News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Political stupidity in Washington, D.C. is about to come down hard on our local area. Some economists argue that the sky will fall because of the “sequester,” a budget cut imposed by Congress and signed by the President in 2011 in a move designed to make such blind, across-the-board cuts so painful that they would never be politically feasible, forcing opposing parties in the nation’s fiscal policy debates to compromise. That was a huge political miscalculation based on the perception that things are as they have ever been. They’re not. Te... Full story
Tours, visitor center hours and laser light show offerings might be curtailed because of budget cuts, officials confirmed this week, but they’re still hoping for a reprieve from the national budget cutback known as “sequestration.” Although tours at Grand Coulee Dam resumed Monday after a normal winter stoppage, a hiring freeze across the Department of Interior has made it impossible to hire the extra help needed to keep operations open all week through the normal tourism season, explained Lynne Brougher, public affairs officer with the Burea... Full story
There is good news and bad news for those who visit the area to see the laser light show. The new show won’t be ready until mid-July. However, the all-new laser equipment will be able to show the old laser show. Until recently that ability was an unanswered question. It all depends on the “sequester” and how that affects staffing the various visitor functions at the Bureau of Reclamation. Nicole Poisson, project manager for LumaLaser of Eugene, Ore., the firm that is developing the new show, said visitors are going to see something outst... Full story
Children race across Ludolph Field at Grand Coulee Dam Middle School Saturday to find Easter Eggs in the Lions Club annual event. The winners who found special eggs are listed on page 2. For more photos see our online gallery at grandcoulee.com. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
The chamber of commerce is sponsoring the “Are You Tough Enough” first annual Banks Lake Triple Fish Challenge, this weekend, April 6 and 7, out of Coulee Playland in Electric City, a major sponsor. The two-day event features a fishing derby for smallmouth bass, walleye, and rainbow trout. Competition is divided into two age categories, 0-14 years of age, and adults. So get out your rod and reel, read up on the contest, and get your 2013 fishing license, so you are all set for the big eve... Full story
Officials from Coulee Dam, Elmer City, Gray & Osborne, the Colville Tribes and Indian Health Services are meeting and moving toward some decisions on proposed wastewater treatment plant work that has been halted by controversy. Larry Holford, town council member at Elmer City, said he was pleased with the cooperative attitude of those attending a meeting last Tuesday. “We need to let the principals get their report together,” Holford stated this week. Holford said that Alex Dailey, an engineer from Indian Health Services, Frank Friedlander fro... Full story
Jim Keene, retired school administrator, was named to the Grant County Port District 7 board of commissioners last Thursday. Keene replaces Jerry Birdwell who resigned last month. Keene will take over his duties when the board meets the last Thursday of April. Keene has been superintendent of schools in the Grand Coulee Dam School District, in Clarkston and in Pendleton before his retirement brought him and his wife back to Delano. Keene has also served as president of the Grand Coulee Dam Rotary Club and is active in a number of local groups.... Full story
Colorama queen sets busy schedule Erin Wieldraayer, the 2013 Colorama queen, has been busy ever since bening named to the position late last year, and she’s taking it seriously. Speaking at the chamber of commerce luncheon last week, the Royal City 18-year-old outlined her plans for traveling on behalf of the Grand Coulee rodeo, naming 13 more rodeos and events she’ll attend from Colville to Colfax, Ritzville to Chelan, even Sedro Wooley, most with her horse, Daisy. She also has her future pre... Full story
Out of hundreds of Easter egg hunters at the Grand Coulee Dam Middle School athletic field Saturday, a lucky dozen found the eggs with extra prizes hidden by the Lions Club. The club hid or handed out about 2,500 plastic eggs. The entire “hunt,” which included four age categories starting at different times, took nine minutes, but friends and family lingered on the field in perfect weather for some time after. From left, the winners were, among 1- to 3-year-olds: 1st, D.J. Wiggins; 2nd, Che... Full story
Work on preparing the old Melody Restaurant for opening has been so extensive that the town of Coulee Dam has given the owner, Juan Moreno another month’s free rent in exchange for an extended contract. City officials pondered another problem at the restaurant site, which is owned by the town, in a 40-year-old, walk-in cooler and a same-age freezer. Public works director Barry Peacock told the council that each unit would cost the city $10,000 or more. Councilmember Bob Poch noted that probably neither unit was energy efficient and that parts t... Full story
Wooden sculptures in Mason City Park will get their final touches as a result of action of the Coulee Dam Town Council last Wednesday night. The sculptures were made from the trunks of two trees that blew over in a wild wind storm last year. The evergreens provided shade for the play and picnic areas in the park. The council voted to let a contract to cut the sculptures loose, and prepare the area around them so they could be bracketed down permanently. The contractor will pour a concrete pad for each of the trees and place crushed rock around... Full story
North Cascades Bancshares, Inc., the parent company of North Cascades National Bank (NCNB) has signed a definitive agreement to merge with Glacier Bancorp of Kalispell, Montana, a news release stated last week. NCNB will be merged into Glacier Bank and operate as a separate bank division doing business under its existing name, officials stated. The NCNB board of directors, management and employees will remain in place under the new ownership. “As part of Glacier Bank, our customers will benefit from an expanded line of service offerings and m... Full story
Coulee Dam may be in line for a grant that would replace all its street lights with energy saving systems. Public works director Barry Peacock told the town council last week that the town is entering phase two in a grant from the Transportation Improvement Board to replace some 300 town street lights with new energy efficient lights, including installation costs. Peacock said the new lights, if the grant progresses, will cut energy costs for the lights by 50 percent. He said the new fixtures cost about $400 each. He said the town was notified... Full story
WSU Extension Diabetes Education classes will be offered in Grand Coulee at the Coulee Medical Center beginning April 18. In partnership with the Coulee Medical Center staff, “On the Road To Living Well With Diabetes” is a series of four lessons presented every other week that promote healthy eating and being active as a way to help people manage their diabetes. This class will compliment information from health care providers. Two class times are being offered. Session one will be offered from 3 to 4:30 p.m.; Session two goes from 6 to 7:3... Full story
The town of Coulee Dam recently held a meeting regarding the problematic sewer treatment plant project. The meeting was closed to the public and the mayor directed that “Greg Wilder was not to be admitted.” When I asked what would happen if I just showed up, I was told that I would be kept away by physical force if necessary. The meeting was held in the basement of Town Hall — tucked away from the eyes and ears of the public. The town schedules these meetings with virtually no meaningful notice, they schedule them on national holidays, and t... Full story
At the Coulee Dam Town Council meeting held on March 27th, Councilperson Bob Poch stated that "we" could not just walk away from $1.5 million on the table from IHS for the proposed Waste Water Treatment Facility and that more and sufficient time is needed for IHS to bring their proposal and requirements for their contribution to the WWTF. Kudos to Mr. Poch for stating the need to move forward with new ideas and alternative plans. Shame, shame, shame on the rest of the council who hung their heads and for not offering a motion or a second on... Full story
This letter is in response to the March 20 Star article about Electric City looking to get rid of its “butt ugly trees.” In the 1980s, there was a consensus of the whole Grand Coulee Dam area community to beautify our area by creating more parks and greenery to soften the plainness and harshness. Project REV was implemented based on that and other mandates in the mid 1980s and the community worked hard to do just that by creating green areas wherever they could. Now our local governments are cutting down beautiful mature trees and soon we... Full story
Due to our projector bulb manufacturer no longer making the type of bulb our projector needs, and the one they sent us being a bad bulb, The Village Cinema will be down for the remainder of April, and possibly May. We are currently waiting for our fundraiser site to be up and running, but until then, we are allowing any donations toward a digital projector. Our down payment HAS TO BE $5,000. As soon as we have that, we can get a BRAND NEW DIGITAL PROJECTOR into our theater. If you are wanting to donate, please contact Don Redfield on Facebook,... Full story
I recently heard a term in passing that immediately piqued my interest. At first I thought it was a made-up psychological disorder or simply a catchy term to describe a growing problem. But after doing a little research, I found that Nature Deficit Disorder is, in fact, a very real condition that can affect our children’s health and future. The term was coined in the 2005 book “Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv and encompasses the growing disconnection the current generation of child... Full story
Raymond Lee Roysdon (Lewis) “Lee” (85) March 6, 1927 - February 8, 2013 All are invited to a celebration of Lee’s life to be held 1:00 p.m., on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at Strate Funeral Chapel in Grand Coulee, WA.... Full story
Mary A. Miller Marchand died in the presence of her family on March 9, 2013; she is now at peace and with the Creator. A member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Mary was born March 21, 1927, and raised on the Iswald Allotment on the Columbia River north of Wenatchee at the town of Azwell. The Iswald Allotment is Moses Columbia Reservation Allotment #20. Mary’s people were from the Wenatchee, Entiat, Chelan, Methow and San Poil Tribes. Mary and her brother, Lewis, were taught the traditional ways by their g... Full story
Lions Club members deliver 466 pounds of food items to the Care and Share Food Bank Friday, purchased with money appropriated in the club's annual budget. From left are Carol Nordine, Nathan Loch and Rob Loch. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
James Curtis Waters, 89, passed away Monday, April 1, 2013. He was born December 2, 1924. A visitation will be held for James Waters from 12:30p.m., to 1:30 p.m., on Saturday, Apr. 6, 2013, at Strate Funeral Chapel of Grand Coulee, Wash., with funeral services to begin afterward at 2 p.m. Graveside services will immediately follow at Spring Canyon Cemetery in Grand Coulee.... Full story
Wed., Apr. 3 - Dinner Jeannie’s Meat Loaf, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Broccoli, Citrus Salad, Maggie’s Chocolate Date Cake. Thurs., Apr. 4 - Dinner Chicken Quesadilla, Spanish Rice, Jay’s Chips & Salsa, Green Salad, Fruit Crisp. Fri., Apr. 5 - Breakfast Bacon and Eggs, Hashbrowns, Cinnamon Rolls, Applesauce, Orange Juice. Mon., Apr. 8 - Breakfast Ham Slice, Eggs, Potato Pancakes, Plums, Orange Juice. Tues., Apr. 9 - Dinner Cheesy Broccoli Soup, Tuna Salad Sandwich, Assorted Fruit & Jello Bar, Ice Cream. Wed., Apr. 10 - Dinner Pork Roast, Mashe...
Karrie Denise Delafield of Electric City is proud to announce the birth of her daughter Zoie Mae Sommers on Monday, March 25, 2013, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 6.5 oz., and was 18 inches in length at birth. Grandmother is Wanda Hauser of Newport, Wash.... Full story