News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Articles from the June 3, 2015 edition


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 25 of 30

  • New drawings show a facility that could be

    Scott Hunter|Jun 3, 2015

    A set of conceptual drawings that could significantly affect the quality of life in the area were delivered to the park board last week. The renderings, intended to form a basis for planning a new community center, were commissioned by the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District, which had obtained a grant from Grant County's Strategic Infrastructure Program to get architectural help envisioning what a new "wellness center" might look like. NAC Architects of Spokane did the work. District...

  • Hospital board meeting Friday night

    Jun 3, 2015

    Here is the agenda for the meeting coming up Friday night, June 5 at 6 p.m....

  • Not much fuss over pot business denial

    Roger S Lucas|Jun 3, 2015

    Jean Comstock didn’t have public comment this week after she learned that the City of Grand Coulee had denied her application for a business license to put in a marijuana retail store on Burdin Boulevard. While Grand Coulee was denying an application for a business license, the city of Omak was granting one. The state’s attorney general had declared that his office would not recognize a city’s refusal to grant a business license based on the fact that it would be in violation of federal law. That was the primary reason Grand Coulee City Clerk C...

  • New school utility costs show no trend yet

    Roger S Lucas|Jun 3, 2015

    The Grand Coulee Dam School District spent $1,762 more in utility expenses for the new school in the first seven full months of this school year, the school board learned Monday night.The utility comparison is for power, water, sewer and garbage, and is from October, 2014 through April, 2015. Superintendent Dennis Carlson said that a more accurate picture of comparisons will likely take two or three years. Prior to this year, the district schools were in three different buildings. September, 2014, is not included in the comparison because of...

  • Two minds change on school election filings

    Roger S Lucas|Jun 3, 2015

    A school board candidate who filed for Ted Piccolo’s at-large seat has decided to withdraw her name. Tamra Sacchi, who filed her intention to seek the at-large seat during the normal filing period, found out Monday that she couldn’t serve on the school board and be a substitute teacher at the same time. She said Tuesday that she plans to advise the Grant County Auditor’s office of her decision and have her name taken off the ballot. Earlier this week, Sacchi had delivered a letter of interest in finishing out Piccolo’s term to the school...

  • Newsbriefs

    Jun 3, 2015

    Playhouse is winnable You could win the kid’s playhouse parked in front of Loepps Furniture. All you have to do is purchase a ticket inside the store for a drawing to be held sometime during the Junior Rodeo scheduled for the Ridge Rider rodeo grounds, July 18,19. Tickets are $1 each. The playhouse was built and donated by DWK Fowler Construction. School enrollment noted Enrollment for Grand Coulee Dam District schools was 696 for the month of May. That compares to 663 for the same month the previous year. May’s total this year is 36 above the...

  • Town pursuing new treatment plant

    Scott Hunter|Jun 3, 2015

    After years of study and political upheaval around the subject, Coulee Dam is on the path to building a new modular wastewater treatment plant, following a decision by the town council last month. The new facility will be built on the existing site with about a third of the capacity of that called for in an earlier facility plan. After an alternatives study, the longterm costs of building the new plant, versus refurbishing the old one, are projected to be less. A summary presented to the council May 13 assumes a $5.4 million funding package,...

  • Carlson's work honored by ESD

    Roger S Lucas|Jun 3, 2015

    Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Dennis Carlson received an “Award of Merit” from the North Central Washington Educational Service District for his administrative leadership. Each year the various educational service districts in the state select a key administrator to honor for outstanding contribution to education in their area. Making the presentation May 21 in Wenatchee was Richard Johnson, Okanogan School District superintendent and chair of the Washington Association of School Administrators. Richard McBride, ESD sup...

  • Program to feed kids more feasible

    Scott Hunter|Jun 3, 2015

    A local veterans’ organization is taking on a project that would make sure kids who might otherwise not be fed much on the weekends go home Friday with a supply of food. Three American Legion Post 157 members addressed a luncheon of the chamber of commerce recently to outline the program. Jim Brakebill, Ben Alling and Shawn Neider said a new connection with a hunger-fighting organization had made the effort more feasible. A package program from Second Harvest would allow the group to send home a package for $144 per year, per child. The ...

  • Opportunity Room offers students fresh perspective

    Roger S Lucas|Jun 3, 2015

    The school board learned how students referred to the “Opportunity Room” get a new lease on life, at their meeting Monday night. Tami Nichols, who short circuits students referred to the program because of their activities, had put a spark back in their lives by using a book and teaching tool called “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.” Nichols, catching the students before they face more serious consequences, has had good success showing them that they all possess sometimes hidden talents and abilities. Nichols provided an outline of the ...

  • Port district selects new engineering firm

    Roger S Lucas|Jun 3, 2015

    Port District 7 commissioners selected their engineering firm from among five presenters at a special meeting Monday. Selected was T-O Engineers, from Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, rated number one through a series of criteria approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. The selection committee was made up of two commissioners, James Keene and Dennis Lohrman; secretary Joanne Davidson; and airport Manager Bob Babler. Other firms submitting packets included Century West, of Ellensburg; J-U-B, of Spokane; Reid Middleton, Spokane; and Stantec, of S...

  • Legion post thanks community for support

    Cindy Jayne|Jun 3, 2015

    As commander of American Legion Post 157, in Electric City, I want to publicly thank our communities and all of the veterans who made our annual Memorial Day breakfast such a success! From this one breakfast, we gathered enough donations to totally fund next year’s scholarship fund, for a local graduating senior! We were also able to gather great donations for our new “Food2Go, Too” program, which will help feed our needy kindergartners through sixth graders on the weekends, next school year, and also the LHRS Scoreboard and Banner fund, not t...

  • Young adults show strong leadership

    Clea Pryor|Jun 3, 2015

    The Ridge Riders have completed another year of successful events for all us to enjoy. A big thank you to the entire membership for their hard work. I would especially like to thank the young adults who organized the Memorial Bull Riding for my dad. These people learned from and corrected mistakes that were made in the past to make this the best event to date. Not many people realize the work and hours that go into the planning of an event like this. Sev and Andrea Carden, Shane and others that helped with this production, a job well done. I ha...

  • City misrepresents federal policy on pot enforcement

    Tom Hawkins|Jun 3, 2015

    I see that the Grand Coulee City Council has once again blocked legal cannabis (marijuana) businesses in our city, and has once again cited federal law as their basis for said decision (or lack thereof). The official position of the federal government in such cases can be read here: http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-update-marijuana-enforcement-policy In most cases, it is easy to see that federal agencies must be “called in” by local and/or tribal government leaders before investigative action would be taken by sai...

  • Killing mother nature?

    Liz Palachuk|Jun 3, 2015

    Why are there fewer butterflies, lady bugs, small to large bees, praying mantis, etc., etc. Are we the cause? Is it because the spray used to kill one insect is killing them all? Even the butterflies and humming birds are nearly gone. Why? Liz Palachuck...

  • Shopping cart roundups

    Jesse Utz|Jun 3, 2015

    Do you ever wonder how all those shopping carts outside a store find their way back inside for the next customer to use? Kind of an amazing process when you think about it. Some shopper leaves the cart to aimlessly fend for itself, and then, as if an actual modern-day miracle happens, they are right there, waiting for them, in the store the next time they come shopping. A shopping cart vortex that rounds up all the lost and forgotten shopping wagons and returns them home for you. All joking aside, I have noticed a trend lately. Maybe this...

  • The EPA's waterway power grab

    Dan Newhouse Congressman|Jun 3, 2015

    If you were asked to describe a “navigable waterway” in the U.S., you would most likely not think of the stream in your backyard or the irrigation ditch in your field. You would probably mention the Columbia and Mississippi rivers or the Great Lakes. These massive bodies of water are navigable because they function as highways for commercial traffic by ship or boat. Under the Obama Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would disagree. These agencies have defined waterways in a way that only D.C...

  • Coulee Recollections

    Jun 3, 2015

    1 years ago The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken nearly 400 sediment samples at the bottom of Lake Roosevelt from the U.S. border to Grand Coulee Dam. The sampling showed heavy concentrates of slag and toxic minerals, such as arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, Mercury and zinc, and toxic chemicals, in the upper reaches of Lake Roosevelt. EPA said the main source is the Teck Cominco Smelter near Trail, B.C. A special Memorial Day Breakfast, commemorating the end of World War II 60 years ago and honoring local WWII veterans...

  • Meetings and Notices

    Jun 3, 2015

    Chamber at Pepper Jack’s The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet Thursday, June 3, at noon at Pepper Jack’s Bar & Grille in Grand Coulee. Jim Keene, Mary Jane Bailey and Dave Schmidt will be speaking on the old Project Rev program. American Legion Post 157 Meets at Zion Lutheran This Month The American Legion Post 157 will hold its June meeting Tuesday, June 9 at 7 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church. For more information contact Jerry at 633-2579. OCTA to Hold Public Board Meeting Okanogan County Transit Authority (OCTA) will hol...

  • Senior Menu for June

    Jun 3, 2015

    Wed., June 3– Dinner Roast Chicken w/Stuffing & Gravy, Green Beans & Onions, Fruit Slices, Cheesecake. Thurs., June 4 – Dinner Meat Loaf, Cheesy Potatoes, Mixed Vegetables, Fruited Jello, Brownies. Fri., June 5 – Breakfast Sausage Patties & Eggs, Hashbrowns, Muffins or Toast, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice. Mon, June 8 – Breakfast Ham & Eggs, French Toast, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice. Tues., June 9 – Dinner Pulled Pork, Salad & Fruit Bar, Cook’s Choice. Wed., June 10 -Dinner Pot Roast, Potatoes, Carrots & oions, Gravy, Fruir Bowl, Pie. Thurs., Jun...

  • Tree-Care booklet offered by foundation

    Jun 3, 2015

    The Arbor Day Foundation is offering a handy tree-care booklet designed to help people plant and care for trees. Anyone can receive Conservation Trees, a user-friendly booklet featuring illustrations, colorful photos, and easily understood descriptions, by making a $3 donation to the Foundation this month. “Conservation Trees is an ideal resource for tree planters,” said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Taking care of existing trees is just as critical as planting new ones, and proper care ensures communities are a...

  • Up and coming

    Jun 3, 2015

    For last year's Koulee Kidsfest, Grand Coulee Volunteer Firefighter Charlie Pope helps an interested boy don the gear worn in a real fire. The event, which is planned for June 20 this year encourages kids and parents to do things together at little planned happenings around town. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • Garzas have a girl

    Jun 3, 2015

    Benjamin and Ashley Garza of Coulee City are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Isabella Danielle Garza born Friday, May 22, 2015, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 7 lbs., 10 oz., and was 22 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Kaiden age 5, Kyanna 3 and Kalaya 18 months. Maternal grandparents are Robert and Amber Olson of Coulee City. Paternal grandparents are Narcedalia Mendez and Anastacio JiJon of Warden. Great-grandparents include Marlene Grant and Phyllis Rice of Coulee City....

  • It's a boy for the Fulfers

    Jun 3, 2015

    Jason and Kristen Fulfer of Elmer City are proud to announce the birth of their son Jason Thomas Fulfer, born Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 7 lbs., 13 oz., and was 20 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Amy Dorman age 7 and Marteena Fulfer age 9. Maternal grandparents are Ken and Connie James. Paternal grandparents are Robert Wade Fulfer and Rosalee Atchison. Great-grandparents are Bob and Donna Riley, Leona Dick and Jimmy Wiley, Gabriel and Yvonne Moses and Ernest and Arlene...

  • It's a boy for Josh and Taylor Friesen

    Jun 3, 2015

    Josh and Taylor are proud to announce the birth of their son Dawson Summit Friesen born on Thursday, May 7, 2015, in Pocatello, Idaho. Dawson weighed 6 lbs., 7 oz. and was 19 inches in length at birth. Grandparents are Brett and Shelly Black of Elmer City and Dave Friesen of Electric City. Great-grandparents include Betty Black of Elmer City and Dave and Sue Ovenell of Quincy, Wash....

Page Down