News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 4101 - 4125 of 6969
From Grant County Sheriff's Office: SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN GRANT...NORTHWESTERN LINCOLN AND EAST CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTIES UNTIL 115 PM PDT. AT 1235 PM PDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES WEST OF BANKS LAKE...OR 12 MILES WEST OF ELECTRIC CITY. THIS STRONG STORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE: BANKS LAKE...STEAMBOAT ROCK STATE...
Coulee Medical Center will likely meet its new chief executive officer later this month, following a Monday-night decision to offer the job to one of two candidates board directors had been considering. In special session Monday night, the board of commissioners of Public Hospital District 6 authorized current CEO Debbie Bigelow to negotiate a contract with Jonathan Owens, Bigelow said Tuesday. “He’s very excited,” she said after calling him. Bigelow sent him a proposed contract. If he accepts, it will be reviewed the first of two times at th... Full story
Work on Electric City's Pathways and parks revitalization project could begin as early as late 2017, Councilmember Brad Parrish said. Progress on the plan continues as the city prepares to hold its second public meeting on it, Saturday, July 16, at 1 p.m. in the park-like setting behind city hall. Residents attending will get to see phase one of the planning process, with ideas taken from an earlier public meeting in May. The meetings have been shaped by Russell Powers, deputy city clerk, and... Full story
An operation that forms the basis of the Banks Lake fishery could be in jeopardy if someone isn't willing to step into its leadership. Promoters of Wildlife and Environmental Resources (POWER) is looking for a volunteer to manage its Electric City net pen operation. The effort began some 30 years ago when Reg Morgan and Bill Brashears decided to do something to make Banks Lake a superior fishery. Their vision resulted in some 300,000 Rainbow trout a year moving through POWER's fish pens into... Full story
The school board sharpened its collective pencil Monday night in Coulee Dam and OK’d a girls soccer program at Lake Roosevelt High School. The decision came after the board learned that the budget would be tight for this next school year. Athletic Director Richard Black, who was sworn in as a school board member later in the meeting, had recommended that the soccer program be approved. Black had estimated that it would take about $21,500 to start the program this fall. He had already received approval from the North Central Washington 2-B L... Full story
A project to give Electric City's city hall a facelift got started this week. A variety of changes will soon take place on the city's administration building. The following is included in the facelift package: • preparation and painting of the exterior of the building by Ken Doughty, $4,046. Doughty is a paint contractor and lives in Electric City. • new air conditioning units for $13,720.32 by Silver Creek Systems, of Wilbur. • a new sign on city hall, using the city's new logo and other infor... Full story
I have been asked by the school board to write a letter of resignation as head football coach at Lake Roosevelt High School. The only reason I was given was that the district wanted to go in a different direction. While I do not agree with this request, I respect the authority of the board to make decisions that they feel are in the best interest of the district. I have agreed to do so. I do not believe this is in the best interest of the district. I have served the district faithfully from 1994 to 2001 and again from 2007 through June of... Full story
The Grand Coulee Dam School District will pay more than $400,000 a year for services ranging from information technology management to bookkeeping under a contract approved in June. The disctrict board approved a $406,618 service agreement with the North Central ESD (Education Service District) for the 2016-17 school year at its June 27 meeting. The major services contracted for include network services, $106,657; and business management, $73,250. Other major areas under the agreement include Worker’s Compensation Trust, $79,406; and a S... Full story
An environmental group has sued the Bureau of Reclamation to force compliance with the Clean Water Act, which it contends Grand Coulee Dam and other big dams are not meeting. Pollution discharges from the USBR’s operation of the dam “contribute to the pollution crisis on the Columbia River,” the suit brought Thursday by Columbia Riverkeeper says. The group wants Reclamation to switch to using so called eco-friendly oils and greases as lubricants in machinery that contacts water and file for a pollution permit under the Clean Water Act. In 20... Full story
A second Electric City Pathways and Parks meeting has been scheduled for Saturday, July 16, in the park-like grassy area behind city hall, where residents can see how well the city’s Pathways and Parks Revitalization plan is coming along. Ice cream will be provided by MJs Bistro. The futuristic plan has been shaped by a Washington State University team from the school’s Rural Communities Design Initiative, after an earlier public meeting in May. A local committee, appointed by the city council, has reviewed some of the plans from the WSU gro... Full story
Grand Coulee and Electric City continue their disagreement over a $39,000 arsenic treatment dispute. Grand Coulee Mayor Paul Townsend proposed to his council that maybe it would be a good thing to meet Electric City halfway on the disputed $39,000. His suggestion got nowhere at the last council meeting. In fact, it prompted Councilmember Erin Nielson to move to stand firm on the city’s contention that it doesn’t owe Electric City the $39,000. His motion passed unanimously. Accordingly, Townsend sent Electric City the bad news by letter. The... Full story
New interpretations of old regulations forced a last-minute change to plans for a water park, a new feature of the chamber of commerce's Festival of America. The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce put on the festival and an associated feature for kids planned to be mostly water features, but it was less so than planned. The change followed an 11th-hour phone call from a Grant County Health District official who said the district wouldn't allow the features that had been planned. The... Full story
It wasn't the smoothest sailing for festival planners over this Independence Day weekend. Problems started with short notice from Grant County Health District authorities that a water park for kids couldn't happen the way it was planned. Smaller complications, such as reportedly rude political protesters and a lost child (she was found) were wedged between that announcement and the final blow - a power outage that cancelled the Laser Light Show during the biggest festival of the year. Officials... Full story
Grand Coulee residents may soon face a water rate increase. City Clerk Carol Boyce said last week that she will propose to the council July 19, that the city increase its water rates by $3 a month, beginning in September. The increase would help the city replenish its water reserve account, which was depleted during several water service repairs back in 2014. That year, the city made major water delivery improvements near Jess Ford, city hall and East Heights. “We paid for those improvements out of our reserves,” Boyce stated. Those imp... Full story
Grant County Mosquito Control District 1 has reported a mosquito sample collected west of Moses Lake has tested positive for West Nile virus, making it the first detection of the virus in the county this season. Mosquito District 1 covers the Greater Moses Lake area, including the Moses Lake Sand Dunes and Potholes areas. The positive sample is an indication that WNV is present in this area and potentially other areas of Grant County. During the 2015 season, four humans, seven horses and 107 mosquito samples were found to be infected with WNV,... Full story
I’d like to publicly thank all the individuals, businesses, and organizations who participate in making Koulee Kids Fest happen. This is the second year I’ve attended with three of my grandchildren, and they have had fun all day long! So, thank you, Grand Coulee Dam area, for “Kids Fest.” My grandkids and I will be back again! Sara Rice Wilbur... Full story
In the presidential campaign leading up to the November elections, hopefully we will hear about ways to “Make America Great Again!” One of the most effective strategies is to entice U.S. companies with foreign factories to relocate back home. Another is to encourage those who remained in America to reinvest here. Discussions about bolstering domestic production of goods and services did not start this year. They are largely rooted in our nation’s anemic job creation over the last decade. A “Reshoring Institute” launched in 2014 at the Unive... Full story
County commissioners told those attending the sixth public meeting on the Okanogan County’s Juvenile Department last week that they would commit to continue housing juveniles in the county facility in Okanogan, rather than outsource the job to a far-away place. The latter possibility had brought 100 or more citizens, including two opposed superior court judges, out to a series of meetings in which commissioners explored various aspects of the question. Their announcement June 21 followed the filing of a lawsuit against them a day earlier by t... Full story
New interpretations of old regulations forced a last-minute change to plans for a water park, a new feature of the chamber of commerce's Festival of America. The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, which is putting on the festival and an associated feature for kids meant to be more about water features, is less so than planned. The changed followed an 11th-hour phone call from the Grant County Health District, which said it wouldn't allow the features that had been planned. There are...
Jim Boyd, leader of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and renowned musician and recording artist, died unexpectedly last week at the age of 60. "This is a very, very sad day for the Colville Tribes," said Vice Chairman of the Colville Business Council Michael Marchand. "One of our most respected leaders and talented tribal members is no longer among us. The sheer enormity of our loss has not set in yet, and I doubt that it will for quite some time." Boyd, who won seven Native... Full story
You just bought a bag of fireworks and are wondering where you can set them off. Here’s your answer: Fireworks are banned from the Colville Tribes’ reservation this year. Likewise in Elmer City and Coulee Dam. Fireworks are also banned in the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. You can let fireworks off in Electric City if you adhere to the state law covering fireworks. In Grand Coulee, North Dam is still open to fireworks, subject to fire department approval; anywhere else in the city is off limits. The Colville Tribes on June 17 issued a... Full story
There are not enough superlatives to accurately describe Bob and Bev Bruno's rural log home. You could take the view. Or the careful detail of their home. Or even the house for their five banties. Nothing by itself will do! Bob, a log-house builder now semi-retired, has put all the things he has learned about log- house construction into one. The view is so outstanding that one room is designed for two cushioned chairs, providing comfort, and a place to stare at the view. The view is not only of... Full story
There will be some changes on the Colville Business Council as a result of the general election tally over the past week. During the tally, it was announced that Chairman Jim Boyd had died. Boyd was running against Georgia Simpson in the Inchelium District Position 1 race, and lost the count 268-184. In other races, William “Billy” Nicholson II, lost his Nespelem Position 1 council seat to Willie Womer 409-346. Sheilah Cleveland captured the Nespelem Position 2 seat over former councilman Brian Nissen 416-333. In the Inchelium Position 2 rac... Full story
Lake Roosevelt High School could field a girls’ soccer team this year. The Grand Coulee Dam School District board is dealing with the cost and plans to review the soccer request at its July 11 meeting. Six schools in the North Central Washington 2-B League already have girls’ soccer teams — Brewster, Bridgeport, Liberty Bell, Manson, Oroville and Tonasket. Making the presentation before the board Monday was Casey Moore. She explained that the current youth soccer program had 120 kids involved and has become highly successful. The distr... Full story
I didn’t know Jim Boyd well, just enough to like him and admire his talent. So it came as a complete surprise when the sudden news of his death overwhelmed me last week. That reaction likely has something to do with being nearly the same age, but it was more than that. Boyd was an artist who was a leader, someone who could articulate for those of us on the outside of his culture, his tribe, the importance of the commonplace and of the sacred. Because he had that ability, politics somehow seemed less about self-interest than about grappling w... Full story
