News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Leaders at Coulee Medical Center will submit to its federal funding agency by the end of the week a plan to turn the facility around financially. That plan will show a reduction in wage and benefit costs of $2.1 million a year following decisions made by Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Owens to cut staff in non-patient care positions. “People understood that we needed to adjust where our focus was in the facility,” Owens said of the general reaction in the hospital, which has employed as many as 225. “If it wasn’t a direct patient care positio... Full story
According to the state Department of Transportation, the Keller Ferry will be out of service for hull repairs starting at midnight Friday, March 31, and expected to resume at 6 a.m. Monday, April 10.... Full story
INCHELIUM, Wash. – Colville Tribal Police & Natural Resource Officers, Ferry County Sheriff's Office, Spokane County Air Support Search Team are currently searching the Inchelium area for a missing 83-year-old woman who has Alzheimer's. Officials said Estelle Abbott, 83, was last seen on Grand Louis Road. They said she left her home on Monday morning with a tan/grey pit bull named Jay to check the mail and walk the dog but she did not return. Mrs. Abbott has blonde hair and blue eyes. She is 5...
A meeting of Electric City’s parks and recreation committee last Thursday focused on two new city parks, and they will recommend the city council to move forward on developing them, spending nearly a half million dollars over the next four years. The group, voting unanimously, recommended that the park plan go out for a 60-day public review. Other recommendations include that the council hire and contract with a landscape engineering firm to design and create plans for both the McNett Avenue Park and the Grand Avenue Park. Both parks will be re... Full story
Lacey Kent demonstrates to visitors at the science fair at Lake Roosevelt Schools Thursday night how her hand-made volcano erupts when a little baking soda and vinegar is applied. The first-grader took first place in the kingergarten-to-second-grade division of the fair, which drew 28 entries that explored various subjects, including the relative worth of diet pop and the possible use of osmotic pressure in hydropower production. For a list of the winners. - Scott Hunter phot... Full story
Fifteen local firefighters completed a 12-hour advanced wildland firefighter course after taking instruction Thursday evening and all day Saturday. The class was taught by three Washington State Department of Natural Resource firefighters, and sponsored by the local fire departments and districts, and is one of several courses offered. The course, called S-131 Firefighter Type 1, or Advance Firefighter, covers a range of topics including safety standards and hazardous identification. The course also includes the risk management process used on... Full story
Sometimes those closest to a problem are best suited to find the solution. This may be the case in an Electric City/Grand Coulee wastewater bill conflict. An apparent plug in the line last October showed that Electric City had twice the amount of sewage flow as normal, some 105,500 gallons compared to the normal flow of 63,000 gallons. This caused Electric City's bill for the month to be some $5,000 above normal. The two cities have been bouncing the problem between their city councils for... Full story
So you have always wanted to be an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). Now is your chance. An EMT recruitment call was put out by the Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department. Those interested should call 633-2200, or contact a current firefighter or EMT. The class will begin early in April. The local area needs EMTs to staff the ambulance, which makes about 400 calls per year. Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department Chief Richard Paris said the department answered 402 ambulance calls in 2016 and already this year there have been 104 EMT calls.... Full story
City could tax tabs for roads Grand Coulee’s council is taking a casual look again at forming a Transportation Benefit District and charging $10 every time residents license their cars and pickups. The money from a TBD goes into the city’s street fund, and that’s the only way the money can be used — for streets. The TBD is a tool designed by the Legislature to help cities and towns make up for the financial hit taken when voters passed a statewide initiative in 1999. I-695 cut fees on annual vehicle tabs from 2 percent of a vehicle’s value to a... Full story
The city of Grand Coulee is about to take a big step forward into the technology age. Grand Coulee is moving forward on a plan to accept credit cards for the payment of utility bills. There’s a catch … the city will only accept credit card payments online. City Clerk Carol Boyce presented the idea at the council meeting last Tuesday night, and the council gave its OK to move forward. Currently, the city accepts checks, cash and money orders. The city will be working with the firm GovPayNet, which will handle all of the transactions and cut the... Full story
Some 34 injured veterans and 20 host boat captains made a day of fishing on Banks Lake Sunday, the first of what organizers said they hope is an annual event. The Fallen Outdoors organization takes veterans on outdoor excursions and says its mission is to "film and show real-life American soldiers balancing duty for their country and passion for the outdoors." Eastern Washington Team Leader David Atteberry said the event had been planned for March 10 but was postponed because the lake was... Full story
A framework for a new school strategic plan was adopted by the Grand Coulee Dam School District Monday night. The framework was decided by a group made up of school people and community members at a special meeting a couple of weeks ago. Superintendent Paul Turner explained to the school Monday board that the plan was “just the framework” and that the board would be working to put “in specifics and a timetable” for completion. The plan was approved midway through a lengthy meeting that included two executive sessions, one lasting for about a... Full story
You hear all the best teachers talk about it, and last Thursday night anyone who attended the PTA’s science fair at Lake Roosevelt Schools got a little taste of it, as well. “It” would be the “Aha!” factor, the real reward that teachers crave when that light comes into the eye of a student excited for having just learned something new. Talking with each of the students who entered their science experiments, it was apparent they’d taken great interest and care in putting together some fairly sophisticated evidence and arguments, and accepted th... Full story
Thank you to everyone who has contributed items to help the Ristine family start over after a fire destroyed their home on January 29th. Friends opened an account on the website GoFundMe, which to date has received almost $2,000. However, due to my work at the senior center, it occurred to me that MANY of our local citizens have gigantic hearts but may not be technologically inclined. If YOU fit that category but would like to make a monetary contribution, you can do so at North Cascades Bank by depositing any dollar amount directly to the... Full story
Shooters that use the gravel pit at Osborn Bay behind Electric City: I have not been back there for over a year. I went out there Wednesday the 23rd of March. When my grandkids come they like to shoot, so we go back there. They burn up lots of powder then spend about an hour picking up garbage. I must say, I am ashamed of what the shooters leave there — whiskey bottles, pallets, bowling balls, all kinds of trash they shoot up, then just leave it. Do you ever wonder why the citizen that doesn’t shoot thinks our pistols and rifles should be taken... Full story
This is a letter to all those vying for a position on the Tribal Council. You should do three things after becoming an elected representative. First: Change the name of the reservation. REASON: Time has long since passed that we continue to call ourselves colvile Indians and understand that there never were any colvile Indians. That we must either change to our language name “Syilx People” or our dominant tribe “Okanogan” (no matter how you spell it)! Second: Change the length of service for councilpersons to four years. All you do now is find... Full story
A major hurdle for lawmakers in Olympia working to finish the next two-year state budget and adjourn is the so-called “carbon tax.” However, Gov. Jay Inslee wants a first-ever levy on CO2 emissions. While it targets coal and natural gas power plants and manufacturing facilities, everyone will pay more. His proposal is part of a grand plan to raise $5.5 billion in higher taxes. That scheme also includes imposing a new tax on investor’s income and increases existing business and occupation (B&O) tax rates on services. Higher taxes are troublesome... Full story
The phrase “Life is just not fair” has been said by many of us many times over our lives or we have heard others say it. Even in my own life I have felt slighted or treated unfairly or even wronged by others or circumstances and just thought the world was against me. Things at times seem like we are sinking in the “quicksands” of life with nothing to grab hold of. We have seen it at all levels, but there are times when a little ray of success blasts through the gloom and lifts our spirts out of the joy-sucking sand. A flower in a weed garden.... Full story
A slide on the east bank of the San Poil River, SW 1/4 Sec. 9, Twp. 29 N. Range 33 E. W.M. on Indian allotment #1193 belonging to Mary Hughes. This view shows the main body of the slide, taken from the top of the bank toward north, looking downstream. – 1942 photo... Full story
Robert Lawrence Bjorklund, 59, of Olympia, Washington, passed away Sunday, March 26, 2017. He was born in Renton, Washington, on Dec. 8, 1957, to Lawrence and JoAnn Bjorklund of Electric City, Washington. Robert graduated from Lake Roosevelt High School, and received his Associate’s Degree from Spokane Falls Community College. Bob had a career in the construction industry for his entire life, most recently working for ProBuild in Olympia. He had a passion for fishing, Husky sports, and all things family. Bob was well-known for his l... Full story
Brandon William Buche, 23, left us all much too soon Wednesday morning, March 15, 2017. Brandon entered our world in Spokane, Washington, Sunday, April 25, 1993, and was raised in Electric City, Washington. Brandon graduated from Almira Coulee-Hartline High School in 2011, where he excelled in football, baseball and wrestling, earning a berth in the WIAA State Wrestling Championships, as well as being invited to attend Washington State Intensive Wrestling Camp. Wednesday, September 21, 2011,... Full story
Stuart Duane "Stu" Frye, 51, of Benton City, Washington, passed away Monday morning, March 20, 2017, in Nespelem, Washington. Born Saturday, July 31, 1965, in Dayton, Washington, to Duane G. and Jean Spence-Frye, Stu graduated from Lake Roosevelt High School, where he played outfield with the baseball team. Following graduation he joined the U.S. Army to serve his country, only to be discharged early due to medical conditions. At various times, Stu worked at several occupations, including... Full story
John M "Mike" Townsend, 67, passed away Thursday evening, March 9, 2017, in Grand Coulee, Washington. Born Thursday, November 3, 1949, in Phoenix, Arizona, to John Elbert and Rosetta Jean Wolfe-Townsend, Mike graduated high school and went on to earn his college degree. PFC Townsend then served his country with the U.S. Army as a door gunner in Vietnam, completing Military Police Training as well as earning the National Defense Service Medal and Marksman Badge before receiving his honorable... Full story
Chamber This Week The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet at noon, this Thursday, March 30, at La Presa Mexican Restaurant, Grand Coulee. Lizbeth Gutierrez from the Housing Authority of Grant County will be the guest speaker. Coulee Creators Meet Coulee Creators meet every Tuesday 1-4 p.m. Contact Marlene Oddie 509-386-5715 or marlene@kissedquilts.com for details. Enter east end of building, push in door knob to release door latch. Okanogan County School Retirees Assoc. to Meet Okanogan County School Retirees Association will... Full story