News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Following poll votes last Saturday, unofficial election results for the Colville Business Council came in showing a squeaker in the Keller District, a challenger ahead of the current CBC president and two Finleys leading in Inchelium’s districts. Absentee votes will be certified Thursday, June 24 and could make a difference in results. In the Nespelem District, Allison Boyd-Ball was leading 64-50 over CBC Chairman Rodney Cawston for Position 1, but Jarred Erickson had a healthy lead over Randy Friedlander, 74-44. For Keller’s Position 1, inc...
A fire broke out along SR 174 on the hill in the canyon between Grand Coulee and Wilbur about 4:30 p.m. The road was closed and traffic continued to back up until at least 6 p.m. while firefighters fought the blaze. A large helicopter equipped with an attached bladder and a hose for loading it repeatedly dropped loads of water on the fire, high on the steep, rocky hillside. Another aircraft, a fixed-wing plane reportedly joined the fight about 7 p.m. At one point a Level 1 Evacuation notice had...
With a historic vote finalized Monday night, the 80-year-old credit union that originated in Coulee Dam will merge with one 23 times its size based in Spokane. After 1,045 votes cast either by paper ballot sent in or online through a third-party election firm, 84% of those voting found the benefits of joining with STCU outweighed the loss of the name Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union. At a member meeting on the front patio of the Coulee Dam headquarters, CDFCU CEO Collene Manley urged people to...
“Koulee Kids Fest was such a great time!” Grand Coulee Dam Area Executive Director Rachel Haven about last Saturday’s event. “I believe it was a success. Kids were smiling from ear to ear all over town.” Three-year-old Cairo Billups won the iPad Mini and Beats headphones grand prize drawing that kids entered by participating in the event. This year’s Koulee Kids Fest featured L-Bow the Clown. “L-Bow the clown was so much fun!” Haven said. “L-Bow’s act included unicycling and juggling, making balloon animals and hats, and the grand finale of a f...
After growing up in Grand Coulee, Michael Thomas now jumps out of helicopters in Bahrain. After graduating from Lake Roosevelt High School in 2016, Thomas went to Western Washington University to pursue a computer science major. But after a semester there, Thomas headed in another direction. His father Dale Thomas had been in the Navy, and friends had joined other branches of the military, so Thomas spoke to a recruiter who showed him the path to becoming an aviation rescue swimmer, someone who...
Remember when weather forecasters were right only about 30 percent of the time, or so it seemed? Let’s hope those days come back this week. With a mean look ahead, the weather experts are warning of highs reaching in the hundreds, with a 112-degree high possible next week, and the days between now and at least next Tuesday scorchers. That kind of heat must be taken seriously, and we have advice from health experts on page 5 on what to watch for and how to deal with it. Unfortunately, in this case, weather forecasters seem to be getting a w...
I have spent a lot of good times along the Snake River, from its source to where it empties into the Pacific Ocean. It’s one of the longest rivers in the country and flows from one end of Idaho to the other. Its major source is at the south end of Jackson Lake. Actually, it’s said that the original source is from two small streams near Yellowstone Park. I have white-watered a good stretch of the Snake. The first time was out of Jackson, Wyoming during the high spring runoff. We entered the float trip out of Jackson and exited well into eas...
As climate change concerns grow, researchers are turning to small tree farmers for help. Actually, they have been helping for nearly a century, but their efforts have largely gone unrecognized. For decades, the American Tree Farm program has emphasized sustainability and managing lands for water quality, wildlife, wood, and recreation. Now, it is adding climate change. According to the American Forest Foundation, families and individuals collectively care for the largest portion of forests in the U.S., more than the government or corporations...
This past week the Raiders wrestled in the North Central Region qualifier event in Omak on June 15 before the NCR main event in Tonasket June 17 where six Raiders placed to finish the season. In Tonasket, LR placed fourth as a team with 78.5 points, with Royal High School winning the event with 136.5 points. Placers for LR include Colton Jackson, who placed first wrestling in the 120-pound division; Sergio Galacia, first at 195; Arianna Waters, first at 190; Kaylee Landeros, second at 190; Rock...
The Lady Raiders won their final basketball game of a brief season on Friday when they defeated Manson in a home game, 63-22. The strong finish to the season resulted in an overall 5-1 win-loss record for the Lady Raiders. The Raider boys missed their Friday night game, which had to be canceled after a player tested positive for the coronavirus. Games scheduled for Saturday for both the boys' and girls' basketball teams had to be canceled anyway due to a lack of referees. Two from the Yakima...
The Raider boys' basketball games scheduled for the home court tonight (June 18), and tomorrow are canceled due to a team member testing positive for COVID-19, a statement posted on the LRRaiders website says. The LR girls' game for Friday is still on, but Saturday's girls' game is also now canceled due to a lack of officials for the game, AD Tim Rasmussen said. Friday afternoon....
With a recent wildfire started by a ricocheted bullet adding to safety and noise issues, target shooting at Osborn Bay is a concern for some, and the federal agency that owns the area says it is illegal to target shoot on their lands. In response to the June 5 fire at Osborn Bay, Electric City resident Jerry Kennedy submitted a public comment in an email that was read at Electric City’s June 8 city council meeting. The area lies within city boundaries. Kennedy lives less than a mile north of a common, unofficial shooting range there where a s...
In its 80th year, Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union is in the process of merging with a larger credit union, a process that has been repeated across the country many times over the last couple years. A special members’ meeting is set for next Monday evening at CDFCU’s Coulee Dam headquarters. Members are already voting online and by mail — 955 times as of Monday, CEO Colleen Manley said. Voting for CDFCU’s 11,788 eligible members has been open since the end of April. The boards of directors of both CDFCU and Spokane Teachers Credit Union already...
Being a father of three, I understand how important fathers are to their kids. My three amazing children - Emmaline (10), Malyala (8), and Callaway (6) are a tribute to my parents. I wish I could take full credit for the way they are, but I can't. Growing up, my dad wasn't around the house much; he was busy running a restaurant to provide financially for his family. He worked six days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 at night. I have heard him share several times that all he did was "wake up, go...
At least three areas in the surrounding countryside are used locally as shooting ranges, possibly all illegally. That may offer an opportunity to improve. Last week, a firefighter friend in Ephrata noted he and his fellow firefighters had been listening to their scanners expecting to be called by Electric City to help fight the Osborn Bay fire. He was surprised to learn it had started from the spark of a ricochet in an outdoor, unofficial, make-do shooting area. “Around here, we shoot at the (real) shooting range,” he said. Washington Fla...
A person, years ago, asked me if I had a favorite relative. I had two aunts that would qualify, but I couldn’t say which one was my favorite. I would just call a tie and move on. Aunt Lorena was my dad’s youngest sister and actually delivered me. We lived on a farm about four miles out of Palouse and my mother was ready to have me. So my father drove to town to get Dr. Dart. My aunt Lorena was visiting us at the time and had the duty to help in the delivery. When my dad returned with the doctor, I was already there. Of course, I didn’t know...
In our zest to quickly switch from gas-powered to battery-operated vehicles and to convert our power grid to wind- and solar-generated electricity, the impacts of CO2 released from rivers, lakes and streams has been ignored. President Biden wants to transition America to renewable electricity by 2035 and have every car CO2 emission free by 2050. In the world of nature, carbon gases release from forest and rangeland fires. In California last year, wildfires released about half the typical annual...
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....
A fire at Osborn Bay in high winds Saturday forced two people there to stay in the water for hours as flames came near enough at times that they could feel the heat. The fire near Osborn Bay, south of Electric City burned approximately 30 acres of sagebrush, dry grass, trees, and other vegetation in high winds on Saturday after a bullet ricocheted and started the fire. Electric City Fire Chief Mark Payne said the fire started at approximately 12:55 p.m. when a man shooting in the area reported...
A Lake Roosevelt student-athlete testing positive for COVID has led to students quarantining and basketball games being cancelled, but an outdoor graduation ceremony is still planned for Saturday. Basketball games on June 4, 5, 7, and 8 were canceled as a result of the situation. A June 5 notice on the Raider’s athletic website announced that a student-athlete had tested positive for Covid resulting in the basketball teams quarantining. A June 7th update on the school’s Facebook page explained that in response, the school’s “admin team has been...
Get your passports ready; Koulee Kids Fest is taking place on June 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with lots of free activities for kids to participate in around the town. The “passports” are used by the kids to go to various activities and get their passports stamped at up to 16 local businesses offering fun activities to qualify to win prizes. “My hope for Koulee Kids Fest is for it to draw families outside, support the community, and engage in some safe and fun activities,” Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Executive Directo...
Hotter and drier summers seem to be the trend in climate changes locally as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released the new U.S. Climate Normals for 1991-2020. The NOAA is part of the Department of Commerce and updates the climate normals every 10 years using a 30-year range of data. Comparing the 1991-2020 data to the previous 1981-2010 data shows that the Spokane area, like much of the western U.S., is experiencing hotter and drier summers. Including here. "Vegetation drie...
That headline is from a sign my wife put above the door to our kitchen in opposition to anyone who has other ideas. This country in its absolute worst state is extremely blessed. At its best, it’s an unstoppable wonder. To keep our momentum up as a nation, we need to include everybody. This is not selfless idealism; it’s a practical consideration highlighted this week by an autistic young woman I had the pleasure to interview. The experience was somewhat difficult for her since her conditions limit her abilities somewhat during personal int...
A harrowing experience is behind us, and it is time to commend those who calmed and saved us. First, I have to commend the dispatcher that kept me on the line until safety arrived. I do not know what county she was from. (911 calls here go to possibly four counties.) She stayed with me as the flames rushed us and our gear, urging a water retreat. Our fear was real. We did indeed have lots of help arrive. They couldn’t see us for the smoke. Helicopter pilots and firemen did their best, and we did get away without loss. Within five minutes of c...
THANKS to ALL the local FIRE Responders and Response Teams from surrounding communities for the quick and professional RESPONSE to the Osborn Bay Fire last Saturday. Under the dry, windy conditions this could have been disastrous. Thanks also to the DNR crews for the mop-up. Sincerely, Ronald and Wendy Kosloski...