News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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A corner was likely turned this week in the months-long hospital controversy that saw Coulee Medical Center’s healthcare providers and other employees pitted against administration. Public Hospital District 6 commissioners Friday afternoon accepted the resignation of Commissioner Greg Behrens, who had sought to quell the troubled waters around Chief Executive Officer J. Scott Graham, whose ouster was demanded by doctors and many patrons. Tuesday, commissioners of the hospital district in Brewster unanimously voted to offer Graham the top a... Full story
GRAND COULEE, Wash. - The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $697,000 contract March 10 to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation to provide security and law enforcement services on Reclamation lands and at Reclamation facilities located on the east side of the Columbia River. The security and law enforcement services include the Third Powerplant, Downriver Trail and dam tour building. These services will be provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week beginning April 1. The contract also allows the Colville Tribe to assist the... Full story
A driver who told police he was homeless and driving his father's car fell asleep and crashed through the guardrail at the south end of the causeway in Electric City last Thursday morning. Ira Wolash Wyena, 41, was not injured but a female passenger was taken to Coulee Medical Center, where she refused treatment. Wyena fell asleep at the wheel and the vehicle peeled back about 15 feet of the steel guardrail. It ended up in the ditch alongside SR 155 about 10 feet below the highway level. Parts... Full story
Summers seem too short? You could be in for a longer summer this year if the school board adopts the proposed district school calendar. Granted, the calendar for the 2014-15 school year presented at Monday night’s Grand Coulee Dam School District board meeting isn’t the final one, but it gives a hint that the start of school this fall will be later than usual. The district, in an effort to move into the new education facility on the first day of school, is looking at the opening date of Sept. 15. Superintendent Dennis Carlson brought sch... Full story
A dispute on the size of accessory buildings in Electric City will soon be on the front burner for city planners. When the city’s comprehensive plan was passed, it limited the size of accessory buildings to 850 square feet. At least two Electric City residents, Mike Dennis and Mark Payne, have appeared before the planning commission and city council on numerous occasions, asking for larger accessory buildings to be allowed in the city. Upon their initial appearance before planners, the commission members seemed to OK buildings up to 30 feet h... Full story
Coulee Dam is seeking town residents to serve on three boards and fill one council seat. Mayor Gregory Wilder is asking members of the public to step up and fill three Civil Service Commission seats, five Planning Commission places, and six commission seats on the town’s Natural Resource Board (tree board). The positions, Wilder stated, have either been vacant or unfilled, and he would like to get residents more active in town government. The council position became vacant recently with the resignation of Bob Poch, who served the town for 28 y... Full story
The chief of staff at Coulee Medical Center was given a statewide award at the annual Washington Rural Health Association’s Northwest Regional Health Conference in Spokane Wednesday. Dr. Andrew Castrodale was awarded the Dr. John Anderson Memorial Award for Outstanding Rural Health Practitioner. The award is given to healthcare providers who have demonstrated a dedication to healthcare in rural communities and provided leadership and outstanding service to the community and region. For years, Castrodale has worked with a University of W... Full story
Long time on duty Grand Coulee police Chief Mel Hunt completed his 38th year with the department at 4 p.m. Monday this week. Blues coming to resort The Sunbanks Lake Resort spring Blues Festival will be held May 15-18, at the resort site in Electric City. Sunbanks Resort is a five-time winner as the “Best Blues Festival” in Washington State. Tickets are now on sale at the resort. Snyder asks for pavement Wayne Snyder appeared before the Electric City Council to ask the city to chip seal the road all the way up to his development. The city did... Full story
The school district, by action of the school board, will return to a seven-period day this fall. The district has had a six-period day for the past several years and a change to the seven-period day will allow students to receive a wider range of class options. The board had decided earlier to return to the seven-period day and a 24-credit requirement at the high school for graduation, but had an opportunity to delay it a year since the district would be moving into a new school. The board heard arguments that there would be enough adjustments... Full story
Jozlyn St. John, 11, of Grand Coulee competes Saturday in the keg toss competition on the final day of operations at Loup Loup Ski Bowl, west of Okanogan. St. John won the girls' division by tossing a pony keg 26 feet, 5.5 inches. Other competitors from Grand Coulee area included Bryn Chaffee, 10, and Ellie Hansen, 12. - Roger Harnack, Omak Chronicle photo... Full story
The school board got its first look at a plan for administrators for the new school complex. Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Dennis Carlson told the board that the new school will need two principals, a vice principal/dean of students and a part-time athletic director. Principal Lisa Lakin will administer grades K-6, including pre-school. The district is currently advertising for a combined junior high-senior high principal. Current high school principal Brandon Byers has indicated that he has already applied to continue his... Full story
Supporters of The Ridge Riders gather for the group's annual banquet and auction at the American Legion Post in Electric City Saturday night. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
The Grand Coulee council voted to fund three water projects at its meeting March 18. The three projects were awarded to Pipkin Construction of Wenatchee on a low bid of $422,539.64, and will be funded from the city’s water reserve fund. The projects are: (1) Replace water main along SR-155 from SR-174 to Main Street and along Main Street from SR-155 to Spokane Way. Pipkin’s bid on this leg of the project was $204,267.65; (2) Replacement of water main along Van Tyne Avenue from Kimball Street to St. Henry’s Catholic Church. Pipkin’s bid on this... Full story
The election outcome last year seated a new mayor and two new town Council members for Coulee Dam. A lot has changed in Town Hall - council meeting procedures actually encourage public participation, issues are openly and robustly discussed before council action, council minutes are clear and meaningful, the office staff is qualified AND inviting (you just know you are appreciated and welcome in town hall). The Sewer Treatment Plant project is now on hold and, and through an aggressive public process, we will be revisiting a litany of... Full story
I have waited to comment on the CMC “situation,” as Jess Utz so kindly referred to it; but I can no longer. I worked at CMC for 10 years and I enjoyed my time there. I helped raise funds for the dream of the new facility to be realized. I am so sorry to see that dream come to a choice, one that should never have been. More administrators to more providers ... well, we got the more administrators, but not the more providers. Something is very wrong with that scenario. Years ago, Mike Wiltermood, CEO of Coulee Community Hospital said: “You can n... Full story
In reading the article on the hospital board meeting I find it appalling that Administration "incentived high performance team," was rewarded for the hostile work environment they created. To have staff members low census to the point of no leave or having to apply for food stamps to survive. The CEO had the audacity to state employees would receive bonuses in the future. What, a $55 Safeway card or a 40-cents-an-hour raise! I do not want to sound ungrateful, but believe me, no one ever received a nice raise or COLA while I was there, 2009-2012... Full story
The birds are chirping, the trees are budding, bugs are making an appearance and the kids are getting rambunctious. Spring is here and summer just around the next bend. So that means a few things are about to get going full swing. One is tourism, and we all know that means dollars in our community. From the parks to the hotels to the restaurants, it is a trickle-down effect. Even if you are thinking it does not impact you. It does. Hotel/Motel taxes go into our city coffers and get spent back... Full story
Ten Years Ago Random Heroes to rock the Coulee. Corey Hilson, Brian Edwards, Brandon Ricks, Clancy Dieser and Mike Harden, five local boys will give their first local rock concert Friday night. Security upgrades at Grand Coulee Dam continue with the recent contract of $4 million dollars to Adesta, LLC for upgrading and installation of video surveillance equipment, intrusion detection, access controls and communication systems. Raider Basketball presented their awards this week to both boys and girls teams. Steve Breeze is first team all... Full story
Leslie Sisco, Sr., age 80, of Spokane, Washington, passed away March 22, 2014 surrounded by family. He was born April 13, 1933, in Hugo, Oklahoma, the son of late Virgil and Cora Sisco. He is survived by 8 of his siblings and his wife Lela. He is survived by his children, Leslie Jr., Mitzi, and 7 stepchildren as well as numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. He entered in to active duty with the US Navy in 1951, and was in the Naval Reserve until 1959. He began his career as a power plant operator in 1964 in California. In 1974, he... Full story
Betty Lou Grandorff, 83, died Sunday, March 23, 2014, in Grand Coulee, Washington. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m., on Saturday, April 5, 2014 in the Zion Lutheran Church of Grand Coulee. Strate Funeral Home of Grand Coulee is honored to be serving Betty Lou's family.... Full story
Graveside services will be held for Kathie Bise on Saturday, April 5, 2015, at 11 a.m. at Spring Canyon Cemetery. A potluck will follow at the Grand Coulee Fire Hall. Mrs. Bise passed away December 14, 2013.... Full story
Pack 24 is pleased to announce that two of it's members achieved the highest award that can be earned in Cub Scouts - the Arrow of Light. Dylan Wiles and Cameron Gaines received this award, with their parents watching nearby, as representatives from Troops 24 and 107 performed the Arrow of Light crossing over ceremony, welcoming them into Boy Scouts.... Full story
The Okanogan Valley District Pinewood Derby Races took place Saturday, March 15, 2014, at Sunrise Chevrolet in Omak, Wash. Packs represented were 20, 23, 24, 25, and 60. Each represented pack sent their top three finishers from their own Pinewood Derby. Local Pack 24 sent Noah Hunt, Showaway Hunt, and Paul Stout with the hope of racing for a trophy. At the end of the District Pinewood Derby Race Paul Stout had the good fortune to have his car finish 3rd. -submitted photo... Full story
Chamber to Meet The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet Thursday, March 27, at noon, at La Presa. Dave Wilson, independent candidate running against Cathy McMorris Rodgers for the fifth congressional district, will be speaking about his plans. Grant County Fire Dist. 14 to Meet Grant County Fire District 14 will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday, March 31, at 7 p.m., at the Electric City Fire Station. CMC Guild (Auxiliary) to Meet Coulee Medical Guild (Auxiliary) meeting will be held Tuesday April 15, from 11 a.m. - 1... Full story
Courtney Bailey and Richard Gorr of Coulee Dam are proud to announce the birth of their son Xabian Lawrence Gorr born Friday, March 14, 2014, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 7 lbs., 8 ounces and was 21-1/2 inches in length at birth.... Full story
