Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 38
The technology of modern entertainment is arriving and the local theater will not likely survive it. Lynette Zierden and her family run the Village Cinema in Coulee Dam. They continue the business that Lynette's mother, Carole Fisher, had purchased last year prior to her death in July 2012. The national film exhibition industry is rapidly converting exclusively to digital projection, and the availability of 35mm movie prints will disappear for most, if not all, new movies as soon as November, 2013. The Village Cinema theater is run primarily... Full story
An 88-year-old Omak man was found dead Feb. 9, and police are investigating his death as a homicide. On the Colville Indian Reservation just outside Omak, the vicitm was found by his daughter who called police just after 9 a.m. Saturday. Below is a press release from the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office. 02-10-13 HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION On 02-09-13 at around 9:10 PM Okanogan County Deputies along with Omak Police Department and Colville Tribal Police responded to 33 Brooks Tracts, just outside o...
Two young men face first-degree burglary charges following a midnight break-in at 16 W. Coulee Boulevard in Electric City last Wednesday. Police Chief Mel Hunt stated Monday that damages to the building and to items in the building amounted to about $6,200. Arrested at the scene were Michael Desautel, 18, from Nespelem, and a 17-year-old juvenile from Electric City. The police report said both were armed, one with a screwdriver and the other with a knife. Police Officer Adam Hunt, who was on patrol only a couple of blocks away, got a report of... Full story
Some $2,800 that was lingering in a 300-pound safe at the golf course, stolen last week, was from last season’s final golf tournament and had been earmarked for fertilizer. Orville Scharbach, chairman of Port District 7 commissioners, stated Thursday that he didn’t know that the funds were still in the safe. He stated that the fertilizer has already been delivered and it appears, Scharbach said, that the port district’s insurance will cover the money, safe, and damage to the door where entry was gained. The final tournament of the year was a... Full story
Funzee’s owner Cheryl Hoffman owner, right, and chamber of commerce President Jess Utz cut the ribbon for a grand re-opening of the store Monday at 401 Midway Ave. in Grand Coulee. Hoffman moved the store from Main Street to gain drive-by and walk-in traffic. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
The town of Coulee Dam has indicated that it would be in favor of going through a “value engineering” study of its plans for the proposed wastewater treatment plant. Town officials Monday issued a statement that they have invited an engineer from the Department of Ecology to brief council members on the process and procedures of value engineering at their next meeting, Wednesday, Feb. 13, starting at 6 p.m. The public is invited to the meeting. In a statement published this week in The Star, the town noted that the council understands the value... Full story
City hall hire Russell Powers has been named deputy city clerk in Electric City. Powers replaces Debra Pifer, who recently resigned from the position. Powers has been working at the Delano Regional Transfer Station and took over his new position Feb. 1. Port hires bookkeeper Joanne Davidson is the new auditor/bookkeeper for Grant County Port District 7. She replaces long-time port district auditor Kary Byam. Davidson retired from Gerard Building Company two years ago and is an Electric City resident. Ceremony planned at burned longhouse site... Full story
Electric City’s new arsenic treatment plant goes into operation this week. The $1.3 million project received final adjustments by Gray & Osborne, the city’s engineering firm, and Clearwater Construction, the firm that did the construction. Tuesday, officials were making final computer program adjustments to the automated system. The project has been under construction for several months and was delayed when additional parts had to be manufactured. The plant was due for operation in Dec... Full story
Those moonglow junipers in Electric City continue to get bad reviews. Since planting 196 of the trees along SR-155 as it winds through the center of Electric City, some dozen have already been removed, and if Brad Parrish of the city council has his way, more will be removed. Parrish has been complaining about having sight view of approaching cars when coming onto the state highway from the street across from H&H Grocery. The tree in question will be taken out, city officials stated, as soon as weather permits. The city planted the trees in... Full story
A sign proclaiming the site of the future Coulee Regional Wellness Center went up last week across highway 174 from the Coulee Medical Center, near the grain elevators. The medical center purchased the land earlier this year, anticipating the building of the new facility, which is in the early planning stages. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Brian Wells has been named manager of the Variety Store in Grand Coulee. Owner John Sweeden made the announcement this week. Wells, a Spokane native, replaces Daniel Klug, who died of cancer on Jan. 25. The new manager took over duties at the store this week, and has long retail experience. Wells said Tuesday that he is looking for rental housing in the Grand Coulee area. He and his wife Donna are currently living in Coulee City. Wells attended North Central High School in Spokane, worked for... Full story
Things are about to happen with the new “Sanpoil” ferry, the one that will replace the “Martha S. at Keller Ferry, sometime this year. Late last fall, a large concrete slab was poured near the Crescent Bay boat launch site where the pieces of the new ferry will be put together. Ken Rau, who will be here along with Foss Maritime Company workers, will be preparing the slab site for a large cocoon-type covering to be placed where actual work on the ferry will occur. Sometime in February, electric power will be provided at-the-site and workers will... Full story
Elmer City is advertising for consulting engineering firms to provide professional services for wastewater treatment planning. The request also covers an analysis of its existing system, hydro-geological investigations, evaluation of treatment alternatives and preparation of a wastewater treatment plan and subsequent design and construction engineering and inspection for wastewater facility upgrades. The request is in regard to the town’s plan to have parallel planning tracks. While working with Coulee Dam on its plan to upgrade its w... Full story
Grant County prosecutor D. Angus Lee is proposing legislation that he says will make it harder for the mentally ill to access and misuse firearms. “In an effort to reduce criminal misuse of firearms, I am proposing a simple amendment to RCW 9.41.047(3) that I anticipate will have universal support, will reduce or prevent future gun violence, and will have little or no fiscal impact,” Lee said this week. He said the current law allows for the restoration of firearm rights for those with mental health issues so severe that they have been involunt... Full story
Steve Becker talks with Lowell Hensley following Becker’s chamber of commerce talk last Thursday at Pepper Jack’s. Coulee Medical Center’s director of marketing said the facility will always be “your hometown hospital” but is working hard at becoming a regional medical center. Becker spoke on behalf of then Gov. Chris Gregoire at the opening of the new medical center. He worked for her for two years and joined CMC last year. “What that medical center represents is a tremendous amount of c... Full story
Congress dropped the ball in the midst of football season when it failed to strike a deal that provided sufficient revenue to invest in the creation of jobs and the 21st century infrastructure our nation so sorely needs. The Federal Budget Super Bowl is only at half-time. If you are a fan of small business and a better economic future, it’s time to make a lot more noise. The fiscal cliff deal agreed to at the start of the year took only small steps towards the policies advocated by many in the small business community. It restored the C... Full story
Ten Years Ago The “Balde” Eagle festival returns to the Grand Coulee Dam area Feb. 14-16 for three days devoted to everything eagle. The chamber of commerce honored two members at a banquet Thursday night, and outlined plans for this year. Winning annual “Business of the Year” award was the Siam Palace, a tribute to the restaurant’s ability to attract customers from surrounding towns to the community and to their employee satisfaction. Naming this year’s achiever of the year, last year’s reci... Full story
Daniel Jerome Klug passed away at home in his sleep after a terrific battle with cancer on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. He was born October 1, 1952, in Clintonville, Wisc. He grew up in the Weyauwega area of Wisconsin where he loved hunting and fishing with his many cousins and friends. This love would continue throughout his life. After graduation from high school, Dan joined the Coast Guard and served six years on the Madrona which was an ice breaker and buoy tender. From the Coast Guard, Dan made... Full story
December 21, 2012, wasn’t the end of the world as we know it, but it was the end of this world for Arthur T. “Ted” Winiecki, 87, of Virginia, Minn., dying that Friday, at Virginia Regional Medical Center from an intra- cranial hemorrhage. Ted was born February 1, 1925, in Raymond, Wash., the youngest of 10 children of Tadeus and Frieda Winiecki. He graduated from Raymond High School before entering the Navy in 1943. Ted served as an electrician’s mate aboard the U.S.S. Kwajalein, an aircraf... Full story
Harold M. Portch, 103, passed away peacefully at his home in Spokane February 1, 2013. Vigil services will be held Thursday, February 7 at 7 p.m., at St. Augustine Church, 19th and Bernard in Spokane, with Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, February 8 at 10 a.m., officiated by St. Augustine Pastor, Fr. Robert McNeese and Harold’s grandson, Fr. Robert Irwin. Luncheon at the Parish Center will follow. Interment is at the Sherman Cemetery in Wilbur at 3 p.m., on Friday. In lieu of flowers, m... Full story
All are invited to a Memorial Celebration of Bob’s life to be held in the Community Presbyterian Church, 11 NE Cole, Wilbur, Washington at 1:00pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013. Graveside interment services for Bob will take place at a later date in the Waitsburg, Washington Cemetery. Bob Orland “Bob” Estes was born in Starbuck, Wash., on March 21, 1927, the eighth and final child of Thomas Patrick and Goldie (Schoonover) Estes. On January 20, 2013, his loving wife Marie by his side, Bob, 85, l... Full story
A meeting of the Coulee Pioneer Museum is scheduled for 1 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13, at the art room above the Senior Center. Those interested in establishing a museum in the area are asked to attend. An official from the Department of Ecology will be at the Feb. 13, 6 p.m. Coulee Dam Town Council meeting to explain to members the processes and procedures for a “value engineering” study of the town’s plans for a revamped wastewater treatment plant. It is a regular meeting of the town council and the public is invited....
As part of Lake Roosevelt High School’s job shadowing program, junior Madisyn Byam sprays paint on a pickup hood at Bird’s Auto in Electric City last week. Under the guidance of Jason Kiser, left, she did some hand and machine sanding on the hood, then sprayed and clear coated it. — submitted photo... Full story
Come and join the United Methodist Church for the six-week series for the Lenten season entitled “Final Words” by Adam Hamilton. This DVD series will explore the meaning of Jesus’ last words. Materials will be provided. The event is free and will be held Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 13, 20, 27 and March 6, 13 and 20. A potluck dinner will be held Wednesday, Feb. 13 to start the sessions off. Soup suppers will be provided at remaining sessions.... Full story
No Noon Luncheon for Chamber The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will not be holding their noon meeting this Thursday due to their Installation Banquet at 6 p.m. Members and non-members are invited to the no-host banquet RSVP 633-3074 or chamber@grandcouleedam.org. Volunteers Needed The local chapter of American Red Cross will be holding a meeting Tuesday, Feb. 12 at the Vets Center in Electric City from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Come join the current volunteers and new volunteers as they talk about the needs of the community and how you can... Full story