News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Two lucky ospreys in Coulee Dam moved up to a new high rise apartment last Friday. Now you will see them, about two flaps of the wing north, sitting atop a 115-foot pole overlooking their favorite fishing grounds below Grand Coulee Dam. Their former home was atop the steel transmission tower, now removed, that anchored the end of the park below the Visitor Center. While it was new digs for the ospreys, the apartment was familiar. Bonneville Power Administration had Wilson Construction carefully... Full story
A man who has had a running battle with the town of Coulee Dam over water charges, appeared last Thursday at Elmer City’s town council, charging that the town there is being overcharged by Coulee Dam for its sewer service. Greg Wilder brought agreement documents between the two towns and took issue with the way Coulee Dam is drafting its sewer charges, maintaining that Elmer City’s quarterly bill is 25 percent higher than it should be. Wilder said this has been going on for the past 10 years or more. Wilder told town officials that they sho... Full story
The hunt is still on for $14 million for the proposed new school complex. The announcement last week that the Grand Coulee Dam School District is getting $17 million from the the state Legislature to build new schools isn’t the end of the effort, but another beginning. When the K-12 school complex was planned, the estimated cost was $46 million. The $17 million approved in the state’s capital budget last week, added to $14 million the district already had is “enough to build the educational portion of the project,” district Superintendent Denni... Full story
Bradley dies in wreck Fomer Okanogan County Clerk Jackie Bradley died Monday when the car she was driving rolled over about 11 miles east of Twisp on SR 20. The 73-year-old, who remained active in the county Democratic Party, was headed east in her 1997 Lincoln Continental when it left the roadway to the right and rolled upside down, a Washington State Patrol report states. Spring cleanup Spring cleanup is next week. Be sure to contact your respective city hall to see how the spring cleanup is scheduled in your town. The cleanup dates, April 21... Full story
by Roger S. Lucas The Grand Coulee Dam School District is on its way to finding out why so many students and staff at Center Elementary School are complaining about bad air quality and its effects. Staff concerns were expressed at a recent school board meeting, and a study of air quality is underway. Superintendent Dennis Carlson said Fulcrum, Inc., from Spokane, an air quality firm, plans to place air monitoring equipment in the school to test the air quality 24 hours a day for a month. Carlson stated that preliminary indications are that air... Full story
Banks Lake Golf Course’s membership drive has been highly successful, Port District 7 Chairman Orville Scharbach said Monday. Current memberships stand at 52, and the course operations are moving forward, Scharbach stated. The golf course came under control of the port commission April 1 after operators of the course walked away from it. Port district officials moved quickly to encourage golfers to return and take out memberships by reducing fees by half. An individual memberships is now $400 compared to $750 a year ago. Some 39 golfers were tr... Full story
The public is invited to the Colville Tribal “Earth Day” celebration, Friday, April 20, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Indian Agency powwow grounds. Organizers were hoping for over a thousand people turning out to take part in activities and visiting displays and information booths. Joaquin Bustamante said that last year about 600 attended the event and that he has been working to expand activities and increase attendance. “We have over 50 booths scheduled and many of those will be giving away... Full story
Councilmember Birdie Hensley voted in protest last week for Electric City to move forward and pay a $24 attorney bill. She said the 0.2 hour portion of City Attorney Katherine Kennison’s bill was a problem for her. Hensley told the city council that she had taken papers down to the attorney’s office in Ephrata to be signed, but Kennison wasn’t there. Hensley said she had other business in Moses Lake, so had to leave, then return to Ephrata to get the city paper work done. Hensley said that Kennison said she would be in the office before 8:30 a.... Full story
Electric City’s council retreat inched a bit closer to home Tuesday night when members voted to hold the six-hour meeting in Ephrata instead of Moses Lake. What swayed council members was that City Clerk Jackie Perman found a free room at the Grant County Health Board. The city would have had to pay for a room at Big Bend Community College, but the Health Board room is free. It wasn’t exactly clear why the council wanted to meet out of town. About the only item for the agenda that cropped up was one suggested by Councilmember John Nordine. He... Full story
A project to improve the pump-generator plant at Grand Coulee Dam will have no significant impact on the environment — or on the local school district, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation states in a formal paper. The Bureau released its Finding of No Significant Impact and Final Environmental Assessment for the proposed John W. Keys, III Pump Generating Plant Modernization Project on April 12. The Grand Coulee Dam School District had objected to not being notified and asked for input on the project, contending it could significantly impact d... Full story
About 70 firemen from throughout the area spent Wednesday and Thursday evenings last week taking wildfire training at Electric City’s fire hall. Firemen who go out on range fires need eight hours of training each year to retain their fire cards. — Roger S. Lucas photo... Full story
A five-month investigation conducted by the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force resulted in 10 arrests last week. During the investigation the NCWNTF purchased methamphetamine, marijuana and oxycodone, Okanogan County Sheriff Frank T. Rogers stated Thursday. Cash, vehicles, along with suspected marijuana, methamphetamine, prescription pills, paraphernalia, a gun and ammunition were seized. Warrants and arrests began the night of April 12, with two additional arrest coming the next morning. Agencies who participated in the service of... Full story
Our community is all abuzz with the news that a new school is funded. People from all walks — young parents, elderly without kids, business people, kids in schools, teachers, laborers of all sorts — get an excited gleam in the eye, and even a few tears welling in the eyes sometimes when they bring up the news. And we should be excited. The state’s decision, spearheaded by your 12th Legislative District Senator Linda Evans Parlette, may even be unprece-dented. The state normally offers a match to communities that can raise enough through prope... Full story
At the city council meeting on April 10, they talked about going to this retreat in Moses Lake and what would be discussed. One of the topics was mayor/council members’ roles and responsibilities. I am pleased to hear that they are seeking this out. Once this is done maybe they can look back at actions taken over the last few years and revise some of them to make it right for all citizens of Electric City. As citizens, our duties are to be involved and go to meetings to insure our mayor and council are doing right by us. If they are i... Full story
I have a few concerns; one, let’s just start at this neighborhood clean up. The town that I live in is close to lakes and mountains for great recreation sports. So I do have these toys she complains about – motorcycles, boat, camp trailers, snowmobiles with etc … I live in the country. If she hasn’t noticed the economy is hard right now so people do what they can do to recycle and to make an income. Which I think is great; we’re cleaning up all the time. Where do you think it comes from? All over town, buried from old jobs that were done or a... Full story
Our hospital auxiliary guild with the help of Loepp Furniture provided a glide-rocker for our new lactating room. We have also joined with the hospital to provide a piano for the long-term-care activity room. Stop by and see or ask to play it for entertainment when you can. Thank you to our firemen who helped to move the piano – Gary Carriere, Ryan Fish, Ben Alling and Rick Paris. We also purchased two extra beds for families to stay over with our patients. Thanks to SaDonna Heathman for collecting more money for our baby packets and to all t... Full story
I would like to give an update on my reports of BULLYING occurring in GCDSD schools and my lack of support from school administration to address the ongoing problem or even return my numerous calls and emails. I met with Dennis Carlson, superintendent, on Tuesday, March 13, with my concerns about the safety and wellbeing of my son (and others) and lack of response to my concerns by Lisa Lakin, principal of the middle school. Dr. Carlson was receptive to hearing my needs and stated he would follow up on my issues. Dr. Carlson called me on... Full story
This weekend we celebrate Earth Day. This one day provides an opportunity for the nation to pause and reflect upon the environment. As customers of Grant PUD, your impact is relatively low thanks to the clean, renewable hydropower that energizes the county’s homes, businesses and farms. For nearly 75 years, Grant PUD has been committed to our community and the environment. It is our goal to provide you with clean energy for the future at the lowest possible cost. We are honored to be an integral part of Grant County, and are proud of the w... Full story
Ten Years Ago To balance its budget, Elmer City will lay off one town employee. Elmer City Mayor Paul Tillman said at the Elmer City council meeting last Thursday that he will lay off assistant town clerk Lindy Starr. The savings will help make up $11,131 a state auditor said must be paid back to a bond redemption fund. An A.E. Wright Elementary student took it upon herself to try and resurrect the issue of Coulee Dam’s swimming pool last week. Fourth grade student Sadie Miller went to the Coulee Dam Town Council meeting last Wednesday to a... Full story
On a playground recently I watched a little boy pick up an acorn and impressively chuck it clear across the swing set. He was a little kid, but his throw had major-league heft. A couple of the dads chuckled. “Hey,” said one, “nice arm. He’ll probably be a baseball player.” In my observation, this kind of statement was not an isolated comment. I’ve heard parents everywhere attribute some current action or personality trait to some fantastic arc for their child’s future. My niece is tall, so she... Full story
Piano pupils of Bonnie Wendt will be presented in recital Sunday, April 22, at 2 p.m. at the Coulee Dam Community Church-Presbyterian U.S.A., 509 Central Drive. Certificates, pins and report cards will be awarded to students who were adjudicated in National-Piano-Playing Auditions recently at Whitworth College in Spokane. Kelsie Olbricht will receive local honors for playing three memorized pieces. District awards will be given to Tanya Ang, Ellie Hansen, Maeha Piturachsatit and Areielle White for performing six memorized pieces. National... Full story
Steven and Rebekah Moore are pleased to announce the birth of their second child, a boy. Graham Randal Moore was born four weeks early on Saturday, March 3,2012. He weighed 7 lbs., 4 oz. and was 18” long. Waiting at home was his three -year=old sister Stephanie and paternal grandmother Barb Graham of Chicago,Ill. Maternal grandparents are Mark and Stephanie Graves of Grand Coulee. The Moores make their home in Chicago ,Il where Steven is stationed with the U.S.Navy as a recruiter.... Full story
Jen McQuown and Devin Adams of St. Regis., Mont., are proud to announce the birth of their son Patrick David Adams on Sunday, April 1, 2012. He weighed 6 lbs., 12 oz., and was 20-1/2 inches in length at birth. Paternal grandparents are Luana and Keith Young of Electric City. Maternal grandparents are Kathy McQuown and Pat Cunningham of Grand Coulee.... Full story
Chamber to Meet The Chamber of Commerce will meet at noon on Thursday, April 19, at Pepper Jack’s Bar and Grille. On the agenda is Colorama. Lincoln County Fire Dist. 9 to Meet Lincoln County Fire District 9 will hold its regular meeting on Thursday, April 26, at 6 p.m. at the Nazarene Church outside of Grand Coulee on hwy 174. CMC Hospital Guild to Meet The Coulee Medical Center Hospital Guild will meet Thursday, April 19, at the Melody Restaurant in Coulee Dam. A no host luncheon begins at 11 a.m. and the meeting will follow from noon - 1 p... Full story
Silver Creek Systems, LLC recently received the Horizon Award from heating and air conditioning manufacturer Trane for sales excellence and the best sales growth in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. The company with four workers — including owners Calib and Ashley Ross and employees Marion Ross and Terry Lewandowski — serves the Grand Coulee Dam area, Coulee City, Hartline, Almira, Wilbur and up to Seven Bays. They have been in business one year today. “We had to be over $100,000 in Trane equipment sales to be eligible,” explain... Full story