News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Public meetings, including those of city councils, school boards, and various districts, will need to continue to be held telephonically, a requirement that might lead to an expanded means of public participation in at least one local city. Gov. Jay Inslee extended proclamations related to COVID-19 restrictions Friday, including proclamations related to public meetings forbidding them from being held in person. "The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and its progression in Washington State continues... Full story
The Grand Coulee City Council approved a $3.57 million, five-year contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Thursday to continue to use the Grand Coulee Police Department to provide additional security services at the Grand Coulee Dam. The contract, approved and effective as of May 22, expires on May 31, 2025. The city’s old contract with the bureau expired in November 2019, which led to a six-month extension while a new contract was negotiated. The Star was unable to obtain specific details of the new contract but reported in February t...
Even before the order went statewide Friday directing widespread wearing of masks in public and requiring business to mandate it for employees not working alone, Grant County health authorities had already decided that protection was necessary. It is now mandatory to wear face masks in many public situations in Grant County, which recently entered Phase 2 of the Washington’s Safe Start Recovery Plan. “After much consideration, research, and consultation, Grant County Health Officer Dr. Alexander Brzezny is issuing a Health Officer Dir... Full story
As “distance learning” continues at Lake Roosevelt Schools during the COVID-19 pandemic that has kept students out of classrooms, principals weigh in on students’ participation in online classes. During the May 26 school board meeting, held electronically via Zoom, the topic of student participation came up. LR Elementary School Principal Lisa Lakin said teachers are getting participation from about 65% of their students. “Every week that students ‘check in’ with their teacher they are counted as attending,” Lakin’s report to the board, incl... Full story
A statewide health care campaign is urging people not to delay getting treated for any other health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing that hospitals can still treat non-COVID issues. Dr. Sam Hsieh, Coulee Medical Center’s chief medical officer, told The Star in an email on Monday that “there is a national drop of 60% of normal visits for primary and specialty care visits.” The Spokesman Review recently reported on the issue of people delaying their healthcare, reporting that Washington state doctors have cited instances of pe... Full story
Lake Roosevelt’s COVID-19 era graduation should go on as planned despite Okanogan County currently being in Phase 1 of Washington State’s Safe Start Recovery Plan. Graduation is scheduled to be held June 13 at 7 p.m. at the Lake Roosevelt football field where social distancing guidelines will mean limited interaction, attendees staying in their cars, graduates walking on and off the field one at a time to collect their diplomas, and slideshows and speeches being projected onto large screens on the field. Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High Sch... Full story
Camping is still closed in the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, including at Spring Canyon, and boat launch fees can only be paid by credit card now. The National Park Service said Monday that the closure of campgrounds is continuing until further notice to help quell the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Four of the five counties that border the lake, Lincoln, Stevens, Ferry, and Grant are in Phase 2 of Washington state's Safe Start recovery plan, with Okanogan still being in Phase 1.... Full story
With time running out, people with ideas about plans emerging for Spring Canyon, the popular beach and park on Lake Roosevelt just east of Grand Coulee, should make them known to the National Park Service. You have until the end of the day on May 30 to comment on potential changes at Spring Canyon, including the removal of the swim dock, removal of the concession building, and more. The Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Draft Visitor Use Site Management Plan and Environmental Assessment is available to view online and available for...
It is now mandatory to wear face masks in many public situations in Grant County, which recently entered Phase 2 of the state of Washington's Safe Start Recovery Plan. "After much consideration, research, and consultation, Grant County Health Officer Dr. Alexander Brzezny is issuing a Health Officer Directive mandating this use of face coverings in some public settings," a May 27 press release from the Grant County Health District reads. "This is one easy effort to assist with reducing the... Full story
The volume of police activity for the Grand Coulee Police Department seems to have gone down during the COVID-19 pandemic. In April of 2018, the GCPD had 99 incidents, in April of 2019 116, and in April of 2020 only 67. Data from the Multi Agency Communication Center in Moses Lake, who relays 911 calls to the appropriate agency, shows that the number of calls they received for the GCPD were lower in 2020 than 2019, but higher than 2018. That data does not include calls that the GCPD receives directly. In 2018, from April 1 to May 15, MACC... Full story
Grant County was approved Saturday to move to “Phase 2” of the Washington State COVID-19 Safe Start Recovery Plan, opening many businesses and activities, with some restrictions. Grant County commissioners had voted Friday to move to phase 2 as soon as state authorities approved the application. Phase 2 includes the opening of hair and nail salons, restaurants opening their dining rooms to 50% capacity, retail with restrictions, and more. Grant County Health District was notified May 23 that their application to move to phase two was app... Full story
An unemployment benefits scam has been happening in multiple states the past couple of weeks, costing the state hundreds of millions of dollars, and there have even been incidents in the Coulee. In the state of Washington, an additional 369,016 people filed claims for unemployment benefits from May 10-16, bringing the total number of claims to 1,670,580, an increase of about 28% from the previous week. The Employment Security Department “believes some portion of the high numbers from the past week are due to an increase in fraudulent c...
You have until the end of the day on May 30 to comment on potential changes at Spring Canyon, including the potential removal of the swim dock, removal of the concession building, and more. The Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Draft Visitor Use Site Management Plan and Environmental Assessment is available to view online and available for public comment The plan lists potential changes to nine sights along Lake Roosevelt, including Spring Canyon. Chapter two, page four (2-4), in a list of potential actions relevant to all sites along... Full story
Local cities and towns could soon receive money as part of a COVID-19 federal relief package, but city officials are leery of requirements they may not meet. “Local governments will soon receive their portion of nearly $300 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funds awarded to the state to address COVID-19-related costs,” a press release from the Washington State Department of Commerce announced May 8. “The funds are flexible, allowing cities and counties to use their allocation for everything from p... Full story
"Achiever of the Year" and "Business of the Year" for 2019 were chosen last week by members of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. Kerry Higgins, who co-owns Coulee Hardware, was named achiever of the year. Coulee Wall Variety Store was picked for business of the year. Coulee Wall Variety Store was named business of the year, an honor given to a business that "is active in the area, demonstrates growth, has innovative products or services for the community, provides excellent...
Electric City accepted a bid to build a new sewage lift station on the southern end of Grand Avenue, replacing one that dates back to the 1960s. The lift station pumps sewage to the wastewater treatment facility in Grand Coulee. The city council voted at their May 12 meeting, held via Zoom, to accept a $382,463.20 bid from TEK Industries, the lowest out of four bidders, to build the lift station. Steve Nelson from Century West Engineering, the city’s engineering firm, attended the Zoom council meeting as well. Nelson answered questions from C...
Service looks a little different lately at the Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Coulee. COVID-19 social restrictions won't allow typical gatherings, but drive-in services are being allowed now. On Sunday, May 17, Pastor Shawn Neider gave a sermon standing on a stump on the grass at the church, while 28 people sat in 16 vehicles, comparable to the church's normal attendance numbers, parked there to hear him. Neider said that he spoke "about our balance of church and state, obeying God and how...
This year's Lake Roosevelt High School graduation ceremony will likely look a lot different than those of their older siblings, friends, parents, or grandparents. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected yet another part of our lives, with the social distancing requirements making the rite of passage of graduating from a high school all the more difficult. Graduation will be held June 13 at 7 p.m according to a plan reviewed by the Grand Coulee Dam School District board of directors Monday night.... Full story
Rachelle Haven took the reins as executive director of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce in April during a strange year for a local economy that counts on tourism. Haven moved here 10 years ago, but has been coming here longer. "I grew up on the coast, but my dad is a 'Grand Coulee original,' and I still have many family members located here," she said. "I grew up spending my summers in the Coulee with my grandparents and fell in love with the area. I decided that Coulee was my home... Full story
In the Grand Coulee Dam School District, teachers, students, and parents have been navigating the uncharted waters and new paradigm of "distance learning" for the past few weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic, and education leaders expect it to continue as a feature of schooling after the crisis ends. "I am really proud of the work that we've done through the past few weeks with implementing our distance learning plan," said Kirk Marshlain, principal of Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School.... Full story
Grand Coulee Dam School District’s budget is anticipated to be in good standing this coming school year, but maybe not the year after. “I think we’re going to be OK,” Superintendent Paul Turner told the school board April 26 in a meeting held via Zoom. “My bigger worry is 2021-22.” The optimism was a shift in tone from the previous board meeting in which larger cuts were anticipated in school revenues due to the strain on the state’s funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, Turner said that cuts aren’t anticipated to be made by state l...
With this year's Colorama festival cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to take a look back at the history of the event that has been an integral part of the coulee community in one shape or another for over six decades. The festival evolved over the years. According to books on the subject compiled by the Coulee Pioneer Museum, which reference old newspaper articles, the Grand Coulee Rodeo, which was first held in 1935 or 1936, evolved into the Western Festival in 1954, a joint...
We are all frontline workers, a local doctor says, and we need to be creative in our lives. Dr. Sam Hsieh, a general surgeon and chief of staff at Coulee Medical Center, has given out over 100 caps with a special Chinese character on the front within an imperfect frame and the word "#Frontline" on the back. Hsieh's goal is to give the caps, made by Sunflower Graphics in Grand Coulee, out to all the health care workers at CMC. The symbol, according to a letter Hsieh gives out with the caps,... Full story
Nespelem School is at more of a disadvantage when it comes to distance learning, Superintendent Mary Hall told The Star, explaining that being in such a rural area limits access to the internet, as well as cell phone service. Hall said teachers do put together learning packets that are handed out when the school delivers lunches to students, and that teachers call the families or have the students call them to check in on their learning. Helpful websites are recommended to those with internet access, but many don’t have it, Hall said. “It’s jus... Full story
What would a high school graduation ceremony look like under social distancing guidelines in place during the novel coronavirus pandemic? At Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School, Dean of Students Sara Kennedy said that she and Principal Kirk Marshlain have been going through the results of a survey of parents and seniors. The results so far show that most do not want any kind of virtual graduation, but something with some more personal interaction. Kennedy said there is about a 50/50 split between preferring a drive-through graduation, or... Full story