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Articles from the July 15, 2020 edition


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  • Two local counties surge with COVID-19

    Jacob Wagner and Scott Hunter|Jul 15, 2020

    Two local counties reported two more deaths this week amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in their counties, in the state and in many parts of the nation. Okanogan County Public Health reported that 71 new cases of COVID-19 emerged in the county on Monday and Tuesday alone, with over half its cases all year breaking out within the last two weeks - 147 of its total of 263. Those include the county's third death, which OCPH learned of yesterday. The victim was an agricultural worker from Mexico in his...

  • School board to discuss upcoming school year tonight

    Jul 15, 2020

    You can listen in on the Grand Coulee Dam School District board meeting tonight, July 20, at 5:30 p.m., in which they will discuss the upcoming 2020-21 school year. There will be no public comment period at the meeting. The meeting can be accessed on Zoom at https://gcdsd.zoom.us/j/677070515...

  • Chelan waterpark ordered to close immediately for violating Safe Start order

    Press release, State Dept of Labor and Industries|Jul 15, 2020

    CHELAN COUNTY — A Chelan waterpark has been ordered to close immediately to prevent workers from being exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19). This action comes after a similar order from the state Department of Health last week. Today, the state Department of Labor & Industries delivered an “Order and Notice of Immediate Restraint” directing the waterpark to cease operations until the business is approved to operate under the Governor’s Stay Home Stay Healthy Order. In addition to the order and notice, after completing an inspection earlier...

  • Businesses hurt by COVID-19 may qualify for relief funds

    Jacob Wagner|Jul 15, 2020

    Small businesses in Electric City can apply for up to $5,000 in coronavirus relief funds from the city, and all Grant County small businesses can apply for up to $10,000. Electric City small business owners have until July 31 to fill out and submit a one page application to receive the funds. City Clerk Peggy Nevsimal said the city set up the grant program in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Commerce, something the city council approved in June. The funds businesses can receive would come from the $30,900 the city is eligib...

  • Voters can look to coming ballot for choices

    Jacob Wagner|Jul 15, 2020

    Ballots for Washington’s primary elections must be mailed out by county election offices by Friday, and local voters will have options from which to choose no matter which county or district they live in. In the Grant County Commissioner District #1 race, the candidates are: Danny Stone, of Hartline; Mark S. Wanke, of Ephrata; and Earl Romig, of Moses Lake. All candidates are listed as Republicans. In the Grant County Commissioner District #2 race, the candidates are Rob Jones and Tom Taylor, both Republicans from Moses Lake. In Okanogan C...

  • An art lesson and much more

    Jul 15, 2020

    While at her grandparents' home in Grand Coulee in June, Aidan Bjorklund re-enacts a famous painting for her sixth-grade art assignment at Greenacres Middle School in Spokane Valley. "She wanted to do Rosie the Riveter, so while she was here making face masks we decided to do a 'civic-19' version," said her grandmother, Sue Bjorklund, who said her other grandchildren, including Mia Bjorklund and Carly Neddo, have also visited to make face masks and send them off to family members in New York,...

  • Tribes address layoff rumors

    Jacob Wagner|Jul 15, 2020

    The Colville Tribes responded Monday to inquiries regarding continuing layoffs at the tribes, as well as the use of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act money towards a new rehabilitation center being built in Keller. In April, the CBC announced in a letter that the Colville Tribes as well as the Colville Tribal Federal Corporation had temporarily laid off nearly 600 employees as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Some employees were posting further layoff notices on social media last week. Regarding the...

  • New Colville Business Council members sworn in

    Jul 15, 2020

    The Colville Business Council, the governing body of the Colville Tribes, swore in four newly elected candidates and three incumbents July 9 in a quiet ceremony that has previously been a much larger occasion. Seven of the CBC’s 14 positions came up for election this year for two-year terms. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Tribal Tribune reported, a minimum number of people attended the swearing in at the Lucy F. Covington Government Center on the Colville Tribal Agency near Nespelem. Attendees maintained six-foot distances from each o...

  • Wildfire threatens Mansfield

    Scott Hunter|Jul 15, 2020

    A fire that broke out Saturday afternoon in dry, windy conditions threatened Mansfield, some of whose residents were on a Level 2 evacuation alert. The Road 11 Fire, which started just before 1 p.m. west of SR-172 as it turns south toward Withrow, burned 9,633 acres but was expected to be completely contained by today, Southeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team Incident Commander Bob Gear said Tuesday in a press release. Several structures, including one home, were damaged. The fire’s cause is under investigation. Initially, t...

  • It's a war, so let's fight it

    Scott Hunter|Jul 15, 2020

    In the 20 years it took for the United States to dig itself in, then out, of Southeast Asia in the Vietnam War, more than 58,000 American military personnel died. In the last 173 days, an invisible enemy has killed more than 135,000 Americans — two-and-a-third times as many as the Vietcong killed in 20 years — and has sickened 3.2 million more. For many of us, the coronavirus pandemic seems an extreme inconvenience. But if we don’t decide on a united effort, it will be far worse for far more, and quickly. Some are calling for another compl...

  • I scream, you scream, we all scream …

    Jess Utz|Jul 15, 2020

    I got to witness something very special last week. I will tell you about that in second,d but first I just want to remind you that it is summer. It happened when we were not looking, while we were in quarantine and trying to stay healthy. The summer showed up, and it’s here in full effect. So what goes best with summer? Ice Cream! It started with a sweet little light melody coming from the distance. It got louder and louder as it got closer and closer. Now, growing up here in the Coulee, I have...

  • Rural communities have finally been heard on grizzly bear decision

    Dan Newhouse|Jul 15, 2020

    The proposal to introduce grizzly bears into the North Cascades Ecosystem has been looming over the communities of Central Washington since I was elected to Congress. I have worked with officials in the past two Administrations to ensure that all aspects of this proposal – and all effects of the decision to introduce another apex predator into our rural, agricultural communities – were considered before a final decision was issued. Our public lands, including the North Cascades, are critical to our region – for species conservation, enjoy...

  • The U.S. has no choice but to lead

    Lee H Hamilton|Jul 15, 2020

    The United States is the most powerful country in the world. By any measure, we are preeminent. We have challenges and vulnerabilities, and we are not as dominant as we once were, but no one else comes close to America’s military, economic and political might. Whether we like it or not, we cannot escape the responsibility for global leadership our power places upon us. Many Americans are ambivalent about this. They like having the U.S. out in front, but they have doubts about paying the price. They wonder if the benefits of being a world l...

  • Siphons critical for moving water to farms

    Dan Bolyard, Them Dam Writers online 2020|Jul 15, 2020

    Siphons were a large part of the irrigation project enabled by the pumping plant at Grand Coulee Dam. Most of them were placed in locations where a simple canal would not be feasible, due to an extreme elevation change. Siphons near the main canal, such as this one of the East Low Canal, were about 22 feet in diameter. This October 10, 1948 view, is located near Adco, about 6 miles east of Soap Lake. Notable about this particular siphon is what it is crossing under. Note the body of water on...

  • Legals for July 15, 2020

    Jul 15, 2020

    GCD School District #301J Budget Hearing Notice Notice is hereby given that Grand Coulee Dam School District #301J, will hold a public budget hearing to review the 2020-2021 budget in the Lake Roosevelt Jr. /Sr. High School Library at 5:30 p.m. on the 27th day of July, 2020. Regular board meeting will follow the hearing. B. Paul Turner, Superintendent Grand Coulee Dam School District No. 301J (Publish July 15 & 22, 2020) City of Electric City CALL FOR BIDS FOR 2018 JEEP RENEGADE The City of Electric City will sell by sealed bid the following:...

  • Coulee Cops

    Jul 15, 2020

    Grand Coulee Police 7/7 - Three cars were reported racing in the alley of Williams Avenue in Electric City, attempting to get air by hitting speed bumps while driving fast. The cars were gone upon police arrival. Suspects were thought by the reporting party to live on Kelso Avenue. - A man with dementia walking around Burdin Boulevard was found by police to be doing OK and was going to his nearby home with family. 7/8 - A door was reported open on a Roosevelt Avenue home. The homeowner was contacted and later reported $1,400 in cash, $100 in...

  • Coulee Cops

    Jul 15, 2020

    Grand Coulee Police 7/7 - Three cars were reported racing in the alley of Williams Avenue in Electric City, attempting to get air by hitting speed bumps while driving fast. The cars were gone upon police arrival. Suspects were thought by the reporting party to live on Kelso Avenue. - A man with dementia walking around Burdin Boulevard was found by police to be doing OK and was going to his nearby home with family. 7/8 - A door was reported open on a Roosevelt Avenue home. The homeowner was contacted and later reported $1,400 in cash, $100 in...

  • New club officers announced

    Jul 15, 2020

    The Grand Coulee Dam Lions Club last week announced their new club officers. They are, from left to right, Vice-President John Nordine II, Lion Tamer John Nordine, Secretary Carol Nordine, President Dena Avey, Tail Twister Roberta Hensley, Treasurer Rob Loch. - Rich Avey photo...

  • Jerome Bussert

    Jul 15, 2020

    Interment of Jerome Bussert’s ashes will take place at Spring Canyon Cemetery on Saturday, July 25 at 11 a.m. Bussert, passed away Tuesday, August 27, 2019, at Seattle Washington VA Hospital. A complete obituary was in September 4, 2019 of the Star....

  • Ballots are in the mail

    Jul 15, 2020

    If you have not received your ballot by Friday, July 24, please contact the Auditors Office at (509) 422-7240. Remember your ballots must be signed. The Auditors Office, 149 3rd Ave N, Okanogan, is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Election Day only from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., for the following services: Voter Registration Drop off voted ballots Obtain replacement ballots Disability Access Voting Units Drop boxes will be open July 16-August 4. Drop boxes will be open until 8 p.m. on August 4. Drop box locations open for the November 6...