News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Grand Coulee Dam School District passed its four-year school levy with a whopping 65-percent approval from the four-county area, Tuesday’s results showed. It caused Karen Depew, who chairs the Citizens for Quality Education committee, to say, “Way to go.” Superintendent Dennis Carlson could not be reached for comment Tuesday night. The total vote was 591 yes votes with 325 no votes. Voters approved a four-year $1.13 million replacement levy which will begin in 2016. Voters apparently appreciated the fact that in most cases their school taxes... Full story
To school officials here, and throughout the state, Initiative 1351, passed by voters in November, is just another financial unfunded nightmare. The initiative calls for smaller class sizes, an idea that normally would receive little argument. However, there is no provision for funding. The Legislature, now in session, is faced with the task of funding the number of additional teachers and aides required in smaller classroom sizes, plus classroom space. Locally, Superintendent Dennis Carlson... Full story
By a narrow 3-2 vote, the Grand Coulee City Council refused to pay back a building permit fee to Mike Horne, who wanted to move his automotive business to a new location earlier this winter. The permit fee of $650.06 was only a small portion of what it cost Horne told the city council last Tuesday night. Horne said he had taken out a loan and had attorney fees of his own, in the amount of about $5,000. In an earlier discussion, the council decided not to reimburse Horne for the permit fee, and last Tuesday night he appeared before the council... Full story
The dream of a community swimming pool and wellness center is due for a visible rendering, which architects started to get a feel for Tuesday morning in a field of weeds. In January, the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District awarded the job of helping the community see what could be to NAC Architecture of Spokane. NAC's Keith Comes and Ryan Palmquist met with district commissioners Bob Valen and Phil Hansen Tuesday. They toured two possible sites for a "wellness center" - the old Grand... Full story
Newspaper to close Monday The Star newspaper will be closed Monday, Feb. 16, in observance of the Presidents Day holiday. The deadline for advertising and news is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13. The Star office will open at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17. Valentines breakfast planned The Coulee Dam Lions Club will host its 20th annual Valentine’s Day breakfast at the Senior Center from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 14. Pancakes, eggs, sausage and ham are on the menu. Cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children 6-10 years old, and $20 for a family. Tourism g... Full story
Quincy Williams, a sophomore at Lake Roosevelt High School, watches Friday as a 3D printer he programmed builds up a personal name tag with his basketball jersey number on it. The printer, which applies layers of cornstarch-based plastics to make objects, is among several fabrication and design instruments at the school. It was used to make the homecoming crowns last fall. The Grand Coulee Public Library will hold a training for such 3D printers on Thursday, Feb. 12 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Space is... Full story
Electric City is starting a process that could lead to the building of a pedestrian pathway along SR-155, using hotel/motel tax money. Council members have long hinted that the city would like to do a major tourism project using some $280,000 held in its hotel/motel reserve fund. Councilman Brad Parrish talked about the project at Tuesday night’s council meeting. The proposed pathway would go from Coulee Playland to the Causeway and connect with all three firms that develop hotel/motel tax monies, Sunbanks Resort, Skydeck Motel and Coulee P... Full story
Coulee Dam is getting closer to selecting its third police officer. Police Chief Pat Collins and Sgt. Larry Hall have handled law enforcement duties for over a year while waiting for the civil service commissioners to be named and to organize. The town’s Civil Service Commission has forwarded two names to Collins, who said Monday that he plans to conduct an interview with the second candidate soon. After that process is complete, Collins will select the department’s third officer. However, there won’t be much relief in sight since that candi... Full story
Grand Coulee’s volunteer fire chief, Richard Paris, has asked the council to give him authority to sign an interlocal purchasing agreement with Snohomish County Fire District 3, so Grand Coulee could “piggy-back” with that agency in the purchase of a new ambulance. Paris said the city has enough in its fire department equipment reserve fund for the purchase and that he had placed a $160,000 request in the 2015 budget, which was approved by the council. Paris said that piggy-backing with another agency that has already gone through the effor... Full story
Several bills before the Legislature this session all seek to weaken in some way the state’s model Public Records Act, and therefore, the entire state. One of the most egregious, HB 1349, is scheduled for a hearing Thursday afternoon before the House of Representatives’ State Government Committee, on which 12th District Rep. Brad Hawkins sits. The bill purportedly seeks to protect corrections workers, but does so in a way that would basically make the state’s Public Records Act ineffective for many legitimate and beneficial uses, inclu... Full story
This has been a pretty fun subject for our family in the last week. Since Jesse and I met, music has always been a subject, a game and just what we do. So, since he’s asking for input and not just (Jess) saying, I thought I’d share some of my influences. Although, it’s too hard to limit to just bands, so I’ve got to include artists. My family definitely influenced my likes, but I’ve always been a little rebellious and went out on my own limb. My first love was Charlie Rich. I remember arguing with my aunt, cousin and mom about how he was so muc... Full story
Yes, at the March 6, 2013 Colville Tribal Council Management and Budget Committee Meeting, where Committee Chair Billy Nicholson held court and Mike Finley, Council Chair, sat next to, and huddled with, Billy, censorship was far beyond them saying (paraphrase) “People don’t want to read these opinions.” It’s important to review this because of the Council’s stated motives for censorship. The first cause for censorship of Letters To The Editor (in the Tribal Tribune) that came out of the Clowncil’s collective mouth was, “It’s too expensive,... Full story
I recently had the honor of being invited to a party for a man that has strong roots in our community. This column could have easily been called “Past Gems in the Coulee” or “Where are these Gems now” but this man is much more than a part of our past around here. Gary Kuiper is still as relevant today as he was years ago. It became apparent very quickly listening to the people from all generations and parts of Gary’s life that he has influenced a lot of folks all around this big country of ours. His seven kids told stories of their adventure... Full story
1 years ago Information released by the town of Coulee Dam under the state Public Records Act, indicates Clark Slattery has received a settlement of $13,472.23 for almost 30 year of double billing on his monthly electric bill at his home on River Drive. The town’s June, 2004 audit of residential electrical meters, showed Slattery had been double paying based on an 80 multiplier instead of 40, despite his complaints about the high bills as far back as 1977; he was told by the town clerk at the time that he just had a big house. Later, he had h... Full story
No Noon Chamber Meeting, Banquet Instead The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will not meet this Thursday at noon due to the Installation and Awards Banquet being held at 6 p.m. at Pepper Jack’s Bar & Grille. Tax Forms Available For those needing 1040 forms and instruction books, they can be picked up at the Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center on Main Street in Grand Coulee. Mid-Columbia Basin Hay Growers Assoc. Hay Meeting The Mid-Columbia Basin Hay Growers Association Annual Meeting will be held Wednesday, Feb. 18 from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p... Full story
An ongoing Sally Ward art exhibit and sale at RockWall Cellars to benefit the Okanogan County Historical Society is bringing Sally Ward art owners out of the woodwork. Ward lived in Omak from 1952 to 1974. The show runs through March with a special event on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the winery with a short program and complimentary hors’d’oeuvres. Winter hours at RockWall Cellars are Thursdays through Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. The exhibit and sale features 10 watercolors and one oil painting. A catalogue depicting each pie... Full story
Architect Keith Comes draws red lines on an aerial photo of the lot across SR 174 from Coulee Medical Center, indicating possible positioning of a future community wellness center. His firm, NAC Architectural, was awarded a contract by the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District to draw plans. The full story is on the front page. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Christina Chuweah and David Dick of Nespelem are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Kloey Mabel Dick, born Friday, January 16, 2015, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 8 lbs., 12 oz., and was 20-5 inches in length.... Full story
Annette Timentwa and Calem Louie of Nespelem are proud to announce the birth of their son Sneekthlca Sqis Louie-Timentwa, born Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 7 lb., 5 oz., and was 19 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandparents are Annie Timentwa of Nespelem and Matthew Ives of Suquamish, Wash. Paternal grandparents are Mayselle Sandaine of Omak and Noel Louie of Omak. Great-grandparents are Francis Timentwa and Angie Timentwa.... Full story
Cassandra and Kyle Graves of Coulee Dam are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Chaylee Jordan Noel Graves, born Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Wash. She weighed 7 lbs., and was 19.5 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Kadin age 5 and Kolby age 2-1/2. Paternal grandparents are Nikki and Steve Graves of Grand Coulee.... Full story
Jenna Sattler and Brewster Handley of Wilbur are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Isabel Rochelle Handley born Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 6 lbs., 6 oz., and was 19 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Timothy Welch and Joseph Hoover. Maternal grandmother is Laura Wendling. Paternal grandmother is Annette Marz.... Full story
Ashley Zacherle and Justus Caudell of Wilbur are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Gracyn Raine Caudell, born Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 8 lbs., 6 oz., and was 21 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Rockise Timentwa and Hartlyn Caudell. Maternal grandparents are Jackie Marchand, Inchelium and Gerald Zacherle of Disautel. Paternal grandparents are Deb Caudell of Keller and Gregg Caudell of West Fork.... Full story
Lake Roosevelt Schools are beginning to implement new security protocols, despite a few grumbles from parents. The inside front entrance doors are locked and must be opened with an electronic switch from the office as visitors enter. Signs on the elementary school doors announce the change, which has yet to consistently applied. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
The Lady Raiders finished the 2014-15 regular basketball season with an 11-3 win-loss record in Central Washington 2B North, and a 12-8 overall record. With the second-place finish, the Lady Raiders advance to the district tournament, playing Kittitas at 6:45 p.m. tonight at Eastmont Junior High. If LR wins, they advance to play the winner of Brewster/Mabton at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Eastmont High School. If the Lady Raiders lose tonight, they will play the loser of Brewster/Mabton at Eastmont Junior High, again on Saturday, at 4:30 p.m. In the... Full story
Octavio Alejandre, Oscar Pakootas, and Jacob Smith all advanced from the sub-regional wrestling meet in Oroville to the regional competition after placing in the top four at Oroville last Saturday. The regional meet will be held at Northwest Christian High School in North Spokane Saturday starting at 10 a.m. The meet this year is only a one-day event rather than two. “We faced the toughest competition of the season at sub regionals,” commented Coach Steve Hood. “Now we are preparing to face even tougher competition Saturday at regionals becau... Full story
