News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Grant County Port District 7 has suddenly found itself in the golf business. At a special meeting Thursday night, commissioners reclaimed a lease formerly held by the Banks Lake Golf and Country Club, and then assured golfers that the course would open and be maintained by the port district until commissioners find a new operator for the course. About 50 people jammed a banquet room at Pepper Jack’s Bar & Grille to see if they were going to be able to golf on the Banks Lake course this year. The... Full story
Dakota Columbia will operate the Seven Bays and Keller Ferry houseboat concessions for another year, the National Park Service confirmed Tuesday. The agreement was reached after an attempt to attract proposals for a 10-year contract failed. There are good reasons why no one offered a valid proposal to operate houseboats at Seven Bays and Keller Ferry, a man familiar with the two businesses asserted. Elmer Little, a former employee of Seven Bays, contended in a letter to the Davenport Times and to The Star, that anyone seeking the contract to... Full story
Grand Coulee Police arrested and jailed two Electric City residents March 2 on charges of delivering meth within 1,000 feet of a school bus stop. Robert Day, 34, and Heather McClain, 35, were arrested and taken to Grant County Jail, under charged with delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), violations committed in or on certain public places (within 1,000 feet of a school bus stop). With a warrant, police entered the residence at 58078 W. Second, in Electric City, and found what they thought were methamphetamine crystals packed... Full story
SHARP Kids to help at park The after-school and summer program for kids will take on some maintenance tasks at the Gerkhe Windmills, a parks official said Monday. Coulee Area Park and Recreation District Chairman Phil Hansen told commissioners the group will start helping spruce up the historic little roadside attraction of scrap-created whirligigs during this school year and continue through summer. The group wants to put up a kiosk as part of the deal. “I’m kind of excited about that,” Hansen said. CAPRD took on maintenance of North Dam P... Full story
A Grand Coulee woman pitched the area’s four mayors Monday to begin a recycling service, and suggested that they start up their own garbage collection system. Kimberly Christensen said she intends to begin small with a new recycling service, placing collection bins in strategic places, and then work toward curbside collection. Operating as Ever-Green Recycling, Christensen said that her program is starting in Wilbur and she hopes to get started in the Grand Coulee Dam area very soon. She told mayors at their Monday meeting that they should look... Full story
Tribal Recycling manager Joaquin Bustamante said last week that he hopes “Earth Day” on April 20, will attract some 1,200 visitors to the grassy area near the Trading Post at the Colville Indian Agency. The event is catering to school children and is affording space for those who identify with “Mother Earth” to present areas of interest. At a recent Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Bustamante invited local businesses to put up a booth to take part. Schools on and near the reservation have been invited. Free hot dogs will he... Full story
Jess Utz reads to a class at Center Elementary during a daylong emphasis on reading, in which community members were invited to read to the students. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Washington’s tribal communities earned autonomous recognition from the state Legislature on the final day of the session March 8 that, upon the governor’s approval, could become effective as early as June. The bill that passed last week could cede back to tribes jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters involving tribal members in all areas, but control over sexually violent predators, so long as the governor and federal government officials agree on the requested “retrocession,” remain with the state. The three-step procedure tribal... Full story
The future of Washington’s state parks’ financial viability may depend on a legislative agreement to expand an access pass program first implemented last July. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2373 passed the Senate 30-17 March 6, the House the next day and awaits the governor’s signature. The bill concerns the implementation as well as the sale of the Discover Pass. Sen. Kevin Ranker (D – 40th District, Orcas Island) crafted what is termed a striker amendment that replaced the original language of the bill that passed the House Feb. 28... Full story
The Colville Confederated Tribes just received $193 million from the federal government. I would like to CHALLENGE the CCT to re-invest some of that money into their future, by building a NEW state-of-the-art high school. This would help ALL future generations to help themselves, by furnishing a first-rate education to all. Orie Francis Electric City... Full story
I want to write a response to the comment by an unnamed school board member in the article about ACH track and tennis coming to our school for practices. In the bottom of that article, it was mentioned that there was concern about not having enough players for softball and bringing up eighth-graders in order to have enough players. This is something that is allowed now that we are in the 2B class and many other schools do this so that their high school programs can continue to exist and compete. I think that it was very inappropriate and rude... Full story
My last letter to The Star editor helped define the reasons I am reviewing Coulee Dam town records … not a willy-nilly vendetta, as Mayor Snow has described it, but a real attempt to see how and why it is our cost for municipal services are among the highest in the state. Yes, there are some legitimate reasons just as there are for the other things we buy. Shortly after Snow took office he hired the town clerk that currently manages and administers the day-to-day operations for the town — since then the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased... Full story
Recently, I spent some time at my childhood home in Georgia. One day my mother surprised my daughter and her cousins with boxes of toys we had packed away together when I was a pre-teen. I was delighted to have a small peek into my childhood, and I’m sure my face mirrored that of my daughter as we opened the lids. While I didn’t remember saving these particular toys, I can remember my mindset at the time. I understood I was too old to play with toys anymore, but too young to realize that the... Full story
Ten Years Ago The Laser Light Festival began to rise from the ashes Monday at Coulee Dam’s Town Hall with the naming of a festival chairman. The board of directors of the chamber of commerce had made this decision last month to suspend the festival for a year, an idea that met with opposition. A committee recently decided the winner in the contest to name the flags that will drape the community in a show of patriotism this spring and summer. Grand Coulee resident Wiyaka Wagner’s suggestion, “Fla... Full story
Ernest F. “Ernie” Sprugel, 89, passed away Tuesday, March 6, 2012, in the Veteran’s Administration Hospital hospice care facility in Spokane. His love for his family, his passions, and his stubbornness shone through until the end, and finally traded cancer for eternal peace. Ernie was born on July 17, 1922, in Lawrence County, Spice Valley Township, Indiana to Ernest P. and Elizabeth C. (Sheetz) Sprugel. As a young boy, he moved to the city of his father’s birth, Chicago, Illinois. Always... Full story
Kevin and Christi Portch of Grand Coulee are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter Kenzie Lynn Portch on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 7 lbs., 3 oz., and was 21 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Raeley 5, Caden 4 and Lexi 1. Maternal grandparents are Dave and Wanda Ristrom. Paternal grandparents are David and Peggy Portch. Great-grandparents are Harold Portch, Earl and Mable Hunter, and Edward and Millie Ristrom.... Full story
Ryan and Marlene Poe of Hartline are pleased to announce the birth of their son James Marshall Poe on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 7 lbs., 5 oz., and was 20-1/2 inches in length at birth. Sibling includes Katie. Maternal grandparents are Marvin and Mary Bakko of Moses Lake. Paternal grandparents are John and Sue Poe of Colville. Great-grandparents are George and Shirley Anderson of Colville.... Full story
Jessica White and Pokey Tonasket of Keller, are pleased to announce the birth of their son Kadyn Alexander White on Thursday, March 1, 2012, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 4 lbs., 8 oz., and was 18-1/2 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Chris, Darin, Tani Tonasket. Maternal grandfather is John White of Grand Coulee. Paternal grandparents are Lynda and Bob Tonasket of Keller. Great-grandma is Jackie of Rebecca Lake.... Full story
A group is forming to have a weekly bicycle ride. Those interested should meet at North Dam Park Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. For more information call Stan at 631-1850.... Full story
This Belgian horse team and wagon will be on hand for Electric City’s “Earth Day” celebration, Saturday, April 28. Organizers say that children will have the opportunity to ride in the wagon and also in a fire truck during the celebration. The horse team and wagon belong to Marcie Breshears of Davenport. — submitted photo... Full story
Chamber to Meet The Chamber of Commerce will meet at noon on Thursday, March 15, at Pepper Jack’s Bar and Grille. Healthy Eating Class Coulee Medical Center will be hosting a Healthy Eating Class on Wed., March 21, at 6:30 p.m., in the CMC Public Dining Room. The class will provide information about protein and will feature a Mexican dish. $5 donations will be accepted to assist with the cost of food. Please RSVP by calling the CMC Clinic at 509-633-1911. Eagles #2577 Meetings The Eagles #2577 Aerie meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of e... Full story
Generally we see a nice change in weather conditions as we watch March progress. Still, I would recommend being ready for winter-like conditions. In 1951 we had 9.8 inches of snow. Mean precipitation for March is 0.82 inches. In 1983, we recorded 2.64 inches of precipitation. It can be a wet month. Temperatures can be all over the face of the thermometer. In 1939 we had a high of 74 degrees and in 1955 a low of zero degrees. The mean temperature for March is 41.1 degrees — it bodes well for a s... Full story
Grand Coulee Police 3/2 - Several items being reported stolen from an Electric City residence, which subsequently turned up at a residence close by, was all a mistake, the man told police. The complainant said he had loaned the other man the items and forgot about it. 3/5 - A driver who ran a stop sign ended up getting charged with failing to stop, violation of his instruction permit, failing to carry his registration and having no insurance. His passenger was arrested on a warrant and is also going to be charged with possession of a legend... Full story
Those who dress “in your favorite era” will get a discount price for the “Decade Dance” planned for this Friday night, March 16, at the Grand Coulee Dam Middle School from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. The “family event” will feature the D.J. “Manifest” and offer family photos and concessions. Those dressed like they’re living in 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s get the discounted entry price of $5 per person or $15 for a family, otherwise $7 and $20. The event is sponsored by the Lake Roosvelt High School Nativer American Club, which is raising funds for... Full story
Lake Roosevelt High School Principal Brad Wilson announced Monday that Gordon Proctor was chosen staff member of the month for February. Students of the month honored were: Austin Rosenbaum, Levi Seylor, Kendra Descoteaux, Brandon Desautel, Kevin Clark, Ashlee Semmens, Jolen Catoto, Kramer Carlson and Johnny McCraigie.... Full story