Groups gather to celebrate Coulee Corridor

Clemons remembered as 'byway patriarch'

SOAP LAKE — Saturday was a big night for members of the Coulee Corridor Consortium.

The group's fourth annual "Big Event" drew more than 350 people to Soap Lake High School to celebrate the scenic byway and learn about its history. The event is aimed at informing the public of the accomplishments of the CCC and is also the group's annual fund-raiser.

"We like to celebrate our accomplishments," CCC Chairman Tim Alling told a crowd in the Soap Lake gymnasium, "and that's what this is tonight."

The Coulee Corridor has been designated as a Washington Scenic Byway and includes 150 miles of State Highways 17 and 155, running from Othello to Omak.

Alling said the road is full of stories, and the CCC is a group dedicated to seeing those stories told. Saturday's event started with those stories, and many story board displays of the corridor's heritage filling the school's hallways.

"It's kind of a celebration of things we've been able to accomplish," Alling said of the event, "things we're looking to do."

One of the group's accomplishments this last year was the addition of 50 more miles to the byway. In August the CCC and the Colville Confederated Tribes extended the byway through the Colville Indian Reservation, to Omak.

Colville Confederated Tribe Chairman Joe Pakootas told the audience Saturday that it's very important to share the history of the group's along the corridor. Adding that the more history and culture learned about areas along the byway, the better the trips for visitors to the area.

"The more that you can share," Pakootas said, "The greater the experience for the people that come and visit you."

Alling said after the event that the CCC is also hoping to go national. The Coulee Corridor could soon soon have a national designation, meaning that they would be able to reach out to a bigger audience of visitors, Alling said.

"We have tremendous assets here," Alling said, "and a lot of people don't realize what tremendous assets we have."

The "Big Event" treated many to a meal of Indian tacos and a silent auction before the main program. The annual fund-raiser also brought new or renewed registrations of more than 50 members to the CCC's rolls.

Saturday's event was emceed by Othello City Administrator Ehman Sheldon, and representatives from U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings office and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray's office were also on hand for the event. The evening also included a performance by the ASL sign language group from Soap Lake High School.

One of the themes of Saturday's event was the Ice Age Floods that blew through the area from Glacial Lake Missoula during the last ice age, leaving the unique landscape along the corridor today. As part of the event, Charles Mason and Susan Lacy performed a one-act play about the scientist most credited with developing the flood theory. The two performed "J. Harlen's Last Ride," in honor of geologist J. Harlen Bretz.

But many in the group also paid tribute to one of their own. Les Clemons was vice chairman of the CCC board when he died in a hit-and-run vehicle accident Tuesday.

Clemons's son Neil Clemons told the group Saturday that his father believed in CCC as a team, adding that is appropriate now for other members to find a higher role for themselves.

CCC Secretary Rita Tuller said the death of Clemons made the group realize how much of a family they are.

"He was kind of like the byway patriarch," Alling said. Alling said the group will miss Clemons, but said Clemons would be telling them to move ahead and keep making the byway better.

Eastern Washington University Professor Bill Kelley also spoke to Clemons memory, saying that Clemons often saw an opportunity where others saw problems.

"He just thought you had to work at getting the job done," Kelly said.