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 city of Grand Coulee has denied a business license for a marijuana retail store here. City Clerk Carol Boyce said Tuesday morning that she is denying the license application by Jean Comstock because it is still a federal crime to possess marijuana. She said she is given the authority by city ordinance. Comstock’s application had created a storm of protest by more than 25 people who attended to the city council meeting May 19, to ask the city to deny the request. Many of these same people had attended the city planning commission the previou... Full story
Families listen Monday to the annual Isle of Flags memorial service at Spring Canyon Cemetery, where six new flags were added to more than 500 already in service to commemorate the military service of those buried there. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
More than 30 people have submitted comments on proposed zoning amendments, and the public will have further opportunity to comment at a public hearing schedule for 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 2, at Electric City’s council chambers. The zoning amendments address regulations on the height and overall size of accessory buildings, fencing issues and home business occupations. Tuesday marks the end of a 60-day public comment period. City officials said planner Kurt Danison will be at Tuesday’s meeting. The public hearing has been scheduled for the council... Full story
Mike Horne awoke to an odd sound early Saturday, opened his bedroom curtain and faced a fireball blazing outside, as the house next door burned. "I opened the bedroom curtain and it went from 65 degrees to 130 instantly," he said. "I couldn't get out of there fast enough." Horne lost windows on that side of his house, so intense was the heat from fire a few feet away. He said the whole house likely would have burned if it hadn't been sheilded by its old asbestos siding. A camper and old pickup... Full story
Don’t look for any extreme changes to the Four Corners intersection. However, Grand Coulee’s council will have an opportunity at its next meeting to make some suggestions to the state Department of Transportation on how it can “tweak” things related to the intersection and perhaps make it safer for motorists. Councilmember Paul Town-send has been working with the DOT, sorting out ideas, and will ask the council to make firm recommendations on a number of small changes. Some of the ideas include changing the speed limit between Four Corners... Full story
A major sidewalk project that was scheduled for Elmer City in 2016, has been moved up to later this year, the town council learned last Thursday night. Public works director “Jimmer” Tillman told the council that he expected work on the project to begin late summer. City Clerk Renée Tillman told the council that she expected to put out a call for bids as early as next week. The project is financed through a grant from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board. Public works director Tillman said that the project was ready to go,... Full story
Some lucky winner will pick up $200 in Banks Lake Golf Course’s golf ball drop July 12. Buy a ticket for $5, and if your golf ball lands closest to the hole you can walk away with the $200 first prize. Second place is $120, and third place is $80. At the designated time, Sunday, July 12, the 300 golf balls being sold will go up in the air and be released from the top of a bucket truck. Golf balls will have the ticket bearer’s name or number on them. The ball that lands and settles closest to the hole wins. The fun event will raise money for... Full story
Community members consider which "opportunities" listed on the wall of the gym at the old middle school make sense to them, adding colored sticky dots to their favorites at a meeting last Wednesday. Debbie Starkey, second from right, told chamber of commerce members Thursday that dual themes had emerged in the pattern of suggestions from people: "a health-wellness aqua-center type thing that is wanted in this town, and an education and meeting space. Those are kind of the ones that are getting... Full story
Late election filings helped fill Elmer City’s open positions and added to Nespelem town council openings. In Elmer City, Joaquin J. Marchand has filed for position 1 and Clara Carson has filed for position 2, providing the town with a full election slate. Others filing were Don Bonertz for position 4 and Jessie Tillman for position 5. Both are incumbents. All four will appear on the general election ballot unchallenged. In Nespelem, Dennis Montes has filed for town council position 2, and Dolores Castillo has filed for position 5, leaving p... Full story
Electric City took action last Tuesday night to extend its lease with Coulee Playland for another 10 years. The 13-acre resort provides camping and fishing activity on Banks Lake, and is leased by the city from the Bureau of Reclamation, which subleases it to Hal Rauch, manager of the resort. The agreement calls for a lease review every five years. In separate action, the council approved a list of modest increases for services by the resort. The council regularly reviews increases in fees charged by the resort. Rauch has been involved in the... Full story
The city has purchased a 112-foot by 160-foot piece of land just above the fire hall for $25,000 from the Banks Lake Bible Church. The city has salvaged pieces of playground equipment, and plans to fence in both ends of the park that empty into traffic to keep young children from running out on city streets. The playground equipment had been declared surplus by the school district and acquired by Electric City when Center Elementary was vacated last September. Councilmember Lonna Bussert, the... Full story
On Friday evening of Colorama weekend (and Mother’s Day) my mom’s refrigerator died. Luckily, she had her old one in the garage, but it was still concerning as we had eight adults and seven kids (7 and under) coming for the weekend. First thing Saturday morning, she called Loepp’s and they said they had lots to choose from. She went down before the parade, purchased a new frig and was told even though they didn’t have any deliveries scheduled for that day, they would bring it out a half hour after the parade was over. They were there at 12:30,... Full story
Why is it every time someone tries to bring something new into one of our little towns it is met with so much opposition? Are we as a “whole” community simply opposed to growth? Have we become so suppressed with our decision-making skills that we lack that of common sense? I fail to understand why so many people oppose any change or growth in our community. However, I fully understand that it’s those same people, yes some of you whose names have been in the paper, who complain that there is no growth or change in our towns. The most definite an... Full story
I would like to thank all the Electric City residents, lot owners, voters and business owners that took the time to to show your support for the council to pass the E.C.M.C Title 18. All of you took the time to sign the support letter or wrote your own during the 60-day written comment period. Now, we would like to see all of you show up for the public hearing. The public hearing will be held at the Electric City City hall June 2, 2015 at 6 p.m. Mark Payne... Full story
I have had discussions with Richard Black, athletic director at Lake Roosevelt High School, about recognizing our area veterans. While attending a district playoff game at Mt. Spokane High School, we noticed a huge banner honoring all veterans. We kind of discussed ways we could do the same in our new school. In the near future, also, there are plans for a new gymnasium. We could sponsor a new scoreboard for the new gym. These are two goals that I would like to propose to the local veterans organizations to seriously consider. I would be willin... Full story
Every once in a while someone from the community approaches me with an idea for this column. I usually write down the idea and add it to my topic list. Other times their idea spurs something in me to write about something similar. But recently a community member got ahold of me, and I am truly inspired by what he told me. I am honored to write this column right after Memorial Day and think it is truly appropriate right now. As a side note, some of these ideas and thoughts belong to the community member, but I am right on board with him. As... Full story
1 years ago The Colville Tribes’ new $8.1 million minimum-security prison, two years in construction, will house prisoners sentenced in the tribal court system, starting in September, says administrator John Dick. The new facility, located on School Loop Road near the Colville Indian Agency, will house up to 60 prisoners with rooms for 29 adults and 31 juveniles, including rooms for females. The Grand Coulee Dam Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a new event for kids 12 years old and younger on June 10-12 throughout the local communities. C... Full story
Chamber at the Siam Palace The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet Thursday, May 28, at noon at the Siam Palace in Grand Coulee. Discussion of upcoming festivals in the Grand Coulee Dam Area is on the agenda. Care and Share Food Bank The food bank at the Church of the Nazarene normal operating hours are every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. It is located at the Church of Nazarene, hwy 174, Grand Coulee. The bank still can use clean plastic grocery bags. Local AA Meetings Confused in the Coulee AA meetings are held on Mondays at 7 p.m.,... Full story
Boy scouts and cub scouts fold the American flag during a ceremonious reading of the reasons for each fold, performed at the Isle of Flags Memorial Day event at Spring Canyon Cemetery Monday morning. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Jared and Jessie Hemmer are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Courtney Marie Hemmer born Friday, May 8, in Spokane, Wash. She weighed 8 lbs., 7 oz. She joins her big brother Jeffrey age 3. Grandparents include Jim and Michelle Hemmer of Grand Coulee and Tom and Colleen Schneider of Pullman. Great-grand parents are Lee and Karen Hemmer, Mike and Barbara Lackner of Grand Coulee, and Nadine Schneider of Pullman and Great-Great-Grandma Beulah Hemmer of Burbank Wash.... Full story
Have you decided what functions you want a tree to serve? Do you know which trees do best in our Columbia Basin area? Have you thought about how to properly plant your tree to ensure it survives and grows well? Do you know how to ensure good health and longevity for the tree you plant? When you consider planting a tree, the first question you should ask is what functions do you want it to serve in your landscape? Will it be planted to provide shade, block a view, to improve the landscape around the house, or for the beauty? Start by thinking... Full story
The Arbor Day Foundation has a book that helps people identify trees with a simple, step-by-step process. The book, What Tree Is That?, is available for a $5 donation to the nonprofit tree-planting organization. What Tree Is That? is a fun, easy-to-use tree identification guide that features hand-drawn botanical illustrations highlighting the distinct characteristics of many tree species. Nature lovers and professional arborists alike have called this pocket field guide a must-have, user-friendly resource. Its beautiful, full-color... Full story
Two Raiders qualified last week to compete at the upcoming state track and field tournament in both of their events. At the District 5-6 track meet at Ephrata Friday, Octavio Alejandre took first in the shot put and second in discus, and Katelynn Schilling took third in the shot and fourth in the discus. The meet was postponed due to lighting after both the Raiders completed their events. Okanogan won both the boys’ and girls’ district titles at Ephrata. Alejandre made his mark on the meet, becoming the district shot put champion while thr... Full story
Six Raiders were named to the Central Washington 2B North All League Baseball team for the 2015 season. Devan Black was the only Raider named to the first team. This is Black’s second time on the first team, to which he was named in 2014 as a sophomore. Black was one of the Raiders’ best pitchers. Chance Garvin appears on the league second team for 2015. He was also named to the second team in 2014. Garvin uses his great deal of athleticism to great effect on the field. Senior Trey Nicholson also was named to the second team. Last year Nicholso... Full story
Two Lady Raiders have been named to the Central Washington North All-League Softball squad. One is appearing on the list for the second straight year. The other was a newcomer to the squad who has the potential to become a perennial on the all-league team. Head Coach Jamie Lezard had this to say about the All-Leaguers, “They both played great all season.” The returner from the 2014 All-League squad was Senior Savannah Marin. Marin became a big time player for LR both in the field at third base and at the plate. There were games where the Lad... Full story