News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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The priorities in a push for a golf course enhancement grant took a shift last Thursday night as a dozen people gathered to discuss the six parts of the preferred list of ideas. Number six on the list, the RV park project, took front and center as stakeholders took a serious look at how the grant application to the state's Recreation and Conservation Office might be structured. The RV park would provide a revenue source for the money-starved, 18-hole Banks Lake Golf Course, while the other five... Full story
MOSES LAKE, Wash. (Jan. 27, 2014) – Four men are jailed today after Grant County law enforcement officers in search of stolen property raided a home east of Moses Lake, the county sheriff said in a media advisory Monday afternoon. Around 9 a.m., the Moses Lake Regional Tactical Response Team served a search warrant at 4562 Road N-Northeast. The raid was related to an investigation into the Jan. 20 thefts of property from National Frozen Foods in Moses Lake. During that crime, a utility t... Full story
Here's what our elected legislators in the state House of Representatives and the state Senate did last week on various issues, according to Washington Votes. This week, the House passed a number of non-controversial bills with few or no dissenting votes. Votes on the higher education measures and a flame retardant bill described below, however, were split more significantly. No votes were taken in the Senate. House Bill 1251, Increasing membership on the Opportunity Scholarship Board. Passed the House on Friday, January 24, 2014 by a vote of... Full story
The Bureau of Reclamation announced last week that Kerry McCalman of Denver, Colo., has been named the interim power manager at Grand Coulee Dam, starting last Wednesday. McCalman is Reclamation’s senior advisor for Hydropower and Electric Reliability compliance officer based in Denver. He replaces Mark Jenson who has been the Grand Coulee power manager since April 2011. Jenson will remain at Grand Coulee Dam to lead the Project Management Group, which is directly involved in repairing, replacing, and upgrading power equipment throughout the f... Full story
A worker burned in an accident at Grand Coulee Dam last November is due to be released from hospital today, the Bureau of Reclamation has informed an irrigation district. The Columbia Basin Development League reported to members in its email newsletter last week that the bureau said Dan McCulloch would be released Jan. 22. McCulloch, 54, was flown to Harborview Medical Center with extensive burns Nov. 18 after a mishap with switch gear for Pump Generator 12 in the John W. Keys III Pump-Generating Plant. Of the 12 units in the plant, six are... Full story
A vacated house in Electric City may have as many as 15 nuisance ordinance violations, according to Councilmember Brad Parrish, who lives close by. Parrish, who lives on Washington Place, asked City Clerk Jackie Perman to put the nuisance ordinance issue on the docket for last Tuesday night's meeting. Parrish then went on to show pictures of the untidy place and point out that the door has been left open and that he has seen pack rats around the place. He asked that something be done about it,... Full story
Stefani Bowden, Coulee Dam's new town clerk, will be at her first town council meeting tonight. She served almost 10 years as deputy clerk at Wilbur before coming to Coulee Dam. "All cities are similar, but each one has its own unique qualities," Bowden said. She stated that the one thing she really liked about being in a city hall is that you get to meet a lot of people. "I am a people person, and think it is the responsibility for the town clerk to help people when they come in with a... Full story
Playland holds steady The Electric City Council approved Coulee Playland prices and fees for the coming tourist season. Manager Hal Rauch informed the council that most rates for overnight stays will remain the same. Rauch stated that he was in his 29th season as manager of the resort. This year the resort plans to introduce a stand-up paddleboard for rent. Electric City appointments made Councilmember John Nordine was elected mayor pro-tem for Electric City at its last council meeting. The mayor pro-tem takes over for the mayor when he is... Full story
It was uncomfortable at first, but the nursing staff at Coulee Medical Center has made a cultural adjustment for transparency in the service of improvements to patient care at the hospital. So said Chief Nursing Officer Ramona Hicks in a presentation to the chamber of commerce on substantial changes in nursing and other processes at the facility. Hicks, whose CNO position gives her oversight of nursing, surgical services, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, outpatient services, labor and delivery... Full story
New Wood Resources announced Jan. 16 that David Niessner has joined the company as general manager of Omak Wood Products in Omak, Wash. Niessner will help manage the 90-person team at Omak Wood Products, which was formed through an agreement with New Wood Resources and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation to restart the veneer mill in Omak, and to enter into a long-term log supply agreement from tribal-owned timberlands. “David brings expert leadership and a keenly analytical mind to the unique opportunity and partnership New W... Full story
Lincoln County Sheriff Wade Magers last week awarded Wilbur resident Seth Coffman for his role in the saving the life of a woman thrown from a boat near Keller Ferry Marina in 2011. Magers gave Coffman a letter and a “Lincoln County Sheriffs Office Challenge Coin.” Coffman commandeered a boat just before noon Oct. 7, 2011 when a boat was noticed circling out of control in tight circles. “You had heard the commotion and responded to the marina where you commandeered a boat and heroically responded to the scene to assist the two strangers in ne... Full story
OLYMPIA — Discover Pass revenue is going up, but not fast enough. With the general fund money gap, it’s hard to keep parks open. But they are managing by trying to promote the pass program and reduce staff. Three years after Washington’s Discover Pass program was implemented, revenue from sales of the pass continues to grow. The pass, which is a user fee for vehicle entry into public lands such as state parks and natural resource lands, brought in an average of $13 million a year during its first two years. But during the fiscal year ending in... Full story
Authorities clamped down on a local fire chief this week, who said he didn’t know burning the kinds of materials he had in his burn pile was illegal. He’s not alone in a lack of understanding of this state’s laws regarding outdoor burning. City hall seems to think that if he had contained his fire to a certain size, had a ready means to extinguish it and kept the burn to unoffending materials, such as leaves, it would be OK. It would not. It is against the law in this state to burn anything within “Growth Management” boundaries. It has been... Full story
I hesitate on doing this only because I think people believe what they want to believe, regardless of the facts. That said however, I’ll say a few things regarding gas prices in the GCD area. As most you know, and what was actually said to me when I came to town back in 2010, was that gas prices in GCD have always been high. I’ve heard and have read the comments that it’s because I have all three stores — not in the least, it’s a function of price. My pricing structure on gas hasn’t changed, when I owned the first two stores or now that I own... Full story
The following statement has been sent to all school superintendents in the Okanogan Valley Superintendents’ Association. Lake Roosevelt HS AD Rich Black has kept me informed in relation to the possible realignment of the Central Washington 2B league that was reported in The Star last week. Relating to full disclosure on my part — my loyalties lie first with LRHS and second with our 2B compatriots. While I can sympathize with Omak’s situation, the 2B league should not sacrifice one or more of its members just to help Omak. Rich and I have discu... Full story
I am so disappointed to see these letters accusing any administrators, doctors, nurses, or staff of hidden motives especially to say that we do not need Mr. Graham's kind in our town. I wonder if this writer has ever met Mr. Graham, or spent any time talking to him? I have and it is Mr. Graham's help that has made it possible for my severely ill son to get some help. It is because of his comfort and his guidance that I have known where to go and what I could do to help him. I have spent time professionally and personally with Mr. Graham and... Full story
Each week, the Star Newspaper is hand delivered to my door — by our ever faithful deliverer, Felix Marcolin. Each week, I look forward to sitting down and reading it. But as of late, I almost cringe when I read the letters to the editor. With the recent tide of public sentiment, my letter is going ot be one of the less popular ones, but nonetheless, needs expressed. Before the meat of my subject matter, let me refer you to an old “Native American proverb” that goes something like this: “Grant that I might not judge my brother until I have wa... Full story
Jerry Birdwell’s Volunteer of the Year award was most greatly deserved! Knowing Jerry the way I do, I know it was a childhood dream realized! He always wanted to ride on a float in the Colorama parade with people hurling water balloons at him while they yelled FOUR! Randy Larson... Full story
As I was standing in line at Safeway the other night, the young lady at the register was trying to buy a few things and apparently she did not have enough money. She was embarrassed and a look of worry covered her face. She was trying to get her husband/boyfriend’s attention without causing too much of a scene. He was talking with a friend and was pretty much ignoring her needs. I have been there. Not having enough to pay for what you got or, for whatever reason, your card decides it doesn’t want to work. Embarrassment is an und... Full story
Meagan Bellamy and Andre Picard of Coulee Dam are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Makenzie May Picard born Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014 at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 5 lbs., 6 oz., and was 19 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Darrel Picard and Ashley Picard. Maternal grandparents are Cynthia Bellamy and Kelly Bellamy. Paternal grandparents are Elsie Picard and Wayne Picard.... Full story
Matthew and Elizabeth Simpson of Coulee Dam are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Natalie Rose Simpson on Friday, Jan. 10, 2014, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 6 lbs., 13 oz., and was 21 inches in length at birth. Sibling includes Graham Simpson, 12 months old. Maternal grandparents are Corbin and Anita Magby of University Place, Wash. Paternal grandparents are Steve and Rene Simpson of Fox Island, Wash. Great-grandparents are Virginia Simpson of Spokane and Vera Ross of Fox Island.... Full story
Kristen Smith and Corey Stanford of Electric City are proud to announce the birth of their son Liam Dean Stanford born Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 8 lbs and was 20.5 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandparents are Dale and Lynne Rinker of Mansfield and Ron Smith of Lynnwood, Wash. Paternal grandparents are Gayle Stanford of Grand Coulee and Jerry Stanford of Mossyrock, Wash.... Full story
Damon Eric Harrell, son of Melvin Harrell Sr. of Grand Coulee, says he made local history by becoming the first person from the Grand Coulee Dam area to have set foot in both the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand and the Space Needle in Seattle. Harrell, 48, was in New Zealand with his wife, Kymberly Harrell to visit Auckland after vacationing in Tahiti. The Harrell's made their way to the 1,076-foot Sky Tower complex Jan. 11 to visit the observation deck before having dinner in the Sky Tower... Full story
Joseph S. "Steve" Sanchez, 68, passed away Sunday evening, January 12, 2014, from his Grand Coulee home surrounded by his loving family following a courageous battle with cancer. Following graduation from high school and attending college, twenty-one-year-old Steve married Janet Bury in Spokane on June 18, 1966. From 1969 to 1996 Steve worked in Grand Coulee Dam Operations, retiring as a dispatcher. Following retirement, he worked for the irrigation district in Coulee City for seven summers. A... Full story
Fireman Nathaniel Gerald Loch graduated from Navy Basic Training at RTC Great Lakes, Ill., on Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. He is currently at NNPTC in Goose Creek, S.C., for Nuclear "A" School, Machinist's Mate. Nathan is the son of Rob and Becky Loch of Coulee Dam and is a 2010 graduate of Lake Roosevelt High School.... Full story