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Articles from the April 8, 2015 edition


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  • Robbery suspect from Coulee Dam dead after tasering

    Scott Hunter|Apr 8, 2015

    A 28-year-old Coulee Dam man died Saturday as he fled from authorities chasing him as a suspect in an armed robbery near Tonasket, the county sheriff said. Okanogan County Sheriff Frank T. Rogers said in a statement Monday that William J. Dick III stopped breathing after being chased and finally brought down by a Taser high-voltage stun device as he and another suspect “bailed out of the vehicle and took off running through the woods” on BIA Road 66 at the north end of the Colville Indian Reservation. At about 9:50 a.m., the sheriff said, a Sag...

  • Rufus Woods get a little lower this weekend

    Scott Hunter|Apr 8, 2015

    Lake Rufus Woods, behind Chief Joseph Dam, will be lowered a little this weekend in preparation for an upcoming bank stabilization project downstream from the Seaton's Grove boat launch. Check out our story at gcdvisitor.com....

  • Eggcitation station

    Apr 8, 2015

    Kids race through the Grand Coulee Dam Lions Club's 79th annual Easter Egg Hunt Saturday at Ludolph Field, which was cleared in under 10 minutes of 2,000 plastic eggs. A photo of the winners of prizes are on page 4. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • Electric co-ops to study merger idea

    Roger S Lucas|Apr 8, 2015

    Nespelem Valley Electric and Inland Power & Light Company have started discussions and a study for a possible merger, Ralph Rise, president of NVE’s board of trustees announced in a press release last week. If discussions and the study are positive, the issue would have to go to members of both cooperatives for a vote. Nespelem Valley Electric Cooperative serves about 1,500 accounts, primarily on the Colville Indian Reservation. Inland Power & Light, based in Spokane, serves some 39,000 customers scattered from the Clarkston-Pomeroy area to W...

  • New deputy power manager announced for Grand Coulee Dam

    Apr 8, 2015

    The Bureau of Reclamation’s Pacific Northwest Region announced that Tim Koczur has been selected as the new deputy power manager at Grand Coulee Dam. Koczur will serve as a member of the management team, providing leadership and direction for the Grand Coulee Power Office, the bureau said in a press release. He assumed his new duties April 5. Koczur has worked for the Bureau of Reclamation for eight years. Since 2011, he has served as the facility manager for seven dams and six power plants along the North Platte River in Wyoming. Prior to m...

  • Car theft suspect won't talk about missing gold coins

    Roger S Lucas|Apr 8, 2015

    Grand Coulee police had a very short conversation last week with the suspect in a case of missing gold coins. Police Chief John Tufts said he went to Ephrata last Thursday to talk with Steven Kiona, 37, who is being held in Grant County Jail on other charges, about 200 one-ounce Krugerrands taken from Dorothy Harris last May. When asked if he would talk with Tufts, Kiona said “no” and refused to talk further. Tufts then went to the prosecutor’s office to talk about the case. Kiona was arrested in Portland recently after allegedly steal...

  • Police interviewing for new sergeant

    Roger S Lucas|Apr 8, 2015

    Sometime in the next couple weeks Grand Coulee will have a new police sergeant. Oral examinations for the sergeant position are scheduled for this Saturday at city hall for three prospective candidates for the job, all current Grand Coulee police officers. Taking part in the administration of oral tests Saturday are officers from the Okanogan and Grant county sheriffs’ departments and an officer from the Okanogan Police Department. The names of the three Grand Coulee officers taking the oral exams will not be released, according to the Civil S...

  • Architectural firm will produce study of school district

    Roger S Lucas|Apr 8, 2015

    Design West, the architectural firm that designed the new schools here, has been hired to do the school district’s “study and survey.” The school study and survey is done every six years and is financed out of a grant from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The cost of the study and survey the last two times it’s been done in the Grand Coulee Dam School District has been $7,441. The grant to pay for the report is based on square footage and other factors, and the exact amount of the grant hasn’t been determined, according...

  • Run The Dam set for May 9

    Apr 8, 2015

    The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce is organizing its "Run The Dam" race for its second year, working hard to make it an annual event that participants can't pass up, organizers said. This year the races on the Saturday of the Colorama festival will be starting with a "wave start" due to a minor course change to keep the runners safety the top priority, said Mandy Button, in charge of the event for the chamber. The half-marathon will start at 7a.m., the 10k at 7:15 and the 5k at 7:30....

  • Be Bear aware this time of year

    Apr 8, 2015

    The Colville Tribes’ Fish and Wildlife (CTFW) Dept. would like to inform the public that bears are coming out of hibernation early this year due to warmer weather and they are hungry, real hungry. Bears have lost much of their body weight and are looking for anything to eat. “When they come out of hibernation they are eating anything that’s edible like lots of green foliage,” said Rick Desautel, CTFW game management specialist. “After they get tired of eating salad, they go out to the meadows looking for fawns but they’ll also get into your g...

  • Time to appreciate our parks

    Scott Hunter|Apr 8, 2015

    Last week, the National Park Service launched a new public relations campaign aimed raising public awareness of the treasures it keeps available for all. The campaign urges folks to “Find Your Park” and is premised on the idea that many people don’t know about relatively local parks managed for their benefit by NPS. Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area is one such park. Remarkably, Lake Roosevelt is coming up on its 70th anniversary in 2016 when the NPS itself will celebrate its centennial. A central feature of the new awareness campa...

  • Re: "They're de-populating Eastern Washington humans" (Letters from Our Readers, 3/25/15)

    Dan Johnson|Apr 8, 2015

    Please Star Newspaper...do some fact checking. Wolves have never been re introduced to our state, and Grizzly Bears won’t stay in the Columbia Basin for too long before they head for the Rocky Mountains. (ps...wolves have returned by migrating from Idaho and Canada) Dan Johnson Editor’s response: The article referenced is not a Star news story, it’s a letter from a reader. We don’t fact check every claim made by readers in letters. So, thanks for providing this information....

  • New rail safety regulations welcome

    Don Brunell|Apr 8, 2015

    North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple has announced new rules that reduce the vapor pressure in oil tanker cars leaving his state’s booming oil patch. The goal is to reduce the risk of fiery explosions like the one that killed 47 people in Lac-Megantic, Quebec in July 2013. In separate efforts, Congress is beefing up safety standards for oil tank cars and the White House is calling for increased rail inspections and slower speeds for oil trains traveling through populated areas. Meanwhile, the Washington legislature is working to tighten r...

  • Easter Revelations

    Jesse Utz|Apr 8, 2015

    This past weekend and the week leading up to Easter was a revealing week for me. My wife and I took part in some long lasting traditions that have been around for thousands of years. All were eye opening and shined a spotlight on my past mistakes, my current situation and my future. No I was not sitting in front of a crystal ball, nor was I having some kind of Scrooge moment. I was just listening and seeing what was right in front of me. Let me explain. First, I must tell you that not everyone will understand these events that I will briefly...

  • Sixty-five Years Ago

    Apr 8, 2015

    This photograph, taken from the intersection of First Street and Ickes Avenue, looks to the northeast, a part of the area to be developed as an extension to the Right 230-kv Switchyard. First Street is to th right, Ickes Avenue enters from the left. The contractor has removed all the trees along First Steet, preparatory to moving out of the temporary type "A" houses. Contractor: Mk-Pk, Specifications No 2933 - April 26, 1950...

  • Ethel Jean Hale

    Apr 8, 2015

    Passed away on Friday, March 27, 2015, at Hospice of Spokane Hospice House. She was born on September 29, 1930, in Aberdeen, Wash., to Nick and Reatha Ruotsala. Ethel graduated from Hoquiam High School and earned her associates degree at Aberdeen College. She went on to marry Charles W. Hale in 1953, in Everett, Wash., with whom she had 3 children. Ethel was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi since 1973 in both Marysville, Wash., and Grand Coulee. She was also very active in the Democratic...

  • They're all winners

    Apr 8, 2015

    The prize winners from the Grand Coulee Dam Lions Club's 79th annual Easter Egg Hunt last Saturday at Ludolph Field, from left, are Elisha Sharr, Vernon George, Maci Greer, Paris Figueroa, Brooklyn Marchand, Solomon Harris, Celeste LaPlace, Kendra Jimenez, Tranice Cruthcher, Kadynce Clark, Jose Gutierrez and Kinley Duclos. - Rich Avey photo...

  • Rural Pathways to Prosperity Conference: Small business is everybody's business

    Apr 8, 2015

    [Nespelem, WA] – On April 17 a day will be held of inspiration, learning and regional networking to create jobs, improve the economy, add value toexisting rural businesses, encourage new entrepreneurs and engage with a national expert... without leaving your community. Twenty sites across rural Washington will watch Erik Pages, on a webinar with the opportunity to ask questions. After his presentation, each site will put his ideas into action through organized activities, turning their attention to local issues, resources and project ideas. T...

  • Martha A Jackson

    Apr 8, 2015

    Martha A Jackson, who was born April 20,1926, passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2015. She was living at Rockwood Retirement Community in Spokane Washington. Services were held at Rockwood on Sunday March 29. She is survived by her husband, Lynn; four children: Katy, Marilyn, Brian and Jolene. There are 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grand children. She is sorely missed by family and a host of friends....

  • Meetings and Notices

    Apr 8, 2015

    Chamber To Meet The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet at the Melody Restaurant in Coulee Dam on Thursday, April 9, at noon. Guest speakers will be Teresa Boyer and Deb Dzuck from the WSU Foundation. They will be talking about Estate Planning. CMC Guild to Meet Coulee Medical Center Guild will hold its meeting Monday, April 13, at noon at the hospital. Come early for lunch. Memberhsip dues are only $5. Please join us. Guild meetings are the second Monday of the month. Care and Share Food Bank The food bank at the Church of the...

  • Pakootas has a girl

    Apr 8, 2015

    Jamie L. Pakootas of Nespelem, is proud to announce the birth of her daughter Mary Ernestine George on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 8 lbs., 1 oz., and was 21-1/2 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandparents are Mary E. Adolph and Philip S. Pakootas....

  • It's a boy for the Carsons

    Apr 8, 2015

    Donita and John Carson of Grand Coulee are proud to announce the birth of their son Corby Lee Carson, born Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 9.49 lbs., and was 21 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Alexus Hoffman 14, Annika Carson 6 and John Carson 4. Maternal grandparents are Teresa Whitney and Donnie Swan. Paternal grandparents are Teresa Whitney and Donnie Swan. Paternal grandparents are Clara Carson and Ronald Carson. Great-grandparents include Terrance Whitney and Maxine Whitney, Corby...

  • Senior Menu

    Apr 8, 2015

    Wed.,April 8 – Dinner Hamburger Steak with Onions, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Pea Salad, Fruit Salad, Cookies Thurs., April 9 – Dinner Chicken & Dumplings, Mixed Vegetables, Green Salad, Fruited Jello, Cook’s Choice Dessert. Fri., April 10 – Breakfast Biscuit & Sausage Gravy, Eggs, Fruit Bowl, orange Juice. Senior Center General Meeting 10 a.m. Mon, April 13 – Breakfast Sausage Links and Eggs, Hashbrowns, Toast, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice. Tues., April 14 – Easter Dinner Salmon, Baked Potatoes, Green Salad, Strawberry Cheesecake.Red Potatoes, C...

  • Lady Raiders hit rough stretch

    John R. McNeil II|Apr 8, 2015

    Last week was rough for the Lady Raiders, who took on the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors March 31 and the Brewster Bears on Saturday. Both very successful teams proved to be a handful for Lake Roosevelt. "They had a tough week," Head Coach Jamie Lezard said. "Once it was over they had a tough time bouncing back up." The Warriors defeated the Lady Raiders at Grand Coulee in the first game 21-2. LR had 10 hits in the first game, along with five stolen bases and five errors. LR left seven runs on...

  • Raiders defeat Warriors

    John McNeil II|Apr 8, 2015

    The Lake Roosevelt Raiders defeated the Warriors of Almira/Coulee-Hartline twice on March 31 at Greene Field in Coulee Dam. In the first game, the Raiders 10-runned the Warriors to win early by the mercy rule. But in the second game, the Raiders found themselves down 10 runs with time running out. LR rallied back with a nine-run fifth inning to make the score 15-14. Then in the bottom of the sixth, the go-ahead run came home for LR to take the lead and hold on to it for a 16-15 victory. “I was proud of the Raiders for coming back in our s...

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