News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Those looking for a good place to create a daycare center should be encouraged and helped to answer this critical, unmet need in the community. To the casual observer, it may sound like a picayune cause over which to get worked up, but in this community it’s actually a critical economic development question, not to mention a potential child safety problem. Not having access to licensed daycare leaves people who might wish to enter the local workforce no option but to stay out, or find a job that pays enough to hire a live-in nanny. That k... Full story
The Spanish teacher at Lake Roosevelt High School, Guillermo Guzman, was arrested Thursday by U.S. Border Patrol agents and Coulee Dam Police on a number of federal charges, and is currently in Okanogan County Jail. Among a list of charges that Police Chief Pat Collins said was expanding: Guzman had used someone else’s Social Security number, wasn’t a citizen, and didn’t have a valid work permit. The arrest was made late afternoon Thursday, and came about after the person whose Social Secur...
Two local residents, Andrea Marconi and Angela Feeley, who appeared a few weeks ago before Grand Coulee’s city council to look into starting a daycare service on Main Street, met the same results again last Tuesday night. They were informed that it took the city two years to get its zoning ordinance in place, and the city wasn’t interested in changing it. The zoning code doesn’t allow a daycare center in the “central commercial” zone. Mayor Chris Christopherson encouraged the two to seek a different location, one zoned for their interests... Full story
Remember the blood draw program at Coulee Medical Center every year during “National Hospital Week?” It’s history. Hospital officials said this week that the blood draw, which can give patients an indication of their health, actually runs counter to the law that governs public hospital districts. That was the message from hospital administrator Scott Graham. “The simple truth is, it has been brought to our attention that state regulations prohibit any sort of reduced fee gifting of services,” CMC’s Chief Executive Officer Scott Graham said... Full story
More than 50 people crowded into the Grand Coulee Library as the NCRL Puppeteers put on a puppet show that captivated kids. The library will host a special musical event next Tuesday. That story is on page 4. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
by Roger S. Lucas Fishing for rainbow trout in Banks Lake is about to get a little bit better. The POWER organization (Promoters of Wildlife & Environmental Resources) plans to release 50,000 rainbow trout into Banks Lake April 20. Carl Russell, spokesman for the group, said that POWER will receive 50,000 more rainbow trout on April 23, and start the process of feeding them and growing them into maturity for future fishing. Fish scheduled for release April 20, were received last Oct. 24. They were then 2 to 3 inches long, and it took 21 of the... Full story
They’re not the Frisbees you’re used to tossing around on Saturdays, but they’re similarly shaped and heavier, and disc golfers will travel to courses set up for playing with them. Disc golf is a growing sport that Josh Rabe thinks would catch on in Grand Coulee and provide an extra activity for tourists. Rabe is proposing to set up a “nine-hole” course around North Dam Park, an idea endorsed by the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District. Rabe met with district commissioners Monday for the second time, and provided them with a cost breakdown... Full story
Officials at Banks Lake Golf Course reported that sometime between last Tuesday and Wednesday nights, someone had entered the course’s golf cart shed and made off with over 100 gallons of both diesel and gas fuel. Orville Scharbach, chairman of the Port District 7 commission that runs the course, said the loss was about $763. The police report stated that entry to the fuel tank wasn’t forced, so it was likely the door was left unlocked or the thief had the combination to the lock. It was reported that locks on the tanks were unlocked from key... Full story
The Regional Board of Mayors met and dismissed their meeting for lack of a quorum Monday afternoon. Only two of the four mayors showed up, Electric City’s Jerry Sands and Elmer City’s Mary Jo Carey. Both Coulee Dam’s Mayor Quincy Snow and Grand Coulee Mayor Chris Christopherson missed the meeting. Those attending did hear reports from the Delano Transfer Station. Grand Coulee produced some 759 tons of material for the transfer station, the leading city in the garbage department. Coulee Dam produced 602 tons of garbage, Electric City, 472 tons... Full story
Colorama buttons go on sale Colorama buttons went on sale last week in a number of places in the coulee. Cost $3. Buying one supports the community’s biggest annual celebration and puts you in position to win a number of good prizes. Buttons are available at the following business locations: The chamber office, the Star Newspaper, the Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union, H&H Grocery, NCNB, Coulee Hardware, Coulee Medical Center, Coulee Playland, Eagles Lodge, Electric City Bar & Grill, Flo’s Cafe, Funzee’s, Grand Coulee Center Lodge, Harvest Foods... Full story
Lou Nevsimal congratulates finishers Sunday of last weekend’s “Are You Tough Enough? Triple Fish Challenge” fishing tournament on Banks Lake. Organized by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce as a way to advertise the year-round availability of fishing on local lakes, the tournament at Coulee Playland Resort challenged anglers to catch three species of fish on each of two days. Predicted bad weather and rough waters combined to limit signups to five boats, so those who braved condi... Full story
The Regional Board of Mayors met and dismissed their meeting for lack of a quorum Monday afternoon. Only two of the four mayors showed up, Electric City’s Jerry Sands and Elmer City’s Mary Jo Carey. Both Coulee Dam’s Mayor Quincy Snow and Grand Coulee Mayor Chris Christopherson missed the meeting. Those attending did hear reports from the Delano Transfer Station. Grand Coulee produced some 759 tons of material for the transfer station, the leading city in the garbage department. Coulee Dam produced 602 tons of garbage, Electric City, 472 tons... Full story
The Colville Tribes will hold their fourth annual Earth Day celebration, Monday, April 22, at the powwow grounds near Nespelem. Joaquine Bustamante, of the tribal recycling program, told the local Rotary Club he’s hoping for some 1,600 participants this year. They had 1,200 last year. Activity will begin at 10 a.m. and run until 1:30 p.m., officials stated. Organizers stated that there will be over 60 informational booths, as well as drumming and dancing. Visitors can stay and enjoy a free hotdog and potato salad lunch. A number of door p... Full story
The Ridge Riders, in their second annual auction and banquet, raised nearly $25,000 to support the various activities planned by the group this year. The auction raised $10,500; contributions for Rodeo Queen Erin Wieldraayer’s activities raised $1,200; and $2,000 was raised toward a new junior rodeo. Monty Fields, vice president of the Ridge Riders, stated that the Colorama Rodeo last year cost the group $20,000, and the bull riding events, $7,000. He said their April 1 banquet and auction w... Full story
Well, once again the Grand Coulee City Hall’s elected officials have proven that they are EXTREMELY effective when it comes to stomping out business in the Grand Coulee area, and not as good when it comes to cultivating an atmosphere for it. Our question to you, Mr. Mayor and the Council Members that have failed to act over the last couple weeks regarding the day care center (whomever you may be, we did hear it wasn’t all of you but complacency isn’t much better in our opinion), why does it take so long to do anything in your city? Why six mont... Full story
When I have a question, I will ask. When I am not given a sensible answer, I read. After quietly listening to a public presentation of the present and clear need for a $6.2 million dollar upgrade to the local Wastewater Treatment Plant in early 2012, I asked how is this going to be funded? A loan, I was told. Why haven’t you applied for any grants? I asked. There are none, was the angry response. How do you know if you haven’t applied, I wondered. The next presentation about a week later was for the $6.2 million dollar project, even though we... Full story
With all the talk about the health care system and its downfalls I would like to make one very big point that everyone seems to be forgetting: that the whole country doesn’t have any money, so how is this plan supposed to help anybody when there are NO funds to supply it? Most of the people that are pushing for the present healthcare system are lacking funds to pay for many medical bills, but the entire country is lacking money for some very important projects like law enforcement and emergency crews. Affordable healthcare for everyone is a v... Full story
Only 30 years ago, crime victims had no rights, access to crime victim compensation, or services to help rebuild their lives. They were often excluded from courtrooms, treated as an afterthought by the criminal justice system, and denied an opportunity to speak at sentencing. Yet through decades of advocacy and hard work, the rights of crime victims have come a long way. Today, all states have enacted crime victims’ rights laws and established crime victim compensation funds. More than 10,000 victim service agencies help victims throughout t... Full story
Many people have come up to me over the last two weeks telling me they agree with consolidation [that the four towns should be joined]. I suspect there are many more of you out there. So let’s rally the troops and talk more about this. As a matter of fact, let’s talk about all the issues in the area. It would be a chance for the citizens of the area to voice their concerns in a public setting. Not in a council meeting or in the grocery store. It would also be a chance for incumbent mayors and... Full story
Martha (Woelk) Glick Stefanik was born on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 1919, to Abraham A. and Anna (Goertz) Woelk on a farm one mile north of Goessel, Kansas, and passed away from natural causes on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at the age of 93. The fourth of eight children and the first to live to be 90, Martha graduated from Rural Gordon School and went on to attend high school in Goessel. When the family moved to Peabody, Kan., the summer after her sophomore year, Martha entered the work world.... Full story
Jean Arlene Nicholson (86) of Electric City, Wash., was born June 10, 1926, in Cathay, N.D., to Hjalmer “Jonie” and Hulda Stokes and passed from this life on Wednesday, Apr. 3, 2013, from Wenatchee, Washington. At eight years of age, Jean moved with her family from North Dakota to Grand Coulee, and graduated from Grand Coulee High School in 1944. In 1946, 20-year-old Jean A. Stokes married the love of her life Jack Nicholson. Moving their growing family from Grand Coulee in 1954, they lived in... Full story
All are invited to a celebration of Lee’s life to be held 1:00 PM on Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at Strate Funeral Chapel in Grand Coulee, WA.... Full story
Graveside services for George “Swede” Walberg will be held Saturday, April 20, 2013, at Spring Canyon Cemetery beginning at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at the Masonic Lodge behind the Coulee Dam Community Church-Presbyterian Swede passed away Dec. 24, 2013.... Full story
Graveside services for Jean Campbell will be held Saturday, April 27, 2013, at Spring Canyon Cemetery at 1 p.m. Dress is casual but the family is wearing pink in her honor. Jean passed away November 14, 2012, in Spokane.... Full story
Senior Meals Wed., Apr. 10 - Dinner Pork Roast, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Betty’s Sauerkraut, Fruit Salad, Birthday Cake. Happy Birthday. Thurs., Apr. 11 - Dinner BBQ Chicken, Twice Baked Potatoes, Cabbage & Pineapple Slaw, Cookie. Fri., Apr. 12 - Breakfast Biscuit and Sausage Gravy, Eggs, Mixed Fruit, Orange Juice. Senior Center General Meeting 10 a.m. Mon., Apr. 15 - Breakfast Bacon, French Toast, Pears, Orange Juice. Tues., Apr. 16 - Dinner Carol’s Pork Chops & Rice, Veggie & Fruit Bar, Cheesy Biscuits, Brownies. Wed., Apr. 17 - Dinner Opa... Full story