News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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To whom? Well this date in history has given birth to some pretty important and down right famous people. Some notorious, some infamous and some local cool cats. So where do we start? Well, let’s start with a bad guy. In 1878 a really bad guy was born on this date. He would have been considered one of the most evil bad guys in history if it wasn’t for a buddy of his who is conceivably worse. His buddy was Hitler, and we know what he did. He was Joseph Stalin. Joseph Stalin rose to power as gen... Full story
There was a storm blowing. Bitter coldness caused the frost on his beard to freeze in a crust of ice. She rode, but felt the cold worse than he. She was wrapped in a big blanket and kept her head covered but it kept out nothing. The wind cut through like a knife and her tears were now frozen to her face. He kept pulling the mule forward, but even the animal had better sense than to be out in this horrid weather. They had gone too far now, the man thought, there is now way we can stop now. He... Full story
I recently became aware of a tradition in our area that is on the brink of extinction, and that because of a few people that don’t live here, it has squeaked by the last few years. The Annual Winter Grand Coulee Bird Count. Never heard of it? Well, neither had I until over the holiday week I had to a chance to sit down with Gary Kuiper. Some of you know who he is, but most of you most likely do not. Who he is, is not nearly as important as what he did while he lived in the Coulee many years a... Full story
Not too many years ago, I almost died. Literally. My wife called everyone she could think of and told them they better come visit me before it was too late. My memory of those days are very foggy, and I did not think I was that bad at the time. But since then, I have heard Karrie and my doctors speak about it and I now know how serious it was. But I didn’t die, and a long recovery period followed, during which, at times, I probably wished I had. But enough of that. Over the weekend, this all cam... Full story
Well, LRHS and GCD Middle school got the bands back together not long ago when they hired the new band teacher, Lisa Vaughn. I have seen her working late to get caught up after the late start. There were many of us in the community that were worried once again we will be losing an art form in our schools that will cripple the foundation of our children for years to come. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Let me back up a bit. When I was in high school, (actually not that long ago) we had dra... Full story
A horse's story can be hard to tell and even harder to listen to. These horses have horrible stories of abuse, neglect, abandonment and starvation. But that is all changing for a few of them. Buddy, Silver, Snickers, Baby and Reme all have very different tails of how they got to Delano, Wash., and fell into the hands of Chris Holeman and his group of dedicated, passionate, hand picked helpers at "Nourishing Hands." The horse rescue operation held a thank-you barbecue for volunteers and... Full story
I was all prepared to write this column about “Elk Tag Soup! It’s What’s For Dinner,” but life got in the way as soon as I got home from Mooney Landing Elk Camp. Our son, who graduated this year, left Sunday afternoon for Spokane. He will start college in the winter quarter but wanted to get all moved in early. As I write this, he has only been gone a few hours but my emotions keep bubbling up. I have heard a lot of parents over the years speak of the difficulty of coming to terms with an empty... Full story
I had a great conversation with a really good friend a few weeks ago. She spoke of the difficulties in her life and how things can sometimes snowball to a place where we never have seen ourselves, or in our worst nightmares saw ourselves living. I knew of her ordeals, but I got a small glimpse into how tragic events can change the way you see yourself and the way others can perceive you and the difficult balance of remaining yourself. I, too, have had the misfortune of thinking I was one way,... Full story
I was not a good student. Big surprise, right? To be totally honest, for years the comment card on my report card read: Very good student, does not perform to potential, just does enough to get by. They were right, although I did not realize that till later in life. So what did they see that I did not way back then? I’m not sure, but I do know this: if I could go back and do it again, I would take school a lot more seriously. All my teachers were good, but there are a few I want to recognize as... Full story
But I was not the only one. This column was supposed to be about a father and son going on what was most likely their last hunting trip together. It was going to conclude with the father getting a monster buck, one that he and as his son would never forget. Well, that could still happen, it just did not this weekend. It sounds like it was a very successful opening day out there in Coulee Country. For a while it sounded like everyone got deer opening morning, including some really big bucks... Full story
The Raider sports is in full swing at Lake Roosevelt, and for one person football season is his time to work. He is at every practice, every game (home and away), every meeting, he even checks in on the athletic director from time to time to make sure he is doing his job. You might have gone to a home football game and seen him, or you might have run into him in the store as he is hugging someone and giving an enthusiastic smile with a “Hey Buddy.” You might have got a look at him working at... Full story
Sometimes I think I know a lot of things about our area. Other times I have no idea. So I thought I would throw some things out there and see if any of you can answer these things for me. So here we go. I know why or how Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam got their names. And I’m pretty sure I can figure out Electric City and Delano. But Elmer City? I am gonna guess that it’s named after someone named Elmer. But Elmer who? Lone Pine? What tree is the lone pine and is it still there? I mean that tre... Full story
This last weekend I got to go to Airways Heights and watch my nephew Zack score two touchdowns running like Russel Wilson and throw another TD through the air. So proud. He looked calm, cool and collected as he performed like a superstar; not only on offense but on defense as well. It made me think of the fundamentals that we teach our kids at an early age. Not just the art of winning and doing it with style (no touchdown dances here,) just a flick of the football to the ref and high fives on... Full story
Manly men doing manly things! I went to the men’s retreat this past weekend with other men from Faith Community Church. We went to the Peniel Ranch on the lower river road between Omak and Agency Campus. I have been there a few times with this group of men, and it is always a special time. Fellowship is always a key component to this retreat, and this year seemed to have a great mix of ages in the men who came. One man in his 90s and one in his 20s and an even mix of the rest. I got to know some... Full story
A post that has been making its rounds on Facebook got me thinking about the way things used to be and the way things are now. When was the last time you saw kids playing cowboys and Indians? I know that’s not very politically correct these days, but when we were kids we had no idea what racial prejudice was. We just went outside and pretended to shoot one another over and over again. That’s one more thing that kids can’t get away with today either. But they can play bloody, violent video... Full story
Do you smell that in the air? The smell of dirty sneakers and cleats, sweaty football pads and gym socks. Yep. High school and middle school fall sports is upon us. Parents will soon be finding the trail of backpacks, gear bags, sports shoes and water bottles leading to an exhausted child snoring on the couch. This child will be roused just enough to eat, do some homework, take a shower, (hopefully) and crash into his or her bed only to do it again the following day. Parents will be begged for G... Full story
After hearing the disturbing news from Spokane of WWII Vet Delbert Belton (Shorty), being beaten to death by two cowardly young men, ( I will not use the two murderers’ names in my column because they deserve no such honor) it got me thinking of the lack of respect we give our veterans, or should I say heros. I personally have had both my grandfathers in the service and four uncles. My wife had one grandfather, two uncles and currently has a cousin serving overseas. I have numerous friends t...
Living in Coulee Country can surprise you sometimes. During the last few weeks I was reminded that we do live in the country. Maybe not extreme rural America, but we do have the luxury of seeing some wild critters in our back yards, or if we take a little drive and keep our eyes open we can see some real special creatures. Since hunting season is just around the corner, I have been doing some driving around to see what kind of deer are roaming around. On one of these trips Karrie and I came...
Well, last week I gave some predictions for the AFC and told you my Super Bowl pick for the AFC. So of course this week is the NFC. Also, I must apologize to you Bronco fans out there. I was advised by a very smart lady that hate is a very strong word to use, and in the past I have liked a few Denver players. So I am sorry, kind of. I also need to apologize to my fans out there that ha … I mean dislike football. I will be back to normal after this week. My draft is this week and I will be much better after. So here we go. Before we start, I s... Full story
I have been addicted to fantasy football since I was in high school. There, I admitted it. That’s part of the healing process. I can now move on. At the worst part of the addiction I was in six or seven leagues at the same time. That was a stressful time and it made watching the games even more confusing. Now, I know some of you out there have no idea what I’m talking about and there are others that just salivate at the idea of a keeper league. Others, like wives or girlfriends of a team own... Full story
Well, we just returned from our annual campout at the “Plantation.” A year ago I wrote about the huckleberry expedition and the devastation of the storm that went up the San Poil Valley. The remnants of the storm are still there in the forms of trees broken off half way up and logs still lying around after their fall, but for the most part a full recovery has been made. It was a hot trip this year, between 90 and 100 degrees most of the time. The shade brought much needed relief and that is where most of the berry picking was done. Squ... Full story
One of the unique attributes of the Coulee is that when you return to this area after a long departure, it appears that nothing has changed. It is the same as when you left. I have heard this hundreds of times from people who have left this area after high school and returned as adults. I think that is kind of a cool way too look at our area. On the other hand, that can also have costly retributions as well. I think we could find a balance of growth and keep the small town atmosphere, if we all... Full story
I was sitting here trying to figure out what I wanted to write about this week and lots of ideas danced in my head but none became a solid column. I sat at my new writing area looking at the pictures on the wall. Our daughter’s graduation picture, big smile, professional pose, beautiful girl. Our son with his hand held above his head, exhausted look on his face but victory in his eyes. A black and white group. One of Terry Sieker, in fire gear, leaning on truck, exhausted from fighting the senio... Full story
What and eventful week. The last seven days have been jam packed with action in the Coulee. So in case you missed it, recap through my eyes and ears. There is a little store in Electric City that has been there as long as I can remember. H&H Grocery is where my recap starts. I think we started a new 4th of July tradition this year. The Norris family is a jewel in the crown of our community; we spent time at their fireworks stand with Klendon and Susan Duclos, Kramer Carlson (Go Huskies), and oth... Full story
When I was a kid the Fourth of July meant fireworks, swimming, picnics and family. We would beg our parents to buy us fireworks and of course fire crackers were my favorite. Back then I did not think of wildland fires or the dangers of explosives; we were just kids and wanted to hear the booms and see the magnificent colors and the sparks falling back to earth. My Grandpa Utz would always spoil us and purchase what seemed to be the biggest box, and, of course, he supplied us with firecrackers.... Full story