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Articles from the June 20, 2018 edition


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  • High staff turnover this year in GCD school district

    Jacob Wagner|Jun 20, 2018

    High staff turnover this year in the Grand Coulee Dam School District has led some to wonder why. In many cases, it is simply the right personal decision for the individuals involved, some said. Such is the case with Brian Daniels, who is resigning as a high school English teacher and cross country coach to move to Spokane. “We have always wanted to end up there,” Daniels said about his wife and himself wanting to be closer to extended family. He added that he’ll miss his colleagues, friends, neighbors, and students from this area. Other staff...

  • School Board meeting moved to June 26

    Jun 20, 2018

    The Grand Coulee Dam School District meeting scheduled for tonight (June 25) has been moved to June 26 at 6:30 p.m. with a modified agenda. The rescheduling of the meeting is due to a lack of quorum tonight with the only school board member showing up being Butch Stanger....

  • What's going on with consolidation?

    Jacob Wagner|Jun 20, 2018

    Consolidation, or the combining of local towns, is a topic that’s been in discussion for decades. A survey conducted by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce in 2016 revealed that out of 514 respondents, the majority were in favor of consolidation of two or more of the local towns, with 308 being strongly in favor and 84 being somewhat in favor, as opposed to 99 strongly opposed and 23 somewhat opposed. But what’s happening now? Many ramifications of consolidating the towns would need to be researched by an outside consulting group befo...

  • Council briefs

    Jun 20, 2018

    ELECTRIC CITY — Council voted June 12 to make their chicken ordinance permanent, rather than having to renew it periodically. The ordinance allows citizens to raise hens but not roosters. “I’ve never seen a rooster lay an egg,” said Councilmember Rich McGuire. “Some hens crow,” Councilmember Carol Nordine said, referring to the ban on roosters being due to the classic “cockle-doodle-doo” noise they make at the crack of dawn. • Electric City accepted a $146,000 bid from Central Paving for general street repair to be paid for with a grant from...

  • Good tricks

    Jun 20, 2018

    Leapin' Louie Lichtenstein dazzles the crowd with rope tricks at his western comedy show sponsored by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce to finish off its Koulee Kids Fest on Saturday in the gym of the former middle school in Grand Coulee. Executive Director Peggy Nevsimal estimated that between 150 and 200 kids took part in the 14 free activities offered by businesses around the community, which also reported an increase of people in their businesses and of sales during the day. -...

  • Tillman to serve as mayor in Elmer City

    Jacob Wagner|Jun 20, 2018

    Elmer City council last week elected Jesse Tillman as the new mayor following the resignation of Gail Morin last month. Tillman was the only councilmember to throw his hat into the ring for the mayoral position to replace Morin, which will be up for re-election for a two-year term in November 2019. "He's a fourth-generation mayor," said Public Works Director Jimmer Tillman, Jesse's uncle. "His great-grandfather served as mayor, his grandfather, his father, and now him." Tillman's great...

  • Watch for loose bull

    Jacob Wagner|Jun 20, 2018

    A young bull got loose at the Cleatis Lacy Memorial Bull Riding and Wild Horse Racing last weekend and is still out there somewhere. “He’s running the hillside somewhere,” said Sorrell Katich, of Red Knection K Bulls, based out of Keller. A group of cowboys tried to get the bull back under their control but he jumped off a small cliff, Kattich said, and they weren’t able to continue following him. The bull reportedly ran off toward the Eden Harbor area, and Kattich imagines it will end up somewhere around Wilbur or Almira. The bull “jumped...

  • Humiston approved for town council

    Jacob Wagner|Jun 20, 2018

    The Elmer City council approved Michael Humiston as a new council member at their June 14 meeting. “I enjoy living here, and feel that by serving on the council I can do my part to help support the community,” Humiston said later. Humiston, who was born in Bremerton and raised in Tacoma, received a law degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1990, and also studied European Union law at the University of Amsterdam. “My three areas of expertise are criminal defense, child welfare, and federal Indian law,” Humiston explain...

  • Elmer City, Coulee Dam may discuss wastewater facility issue

    Jacob Wagner|Jun 20, 2018

    Newly appointed Elmer City Mayor Jesse Tillman said at the town’s June 14 council meeting that he had spoken with Coulee Dam Mayor Larry Price about the ongoing wastewater treatment plant issue between the two towns. Coulee Dam is building a new wastewater treatment plant and wants Elmer City to pay for lift pumps that would allow Elmer City to continue to send its wastewater to Coulee Dam for treatment. Elmer City doesn’t want to pay for those lift pumps. Tillman explained that he and Price think they should have a meeting with themselves and...

  • Electric City resident feels shorted on short plat

    Jacob Wagner|Jun 20, 2018

    Electric City resident Wayne Snyder argues that details of a deal he made with the city to annex a neighborhood he developed aren’t being honored. Snyder owns the land on “Snyder Hill,” located in the northern part of the city limits, which includes half a dozen houses and about 17 acres of land. “(Then-mayor) Ray Halsey said that if we would annex to the city, they would accept the road as-is, and chip seal the roads within two years, and take care of weeds and snowplowing,” Snyder said of a 2008-2009 annexation agreement made about Snyder Hi...

  • Local Lions active in community

    Birdie Hensley|Jun 20, 2018

    Grand Coulee Dam Area Lions participated this weekend in the annual Koulee Kids Fest and Coulee Cruizers Auto Show. The Lions have sponsored a station for the Kids Fest for several years. The Grand Coulee Dam Area Lions was chartered in 1936 and has had an active club in the area since. Sometimes the Lions are not on the front lines or as visible as some, but each year they are active in the community. This kind of fundraiser by the Lions puts money into the club’s project fund, which is used for several projects throughout the year. Some of t...

  • Trump, GOP get failing grades on new tax law

    Frank Clemente|Jun 20, 2018

    This is the time of year for final report cards, so it’s a good time to grade President Trump and congressional Republicans on their massive tax cuts mostly benefiting the wealthy and corporations. Six months after enactment, their new tax law is seriously underperforming, failing to achieve passing marks in one important subject after another. Tax Fairness: Once the law is fully phased in, 83 percent of the benefits will go to the wealthiest 1 percent. Those one-percenters will get an average tax cut of over $50,000 this year. Folks making und...

  • Canada is not the enemy

    Rich Lowry|Jun 20, 2018

    Justin Trudeau may be the annoying, youthful avatar of chic progressivism — but he’s not our adversary. After leaving the G-7 summit, President Donald Trump blasted the Canadian prime minister on Twitter as weak and dishonest, in the kind of invective once reserved for “Little Rocket Man.” The Trump presidency routinely produces unprecedented events, and here is another: Never before has a president of the United States spoken as scornfully in public about the head of state of a friendly, allied country. Particularly one who has appeare...

  • It is time to change our tune

    Jesse Utz|Jun 20, 2018
    1

    First off, a disclaimer: I know many of you will disagree with me on this topic, but please bear in mind that if we want change, we have to be the change. For years, Lake Roosevelt schools have gotten a bad rap. I am not saying it is not deserved, and I am not saying that everything is perfect now or that everything is fixed, but we are making progress and trying. The main issue, in my opinion, is the way we speak of our own schools. The way we portray things is just as important as the history....

  • Richard "Dick" Carpenter

    Jun 20, 2018

    Richard "Dick" Carpenter, 75, passed away Saturday evening, June 9, 2018, in Grand Coulee, Washington. Dick was born Monday, May 17, 1943, in Bremerton, Washington, to Earl and Lela Carpenter, graduating from West High School in 1961. On Saturday, October 23, 1965, Dick's life forever changed when he married Miss Lucille "Lucy" Haydock in his hometown of Bremerton. Dick worked for the Department of Defense at Naval Submarine Base Bangor on Washington State's Kitsap Peninsula prior to moving his...

  • Kenneth James Alling

    Jun 20, 2018

    Kenneth James Alling, 73, passed away in Spokane, Washington, Wednesday, June 13, 2018. He was born May 27, 1945, growing up in Grand Coulee, Washington, on a farm in Douglas County, raising wheat, cattle and hell. He worked as a millwright in a variety of locations: Kettle Falls, Spokane, Moses Lake, and Colorado Springs. He married Elaine Brauner in 1965. Together they raised six children: Paula (Mark) Hurst, Colville; Rebecca Alling, Los Angeles; Bill (Andy) Alling, Seattle; Heather (Mike)...

  • Wild riders

    Jun 20, 2018

    Clea Pryor, daughter of the late Cleatis Lacy, and Colorama Rodeo Queen Jessie Walker handed out the championship belt buckles to the winning bull rider and wild horse team at the 2018 Cleatis Lacy Bull Riding & Wild Horse Racing Saturday at the Ridge Riders Rodeo Arena in Delano. Bull rider Austin Herrera, of Soap Lake, won the bull ride event. Tony Saiz's Zip Truck Lines team won the wild horse race. More photos of the event are online at grandcoulee.com. - Scott Hunter pho...

  • Meetings and Notices

    Jun 20, 2018

    Chamber This Week The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet this Thursday, June 21, at noon at Sunbanks Resort Lodge Cantina, outside of Electric City. The public is welcome. Grant County Fire Dist. 14 to Meet Grant County Fire District 14 will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, June 25, at the Electric City Fire Station. 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 even...

  • BBCC HS21 graduates celebrate success

    Jun 20, 2018

    Three local students fulfilled the requirements to earn their high school (HS21) diploma through Big Bend Community College during the 2017-2018 academic year. Their accomplishments were celebrated at a special graduation ceremony Wednesday, June 13, on the main campus of Big Bend Community College. The first local students completed the program two years ago, and this year three more students - Stephanie Guin, Patricia Hix, and Dorothy Park - reached this significant milestone. The HS21...

  • Bodeau earns degree

    Jun 20, 2018

    Kate Bodeau graduated with a B.S. degree in Clinical Physiology from Central Washington University on June 9, 2018. She also received recognition for tutoring students at CWU for the past 2 years. Kate will begin her internship at Samaritan Healthcare in Moses Lake, WA in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit. She is an ACH graduate (2015) and the daughter of Todd and Joyce Bodeau of Almira....

  • Coming up, class of 2022

    Jun 20, 2018

    Teacher Sandy Hood addresses 50 Lake Roosevelt Junior High eighth-graders at a ceremony Wednesday recognizing their passage into the ranks of high school. - Jacob Wagner photo...

  • LR Jr./Sr. High honor rolls for second semester

    Jun 20, 2018

    High Honors 3.50 - 4.00 Seniors Rylee E. Pitner, Khani R. Priest, Dylan R. Jenkins, Robin K. Matt, Aidan A. Derr, Dylan J. Steinert Juniors Hannah J. Wapato, Addison A. Hansen, Stephen G. Flowers, Lilyana J. Clark, Evan Harris, Olivia A. Ludwig, Anthony M. Nichols, Lauryn T. Alling Sophomores Ellie R. Hansen, Lorrinda L. Richardson, Brianna M. Whybark, Wensdae E. Antoine, Kyle I. Edmo, Anysthesia Wendt, Megan R. Abel, Michael S. Laramie, Lindsey P. Weaver, Nicholas A. Engeseth FreshmEn Vanessa S. Ankney, Lillie A. LaPlace, Bryn K. Chaffee,...

  • Legals for June 20, 2018

    Jun 20, 2018

    Notice of Change of Regular Meeting Date Public Hospital District No. 6, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, & Okanogan Counties, Wash. Public Hospital District No. 6, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln and Okanogan Counties, Washington; which operates Coulee Medical Center and Coulee City Clinic, will be changing the regular board meeting date for the month of June. The next board meeting will be held Thursday June 28, 2018, at 11 a.m. in the Coulee Medical Center training room. (Publish June 13 and 20, 2018) GCD School District #301J REQUISTION STATEMENT OF...

  • Coulee Cops

    Jun 20, 2018

    Coulee Dam Police 6/2 - An alarm at the National Park Service headquarters on Crest Drive was a false alarm set off by a worker. 6/5 - An officer returned a dog running at large on Camas Street to its yard, but was unable to contact the owner. Grand Coulee Police 6/11 - An Electric City man pulled over near the four-corners area for driving with expired tabs was found to have a warrant for a misdemeanor and taken into Grant County Jail. 6/12 - An Electric City man reported a truck filled with garbage parked illegally on private property....

  • Coulee Dam considering change to tree ordinance

    Scott Hunter|Jun 20, 2018

    Coulee Dam’s law that protects its trees may be overhauled at the next council meeting June 27. Resident Bruce Bartoo has asked permission to remove two town-owned ornamental cherry trees from the planting strip in front of his house at 310 Stevens Avenue, saying he would plant Hawthornes in their place. Bartoo has asked for their removal several times over a course of a few years, but now says the trees are creating a hazard in his and a neighbor’s lawn, sending up sharp sprouts. The request has been stalled in the past, either directly by the...

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