News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Grand Coulee Mayor Chris Christopherson got another grilling from police officer Sean Cook Tuesday night after information in the city’s “Key report” was published in The Star newspaper, Feb. 12. Cook had confronted the mayor at the city’s previous council meeting, Feb. 4, concerning a number of concerns he had raised earlier and the lack of responses he had received. Tuesday night Cook was told he had five minutes to express his views. When he was told his time was up, he protested that the allotted time had not expired. Christopherson gave hi... Full story
Lawmakers in Olympia passed more than 200 bills this week, working late into the night on Monday and right up to the deadline for action on non-budget bills at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18th. Following is a selection of interesting bills that were acted upon. Senate Bill 6523, Expanding higher education opportunities for certain students. Passed the House on February 18, 2014 by a vote of 75-22. This bill is commonly referred to as the Washington State Dream Act but has also been cited as the Real Hope Act, because it provides up to $5 mil... Full story
The chamber of commerce named two of its own to awards last Thursday night as the "Achiever of the Year," and "Business of the Year." The awards are made by the vote of members of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. Named "Achiever of the Year" was Bob Valen, the chamber's own vice president and a retired National Park Service employee. Valen served over 35 years with the NPS, and in retirement has been as busy as ever. He also now serves as chairman of the Coulee Area Park &... Full story
Trees. That’s what dominated talk among town council members last Wednesday night. First, it was a move by the town’s public works department to call for bids on someone to clear branches that have grown too close to power lines. Public works director Barry Peacock said the town does this every four years. It prompted town councilmember Bob Poch to say, “The two places people plant trees is over sewer lines or under power lines.” The limb trimming advertisement for bids will go out soon. Then Mayor Gregory Wilder asked the council for authori... Full story
Electric City firefighters had a sensitivity training session last Wednesday night at the firehall. It all came about because of Fire Chief Mark Payne’s issue with illegal burning on two separate occasions recently. Mayor Jerry Sands made the announcement at a city council meeting Tuesday night and stated that firefighters were going to hear about what is a legal fire and an illegal fire. When asked if he was going to put a letter of reprimand in Chief Payne’s file, the mayor said “yes” but didn’t elaborate. Payne had been turned in for burni... Full story
Fishermen stand around a fishing hole in the melting ice of Banks Lake Feb.12 just off Coulee Playland in Electric City. At that point a week ago, the ice was still about 6 inches thick. - Gwen Hilson photo.... Full story
Hazardous waste collection day set The Regional Board of Mayors has set Sept. 12, as the household hazardous waste day for the Delano Regional Transfer Station. Details of the hazardous waste collection day will be forthcoming soon. Civil service commission coming Coulee Dam Mayor Greg Wilder wants to name a three-member civil service commission to start the process of helping to select a police officer to fill a vacancy that now exists on the town’s police force. The town council OK’d his request. Meeting cancelled The Feb. 26 Town Cou... Full story
Suspended students in the Grand Coulee Dam School District will soon be able to work off one day of their suspension by attending a special Saturday school. The district’s board of directors approved the plan at a recent meeting and the Saturday school is now in effect. Superintendent Dennis Carlson said Tuesday that it will take an effort by both the student and his parents to make the Saturday school work. Say a student receives a three-day suspension, and the parents and students want to take advantage of the special school time to get t... Full story
With eyes on the future, the Electric City Council voted last week to move ahead with a 10-inch pipeline for the proposed Sunbanks Lake Resort water project. It will cost the city between $18,000 and $20,000 to expand the size of the pipeline from one that is 8 inches in diameter to a 10-inch pipe, but the move will put the city in a good position to deal with anticipated future housing expansion on the south side of Osborn Bay. The 10-inch line will go some 1,700 feet from the old vacated western store on highway 155 to the entrance to... Full story
Randall Friedlander, a tribal member, was recently hired as the Colville Tribes’ Fish and Wildlife (CTFW) director. Friedlander will provide strategic planning and management oversight of 130 employees with an operating budget of over $20 million, a department press release said. Friedlander served as the interim Fish and Wildlife director for approximately a year. Prior to that, he worked for the department as the wildlife program manager for three years where he provided oversight and direction to about 20 staff members. “I look forward to... Full story
The Colville Confederated Tribes have issued seven burn bans from November, 2013, through January of this year, officials said this week. Currently, no burn bans are in effect on the Colville Reservation. The report issued by Kathy Moses, of the Mount Tollman Fire Center, stated that the tribes’ Air Quality Program and the federal Environmental Protection Agency closely monitor air quality on the reservation and in part of Okanogan County. When issued, tribal burn bans include part of Okanogan County. The tribes have sent out public notices t... Full story
Electric City could land one of a handful of kiosks being planned along the Coulee Corridor. The "corridor" covers the area between Othello and Omak and is recognized nationally for the many unusual landscape features along the route. Birdie Hensley, who has been active in the Coulee Corridor organization from its inception, appeared before the Electric City Council a week ago to ask if the city was interested in getting one of the informational kiosks. She explained to city officials that it... Full story
Large groups wanting to use North Dam Park will be charged according to a new fee schedule approved recently by the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District Commission. Individual users and small family groups will not be charged, but organizations planning to dominate one or more areas of the park will. Arranged by area and length of time, a fee schedule grid lays out fees that range from $150 for a fill day of using the picnic shelter and lawn area to $10 for use of an “Electric Plug-In.” A refundable damage deposit of $200 will also be col... Full story
I know most people are aware I have been a strong advocate to remove the administration from CMC. I have yet to see any action taken towards this, and in all fairness I realize the board must make sure all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed. So now the rumor around the community is the board has made an agreement to work with administration and attempt to correct all the negativity. My concern is for the employees of CMC, not the board or administration. The atmosphere is darkened in the work environment, and I personally feel that no how... Full story
Fern Blaylock and the local pastors would like to thank everyone for their outstanding support of the benefit concert last week with Lost and Found. Everyone had a great time and we received donations of 160 pounds of food and $1,725 to assist those in need in our community. We would especially like to thank, Zion Lutheran Church, Grand Coulee UMC, Bethel Lutheran Church (Coulee CIty), Crossings Ministries, Faith Community Church, Zion-Emmanuel Lutheran Church (Odessa), Young Life, Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union, North Cascades Bank, Foisy... Full story
I am glad to live in a community where we can put to rest the myth that smoking marijuana is a fringe activity engaged in only by those on the margins of American society. In reality, marijuana smoking is extremely common, and marijuana is the recreational drug of choice for tens of millions of mainstream, middle-class Americans. Many successful people including business, professional and political leaders admit they have used marijuana. With the recent changes in our state marijuana legislation, we can finally stop acting as if otherwise... Full story
I’m writing this letter in reply to an article in the Grant County Journal dated Monday, January 27, 2014, on page 3 with the heading of “Inslee’s” and under the heading of financial aid. Inslee wants lawmakers to approve a plan that would expand state financial aid to students who are living in the county illegally. Just in case Inslee doesn’t know or doesn’t care to know what illegal means, the following is what a dictionary had to say: Prohibited by law, not legal, unauthorized and unlawful! Charity begins at home, which to all legal resid... Full story
I was born in Grand Coulee in 1940. I would like to get information about my family. One grandfather worked on the dam and the other ran a tavern. My grandfather's names were Iver Harold Jones and Paul Hunich. Can you help? Can you refer me to people who were in GC at that time? Terry Jones 1202 Stonehaven Ct. West Linn, OR 97068 elderwithin@yahoo.com... Full story
This in direct reference to the Butch Stanger letter of 2-12-2014. I was surprised that he found it necessary to answer my initial letter to the editor. Not only was my letter to Colville Tribal Council, but also, he usurps council authority through his bullying tactics AND circumvents council in projecting and over-stepping his own limited Board of Directors/CTFC authority. Further, Mr. Stanger accused me/my info as false. Sorry sir, my info and input came directly from then-in-office council, Tribal Tribune council resolution reports and... Full story
Have you been watching the winter games in Russia? We have, on and off, and something has changed for me. In the past I would be cheering for the USA all the way and be disappointed if we did not get some hardware. I also did not care for all the junk in-between the events. I just wanted to see the flips, falls and finishes in all the events. But something different has happened to me over the past 10 years of watching, not just the Olympics, but all sports. I love the stories behind the... Full story
Ten Years Ago The Colville Business Council sent out a news release detailing their outrage with Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Dennis Chambers, in connection with the special room at A.E. Wright Elementary used to confine a 7-year old “special needs” child. Kerry Green and Bronson Kiser placed at the State Wrestling Tournament last week in their final matches as high schoolers for Lake Roosevelt High School. Green placed 4th at 130 pounds and Kiser took 7th at 215. Lake Roosevelt Boys basketball advanced to regionals beating O... Full story
Don Seaver passed away Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014 in Nespelem, Wash. His graveside services will be at Spring Canyon Cemetery at noon on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. A complete obituary will be in next week’s Star.... 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
Wed., Feb. 19 - Dinner BBQ Chicken, Cheesy Potatoes, Spinach, Biscuits, Fruited Jello w/Whipped Cream. Thurs., Feb. 20 - Dinner Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Broccoli, Rolls, Cookies with a Bowl of Fruit. Fri., Feb. 21 - Breakfast Breakfast Casserole with Eggs, Breakfast Meats, Potatoes, Peppers & Onions, Toast, Bowl of Fruit, Orange Juice. Mon., Feb. 24 - Breakfast Bacon & Eggs, Waffle, Applesauce, Orange Juice. Tues., Feb. 25 - Dinner Ham and Bean Soup, Mixed Fruit and Assorted Veggie Salad Bar. Corn Bread, Surprise Layered Dessert.... Full story
Planet Earth Players cast members rehearse Monday for their upcoming production of Twelve Angry Jurors, which begins Thursday at the Grand Gallery of Arts Theatre on Grand Coulee's Main Street for a three-night run. Ted Piccolo, lower right, plays the part of the juror who keeps the guilty-of-murder verdict from being unanimous, setting up an examination of society's assumptions and prejudices inherent in the justice system. Joanne Graham plays a juror ready to vote guilty and go home. - Scott...