News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Thank you for the nice piece on 21 June about the rescue situation in the Grand Coulee Area. It seems to me that the last sentence says it all: “But it isn’t going to happen under an R-1 zoning, Byers assured her.” Do you know what this tells me? It tells me that I have been selected by the council for its famous SELECTIVE prosecution, with no negotiation, with no tolerance or flexibility; even when I can stand in my own front yard and see the MAYOR’S RV BUSINESS operating at full capacity, I am on the other side of the street in more ways than... Full story
Wealthy coastal cities versus the agrarian countryside. Supporters of big central government versus advocates of a limited government. Big states versus small states. Manufacturers versus traders. Debt hawks versus doves. Sound familiar? If you guessed that these conflicts refer to the contemporary United States, you might be surprised they were actually areas of fierce disagreement among Americans in the late 18th Century. While we may seem divided today, we have risen above more severe divisions in the past. One of the major sticking points... Full story
If you're wondering if there will be a professional fireworks display off the top of Grand Coulee Dam on July 4, the answer is no. The annual Festival of America occurred last weekend, when the fireworks were a hit on Saturday night. Here's a bit of the finale. Fun fireworks finale from Scott Hunter on Vimeo....
Taking their best guess, Nespelem School District set up a tentative plan to spend $4.7 million to run the school in the next school year, give or take $525,000. Financial officer Tanya Bunting said they won’t know exactly what money will come in until the state Legislature passes a budget. The $525,000 will depend on what formula the Legislature comes up with to fully fund public education, a state Supreme Court requirement under the McCleary decision. That process is hung up and threatening a state government shutdown by Friday if D... Full story
The city of Grand Coulee restricts the use of legal, personal fireworks to a single venue: off the top of North Dam. But even there, local police would like you to know, they still have to comply with state law. And that lets out any mortar-style fireworks to those under the size of a golf ball. Firecrackers are illegal, as are bottle rockets, or any other missiles or rockets and other fireworks lacking the proper state seal. Officer Gary Moore said last week that he’d rather not spoil anyone’s fun, but he will if he discovers illegal fir... Full story
I was surprised to see such a biased article on the front page of the paper on June 21, 2017. The article titled, “Proposed federal budget cuts would take money from public to give to private schools,” should have been in the opinion section. Rather than just reporting on the proposed budget and giving the details, the author wrote it with an obvious left wing slant. The author mentions something about jeopardizing the separation of church and state. First of all, this is mentioned nowhere in the Constitution. The 1st Amendment prohibits Congre... Full story
I was very thankful to be asked to sit in on the LRHS Senior Oral Boards! I didn’t realize how much of a rewarding experience this was going to be. One thing I promised to address was the community service requirement. While most didn’t have a problem doing it, it was the wording that caused hard feelings. In a young person’s eyes, you see “community service” and that makes it look like it’s connected to doing something wrong. I heard, “When you’re on probation or in trouble, you get community service,” and I completely agree! I submitte... Full story
Nespelem School District has brought back Dr. Mary Hall, who was sworn in as the new superintendent at a board meeting Monday. The board also approved hiring Jeff Golding as a middle school science teacher. The Gonzaga University graduate is not a certificated teacher yet and will work on getting that certificate this year. Director Nancy Armstrong-Montes said he would also be receiving classroom management training. The board also approved hiring Marshal Stanger Adolph as a... Full story
The possibility of changing Coulee Dam from a “town” under state law to a “city” drew significant discussion at a town council meeting Wednesday, where the audience was packed following a door-to-door push last weekend by a candidate for council. Fred Netzel, who is running against David Schmidt for the council, said he wanted enough people at Wednesday’s meeting to ensure a basis of knowledge on the subject among townspeople and encourage open discussion. Mayor Greg Wilder said the question is one of importance for the town, which currently... Full story
The Colville Business Council Friday expelled one of its 14 members on a split vote just before elections set for this Saturday. Following an investigative hearing, the CBC expelled Ricky Gabriel with a 9-4 vote, citing ethics violations, according to a press release from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. The expulsion took effect immediately. The CBC said it found that Gabriel had violated three sections of its Code of Professional Responsibility, including: • Use of the council member’s position “to obtain financial gain... Full story
Members of two Grand Coulee Dam School District unions responding to recent internal surveys outlined a number of complaints dealing with discipline, communication and training issues. The survey responses provide a glimpse into a district, many of whose workers are disillusioned enough that union leaders felt compelled to ask questions of the membership. While the survey respondents collectively fell short of painting a no-confidence opinion, several within the two unions stated that they... Full story
While I would like to hang up my phone and put down my pen and just wait for the U.S. to heal by itself, I just can’t sit idle. Participation in the direction of our nation is the basis on which our country was founded. We all recognize the phrase “No taxation without representation.” What concerns me more and more is the concept of “representation.” It used to be that we would elect representatives who represented us, their constituents. But ever since the Supreme Court upheld Citizens United, Representative Dan Newhouse and his colleagues lis... Full story
A 20-foot-wide, 346-foot-long load weighing about a million pounds made it to its destination after a two-day trip from Coulee City to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's 230-kilovolt Switchyard early Thursday morning. The big rig carrying an electrical transformer had to be driven in the middle of the night in order to block as little traffic as possible and stopped at a pullout along SR-155 across from Steamboat Rock on Wednesday. The sight and a post on the state Department of Transportation... Full story
For some time, The Star has published just about all of its stories online as well as in print. That practice will continue, but by the end of this month, online access will not be free. Why? Because we can’t afford to lose you, and we are starting to. Across the country, newspapers have increasingly turned to charging for online access to the work of their journalists. It’s time The Star followed that course, and many seem to expect and understand that move. We hope our loyal readers will keep reading us wherever they prefer, in print or onl... Full story
The Turkish government is obviously familiar with the concept of “chutzpah,” if not necessarily the word. Ankara summoned the American ambassador to protest allegedly “aggressive and unprofessional actions” by the Washington, D.C., police. Their offense? Intervening after Turkish security personnel mauled peaceful protesters outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence in Washington. Video of the incident is jaw-dropping. About a dozen people protested Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- arriving at the ambassador’s residence after a Whi... Full story
Some 66 anglers caught and released 461 walleye over the course of the Gordon Steinmetz Memorial Spring Walleye Classic at Coulee Playland last weekend, but the biggest catch was likely the tournament, itself. Bill and Robin Harrison ranked highest with a total two-day haul of 36.42 pounds of walleye, a total helped considerably by the biggest fish of the event at 9.5 pounds. The tournament brought in those 66 teams, 132 anglers, plus others in their entourages, a number that likely produced a l... Full story
A million-pound load of equipment will slow traffic on local highways from Coulee City to Grand Coulee next week as it creeps to its destination just north of Grand Coulee, with delays expected of up to 90 minutes at a time. Drivers probably should not plan to travel on SR-155 late Tuesday night, May 30, nor early Thursday morning, June 1, when a huge piece of equipment will be blocking traffic for up to an hour and a half. An Oregon company will be moving a million pounds along the route from Coulee City to Grand Coulee, then up SR-174 on... Full story
Nancy Armstrong-Montes was honored with the Friends of Children award by the North Central Washington Educational Service District at a banquet in Wenatchee. Armstrong-Montes, who retired from teaching in Nespelem a few years ago, now volunteers on the school board, in the kitchen, the classroom, administration office and just about anywhere else there is a need, commented Superintendent Rich Stewart, who nominated her. "Rarely have I ever come across anybody that is so selfless," Stewart said,... Full story
[Update] The company planning the move of the big transformer has delayed the move after "discrepancies" were noted during a "weigh and measure" session with the state Department of Transportation, the company said. No word yet on a new schedule. Original story: Drivers probably should not plan to travel on SR 155 late Monday night/Tuesday morning, nor early Wednesday morning when a huge piece of equipment will be blocking traffic up to 90 minutes at a time. An Oregon company will be moving a million pounds along the route from Coulee City to...
The horrific scene was only revealed after five buses of students and staff from Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School arrived and had lined up behind yellow police tape to witness a disturbing mock scenario. When Colville Tribal Police staff lowered the black plastic, students saw the aftermath of an accident caused by a driver who had been texting. For several minutes, a crying Olivia Arnold wandered in a daze amid the carnage she had caused, while another victim screamed obscenities,... Full story
Students who witnessed a mock crash scene last Friday may not realize it, but they were given an important advantage that we hope they don’t squander. As horrific as the actors and organizers of the mock accident scene made it, the impact of any such impression naturally fades over time. But at least the students of Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School were subjected to the event organized by Colville Tribal Police in the first place. Now comes the tricky part. The mock crash depicted the scene of a two-car collision with multiple deaths a... Full story
The Center for Rural Affairs has fought on behalf of rural communities for nearly 45 years. We are heartened by U.S. Department of Agriculture Sec. Perdue’s expressions of support for rural communities during his early days in office. However, we are concerned about his current path. On May 11, Purdue proposed eliminating the position of Undersecretary for Rural Development and moving oversight of Rural Development agencies to the Deputy Secretary, USDA’s second-in-command. If this change is made, we lose the most significant rural adv... Full story
Did you know that May is National Foster Parent Appreciation Month? There are nearly 9,000 children currently in foster care in Washington state. Children enter foster care at no fault of their own. Most children in foster care have endured some form of abuse/neglect which made conditions unsafe to remain in their home. Thankfully, there are caring adults who choose to become foster parents. Foster parents are willing to open their hearts and homes to the children in foster care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Foster parents provide the safety,... Full story
Several local educators in two districts were honored last month, chosen for accolades in front of their counterparts from district all over this part of the state. Their own union members voted to send them to ceremonies of the North Central Washington Educational Service District, after nominations by colleagues. From the Grand Coulee Dam School District, Jess Utz was chosen from the classified educator staff for the Excellence in Education award. Jeff Piturachsatit got the award from the... Full story
This coming weekend is typically one that is packed full for many local folks, in a good way. This year it promises much the same, weather holding. With Mother’s Day, the Colorama festivities, the big rodeo, and the old-home week atmosphere at local gathering places, there’s no excuse for boredom. The chamber of commerce never stops working at improving Colorama, a multi-faceted, complex enterprise, the successful completion of which will leave many revelers pleasantly exhausted, but not more so than its organizers. The Colorama Rodeo, the con... Full story