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 collapse of a Skagit River bridge on I-5 last week should give all of us pause to think about our nation’s longterm strategy, including local infrastructure. Stuff wears out, even steel bridges. That’s a dynamic that challenges the best intentions of priority pickers (also known as budget makers) in government who must continually weigh how to spend our money. Such constant pressure over decades can even influence the standards by which supposedly objective measurers of safety decide on acceptable risks. Consider that until rocks fell on... Full story
Members of Grand Coulee’s council would like to develop a city “cleanup of property” program like the one in the town of Coulee Dam. Councilmember David Tylor stated that’s there’s hardly a block in Grand Coulee that couldn’t stand some cleanup. After some discussion, Mayor Chris Christopherson stated: “When we go there, we’re going there.” The Grand Coulee nuisance ordinance is almost identical to Coulee Dam’s and calls for a fine of $500 a day after notification of violation of the city’s ordinance on the upkeep of property. Coulee Dam... Full story
Community members listen at the annual Isle of Flags memorial service at Spring Canyon Cemetery to remember veterans on Memorial Day. The Isle of Flags committee hoisted some 530 U.S. flags this year, each in honor of a local veteran buried there. More photos of the spectacle and a video are available below: Isle of Flags 2013 - Images by Scott Hunter... Full story
Wayne Fowler asked Grand Coulee’s council to help him with a zoning problem. Fowler annexed his Delano property into the city four years ago and while appearing before the council then, told members that he intended to build an apartment complex on a portion of the land. The land currently houses his DWK Fowler construction office and storage. Fowler annexed and then found that the city had zoned the property for single family residences. This in spite of the fact that the area the city zoned as residential also houses the KEYG radio station a... Full story
Unhealthy matters Grant County Health District reported a possible case of measles in the Grand Coulee Dam School District. The health district said it is working with school officials to investigate. The disease spreads easily from coughing and sneezing. In a separate report, the health district stated that a Moses Lake family is receiving rabies treatment as a precaution after children in the home were found playing with several dead bats. Mosquito board has vacancies Grant County commissioners said Thursday they’re looking for citizens inter... Full story
The dedication of the new Keller ferry will be Aug. 14, at the south terminal at Lake Roosevelt on SR-21, officials said last week. The new 116-foot ferry named the Sanpoil, which cost $12 million, will launch sometime in mid-July from its cocoon-looking construction site at Crescent Bay. After testing, the Sanpoil will sail to the two terminal sites for final adjustments to the landing areas before going into service sometime in the afternoon of Aug. 14. A special ribbon cutting will be held at the south shore terminal and the Sanpoil will... Full story
The dedication of the new Keller ferry will be Aug. 14, at the south terminal at Lake Roosevelt on SR-21, officials said last week. The new 116-foot ferry named the Sanpoil, which cost $12 million, will launch sometime in mid-July from its cocoon-looking construction site at Crescent Bay. After testing, the Sanpoil will sail to the two terminal sites for final adjustments to the landing areas before going into service sometime in the afternoon of Aug. 14. A special ribbon cutting will be held at the south shore terminal and the Sanpoil will... Full story
Ferry service on the highway that connects Wilbur and Republic, will be down for just over five weeks in mid-summer, a Washington State Department of Transportation official said late last week. Al Gilson, a DOT media spokesman from Spokane, said ferry service will be down from about July 8, to Aug. 14, when the new “Sanpoil” goes into service. The current ferry, the Martha S, will cease service after over 60 years of crossing Lake Roosevelt connecting north and south sections of SR-21. Gilson stated that the five-week break will allow a $2... Full story
Coulee Dam’s town council voted to move ahead with an abbreviated wastewater treatment project at its meeting last Wednesday night. The decision didn’t make anyone completely happy, but the 4-1 vote will allow the immediate needs of the current wastewater treatment plant to be addressed. The lone “no” vote was cast by Councilmember Bob Poch, who, in explaining his vote, said there were too many “ifs, ands and buts” for him to support it. He stated that he felt something like Larry Holford, an Elmer City councilman, who asked the council to step... Full story
The general contractor building the new school complex is hauling some 22,000 cubic yards of sand from the Bureau of Reclamation’s giant sandpile for fill on the K-12 school project to bring the building site to grade, officials stated this week. The arrangement with the bureau will mean that it will save the school district some $22,000, Superintendent Dennis Carlson said Tuesday. Walker Construction had made arrangements with the bureau to secure the sand at $1 per cubic yard, however, bureau officials suggested they would waive the fee as l... Full story
A full moon backs up brand new laser equipment that served up the first laser show of the season Saturday night, as people watch the delivery of crisp, colorful images on Grand Coulee Dam. The show has been limping along on obsolete equipment the last couple years, but the new installation just completed by Lumalaser, of Oregon, is ready to debut a completely new show in August. The current program will run nightly until then. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
A dry April into a dry May I’ve been checking into the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center’s three-month prediction (June, July and August), and it states, “…an equal chance of above or below normal temperatures and below normal precipitation.” April 2013 wasn’t a wet one with only 0.91 inches of precipitation. We seem to be on course, here’s a review of some past Aprils (2012 – 1.08 inches, 2011 - .84 inches, and 2010 – 1.12 inches). The high temperature in April was 78.5°F wh... Full story
In Elmer City, Jessie Tillman filed his intention to run for position 5, the town council seat currently held by Larry Holford. Donna and Jeff DeWinkler are running unopposed for their seats, and Gail Morin’s seat, position 2, will be vacant at the end of her term. Morin has filed for mayor opposing incumbent Mayor Mary Jo Carey, who filed her intention to seek another four-year term.... Full story
The Zion Lutheran Church will be holding a yard sale June 15th in order to help raise money to purchase mosquito bed nets for children in Africa. After listening to stories from people who had visited Africa telling us how many children are dying from malaria, and how something as simple as an insecticide-treated bed net for $10 can save the lives of these young children just seemed like something we needed to try to help with. Malaria kills more than a million people worldwide each year—90 percent of them in Africa; 70 percent children u...
There’s an old saying that oil and water don’t mix. That may be true, but apparently they coexist quite well. Traveling through Sweetwater in west Texas, you see an interesting mix of irrigated farming, cattle ranching, oil production and wind energy. Farmers draw water from wells to irrigate fields and provide drinking water for people and livestock. Scattered across those same fields are traditional oil wells that have been pumping crude since 1921. Less than 10 miles from Sweetwater is the Roscoe Wind Farm — 627 wind turbines standing in ir... Full story
I decided that at least once a week I would dig up a gem of a person in the Grand Coulee area and write about him or her, someone that might do pretty cool things or have an amazing heart that might go unnoticed. Here is part two on the local gem named John Huston, who regularly is sent to disaster areas and just got called by FEMA to Oklahoma after the latest tornado. John is a servant of God, in his words, and just wants to do what he feels the Lord called him to do when he was a teen.... Full story
Ten Years Ago Money flowed into Coulee Community Hospital at an all-time high in March as the hospital treated more patients than anticipated. “It indicates that the community shows confidence in us,” said CCH Administrator Mike Wiltermood. Next month, a lone blue graduation gown will stand out from the rows of crimson and gold at the Lake Roosevelt High School graduation. On Saturday, June 7, Raymond Wans, 79, of Everett, Wash., will receive his high school diploma almost 64 years after leaving Grand Coulee High School. The Town of Ele... Full story
Kimberly Jo Graham (Ladwig/Harris) passed away on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12, 2013, in Nampa, Idaho. She was born to Allan and Alyce Graham on November 15, 1958, in Reno, Nev. She graduated from Lake Roosevelt High School in Coulee Dam in 1976. Kim had two children: Amanda who predeceased her mother and Steven. Kim’s husband Paul Harris, also predeceased her. Kim has one brother Scott and his family in Spring Valley, Calif., one sister Therese Babler and family in Spokane. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 1, 2013, at St. Hen... Full story
Carol Lynn Steffens, 63, a resident of Electric City passed away Monday, May 20, 2013. She was born March 28, 1951, to Melvin and Eileen Cooper of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Carol married Bob Steffens in November of 1969 and had two children Jon and Kerrie. Carol was preceded in death by her husband Robert (Bob) Steffens, her father Melvin Cooper and brother Steve Cooper. She is survived by her two children Jon (Kathryn) Steffens of Electric City and daughter Kerrie Dehn of Texas. Three granddaughters: Jessica and Julie Steffens and Rachel Dehn.... Full story
Barbara Bea Powell passed away Wednesday, May 22, just 4 days prior to her 81st birthday at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, Washington. Barbara was born May 26, 1932 in Rozell, Kansas to Frank and Lola Mae Powell. One of 6 children, Barbara left Kansas soon after she graduated from high school. Barbara was a very hard worker and was very proud of her various jobs with different government agencies. While in the Grand Coulee area, she worked for the Bureau of Reclamation until her retirement. Barbara is survived by sisters, Gloria Jean Thomas of... Full story
Chamber to Meet at Siam Palace The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will be meeting, at Siam Palace at noon on Thursday, May 30. That evening at 5:30 p.m. a meeting will be held at Funzee’s to discuss Saturday Market. GCD Lions to Meet Grand Coulee Dam Lions will meet Tuesday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Siam Palace in Grand Coulee. Port Dist. 7 to Meet Grant County Port District 7 will hold its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, May 30, at 5 p.m., at the Grand Coulee Dam Airport office. American Legion to Meet The American Legion w... Full story
Desiree S. Freund and Henry F. Wilson of Grand Coulee are proud to announce the birth of their daughter MaKenzie Peyton Wilson born Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 7 lbs., 15 oz., and was 19-1/2 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Alyssa Samuels and Avah Samuels. Maternal grandparents are Robert and Sherry Freund of Vancouver, Wash. Paternal grandparents are Thomas Wilson and Colleen Moses. Great-grandparents are Opal and Derrick Zunie.... Full story
Leslie Palmer and Robert Wahpat III of Nespelem are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Avery Myra LouMae Wahpat born on Saturday, May 18, 2013, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 7 lbs., 9 oz.,n andw as 20 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Jaydyn Nanamkin 7 and Harper Wahpat 1. Maternal grandparents are Dorothy and Steve Palmer of Nespelem. Paternal grandparent is Robert Wahpat Jr. of Yakima. Great-grandparents are Leona Hicks of Fallon, Nev., Robert Wahpat of Yakima and Sharon Piel of... Full story
Heather and Robert Day are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter Calliegh Raelynn Day born on Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 12 lbs., 13 oz., and was 23 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Ricky McClain 13, Travis McClain 10 and Rhys Day 11. Maternal grandparents are Larry and Helen McClain of Seaton’s Grove. Paternal grandparents are Kay Day of Spokane and Elmer Day of Wenatchee. Paternal great-grandmother is Leona Wald of Wenatchee.... Full story
Lake Roosevelt senior Emily Williams along with help from her father Ron, left, and school district Superinendent Dennis Carlson looking on, installs the “Career Technical Education” sign she made for her senior project between the autoshop and the industrial arts building at the school. Williams, who went before the school board on two occasions to get permission for the project, said she wanted to do something that would have a “lasting” value. It took her 60 hours of work to complete the sig... Full story
