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Articles from the February 17, 2021 edition


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  • Local region opens to Phase Two of Roadmap to Recovery Covid plan

    Jacob Wagner|Feb 17, 2021

    The North Central Region of the state, including this area, entered the less-stringent Phase Two of Washington State's Roadmap to Recovery planned approach to the COVID -19 pandemic just in time for Valentine's Day Feb. 14. Gov. Jay Inslee announced last Thursday that five more regions would join the Puget Sound and West Regions in Phase Two, with only the South Central region not meeting the four requirements to open up to the next phase. That changed on Feb. 14 when the state Dept. of Health announced that a data error had been discovered in...

  • Recycling bins in Delano get an upgrade

    Jacob Wagner|Feb 17, 2021

    Recycling at the Delano Transfer Station has been successful, and Sunrise Disposal, the contracted solid waste hauler in the area responsible for the recycling bins there, is working to make it easier. Recycling bins were placed outside of the Delano Regional Transfer Station in January of 2020. Earl Cole, who runs Coulee View Mobile Park in Electric City, hauls recyclables from tenants there to Delano. Cole told Electric City Mayor Diane Kohout about the difficulty of placing the goods through...

  • First-round vaccine appointments canceled this week

    Scott Hunter|Feb 17, 2021

    The top administrator at the organization that has been providing vaccines at Coulee Medical Center said Feb. 10 that existing appointments for a first-round vaccine against Covid-19 are to be canceled due to lack of supply. “We don’t have enough,” said Theresa Sullivan, chief executive officer of Samaritan Healthcare in Moses Lake. Apparently, the local area is not alone in that assessment. The state Dept. of Health state two days later, that second doses would be emphasized across the state this week in light of low supply. “We are monitor...

  • LR sports to stream online

    Jacob Wagner|Feb 17, 2021

    Whether restricted by COVID or by distance, Lake Roosevelt Raider fans far and wide should soon be able to watch sporting events, assemblies, and graduations from the comfort of their own homes. The Grand Coulee Dam School District bought a one-year, $2,000 service from Justagame Live, which will allow LR to livestream games and more online. The games can be recorded and streamed via smartphones and tablets operated by students, staff, or parents, or through hard-mounted cameras that could be operated remotely and cost around $750 each,...

  • Town considering new pet law

    Scott Hunter|Feb 17, 2021

    It all started over a year ago, when residents started complaining to police about a neighbor they said didn’t keep a dangerous dog contained in the yard. That led to scrutiny of the town’s current ordinance on pets, dangerous animals and more, and a decision it all needed to be brought up to modern standards that mesh with state law. The Coulee Dam City Council is getting close but stopped short of a vote Wednesday when they learned the city attorney wanted a chance to talk with them about it first. That should happen at the next scheduled Zoo...

  • Umpires needed to cover region's games

    Feb 17, 2021

    The Central Columbia Basin Umpires Association is looking for men and women to become umpires for baseball and/or softball. The organization serves Almira-Coulee/Hartline, Ephrata, Lake Roosevelt, Odessa, Quincy, Soap Lake and Wilbur/Creston High Schools. It also covers middle school games for Almira-Coulee/Hartline, Ephrata, Lind/Ritzville, Odessa, Quincy, and Wilbur/Creston. During the spring and summer, the group also offers opportunities for umpires to work non-school youth games in both baseball and softball. The Covid virus and general at...

  • Crash claims Omak girl's life

    Scott Hunter|Feb 17, 2021

    An Omak teenager has died, and a young man is charged with vehicular homicide and driving under the influence after a one-pickup rollover accident on SR-155 in the middle of the night. The name of the 15-year-old girl who died at the scene of crash was not released. According to the Washington State Patrol report, she was not wearing a seatbelt when the northbound 1998 Ford F-150 swerved on the highway at milepost 69, where the driver overcorrected, then rolled over on the right shoulder shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday morning. The driver,...

  • You know what they say about statistics

    Scott Hunter|Feb 17, 2021

    An apparent weakness in Washington’s coronavirus response efforts bit the governor in his political behind this week, a weakness that has seemed glaring to us for many months. Perhaps it’s this newspaper’s service area at the ends of four counties that makes it more apparent to us than to some others, but we’ve been battling this state’s clumsy and inconsistent data gathering efforts for a long time. This, in the midst of a fight that depends on good data. Trying to report on the efforts of public health officials, hospitals, health care prov...

  • Re: "Popular beach at Steamboat Rock closing permanently" (Star Jan. 27, 2021)

    Kurt Steinke|Feb 17, 2021

    In response to the shocking news about the sandy beach area at Steamboat Rock State Park being permanently closed due to a government mystery: oh Ya and EROSION, I’m thinking why stop there? Shut the entire Banks Lake and Lake Roosevelt down. Certainly, the rise and fall of water levels and tourist enjoyment has and will cause more erosion. If that’s the case, then I also feel I’m in danger while driving through the Coulee Walls and beside any natural hillside or formation caused by erosion. I hate to be the bearer of bad news people, but t...

  • A diamond in the rough

    John M. Adkins|Feb 17, 2021

    My wife, who knows me well after 47 years, says I’m the most patient person she has ever met. When you combine this patience with the actions of putting others first and practicing sound human dynamics, learned from Gonzaga’s leadership program, you’ll see why I’ve finally been speaking up about our local school district. The GCDSD means so much to me, but these important qualities are not practiced at the top level of this organization. When someone talks about my opinion, they need to realize I’m speaking for me and a lot of people who have...

  • The joy of a new baby

    Roger S. Lucas|Feb 17, 2021

    A few days ago, we had a new baby in the family. Actually, it was a great grandchild, the fourth for us. She joins Kaylee, Damon and Westlyn as great grand babies. I guess it is a sign of getting old. But what a joy to see them come and grow up. The mother and father are Camille and Mark Fabian. Mark is from The Philippines. Camille came into the family through adoption by our daughter, Kathy, and her husband, Will Beck. I remember clearly the day she arrived at Sea-Tac. She was accompanied by a representative from South Korea. Most of the...

  • Removing Snake River dams is unwise

    Don C. Brunell|Feb 17, 2021

    Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson’s $33 billion plan to remove the lower Snake River dams is unwise. However, if he pushes it, he needs to include the impact of breaching dams in his home state, which completely shuts off salmon and steelhead migration. Simpson, a Republican representing eastern Idaho, announced he wants to rupture the four lower Snake River dams — Ice Harbor, Little Goose, Lower Monumental and Lower Granite — all in southeast Washington. Those impoundments have fish passage systems to allow adult anadromous fish to conti...

  • Daicia Marie Mellon

    Feb 17, 2021

    Daicia Marie Mellon, 31, loving mother, faithful friend to many and proud member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville; left us all much too soon Friday, February 5, 2021. Daicia entered this world on Saturday, February 11, 1989, in Spokane, Washington to Oscar H. and Dianne Sutton-Mellon. An excellent student and voracious reader, teenage Daicia found schooling too easy and so earned her GED at the age of 15 years. Daicia married once to David Cox Jr., and though they later divorced,...

  • A welcome sign

    Feb 17, 2021

    A buttercup blooms long before the recent snow, found by reporter Jacob Wagner above Crescent Lake Feb. 4. Jacob Wagner photo...

  • Scholarship application time

    Feb 17, 2021

    GCHS Alumni Association Grand Coulee High School Alumni Association will once again be awarding scholarships to graduating seniors and continuing education students. All Lake Roosevelt High School graduating seniors are eligible to apply, as are graduating seniors from other high schools and continuing education students who are descendants of anyone who attended Grand Coulee School District 55 previous to consolidation the fall of 1971. Continuing education students must have successfully completed one year of further education by the end of...

  • It's a boy for Palmer

    Feb 17, 2021

    Amanda Palmer of Nespelem, Washington, is proud to announce the birth of her son, Archer, born Tuesday, February 2,2021, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. He weighed 6 lbs., 14 oz., and was 45.5cm at length. Maternal grandparents are Debra Francis of and Mervin “Porky” Palmer both of Nespelem....

  • Blood drive Monday

    Feb 17, 2021

    SAVE THE DATE! Grand Coulee Community blood drive will be on Monday, February 22, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. in Electric City at the American Legions Building. All those who are considering or have scheduled to donate blood, thank you! YOU are appreciated! Remember, YOU alone can help up to 3 people with a single blood donation. As the only supplier of blood to area hospitals, Vitalant needs 200 donors per day to supply the community with the components needed for Chemotherapy, Transfusions, and Major Surgeries. To make your appointment click here:...

  • Meetings & Notices

    Feb 17, 2021

    Grant County Fire Dist. 14 Meeting via Conference Grant County Fire District #14 will be holding the monthly meeting Monday, February 22, 2021 via phone conference call at 6:45 pm. To join meeting, call 1-425-436-6384 then enter access code 5427931#. (Remember to enter # sign after the number) New Cancer Support Group Cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors have been gathering semiweekly to talk, in a safe environment with honesty about the physical, emotional and spiritual impact of cancer. The group meets the first and third Thursdays of t...

  • Legals for February 17, 2021

    Feb 17, 2021

    City Grand Coulee Periodic Update of the Development Regulation and Resource Lands and Critical Areas Development DETERMINATION of NON-SIGNIFICANCE (DNS) Description of proposal: City of Grand Coulee Periodic Update to the Development Regulations and Resource Lands and Critical Area Development in conformance with the State Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A). Proponent: City of Grand Coulee Location: City of Grand Coulee Documents Available to review at: City of Grand Coulee, 306 Midway Ave.,Grand Coulee, WA 99133 Lead Agency: City of Grand...

  • Coulee Cops

    Feb 17, 2021

    Grand Coulee Police 2/9 - A man reported a “road rage” incident. While driving near the Eagles building, a black minivan with tinted windows began tailgating him. He gestured for the van to go around him. The driver of the minivan got out and pointed at him, then got back in the van and drove off. Police determined that no crime had been committed but took down the information. - A purse turned into USBR plant protection was suspected as possibly containing drugs or paraphernalia. An officer found no evidence of drug residue within pieces of...

  • Colville Tribes supports a regional salmon solution

    Colville Tribes|Feb 17, 2021

    (Nespelem, WA)—The chairman of the Colville Business Council expressed support Thursday for finding a regional solution to restore salmon in the Columbia River and expressed appreciation for the willingness of Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) to offer a regionwide proposal. Simpson released his “Northwest in Transition” proposal earlier this month, drawing immediate fire from critics of its central tenet of breaching dams on the Snake River, including from Simpson’s colleague in the House, Rep. Dan Newhouse, who represents Washington’s 4th District...