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With roughly 56% of voters voting against two levies in the Grand Coulee Dam School District last week, school board members are looking into running just one levy in November. In the Feb. 8 election, the Educational Programs and Operation Levy failed 631 votes to 483 among voters in the district, while the Capital Levy for Safety, Technology and Facilities Improvements failed 599-477. Combined, the two levies would have brought in a combined $1.4-$1.7 million per year from 2023 to 2026 into the school district. Superintendent Paul Turner...
To sign up to give blood go to - https://donors.vitalant.org/dwp/portal/dwa/appointment/guest/phl/timeSlotsExtr?token=2uoKk3VXsmABi2SxMf5v27K3990eUnK6e65pAf4ETKs%3D Grand Coulee Dam Area Community Blood Drive is set for Monday, Feb . 21 from noon - 4:30 p.m. at the American Legion building in Electric City. All blood types are needed to esure a safe and ready supply, especially type O blood. Visit donors.vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825 to make appointments. Sponsor code: grandcouleecomm Donors who meet all eligibility requirements can give re...
Fences were built last week to close a popular beach at Steamboat Rock State Park a year after the decision was made to close it. In January of 2021, The Star reported that a stretch of beach, located near the main boat launch in the park, was being closed due to erosion and to protect resources, according to employees from the park as well as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Originally, a fence was going to be built from a point on the beach near the boat launch, up to an access road, around a...
A bill in the state Legislature that seeks to force hospitals to abide by set staffing levels — to address burnout and an already serious nursing shortage made worse by the pandemic — would likely force cuts in local service, a local hospital leader says. An amended form of House Bill 1868 passed the state House of Representatives Sunday. Its companion bill in the Senate, Senate Bill 5751, seems likely to pass, according to Ramona Hicks, chief executive officer at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. The bipartisan legislation, supported by... Full story
There have been 35 additional cases of COVID-19 in local towns in the past week. The week’s 35 cases contrast with the week prior when The Star reported an additional 54 cases on Feb. 9, and 68 on Feb. 2. Coulee Medical Center reports that out of 108 total tests performed at the Grand Coulee hospital Feb. 8-14, 16 came back positive for covid, for a positivity rate of 15%, down from 24% the week prior, and 29% the week before that. Health districts in Grant and Okanogan counties have been updating their case counts once a week recently, rather... Full story
The amount of force a police officer uses must be “proportional and reasonable,” a bill approved recently by the State Senate says. The bill also specifies officers will also be allowed to engage in vehicular pursuits as long as there is “reasonable suspicion” when making a traffic stop. The Senate voted 31-18 on Senate Bill 5919 on Feb. 9 with a handful of Republicans joining the majority Democrats. The bill cleans up language adopted last year on the use of force that many in the law enforcement community said was confusing and contradictory....
In the wake of the pandemic, Seattle Children’s Hospital reports an increasing number of children need outpatient mental health treatment, but not enough providers exist to meet the demand. “The devastating consequence of the inability to access outpatient care is that you’re likely to get worse and need emergency department or crisis level care,” said Kashi Arora, from Seattle Children’s Hospital. House Bill 1800, now under consideration in the state Legislature, creates a behavioral workgroup to identify barriers to behavioral health services...
Aijanae Young is a birth postpartum doula, a person who delivers non-medical care after birth. She said she didn’t realize the value she brought to her clients until she was the one in need. Young said before her doula arrived, she felt her pain and symptoms weren’t being addressed, and she had to fight to have the support she needed. “My doula listened to my cries, saw my struggles, she said. “I was afraid and suddenly didn’t know what to ask.” Doulas can provide physical, emotional, and informational support during and after pregnancy,...
Good ideas have a way of changing into something else in a committee, and that’s precisely how we tend to govern in America, especially in Washington state in the last two years. Last year the Legislature passed a law widely condemned by law enforcement agencies who warned of unintended consequences. A proposed fix, still controversial, is currently under debate. See that story on page 1. This year, the Leg is considering a similarly well-intended but possibly disastrous effort, one that seeks to address a very real problem with a n... Full story
As you may have heard, the Washington State Redistricting Commission approved maps to rebalance our 49 statewide legislative districts and 10 federal congressional districts in November. This is a process conducted every 10 years in our state based on the federal Census data for population. The process was challenging in 2021, in part because the commission received data later than usual and because of the significant population growth shown in western Washington. Despite approving the plans late, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that...
When our youngest daughter was about 10, we bought her a horse. A real old cowboy lived about four blocks from us, and I got acquainted with him. His name was Homer. He lived in a small house on the edge of Bothell and had a two- to three-acre pasture that on occasion was home to a horse or two. While visiting with him one day, he suggested that I ought to buy Kim a horse. He said he would rent the pasture to me real cheap. I explained that I didn’t know anything about horses, only that they had four legs and a mane. He said he would help me p...
If you ask almost any farmer in Central Washington these days what their most pervasive problem is, I can guarantee they’ll say labor. Producers across Washington and the country are keenly aware that there simply isn’t enough interest among domestic workers to fill these essential roles. As the breadbasket for the world, the labor crisis creates a threat to our food security and our national security. That is why I have been championing agricultural labor reform since coming to Congress. In 2019 my legislation, the Farm Workforce Mod...
David Leon Friesen, age 70, passed away on Sunday, February 6, 2022 in Grand Coulee, Washington. He was born Friday, June 22, 1951 to George E. & Esther Sawatsky-Friesen in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Following high school, he worked in the mines in Kellogg, Idaho, then David served his country with honor in Vietnam with the US Navy from 1970 to 1974, earning the "National Defense Service Medal", "Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal", "Vietnam Service Medal With One Bronze Star" and a "Meritorious U... Full story
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Frances M. Hocking. She passed away on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at the age of 79 from Alzheimer's. Frances was devoted, humorous, strong, and hard working. These characteristics were prevalent throughout her life. Frances was born on February 14, 1942, in Browning, Montana, to Frank and Ethel Merchant. She was raised on the Blackfeet Reservation and shared a home full of love and laughter with her parents, six... Full story
Washington State Parks announces its annual statewide recruitment for park aide and senior park aide positions. The available park aide and senior park aide positions are non-permanent. Each summer, State Parks employs around 350 park aides and up to 40 senior park aides to work in Washington state parks from April through September. Park aides register campers, maintain trails, clean campgrounds and comfort stations and perform a variety of custodial maintenance chores. They also may work in park offices, interact with visitors and help with...
Our libraries are open for limited services at this time. The health and safety of our staff and visitors is our top priority, and we are closely following the Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery guidelines. Learn more about how we aretaking your safety seriously. Join Our Facebook Book Club The NCW Reads Book Club is an online platform moderated by NCW Libraries staff for everyone across North Central Washington to connect and talk about the books they are reading. Reading a book you love? Let us know so we can read it too! Need a book r...
The Arbor Day Foundation has been inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees since 1972. And that simple mission has had a global impact. Join online at arborday.org/membership to join the foundation and select your membership type. 10 Free trees - Online enter your zip code to choose from a variety of tree packages specially selected for your area. They will be sent to you to plan in your yard. 10 Trees to the Forest - America’s forests provide habitat for wildlife, clean the air and filter drinking water for millions of p...
Grand Coulee Police 2/7 - Police responded to King Street where a woman was reportedly attempting to break the windows of another woman’s car. The woman by the car told police that the woman at the residence had sold her the car then stolen it back. The woman at the residence said it was her car. Police ran the car’s information through their system and found it was registered to another woman entirely. She told police that she had loaned the car to the woman at the residence and that she was supposed to be getting it back tonight. The wom...
The following is the first semester honor roll ar Lake Roosevelt Jr./Sr. High School. HIGH HONOR ROLL 3.5 - 4.0 Seniors Alonzo Adams, Ashley Baker, BordenDavid, Kinsley Davis, Isaijah Derr, Audrey Hansen, Reniff Herndon, Kaylee Irwin, Michelle Luevano, Kaitlyn Nordine, Aehsley Piturachsatit, Terai Shanklin-Bob, Sadi Trotter, Lynzee Valles Juniors Kate Adolph, Samuel Amarilla, Penelope Antoine, Justin Blueeyes, Brit Egbert, Tanner Kiser, Aaliyah Marchand, Hunter Palmer, Elijah Rasmussen, Zalissa Sanfo SOPHOMORES Halle Albert, Aaliyah Cheeney,...
The Raiders won their first basketball game of the district playoffs then lost the second last week, and now must beat Manson at home Thursday to stay alive. Lake Roosevelt defeated the Bridgeport Mustangs 63-31 on Feb. 9. Bridgeport led briefly in the first quarter, but LR led 14-10 at the end of it, then continued to control the game, leading 29-18 at the end of the half and 47-24 at the end of the third quarter. LR played Brewster on the road on Saturday, losing 77-56. A home game is...
Whether they win or lose against Okanogan in a game for the top spot in the District 6 basketball playoffs, the Lady Raiders have already qualified for the regional round of the state tournament. The Lady Raiders defeated the Tonasket Lady Tigers in Coulee Dam Feb. 11 with a final score of 69-41. Tonasket edged into the lead at the end of the first quarter with a three pointer to go up 12-11. But LR controlled the game from there on out, going on an 8-0 run in the second quarter, and keeping...
Lake Roosevelt Athletic Director Tim Rasmussen was named the North Central Washington 2B League Athletic Director of the year by his fellow ADs in the league. Rasmussen was presented with the award twice last week, at a boys' basketball game and a girls' basketball game. "I'm just honored that the other ADs in the league have taken notice of what we're doing at LR," Rasmussen said. "We have a great group of coaches and kids working really hard. I'm really fortunate to work with our coaches and...
If a Lake Roosevelt graduate is a junior or older in college working towards an initial certificate in education, they qualify for a $1,500 scholarship. The Okanogan County School Retirees’ Association offers the scholarship to those who graduated from high school in Okanogan County, where LR is located, and who plan to work in public schools. Applications must be submitted before May 1, with the application available at okanogancsra.com For more information, contact Rita Figlenski by email at ritafig2@gmail.com....
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area NOTICE OF INCOMING LOAN Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area contains an incoming loan, consisting of a gavel, within the park's museum collection. The gavel was brought to the park in the 1950's from a Mrs. Joseph Kelley of Coulee Dam, WA. The park hereby wishes to return this item to the rightful owner or gain proper title. If a written assertion of title is not presented by the owner to Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area within ninety (90) days from the date of the second published notice, the... Full story
Raider wrestlers competed at regional tournaments in Ephrata and Warden Feb. 12 with seven qualifying for the state tournament in Tacoma from Feb. 17-19. In Warden, seven Raider boys placed to qualify for state, four of them defeating state-ranked wrestlers to get there. “The kids wrestled really tough and fought for every match,” Head Coach Billy Monroe said. Rodger Cate placed first in the 106-pound weight class, pinning Noah Berger from Granger one minute, 36 seconds into the match; Colton Jackson placed second at 120, losing the fir...