News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Public meetings, including those of city councils, school boards, and various districts, will need to continue to be held telephonically, a requirement that might lead to an expanded means of public participation in at least one local city. Gov. Jay Inslee extended proclamations related to COVID-19 restrictions Friday, including proclamations related to public meetings forbidding them from being held in person. "The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and its progression in Washington State continues... Full story
Recognizing that graduation won't be what anyone had planned for the class of 2020, The Star is offering special rates to parents or others wanting to give greater recognition to their graduating seniors. A half page in next week's special section for graduates costs $179, a discount of 35 percent. A quarter page is $99. An eighth page is $60. Photos and words that you'd like expressed must be emailed to gwen@grandcoulee.com by the end of the day Thursday, June 4. The special section will be... Full story
We created a short survey asking you about your mask wearing habits and what you think about wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Take the poll at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/25XHPF2... Full story
The Grand Coulee City Council approved a $3.57 million, five-year contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Thursday to continue to use the Grand Coulee Police Department to provide additional security services at the Grand Coulee Dam. The contract, approved and effective as of May 22, expires on May 31, 2025. The city’s old contract with the bureau expired in November 2019, which led to a six-month extension while a new contract was negotiated. The Star was unable to obtain specific details of the new contract but reported in February t...
Even before the order went statewide Friday directing widespread wearing of masks in public and requiring business to mandate it for employees not working alone, Grant County health authorities had already decided that protection was necessary. It is now mandatory to wear face masks in many public situations in Grant County, which recently entered Phase 2 of the Washington’s Safe Start Recovery Plan. “After much consideration, research, and consultation, Grant County Health Officer Dr. Alexander Brzezny is issuing a Health Officer Dir... Full story
As “distance learning” continues at Lake Roosevelt Schools during the COVID-19 pandemic that has kept students out of classrooms, principals weigh in on students’ participation in online classes. During the May 26 school board meeting, held electronically via Zoom, the topic of student participation came up. LR Elementary School Principal Lisa Lakin said teachers are getting participation from about 65% of their students. “Every week that students ‘check in’ with their teacher they are counted as attending,” Lakin’s report to the board, incl... Full story
A statewide health care campaign is urging people not to delay getting treated for any other health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing that hospitals can still treat non-COVID issues. Dr. Sam Hsieh, Coulee Medical Center’s chief medical officer, told The Star in an email on Monday that “there is a national drop of 60% of normal visits for primary and specialty care visits.” The Spokesman Review recently reported on the issue of people delaying their healthcare, reporting that Washington state doctors have cited instances of pe... Full story
Lake Roosevelt’s COVID-19 era graduation should go on as planned despite Okanogan County currently being in Phase 1 of Washington State’s Safe Start Recovery Plan. Graduation is scheduled to be held June 13 at 7 p.m. at the Lake Roosevelt football field where social distancing guidelines will mean limited interaction, attendees staying in their cars, graduates walking on and off the field one at a time to collect their diplomas, and slideshows and speeches being projected onto large screens on the field. Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High Sch... Full story
Camping is still closed in the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, including at Spring Canyon, and boat launch fees can only be paid by credit card now. The National Park Service said Monday that the closure of campgrounds is continuing until further notice to help quell the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Four of the five counties that border the lake, Lincoln, Stevens, Ferry, and Grant are in Phase 2 of Washington state's Safe Start recovery plan, with Okanogan still being in Phase 1.... Full story
At the age of 13, I was convinced that racism would obviously be gone from society within five years; it made no sense and reasonable people would prevail, my young, naive brain reasoned. It was 1968, a year that shook us as Americans, even — perhaps especially — naive 13-year-old white kids who believed in the system as presented to us. It was a year that would plunge doubts in that faith deep into the heart of the country and send us all on a journey toward a cynicism from which our nation has not recovered. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was ass... Full story
For a few years I’ve been leading a group of youth for my church and this year our theme is: “I will go, I will do!” This is inspiring me to share a story that I heard this week on the radio. This particular story takes place during the time when Berlin was separated into West Berlin and East Berlin by the wall. On the eastern side, a police force now famously known as “the Stasi” was oppressing, surveilling and detaining people, often with cruelty and abuse. This story is about a woman who was a member of a group that promoted freedom a...
Protest peacefully please. As a mother, grandmother and soon to be great-grandmother, I feel it’s my obligation to appeal to you to assemble peaceably. Because it just may be that if there is to be no justice and no peace, then there is no future for your children. Think about it carefully. Look to the past. You know that reacting to violence with violence only provokes more violence. Remember the great men and women in history who actually brought on change. People like Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Gandhi and the most influential man of a...
A lot of soul searching has been going on over the past few weeks. Then a horrific tragedy occurred, and the world watched a man die under the knee of a law enforcement officer. Then the cities erupted. The protests grew up into every major city in America and we found ourselves as a nation trying to put words to what we were witnessing. I have watched a lot of people, make a lot of statements regarding these events that currently still have emotions at a boiling over point. Something has been...
Grand Coulee Dam and the Spokane's Golden Jubilee of 1939 The “Great Spokane Fire” occurred on August 4, 1889, destroying 32 downtown city blocks. Exactly 50 years later, Spokane would host the “Golden Jubilee” statehood celebration. For this celebration “Wooden Money” or scrip was produced with a value of 5 cents. Scrip was given to Spokane residents, tribal members, and workers building the Grand Coulee Dam. Three script versions were made and included pictures of the Dam, James Glover (Father of Spokane), and Curly Jim (Spokane Tribe). The c...
Charles (Chuck) Elder’s Family would like to let the community know that he died as a result of a fall on May 26th in Spokane Washington. At his request no services were held... Full story
Kathy Kay Pierce of Spokane Washington, left us on May 25, 2020, after an eight-year battle with Lupus. Kathy was born on January 23, 1950, in Spokane, during a very severe winter storm. Kathy's early years were spent riding her horse "Little Joe" with several of her friends, swimming in Banks Lake and babysitting several families' young children. Kathy graduated from Grand Coulee High School in 1968. After graduation, she attended Beauty School in Spokane. Upon graduation, she worked in the... Full story
City of Electric City Upcoming Meetings The City of Electric City has two upcoming meetings with both conducted telephonically. The first one is the Regional Board of Mayors at 4 p.m., on Monday, June 8. The second meeting is the Electric City monthly council meeting to be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9. At this time, no public comments will be taken for either meeting, however, the public can listen in on either meeting at a special call-in telephone number that will be available on the City of Electric City’s website at w...
Grand Coulee Police 5/21 - A man was banned from a Burdin Boulevard residence following an argument with another man there. - A woman reported being a victim in the unemployment scam happening recently. - A man said his stepson put a trailer for sale on Facebook without his permission. He said he moved it so it wouldn’t get stolen. A truck bed box with several tools was missing. 5/22 - People turned their music off following a noise complaint on Lakeview Avenue. - An officer on SR-155 pulled a vehicle over on SunBanks Resort Road for having a...
Brianna Whybark is the 2020 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. Brianna is a graduate of Lake Roosevelt Jr/Sr. High School. She participated in the Running Start program to gain college credits while in high school and plans to attend Washington State University to begin her pursuit of a degree in pharmacy. P.E.O. is a P...
Grand Coulee High School Alumni Association selected 12 recipients to receive $500 scholarships this year. Four graduating seniors include Lake Roosevelt High School Valedictorian, Ellie Hansen, who plans to attend WSU for an education in sports medicine, specifically physical therapy. Ellie is the daughter of Steve and Hope Hansen of Coulee Dam. Seniors from high schools other than Lake Roosevelt eligible on the basis of being direct descendants of a former student of School District 55 include: Liberty Croutch, the granddaughter of the late...
Grand Coulee High School Alumni Association voted to hold their 6th all-class reunion picnic at North Dam Park on Saturday, August 8, 2020. A catered meal will be served at noon, so it will be necessary to confirm your attendance in order to give a count to the caterer in time to have enough food for the crowd. Class coordinators will be notifying people of other activities for individual classes. Contact Fawn Brashears, Lonna Bussert, Diane Canady, Kathy Rice or Liz Marcolin, or you can also confirm by clicking on events on the Association...
GCD School District PUBLIC MEETING The Grand Coulee Dam School District will be holding a pubblic Mmeeting to discuss the Grand Coulee Dam School District Title VI Part II grant. It will be held as a zoom meeting Tuesday, June 9, 2020, 6pm Zoom Meeting - https://gcdsd.zoom.us/j/7274931414?pwd=OFI0aFpzU3V4TVNBSjBVUlorN05YQT09 Meeting ID: 727 493 1414 Password: 549005 One tap mobile +12532158782,,7274931414#,,1#,549005# US (Tacoma) +13462487799,,7274931414#,,1#,549005# US (Houston) Dial by your location +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799... Full story
OLYMPIA – May 29, 2020 – Today, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission(Parks), Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that camping in 22 counties will begin to reopen on Monday, June 1. Counties reopening for camping are all actively in Phase 2 of Gov. Inslee’s ‘Safe Start’ plan and have also been approved for camping by county officials. The public should check state agency websites for the status of individual campgrounds and dispersed camping. State Parks The reopening... Full story
So, you filled your shopping cart and gardens with lots of new shrubs, flowers, and vegetables. Now what? Keep your plants looking their best with minimal effort so you can enjoy them and your summer even more. Watering is one task where I find even experienced gardeners struggle. Proper watering is key. Too much or not enough water can result in yellow, wilting and even death of plants. Check container plantings daily. Stick your finger into the soil and water whenever the top few inches of soil is starting to dry. Water thoroughly so the exce...
EPHRATA – Grant PUD, in conjunction with Columbia Basin Foundation, has contributed to eight food banks throughout Grant County this spring with Pay-It-Forward grants totaling $11,000. The services of these food banks are greatly needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many in our communities are struggling to put food on the table for their family and these donations help to provide healthy meals. Food banks receiving assistance include: Coulee City, Grand Coulee, Ephrata, Mattawa, Moses Lake/Warden, Quincy, Royal City and Soap Lake. The P... Full story
