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Articles from the March 2, 2022 edition


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  • Health district announces 12 more COVID-19 deaths

    Mar 2, 2022

    There have been 12 additional COVID-19 deaths announced in Grant County since The Star’s last update on Feb. 16, and 121 new cases in local towns, despite a dropping incidence rate. Grant County Health District announced 392 new cases and 10 deaths on Feb. 17, and 233 new cases and two deaths on Feb. 24, with their weekly announcements coming on Thursdays. Coulee Medical Center CEO Ramona Hicks told hospital district commissioners Monday night that Covid positivity numbers at CMC had “dramatically dropped.” But she cautioned it’s hard to evalua...

  • GCDSD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

    Mar 2, 2022

    The Grand Coulee Dam School District Board of Directors will be holding a Executive board meeting tonight Tuesday March 8th @ 5:30 p.m. At this meeting the board will be discussing personnel items....

  • Raider state basketball update

    Mar 2, 2022

    The Washington State 2B basketball tournament is underway at the Spokane Arena, where the Raider boys will play again tonight at 9 p.m. and the girls will play again tomorrow at 9 a.m. The Lady Raiders defeated Rainier 63-43 yesterday, and lost to Okanogan 64-49 today. The loss means the Lady Raiders will play tomorrow at 9 a.m. against La Conner. If the Ladies lose that game, their season is over. If they win, they will play Saturday at 8 a.m. with an opponent still to be decided. The girls bracket can be found at https://w...

  • Credit union contributes to rodeo

    Scott Hunter|Mar 2, 2022

    STCU will sponsor a major aspect of the Colorama Rodeo that provides national television coverage of its events, the Ridge Riders said last week. The Spokane-based credit union that merged with Coulee Dam Credit Union last September noted in a statement that rodeo sponsorship isn't an everyday event, but "we have a long history of supporting cultural events, like Colorama, that reflect the values of the credit union, and the heritage of the community." Area Branch Manager Beverly Rodriguez said...

  • Racism present at high school basketball games

    Jacob Wagner|Mar 2, 2022

    Lady Raiders Assistant Coach Matthew Pleasants came across something shocking while reviewing video from their Feb. 18 game against the Okanogan Lady Bulldogs. While a Lady Raider, who is of African-American descent as well as a tribal member, was shooting free throws, Okanogan fans jeered at her by making monkey noises. Pleasants and his father, Head Coach Wallace “Peewee” Pleasants, are also African-American, and Matthew Pleasants, said that he found the jeering “disheartening” but added that he wasn’t “one bit surprised.” That type of behav...

  • Survey shows mixed feelings about mask mandates ending

    Jacob Wagner|Mar 2, 2022

    With mask mandates changing around the country and in the state of Washington, people expressed mixed feelings in a Star poll this week. Readers who took the poll on state mask mandates ending in March are split over the topic, with 56.5% being comfortable with the idea, and 43.5% being uncomfortable with it. Gov. Jay Inslee announced Feb. 17 that Covid-19 mask restrictions will be loosening on March 21 for the state, the date "we project we will be in a position to be able to reduce some of...

  • USBR warns ice conditions may be changing

    Mar 2, 2022

    If you’re still venturing out onto the ice of Banks Lake, be careful, as it may not be as sturdy as it looks, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation warns as they begin pumping fresh water into the lake. The USBR begins operating outlet works at Banks Lake/Dry Falls Dam on March 3 in preparation for the 2022 irrigation season, a Feb. 23 press release states. Reclamation started operating Potholes Reservoir/O’Sullivan Dam outlet works on Monday. To prepare Banks Lake for the March 3 operation startup, Reclamation began pumping water from the John W....

  • Superintendent to exit before 2024-25 school year

    Jacob Wagner|Mar 2, 2022
    1

    There'll be a new superintendent in the Grand Coulee Dam School District for the 2024-25 school year. Current Superintendent Paul Turner told the district's board of directors Monday that he intends to retire after working part time for two more school years. Turner noted the past two years being hard both physically and mentally caused him to look at his personal situation and his future, leading to his decision. A full-time assistant superintendent will be hired to potentially, but not definit...

  • Even these unusual times are comparatively good

    Jack Stevenson|Mar 2, 2022

    I recently had one of those annual medical examinations. While waiting for the doctor, I was required to provide answers on a questionnaire. “Have you ever had this or that medical issue?” Finally, the questionnaire posed a set of state-of-mind questions ending with, “Are you happy with your life?” I answered, yes, I am happy with my life. The doctor looked at the questionnaire and remarked, “We don’t see many people like you.” My satisfaction with my life is not because of great achievements; I am in the ordinary category. It is because I am...

  • The spectacle of lightning

    Bob Valen|Mar 2, 2022

    We’ve all seen the flash of lightning and heard the aftermath of the lightning bolt — the loud clap of thunder. There are three basic elements needed to form lightning. An unstable atmosphere, moisture, and some type of atmospheric action to get the air moving. Most lightning activity we see occurs during our summer months here in the Coulee. Yet, there have been some occurrences of lightning during the winter too. According to NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory, lightning is one of the o...

  • Washington needs inclusive healthy forest policy

    Don C. Brunell|Mar 2, 2022

    Washington’s Board of Natural Resources is considering banning timber harvesting on state lands. That is extremely unwise. Instead, the Board must ensure its healthy forest policies incorporate ALL management tools, including planting, thinning and logging. The Board, established in 1957, sets policies to manage Washington’s 5.6 million acres granted by Congress in 1889. More than 3 million acres were designated as trust lands, of which 2.1 million acres are forests, to support various public institutions. Banning timber harvesting robs cri...

  • Where have all the heroes gone?

    Roger S. Lucas|Mar 2, 2022

    As a lad I had my heroes, and as time went on, I changed how I picked them. Golfer Ben Hogan was one of the early ones. He was severely injured in a car wreck. There was a question if he would walk again, and certainly he would never play tour golf again. About a year later, not only was he playing golf again, but winning. Joe Louis was another early hero. I listened to many of his fights along with my dad and mom, who tuned in to all his fights. Along with most boys, I saw Babe Ruth as a hero. He was out of baseball before I was old enough to...

  • Gail Allen

    Mar 2, 2022

    Gail Doris Allen, 87, of Spokane Washington, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. She was born in September of 1934, to George and Elizabeth Cliver in Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of 5 siblings: Gene, George, Carol, and Luray. Gail moved to California after graduating high school to live with an aunt and uncle. She met George Allen in 1969 and had a child, Theresa. They traveled the country until 1975 when a job brought them to Grand Coulee Dam. After settling in Coulee Da...

  • Roger Dean Jack

    Mar 2, 2022

    Roger Dean Jack "Weel K^Wen Eet Cha" , 70, proud Elder of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville, left us during the early morning hours of Tuesday, February 15, 2022, from Wenatchee, Washington. Roger entered this world on Sunday, October 7, 1951 ,in Nespelem, Washington, to the home of Isaac Sr. and Jennie Dora Swawilla-Jack. A member of the Catholic Church, Roger was passionate about his Native American Heritage. He loved the Traditional Ways, Participated in powwow contests, beading, and...

  • John Combs, Jr.

    Mar 2, 2022

    A Celebration of Life for John Combs, Jr., will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 12, at the Grand Coulee Nazarene Church. John passed away October 7, 2021. Small reception following...

  • Play auditions for student actors coming up

    Mar 2, 2022

    Young actors will have the chance to take the stage in a production of “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” to be performed this month. An audition will be held for the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s production of play on March 14 at the Lake Roosevelt gym from 4 to 6 p.m. First- through 12th-grade students are encouraged to audition. Those auditioning should arrive at 3:30 and plan to stay for the full two-and-a-half hours, a notice from the theater group explains. Some of the cast members will be asked to stay for a rehearsal immediately following...

  • What's happening at the library?

    Mar 2, 2022

    New Hours The library has expanded its hours! Now open to the public Tuesday-Friday from 10:00-6:00 and Saturday from 10:00-2:00. Tiny Art Show Calling all artists! Do you want an opportunity to display your artistic talent at the Grand Coulee Public Library? Starting March 1st, pick up your mini art kit to participate in our Tiny Art Show in April. Tiny art kits will be available for pick-up at the library all throughout March and will include a 3”x3” canvas, paint set, and a brush. If you run out of paint, feel free to pick up more at the...

  • Masquers need volunteers and directors

    Mar 2, 2022

    The Masquer’s Theater is looking for volunteers and directors to pitch & direct plays. Our production meeting is set for Sunday 13th, 3pm at the Masquer›s theater in Soap Lake and please RSVP by sending an email to publicity@masquers.com or if they have any questions....

  • Legals for March 2, 2022

    Mar 2, 2022

    NOTICE INVITING BIDS Grand Coulee Dam Airport – Electric City, Washington Airfield Pavement Maintenance Project FAA/AIP 3-53-0025-014-2022 OWNER: Grant County Port District #7 P.O. Box 616 Grand Coulee, Washington 99133 Separate Sealed BIDS for the: Grand Coulee Dam Airport, Electric City, Washington, Airfield Pavement Maintenance Project, FAA/AIP 3-53-0025-014-2022 will be received by the Owner at the Office of the Airport Manager at the Grand Coulee Dam Airport, Ludolph Road, Electric City, Washington 99123 until 2:00 p.m., Thursday March 24,...

  • Coulee Cops

    Mar 2, 2022

    Grand Coulee Police 2/22 - Police responded to a report of suspicious vehicles on Goodfellow Avenue but found nothing amiss. A loud banging noise heard by the reporting party may have been one of the vehicles getting attached to a trailer. - A vehicle was towed from Dill Avenue for parking in a no-parking zone and for having expired registration. - A woman told police she would move her vehicle on Young Street that was blocking the roadway. 2/23 - A “suspicious” person was reported as knocking on a door on Roosevelt Drive, then leaving in a c...

  • Boys win at regionals, head to state

    Jacob Wagner|Mar 2, 2022

    The Raider team demolished their opponent at the regional round of the state 2B basketball tournament to qualify for the next round at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena Wednesday. The ninth-seeded Lake Roosevelt team beat the number-16 River View team by 38 points, 80-42, on Feb. 26. The win sends the Raiders to the next round, tonight, March 2, at 9 p.m. at the arena when they will play number-eight seed Coupeville in a fight to keep their season alive. If they win, they will play Liberty...

  • With regional loss, Lady Raiders still head to Spokane for state

    Jacob Wagner|Mar 2, 2022

    The Lady Raiders basketball team lost the regional round of the state 2B tournament but were scheduled to play again today at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena to keep their postseason alive at the State 2B Basketball Tournament. The sixth-seeded Lady Raiders lost 70-50 against the number-three seed, Colfax Feb. 25 at University High School in Spokane Valley. "We played against a high-caliber team and it took us a while to get going," Assistant Coach Matthew Pleasants said. "The start of the...