Archive - Nov 22, 2011
Area voters went to the polls in stronger numbers than residents in other parts of Spokane County and throughout the state, according to statistics released by the Spokane County Elections Office.
All told, 151,697 ballots were returned to the elections office for the 2011 general election, which relates to a 57.02 percent voter turnout.
The Stevens County turnout was 58.19 percent, while the statewide average is 43.43 percent, down from 50.9 percent in the last off-year election, 2009.
John William Melville, 83 years of life, a resident of Deer Park and formerly of Valley, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011.
He is the dear husband of Virginia Malek and the loving father of Cheryl Farley and Dave Melville of Newport and Ron Melville of Chattaroy. His brothers are Robert Melville of Spokane and Gerald Melville of Valley. John enjoyed numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Private urn placement will take place at a later date for former Chattaroy resident Marian J. (Middleton) Dierks, 69, who passed away on Nov. 11 at her Spokane Valley home.
Born on Aug. 12, 1942, to Loren and Eva Middleton in Spokane, she attended Riverside High School. She later worked as a waitress, cook, and baked for several establishments, nursing homes, and retirement homes.
She married James D. Dierks in 1985.
Mrs. Dierks enjoyed planting flowers, doing crossword puzzles, traveling, fishing, and going to her grandchildren's soccer and baseball games, and "Hoopfest" every year.
A celebration of life was held on Nov. 18 at the Marysville (Wash.) Free Methodist Church for former Springdale resident William "Bill" J. Blatt, 79, who passed away on Nov. 9.
Born on Oct. 3, 1932, in Springdale to Charles and Mae Blatt, he worked for Western Electric for 22 years and GTE for 15 years before retiring in 1993.
He was preceded in death by a son, Frederick C. Blatt; and a granddaughter, Heather Heimbigner.
