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Articles from the January 29, 2020 edition


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  • High honors

    Jan 29, 2020

    New inductees into the National Honor Society hold candles in a ceremony with prescribed traditions to mark the special nature of the occasion at Lake Roosevelt Schools Jan. 22. With President Ellie Hansen at right, new honorees Reniff Herndon, left, and Alonzo Adams, right are facing the camera. The entire group photo, with about a tenth of the student body, is on page five. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • Grand Coulee wants to renegotiate USBR police contract

    Jacob Wagner|Jan 29, 2020

    The city of Grand Coulee wants to renegotiate a contract under which city police provide law enforcement services to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for nearly $600,000 a year. The city is currently operating on a six-month extension on a contract that expired in November of 2019, a contract in which the city’s police provide additional security at the Grand Coulee Dam. That contract adds four additional officers to the Grand Coulee Police Department, which serves Grand Coulee and Electric City, for a total of eight officers, plus a reserve o...

  • Film on tribal hunting rights victory in Canada to premiere

    Jacob Wagner|Jan 29, 2020

    The recent story of a Colville tribal member winning hunting rights on traditional lands in Canada is being told in a 30-minute documentary that will premiere in Spokane next month. A Jan. 17 press release from the Colville Tribes details the documentary and the story that it tells. "'Older Than The Crown' follows the trial of Sinixt tribal member and retired Fish & Wildlife Officer, Rick Desautel, who in 2010 was charged with hunting as a non-resident and without a license in Canada," the...

  • State Senate passes bill to require comprehensive sex-ed in public schools

    Cameron Sheppard, WNPA News Service|Jan 29, 2020

    A proposed law to require school districts to implement a comprehensive sexual education curriculum emphasizing healthy relationships and consent was passed after a 28-21 vote by the state Senate last week. If signed into law, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5395 would require every public school to offer evidence-informed, medically accurate, and age-appropriate sex education as an integral part of the curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grade by Sept 1, 2021. The bill was first introduced in 2019 and drew vocal opposition from parents...

  • Wild turkeys causing power problems

    Scott Hunter|Jan 29, 2020

    More than half the power outages in the city of Coulee Dam last year were caused by wild turkeys that roam the town freely. Last year the town, which operates its own electric utility, suffered nine power outages, the last five all because of the big birds, said Mike Steffens, the city superintendent who gets to deal with such emergencies. Each time, that takes a minimum of two employees spending a couple hours walking the lines, arranging for upstream power to be shut off, then reconnected, and...

  • Lawmakers move to ban high-capacity magazines

    Leona Vaught, WNPA News Service|Jan 29, 2020

    Gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition would be outlawed under a proposed law moving through the state Senate. Supporters cite safety concerns, while opponents argue the measure, which cleared the Senate Committee on Law and Justice Jan. 23, would place new restrictions on Washington residents' right to bear arms. SB 6077, sponsored by 14 Democratic senators, would make it illegal to possess what the bill would define as a high-capacity magazine in most instances. Under the...

  • Policies or personalities?

    Jack Stevenson|Jan 29, 2020

    What makes good government? Many of us would probably contend that we have taken a recess from good government. Sometimes we learn more during recess than we do in the classroom. Polls indicate that our confidence in the way our federal government operates has been declining for several decades. Money has become the governing factor enabling a political candidate to get on stage. At that point, it becomes a personality contest with all manner of pundits rating every syllable, move, garment, and hair style while photographers spot every...

  • Washington wine industry has enormous impact from start to finish

    Dan Newhouse|Jan 29, 2020

    When we look around Central Washington, it is hard to miss the thousands of acres of wine grapes that cascade across our rolling hills and valleys. In fact, there were more than 59,000 acres and nearly 70 varieties of wine grapes planted last year. As the co-chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus – and the first co-chair from outside California – I could not be prouder to represent the Washington wine industry. With an annual economic impact of $7 billion, Washington’s wine industry is second in size only to California’s, and our communi...

  • Senior Profile: Nick Baker

    Jess Utz|Jan 29, 2020

    As you all know by now, I like to profile certain seniors at Lake Roosevelt High School. It gives you all a chance to learn a little bit about the adults that the Raiders are producing and get a glimpse of where they have been and where they are going. Living in a small community, they become all of our kids, and Nick Baker is one of those students we all enjoy. So here is a little bit of my chat with “Big Nick.” Before we even got started, that big smile that Nick carries with him was pla...

  • Optimistic bachelor Len Dillman

    Jan 29, 2020

    At first when the Colville Reservation was formed in 1872, there was a paranoia from the lawmakers in the east that an attack would come from across the Columbia River by Seaton's Landing. To keep an eye on things, the U.S. Government sent out two decorated Indian War veterans, Len and Sam Dillman. When they arrived in the Grand Coulee, they set up base close to Rattlesnake Canyon, but pretty soon purchased the orchard at the bottom of the canyon. When it became apparent the attack would never...

  • Martha "Faye" Hills Mawdsley

    Jan 29, 2020

    Martha "Faye" Hills Mawdsley went to be with our Lord on Friday, January 10, 2020. She was a lifetime resident of Washington state, however she always considered Colville to be her home. She loved the mountains we have here and enjoyed them every moment she could. She wrote and sang many songs about them. Song writing was her passion and performing was her dream. She opened and operated the Grand Gallery of Arts in Grand Coulee where she lived her dream until her husband, Larry, passed and she...

  • Meetings and Notices

    Jan 29, 2020

    Chamber to Meet at Siam Chamber will meet this Thursday, January 30, at the Siam Palace Restaurant, Main Street, Grand Coulee. The meeting will start at noon with general business is on the agenda No Meetings for American Legion Post 157 in January The next meeting for American Legion Post 157 will be Tuesday, February 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Okanogan County School Retirees’ Association to Meet Okanogan County School Retirees’ Association meets 11 a.m., Friday, January 31, for a general meeting and no-host luncheon at Cariboo Inn, 233 Queen...

  • Hot winnings

    Jan 29, 2020

    Joaquin Bustamante reacts to winning $500 for first place Saturday in the chili cook-off held by the LR Athletic Booster Club at the Vets Center in Electric City. Steve Krajic took second place and $100 among the dozen competitors who served up samples to about 90 ticket buyers who paid $15 to attend. Bustamante said he put five kinds of meat in his secret sauce. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • Free tax help begins

    Jan 29, 2020

    Income tax time is here!! Free tax preparation is once again being offered at the senior center in Grand Coulee every Wednesday February 5 through April 8 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Volunteers trained in cooperation with the IRS will offer free help to taxpayers with low to middle incomes in preparing their federal income taxes. Special attention is given to those 60 and older. Free e-filing is also available. Taxpayers should bring with them: a copy of last year’s tax return; Social Security cards or other official documentation showing s...

  • State Parks hiring seasonal park aides for summer 2020 season

    Jan 29, 2020

    The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission announces its annual recruitment for hundreds of seasonal park aides for the 2020 summer season. Each summer, State Parks employs 400 park aides and 45 senior park aides to work the busy season, which runs from April through September. People of all ages from diverse backgrounds work as park aides. They work in parks all over the state and in varying types of terrain and climate, depending on location. Park aides register campers, maintain trails, clean campgrounds and comfort stations and...

  • All Grand Coulee Dam high school class reunion planned

    Jan 29, 2020

    A Grand Coulee Dam all-class high school reunion for Mason City, Nespelem, Coulee Dam, early Lake Roosevelt High School graduates, and others who wish to attend, is planned for the weekend of June 19-21, 2020. The reunion will be held in the newly air-conditioned Lake Roosevelt High School Gym, with catered dinners planned there on Friday and Saturday nights, and a picnic at Spring Canyon on Sunday. Information on the reunion can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/allcoulee/ For more information on how to register, visit the reunion website...

  • Honor Society adds members

    Jan 29, 2020

    The Lake Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School chapter of the National Honor Society inducted new members Jan. 22. The group of new honorees, together with last year's inductees and officers comprised about 10 percent of the student enrollment at the school. Shown in the hallway just before the ceremony in the elementary gym are, from left, Raven Clark, LorRinda Richardson, Vanessa Ankney, Jozlyn Hansen, Advisor Jess Utz, Chelsea Dudley, Bryn Chaffee, Kyle Edmo, Megan Abel, Keziah Stice, Ellie...

  • Coming up in Raider sports . . .

    Jan 29, 2020

    Weds., Jan. 29 5 p.m., JH Wrestling here with Okanogan 5 p.m., JH Girls' Basketball here with Okanogan Thurs., Jan. 30 6/7:30 p.m., HS BB at Soap Lake Fri., Jan. 31 5 pm., HS Wrestling here with Kittitas/Omak Sat.,Feb. 1 10 a.m., HS Wrestling at Okanogan Tues., Feb. 4 6/7:30 p.m., HS BB at Brewster Fri.,Feb. 7 6/7:30 p.m., HS BB at Liberty bell Sat., Feb. 8 6/7:30 p.m., HS Basketball here with Waterville/Mansfield Feb 26 - Mar 7 TBD, 2B Regionals/State, Spokane Arena...

  • Raider boys continue winning season

    Jacob Wagner|Jan 29, 2020

    The Raiders defeated the Oroville Hornets 64-40 Jan. 24, then soundly put down the Bridgeport Mustangs Monday night, both in Coulee Dam. Lake Roosevelt hosted the Bridgeport Mustangs Monday, beating them 73-30. The Raiders are sitting pretty on top of the Central Washington 2B league with an 11-0 win-loss record, 13-2 overall. Brewster is right behind them at 11-1, 14-2. An away game was scheduled for yesterday in Tonasket, results of which will be reported next week. LR is scheduled to play in...

  • Lady Raiders win two at home

    Jacob Wagner|Jan 29, 2020

    The Lady Raiders defeated the Oroville Hornets 47-24 in a home game on Friday and crushed Bridgeport Monday, also in Coulee Dam. Audrey Hansen scored the most points against the Hornets for Lake Roosevelt with nine, followed by Ellie Hansen with eight and Jozlyn Hansen and Megan Abel, who added seven each. Ellie Hansen, who stands 6-0, led the Raiders in rebounds with 12 total, six offensive and six defensive. Audrey Hansen, also 6-0, had nine rebounds, seven defensive and two offensive. Almeta Desautel had four steals for the Lady Raiders....

  • Raiders wrestle in Tonasket, Spokane

    Jacob Wagner|Jan 29, 2020

    The Raiders competed in mix-and-match and dua meetsl this past week, and will host a dual competition Friday night. In Tonasket Jan. 23, The Raiders competed in a mix and match among Okanogan, Tonasket, and themselves Jan. 23 in Tonasket, where “everyone ended up getting at least one match,” Head Coach Billy Monroe said. Further results were unavailable from the event. Then in Spokane Jan. 25 the Raiders competed in the Dream Duals tournament, placing third out of eight B schools. “It was neat to wrestle in the convention center,” Monroe...

  • LR's sports league going through changes

    Jacob Wagner|Jan 29, 2020

    The Central Washington 2B league is changing up a bit, most notably with the return of 1A school Okanogan to the 2B league due to a change in rules with the powers that be. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association finalized classification numbers for 2020-2024 at their Jan. 26 executive board meeting. The reclassifications take into account a school’s percentage of students who receive free or reduced lunches, the reasoning being that schools with poorer students are at a disadvantage, and that the change will level the playing f...

  • Legals for January 29, 2020

    Jan 29, 2020

    SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 1064 of the City of Grand Coulee, WA On the 21st of January 2020, the City Council of the City of Grand Coulee, Washington, passed Ordinance No. 1064. A summary of the content of said Ordinance, consisting of the title, provides as follows: ORDINANCE NO. 1064 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2020 BUDGET, INCREASING CERTAIN FUND EXPENDITURES, AND AMENDING CITY ORDINANCE NO. 1062 The full text of this Ordinance is available upon request. Lorna Pearce, Clerk Treasurer (Publish January 29, 2020) SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 1063 of...

  • Coulee Cops

    Jan 29, 2020

    Grand Coulee Police 1/20 - An officer spoke to the owner of a barking dog on Dill Avenue. The owner said the dog was just a puppy and she would bring it inside. 1/21 - Coulee Gas reported a 20-something woman had stolen some sunglasses then gotten into a green truck. The truck was found at Jack’s 4-Corners gas station. The owner of Coulee Gas told police a passenger was the woman who stole the sunglasses. The sunglasses were returned and she was banned from Coulee Gas. - An officer assisted Coulee Dam police in attempting to locate a stolen w...