News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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A Grand Coulee Civil Service Commission meeting Monday night turned out to be anything but civil. Commission President Alan Cain and police Officer Sean Cook got into a shouting match over issues that Cook raised before commission members. The civil service commission is an independent board that interviews and makes recommendations on police personnel. Cook said he wasn’t there representing the police department, but as a private citizen and veteran. Initially, Cook challenged the commission for ordering him out of the January meeting, t... Full story
Nespelem School will start two hours late this morning (Thursday). School will begin at 10 a.m. We're not privy to the precise reason at 6 a.m., but suspect it has to with the cold. It's -2 degrees Fin Nespelem currently.... Full story
With their constituents voicing impatience, hospital district commissioners took no actions after coming out of a closed session last week, but they voted in new leadership and streamlined committee assignments. Tom Poplawski got applause from the full meeting room when he said deferring the beginning of action on a standoff between administration and medical staff was "unacceptable." "Make a decision and let's move on," he said. "We need to start with a new goal here of getting somewhere."... Full story
A large majority of registered nurses at Coulee Medical Center have signed cards asking to be represented by a union, an organizer said Tuesday night. Austin DePaolo, of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union, Local 1439, said more than 70 percent of the nurses at the hospital had signed cards seeking representation. DePaolo said he couldn’t say the exact number of RNs that would be in the bargaining unit, but he suspected it was about 30. DePaolo said both hospital administration and the state Public Employment Relations Commission (... Full story
Electric City is looking for a water source to service an eventual development of some 300-400 homes on the south side of the causeway. Mayor Jerry Sands appeared before Port District 7 officials Thursday evening to ask if the city could some day drill a well near the golf course to find a water source for future residential development that he said was “coming, maybe not in our lifetime, but it’s coming.” Electric City had engineers and hydrologists here the week before to test three wells that belong to the port district to see if the wells... Full story
The state auditor’s office has advised Lincoln County Fire Protection District 9 that materials required were not furnished to auditors for the period of Jan. 1, 2010 through Dec. 31, 2011. The letter stated that failure to submit required annual financial reports is a violation of state law. The letter further stated that auditors were unable to conclude their audit of the district’s internal controls and compliance. Financial reports are to be filed with the state auditor’s office within 150 days of the closing of the year. The repor... Full story
Orville Scharbach has resigned his position on the Grant County Port District 7 commission. Scharbach, who was just elected to another six-year term last November and took his new oath of office a month ago, advised other commissioners that he was stepping down. He told them, “it’s time.” He has been president of the board for a number of years. Commissioners Jim Keene and Dennis Lohrman were quick to praise Scharbach for his years of service. Both Keene and Lohrman are recent additions to the port commission. Scharbach has been a member of th... Full story
Rob Carroll, of Stevens Avenue in Coulee Dam, can take at least some credit for contributing to the "12th Man" spirit that permeated the state as the Seahawks headed to the Super Bowl on Sunday. In addition to the big lighted sign, he outfitted his lightpost, at left, to resemble the Seattle Space Needle and at halftime painted a Lombardi trophy on a used satellite dish. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
School enrollment up again Enrollment number for Grand Coulee Dam District schools continues to exceed predictions. January’s enrollment in all three schools was recorded at 667. That’s 27 over what the district budgeted for and 46 students over the same period a year ago. So far this year, enrollment is 205 students over the same period last year. Runway cracks need fixing Airport manager Bob Babler told Port District 7 commissioners that cracks in the 4,200-foot paved runway at the Grand Coulee Dam Airport need to be fixed. The airport is own... Full story
The task of keeping sewer rates low has begun in Elmer City. Mayor Gail Morin, who campaigned on the notion that her town could go its own way instead of paying Coulee Dam for wastewater treatment, says she hopes that the first steps in that direction will come this month. She has met with two Indian Health Services engineers, Alex Dailey and Laura Sliger, on Jan. 17, and says she is hopeful that the agency will conduct an alternative analysis to better help the town set its direction on whether it should build its own plant or team with... Full story
Colville Members for Justice will meet Saturday morning in Elmer City to discuss the status and updates on their effort to sue the Colville Business Council over decisions on how much of a $193 million settlement with the United States government to distribute directly to tribal members. Their civil complaint was dismissed in tribal court, but the groups has filed for an appeal. A hearing on that is set for Feb. 21. “We still do not have legal counsel and plan to discuss this and other measures available to us,” said Yvonne Swan, who is spearhe... Full story
The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards night will be Thursday, Feb. 13, at Pepper Jack’s Bar and Grille, officials said this week. Chamber Executive Director Peggy Nevsimal said Tuesday that the “Achiever of the Year” and “Business of the Year” will be announced during the evening. The dinner event begins at 6 p.m. Last year’s “Achiever of the Year” was George Kohout, who led the Ridge Riders to one of their most successful seasons with record turnouts for their events. The “Business of the Year” was the Ridge Riders... Full story
Three residents of Grand Coulee responded to the city’s request to fill a vacant city council seat. The Position 2 seat became vacant after Tim Alling decided not to run again and has been vacant since the first of the year. Filing and expressing interest in occupying the vacant council seat were Mike Horne, who unsuccessfully ran for the mayor’s position earlier and is owner of the MPH mechanic shop on Midway Avenue; Travis Irwin, who worked for Grand Coulee’s public works department earlier and who now is an employee of Coulee Dam’s public... Full story
A woman who called police because she felt threatened did not report that the other party had a knife, as stated in a report last week. Heather Downs did not know that Terry Jo Merbach had a knife until Merbach gave it to police when they arrived. Police collected two knives from her and a pistol from Downs for safekeeping during their investigation, but gave them back. Downs had advised the dipatcher that she was armed when she called.... Full story
People are understandably anxious about the lack of resolution of the issues embroiling Coulee Medical Center. While we feel obliged to report on the controversy, it’s not as easy, and much more technical, to report on the hospital’s progress. Although tensions are high and morale may be low at that crucial community institution, everything has not really gone kaput, as one person recently said, despite appearances. After all, CMC reported a slight gain for 2013 of $71,000, and that’s a big improvement from the hole it was in earlier in the yea... Full story
TO THE COLVILLE TRIBAL COUNCIL: I shall continue to harp on you, hound you, press you for answers on the current status of Ken “Butch” Stanger and Gene Nicholson Sr. as continuing members of the CTFC Board of Directors and that of Joe Pakootas as continuing CTFC CEO. Both board members mentioned above were renewed by resolution for two more years, as posted in council resolutions/November 2013 Tribal Tribune; and the Joe Pakootas one-year contract extension approval was made on Dec. 20, 2013 during board of directors meeting. Voting yes: Ken... Full story
This is a different kind of Gem in the Coulee. The man I speak about today is a father, first and above everything else. He prefers to work behind the scenes and let others be the face of success and importance, but make no mistake, Jim Barry is a Gem. He has raised 12 kids here in the Coulee and has established himself as a dedicated father, husband, grandfather, employee and volunteer. In 1985, a family moved in to a house very close to my grandmother's. All we knew then was that they had... Full story
Ten Years Ago Riding the ski slopes and keeping good grades have been combined in a program for students from Nespelem and Grand Coulee Dam School Districts. The club of 89 kids have academic requirements intended to keep their English skills, overall grades and attendance up. In return they get a day on the Loop Loop Slopes every Saturday for five weeks. A local man wants the stray cat problem in his neighborhood solved. Fred Long counted 14 stray cats near the Senior Manor recently, he lives just down the street from where the cats are... Full story
Antoine Alan "Tony" Atkins 69, passed away during the morning hours of Friday, Jan. 31, 2014, surrounded by his family in Spokane's Deaconess Hospital. Tony began this life's journey on December 6, 1944, to the Seattle, Wash., home of Joseph and Lorraine (Sam) Atkins. Tony served his country with honor as a United States Marine during the Vietnam war. Following his honorable discharge, Tony worked in various capacities for the Colville Confederated Tribes with the BIA Roads, as a tribal police... Full story
John B. Klobucher was born May 24, 1920, in Spokane and passed away January 24, 2014, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. Other than his service in the Army during WWII, he lived his whole life in the Grand Coulee area. He was a master carpenter and had an ingenious way of building and/or fixing anything. Those skills were used working on almost every dam on the Columbia River. He retired from Grand Coulee Dam in 1985. He met Bobbie while stationed in Florida and they were married May 3,... Full story
Wed., Feb. 5 – Dinner Potato and Bacon Soup, Egg Salad Sandwich, Coleslaw, Fruit and Pudding Parfait. Thurs., Feb. 6 – Dinner Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Mixed Veggies, Fruit Salad, Cook’s Choice Dessert. Fri., Feb. 7 – Breakfast Bacon and Eggs, Country Potatoes, Toast, Mixed Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice. Mon., Feb. 10 – Breakfast Polish Sausage, Eggs, Pancakes, Apricots, Orange Juice. Tues., Feb. 11 - Dinner Stuffed Kielbasa with Mashed Potatoes and Cheese, Mixed Veggies, Citrus Salad, Pudding Cream Pie. Wed., Feb. 12 – Dinner Gril... Full story
Income tax time is here! Free tax preparation is being offered at the Grand Coulee Senior Center again this year. Volunteers trained in cooperation with IRS and AARP will be available every Tuesday, Feb 11 - April 8, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. New this year: some volunteers have been certified to assist taxpayers with health savings accounts. This service is available to anyone with low or middle income. You do not have to be seniors or members of the senior center to take advantage of this free help. However, special attention is given to those... Full story
Haley Wade of Ephrata, this year's Colorama Queen, visits with chamber of commerce members Thursday at Pepper Jack's Bar and Grille along with Cindy Edwards of the Ridge Riders Saddle Club. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Turtle Abrahamson and Isaac Bessette of Pablo, Mont., are proud to announce the birth of their son Kasen LeRoy Bessette Abrahamson on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 9 lbs., 1 oz., and was 21 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandparents are Siggy Abrahamson and Herman Gorr of Nespelem. Paternal grandparents are Ted Bessette and Rhonda Friedlander of Omak. Great-grandparents are Allen Abrahamson, Beverlee Abrahamson of Omak and Margaret and Ken Friedlander.... Full story
Lee and Jeremiah Seekins of Electric City are proud to announce the birth of their son Emmanuel Aaron Seekins, born Friday, Jan. 31, 2014, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 6 lbs., 11 oz., and was 19 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandparent is Chris Stockhorst, Hughesville, Mo. Paternal grandparent is Janet Seekins of Elmer City. Great-grandparents include Darrel and Mildred Asbury and Terry and Bonnie Westhues, all of Missouri and Lloyd and Judy Wagner of Libby, Mont.... Full story
