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Articles from the July 12, 2017 edition


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  • Board addresses letter to CMC employees

    Scott Hunter|Jul 12, 2017

    At a special meeting last Wednesday in the wake of the CEO’s resignation, hospital district commissioners approved a letter to employees about the future leadership of Coulee Medical Center. The letter was penned by commission President Jerry Kennedy but sent from the whole board of commissioners and later posted to the hospital’s website. Owens resigned during the June 28 hospital commission meeting. The letter expressed confidence in the executive team composed of Interim Chief Executive Officer Ramona Hicks, Chief Financial Officer Kel...

  • Update: Redford Canyon fire burns near Keller

    Jacob Wagner|Jul 12, 2017

    A lightning-caused fire burning eight miles southeast of Keller was only 10 percent contained, as of mid-morning on Tuesday. The 500-acre Redford Canyon fire, located just northeast of where the San Poil river empties into the Columbia, is spreading in a northeast direction towards Whitestone Ridge, burning primarily grass, sage, and timber. The fire was reported on July 15 at 4:50 a.m., according to a joint press release from the Colville Confederated Tribes and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Some 250 firefighters are expected on the scene as...

  • Evacuation orders in Okanogan County

    Jul 12, 2017

    People in the Carlton area are under an evacuation order due to wildfire. Here's the notice texted out by Okanogan County officials moments ago: S: 2017-07-15 1645 Level 2/3 Persons should be aware of a fast moving wild land fire in the Carlton area. Level 3 evacuations have been issued for the area of Carlton to Bensen Creek and Carlton up Texas Creek. Level 2 evacuation from Bensen Creek to Lower Beaver Creek. Persons should be aware of their surroundings. Do not wait for door to door notifications to evacuate. If north of Carlton Evacuate...

  • Nespelem Boys & Girls Club opens

    Jacob Wagner|Jul 12, 2017

    Nespelem now has a Boys & Girls Club, located in the area's community center, offering a range of activities, mentorship, and help with homework. A soft opening of the club occurred on June 21 for the summer, and an official opening will occur sometime in the fall after school starts and when the club will be assisting with academics. Some 157, and counting, school-age children have signed up, and the club is averaging about 30-50 children attending each day, according to Director Michelle Paul...

  • Four injured and one charged in crash

    Scott Hunter|Jul 12, 2017

    Four young adults were injured Monday night in a high-speed crash a mile north of Nespelem, including the driver, who now faces charges. The Washington State Patrol reports that Curry A. J. Pinkham, 20, of Nespelem, was driving a purple 2007 Honda Ridgeline pickup south on SR-155 about 9:30 at a high rate of speed when the pickup left the roadway to the right and hit gravel when he lost control. The vehicle went into a field over an embankment, rolled once and landed on its wheels. Three passengers, all of Nespelem, were injured in the crash, i...

  • After safe holiday, fire danger is now high

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 12, 2017

    It truly was a safe and sane 4th of July as far as local fires go, but current conditions call for high caution, firefighters warn. Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department Chief Richard Paris reported this week that there was only one fire in the area during the July 4 celebration, and that was in a small grassy area between North Dam and the softball fields. “The area firefighters are very appreciative of the local citizens and visitors,” Paris stated Monday. “Most people followed Coulee Dam’s ban and Grand Coulee’s new ordinance and did not f...

  • Electric City Council votes funds toward new parks

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 12, 2017

    The Electric City council Tuesday night agreed to move forward with its plan to develop two new parks. But the council is going to step back and approve parts of the park development in phases. The council approved $8,292 for McNett Park and $7,262 for the Grand Avenue Park, which will take the city through the design and review stage. Robert Droll, the landscape architect selected to see the park project through, appeared and walked council members through the project. He started by telling the...

  • Colville Tribes dedicates headquarters

    Jacob Wagner|Jul 12, 2017

    The Colville Confederated Tribes dedicated their government building to Lucy Friedlander Covington on Thursday, July 6. Covington, a granddaughter of Chief Moses of the Sinkiuse/Columbia Tribe, and descendent of Chief Kamiakin and Chief Owhi, was instrumental in the fight against the termination of the Colville Confederated Tribes. "If it was not for Lucy, we would not be here today," said Colville Business Councilmember Mel Tonasket, who had worked with Covington. "Lucy was our leader, there...

  • Woman wants to help in rescue shelter effort

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 12, 2017

    A Delano woman who recently moved back to the area from Idaho is offering support for Dorothy Harris’ efforts to establish an animal rescue operation in Grand Coulee. Doreen Holter has been following Harris’ efforts with the city on an animal rescue plan and stated Friday, “It’s sorely needed.” She said she has been trying to figure out what to do about a number of feral cats, many of which have their eyes “caked” over, from her own area in Delano. “We have 20-30 cats, many with kittens, running wild here, and something needs to be done abou...

  • Mumps over in Grant County

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 12, 2017

    The mumps outbreak in Grant County is over. So says Health Officer Dr. Alexander Brzezny, who stated last Wednesday that the county has gone through two incubation periods (50 days) without a single new case of mumps reported. The county’s last case of mumps was reported May 9. Brzezny stated that the county will still be active in monitoring the situation. There is the potential for sporadic cases since other counties are still reporting cases of mumps. County health officials were quick to thank Columbia Basin Job Corps leadership in a...

  • Boys & Girls Club a welcome addition

    Jul 12, 2017

    The establishment of a Boys & Girls Club at the Nespelem Community Center has a lot of potential to make a big difference in the lives of many children and for the community. Many have been advocating to bring in the national organization for years, citing its success at providing a “safe, affordable place for kids and teens during critical out-of-school time.” That kind of focus, in areas such as art, cyber safety, healthy habits, education, character and leadership and even career development can make a big difference. The organization spe...

  • Re: "Asking for a reasonable outcome for rescue" (July 5 Letters from our Readers)

    Kathy Neal|Jul 12, 2017

    I totally agree with Dorothy Harris; a rescue is badly needed in this area, we have no vets available on weekends, we have no place to take strays. If they were available, they would end up putting them down! Years ago I found a dog that had heat stroke/seizures; had to call the police to take it to the vet’s office. The city of Electric City called them, and after a time the poor animal was just put down, even though it never had any more seizures. I tried to put up flyers to get it adopted, as I could not do that. By the way, the city of Elec...

  • Disappointed in holiday happenings and tourism in general

    Carol Shoning|Jul 12, 2017

    I, for one, am very disappointed in this non-4th of July, 4th of July celebration. Many who had reservations here over the 4th did not know that the fireworks were on Saturday. One of my daughters who works in the office of Columbia River Inn called all who had reservations for over the 4th and had many cancellations. I doubt that all motel and campgrounds did that, leaving many visitors unhappy when they arrived to find that the fireworks and festival in the park were already over. Folks have already heard many times over that the newest laser...

  • The well of love

    Jesse Utz|Jul 12, 2017

    One of the hardest things to do as a servant of Christ is to find the good in everyone. Some people are just plain rude or have really done something diabolical in the past that has hurt us deeply. But God has been telling me something lately through scripture, messages and my own actions. He loves every one of us the same and wants to see us all prosper through Him. As a friend recently pointed out something profound to me: when we are talking about someone else whom we don’t understand and we put them down with our words or actions, we are s...

  • Encourage good media

    Lee Hamilton|Jul 12, 2017

    I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to journalism, I’m a traditionalist. Old-fashioned, even. But I don’t think it’s a coincidence that even while confidence in the media drops to new lows and Time magazine feels moved to wonder “Is Truth Dead?” on its cover, huge numbers of Americans have come to believe the media is not as authoritative as it once was. Straightforward, responsible journalism is an indispensable public asset, a cornerstone of democratic life. This is threatened by the trends reshaping the media landscape....

  • Eighty-two years ago

    Jul 12, 2017

    Looking upstream, Government Camp is in the lower right corner, above which is the west cofferdam and excavation conveyor running in Rattlesnake Canyon. To the left is the Machine Shop area of Mason City, a catwalk crossing the Columbia River, and the east end of the highway bridge. - July 22, 1935 photo...

  • David James Bastian

    Jul 12, 2017

    David James Bastian, 74, resided for the past 19 years in Electric City, Washington. David passed away peacefully at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, due to causes incident to cancer on Saturday, July 8, 2017. David was born on September 10, 1942, in Spokane, Wash., to Weldon Wilford Bastian and Melba Ardyce Parker. He is survived by six siblings: Larry Bastian, Marlene Bastian Safsten, Bonnie Bastian Williams, Steven Bastian, Penny Bastian Lindsay and Daniel Bastian. David...

  • Darius "Kanie" St.Paul

    Jul 12, 2017

    Darius "Kanie" St.Paul, 67, enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes, passed away peacefully at his home Sunday evening, July 2, 2017, in Spokane surrounded by his loved ones. The world was forever changed on Wednesday, December 28, 1949, when Robert and Ellen St.Paul welcomed their delightfully witty, charismatic, naturally athletic, and wonderfully good looking bundle of awesomeness to this land. Kanie walked this earth with an educated determination and a bologna sandwich. He...

  • Robert (Bob) Boucher

    Jul 12, 2017

    Robert Lee Boucher, a resident of Grand Coulee, Washington, died on June 25, 2017. He was born April 13,1924, to Horace Leroy Boucher and Esther Leona Bish Boucher. He grew up on a ranch east of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He served 40 days in combat during World War II and earned a Purple Heart. He graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1949, he moved to Ephrata, Washington, where he worked for the Bureau of Reclamation. In 1971, he transferred to Grand Coulee, where he saw...

  • Seriously young

    Jul 12, 2017

    A dancer at the annual Fourth of July Celebration Powwow Sunday competes in the "tiny tots" division under the arbor at the Colville Indian Agency. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • Senior meals

    Jul 12, 2017

    Wed., July 12 - Dinner Mac & Cheese with Ham, Mixed Veggies, Fruit Salad Thurs., July 13 - Dinner Fish & Chips, Peas and Carrots, Seasonal Fruit, Carnival Cups Fri., July 14 - Breakfast Biscuits and Sausage Gravy, Eggs, or Waffles (Strawberries optional), Fruit Bowl and Orange Juice. General meeting today at 10 a.m. Mon., July 17 - Breakfast Ham Scramble, Hash Browns, Toast, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice Tues., July 18 - Dinner Sub Sandwich, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Salad and Fruit Bar, Cook’s Choice Wed., July 19 - Dinner Pot Roast, Mashed P...

  • Meetings and Notices

    Jul 12, 2017

    Chamber to Meet The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will be meeting at noon, this Thursday at Electric City Bar and Grill. Dr. Jeff Cartwright, the new orthopedic surgeon at Coulee Medical Center, will be the guest presenter. American Legion to Meet The American Legion Post 157 holds legion meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. The next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 11, at the Lutheran Church in Grand Coulee. Lincoln County Fire Dist. #9 Lincoln County Fire District 9 will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at...

  • State preservation council meets in Coulee Dam

    Bob Valen|Jul 12, 2017

    The Washington State Governor's Advisory Council on Historic Preservation met in Coulee Dam Town Hall June 27 to address eight nominations to either the Washington Heritage Register or the National Register of Historic Places. The seven-member council generally meets three times annually at various locations across the state. Their work is to review and approve selected nominations to either the Washington Heritage Register or the National Register of Historic Places, or both. Last year, the...

  • Playhouse winner can put kids in jail, at home

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 12, 2017

    There's still time to purchase tickets for the Ridge Rider "Playhouse" drawing on the final day of the Junior Rodeo, at the Delano rodeo grounds, July 14-16. The playhouse, designed like a miniature jail, is parked in front of Loepp Furniture and was constructed by DWK Fowler Construction. Ridge Rider officials stated the drawing will be held for the playhouse Sunday afternoon, on the final day of the three-day rodeo event. Tickets for the drawing are still available and are being sold at Loepp...

  • General Washington saved by winter weather

    Bob Valen|Jul 12, 2017

    Recently, I came across an interesting story about spies, kidnappings and winter storms. It was all happening during our war for independence from the British more than two hundred years ago. The characters are many, some British, some Colonists and many Loyalists of one side or the other. The protagonist, at least for me, was the weather. In February 1780, a British general and a British spy living in the colonies planned and attempted to capture General George Washington. Washington, at the time, was living in Morristown, New Jersey. The...

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