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Articles from the May 20, 2020 edition


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  • Big deals, every one of them

    May 20, 2020

    Lake Roosevelt High School staffers Friday hang up 42 banners depicting this year's graduating seniors. Extra efforts are being made to find ways to honor the class of 2020, who will not experience the long tradition of walking across the stage to get a handshake and a diploma in front of a gym full of friends and family. The big vinyl banners are hanging on the fence around the tennis courts, in front of where the graduates and families will park in cars for the ceremony planned for June 13. -...

  • Comments still open on management plan for Spring Canyon

    Jacob Wagner|May 20, 2020

    You have until the end of the day on May 30 to comment on potential changes at Spring Canyon, including the potential removal of the swim dock, removal of the concession building, and more. The Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Draft Visitor Use Site Management Plan and Environmental Assessment is available to view online and available for public comment The plan lists potential changes to nine sights along Lake Roosevelt, including Spring Canyon. Chapter two, page four (2-4), in a list of potential actions relevant to all sites along...

  • Grand Coulee man dies of COVID-19

    Scott Hunter|May 20, 2020

    A man from Grand Coulee has died of complications from COVID-19, Grant County Health District said Monday night. The district was notified Monday that the man in his 50s, who was hospitalized, had died. The health district did not report where he had been hospitalized. “Our hearts are with his family and friends. On behalf of Unified Command, our staff, Health Officer, and Board of Health, we are so sorry for your loss,” a statement on the district’s website said. The death brings Grant County’s total to four, with 192 confirmed cases and ano...

  • Cities allocated COVID relief money

    Jacob Wagner|May 20, 2020

    Local cities and towns could soon receive money as part of a COVID-19 federal relief package, but city officials are leery of requirements they may not meet. “Local governments will soon receive their portion of nearly $300 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funds awarded to the state to address COVID-19-related costs,” a press release from the Washington State Department of Commerce announced May 8. “The funds are flexible, allowing cities and counties to use their allocation for everything from p...

  • Golfers enjoy returning to the course

    May 20, 2020

    Having been open for two weeks now, people have been out enjoying the Banks Lake Golf Course. On May 5 the state of Washington allowed golf courses to resume play with certain restrictions following a shutdown of courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Manager Jim Keene said that "the good news is the golfers are respecting the social distancing guidelines and appreciating being able to get out." "It's mostly local golfers that are golfing," he said. "The fact that the state parks and national...

  • Final voting results given for tribal primary

    May 20, 2020

    Final results are in for the Colville Business Council primary elections in which seven of the 14 positions for the governing body of the Colville Tribes are up for election. On Thursday, absentee votes were added to the total vote counts, and the top two winners in each race will move onto the general election. They are listed first in the following: In the Nespelem District Position #1 race, Andrew C. Joseph Jr received 328 votes; incumbent Janet Wak Wak Nicholson received 159; Justin Boyd received 141; and Lily “Teen” Stanger received 125...

  • On top and underway

    May 20, 2020

    A crew of workers makes progress on the new fire station under construction for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation off SR-155 Monday. Two cranes were active on the site, lifting materials to the top of the structure. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • Chamber honors business and achiever of the year

    Jacob Wagner|May 20, 2020

    "Achiever of the Year" and "Business of the Year" for 2019 were chosen last week by members of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. Kerry Higgins, who co-owns Coulee Hardware, was named achiever of the year. Coulee Wall Variety Store was picked for business of the year. Coulee Wall Variety Store was named business of the year, an honor given to a business that "is active in the area, demonstrates growth, has innovative products or services for the community, provides excellent...

  • City contracts $405K for sewer lift station

    Jacob Wagner|May 20, 2020

    Electric City accepted a bid to build a new sewage lift station on the southern end of Grand Avenue, replacing one that dates back to the 1960s. The lift station pumps sewage to the wastewater treatment facility in Grand Coulee. The city council voted at their May 12 meeting, held via Zoom, to accept a $382,463.20 bid from TEK Industries, the lowest out of four bidders, to build the lift station. Steve Nelson from Century West Engineering, the city’s engineering firm, attended the Zoom council meeting as well. Nelson answered questions from C...

  • People For People gets GTA contract

    May 20, 2020

    Grant Transit Authority (GTA) awarded People For People, a non-profit organization, a contract to continue providing demand response transportation for individuals who qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). People For People is a local transportation service organization that has provided these services for GTA for the past 24 years. “We are thrilled to continue providing transportation for GTA’s ADA riders. This service is vital to many individuals who have disabilities in Grant County by providing them transportation to med...

  • Embrace the moment, not regrets

    Scott Hunter|May 20, 2020

    Some people are expressing little but regret over the fact that high school graduations across the country, Lake Roosevelt’s included, will not be what anyone had in mind this year. That much is certain, but, graduating class, it’s also true that if you’ve learned anything in your dozen or so years in school so far, you’ve likely learned to roll with the punches and make the best of the situation in which you find yourself. There is no course syllabus or homework for that. But our current situation is the best lesson (call it your final h...

  • Cutting out China to strengthen our supply chains

    Dan Newhouse|May 20, 2020

    For years, U.S. dependence on China has harbored a rising threat to our national security. Now, during a global pandemic, this threat has come clearly into view. After decades of well-known wrongdoings, human rights violations, and manipulation of American intellectual property, it is time to get serious about cutting China out of our nation’s supply chains. Throughout this public health crisis, we have witnessed a shortage of critical resources. Personal protective equipment like N95 masks and gowns for healthcare workers have been held up, ou...

  • Brighter future for papermakers

    Don Brunell|May 20, 2020

    In recent years, papermakers in the Pacific Northwest have been losing ground. However, today there is a ray of hope. Surprisingly, that optimism results from the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first days of the pandemic, grocers couldn’t keep toilet paper on store shelves even though paper mills were running 20 percent higher than normal capacity. Cardboard plants also were operating full bore making shipping boxes for medical supplies and personal protective gear. As Amazon and online sales ramp up...

  • How is your time spent during distancing?

    Jess Utz|May 20, 2020

    I was pondering this today. How are we spending our time during our self-isolation and social distancing? The way I see it we must look at the bright side of a dark situation. So in case you can’t think of anything to do and you are starting to have cabin fever and are ready to erupt I decided to try and help you all out a little bit and give you some ideas that just might remove our eyes from the television screen and phone long enough to engage in something more positive. Play a board game. I...

  • Million Dollar Mile (part 2)

    John M. Kemble, Themn Dam Writers online 2020|May 20, 2020

    When the Million Dollar Mile outside of Coulee City was created it inadvertently ran through a field with a level area and a natural spring surrounded by trees. For uncounted years this was a camping spot for the original nomadic inhabitants of the Upper Grand Coulee. The spring was nestled up on the cliff wall just out of sight, and the trail up ran along a cut to the south east. Once there was a large stone table for preparing food and families gathered together at the spring for generations....

  • Think about your local EMS workers this week

    May 20, 2020

    It is National Emergency Medical Services Week this week, from May 17-May 23. “EMS Week provides us a time to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving and non-emergency services of medicine’s ‘frontline,’ Richard Paris, of the Grand Coulee Ambulance Service and Volunteer Fire Department stated in a press release. “Emergency Medical Services is a vital public service, and the members of emergency medical services teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” Access to q...

  • Restrictions have eased but enjoy the outdoors safely

    May 20, 2020

    Now that restrictions on outdoor recreation have eased, spring fishing and boating can finally get underway. Washington State Parks Boating Program will step up its emphasis on recreational boating safety on Washington’s waters. “We find that on-the-water accidents and fatalities increase as the weather warms up and more people get out on the water,” said Rob Sendak, State Parks Boating Program manager. According to Washington’s recreational boating accident data, in the last five years, trends show most accidents and fatalities happen between...

  • Virtual program planned by the NCR Library

    May 20, 2020

    North Central Regional Library is hosting a virtual program with one of America's most renowned and beloved librarians, Nancy Pearl. The free program will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 26 on the video conferencing platform Zoom. For the link to participate visit www.ncrl.org/blog/virtual-nancy-pearl. Once you register, an email will be sent to you with the Zoom event details. Pearl is a best-selling author, librarian, literary critic, and radio and television personality. But first and...

  • All class reunion delayed until next year

    May 20, 2020

    Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Grand Coulee Dam All Class Reunion originally scheduled for the weekend of June 19-21, 2020 has been postponed until August 6-8, 2021, a notice from the Grand Coulee Dam All Class Reunion Committee says. "We are sorry for any inconveniences this may have caused, but we hope to see you in August 2021. More information will be made available as we get closer to the new 2021 reunion date," a note from an organizer, Bert Smith, states. Anyone with question can call...

  • Congressmen: include water infrastructure in COVID-19 relief package

    May 20, 2020

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Jim Costa (D-CA) last week led a letter to congressional leadership urging the inclusion of critical water infrastructure in the upcoming COVID-19 economic and infrastructure recovery package. Signed by 24 bipartisan members of Congress, the letter outlines the importance of Bureau of Reclamation water infrastructure projects in addressing water storage, conservation, and delivery to rural areas and municipalities across the country. “As we begin debate on how to restart the American eco...

  • County can take 911 texts

    May 20, 2020

    The Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch center is now capable of accepting text messages to 911 to report an emergency, but a voice call to 911 is still the best way to report an emergency. “Call if you can, text if you can’t,” the sheriff’s office says. Texting to 911 is for: • Citizens who are hearing or speech impaired. • Citizens who are in a situation where making a voice call to 911 could put them in danger. • Citizens who cannot speak due to a medical emergency. • Citizens who are in an area with limited or poor cellular cov...

  • Drive-in church allows people to practice their faith

    Jacob Wagner|May 20, 2020

    Service looks a little different lately at the Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Coulee. COVID-19 social restrictions won't allow typical gatherings, but drive-in services are being allowed now. On Sunday, May 17, Pastor Shawn Neider gave a sermon standing on a stump on the grass at the church, while 28 people sat in 16 vehicles, comparable to the church's normal attendance numbers, parked there to hear him. Neider said that he spoke "about our balance of church and state, obeying God and how...

  • Legals for May 20, 2020

    May 20, 2020

    PUBLIC NOTICE Change of Regular Meeting Date for Public Hospital District No. 6, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, & Okanogan Counties, Wash. Public Hospital District No. 6, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln and Okanogan Counties, Washington; which operates Coulee Medical Center and Coulee City Medical Clinic, will be changing the regular Board meeting date for the month of May. The next Board meeting will be held Tuesday, May 26th at 6:00pm via Zoom. To Join this zoom meeting by computer please use the following link: https://cmccares.zoom.us...

  • Coulee Cops

    May 20, 2020

    Grand Coulee Police 5/12 - Police spoke to a woman on A Street regarding an argument between neighbors. - A deceased person’s garage was reported open on Boulder Avenue. Police found the house secure, but the garage open and a light on, and so secured the garage. 5/15 - A woman on E Street said that her boyfriend/ex-boyfriend broke the windshield of her car with a skateboard, then locked her out of the house. The man said she broke the windshield. He was arrested for malicious mischief and taken to jail. - A man on Main Street said his a...