News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 36
An investigation, or lack thereof, of missing public records and a town computer has been to Olympia and back via Waterville, where it may soon end up anyway. Coulee Dam Mayor F. Gregory Wilder, finding nothing but a brand new, unused computer in the mayor’s office on his first day on the job, asked Douglas County Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal for an investigation into the disappearance of the former mayor’s computer, along with all the public records it contained, including emails. That computer, he had learned, had been unplugged and stored in a r...
Hospital District 6 commissioners will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the Coulee Dam Town Hall, a new venue picked because meeting rooms available at the hospital were expected to be too small to accomodate all those wishing to attend. Two executive sessions are listed, one early in the meeting. Below is the agenda for tonight:...
[Note: This story contains corrected copy after the CCT administration issued a corrected press release correcting an error in the vote count and adding additional facts about the referenced ethics complaint.] NESPELEM, WA – Following several months of investigation and meetings of the Tribal Government Committee’s Rules Committee, the Colville Business Council (Council) voted today to expel Benjamin Marchand, Jr. from their ranks. Mr. Marchand served from the Omak District. His term was set...
A recent study by the National Park Service shows how a strong visitor base pumps money into local economies. A report on the 2012 season showed that the Lake Roosevelt National Recreational Area had nearly 1.8 million visits in 2012. That resulted in more than $71 million being spent in nearby communities, the report stated. The LRNRA stretches from Grand Coulee Dam almost to the Canadian line, a 151-mile stretch that follows the Columbia River. That spending in communities within 60 miles of t...
Well laid plans sometime just don’t work out. That was the scene at Monday’s Grand Coulee Civil Service meeting at city hall. Commissioners discussed what went wrong at their last meeting when police officer/private citizen Sean Cook, got into it with commission Chair Alan Cain. Commissioners decided at the front of Monday’s meeting to allow persons wishing to address the commission three minutes, with an extension at the request of a commissioner. They also decided that commissioners wouldn’t respond to comments made from the floor. Barely had...
Port District 7 officials, their engineering firm, USKH of Spokane, and contractor Blackrock Construction, of Moses Lake, plan a pre-construction meeting on a building to house a new dump truck with snow blade sometime next week. The building and truck will cost more than $300,000. Commissioners walked through the construction plan at their last meeting and reviewed funding for the combined project. The truck and building have been on the port district burner for about a year and the need for the truck had reached the critical stage. An...
The Nez Perce Long House destroyed by fire the day after Christmas, 2012, will soon be rebuilt. An application for a land use and development permit was passed after a public hearing on the matter Feb. 27. Albert Andrews Redstar, representing the Chief Joseph Long House Redevelopment, proposed replacing the former 70-by-80-foot building with one nearly twice that size, an 11,000-square-foot building. The new building will be located in the same general area as the old building, about a mile south of Nespelem. The public hearing was held at the...
Time to spring ahead Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 9. Move your clocks ahead one hour. Forget the snow, get ready to golf The Banks Lake Golf Course is officially open. The spring opening date is always March 1. Memberships are being sold in anticipation of good golfing weather. Show appreciation March 10-14 is “Classified Employee Appreciation Week” at Grand Coulee Dam District schools. The school board voted to let employees of the district know that they appreciate what they do. School patrons are also encouraged to thank the...
The Colville Tribes new Omak Casino could open as early as May or June in 2015, according to Colville Tribal Federal Corporation’s chief executive, Joe Pakootas. Pakootas said final planning could occur this week and it was hoped that the project could get underway in April or early May. Pakootas said that the casino would take about 12 months to complete. The casino will be located on a 600-acre site between the Tribes’ convenience store/gas outlet and Omak. Pakootas said the casino would take up about 35 acres of the 600-acre site. The pro...
Meeting last Saturday, members of the Colville Tribes’ Omak District selected a replacement Colville Business Council (CBC) member for a position vacated when Ernest “Sneena” Brooks resigned last month. Richard Tonasket, of Omak, was chosen by attendees. Tonasket has been appointed by the CBC by resolution to serve the remainder of the vacated term, set to expire in 2015. Tonasket, 53, is the son of former Colville Business Council chairman Mel Tonasket and Nancy Tonasket. He is the grandson of Leonard and Gerry Tonasket and Dave Jane. Tonasket...
Melanie Neddo, Coulee Medical Center's director of quality improvement, addresses chamber of commerce members Thursday on dozens of issues tracked by hospital staff to document and gauge the quality of services and to answer to regulatory agencies. Departments report to a quality council quarterly on everything from the number of patient falls to the taste of meals served to patients and patient satisfaction. - Scott Hunter photo...
Amid the public policy mess created by the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), a tiny pebble of a good idea looked set for passage at a recent committee hearing of the Washington Legislature — that is until the heavy boot of Premera Blue Cross came down on it, crushing it in a way that in times past would have stirred public outrage. But no longer. In a Legislature that hastily convenes a special session for the sole task of giving Boeing the tax breaks it demands, a ham-fisted carve-out for Premera Blue Cross shouldn’t come as a surprise. Acc...
I just read the very sad news that Dawn Lovelace has resigned her position at CMC. I am a former employee of CMC and worked around the most amazing people and also met the most wonderful people in our community. I still miss being greeted by them every morning at the start of another busy day. Dr. Castrodale, Sharon and Elizabeth, Dawn Lovelace and Janet, Dr. Fercha, Wendy Hughes and Myrna, Dr. Chaffee and Melissa (always will be Lucy to me) and Karen Rimpler and their families and all of the dedicated support staff at CMC. These are the people...
Public outcry needed to save hospital We need our doctors, the ones we know and trust. If they leave, I believe that CMC may as well close their doors. If Mr. Graham leaves real soon it might have a chance. Who is he, anyway; I have never seen him. He is obviously not a people person as some past administrators, who were community connected. Why, in this size facility, would Mr. Graham need someone to speak for him? Is that an actual position? What can we do? Is there a way to legally petition for his resignation? We need a huge public outcry,...
I assume the local public is satisfied with Jack's Service response to my letter about gas prices in Grand Coulee Dam area compared to 25 miles in every direction is 10 to 30 cents cheaper. As I didn't see any other response to his letter. I don't know about you but I thought his take it or shove it attitude left some to be desired. I guess he doesn't understand the logic of helping the attitude of people thinking they can purchase everything cheaper everywhere else than shopping here at home by his high prices. When all the other merchants do...
Some 2,000 years ago the religious leaders judged a man to be an evildoer, a blasphemer who mingled with the dregs of their society. These leaders condemned the man to death, fearing that he would turn the people against them, and strip away their power. This event leaves us with a number of lessons. The lesson that comes to mind is the subject of national controversy. It reminds us of the fallacy of religions, and the culpability of governments. How an obstinate mindset of the letter of the law negates the heart of the law, and becomes the...
This morning I got the news, the kind of news that no one wants to get, whether it’s expected or not; my uncle had died. Ninety-nine percent of you don’t know him; he did not live here, never did. He had visited a time or two, and I reminisce now on those times. But I don’t want to hash out memories for you about someone you did not know and had little impact if any at all in your life. He did impact mine and my family’s but what I want to write about today is that he did serve us all and you...
Ten Years Ago Nine lovely ladies will be competing for the title of Miss Grand Coulee Dam this week. They are: Jennifer Sedillo, Heidi Rise, Keanna Cawston, Candice Payne, Lacey Ward, Tiffany Barry, Natasha Cawston, Kristin James and Angelina Moore. Police are looking for three local men, that are assumed to have been disassembling a truck, stolen from Spokane casino last summer. It is believed they stripped the truck at a home in Electric City. Thirty Years Ago John D. Tufts will be the new patrolman in Grand Coulee according to Chief Mel...
Richard Allen Thoren, son of Donald and Jean Thoren of Coulee Dam, Washington, passed away on Monday, Jan. 27, 2014, in Spokane, Wash. He was 64. He is survived by his brother Terry Thoren, children: Laura Thoren and Patrick Thoren, three grandchildren, two nieces and numerous cousins. During school he excelled in track, basketball and academics, later becoming Valedictorian of Coulee Dam High School class of 1968. He attended EWU, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology....
Lorena Mae Williams went to be with her Lord and Savior in Page, Ariz., on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014, at the age of 78. Born on August 31, 1935, in Drumright, Okla., she was one of nine children born to Jesse and Bertha White. Lorena lived all of her childhood in Drumright until her marriage to her husband Donald Williams, May, 1953. They were married 29 years until his death in 1982. Throughout her life as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and recently great-great-grandmother she...
Charles S. (Stan) Yirak was born on June 9, 1924, to Charles J. and Marie R. (Risch) Yirak in Ouray, Colo., and passed away Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, in Liberty Lake, Wash. Stan was married to Betty Wynes on April 20, 1945 and to this union six children were born: Liz Young, Dave (Carol) Yirak, Joan (Mike) Zimbelman, Alan (Stacy) Yirak, Jim (Young) Yirak and Paul (Keri) Yirak. Stan served in the US Navy and worked for the Bureau of Reclamation for most of his life which brought him to this area...
Juanita Arrieta-Trevino and Brandon Marques are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter Isabella Maria Margues-Trevino on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 7 lbs., and was 20 inches in length at birth. Grandparents include Victoria Trevino and Lisa Olvera....
Jennifer and Brian Daniels of Coulee Dam are proud to announce the birth of their son Nathan Joseph Daniels on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 9 lbs., 3 oz., and was 21 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandparents are Jeff and Connie Boyer of Spokane. Paternal grandparents are Dan and Jane Daniels of Fort Wayne, In. Great-grandparents include Earl Brazee and Joanne Boyer, both of Spokane....
Julie Ennis and Joseph Lauseng of Grand Coulee are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Izabella Lynn Lauseng born Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. Siblings include Austin Lauseng, 7, Joseph Lauseng 3 and Tanner Lauseng 2. Paternal grandparents are Joseph and Kerri Lauseng....
Katya and Zachery Croasmun of Almira are proud to announce the birth of their son Roman Zachery Croasmun on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 8 lbs., 3 oz., and was 21 inches in length at birth. Sibling includes brother Ethan. Maternal grandparent is Kevin Bowen. Paternal grandparents are Todd and Tracy Croasmun. Great-grandparents are Clara and Red Croasmun....
