News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 35
There’s an effort to resurrect “Them Dam Writers” an organization that encourages people to write. The group had been organized back in the 1980s, but in recent years had dwindled to only a few. The effort to get the group going again will begin with a brainstorming meeting at 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 12, at the Senior Center. Them Dam Writers is a non-profit organization that had many of its articles published in The Star newspaper in a “Reflections” column. Them Dam Writers in the past have featured writers’ workshops, poetry writing contests in... Full story
An after-school program promoting values, leadership, family and education received a multi-state award last week when its director, Kim Stanger, was in Washington D.C. to encourage more funding from Congress. The Cultural Enrichment Early Out Monday program at Lake Roosevelt Schools received an award as an "Exemplary Program" in Region 6, the Northwest, of the National Johnson-O'Malley Program in the Bureau of Indian Education. The program takes advantage of the schools' "early out" Mondays... Full story
A popular educator and rising young school administrator was taken from Lake Roosevelt Schools in handcuffs last week, after a Seattle-based task force on Internet crimes served warrants to search his home, office and vehicle. Nate Piturachsatit, 37, was arrested at the school Feb. 3, after law enforcement officers from several agencies, all part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, arrived at 10 a.m. with a warrant to search his office and computer. When they left, they didn't... Full story
Want to serve on Electric City’s Pathway committee? All you have to do is drop a note off at city hall. The city council will make a selection of four local citizens to serve, along with city Councilmember Brad Parrish, on an advisory committee regarding matters pertaining to the proposed trail. Chairing the committee will be Tiffany Quilter of Grant County Health District. A representative of Washington State University’s Rural Community Design Initiative, and a representative from the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conse... Full story
A public workshop will be held this Thursday night at the Electric City fire station to develop survey questions for the proposed Pathways project. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend and take part by sharing their thoughts and vision of Electric City. A large group of stakeholders met in January to get the discussions going on an Electric City trail system but couldn’t agree on a set of questions for a community survey. Deputy Clerk Russell Powers, who is organizing the meeting, said the group will develop q... Full story
Volunteer nominations close Thursday Those who wish to nominate someone for Volunteer of the Year have until midnight Thursday. Letters of nomination should be as specific as possible about why the candidate should be honored, including contact information for the nominator and for anyone who could speak about the nomination. Send nominations by email, through the U.S. Postal Service, or in person as follows: • by email to star@grandcoulee.com • by mail to Volunteer, PO Box 150, Grand Coulee, WA 99133 • in person to The Star, 3 Midway Ave.,... Full story
Coulee Dam Town Council agreed on two leases at its meeting Jan. 27. Council members agreed to leases for The Melody Restaurant and Riverview Lanes, the town’s two tenants in the building it owns. The Riverview Lanes lease, covering two years with the firm’s new owner, Scott Elmore, calls for $480 lease payments each month from May through September and $675 a month from October through April. The higher price is during the months that league play is most active. Elmore took over the operation in December after spending several weeks get... Full story
Electric City will be working on its new “no name” park this year. The park site, behind the city’s fire station, is yet to be named, and is promoted as a “neighborhood” park. It is the brainchild of Councilmember Lonna Bussert. The city has over $35,000 in its budget for some development this year. Targeted will be fencing, irrigation and the placement of some surplus playground equipment that came out of the Center Elementary School recess area. Last year a community yard sale held at the Vet’s Center and a “Pig in the Park” picnic provided s... Full story
A levy to support Nespelem School District passed by a large margin Tuesday night with only 14 percent of the ballots in Okanogan County left to count. As of Tuesday night, 52 voters said yes to the measure that will tax property owners at about $2.49 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, compared to 17 against it. The 75.36-percent margin assures the passage of the levy, which will directly bring in only about $34,000 a year, but makes the district eligible to receive state “levy equalization” funds of nearly $318,000 more. The fou... Full story
A levy to support Nespelem School District passed by a large margin Tuesday night with only 14 percent of the ballots in Okanogan County left to count. As of Tuesday night, 52 voters said yes to the measure that will tax property owners at about $2.49 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, compared to 17 against it. The 75.36-percent margin assures the passage of the levy, which will directly bring in only about $34,000 a year, but makes the district eligible to receive state “levy equalization” funds of nearly $318,000 more. The fou... Full story
The Regional Board of Mayors set their spring and fall residential cleanup schedules for 2016 at their meeting Monday. The spring cleanup will be April 2-9, for those who haul their own garden debris to the Delano Regional Transfer Station, and April 11-15, for those who rely on curbside pickup. For next fall, the mayors have set Nov. 12-19, for garden material free dumping. Three of the local towns and cities assist with free pick-up arrangements: Electric City, Grand Coulee and Elmer City. Donna Deckman, from Electric City’s public works d...
Alumni from Grand Coulee’s Tigers, Coulee Dam Beavers and from Nespelem’s Savages got the go-ahead from the school board recently for a space on the new school campus for a statue showing that the Raiders grew out of the three earlier schools. Coulee Dam Beaver graduates plan a reunion Aug. 5-7 this year and will use the occasion as a fund-raiser for the statue. The reunion is for classes from 1935 through 1974. As part of the fund-raising effort, the Beavers are selling different levels of tables for the reunion dinner. Sponsorship table lev... Full story
The arrest last week of a popular educator is an emotionally wrenching trauma for a significant portion of the community, not just for him and his family. If he’s guilty of what the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force say he is, they’ve either stopped a budding deviant or just a mid-life crisis that strayed far afield from the norm, ruined his future and hampered the futures of many others. Whatever the case, the community in general will need to rebound from severe disappointment. The good news is, it will. Part of that rebound wil... Full story
I am sickened and disturbed after reading the article about the $150K bonus that was received by [four] employees at CMC. You obviously think that you built and ran CMC by yourselves; that is what bonuses are paid for: employees who exceed expectations, and you did not. I also find it hard to believe that these bonuses were not known by the board. Where are the checks and balances as these checks are written and signed. Again, shame. I am quite sure that it is too late to prosecute these immoral people, but to them I would like to say, gift... Full story
What would have happened if Michael Jordan would have quit basketball after not making his high school team as a freshman? Or if George Washington had told his troops, “We are getting our butts kicked and starving and freezing; let’s go home.” Or if the Wright brothers had listened to those who said flying was impossible. Or if Mystery Inc. had never conquered their fears, but instead ran off with Scooby for a snack? All of these examples are of those who did not let major obstacles hold them back. They persevered; they battled on for the g... Full story
What do you call it when the federal government targets legitimate businesses and causes them to be shut down, not for illegal activity, but because they are deemed undesirable by the Administration? Answer: federal regulatory intimidation. Last week, I voted to effectively stop one such effort: “Operation Choke Point.” We must ensure federal regulators are held accountable to stay on the right side of the line between enforcement of the law and regulatory intimidation. Operation Choke Point was a secret U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) ant... Full story
This is the main stem of the main canal of the Columbia Basin Project. It carries more water than most rivers in the state of Washington. Here, one mile north of Adeo (does anybody know where this is?), the main canal can transport 9,700 c.f.w. Data: bottom width, 50 feet; width at top of the lining, 120 feet; water depth, 21 feet; freeboard, 2.6 feet; velocity of water, about 4 mph; gradient of slope, 1 foot in 10,000 feet; lining, 4-1/2 inches thick with 3/8 inch, round reinforcing steel on... Full story
Dakotah William Jay Moulton began his journey January 15, 2016, and joined his ancestors January 15, 2016. He was born to Barbara Cox and Anthony Moulton. He leaves behind siblings Taylor, Kelly, Keyona, Hunter and Zoe, and furry cat Miles Davis who always laid on his mom’s tummy. He is also survived by grandparents: Dave and Robert Cox, Teresa Potteiger and Perry Moulton; great-grandmother Shirley Toulou; uncles: David Cox Jr., James Chase, DJ Heldman; aunts: Kelly and Karen, Nichelle Barnaby, Dani Stensgar, Rosa Ibbara, Raelynn Dennis and a... Full story
Caitlin O'Neil, 2016 Colorama Rodeo Queen, spoke at the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce at The Siam Palace on Thursday. When asked the most important qualifications for a rodeo queen, she said she has to like rodeo culture, be able to control her horse at all speeds, and of course, know how to wave. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Jordan Martin and Anthony Kheel, of Elmer City, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their son, Myles Raytheal Kheel, born Monday, January 18, 2016, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. He weighed 9 lbs., 3 oz., and was 20 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandparents are Camille Desautel and Jerry Martin Sr., both of Worley, Idaho. Paternal grandparents are Rachel Monaghan and David Kheel, both of Keller, Washington. Great-grandparents are Ramona Kheel of Inchelium, Washington, Vicky Desautel of Elmer City, and... Full story
Jesse Otis and Emily Brooke Tillman, of Elmer City, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their son, Otis Alexander Tillman born Monday, February 1, 2016, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. He weighed 8 lbs., 14 oz., and was 20 inches in length at birth. Sibling includes Brooklyn Nicole, age 3. Maternal grandparents are Greg Hedman and Kathy Harju. Paternal grandparents are Paul Tillman and Katheryn Berendsen.... Full story
Heather and Kyle Kuhlmann, of Grand Coulee, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Madeline Louise Kuhlmann, born Monday, February 1, 2016, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. She weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz., and was 19.5 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Holden and Carter Kuhlmann, ages 2-1/2 and 4-1/2. Maternal grandparents are Doug and Beth Wagner, of Vancouver, Washington. Paternal grandparents are Thomas and Kerry Kuhlmann, of La Center, Washington. Great-grandmother is Shirley Hiserote, of... Full story
Chamber to Meet The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet at noon this Thursday, February 11, at the Siam Palace in Grand Coulee. Cheryl Hoffman will be speaking on wildflowers in the coulee. CMC Guild to Meet The Coulee Medical Center Guild (Auxiliary) has changed its meeting date to the third Monday of the month. This month’s meeting will be Monday, February 15, at noon at Coulee Medical Center. Ask the front desk for directions. Join us for lunch. Our shoe drive raised over $1200. Add CMC Guild as your chosen charitgy on s... Full story
High Honor Roll 3.5 - 4.0 SENIORS Areielle White, Lachelle Bearcub, Olivia Battise, Devan Black, Kayley Duclos, Terrin Hazard, Deon Whitegrass, Hunter Chapman, Scott Abrahamson, Brandon Jordan, Kaden Trotter, Corban Wilder, Tayna Ang, Jocelyn Moore, Sierra Townsend, Chance Garvin JUNIORS Grace Engseth, Hannah Williams, Jazmine Reed, Matthew Tillman, Robin Matt, Cameron Tillman, Brooklyn Reichlin, Damian George, Devan Medel, Mataiya Nachtigal, Cristian Ruiz, Marianna Clark SOPHOMORES Khani Priest, Dylan Jenkins, Rylee Pitner, Malcolm Carson,... Full story
The Teachers and Administrators at Paschal Sherman Indian School are proud to announce Students of the Month Awards. November: Kindergarten: Joesph Moses, Jemma Michel, Linda Robinson, Davien Wahchumwah, Serenity Michel, Isabelle Timentwa First Grade: Nevaeh Tomma, Dreamer Towner, Sadie McCragie Second Grade: Matilynne Bray, Mercedes Lazard Third Grade: Larelle Wiley, Laniyah Moore, Daeshia Martin Fourth Grade: Tamiah W.E.-Feleix, Sienna M.B., Julian Sombrero Fifth Grade: Diane Comeslast, Jovan Mercado Sixth Grade: Jerediah La... Full story