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Articles from the January 6, 2021 edition


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  • Locals share their experiences of Coulee life during COVID

    Jacob Wagner|Jan 6, 2021

    Local people are handling issues presented by the COVID-19 pandemic in different ways, with many optimistic about 2021, but many not. With an online survey focused on Coulee life during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Star asked questions related to how work, raising kids, and life in general have been affected. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (61%) said they plan to get the vaccine. Forty-eight percent (28) said they plan to get it as soon as they can. Only eight (14%) said they plan to get it after others try it first. Thirteen people (22%) said...

  • Intrepid eight

    Jan 6, 2021

    A little initial shock is good for the soul if it doesn't freeze, as testify the faces on eight people who took the polar plunge New Year's Day at noon at Spring Canyon on Friday. Some said the water felt much colder this year than in the past. From left are Terry Owens, Susan Duclos, Diana Parish, Gwen Hilson, Tammy Norris, and three unidentified brave hearts. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • People pushing for high school sports must now assess new state plan

    Jacob Wagner|Jan 6, 2021

    High school administrators in Easter Washington have been hoping that extracurricular activities, including sports, will return as planned beginning on Feb. 1, but a Tuesday announcement of a new state plan for managing the pandemic makes that prospect unclear. A letter signed by 103 Eastern Washington School Administrators, including Lake Roosevelt Athletic Director Tim Rasmussen, was sent to Gov. Jay Inslee, the Washington State Legislature, and the Washington State Department of Health, emphasizing the importance of returning to sports and...

  • Covid case stats in local counties reported

    Jan 6, 2021

    COVID-19 is still prominent in local counties as well as the whole of the state of Washington, which has reported over 30,000 cases in the past 14 days. As of Jan. 5, Grant County had reported 7,125 total COVID-19 cases including 83 deaths. There have been 25 cases in the Grand Coulee Dam area, one since Dec. 29, and 43 in the Coulee City area, up two since Dec. 29. The county has had 838 confirmed cases in the last 14 days for an incidence rate of 857, down from 873 Dec. 21. The incidence goal is 25 or fewer cases per 100,000 residents. Most...

  • The River Mile has come a long way

    Jacob Wagner|Jan 6, 2021

    A curriculum focused on students learning outdoors within the Columbia River watershed began locally and has grown to include thousands of students and teachers in the Pacific Northwest. The River Mile was awarded a $100,000 Environmental Education grant from the Environmental Protection Agency in late 2020. Janice Elvidge has worked as the education specialist for the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area since 2005. Her office is at Spring Canyon. Tasked with coming up with an education...

  • Grand Coulee man charged with setting fire in Teamsters building in Spokane

    Scott Hunter|Jan 6, 2021

    A Grand Coulee man faces at least five years in prison if convicted of lighting a fire in the building housing the Spokane County Democrats last month. Peter James Yeager, 45, was indicted Tuesday by U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington William D. Hyslop with “Damage by Fire to a Building Used in Interstate and Foreign Commerce,” Hyslop’s office said in a press release. Independent charges have also been filed by the Spokane County prosecuting attorney. State court documents say Yeager drove from his home in Grand Coulee Dec....

  • Two escape from jail

    Jan 6, 2021

    Two men escaped from Okanogan County Jail, it was discovered Tuesday morning, and the sheriff asks that people call law enforcement if they spot them. Kristofer Wittman, 28, with blond hair and blue eyes was in jail for possession of a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude police, obstructing, reckless driving and more. He's 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs about 170 pounds. Christian White, 53, is 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighs 165 pounds and has gray hair and brown eyes. He was also in jail on...

  • We can shorten the time the virus defines our future

    John McCarthy MD, Okanogan County Public Health Officer, retired|Jan 6, 2021

    I wanted to share a few parting thoughts as I step down as the Okanogan County Health Officer. First and foremost, it has been a privilege to serve this community for the past 16 years. I am confident that my successor, Dr. James Wallace, will provide stellar leadership moving forward. Over the last 10 years, I have truly enjoyed working with “Jimmy”; he will be excellent in this role. Community Health Director, Lauri Jones, has been the backbone of our PH response to COVID-19 in Okanogan County. She has been stalwart in her work for us. Our...

  • At what point did we become a mediocre country?

    Robbin Boyce|Jan 6, 2021

    Although I have no political party affiliation I will most likely be vilified for what I am about to put forth as I live in a bastion of the Republican Party. Honestly, I hate the two-party system of politics that run this country. I am 67 years old and for the last 50 years have watched as through the shenanigans of current and former members of both parties we are now stuck with an extremely polarized, exclusive, winner-take-all system of governance. Hopefully, we are viewing the culmination of this process, the failed deterioration into...

  • He is a simple complex friend

    Roger S. Lucas|Jan 6, 2021

    I first met Khien Theravit when our family sponsored him through the FIUTS program at the University of Washington. It became an exciting time as we met a lot of foreign students, mostly from Asia. Through the FIUTS (Foundation for International Understanding Through Students) individuals or families could sponsor students, giving as much time as you wanted to the student. There were no financial obligations. Khien was a professor of Asian Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. He already had two master’s degrees, and a l...

  • Bracing for bigger changes

    Don C. Brunell|Jan 6, 2021

    Now that vaccines are available, we hope our lives will return to the way they were before the coronavirus pandemic blanketed the globe. That is not likely to occur. Last March our booming economy was clobbered by COVID-19. A worldwide pandemic ensued. There was no vaccine to counter it and even though vaccines were developed at “warp speed” lots of things changed and have become imbedded in our daily lives. Futurist Bernard Marr, columnist in Forbes, believes employers quickly adapted to a remote workforce. While less than ideal, working fro...

  • What a president-elect must deal with

    Lee Hamilton|Jan 6, 2021

    Joe Biden won’t become President of the United States for a few weeks yet, but it’s fair to say he’s already feeling the pressures of the office. I think being president-elect may be the second hardest job in the world. For one thing, as president-elect he’s encircled by people who want something from him: appointments, jobs, internal disputes settled. Political players of all sorts —people who supported him, people who opposed him, interest groups of all kinds and descriptions — are angling to get his ear. We’ve already seen what else lie...

  • Jennifer Faye Joseph

    Jan 6, 2021

    Jennifer Faye Joseph, 62, was surrounded by loving family, Wednesday evening, December 16, 2020, when she departed this life, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. This inspiring woman was born Tuesday, September 9, 1958, in Portland, Oregon, to Andrew Joseph Sr. and Geraldine Friedlander. A proud member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Jennifer attended Intermountain Indian School in Brigham City, Utah, where she graduated with honors in 1976. She went on...

  • Done with that

    Jan 6, 2021

    John Combs gets in the city truck after loading holiday street decorations on their trailer in front of Coulee Dam’s town hall Monday. — Scott Hunter photo...

  • Sno-Park use soars - causing congestion, questions

    Jan 6, 2021

    OLYMPIA – Dec. 31, 2020 – The Washington State Parks Winter Recreation Program and regional park staff are reporting record visits at Sno-Parks across the state. As COVID-19 restrictions continue to limit indoor entertainment and gatherings, people are flocking to the outdoors, despite dropping temperatures. This has caused parking lots in high snow areas to fill up early, and cars have become stuck. The uptick in new winter visitors has also caused confusion over right-of-way on mixed-use trails. State Parks urges winter recreationists to plan...

  • Meetings & Notices

    Jan 6, 2021

    Food Bank Closed Grand Coulee Dam Care and Share Food Bank will be closed Friday, January 1, New Year's Day. It will reopen to regular hours on Friday, January 8, 2-4 p.m. Demos to Meet Local Democratic Party leadership will meet in early January to elect officers for the 12th Legislative District who will serve for the 2021-2022 biennium. The virtual meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. Officers elected will include chair, vice-chair, state committee members, secretary, and treasurer. Any Democrat who lives within the 12th...

  • Legals for January 6, 2021

    Jan 6, 2021

    TOWN OF COULEE DAM REQUEST FOR STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES The Town of Coulee Dam, pursuant to (Chapter 61, Laws of 1981) is inviting statements of qualifications from consulting engineering firms to provide engineering services design of sidewalk repairs and ADA improvements along Ferry Avenue in the Town of Coulee Dam. The project is funded with federal transportation alternative (TA) funding and as a result, a number of state and federal equal opportunity and affirmative action requirements will apply to this...

  • Scholarship applications open

    Jan 6, 2021

    The Columbia Basin Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for students who are planning to attend university, community college, vocational or trade school in Fall 2021. Over 50 scholarships are available. Applications must be completed online. Visit www.columbiabasinfoundation.org for details. The scholarship application deadline is March 15, 2021....

  • Coulee Cops

    Jan 6, 2021

    Grand Coulee Police 12/17 - A car driving with an expired registration was pulled over near Yakima and Wenatchee Avenues. The driver said the car didn’t have a license, insurance, or registration. She was wanted on multiple felony warrants. She was cuffed and placed in the back of the police car, but neither Grant nor Okanogan County would confirm the warrants. The woman was cited for driving without a license, having expired tabs, lacking insurance and registration, and then released. The car was towed. 12/19 - A man rolled a blue Dodge t...