News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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So you always wanted to hold public office. Here’s your opportunity, as a host of city council, school board, hospital and port district offices will be up for grabs this year. Four mayor positions are up for election this year. Those mayorships currently held by mayors Jerry Sands of Electric City, Quincy Snow of Coulee Dam, Mary Jo Carey of Elmer City and Michael Blake of Nespelem are all up this year, all four-year terms. Council openings in Electric City and their terms include seats currently held by Bob Rupe (4 years), John Nordine (... Full story
Jet crashes near Harrington Coulee residents are used to frequent low flights of military jets through the area, but not to the tragedy that occurred Monday morning when one of them crashed, killing all three on board. On a training mission, the crew out of the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station died instantly as their EA-6B Prowler cratered a field near Harrington. “This was a very difficult day for our local volunteers, my office and more importantly, our military families,” Lincoln County She... Full story
An explosion at Grand Coulee Dam Saturday morning damaged the right powerhouse when a line and equipment connecting a generator and transformer exploded. No one was injured. A “buss,” essentially a pipe and related equipment housing a large electrical line, exploded, reportedly causing considerable damage even to the building’s concrete. Acrid smoke was so thick that firefighters responding could not initially enter the building, and the Bureau of Reclamation will not likely allow perso... Full story
Special military funeral honors will be held at North Dam Park March 20 at 1 p.m. for Grant County veterans not previously given proper military rites, reports Sgt. Ryan D. Homer, Pasco team leader of the Central Washington Honor Guard. “The rendering of Military Funeral Honors is one way our nation shows its deep gratitude to those who, in times of war and peace, have faithfully defended our country,” Homer said in his announcement. “But it wasn’t until the year 2000 that Congress made this ceremonial paying of respects a statutory benefit... Full story
Two general contractors, both from Spokane, were the only firms to submit bids on the K-12 new school facility here. Bids were opened at 4 p.m. Tuesday by Cameron Golightly, architect with Design West of Pullman. Walker Construction’s base bid was $22,942,000. The second bidder was Graham Construction, which submitted a bid of $23,185,000. Both construction firms submitted a host of alternate bids, 11 in all. Golightly said that his architectural firm, along with other officials, will study the bids and alternative bids to determine who will ge... Full story
Senior center volunteers display some of 420 Easter Baskets they assembled last Friday, Saturday and Sunday that are now for sale at the Senior Center, if there are any left. Priced from $3 to $12, some $600 worth had sold by Monday night. Pictured from left are Eloise Bowman, Connie Babler, Helen Reddick, Kerry Noggles, Felix Marcolin, Diane Canady, Dorothy Dennis, and Judy Behrens. Project workers not pictured are Fawn Brashears, Janet Doughty, Dave Novelli, Ken Bowman and Constance Wilson.... Full story
You will soon be able to slaughter chickens in Electric City, legally, as a result of action taken by the city council Tuesday night. It takes five days for the ordinance amendment to take effect. The action amends the city’s “chicken” ordinance that passed last month and stated that you couldn’t legally slaughter chickens within the city limits. So residents who already have chickens, or move forward on having up to six hens, can, if they so desire, slaughter a chicken for Sunday dinner. The chicken ordinance stirred up a few folks in the cit... Full story
The Regional Board of Mayors quickly reversed themselves Monday and went back to monthly meetings when it was pointed out that they had acted illegally the month before. In February, the mayors had voted to change their meetings from once a month to once every two months. This week they voted to return to monthly meetings until they get the change right. Coulee Dam Town Clerk Carol Visker pointed out that before the mayors can change their meeting dates, they must go to their councils for approval and then amend their agreement on meetings. So... Full story
A “stakeholder” group met Tuesday to try to put the finishing touches on the script for the all- new laser light show. The schedule for the inaugural show now has slipped to mid-summer, Bureau of Reclamation Public Affairs Officer Lynne Brougher said Monday. She stated that most of the programming for the laser portion of the show can’t be done until the final script is settled. Originally it had been hoped that the showing of the new laser show could start during the Memorial Day holiday at the end of May. And area promoters had hoped that... Full story
Greg Wilder was not among those who left before the adjournment of a Feb. 27 Coulee Dam Town Council meeting at which the town’s engineers were discussing the wastewater treatment plant upgrade project.... Full story
A payroll clerk at Coulee Medical Center ran into a problem when the bank associated with the hospital’s payroll account would not let her into the account. The bank, according to a written Grand Coulee Police report, told the payroll clerk that the account had been entered illegally and $4,980 had been removed. The money went to an account at another bank and routing numbers and the person with the account had given his name. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into the incident and the payroll bank stated that it would make the f... Full story
The 56-foot center section of the new Keller ferry will arrive in Grand Coulee sometime Wednesday or early Thursday morning this week, workers at the Crescent Bay assembly site said Tuesday. The 20,000-pound section of the all-aluminum boat was placed on a truck trailer late last week for the long and arduous trip from the Foss Maritime boat yard in Rainier, Ore., to the newly constructed assembly location. Foss workers have been assembling a cocoon-like building where the three pieces of the... Full story
A suggestion to finance a rebuild of Coulee Dam’s wastewater treatment plant over a period longer than it will last should raise concerns. It’s certainly something that could be done for the sake of lowering rates, but would you finance a new car over, say, 10 years, even if the car salesman told you it would last you only five? Perhaps all the moving parts of the plant will be new after the rebuild, but even concrete ages. And the concrete in the old sewer plant would be 90 years old by the time Coulee Dam citizens got done paying the 40-... Full story
Lived in the shade of that tree for almost five years. Measured the circumference with a friend at 23 feet, 8 inches a couple years ago. The same year I counted 13 bald eagles in it at the same time. That tree was very cool. Cutting it down was wrong. David Johnson... Full story
In the Wednesday, March 6, article about Coulee Dam's charges for Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) expenses it read, “The remainder of what Elmer City charges its customers is administrative fees.” The words “administrative fees” should be exchanged for “maintenance and operation expenses.” Elmer City pays for labor, supplies, equipment repair and/or replacement and electrical power costs to collect and transport waste to Coulee Dam. And when the sewer treatment expenses are $12,000 over what we had expected, it is sometimes difficult.... Full story
The mayor of Coulee Dam has again defined his allegiance — that being with and for the engineer (Gray & Osborne). The townsfolk petitioned the mayor and council to roll back the ever increasing sewer rates and review other project alternatives and other options. The reply? A “public” meeting (with one day advanced notice) wherein the engineer was allowed to ramble, excuse, blame, demean, cajole … the “public” meeting was so tightly controlled that virtually no time was permitted for substantive questions and responses. Some folks just walked... Full story
Ten Years Ago An Electric City man involved in the town’s adoption of a nuisance ordinance last year believes the town, rather than neighbors, should instigate its enforcement. “I hate that neighbor has to turn in neighbor,” Jerry Sands said. “It shouldn’t be a neighbor ratting on a neighbor. The Grand Coulee Dam Little Guy Wrestlers “Coulee Crushers” began their season with a trip to Royal City on March 1. On March 8 they traveled to Chewelah for matches, with many receiving recognition for their efforts. Those who took first place, receiv... Full story
Chamber to Meet at La Presa The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its regular meeting Thursday, March 14, at noon at La Presa in Grand Coulee. The program will be presented by physical therapist Kai Scott. Lincoln County Fire Dist. 9 to Meet The Lincoln County Fire District 9 will hold its regular meeting on Thursday, March 14, at 6 p.m. in the Nazarene Church, just outside Grand Coulee. GCD Lions to Meet The Grand Coulee Dam Lions Club will meet Tuesday, March 19, at 6 p.m. in the art room above the Senior Center. On the... Full story
Three quilters gather to work on hospice quilts for Comfort Care Hospices in Omak and Spokane. The miniature quilts are being made for children and adults who have terminal illnesses. From the left are Mignon Lathrum, Wanda Sinclair and Vivian Dugan. Two other women have also be helping, Carol Netzel and Arlyce Goetz. The group is seeking additional quilters to help with the project. — Roger S. Lucas photo... Full story
Easter week Sunday, March 24 • 3 p.m., Easter Concert at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Grand Coulee. • 6 p.m., Palm Sunday, Grand Coulee Nazarene Church Thursday, March 28 • 7 p.m., Maundy Thursday at Coulee Dam Community Church- Presbyterian. Friday, March 29 • 7 p.m., Good Friday at United Methodist Church in Grand Coulee. Sunday, March 31 • 7 a.m., Sunrise Service at Crown Point. • 8 a.m., Easter breakfast, Nazarene Church. • 9 a.m., Easter Worship, Nazarene Church... Full story
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 AM to 2:30 PM. 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... Full story
Senior Meals Wed., March 13 - Dinner Al Newkirk’s Corned Beef, Cabbage, Potatoes & Carrots, Biscuits, Fruit Salad, Birthday Cake. Thurs., March 14 - Dinner French Onion Soup, Chicken Salad Sandwich, on White or Whole Wheat Bread, Joan’s Pea Salad, Fruited Jello & Whipped Cream. Fri., March 15 - Breakfast Sausage Links, Eggs, Hashbrowns & Toast, Apricots, Orange Juice. Mon., March 18 - Breakfast German Sausage, Eggs, Hashbrowns and Toast, Fruit Cocktail, Orange Juice. Tues., March 19 - Dinner French Dip Sandwiches and AuJus, French Fries, Salad... Full story
Grand Coulee Police 3/4 - A woman on West Cardinal Road told police that someone is entering her house and taking items and exchanging others in their place. She said it has happened with her washing machine, vacuum cleaner and a host of items. She stated that someone had taken the long screws out of her door and replaced them with short ones to make access easier. The officer explained that her residence was in the county and that someone from the sheriff’s office in Grant County would investigate. - A person reported cattle on Kruk Road. P... Full story
Someone recently asked me, “Why should I volunteer?” After I answered the question and had more time to let the question really soak in, I wondered why some people give their time openly and easily while others drag their feet to help out. So I reflected back on why I volunteer. I remember my father was always volunteering at the Moose Lodge, helping with the Christmas traditions they had. The Christmas party for kids of the area at the Moose Lodge was a big deal back then. I also remember my mo... Full story
Gray & Osborne engineers outlined ways for Coulee Dam and Elmer City to get their monthly sewer rates down in a letter to Coulee Dam Mayor Quincy Snow that was distributed after the last city council meeting. Coulee Dam residents currently pay $59 a month for sewer service and Elmer City pays $35 a month. Both towns will need to up their rates to pay a $4.92 million loan for the wastewater treatment plant. Engineer Jeff Stevens, in his letter, outlined a plan in which the town of Coulee Dam would change its current funding source from the... Full story
