News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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KELLER – Until further notice, Keller Ferry users who travel across the Columbia River on State Route 21 should continue to find alternate routes. The Keller Ferry (M/V Sanpoil) is currently out of service due to a mechanical issue. At this time the Keller Ferry does not have an estimated time to return to service. Travelers planning a trip across the Columbia River on SR 21 should choose an alternate route during the closure via SR 25 or SR 155 and SR 174. Drivers should also plan additional time for travel, as it can take up to an hour to c... Full story
Grand Coulee Dam area residents may dispose of household hazardous waste for free on Friday, September 8 from 12 pm to 4 pm 13at the Delano Regional Transfer Station. This event is for waste generated by households only. Containers will not be returned. Hazardous products have labels with words such as danger, caustic, flammable, and poison. Examples include oil-based paint, used automotive oil, paint thinner, rechargeable batteries, solvents, brake fluid, aerosols, spot removers, drain openers, insecticides, herbicides, pesticides, mercury... Full story
OTHELLO MAN INDICTED FOR ROLLING BACK AND REPLACING ODOMETERS News Release from U.S. Attorney's Office - Eastern Dist. of Wash. SPOKANE – On September 4, 2024, a federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington returned an indictment charging Reynaldo Valdez Garza Jr., of Othello, Washington, with five counts of Odometer Tampering. Garza made his first appearance in Federal Court on September 9, 2024. The indictment alleges that beginning in May of 2023, Garza carried out a scheme to a... Full story
KELLER – Those who use the Keller Ferry, M/V Sanpoil, across the Columbia River on State Route 21 will need to find alternate routes due to planned closure of the ferry. Planned Keller Ferry closure The closures will begin at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 16, and last until the afternoon of Saturday, July 20, in order to make repairs to a support beam on the vessels hull. The damage to the hull was located by marine inspectors with the United States Coast Guard who conducted a required five-year hull exam dive operation last month. Travele... Full story
GRAND COULEE, Wash. – The Bureau of Reclamation is prohibiting fireworks on North Dam for the Independence Day holiday. Reclamation is taking precautionary measures to decrease the potential for wildland fire and is reminding the public that use of fireworks is prohibited on Reclamation lands and waterbodies. Reclamation will allow the permitted fireworks display at Grand Coulee Dam to occur for the festivities. There is a low risk of fireworks reaching the surrounding lands from the top of the dam, so the show can proceed. The fireworks s... Full story
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Xander Lee Ostenberg, 18, of Grand Coulee, Washington was sentenced after having pleaded guilty to Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner in Indian Country. Ostenberg also pleaded guilty to two counts of Assault by Beating, Striking or Wounding. U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Ostenberg to 60 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court s... Full story
The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Red Flag Warning for much of this region for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 2 p.m. Sunday to 11 p.m. Monday. A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will be shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. * Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 705, the foothills of the Central Washington Cascades;... Full story
(Nespelem, WA) - The Colville Tribal Police assisted in the execution of a search warrant on May 9, 2023 and seized more than 1,000 fentanyl-laced pills. The seizure included 20 firearms and drug paraphernalia. Stolen property was also recovered, including stolen firearms and valuable personal property. The property owner, 63-year-old Daniel Curdie, was arrested and booked into Okanogan County jail on charges of delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a building for drug-related... Full story
(Nespelem, WA) - The Colville Tribes is saddened to announce the passing of Colville Tribal member Pauline Stensgar. She was 96 years old. Pauline Stensgar was the last fully fluent speaker of the nxa?amxcin dialect. She dedicated her life to preserving and revitalizing the language. Her most recent project was establishing a nxa?amxcin dictionary, which is near completion. Pauline dedicated a total of 48 years of service to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and was the... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with several local public health jurisdictions, is investigating multiple outbreaks of COVID-19 among vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, connected to high school wrestling tournaments. The number of cases linked to the events is estimated to be between 80 and 90, but as this investigation is ongoing, the total may change. The impacted wrestling tournaments all happened on Dec. 4, 2021 and include: • John Birbeck Invitational in Lacey, WA • Ed Arima Duals in Sumne... Full story
The Whitmore Fire is located on the Colville Reservation south of Omak Lake and west of Nespelem, WA. The Incident Command Post at Nespelem Community Center is closed to all but essential personnel to help ensure the health and safety of firefighters and community members. Operations Yesterday, fire fighters took advantage of cooler temperatures, higher moisture levels, and less active fire behavior to secure stretches of fireline. The southwest to southeast borders of the fire along Columbia... Full story
Inchelium, Wa. – The cold front that moved into the area yesterday brought measurable rain to the Summit Trail Fire, Upper Lime Creek Fire, and Chuweah Creek Fire. This moisture gives firefighters the opportunity to build direct fire line, while fire behavior is still moderate. Even though this moisture is helpful, the fire is not yet out. A drying trend will start today and continue with warmer temperatures throughout the week which will increase fire activity. Firefighters will hit the fire hard today with more direct attack in areas where p... Full story
Nespelem Valley Electric will have a 30 minute scheduled power outage Tomorrow Morning, Friday, July 16, 2021 from 7:00 AM to 7:30 AM to allow Bonneville Power Administration to conduct a switch-over. The following areas will be affected: Nespelem, Rebecca Lake, Agency, Gold Lake, School Road, down Columbia River Road to the fish farm, and surrounding areas. **For all persons using medical equipment requiring electrical power, you will need to make provisions for the 30-minute power outage.** Again a 30-Miniute Nespelem Valley Electric Power... Full story
KELLER – Keller Ferry users who travel across the Columbia River on State Route 21 will need to find alternate routes. The Keller Ferry, M/V Sanpoil, was removed from service earlier today due to issues with the rudder. Currently, there is no estimated time for the vessel to return to service. Traveler’s planning a trip across the Columbia River on SR 21 should choose an alternate route during the closure via SR 25 or SR 155 and SR 174. Plan additional time for travel as it can take up to an hour to complete the detour.... Full story
(Nespelem, WA) — The Colville Tribes announced today that it is immediately lifting all public safety measures previously instituted to protect the community from COVID-19. A Resolution first passed on March 25, 2020, which imposed multiple public safety measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, including the closure of the Colville Reservation and limits on gathering sizes. These safety measures have been extended on multiple occasions as the pandemic continued to remain a threat, but they are all now lifted, effective immediately. The C... Full story
OLYMPIA – Starting today everyone 16 and older who wants a COVID-19 vaccine can receive one in Washington. The eligibility expansion marks the four-month anniversary of vaccine rollout in our state. Since mid-December, nearly 4.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across the state. More than 2.67 million people have received at least one dose and more than 23% of Washingtonians are fully vaccinated. Opening eligibility to everyone 16 and older will further protect our communities and help us get closer to crossing the f...
Grant County Health District is reporting 11 additional confirmed COVID-19 associated deaths of Grant County residents. Ten deaths were associated with Long Term Care Facilities (LTC) outbreaks first reported on Nov. 20. All those residents had underlying conditions putting them at higher risk for severe complications due to a COVID-19 infection. Lake Ridge Center in Moses Lake has had a total of 15 confirmed COVID-19 associated deaths during the recent outbreak. There are 3 known additional deaths pending death certificate review. These most r... Full story
SUNNYSIDE—At 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, daylight saving time for 2020 will come to an end, clocks will turn back an hour, and State Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, will once again lament that this annual ritual is even still a thing Washingtonians must do. The Republican lawmaker has been working for several years, with numerous states, to develop language to move to permanent daylight saving time. That effort was thwarted during the 2019 session, when the Democrat majority co-opted the issue and passed a measure of its own, which Honeyford s... Full story
TUMWATER — A handful of businesses are facing fines for violations related to lack of mask use by customers and staff. Yet thousands of others that were the subject of complaints are following the governor’s order after numerous contacts and education about requirements from L&I, the agency says. Since mid-July, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has looked into mask complaints concerning more than 4,200 retailers, restaurants and other businesses in the state. In the vast majority of cases, the businesses that were violating the rul... Full story
Grand Coulee Dam’s Third Powerhouse will be renamed, the secretary of Interior announced, according to the following press release from the office of Rep. Dan Newhouse, who represents the state’s 4th District in Congress. Press release: WASHINGTON, D.C. – On August 12, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt announced the Third Power Plant at Grand Coulee Dam would be renamed as the "Nathaniel 'Nat' Washington Power Plant," in honor of the father-son duo who were instr...
CHELAN COUNTY — A Chelan waterpark has been ordered to close immediately to prevent workers from being exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19). This action comes after a similar order from the state Department of Health last week. Today, the state Department of Labor & Industries delivered an “Order and Notice of Immediate Restraint” directing the waterpark to cease operations until the business is approved to operate under the Governor’s Stay Home Stay Healthy Order. In addition to the order and notice, after completing an inspection earlier... Full story
EPHRATA – Grant PUD, in conjunction with Columbia Basin Foundation, has contributed to eight food banks throughout Grant County this spring with Pay-It-Forward grants totaling $11,000. The services of these food banks are greatly needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many in our communities are struggling to put food on the table for their family and these donations help to provide healthy meals. Food banks receiving assistance include: Coulee City, Grand Coulee, Ephrata, Mattawa, Moses Lake/Warden, Quincy, Royal City and Soap Lake. The P... Full story
OLYMPIA – The arrival of spring typically means drivers in Washington have until March 31 to remove studded tires. However, this year the Washington State Department of Transportation is extending the deadline to Thursday, April 30, due to COVID-19 virus concerns and in support of Gov. Jay Inslee’s guidance to help reduce the spread of the virus by limiting social interactions. “Washington is experiencing some extraordinary challenges with COVID-19 right now and we recognize this is not a time for ‘business as usual,’” said WSDOT Maintenance... Full story
KELLER – Keller Ferry users who travel across the Columbia River on State Route 21 will need to find alternate routes. The M/V Sanpoil will be removed from service starting Wednesday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 22, in order for crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation to make permanent repairs to the hull and allow the United States Coast Guard to inspect the vessel During the closure the ferry will be moved to dry ground near the Keller Ferry Rest Area. While the ferry is out of the water, crews will weld cracks an... Full story
EPHRATA – Priest Rapids Dam operators extinguished a small fire in equipment called an exciter, which provides energy to start up one of the generating units, shortly after 1 a.m. today. The fire affected Unit No. 7 at Priest Rapids Dam. On Oct. 3, there was a similar fire in the exciter for Unit No. 1. In both situations, dam operators – using methods learned during training – were able to extinguish the fires promptly, keeping them isolated to the cabinets that house the exciter equip...