Sorted by date Results 1 - 19 of 19
A fire at Osborn Bay in high winds Saturday forced two people there to stay in the water for hours as flames came near enough at times that they could feel the heat. The fire near Osborn Bay, south of Electric City burned approximately 30 acres of sagebrush, dry grass, trees, and other vegetation in high winds on Saturday after a bullet ricocheted and started the fire. Electric City Fire Chief Mark Payne said the fire started at approximately 12:55 p.m. when a man shooting in the area reported...
A Lake Roosevelt student-athlete testing positive for COVID has led to students quarantining and basketball games being cancelled, but an outdoor graduation ceremony is still planned for Saturday. Basketball games on June 4, 5, 7, and 8 were canceled as a result of the situation. A June 5 notice on the Raider’s athletic website announced that a student-athlete had tested positive for Covid resulting in the basketball teams quarantining. A June 7th update on the school’s Facebook page explained that in response, the school’s “admin team has been... Full story
Get your passports ready; Koulee Kids Fest is taking place on June 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with lots of free activities for kids to participate in around the town. The “passports” are used by the kids to go to various activities and get their passports stamped at up to 16 local businesses offering fun activities to qualify to win prizes. “My hope for Koulee Kids Fest is for it to draw families outside, support the community, and engage in some safe and fun activities,” Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Executive Directo...
Hotter and drier summers seem to be the trend in climate changes locally as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released the new U.S. Climate Normals for 1991-2020. The NOAA is part of the Department of Commerce and updates the climate normals every 10 years using a 30-year range of data. Comparing the 1991-2020 data to the previous 1981-2010 data shows that the Spokane area, like much of the western U.S., is experiencing hotter and drier summers. Including here. "Vegetation drie...
A dozen boat-in campsites at Steamboat Rock State Park in the Ponderosa Campground are now closed to camping as the area becomes designated for day-use only. Washington State Parks announced the closure, which began June 1, in a May 26 press release. The day-use only area has "900 feet of shoreline available for picnicking and exploring," the release says. The press release also shows a satellite map of the now day-use area, located northeast of the boat launch and bordering an area that technic...
That headline is from a sign my wife put above the door to our kitchen in opposition to anyone who has other ideas. This country in its absolute worst state is extremely blessed. At its best, it’s an unstoppable wonder. To keep our momentum up as a nation, we need to include everybody. This is not selfless idealism; it’s a practical consideration highlighted this week by an autistic young woman I had the pleasure to interview. The experience was somewhat difficult for her since her conditions limit her abilities somewhat during personal int...
As we linger on the dry side of precipitation in our region, it’s prudent to check dedicated weather sources that, as part of their work, speak to near-future weather and wildfire conditions. Let’s start with the Office of Predictive Services at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. A specific comment is made in the June 1 Wildland Fire Potential Outlook that addresses the Northwest region: “The driest area in the region is the Columbia Basin. Green up is variable or compl...
A harrowing experience is behind us, and it is time to commend those who calmed and saved us. First, I have to commend the dispatcher that kept me on the line until safety arrived. I do not know what county she was from. (911 calls here go to possibly four counties.) She stayed with me as the flames rushed us and our gear, urging a water retreat. Our fear was real. We did indeed have lots of help arrive. They couldn’t see us for the smoke. Helicopter pilots and firemen did their best, and we did get away without loss. Within five minutes of c...
THANKS to ALL the local FIRE Responders and Response Teams from surrounding communities for the quick and professional RESPONSE to the Osborn Bay Fire last Saturday. Under the dry, windy conditions this could have been disastrous. Thanks also to the DNR crews for the mop-up. Sincerely, Ronald and Wendy Kosloski...
I am passing along an extremely disappointing decision from the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB), involving a matter I recently handled. In 1997, Adam Betancourt, then almost 17, along with another juvenile shot and killed an 89- and 88-year-old Quincy couple. The case eerily reminds me of Truman Capote’s movie “In Cold Blood.” Betancourt and co-defendant Donald Lambert killed Homer and Vada Smithson, who had just celebrated their 70-year wedding anniversary. Betancourt and Lambert broke into the Smithson house and began shoot...
When traveling in foreign countries, always expect the unexpected. In Bothell, I met a Chinese immigrant from Hong Kong who came to this country but had to leave his wife behind. He was born in Hong Kong and easily fit within the limits of the quota system. He had a sponsor and also a job waiting for him. His wife was born in Mainland China and suffered from a much smaller quota system. I had asked for information on quota systems so I was prepared to look into it when I arrived in Hong Kong. I met his wife, and she said that U.S. officials...
Darin L. Crosby passed away Thursday morning, May 20, 2021 at his home in Mead, Washington. He was born May 13, 1966, in Grants Pass, Oregon to Gary and Jo Crosby. Hunting and camping in the Methow Valley were important activities in Darin's family as he grew up. Motorcycle riding, snowmobiling, and working on cars with his dad, brother and uncle were special times for him growing up. Darin graduated from Lynnwood High School in 1984. After high school he worked for construction contractors,... Full story
The Grand Coulee Library has a new librarian, Catherine Matthews, and she's excited to meet you. Matthews moved to Electric City by way of Whidbey Island and started work at the library on May 18. Speaking with The Star by phone, Matthews explained her love of books and libraries. She said that she always went to her local public library as she was growing up and got exposed to different viewpoints and opinions. "I read a lot," she said. "I read very widely, across genres and lots of different...
Grant County Mosquito Dist. 2 to Meet Grant County Mosquito District No. 2 will be holding the monthly meeting 5 p.m., Thursday, June 10, 2021, at 210 W. Coulee Blvd., Electric City. To join the meeting via Freeconference call 1-425-436-6260, then enter the access code 4096451 and then press the # sign. AA Meetings for GCD and Nespelem Area Confused in the Coulee AA meetings are held on Mondays and Fridays at 6 p.m. at the Vets Center in Electric City. Call Paul at 633-3377 days or 633-3345 evenings. New Hope Group meetings are held Wednesdays...
Taylor Burn’s and Garrett Evers of Elmer City, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Evelyn Jean-Marie Evers born Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. She weighed 7 lbs., 9 oz., and was 18-1/2 inches in length at birth. Sibling includes brother Cassius, 17 months. Maternal grandparents are Brandie Burn’s of Elmer City and Anthony Moulton. Paternal grandparents are Tammy Crookin and Kenny Evers. Great-grandmother is Donna Deckman of Electric City, Washington.... Full story
Amber and Billy Monroe of Coulee Dam, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their son Kamden Lee Monroe, born Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. He weighed 7 lbs., and was 19.5 inches in length at birth. Sibling includes Kaydence age 3. Maternal grandparents and Rigoberto and Shannon Guzman. Paternal grandparents are James and Robbie Monroe.... Full story
Grand Coulee 5/29 - Police drove to Osborne Bay for a noise complaint of loud music playing. Police heard music playing somewhere in the area upon arrival, but then it stopped. Police waited to see if the music started again, but it did not. - A catalytic converter was sawed off the muffler of a business’ delivery truck. - Police pulled over a car suspected of being driven under the influence because of some erratic lane travel and sudden braking. The driver did not appear intoxicated but was tired and wearing medical scrubs. She said she w...
5 MRSC ROSTERS SMALL PUBLIC WORKS, CONSULTANT, and VENDOR ROSTERS FOR PARTICIPATING WASHINGTON STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES LOCATED IN EASTERN WASHINGTON The Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC) hereby advertises on behalf of the below listed local government agencies in Washington State (local governments) in Eastern Washington (Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Adams, Whitman, Garfield, Asotin, Spokane, Lincoln, Ferry Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties), including - but not limited to - cities (Title 35 RCW and... Full story
Wrestlers compete at Oroville, Wahluke Home match scheduled for today The Raiders wrestled in Oroville and in Mattawa this past week, and are scheduled to host an event today (June 9) in the gym in Coulee Dam. The Raiders wrestled in the Oroville Mix & Match tournament on June 2 and at Wahluke High School in Mattawa on June 5. Their scheduled home event in the Raider gym in Coulee Dam today starts at 5 p.m. Oroville Mix and Match Wrestling Tournament June 2, Round 1 Colton Jackson v. Aaron...