News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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The massacre of 17 students and staff at a high school in Florida on Valentine’s Day wasn’t far from everyone’s mind when school safety became a topic at Monday night’s school board meeting in Coulee Dam. The issue of guns in schools occupied about 15 minutes of the meeting as members of the Grand Coulee Dam School District Board of Directors took the opportunity to share their thinking regarding the idea of arming teachers in local schools. School board Chair Joette Barry said Tuesday that arming teachers is not just a board issue, but it...
Having been lowered to the base of Drum Gate 2 atop Grand Coulee Dam, workers tethered to safety lines continue the work of installing temporary catwalks, like the one to the right, which will be used by workers for maintenance on the drum gates beginning March 12. - Scott Hunter photo...
Hires noted The school board made three hires and accepted one resignation at its meeting Monday night. Resigning was Gary Darnold, who will retire this year after spending his entire teaching career of 42 years in the Grand Coulee Dam School District. In his letter to the board, Darnold stated that in all his 42 years he couldn’t recall ever having a bad week. Hires included Jennifer Miley as an eight-hour-a-day custodian. She had been active as a custodian, but not in an eight-hour shift. Also hired by the board were Christopher Wonch as a fo...
Following last week’s rapid-fire vote on a bill to exempt the Legislature from state public records laws, lawmakers are going into damage control with public backlash mounting. The bill, SB 6617, explicitly exempts lawmakers from the state’s Public Records Act, and applies immediately and retroactively — meaning that existing records going back to statehood would be off limits to disclosure requests. The legislation allows disclosure of lawmakers’ calendars and communications with registered lobbyists, but only documents created after July 1,...
Grand Coulee police arrested two people and recovered a stolen vehicle at the same time when they went to a Grand Coulee apartment on Feb. 17. Arrested were Cassandra L. Graves, 27, a Grand Coulee resident, and Larry E. Fry, 19, from Nespelem. Both had Department of Corrections warrants out for them. Police officer Levi Johnson had been looking for Graves and was advised that she was at an apartment over Pepper Jack’s Bar and Grille. Johnson went to that location, along with Officer Joe Higgs. A blue Chevrolet pickup truck parked alongside t...
"Welcome Home, Champs!" read the banner across Spokane Way as the team returned home. The Grand Coulee Tigers basketball team defeated the Ilwaco Fishermen for the 1960 Class B State Basketball Championship at the Spokane Coliseum, 56-54. New coach that year was Jim Savitz, and team members were Don Kurth, Bob Pachosa, Wayne Snyder, Ken Hoke, Ben Flowers, Ray Rice, Terry Mort, Mark Rauch, Bill Trefry, and Jim Green. "It was fantastic; there wasn't a soul left in town," Rice said recently about...
Public Service Employees union president Aaron Derr asked the school board Monday night, “Where’s the plan?” He reminded school board members that when he and about 40 PSE members complained about the level of support on discipline matters last November, they were told that they would receive a plan of improvement from the board within 60 days. “We have not seen or heard” of such a plan, Derr said with a prepared statement. He said that it appeared to union membership that the district was being more reactive than proactive in matters o...
The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce held their annual Installation Banquet on Monday at the Melody restaurant, presenting awards to the "Business of the Year" and "Achiever of the Year" for 2017. Lynda Anderson, secretary for the chamber, presented the award for Business of the Year to Jess Ford. "I've been astounded to watch the support that's come out of this year's business of the year. It's been very good for the chamber, and we're glad to have that kind of relationship," Anderson...
With less than two weeks left in the session, state lawmakers introduced a new bill in response to the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida. SB 6620, and its companion in the House, HB 3004, introduced Friday, Feb. 23, would create a mechanism for students to report dangerous behavior and would require the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to allocate grants to school districts to implement emergency response systems. It also raises the age to purchase an assault rifle from 18 to 21. The Parkland shooter was reported to be...
The way they passed it says it all. With almost no public input or notice, the Washington State Legislature last week passed a bill to exempt itself from a law the citizens of the state decided decades ago should apply to all public agencies: the Public Records Act. The legislators who represent you voted for it too, if you live anywhere around the Grand Coulee Dam area. The bill they passed came in response to a lawsuit the Legislature was losing. Last month a Thurston County Superior Court judge ruled that the state’s lawmakers are, in fact,... Full story
We want to make sure the residents of Electric City are aware that our City Council will be considering a new City Ordinance that would allow short-term rentals (STR) in all residential areas across the City. Short term rentals, sometimes called “vacation rental by owner” (VRBO), allow property owners to rent a residence for a period less than 30 days. If approved, this change would allow property owners to turn the house next door to you into a defacto motel, and in effect turn your residential neighborhoods into business districts. Over six...
February 23, 2018, the Washington Legislature decided they did not have to abide by the state’s voter-approved Public Records Act, which requires, with subsequent judicial rulings, that state officials disclose their records. The Feb. 24, 2018, Seattle Times article, “Records secrecy slam-dunk” has more details. This action was not legislative business as usual, with hearings, floor debates, negotiations and then a proposed bill. No normal procedures were followed. Both legislative bodies sidestepped their rules. Rejecting the Public Discl...
In my last utility bill, I received a new notice of my/our garbage rate change — set for April 1st, 2018. The city did not advertise, nor include the notice, for indigent (low-income) discounts and that will impact on them too. Although we only have 32 low-income citizens, I’m certain that they count their pennies. Be it the mayor or the council quorum, adding more costs to those in need was an unnecessary demonstration of ignorance by targeting the indigent, the elderly, and the infirm. Has anyone really calculated this (in)significant imp...
Carole Schroeder, in the letter to the editor, stated how much money has been donated to Republicans in Washington from 2006 thru 2017. Well, let me educate you: the NRA is small potatoes when it comes to supporting political parties. The NRA from 1997 thru 2016 has spent on political causes just under $20 million. That is $20 million in almost 20 years. In comparison, the labor unions in 2016 alone spent $1.7 billion; 87 percent went to Democratic causes and political candidates. The unions spent $1.7 billion in one year, so tell me who the...
Sometimes I take a look at this world we live in and just shake my head. It feels like we are living in a big movie script and the actors and actresses just keep stirring the plot. Government divided nations on the brink, terrorists everywhere, and school shootings make all Americans and citizens of the world just dumbfounded at what we are becoming as a nation. Not to mention those elite services we have relied on for so long in this country are not immune to society’s indiscretions. We b...
Bridget Ann Boyd. 38, of Nespelem, Washington, left us unexpectedly Thursday, February 15, 2018. Born Friday, August 3, 1979, into the home of Wayne E. and Cindy F. Fulgham-Boyd, Bridget attended Lake Roosevelt High School, where she played basketball and graduated in 1996. She worked as an office administrator with the Colville Confederated Tribes and at times served patrons at her uncle's business, the "Ketch Pen Tavern" as bartender. In her spare time, Bridget was a member of the Women's... Full story
There will be a meeting to reorganize both the Coulee Pioneer Museum and Them Dam Writers at 1:30 p.m., Monday, March 5, at the art room on Federal Avenue, above the Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center. Birdie Hensley, who started the museum in 2011, said this week that she would like to develop an active museum board and be able to systematically open the Electric City facility one or two days a week. The building, loaned to the museum by owner A. J. Gerard, holds documents and displays collected and developed by Hensley and a few others. Hensley...
A Nespelem man wanted on several arrest warrants was finally captured last Saturday after a foot chase in Electric City and taken to Grant County jail. Arrested was Amos M. Staggs, 23, wanted on a felony warrant and two misdemeanor warrants. Staggs is also facing new charges of escape, obstructing a police officer, resisting arrest and criminal trespass. Police officer Levi Johnson saw Staggs standing outside Banks Lake Pub Saturday afternoon and told him he was under arrest. That’s when Staggs took off running, in spite of repeated s...
No Chamber This Week The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will not meet this week. Meetings will resume at on Thursday, March 8, at noon at the Melody Restaurant. Coulee Creators Meet on Tuesdays Coulee Creators meet at 412 Federal Ave. Room 207, Grand Coulee. Contact Marlene Oddie at KISSed Quilts or 509-386-5715 for further details. Hours are normally Tuesdays 1-4 p.m. AA Meetings for GCD and Nespelem Area Confused in the Coulee AA meetings are held on Mondays and Fridays at 6 p.m. at the Vets Center in Electric City. Call Paul at...
The Lake Roosevelt Lady Raiders' basketball season came to a close at the regional tournament in Yakima on Friday, with LR losing to the Mabton Vikings, 49-38. "The Mabton game was two evenly matched teams playing similar styles," said LR Head Coach Wallace Pleasants. Pleasants said that fouls played a big factor in the game, a recurring theme for the Lady Raiders this season. "Even though we are an 'attack the rim' type of team, Mabton had 33 free-throw attempts to our 13," Pleasants said. With...
Three Raiders and three Lady Raider basketball players were named to the Central Washington 2B All-League list, an honor for athleticism. Senior Kayla St. Pierre was named the league's most valuable player and named to the All-League First Team. Junior Kelsie Olbricht was named to All-League Second Team, and junior Shantana Pakootas was named to All-League Third Team. Among Raider boys, junior Trevor McCraigie made All-League First Team, sophomore Cameron St. Pierre made All-League Third Team,...
DAM KEGLERS TEAM W L Team 6 94.5 85.5 The Melody 91 89 Native Spirit 90.5 89.5 Colville Lites 80 100 Team 5 68.5 111.5 High Game: Dale Bjorson 268; Candy Weed-Butz 207 High Series: Dale Bjorson 739; Candy Weed-Butz 611 Splits: Bob Tonasket 3-10 SENIOR WEDNESDAY Karen M. 133+143+118= 394 Bob H. 110+93+127= 330 Mike L. 158+100+131=399 Ray D. 147+148+135= 430 Bob S. 173+147+149=469 Scott E. 134+167+171=472 Call the alley if you would like to bowl 633-9933 THURSDAY MIXUPS TEAM W L San Poil Valley 59 37 X Men 51 45 Flying J 49 47 Good Ol' Boys 48...
Grand Coulee Dam School District NOTICE OF SMALL WORKS ROSTER OPENING Grand Coulee Dam School District is updating its small works roster for general contractors for future construction, alteration, repair or improvement of public works projects. If you are interested in being included on the roster, please email a letter of intent to annettee@ncesd.org or to the following address and we will send you a small works roster application: Grand Coulee Dam School District c/o North Central ESD Attn: Annette Eggers PO Box 1847 Wenatchee, WA 98807... Full story
Grand Coulee Police 2/17 - A Soap Lake man was stopped because his license tabs were expired. When talking with the driver, the officer learned that he didn’t have insurance. He was cited on both the tab and insurance problems. 2/18 - Police checked on a vehicle taking up several spaces in the Pepper Jack’s parking lot and found a man slumped over. He explained that he had been drinking and didn’t want to drive and was sleeping it off. Several hours later, the report stated, the vehicle was still there. - A local woman advised police that she h...
Northwest author and naturalist David George Gordon will speak about the mythical and iconic Sasquatch, aka Bigfoot, at the Grand Coulee Library on March 8 at 6:30 p.m. in a free, hour-long program. For over 25 years the Seattle author, who has a degree in biology, has written about Sasquatch. His book "The Sasquatch Seeker's Field Manual," explains how "citizen scientists" can gather data in a relevant way to be usable by science, as well as elaborates on the legend of Sasquatch. "I'm...