history – All Things Lake Chelan

Manson is now an affiliate Main Street community

by Richard Uhlhorn

Mainstreet Program:
Kim Ustanik, president of the newly formed Historic Manson Main Street Association was the featured speaker at the Manson Community Council meeting held on Tuesday, December 16.

Kim Ustanik, President of Manson’s new Mainstreet Program.

Ustanik remarked that the Mainstreet Program was born out of the Manson Chamber of Commerce. “We are currently an affiliate member,” said Ustanik. “There are several things we need to do yet.”

Washington State Main Street Program has been helping communities revitalize the economy, appearance, and image of their downtown commercial districts using the successful Main Street Four-Point Approach®

Ustanik said the main purpose of Manson’s program is to work towards economic vitality and the historic preservation of the downtown core.

As described, the program is intended to concentrate on the main corridor from Lake Chelan Building Supply all the way through town to the Old Swimming Hole west of the PUD Swimming area.

“We will be the only unincorporated community in the program,”Ustanik said.

Vice President of the Manson’s Main Street Program is Wayne Miller who also is heading up the creative side of the program. “We are working with an artist right now,” said Miller. Metal signage is being designed and created and will hopefully be ready for placement before this January’s WinterFest event.

**Wayne Miller is serving as the Mainstreet Program’s Vice President and is chairing the promotions committee.**

Ustanik also mentioned an upcoming kickoff campaign.

The goal, of course, is to combine publicity outreach to the community visually and with special events, creating business opportunities, telling historic stories and maintaining economic vitality of the community.

Following is the current organization members. If you are interested in becoming involved, contact Kim Ustanik at the

Historic Manson Main Street Association

PO Box 801

Manson, WA 98831

Our 2026 Board & Champions:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President – Kim Ustanik

Vice President – Wayne Miller, and Chair of Design Committee

Secretary – Mary Lynn Thompson, and Chair of Promotions Committee

Treasurer – Cynthia Dale

Project Manager – Jean Whitehouse

CHAMPIONS

Sarah Hart – VonHart Goods

Mariah Koester – Four Lake Winery

Nancy Grossi – Allisons of Manson

Todd Heric – former owner of KOZI/ZCounty Radio, and Chair of Outreach Committee

Marci Trask – downtown Manson resident

Olivia Libbey & Mary Lou Schoolcraft – both with extensive historical families, and story-telling knowledge.

ADVISORS
Kelley Hegarty-Lammers – Advisor, retired with extensive experience in community/city building , mostly in small towns in Alaska
Shaimoom Newaz – Advisor, owner of the impeccable Shai Creates

**Manson Community Council – Renee’ Commons, Dom Amor, Gerry Ustanik, Jeff Conwell, and chairman Mike Kirk;**

In other Council Business:
It was reported that Robin Pittman, Manson Parks has put the Old Swim Hole project on hold. The Parks Department is apparently seeking more funding for the project through the State Appropriations Committee.

A part of the project includes a boardwalk from the park to the current PUD park.

Dom Amor reported that the Council came up short with the Community Foundation of North Central Washington for funding. “They told me that they have had a lot of applications and that it was not a NO to our requests, but not this time. The Council’s request was for administrative costs. “Asking for money next year is not going to be easy.”

The Manson Community Council now has a long awaited website, and it is nice. Check it out at http://www.mansoncommunitycouncil.org

Jeff Conwell reported that he has met with Entiat regarding incorporation. Cashmere is also interested in the process.

Gerry Ustanik remarked that the Council and community is not starting something new with its desire to create a Dark Skies community. The PUD is also interested in this becoming a reality and Wapato Point has been contacted regarding the Dark Skies initiative.

LAKE CHELAN HEALTH/EMS BROKE GROUND FOR 2026 EMS STATION

by Richard Uhlhorn

In his opening remarks, Chief Operating Officer Shawn Ottley said, “Our EMS is one of the best Emergency Medical Services in the country.” He honored the department saying their maintaining the highest level of experience is the key to their success.

Lake Chelan EMS is 50 years old and on Monday, September 30, held a groundbreaking ceremony for its long awaited building adjacent to the new Lake Chelan Hospital.

A number of residents and luminaries were in attendance to listen to speakers involved in the project.

Dean Gable – Hill International, will be the acting project manager of the building project. He said he is happy to be working with the talented and creative people assigned to the project. “We are looking forward to a robust new home for EMS,” he said.

Matt Puick – Graham Construction will be the contractor’s senior project manager for the project. “Chelan is a unique community and they have put a lot of trust in EMS. I’m looking forward to bringing this project on-time and on-budget.”

Architect Ellyn Freed – Forte Architects, is excited to be involved in the growth of the Valley.

Hospital CEO Aaron Edwards stated that this project was three years in the making. “Ray (Eickmeyer) can remember six different locations spread all over the place. They are now in a two story mobile home.”

Edwards also thanked the city, Erin McCardle and Planning Director John Ajax for shepherding the project through.

Edwards also remarked that Representative Michael Steel secured the vast majority of funding for the project. “This would not have happened if not for Mike Steele.”

Jordana La Porte, LCH board chair remarked that the new building will be more than a garage. “It will help the hospital be more effective.” She introduced Mike who said there is nothing more special than helping projects at home. Steele is the head of the legislative appropriations committee.

**District 12 State Representative Mike Steele**

“I’m fortunate enough to have enough influence to make a small difference for people in the community,” said Steele. “I hope this facility will also.”

EMS Director Ray Eickmeyer told those in attendance that he is thankful for all the support the team gets.

**The ground is broken. EMS will have a new home in 2026.**

The new facility will provide EMS emergency responders with a permanent home that will have shared indoor/outdoor living space, office spaces, sleep rooms and bathrooms for on-shift staff, an ambulance garage and dedicated training areas for staff and community education.

Community education includes CPR, First Aid & AED training, Paramedics program, Paratransit services and Event EMS standby. To inquire about these programs by email at ems@lcch.net or by phone at 509-682-3300.

For those interested, EMS and Lake Chelan Health will be providing construction progress and updates here: http://www.lakechelanhealth.org/ems-building project.

THE CANCER WITHIN…

by Richard Uhlhorn

I, along with other members of the local media, was invited to tour Morgan Owens Elementary School (MOE) with Maintenance Director Rosie Burkhard on August 25, 2025.

**Chelan School Superintendent Brad Wilson and Maintenance Director Rosie Burkhard welcomed the local media for a tour of the Morgan Owens Elementary School in August.**

The Lake Chelan School District is asking the voters in its district to pass a $73 million dollar bond issue, primarily to build a new elementary school for its 450± students.

MOE, while structurally sound, was built in 1948 and has major infrastructure issues the district must deal with each year. Last year alone, according to School Superintendent Brad Wilson, the district paid out $97,000 in plumbing and electrical repairs.

THAT IS WHERE THE CANCER COMES IN… Rosie Burkhard was carrying a length of copper pipe and when we came to a bathroom that had been taped off, she explained that section of pipe had a pinhole in it that flooded the ceiling and bathroom which was getting repaired.

**Burkhard explains the issues with the buildings plumbing and electrical systems.**

**Students and teachers are faced with issues like leaking plumbing and electrical HVAC shutdowns on a regular basis.**

Unfortunately, once old copper pipe begins to experience failure, it continues to fail until the system needs total replacement.

We were also invited into a classroom where the teacher was running water in her sink. The water coming out was brown, another serious indication that plumbing failures were right around the corner.

**This is apparently the issue with water within the building. There are only two drinking fountains in the building.**

In addition, the building has no fire sprinkler system or fire suppression system in place. Fire exits are on the main floor, but one classroom has windows high up towards the ceiling as a possible escape route.

The building’s HVAC system would cost the district $5.2 million dollars to replace. “It just shuts down by itself,” said Burkhard. “We are definitely on our last legs here.”

The district is stuck with an aging kitchen system that won’t allow the kitchen staff to do anything beyond basic food services. Despite this, the school serves the majority of students breakfast and lunch, and sometimes snacks in the buildings gymnasium. “We can’t use the gym because it serves as a dining room most of the time,” said Burkhard.

The building has 97 single pane windows that contribute to a major heat loss during the winter months. The cost to replace them is estimated at $2.2 million to replace. Other classrooms have no windows at all.

In addition to aging building issues, at least 250 students have to cross Bradley Street twice a day for PE at the Community Gym. This takes a minimum of 20 minutes of learning time away.

Also, Bradley Street has become a major semi-truck route off Hwy. 97A.

**Hwy. 97 to Bradley Street has become a major semi-truck turn point to navigate Chelan.**

Students in the School of Innovation and Chelan Digital classes are situated in a building across the street from MOE and Pre-School students are also located in a building separated by the elementary school. All of this would, according to District plans, be eliminated with a new school building.

The district wants to replace the 1948 school with a new elementary building that will last well into the future. The decision to run a $73 million dollar bond issue came from a long line of Capital Facility committee meetings.

If passed by the voters, the funds would be used to build a new elementary school on district property behind the Community Gym at a cost of $54,74 million. In addition, Chelan School District’s Middle/High School would have its metal shop and wood shop remodeled to meet industry standards. A new ADA accessible weight room would also be added. The Middle/High School remodels and additions would cost $8.81 million.

Out at the Mt. Goat Field Complex, additional bleachers, parking for up 300 vehicles and a new eight lane all weather track, locker rooms, concession stand and restrooms would be added at a cost of $9.45 million.

The district has two tour opportunities in September for the public to be more informed about the need for a new school. These two tours will take place on:

September 10 @ 6 p.m and September 24 @ 6 p.m.

If you can attend, please RSVP Rosie at burkhardr@chelanschools.org.