News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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The Grand Coulee Dam School District board took steps Monday night to improve conduct on school buses and in the classrooms. After a debate about priorities, the board voted to add four temporary positions to provide better discipline in selected elementary classrooms, and adopted a tougher set of rules for students riding on school buses. The temporary positions will last through this school year. Superintendent Dennis Carlson said class disruptions and behavior on buses involved just a few kids, but they had become problems for the district.... Full story
As Washington's gray wolf population continues to grow, so do concerns from those living in the areas of the state most affected by their return. "There's two sides to this issue, and it kind of boils down to either you like them or you don't," said Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, who co-sponsored several wolf-related bills this legislative session. Seven bills relating to Washington's gray wolves have been introduced to the 2015 Legislature, with four surviving for continuing consideration in... Full story
Two teenagers were killed and a third injured in Coulee City Friday night when the car they were in left the road and hit a light pole at the city park. The driver, Auston Frye, 17, of Hartline; and a passenger, Pedro Huitron, 18, of Lind, died in the crash that occurred about 8:30, the Washington State Patrol reported. Another passenger, Roberto Valdovinos, 16, also of Lind, was injured and flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The 1994 Honda Civic, in which they were traveling west... Full story
A roundup of wild horses on the Colville Indian Reservation was stopped just before noon Sunday due to mounting pressure from tribal members. The roundup had been planned to take about three weeks, gathering between 700 and 1,000 of the horses. The process stopped short Saturday, just over a week into it. Ralph Moses, of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Range department, said they estimate 3,000 to 4,000 ferrel horses live across the reservation, creating "hot spots" of over-grazed habitat. Moses sa... Full story
Coulee Medical Center managed to show a slim profit in January, following months of losses, mostly due to downward adjustments in the amounts due from Medicaid in 2014. CMC’s financial statements for January showed a $1,351 gain on the bottom line. “I’m the happiest person in the world to say that,” Chief Executive Officer Debbie Bigelow told the hospital district’s commissioners Monday night. The hospital and clinics recorded net operating revenue of nearly $1.9 million in January. Expenses of just over that amount left the bottom line with... Full story
John Nordine, mayor pro-tem in Electric City, said last week that he would be willing to fill out the unexpired term of Mayor Jerry Sands, who is resigning. Sands will serve until the last day of February. Sands became mayor in 2009, and resigned, saying he would like to spend more time with his family. Nordine was elected by the council as mayor pro-tem and Sands’ resignation caught him by surprise. After thinking it over for a few days, Nordine said he was ready to fill out Sands final 34 months on his elected term. Sands first became m... Full story
Attendance up at schools Grand Coulee Dam schools reported an average of 709 students for the month of February, two students more than was reported in January and 49 students over the budgeted 660 students, and 43 more students than the same month last year. Treatment plant down for maintenance Electric City’s arsenic treatment plant was shut down Feb. 6, and will be down about three weeks. The shutdown will allow the city to handle the waste material developed during operation. City officials said it wasn’t an emergency, just maintenance. Fis... Full story
Electric City has a new crosswalk program that promotes safety, and, if successful, will be expanded to another crosswalk in the city. This week those using the crosswalk to the city's post office will be able to pick up an orange flag to help motorists see them when they cross the highway. They can deposit the flag on the opposite side to be used when they return. Mayor Jerry Sands has been working on the idea as a result of complaints made by Electric City resident Steve Salstrom, and others,... Full story
The Grand Coulee Dam School District board declared Center School and its 8.5 acre property surplus Monday night. The board authorized Superintendent Dennis Carlson to move forward and schedule a public hearing so the public could have input on the possible sale of the property. The school district recently purchased the property for $155,000, lending itself the money from its capital fund. Any sale of the property would return the money to the fund. The property was purchased from the Continental Land Company, which years ago made the site ava... Full story
A summit on what to do with the old middle school buidling in Grand Coulee will be held at the site on March 12, from 11- 2 pm. The event is organized by a committee of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, which is inviting various agencies to attend and share their ideas of how the 90,000-square-foot school might be used to better the local area. The “Community Revitalization Summit” will seek to address all of the issues concerning the facility. Those attending will get a tour of the building, and a working lunch is planned whi... Full story
I am sad to see Mayor Jerry Sands resign. He has been a very good mayor. But I can understand his frustration and his wanting time for the family because the mayor job is a full-time commitment. Honestly, I don’t know how he withstood the office as long as he did. I wish Jerry Sands the best and a happier time from now on. I thank you, Jerry, for your dedication and persistence. Carl Russell... Full story
It is with mixed emotions I am writing this after reading the article regarding Jerry Sands resigning as mayor of Electric City. I am a personal friend of Jerry and Connie, so I am aware of how they want to be able to travel, spend time with their beautiful family and grandchildren. It has cost them much valuable family time with his being active as the mayor. Unfortunately, when a person has a position as such they do not see the sacrifices. Jerry has been a forthright mayor and has always wanted the best for the city; he was never a one-man... Full story
I know Jerry Sands (mayor of Electric City) had thoughts about retiring last election, but as there were no other persons running for mayor, he stepped up to the plate and once again took on the responsibility. I, for one, am sorry to see him go. I know how hard he has worked and how much he has accomplished. I would like to thank him for his years of service and for helping a novice council member try to understand the ins and outs at this job. Goodbye Jerry, you will be missed. Lonna Bussert... Full story
14ers, now is the time for you to step up and help with your city government. All of the Mikes, Lees, Clays, Marks, Bobs, Joes, Janes, Marys, etc, (local 509ers) who do not want 206ers, aka “coasties” to run your city. “They are just trying to make it Seattle!”, is what the locals said. Well, as least they are not trying to make it a town with no grocery stores, or shopping, only a few grades of schools, not public transportation, no doctors or hospitals. Locals, it’s now your turn to step up and fix this city, if you think you can. Electric... Full story
Accessory building do have size limits in Electric City. The accessory survey that the planning commission had the city mail out last September did show that the community did want some size limits on out buildings, 34% to 64%. That is why the commission put in the following restrictions: The building can only be 26 feet tall, they have 6 inches of set back for every foot over 18 feet. They also can’t be in front of the home, must be set back off of the house at least 5 feet and any street 20 feet. Furthermore, depending on what zone you l... Full story
A coach once told me that a bad loss is sometimes the best thing for a team. It lets you know that there are still things to work on and that it exposes our weaknesses. That statement can be applied to our everyday life as well. Sometimes we are going through our delicately balanced life, doing all the things we want to and are required to do; everything is going along just peachy when something happens that disrupts everything. It could be a major life event or a small road bump, but we take notice and realize things were not as good as we tho... Full story
There are two closely held, widely believed, narratives about rural America. The national media narrative, with roots in the 1980’s farm crisis, is fatalistic. Rural places are dying. It lives on at the Brookings Institute and the New York Times, fueled by demographics that show decades of population decline across much of rural America. The other narrative is woven by small town boosters. They point to new demographic data showing 30-49 year olds returning to small towns. They talk with passion about new businesses and housing shortages. T...
Penny Ann "Minnie" Wak Wak-Gregorio (66) passed away Tuesday evening, February 17, 2015 in Spokane, Washington. Born April 5, 1948 into the Nespelem, Washington home of Isaac W. and Rose Covington-Wak Wak, Penny graduated high school and then graduated from Beautician School. In addition to working as a beautician in California, Minnie was a "Jack of all trades", excelling in everything she did. For a time she was a secretary but, from the moment Minnie became employed at the Tribal Trading... Full story
Amy Jo (Weber) Tattersall passed from this life into the presence of her Lord Friday, February 6, 2015 at Salem General Hospital following a short illness. She was born August 3, 1949 to Harold James and Betsy Ann Weber of Libby Creek Ranch, Carlton, Washington. She moved with her family to Grand Coulee, Washington in 1953 where she grew up, attending Grand Coulee schools, and graduating from Grand Coulee High School in 1967. While in high school, Amy was honored as Miss Grand Coulee and Miss Puget Power. Upon high school graduation, she moved... Full story
Nancy Esther Ranum McChesney, 80, of Coulee Dam, Wash., died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, at Hospice House North in Spokane, WA, with family at her side. Born April 19, 1934, in Faribault, Minn., Nancy was the youngest of four daughters born to Luther H. and Esther Ann Riach Ranum. Nancy lost her mother on her fifth birthday, and her father three years later. She spent the remainder of her childhood living with various relatives in Minnesota and California. She often told her family that it was when... Full story
Chamber to Meet at Siam Palace The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet this Thursday, Feb. 26, at noon at the Siam Palace on Main St., Grand Coulee. Speaking will be Coulee Medical Center Dietitian, Jacie Johnson. Tax Forms Available For those needing 1040 forms and instruction books, they can be picked up at the Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center on Main Street in Grand Coulee. Open Sewing Tuesdays from 1-5 p.m. there will be open sewing at the senior center art room. There is no charge. For more information contact Marlene Oddie... Full story
Rotary members remove the letters from the entrance sign to Grand Coulee on the highway from Wilbur Friday afternoon. The club erected the sign and another like it entering Electric City years ago, but the steel letters are looking weathered. The club is having the letters on both signs powder coated with a new blue color. From left, Jim Keene, Lars Larson and Robert Valen unbolt the letters, which read "Welcome to Grand Coulee Dam Area." - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Raider Wrestling made a great showing at the state tournament with all three wrestlers placing. Octavio Alejandre took the state championship at 285 pounds. Oscar Pakootas took third at 132, and Jacob Smith fourth at 113. Lake Roosevelt as a team finished sixth in the B leaderboard with 43 points. Alejandre started his tournament on Friday with a win, Alejandre pinning his nemesis, Mark Dituri of May Walker-Springdale, to set up a match with Mikey Hernandez of Warden. Alejandre's 4-2 win over... Full story
The Raider boys won two games last week to earn third place in the District 5-6 tournament and a meeting with District 7-9's number-two team Friday night at regionals. This is the second year in a row that the Raiders advance to the regionals. They will play Northwest Christian at Mt. Spokane High School on Friday at 6 p.m. The Raiders, with a 13-8 win-loss record for the season, will face Northwest Christian (18-7), the second-place winner from the 7-9 District tourney. "We have our work cut ou... Full story
THURSDAY MIXUPS TEAM W L Fry Bread Power 57.5 26.5 Fighting Chipmunks 50 34 Shut Up & Bowl 47 37 Gutter Fingers 42 42 The Shire 40 44 Flyin W 38.5 45.5 Team 7 36 48 3 blonds and 1 ndn 24 60 High Game: Shut Up & Bowl 732; JR Jensen 234; Briana Bob 222 High Series: Shut Up & Bowl 2129; Don Richer 656; Briana Bob 623 Splits: Fran Q. 4-7-10; Leo 6-7-10; Mae S. 5-10/2-7 DAM KEGLERS TEAM W L R&A 110.5 49.5 Spring Canyon Alpacas 92.5 67.5 Moose Lodge 84.5 75.5 KCCO 84 76 Brew Crew 83.5 76.5 Vaagen Bros. 72 88 Flyin W 57 103 Native Spirit 56 104 High... Full story
