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Articles from the February 27, 2013 edition


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  • Small business view: Common sense, comprehensive immigration reform would boost economy

    Mark Anthony|Feb 27, 2013

    Since last November, there has been a lot of talk about how passing immigration reform this year will be “smart politics” given the role Latino voters played in the recent election. As a small business owner, I’ll leave the political forecasting to the pundits, but I can say this: failing to pass immigration reform, whatever the politics, would be downright knuckle-headed economics. I’ve been recording history for over 40 years as a photographer, capturing events in people’s lives – like weddings, proms, and graduations. So I know a big moment...

  • City catching up on years of court billings

    Roger S Lucas|Feb 27, 2013

    The city of Grand Coulee is busy unraveling four years and $70,000 worth of municipal court billings. The money is in the bank, city clerk Carol Boyce stated, but the temporary clerk hired to do the work, Debra Pifer, now has to determine what goes where. The city, county and state all own a piece of the court money. The municipal court handles tickets written by Grand Coulee police officers, and the money is supposed to be paid to the three entities -- city, county and state -- according to a formula that is based on the type and amount of...

  • Winged retreat

    Feb 27, 2013

    Eric Braaten, left, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist, and Joe Sanders close in on a wounded bald eagle in a thicket of brush at Sunbanks Lake Resort Monday. The bird had a broken bone and will be rehabilitated at a Washington State University program, reported Sandy McGinnis of Sunbanks. Braaten said it's mating season, and fighting is the most common cause of injured eagles at this time of year. — Scott Hunter photo...

  • School board reverses calendar decision

    Roger S Lucas|Feb 27, 2013

    The school board reversed itself Monday night on decisions it made a month ago on calendar dates for the next school year. The board had decided to hold school on Columbus Day and eliminate the mid-winter break next February. This month, absent board member Ted Piccolo, who promoted the changes in January, the three members present changed everything back to the way the calendar had been presented a month ago. Veteran teacher Sandy Hood, from the Grand Coulee Dam Middle School, told board members that both students and staff needed the...

  • Chamber to offer fishing derby in April

    Roger S Lucas|Feb 27, 2013

    The chamber of commerce is sponsoring the “Are You Tough Enough” First Annual Banks Lake Triple Fish Challenge, April 6-7, out of Coulee Playland. The two-day event features a fishing derby for smallmouth bass, walleye, and rainbow trout and has two age categories, 0-14 years of age and adults. So dust off your rod and reel, read up on the contest, and get your 2013 fishing license so you are all set for the big event. Grand prize is an Achilles 4-person inflatable boat and Yamaha outboard motor. There are other prizes, including money, so the...

  • Recovered truck theft still costly

    Roger S Lucas|Feb 27, 2013

    The theft of a school district food service truck is costing the district over $8,500, according to a Grand Coulee Police Department report issued last Thursday. The truck was stolen during the weekend of Feb. 9-11, and found the following Tuesday abandoned along the I-5 corridor near Seattle. Two district employees were dispatched to Seattle to retrieve the truck, and after getting a new battery for the truck, were able to get it home. The trip, and the tow bill for pulling the truck to an impound yard, cost the district $1,379.50, according...

  • Newsbriefs

    Feb 27, 2013

    Vets board to meet The Grant County Veterans Advisory Board will meet March 7 at 4 p.m. at the Grant County Courthouse Commissioners’ Meeting Room. The advisory board administers the Grant County Veterans Emergency Assistance Fund and assists veterans with obtaining benefits through the Veterans Administration. Members of the board are from the local veteran service agencies throughout Grant County. The meeting is open to the public. Roof fix The roof over the police department’s records area in Grand Coulee will be fixed by Coulee Con...

  • Ferry housing

    Feb 27, 2013

    Foss Maritime Company of Rainier, Ore., prepares framing for a cocoon-like structure at Crescent Bay that will soon house sections of the new Sanpoil ferry that will replace the current Martha S ferry at the Keller crossing. The first section, the middle, of the new ferry should arrive sometime during the second week of March. The new ferry will come to Grand Coulee in three sections and be welded together at the new work site. The Sanpoil will be in service sometime this year. — Scott Hunter photo...

  • Citizens shouldn’t pay for engineering shortcomings

    Greg Wilder|Feb 27, 2013

    As best I can determine, we (the town of Coulee Dam) paid our engineer (Gray & Osborne) about $80,000 to prepare a Wastewater Facilities Plan. What did we get? We got a document replete with inaccurate planning assumptions, non-compliant with the town’s Comprehensive Plan, void of the expected and typical scoping process, and virtually missing the analysis of “alternatives.” We also got the frustration and anger of our citizens and project partner (the town of Elmer City) — all because we forgot (or neglected) to include them as we planned...

  • Re: “Bureau cuts eagle roosting trees on lake”

    Judy Miles|Feb 27, 2013

    From what I read about cottonwood trees, they seldom live beyond 100 years. So if that tree was 100 years old it was not going to live much longer and was destined to start dropping branches and be a hazard. Trees are a blessing in this area but people need to recognize the limits and lifespans of them and start replacements as they age. Judy Miles...

  • A tale of two hotels

    Jesse Utz|Feb 27, 2013

    I have always been aware of good service. Like in restaurants and with good business owners that put this quality first. My family and I always return again and again to those places that provide a “customer first” rule. Also, with most of my family having been in the restaurant or service fields, we know the importance of a happy customer. And so the saga goes… State wrestling, as you already know, had its big weekend not long ago and the family made the trip for the final time with immed...

  • Coulee Recollections

    Feb 27, 2013

    Ten Years Ago A bill in the state senate would tax camper and motorhome owners to support state parks, and have the effect of canceling a recent parking fee imposed throughout the state. The parking fee, $5 a day or $50 a year, has been criticized as double taxation by those who think state government should run its parks without the parking income. A diverse group of people recently took a motorized tour of a stretch of land where a pipe could someday transfer water from Electric City to Grand Coulee. The group included Electric City Mayor...

  • Flowers are coming

    Feb 27, 2013

    Ty Rimpler, 7, points out a buttercup while on a family hike up Steamboat Rock Saturday. — Karen Rimpler photo...

  • Meetings and Notices

    Feb 27, 2013

    Chamber to Meet at Pepper Jack’s The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its regular meeting Thursday, Feb. 28, at noon at Pepper Jack’s Bar & Grille in Grand Coulee. On the agenda Mary Gilmore of NW MedStar will be speaking. Lions to Meet Grand Coulee Dam Lions Club will hold their business meeting on Tuesday, March 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the Siam Palace in Grand Coulee. OES to Meet Order of Eastern Star will meet Thursday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m., at the Masonic Lodge in Coulee Dam. Lynette Zierden will be presiding. It will be shor...

  • Senior Meals

    Feb 27, 2013

    Wed., Feb. 27 – Dinner Tamale Pie, Jay’s Famous Chips & Salsa, Corn, Carrot, Pineapple & Raisin Salad, Cinnamon Chips & Ice Cream. Thurs., Feb. 28 – Dinner Chicken in Lemon-Dill Butter, Rice Pilaf, Steamed Cabbage, Fruit Cobbler. Fri., March 1 - Breakfast Bacon and Eggs, Hashbrown Potatoes, Toast, Bowl of Fruit, Orange Juice. Mon., March 4 - Breakfast Ham and Cheese Omelet, Pancakes, Plums, Orange Juice. Tues., March 5 - Dinner BBQ Chicken, French Fries, Assorted Salad Bar, Roll, Bowl of Fruit/Cookies. Wed., March 6 - Dinner Beef Strog...

  • Larson to speak at Zion Lutheran Church March 12

    Feb 27, 2013

    Allen Larson, originally from Marlin, Wash., will speak at Zion Lutheran Church on Tuesday, March 12. A Mayan Dinner will be served at 6 p.m., followed by Larson’s talk about his work supporting Bible translation of indigenous languages of Guatemala for 16 years and other places around the world. Anyone interested in his work or travels is welcome to attend free of charge....

  • Free tax help available

    Feb 27, 2013

    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 12 - April 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 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 60 or older. Free e-filing is also available. Taxpayers need to bring: A copy of last year’s tax r...

  • Middle School students of the month for January

    Feb 27, 2013

    Selected as January Students of the Month for January at Grand Coulee Dam Middle School included - from left, Hunter Hermetz-6th; Alan Nordine-7th; Mataiya Nachtigal-8th, Divine Littlemoon-5th. — submitted photo...

  • Labor contract approved

    Roger S Lucas|Feb 27, 2013

    The school board approved a three-year labor contract with its Public Service Employees at its meeting Monday night. The contract runs from the 2012-13 school year through 2014-15 school year. In the immediate year, the district has agreed to increase wages for its building secretaries by 40 cents per hour for additional work they have been asked to do. In the 2013-14 school year, PSE employees, (clerical, janitors, bus drivers and aides) will receive a 2.5 percent wage increase. And in the final year of the contract, wages will remain the...

  • Student trips approved by school board

    Roger S Lucas|Feb 27, 2013

    The Grand Coulee Dam School District board approved two trips for students and chaperones at Monday’s board meeting. Victor Camarena, project coordinator for Step Pipeline to the Future at Lake Roosevelt High School, is in charge of both trips. On March 21-23, Camarena will take four students to the National American Indian Science and Engineering Fair in Albuquerque, NM. Going on that trip are Abe Batten, Brady Black, Lukas Hermetz and Corbin Wilder. Batten and Black will be presenters at the fair and will mentor Hermetz and Wilder, who w...

  • LRHS honor roll for second quarter

    Feb 27, 2013

    The following is the honor roll for second quarter at Lake Roosevelt High School. HIGH HONORS 3.5 – 4.0 depicts 4.0 SENIORS Brady Black*, Coraline Vargas*, Ashley Lezard, Hillary Carriere, Kendall Piccolo, Abigail Williams, Andrew McClure, Johnny Medina-McCraigie, Elizabeth Williams, Hailey Chaney, Kylie Leiss. JUNIORS Chyenne Kelly-Marconi*, Dariana J. Seyler*, Brandin Smith*, Brandon Desautel, Daniel Campobasso, Alexia Hanway, Madisyn Byam, Jolene Catoto, Mikel Friedlander SOPHOMORES Jazmine Sumner, Samuel Arrants, Savannah Marin, Marissa L...

  • Middle School honor roll

    Feb 27, 2013

    The following is the Grand Coulee Dam Middle School honor roll for term 2 HIGH HONORS 35. – 4.0 depicts 4.0 EIGHTH GRADE Grace Engseth*, Mikayla L. Higgins*, Joshua Manon*, Matthew Tillman*, Mataiya Nachtigal, Brooklyn R. Reichlin, Cameron Tillman, Charlie Michel, Nathaniel Hall, Jazmine Weed, Hannah Williams, Marianna C. Clark, Christian Ruiz, Courtney Harrington, Aiyana Picard, Olivia Arnold, Roxanne Belgarde. SEVENTH GRADE Malcolm Carson*, Rylee Pitner*, Dylan Steinert, Aidan Derr, Dylan Jenkins, Kevin Brown, Bradley Wilder, Alan Nordine, R...

  • Two make list at BBCC

    Feb 27, 2013

    Two students from Electric City made the fall 2012 Vice President’s List at Big Bend Community College, the school announced this week. Joshua Freeman and Emma Waltermyer earned the distinction by maintaining a grade point average from 3.33 to 3.74....

  • Clark, Pitner on to regional bee

    Feb 27, 2013

    Grand Coulee Dam School District will be represented this year by Marianna Clark, 8th grade (left) and Rylee Pitner, 7th grade at the NCW Regional Spelling Bee on Thursday, March 21, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. The regional bee is hosted at the Eastmont Junior High School in East Wenatchee. The winner of this bee is sent to Washington D.C. to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The District Spelling Bee was held on Friday, February 1st in the middle school band room. The following 4th-8th...

  • Lady Raiders finish season against Northwest Christian

    John McNeil II|Feb 27, 2013

    The Lady Raiders ended their season last Friday at Mt. Spokane High School, losing to the Northwest Christian Crusaders in a WIAA Regional game 64-29. The Lady Raiders had trouble offensively in the first half and could not capitalize on NWC’s mistakes early on. “We started off well,” Head Coach Wallace Pleasants said, “then we got careless with our passes, which led to 16 turnovers that Northwest Christian got 24 points off.” Northwest Christian played a stout zone defense that shut down both Katelynn Schilling and Danielle Laramie. Both woul...

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