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Articles from the May 24, 2017 edition


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  • Cuts proposed as schools close in on budget balance

    Roger S. Lucas|May 24, 2017

    “We will have a balanced budget next year,” Superintendent Paul Turner stated last Friday. He confirmed this before the Grand Coulee Dam School District board Monday night, going over a number of steps he is proposing to eliminate what he sees as a potential shortfall of about $740,000. Turner said changes to personnel and programs that he hopes to implement have moved the district to within $100,000 or so of his goal. The district will have until July to make final adjustments to its budget, but has until June 15 to notify teachers if the...

  • Area nets new fishing tournament

    Scott Hunter|May 24, 2017

    Some 66 anglers caught and released 461 walleye over the course of the Gordon Steinmetz Memorial Spring Walleye Classic at Coulee Playland last weekend, but the biggest catch was likely the tournament, itself. Bill and Robin Harrison ranked highest with a total two-day haul of 36.42 pounds of walleye, a total helped considerably by the biggest fish of the event at 9.5 pounds. The tournament brought in those 66 teams, 132 anglers, plus others in their entourages, a number that likely produced a l...

  • Big load to cause big delays next week

    Scott Hunter|May 24, 2017

    A million-pound load of equipment will slow traffic on local highways from Coulee City to Grand Coulee next week as it creeps to its destination just north of Grand Coulee, with delays expected of up to 90 minutes at a time. Drivers probably should not plan to travel on SR-155 late Tuesday night, May 30, nor early Thursday morning, June 1, when a huge piece of equipment will be blocking traffic for up to an hour and a half. An Oregon company will be moving a million pounds along the route from Coulee City to Grand Coulee, then up SR-174 on...

  • ATVs allowed in Grand Coulee

    Roger S. Lucas|May 24, 2017

    You will be able to drive “street ready” ATVs in Grand Coulee beginning May 31. Grand Coulee’s city council approved an ordinance last Tuesday night that allows all-terrain vehicles on city streets and on state highways, as long as they have the appropriate equipment. The council took a page — in fact, took the entire ordinance — from Electric City, and passed it without fanfare. Two area citizens — Bill Moore, from Grand Coulee, and Ron Pulsipher, of Electric City — spoke before the council voted, encouraging the elected officials to...

  • C.D. Casino opens new restaurant

    Roger S. Lucas|May 24, 2017

    There's a new restaurant in town. The Coulee Dam Casino's Spillway Bar and Grill had its "soft" opening May 15 and is now open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Casino's new format upstairs, where Colville Tribal Federal Corporation offices were once located, is a mixture of gaming and food service. The tribal business arm offices have moved to the new tribal headquarters building on the Colville Indian Agency campus near Nespelem. Meanwhile, the casino downstairs is getting a facelift. The...

  • A dozen new flags will honor veterans

    Roger S. Lucas|May 24, 2017

    Twelve new flags will be dedicated on Memorial Day, May 29, at the special Isle of Flags ceremony at Spring Canyon Cemetery. The ceremonies kick off at 11 a.m. with master of ceremonies Richard Black (Navy captain retired) getting the program started. He will deliver the memorial address. The 12 new flags honor Brandon W. Buche, Bert E. Carley, Jimmy Lee Easling, Larry M. Haag, Rodrick B. Hartman, Michael “Mick” McNeilly, Erskin R. Prevett, Michael N. Somday, James A. Stansfield, Mary E. Muller Sullivan, Patrick M. Sullivan, and Mike Tow...

  • Newsbriefs

    May 24, 2017

    Newspaper closed Memorial Day The Star newspaper office will be closed Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day. The deadline for news and advertising will be 5 p.m. Friday, May 26. Ambulance and fire calls stated The Grand Coulee ambulance service had 24 calls during the month of April, volunteer fire Chief Rick Paris reported to the city council at its last meeting. Five of the calls were in the Coulee Dam area, 14 were from the Grand Coulee area, and five were to transport patients between facilities. The number of calls this year...

  • Some seats go unclaimed in local races for public offices

    Roger S. Lucas|May 24, 2017

    A few races for local public office will be contested in this year’s primaries, but the real issue is the number of offices for which nobody filed a candidacy. A special three-day filing period has been set up, May 23-25, for those who would like to file for offices currently slated to remain empty. Okanogan County announced a special three-day extended filing period May 23-25 until 4 p.m. They can file online, but filers must still appear in person at the auditor’s office by 4:30 that day, which is also the deadline to pay any fees. The top...

  • Corrections

    May 24, 2017

    Tribal EMS made mock scene happen Colville Tribal Emergency Management Services should have been credited for the production of the mock crash scene at the Nespelem Community Center in last week’s Star. Clarified Gina Erickson of the Colville Tribal Police Department: “EMS did all the scene work, and if they had not been able to be there, there would have been no mock scene. … I would like to give them all the credit for their hard work and dedication on making it happen.” Wrong runner named In a photo of a track & field relay race printed...

  • Gwen Hart

    May 24, 2017

    Gwen was born in Sunnyside, Washington, on September 29, 1961, the daughter of Alvin and Bonita Hart. The Lord came and took her home on Friday, May 5, 2017. Gwen had a great love for life and her fellow travelers. She had many friends and was a champion for the unfortunate and mistreated. She loved her family dearly and had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren. In 1967, her family moved to the Grand Coulee Dam area. She entered kindergarten there and spent the rest of her school...

  • End in sight

    May 24, 2017

    Workers apply oil Tuesday at the end of the federal government's chip sealing job on the pavement along SR-155 as a single lane of traffic is led by a pilot car. The job began last week but completion was delayed by a couple days of rain. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation owns and maintains the stretch of highway from Federal Avenue in Grand Coulee to Coulee Dam. - Jacob Wagner photo...

  • Meetings and Notices

    May 24, 2017

    Chamber This Week The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet at noon, this Thursday, May 25, at High Dam Tavern, Grand Coulee. General business is on the agenda. Community Action to Meet The Okanogan County Com-munity Acton Council (OCCAC) Board of Directors will hold its regular board meeting Wednesday, May 31, at 5:15 p.m., at Community Action 424 S. 2nd Ave., Okanogan. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. OCCAC is a community-building organization. It works with community members of all groups to raise the poor out...

  • Senior meals

    May 24, 2017

    Wed., May 24 – Dinner Nick’s Chicken Noodle Soup, Homemade Bread, Mixed Fruit, Rice Krispy Treat Thurs., May 25 – Dinner Beef Stroganoff, Scandinavian Veggies, Cucumber Salad, Peaches, Brown Bag Cookie Bars Fri., May 26 – Breakfast Biscuits and Sausage Gravy, Eggs, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice. Mon., May 29 – Breakfast German Sausage, Hashbrowns, Eggs, Toast, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice Tues., May 30 – Dinner Meat and Veggie Pizza, Salad and Fruit Bar, Ice Cream Wed., May 31 – Dinner Chili w/Cornbread, Brussel Sprouts and Onions, Sliced Fruit, Parfai...

  • Wall has a girl

    May 24, 2017

    Aleesha Wall, of Electric City, Washington, is proud to announce the birth of her son, Austin William Lester Blanchard, born Thursday, April 27, 2017, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. He weighed 7 lbs., 3 oz., and was 20 inches in length at birth. Siblings include: Arin Wall, Casey Davidson and Christina Blanchard. Maternal grandparents are Laura Sanders, Jerry Sanders, and Allen Wall. Paternal grandparents are Kim Sternitzky and Bob Davidson....

  • Health insurance should not be market based

    David Clement M.D.|May 24, 2017

    Our congressman, Dan Newhouse, (R-4th Dist.) has repeatedly advocated for “market-based health insurance,” promising that for-profit health insurance companies will deliver on the goals of less expensive, higher quality, and more available healthcare in the U.S. He is not alone in pushing this mantra. Neither he nor others provide evidence to support their infatuation with market-based health insurance. On the contrary, there is a great deal of evidence to suggest that market-based health insurance provides very expensive, lower quality hea...

  • Wait for me!

    Jack Stevenson|May 24, 2017

    The world is changing at a fast pace, making it difficult to keep up and even more difficult to know what it all means for us and our children and grandchildren. Only a generation ago, 60 percent of college students in American colleges were men. Today, that is reversed; 60 percent of college students are women. When men were drafted for military service during World War I, government administrators were surprised to discover that those men typically had only six or seven years of schooling. Today, 61 percent of young people say that completing...

  • Let's get unplugged for a moment

    Jesse Utz|May 24, 2017

    Recently, two girls at Lake Roosevelt High School sat in the cafeteria during lunch. They had been having a really good discussion as they munched on their chow of choice when one of them looked up at the other eaters in the room. They were amazed and their eyes were opened to a very common phenomenon that is sweeping our country. Every other student at every table was looking at the screen of their device. No talking was taking place. All zoomed in to whatever event was happening on the screen at the moment. The two girls pointed this out to...

  • They were proof that cooperation works

    Don C. Brunell|May 24, 2017

    Recently, Washington state’s largest environmental, wildlife and natural resources agencies recognized 43 large forest landowners for their “exemplary efforts” to upgrade forest roads and stream crossings which improved salmon habitat and water quality. After investing more than $300 million collectively, these landowners rebuilt 25,000 miles of forest roads, replaced over 6,000 in-stream barriers to migrating fish, and opened in excess of 3,500 miles of previously blocked spawning habitat. The recognition is milestone in collaboration and a re...

  • Seventy-four years ago

    May 24, 2017

    View of the base for the stator of generator L-6, taken from No. 1 crane in the left powerhouse.-May 12, 1943 photo...

  • Armstrong-Montes named Friend of Children

    Scott Hunter|May 24, 2017

    Nancy Armstrong-Montes was honored with the Friends of Children award by the North Central Washington Educational Service District at a banquet in Wenatchee. Armstrong-Montes, who retired from teaching in Nespelem a few years ago, now volunteers on the school board, in the kitchen, the classroom, administration office and just about anywhere else there is a need, commented Superintendent Rich Stewart, who nominated her. "Rarely have I ever come across anybody that is so selfless," Stewart said,...

  • Tribes honor McBride

    May 24, 2017

    Richard McBride, center, superintendent of the North Central Washington ESD (Educational Service District) in Wenatchee, receives a Pendleton blanket from the Colville Tribes upon his retirement. Presenting the blanket last week was Ken Stanger, left, a member of the school board in Coulee Dam, and Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Paul Turner. "We just can't say enough about Rich McBride and all he has done for students in this district and throughout the ESD," Turner said. To...

  • Jazmine Reed receives PEO award

    May 24, 2017

    Jazmine Reed is the 2017 recipient of the $500.00 scholarship awarded by local Chapter DG of P.E.O. International. The scholarship application process includes a review of the applicants’ academic achievement, community service, extracurricular activities, and educational goals. Jazmine, a graduate of Lake Roosevelt Jr/Sr. High School, plans to attend Eastern Washington University to begin her pursuit of a broadcast journalism degree. P.E.O. is a Philanthropic Educational Organization that was founded in 1869 for the purpose of promoting e...

  • Softball ends season at regionals

    Jacob Wagner|May 24, 2017

    The Lake Roosevelt Lady Raiders finished their season at the regional level in Ephrata on Saturday in losses against Kittitas and Tri-Cities Prep. Against Kittitas, LR lost 14-4 in five innings. Against Tri-Cities prep, down 11-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Raiders scored three runs to force a sixth inning. In the sixth, Tri-Cities scored three more runs, which LR was unable to answer, resulting in another 14-4 loss, thus ending the Lady Raiders season....

  • Raider tennis season over

    Jacob Wagner|May 24, 2017

    Five members of the Lake Roosevelt tennis squad competed in the district tournament in Omak last week, where their season ended. All five LR competitors lost, facing stiff competition from A schools at the tournament held at Omak High School and the North Cascades Athletic Club on May 18 and May 20. “Unfortunately they all followed the same path and lost two in a row and were thus eliminated from the tournament,” remarked Head Coach Steve Archer. Savannah Hobrecht, in girls’ singles, lost 6-0, 6-0 against Cashmere’s Aleah Kert, and lost 6-3, 6-...

  • Five Raider track athletes compete at 2B districts

    Jacob Wagner|May 24, 2017

    Five members of the Lake Roosevelt track and field team competed at the 2B District 5/6 Championships in Quincy on Friday. “The Raiders put up a great effort as they closed out their season,” remarked Head Coach Lori Adkins. “The experience was invaluable for our younger athletes who came close to moving on in their events.” The relay team, which consists of Cameron Tillman, Traey Clark, Matthew Tillman, and Kyle Edmo, finished the 4x100-meter relay, in which each runner covers 100 meters, with a time of 47.86 seconds. “Our relay team came...

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