We're all in this together
We're all in this together
Seven years ago, Coulee Medical Center was in trouble. Financial challenges going back to 2012 combined with an administration publicly described by staff as "incompetent and hostile" had led to layoffs, unpaid bills, and high-profile provider resignations at the public hospital. In summer of 2017, the CEO hired to turn things around had resigned - after just one year on the job. To alarmed community members at the time, the hospital itself appeared to be in critical condition. It was then that...
The senior center lost approximately $70,000 this year to a contractor with a documented history of scamming clients in Washington, and it looks like the money is gone for good. The board president of the local 501(c)3 nonprofit organization reportedly wrote the check based on an unrealistic, unclear and over-valued contract with no specified end-date - an expense that, according to the senior center's own bylaws, should have gone before both the full board and the general membership for...
Grant County Health District (GCHD) staff have been responding to an increase in chickenpox (varicella) cases in Grant County over the past several months. GCHD has investigated reports of chickenpox in multiple parts of the county and is currently managing a chickenpox outbreak at a childcare center in Warden, affecting several children not yet eligible for the chickenpox vaccine, the agency said in a release last week. GCHD urges all eligible residents to get up to date on the chickenpox vaccine if they have not had chickenpox yet. “By...
The Grand Coulee volunteer firefighters would like to remind everyone to be careful during the upcoming July 4th holiday and to be careful all summer during outside activities. Local firefighters are not alone in their concern. Agencies responsible for fighting fires statewide are issuing pleas for safety and advising people take in public displays instead of lighting off their own fireworks. "In 2023, fire incidents from fireworks resulted in more than $12 million of property damage in...
Oohs and aahs and lots of applause were audible at the end of last year's fireworks show put on by Rocketman Pyros, L.L.C. So the chamber of commerce brought them back again. The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce's main sponsor of the fireworks, STCU, merged in 2021 with the Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union and has been a reliable community partner ever since, helping the community to put on many events. It's hard to imagine a better, more iconic venue for the patriotic show than the top...
I get that people who love democracy and detest MAGA fascism are alarmed about President Joe Biden. I share the concerns. What’s astounding – and it speaks to how numb we’ve become – is that virtually no one with a public megaphone, in the wake of last week’s debate, is calling for Donald Trump to get the hell out and leave us in peace. Yes, Biden ratcheted up the age issue anew with his oft-enfeebled performance. Perhaps the Democrats would be better off if he withdrew and cleared the decks for a more vigorous candidate (assuming...
I’ve tried a number of times to milk cows. No luck. Rather, no milk. I was making my first trip down to southern Idaho to court my wife. It was a 550-mile overnight drive from Potlatch, Idaho, where I worked, to Buhl, Idaho, where my future wife Dorothy lived on a farm. I left at 5 p.m. and arrived at milking time. I was born on a farm and lived my first six years out in the country. Just one cow, and my dad did the milking. Anyhow, I was directed out to the barn where Dorothy and her brother Bob were in the process of milking 27 cows. I...
When reading Roger S. Lucas’ column of June 19, I was concerned about his use of the term ‘Eskimo.’ Having lived in Alaska for about 40 years I learned that many (though not all) indigenous Alaskans view the term as racist. Though the origin of the word is still in question, isn’t it better to avoid using it, just as ‘squaw’ is no longer used? Having worked for the Anchorage Daily News for most of those years (as a graphic designer, page designer and illustrator) I understand the daily challenges of editing, but this one I...
Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu won’t let anything stop their abhorrent killing of innocent civilians. Putin justifies massacring Ukrainians by gross disinformation. Netanyahu justifies annihilating Palestinians by Hamas’s horrific October 7 attack which, of course, deserved strong response. Any chance of stopping the two will probably have to happen internally. Internal resistance to Adolf Hitler’s atrocities was exemplified by world-renown German Christian Dietrich Bonhoeffer who felt God’s calling to help assassinate Hitler....
A pontoon boat makes its way up Banks Lake near the airport Tuesday proudly flying an American flag. As the Independence Day holiday approaches, the chamber of commerce has been busy fielding "a lot of [visitor information center] type questions" from people planning visits from out of state and the western side of Washington, coming for the local festivities. See The Star's guide to the chamber's Festival of America in the second section of this...
The Grant County Fair announced last week that they are looking for an interested citizen of Grant County to serve on the Fair Advisory Committee. The committee advises the Fair director and county commissioners on fair related topics. The committee also assists in the preparation and running of the Grant County Fair. The position open is one regular member position. The term is three years with a maximum of two terms. There is no compensation for serving on the committee. An application must be completed and can be found at...
The Okanogan County Property Rights Coalition will hold an important meeting on Wednesday July 10 at the OCRP Headquarters at 647 ½ South 2nd Ave in Okanogan at 6 p.m. The Okanogan County Planning Commission has completed their review of the proposed revised Okanogan County Zoning Ordinance and has submitted their recommendations to the Okanogan County Commissioners for their review. Please plan to attend this meeting and notify any property owners that are concerned about the revisions to this document to attend as...
Coulee Dam Police 6/17 - Police went to the area of River Drive and Elmer City Access Road to check on a female said to be sitting on the side of the road, but didn’t see her upon searching the area. 6/19-6/22 - Reports were filed for separate incidents including a citizen assist on Goodfellow Avenue in Electric City; assisting with a case related to burglary/unlawful entry at the former Center School in Grand Coulee; a family fight situation on Diamond Street; a traffic offense in Electric City; and a verbal disturbance at the bar in...
Fire Dist. 14 Grant County Fire District #14 will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday, July 8, at 6:00pm at the Electric City Fire Station. Area AA Meetings In Electric City, the New Hope group holds its meetings Monday through Friday evenings at 6pm at the Vets Center. There is also a noon meeting every Wednesday. These meetings are open and non-smoking. For more information, contact Paul 631-4551 or Phyllis 631-1187.I In Nespelem, the group Bound and Determined holds its meetings Monday evening at 7 p.m. Food Bank Closed The food bank...
The Visitor Center Park in front of Grand Coulee Dam is a sprawling lawn just below an award-winning visitor information center that you can walk to learn more than you thought possible about the mile-wide concrete behemoth in front of you, but that might not mean much to your kids. That’s why the Festival of America organizers for the sponsoring Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will have games and activities, including cool water features, literally, to keep kids entertained and not overheated. So, you might want your kids to go...
Parking at the park below the Visitor Center is extremely limited and usually fills up fast. Plan on parking along the nearby streets or in the overlook parking lots along highway 155, either above the dam, or just below the top. Grant Street, running uphill from the turn into the park, offers diagonal parking spots, but the rest of Coulee Dam (the town) has only parallel...
The Festival of America wouldn't be the FOA without good food and good, well, goods to sample. Here's a list of vendors we know are coming. There are no known unknowns, so anybody else who shows up would be an unknown unknown. (Look it up if you don't know, just for fun.) FOOD: • El Charro Birrieria • Inland Empire Concessions • Kettle Krazy • Km Enterprises Co • SweetLips LLC • Marsalee's Thai Foods & Ice Cream • Bubble Bee Tea • Wrap City • Captain's Cod Company MARKET...
The stage at the Festival of America will fill with sound starting at 3 p.m. both days of the festival, featuring artists close to home as well as those making the trip over from Spokane and beyond. Hear everything from chill acoustic guitar solo artists to rock bands complete with brass and keys to get you on your feet even in the heat. Two bands headline on Thursday evening and two more on Friday. Read on for who's playing when, and bring your friends out for a great time at the dam!...
There is a $50 charge for obituaries published in the Star. This includes a photo and up to 500 words. Reminders for Celebrations of Life and Death Notices are $25. Articles must be either e-mailed, faxed or dropped off at the Star office. They will not be accepted over the phone. The deadline to submit an article is Monday by 5 p.m. For more information, call 509.633.1350 or visit our website at...
7-11th Grade Honor Roll (3.25-3.49) 7th- Sawyer Tillman, Marissa Burton, Zaley Laramie, Konner Mathias, Kelis Pierre; 8th- Derek Atkins, Trevor Johnson, Gavin Marris, Thomas Tynan, Gabe Mellon, Chantelle Pakootas; 9th- Alivia Bjorson, Dasyn Abrahamson, Connor Johnson, Lucas Flett, Vivian Leadingham; 10th – Elizabeth Crinklaw, Sienna Atchison, Carmen Thomas-Turner, Sophia Hevener, Ava Sam, Halle Picard, Roanin McKinney, Pharaoh Hudson; 11th- Lucas McKissen, Leighani Marconi, Jahzara Simpson, Jaxon Krohn, Taylor Thomas, Champ Louie, Jeri...
Keller School District No. 003 Public Notice The Keller School District No. 003, Ferry County, Washington, has completed preparation of a budget for fiscal year 2024-2025. The completed budget is on file in the school district administration office located at 17 South School Road, Keller, WA 99140. A copy of the budget will be furnished to any person at the above address. The Board of Directors of Keller S.D. #003, Ferry County, WA will be meeting Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm, for the purpose of adopting the 2024-2025 budget. The...
