Sorted by date Results 1 - 16 of 16
The Banks Lake Pumped Storage Project, which would bring an estimated 1,000-2,000 workers to the area during construction and add an extra 500 megawatts of hydropower electricity per hour, is still in the works, if a little Covid delayed. Secretary Manager Darvin Fales of Columbia Basin Hydropower spoke to The Star on the phone Tuesday, with an update on the project for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The gravity-feed system would power two 250-megawatt generating units, or...
A senior trip to Huntington Beach, California is still looking like a go after the board approved the trip contingent on another update in April. About 30 Lake Roosevelt High School seniors are interested in taking the trip on which they would fly to San Diego May 29, bus to Huntington Beach, spend time at an art center, surfing, and at a campfire on the beach before returning to Washington May 31. The trip was discussed at a Feb. 22 school board meeting, but wasn’t yet approved because of confusion as to travel restrictions related to going t...
All eight of Washington's regions are in Phase Two of the state's phased plan for reopening from the COVID-19 pandemic and will be there for "at least several weeks," according to the office of Gov. Jay Inslee. Phase Two of the plan has less stringent restrictions on individuals, schools, and businesses. Regions were required to meet data metrics related to COVID in order to move to Phase Two, and warned that if those stats got worse, a region could move back to Phase One. However, Inslee announ... Full story
After a lengthy discussion with the city attorney, the city council decided Wednesday on a new course for changing Coulee Dam’s animal control ordinance. City Attorney Mick Howe met online with the council to discuss a proposed animal control ordinance. The council had intended to incorporate new language on dangerous dogs, but also tried to address more minor, but common, grievances about dogs, such as barking. Howe advised the council that several aspects of a draft ordinance “simply, we cannot adopt” legally. The council discussed just...
A new book by Colville Tribal member Arnie Marchand titled "What Is Your Name?" describes the way of life of the Okanogan Native Americans, examining the lives of individuals and the history of the people. The book, Marchand's second, is published by Heritage Productions out of Oroville where Marchand lives, and is available on Amazon as well as through the North Central Washington library system, which includes the Grand Coulee Library. "In this work I want to let you know some things about...
Washington’s only private detention center is proposed for closure. House Bill 1090 prohibits any person, business or government from operating private, for-profit detention facilities. It recently passed in the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support, and will receive a Senate vote in the coming weeks. “When you have to report to [stakeholders] that profit, there is a conflict with meeting the needs of those that are incarcerated,” said Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, D-Mukilteo, who was prime sponsor of the bill. “And it’s easy to a...
I hope you write sometime about the mental stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. I’ve struggled with mental stress a lot, and here is how I feel: The COVID19 pandemic — with its deaths, economic hardship and curbs on social interaction — has put great pressure on people’s mental health. I’ve used COVID19 data to try and understand what is going on, since I am a mathematician by training, but have found that knowing doesn’t help the mental stress. I have a lot of fear about being among the last to receive a vaccine, at least the way I understand...
As a former council member and current park committee member, along with my co-park committee member, I have sat back, listened, and read the newspaper. We feel it is important to correct information regarding the Electric City Park. Our previous and current committee members worked on the Plans for the Park and the Funding for the Park. The current city council has chosen not to use the RCO Grant or Hotel Motel Tax Funds which was for this purpose. We want to inform the public that the Hotel/Motel Tax can be used for Capital Improvement for...
Joe Emerson joined our class as a junior at Palouse High School. He became my closest friend and remained so for several years. His older brother had ties with a motorcycle group in Spokane and we soon followed him there. Our hangout was the British American Motorcycle shop on East Sprague, and the XXX Drive In. We frequently went to Spokane and stayed at one of the motorcycle houses Joe’s brother frequented. After graduation we were at the motorcycle shop one weekend and we both purchased BSA motorcycles. BSA stood for British Small Arms, a n...
When our state moved into Phase 2 of Governor Inslee’s latest iteration of a reopening plan, it signaled a well-deserved step forward for our region. Following guidelines under the leadership of local health districts and elected officials, we worked together to reduce our hospitalization rates, prevent the spread of the virus, and lower the number of cases in our regions. We earned our way into Phase 2. Quite reasonably, members of our community including small business owners and local leaders are now asking: What’s next? What is Phase 3? Wha...
As the events of the past few months have unfolded, I have often found myself wondering what our Founders would have made of it all. Impossible to know, of course, but they had plenty of insight to offer. In particular, I keep returning to these lines from James Madison: “I go on this great republican principle, that the people will have virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and wisdom,” he said. “Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks — no form of government can render us s...
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 the month at 6 p.m. in the multipurpose area of the Nazarene Church. Face masks and social distancing are maintained. New AA Group in the Area A new Alcoholics Anonymous group is meeting each Saturday at noon at the Grand Coulee Community Church, 405 Center St. Meetings are open. More...
Lake Roosevelt athletes participated in sporting events for the first time in about a year. "It was great to see the kids back in action and going," Athletic Director Tim Rasmussen said. "It was great to be able to follow all the safety guidelines and protocols and get kids back playing games. First weekend, we had a huge success for Raider Nation." Streaming football and volleyball online was also a success, Rasmussen said, with links to view broadcasted events found at www.lrraiders.com ....
Attending Lake Roosevelt sporting events is much different this year than in previous years due to COVID-19. Each player is allowed only two guests per game for home games, while there will be no away team fan attendance for road games. The limits are in keeping with social distancing protocols enacted by the state. But even if you don’t have a ticket from a player, you have a new option brought about by the magic of technology. Games will be streamed online at www.lrraiders.com with staff, students, or parents being able to use smartphones o...
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCES PASSED OF THE CITY OF ELECTRIC CITY, WASHINGTON Full and complete copies of the above ordinances are available at City Hall, 10 Western Avenue, Electric City, WA during normal working hours. On the 12th day of January 2021 the City of Council of Electric City passed the following ordinance. A summary of the content of said ordinance, consisting of the titles, provides as follows: Ordinance #: 579-2021 “An Ordinance extending the temporary removal of the charge of interest and late fees on utility accounts.” On the 9th day... Full story
Grand Coulee Police 2/23 - A woman was banned from the senior center after having been run off from inside and outside the center. The woman has gone through the dumpster multiple times and leaves a mess. Police spoke to her at the post office and told her she was banned. They also asked her about a Safeway cart she had, and she said she would return it. - A veterinary clinic manager was concerned about an employee. Police spoke to the employee’s roommate and a neighbor who both said she was fine the prior evening and didn’t see anything ami...