makes recommendations on long-range planning matters and development regulations to the Board of County Commissioners. Applications are due by Jan. 15.
County, partners to conduct Point-in-Time Count on Jan. 30
Chelan County and community partners will conduct the annual Homeless Point in Time Count from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Jan. 30. New this year, there will be three locations where the Point in Time Count will be hosted to better identify people living unhoused in the more rural communities and parts of Chelan and Douglas counties.
Chelan County, its partners clean up large encampment in Malaga
On Dec. 20, Chelan County and its partners completed the final day of cleanup on a large homeless encampment in Malaga. The camp’s condition caused concerns for the people living there as well as the crew working. This story has been updated with the total amount of refuse removed from the site.
Commissioners to hold 2025 budget hearing
Chelan County commissioners will hold the 2025 budget hearing at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 10. Public comment will be taken then in-person or via Zoom.
Traffic restrictions in place during Leavenworth Christmas festival
This story has been updated! To enhance public safety and ensure clear routes for emergency vehicles, temporary parking and traffic restrictions will be enforced during the Village of Lights: Christmastown festival, which begins Nov. 29 and runs on weekends (Friday through Sunday) through Dec. 28.
County awards 2025 lodging tax events, marketing grants
Chelan County commissioners recently allocated $252,350 in lodging tax grants to 23 tourism-related agencies. Read more to see who the successful grantees are.
Clerk offices have special public hours this week to make up for statewide network outage
The walk-up counter at the Chelan County Superior Court Clerk’s Office is closed for normal business until Friday, Nov. 22. In addition, the Chelan County District Court clerk’s office will be operating on reduced hours Nov. 19-22. Read more for details.
Jail's K9 unit receives Gesa Credit Union’s Local Heroes grant
The Chelan County Regional Justice Center’s K9 Unit was chosen by the Gesa Community Foundation to receive its Local Heroes Grant Award. The $15,000 grant will help cover operational costs next year for the K9 unit.
Renovations begin Nov. 12 on Veteran Services Office
The Veteran Services Office will be closed on Nov. 8 so county staff can pack up the office in preparation for a renovation project. On Nov. 12, the VSO will re-open at 400 Washington St., the Administrative Office for the Chelan County commissioners and the program's new home for four months.