We're all in this together
We're all in this together
Connor Shillam can play just about every musical instrument in the band room at Lake Roosevelt Schools, where he’s just finishing up his second and last year in the school district. Shillam has lost his job to the current cutbacks at the district. He offered to give his perspective on the situation in an interview. We spoke over Zoom. Obviously, he thinks music education has value to students, so what does it offer, I asked him during our conversation. His answer didn’t have anything to do with quarter notes, but everything to do with...
The region's canola crop was in full bloom Monday, which lasts about two weeks every year in May. Vast expanses on the hillsides north of Wilbur to Coulee City are full of the bright yellow flowers. - Scott Hunter...
The Colville Business Council has banned the sale, ignition and use of all fireworks within the boundaries of the Colville Indian Reservation for the 2026 season. The council approved the ban May 7, acting on a recommendation from its Community Development Committee. The resolution says the action is intended “to protect Tribal lands and the safety of the Membership and reservation residents.” The resolution cites dry conditions as a factor, noting that the Washington State Department of Ecology issued a drought declaration in April for...
The Isle of Flags, the annual display of hundreds of American flags over the Memorial Day weekend at Spring Canyon Cemetery, will be put up by volunteers at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 23. Volunteers are welcome to help. Eight new flags will be dedicated at this year's ceremony on Memorial Day. It begins at 11 a.m. May 25. The Isle of Flags Association was formed to collect, care for, and fly the burial flags of our deceased veterans, on appropriate occasions at Spring Canyon Cemetery. Flags will...
It’s hard enough to understand the difficulties the local school district finds itself in without making an argument that resorts to deliberately cherry-picking facts to color the origins of the problems in much darker hues than a clear picture would provide. For example, citing a chart that peaked with an anomalous high enrollment of 311 students higher than the current count gives a distinctly worse impression than a more accurate average of the seven prior years, which would tell you the district is down about 130-150 students from that...
All school districts face significant employee costs, increased insurance rates and inflation along with other major challenges. Many school districts get the same funding sources as the Grand Coulee Dam School District, but they are thriving. Why? It is due to advanced planning, foresight, knowledgeable leadership and gradually taking care of these issues over time before a crisis can develop. Our local elected School Board members, who have boasted they are good stewards, and their current superintendent have destroyed our local school...
May 26, 1940, The Dunkirk Evacuation was initiated by the British. Called Operation Dynamo, it was an attempt to save the British Expeditionary Force in France from total defeat by the advancing German Army. Great Britain assembled nearly 1,000 naval and civilian vessels of all kinds, aided by the Royal Air Force and favorable weather. The evacuation was mostly successful with about 340,000 British, French and Allied troops being moved out of France. France considered Dunkirk a betrayal. The alternative was likely the capture of the entire...
Coulee Dam Police 5/10 - A Lincoln Avenue man reported seeing a neighbor’s dog chase after a man walking his small dog, prompting that man to pick up his own dog and run from the other dog. The reporting party said the dog is regularly a problem and isn’t properly trained. 5/11 - A Central Drive man told police that a woman stopped by and asked him to open her juice bottle. Police told him to ask her not to come around if he didn’t want her stopping by. - Police checked the VIN number of a dirtbike at the request of a Birch Street woman...
Area AA Meetings In Electric City, the New Hope group now holds its meetings Monday thru Friday @ 6 pm every night, at the Vets Center in Electric cCty. Wa. Need more info? Call Betty at 509-429-7817 . In Nespelem, the group Bound and Detemined holds its meetings Monday evening at 7 p.m. at the Catholic Church. Contact Myrna at 634-4921. Food Bank Hours The food bank regular hours are Fridays from, 1-3 p.m. Questions call Pastor Shawn at 633-2566. Attention Vets A Veterans Service Officer will be at the Electric City Post every 2nd Tuesday of...
Jim died May 11, 2026 at 93 years of age. A life well lived. He was born to parents Spencer and Lucille Frost. He grew up on a ranch at the end of the road in Oakville with two younger brothers and horses. He was surrounded by a loving family and treasured friends, some of whom were life-long friends. After graduation from Oakville High School, he enlisted in the US AirForce and was stationed at Hickham AF Base in Hawaii on a flight crew that traveled to many foreign countries, creating...
William "Bill" Henry Lindh, 80, of Elmer City, Washington, passed away peacefully on May, 7, 2026 with his bride of 59 years and family by his side. Bill was born on April 4th, 1946 in Coulee Dam, Washington. He grew up in Ephrata, Washington, graduating from the local high school in 1964. After starting college, Bill chose to voluntarily join the Navy, proudly serving his country in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. After returning from his service for his country, Bill went on to graduate from...
Christopher William Fields was born on February 3, 1973, in Brewster, Washington, to Edward and Jan Fields. He grew up in Coulee City with his mother, Jan, stepfather, Rod Webster, and sister, Jennifer. Chris loved the outdoors and especially enjoyed fishing, hunting, hiking, and camping in the beautiful surrounding area. He was always happiest around a campfire, often tending and building it himself while spending time with family and friends. Chris attended school at Coulee-Hartline for most...
With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Callaway Isaac Piturachsatit on March 29, 2026. He was 10 years old. A memorial service is scheduled for May 30th at 1pm at the Coulee Dam Community Church. A light reception will follow the service. Kids are encouraged and welcome to...
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...
MOSES LAKE - The Lake Roosevelt Lady Raiders are headed to the state softball tournament after battling through the District 5 postseason and securing fourth place Saturday in Moses Lake. Lake Roosevelt opened postseason play May 12 with an 11-7 win over Brewster, overcoming an early deficit with explosive middle innings to advance. Trailing 5-0 after two innings, the Lady Raiders answered with four runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth to seize control. Shae Crollard led the offense,...
Seven Lake Roosevelt athletes qualified to compete at this Thursday’s District 5 Championship Track and Field Meet to be held at Central Washington University in Ellensburg — six boys and one girl. They qualified last week at the Central Washington 2B League Championships at Liberty Bell May 14, where Terrell Bush ran his best 100 of the season “due to an amazing start,” said Raider Head Coach Lori Adkins. From the girls’ team, Madelynn Carman came on strong in the field events, qualifying in the shot and discus, and in the long...
Lake Roosevelt golfer Sylas Johnson heads to the state tournament this weekend in Liberty Lake after qualifying with a tie for second place at the District 5 match last week at Colockum Ridge, near Quincy. It will be Johnson’s second trip to WIAA’s State Golf Tournament. “Back-to-back state appearances are a tremendous accomplishment and a testament to Sylas’ hard work, dedication, and consistency on the course,” the Lake Roosevelt Jr./Sr. High Athletics Facebook says. “Raider Nation is proud of you and excited to cheer you on at...
Notice of Change of Regular Meeting date for Public Hospital District No. 6, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, & Okanogan Counties, Washington Public Hospital District No. 6, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, and Okanogan Counties, Washington; which operates Coulee Medical Center and Coulee City Medical Clinic, will be changing the regular board meeting date for May. The next board meeting will be held Tuesday, May 26th, 2026 at 5:00 pm (Publish May, 20,...
