News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Evelyn Russell doesn't know how many people are involved in an annual effort to put together dozens of quilts for the benefit of people in need, around the world and at a nearby crisis shelter. "We've got a box in the back," Russell said, standing inside the sanctuary of Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Coulee Saturday, with 91 colorful quilts covering every available surface, anointed by sunlight coming through the colored glass. The box collects pieces that quilters finish at home. The tops and...
A $13.6 million fire station being built for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation along SR-155 has faced numerous delays, and a bigger delay now with the termination of the contract between the bureau and the construction company. The contract for the project was awarded to Post Falls, Idaho-based Innovative Construction & Design Ltd. in 2016, with construction beginning in April of 2017. The building was originally scheduled to be complete in April 2018, according to a bureau press release issued in...
Those who drive around Electric City regularly may be surprised this summer to find that the Y-shaped intersection near city hall will be losing the Western Avenue branch off that intersection that currently forks into Western and Stevens Avenue. Electric City is building some sidewalks along Coulee Boulevard, which is also highway 155, as well as along Grand Avenue this summer. Included in these projects is a sidewalk that will wrap around the front of city hall and eliminate the portion of...
One has devoted her career to the success of a local institution, the other just started a new business last year to fill a local need and fulfill a longtime ambition. Solveig Chaffee's Voltage Coffee House was named business of the year, and hospital CEO Ramona Hicks was honored as achiever of the year at the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet Thursday at Pepper Jack's Bar and Grille. "Thank you for bringing a new business to the community ... putting in your own...
Electric City needs to upgrade a critical piece of infrastructure that every person in the city depends on, and for which the city will need to arrange several hundred thousand dollars in financing. Electric City’s 1960s-era sewage lift station, which pumps sewage to the wastewater treatment facility in Grand Coulee, needs to be upgraded soon. The facility at the southern end of Grand Avenue has two pumps, one that is about 60 years old and no longer works, the other just a few years old. The Electric City council discussed the issue at t...
OLYMPIA--Washington residents could vote to make daylight saving time year-round under a bill state senators passed on Tuesday, March 12. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5139 was approved in a 46-3 vote, just two days after clocks were set forward. The measure is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of five senators and was introduced by Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside. This is the third year in a row Honeyford has pitched the daylight saving bill. “With the time change, we find there’s more auto accidents, more heart attacks, more strokes and...
The Keller Ferry, which connects SR-21 from the Wilbur area to the Keller area, will be out of service from April 1 to April 7 for a permanent repair to be done on a weld crack that had closed the ferry from Jan. 25 to Feb. 2. A temporary repair had been done to reopen the ferry, and when the weather warms up a permanent repair can be made, explained Ryan Overton, who works for the Eastern Region Communications of the Washington State Department of Transportation. Overton said the repair may actually take less time, but they are giving the...
The Native American Voting Rights act was signed by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee at a widely attended ceremony, Thursday. “We believe these three steps will allow tribal members to help us form a more perfect union and make good decisions about our destiny,” said Inslee of the changes the bill makes. The state House of Representatives passed an amended version of the bill with a 95-3 vote on March 5. House members voting against were Reps. Bob McCaslin, R- Spokane Valley, Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, and Matt Shea. R-Spokane Valley. The bill passed the...
Before it’s too late, a word of thanks needs to be said for those who plow snow. This was a tough winter, but local roads remained remarkably open after initial attacks were completed, allowing drivers to travel intact. That’s no small thing, and we should be thankful in the coulee for roads well plowed by folks who most of the time got up early to get ready for our morning commutes. Scott Hunter editor and publisher...
This is such good news. In the past I shopped at the Variety Store regularly. I was usually able to find what I needed, whether it be underwear, socks, belts, T-shirts, kids’ toys, candles, postcards, spices, snacks, pet toys, rugs, kitchen gadgets, etc. So this is wonderful, and I look forward to the opening. Thank you, Launi Ritter! Valerie Keck...
This is about two politicians, both in their 90s, one who passed away last week and the other still going strong. Former U.S. Senator Birch Bayh, 91, passed away last Thursday. He served Indiana and the nation well during his time in the Senate, and is perhaps best known for shepherding Title IX to its success; anyway, that’s what he has said was his greatest achievement. I first met Sen. Bayh at the annual Democratic dinner in Seattle. Senators Henry Jackson and Warren Magnuson had sent me tickets to the dinner, and a host of Democrats from a...
Today I stood with my face pointed to the sun. Warmth of the rays covered my face and a smile crept upon my lips. A vague memory flickered in my skull. A memory that seems to have happened a long, long time ago. Yes, this is the sun and this is what spring feels like. It is finally here. I almost say those words with my tongue in my cheek, just in case a snow flurry comes down and blankets us again just to spite me. The roads are clear, I see grass in my yard again, and robins are everywhere. I...
For years, through politics, teacher strikes and court cases, we have heard that state lawmakers were underfunding schools. Then, with great fanfare, state leaders came together in 2017 and passed an historic bill that raised property taxes, reduced inequity and provided adequate funding for schools. The law made two important changes in school funding. First, by raising taxes, it greatly increased state funding for all schools. Second, it increased fairness and reduced inequity between property-rich districts and property-poor ones by...
Twenty Years Ago The Town of Coulee Dam may be ready to sell its town shop to a private developer if a suitable site can be found to build a new shop. Coulee Community Hospital is finding it tough to get the state’s attention focused on its $300,000 hillside slippage problem at a time when western Washington rains have loosened the footing of multi-million dollar neighborhoods. Scott and Paul Townsend of TNT Welding built frames for signs to be installed on the Columbia River Bridge. The signs depict the history of the Grand Coulee Dam c...
Edith D. "Swanee" Whitelaw, 91, went on to meet her Lord Jesus early Wednesday morning, March 13, 2019, from Keller, Washington. Swanee entered this world at Holmes City, Minnesota, on Friday, December 9, 1927, into the home of Gust and Anna Pearson-Swanson. As a co-founder and sustaining member of Keller Community Church of Keller, Washington for over 50 years, she faithfully served as the church Treasurer/Secretary and as Cook for Vacation Bible School. A graduate of Abbott School of Nursing... Full story
Jack Arthur Grier, 67, passed away Sunday, February 24, 2019, in Spokane at Sacred Heart Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Coulee Dam, Washington, October 2, 1951, to Tommie C and Margaret A Grier. In 1971, Jack graduated from Lake Roosevelt High School. Jack was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Kathy Wickman, of Electric City, Washington. He is survived by Sandy (Eugene) Ritter, Selingsgrove, PA; Thomas (Sherry) Grier, Electric City; Jill (David) Jurgensen, Bonners Ferry, ID; Alan (Reneé) Grier,... Full story
Chamber This Week Chamber will meet this Thursday, March 20, at Pepper Jack’s Bar & Grille beginning at noon. Ryan Rodin, Government Contracting Specialist from Greater Spokane will be conducting a workshop on the in’s and out’s on how to obtain HUBZone certification for your business. HUBZone certification is the hardest goal for federal agencies to hit in terms of contracts awarded, so there’s a good incentive for businesses to be certified. School Board to Meet March 25 The Grand Coulee Dam School District will be holding a school board meet...
Rich and Jillian Coffey of Electric City, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their son Wyatt Reed Coffee, born Friday, March 15, 2019, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. He weighed 7 lbs., 15 oz., and was 20 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Cody age 13 and Caleb age 2. Maternal grandparents are Gene Fields and the late Melinda Fields. Paternal grandparents are Laurie Coffey ad the late Todd Coffey. Great-grandparents are Sheila Coffey and Carol DeFranco.... Full story
Parents watch as their children get credit for performances and backstage help after the Missoula Children's Theatre productions of "The Frog Prince" Saturday in the Lake Roosevelt High School gym. MCT cast the play after auditions on Monday, practiced with the kids each day after school, and produced the play in two performances on Saturday, at 2 and 6 p.m. It involved a cast of 51 actors up to 18 years old in parts ranging from frogs, including swamp-type (Reniff Herndon) and prince-type...
The long-running winter has made it hard to play spring sports, meant to be played on grass and dirt, not ice and snow. "We've had volunteers helping, doing whatever they can, like snow blowing fields," said Lake Roosevelt Athletic Director Tim Rasmussen. The snow has canceled several of the first events scheduled for each of the five spring sports: tennis, golf, baseball, softball, and track & field. "We working as a league and as a district to see what we can do towards the end of the...
Coach Steve Archer runs his high school tennis team through fundamentals of racket technique in the Lake Roosevelt Elementary School gym last week. All the spring sports have had to make do with finding indoor spots to practice, an issue all over the league, due to a late and lingering snow. - Jacob Wagner photo...
THURSDAY MIXUPS TEAM W L San Poil Valley 66 42 Only Nine! 60.5 43.5 The Star 46.5 61.5 High Game: John Stensgar 231; Mae Stensgar 147 Hiigh Series: John Stensgar 660; Mae Stensgar 405 Splits: John Stensgar Jr. 2-7; John Stensgar 6-7-10; Mae Stensgar 3-10; Bishop Stensgar 3-10/3-10 Previous - High Game: Logan Stensgar 207; Mae Stensgar 210 High Series: John Stensgar 555; Mae Stensgar 519 Splits: Mae 4-7-10; Frank Quinto 5-6-10 FRIDAY DAM KEGLERS TEAM W L #5 138.5 101.5 Native Spirit 133 107 Flying W 124.5 115.5 #3 121.5 118.5 #1 100 140 High...
Notice of Change of Regular Meeting Date Public Hospital District No. 6, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, & Okanogan Counties, Washington Public Hospital District No. 6, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln and Okanogan Counties, Washington; which operates Coulee Medical Center and Coulee City Medical Clinic, will be changing the regular board meeting date for the month of March. The next Board meeting will be held Monday, April 1, 2019, at 6 p.m. in the Coulee Medical Center training room. (Publish March 20 and 27, 2019)... Full story
Grand Coulee Police 3/13 - An officer responding to a 911 hangup call originating at the senior center was assured by volunteers who work there that there was no emergency there. - Someone allegedly driving under the influence was reported leaving the hospital in a grey sedan, but an officer was unable to find such a driver. 3/14 - A car reported as stolen out of Coulee City a few days earlier was found on Cardinal Road. A resident in the area didn’t know where the car came from or who was driving it. The owner of the car came and got it. - A...