Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Maria Manley of Odessa, right, leads her fiance Justin Brooks, left, and his son across the fairway during an April 8 outing at Odessa Golf Course and RV. A sculpture of "social distancing champion" Sasquatch is in the background.
Butch Schmidt of Odessa takes an approach shot April 8 at the local golf course.
ODESSA - Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday gave a thumbs up to resuming outdoor recreation close to home, as long as participants keep their distance.
During his press conference, he said residents could resume golfing, fishing, hunting and hiking and other outdoor recreation May 5.
That's good news to small recreation venues in Eastern Washington that never fully shutdown under his quarantine orders due to the coronavirus quarantine.
The governor declared a statewide emergency on Feb. 29 and followed up a series of shutdowns affecting businesses and activities.
Many golf courses east of the Cascades remained in operation, unless someone tattled to a state agency.
The shutdown of outdoor recreation, churches, businesses and other activities have spawned protests across the state.
Gov. Inslee reacted to those protests by allowing "low-risk" construction as of last Friday and outdoor recreation as of May 5.
Golfers will be able to return to the course May 5, as long as they don't share rides.
"Two-somes" will be allowed for non-related individuals, Inslee said. "Four-somes" will be allowed for families residing in the same household.
In addition to golf, residents can hit area waterways for fishing again.
In Lincoln, Sprague Lake, Coffeepot Lake and Lake Roosevelt are among those opening May 5.
While Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area is federally managed, officials said they will follow the guidance offered by Inslee.
Until further notice, all camping remains closed at Lake Roosevelt and elsewhere in the state.
Fishermen and boaters should expect restrooms to be closed, and garbage services curtailed to protect recreationalists and employees from possible coronavirus exposure.
Boat launch access will depend on water level, officials said.
"Based on the data we have now received, we are close to the point where we can enjoy the outdoors again," Inslee said Monday. "This includes fishing, hunting and the ability to play golf."
But only if you don't cough, sneeze or have a runny nose.
Residents who have "flu-like symptoms" are still barred from recreating publicly, Inslee said.
While the governor claimed the reopening is "data-driven," the announcement came just two days after what should have been the opening of lowland lake fishing season.
Across Washington, hundreds of fishermen have protested for two weeks, calling on the governor to "Let Us Fish."
According to the governor, boat launches, parks and publicly owned lands managed by the state Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources and Washington State Parks are among the areas allowed to reopen.
The decision to reopen municipal parks and recreation venues will be determined by local officials, he said.
Several state-managed areas will not reopen, either, State Parks and Recreation Commission Director Don Hoch said.
According to Hoch, a list of park openings will be announced later this week.
Inslee cautioned that the openings could be temporary if residents don't follow his rules or if cases of coronavirus start to increase.
"This is a decision we make today," Inslee said. "But if this virus were to spring back, we may have to roll back these measures again."
"All of our campgrounds will remain closed until further notice," Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz added during the press conference.
Gov. Inslee said residents need to remain local when they venture outdoors.
"Limit unnecessary travel; don't make overnight trips," he said, suggesting only "daytrips."
State Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind said his department is working with Oregon and federal officials to reopen a spring Chinook salmon fishing season.
He also said the agency will work with hunters to refund or make other arrangements for this with licenses and seasons interrupted by the shutdown.
"We'll make it right for you," he said.
Susewind called on outdoor recreationalists to "find another place to go" if they arrive somewhere crowded. He also said outings should be with family members only.
While fielding questions, Gov. Inslee downplayed the reopening of outdoor recreation as a signal of other openings to come.
"We are going to have to retain plenty of restrictions past May 4," he said Monday.
During a press conference Wednesday he confirmed that the quarantine lockdown will remain in effect, but said he'll unveil a reopening plan publicly Friday..
But Inslee may be out of time. To continue most of his actions, he'll need the support of the legislative leadership - Democratic Majority Leader Sen. Andy Billig of Spokane, Republican Minority Leader Mark Schoesler of Ritzville, Democratic Rep. Majority Leader Laurie Jinkins of Tacoma and Republican Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox of Yelm.
In the absence of a special session of the legislature, state law requires the "four corners" to approve of emergency orders that conflict with constitutional rights for more than 30 days.
All four have signed onto multiple quarantine orders since Feb. 29, the day Gov. Inslee declared an emergency.
Both Sen. Schoesler and Rep. Wilcox have said publicly that they are not likely to approve additional quarantine extensions.
In addition, thousands of protesters are expected on the Capitol campus Friday to protest the governor's "unconstitutional" actions.
The "Rule of Law Day Protest" is expected to spill over to county courthouses statewide.
In neighboring Grant County, hundreds are expected at 1 p.m. at the Grant County Courthouse, 35 C St., N.W. Ephrata.
A march is also planned at 1:45 in Spokane, from Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena to the Spokane County Courthouse.
Details of any local Lincoln County protest were not available at press time.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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