News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Elmer City could be up to its knees in a messy problem if leaders don’t find a solution to their waste water treatment facility issue with Coulee Dam, which was discussed by the town council last week. A meeting between council members and mayors of the two towns is planned within the next weeks or so to casually discuss viewpoints on the issue in the hopes of coming to a solution. Coulee Dam is building a new wastewater treatment plant at a higher elevation than the previous facility. The increase in elevation will require new lift pumps to g...
A 385-acre wildfire burned on Washington Flats across the Columbia River from the Seaton's Grove area near Elmer City last week, and was handled by crews from the Department of Natural Resources and the Bureau of Land Management, as well as local firefighters. The fire, first reported at about 2 p.m. on July 11, had helicopters scooping water from the river to dump on the fire, as well as four single-engine air tankers and one air-attack aircraft. People watched the action from the parking...
A human-caused fire that burned 2,773 acres 45 miles southeast of Keller is 100 percent contained, a July 17 press release from the Colville Confederated Tribes Department of Natural Resources stated. The Rattlesnake Fire, which started on July 12, was within the Hellgate Game Reserve on the Colville Indian Reservation, and west of the Lincoln boat launch near Creston. Named after Rattlesnake Canyon, firefighters did have to watch out for the venomous snakes. A crew of about 100 people, down from 200, will remain with the fire to quell hot...
Snyder Hill residents raised a rousing ruckus at the July 10 Electric City council meeting on the agreement made with the city concerning their 2010 annexation to the city. During a public comment time slot on the council meeting agenda, complaints from citizens of Snyder Hill ranged from the city not treating the roads of the area to the failure of the city to plow snow to certain points of the roads, something understood by residents there to be conditions of the annexation. A solution for the snow plow issue is in the works as the city...
Peter Dan Road to be closed July 23, traffic delays in meantime Peter Dan Road, which connects the Elmer City area to the Keller area, will be closed between Highway 155 and Buffalo Lake Road from July 23 through August 21. “This closure is necessary to safely excavate the failed slope above Peter Dan Road,” a July 16 Okanogan County press release states. “A detour route is signed via Buffalo Lake Road.” Construction started on July 16, and traffic control delays are to be expected. Volunteer firefighter accepted Michael Adolph was approve...
Rodney Cawston was named the new chairman of the Colville Business Council July 12 after a ceremony in which seven recently elected council members were sworn into office and positions were assigned to the 14 members of the CBC. At the Lucy Covington Government Center near Nespelem Thursday morning, the oath of office ceremony started with traditional native American songs and drumming, and a prayer from Cawston. Six out of the seven recently elected CBC members are new, with only Joseph...
A weekly market at North Dam Park will now include activities for kids, a feature added by the sponsoring Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. The Wednesday evening markets, running from 4 to 7 p.m., will feature a new activity each week will be sponsored by local businesses. Tonight at 6 p.m., kids get to “slip and slide” and enjoy water balloons in an appropriately cool activity, sponsored by the Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center. That plan seemed popular on the chamber’s Facebook page. Upcoming activities include a bubble station, makin...
First- through fourth-grade students of Nespelem School District kicked off summer school July 9 with “Legend of the Coyote,” told by Dan Nanamkin. Students participated and practiced a song about the coyote, which will be sung during the end-of-summer-school celebration. They also learned about Native American instruments and local traditions and culture. The three-week summer school, which runs July 9-26, will focus on the Legends of the Salmon and Coyote of the Colville Indian Reservation, and has writing and reading components, as well as...
Electric City Councilmember Rich McGuire addressed the issue of the city’s appearance at the July 10 council meeting, and the council may form a committee to improve its appearance at their August meeting. McGuire said he was responding to a Star newspaper opinion column by Roger Lucas, headlined “Ugliest town in the west can do better.” “The many eyesores along the entrance to the city stood out like sore thumbs,” Lucas wrote, describing the city in his column. McGuire agreed with the sentiments of the Lucas piece. “I walk and I walk and I wal...
Voters should keep local schools at the same level of tax support voters have been used to for some time. Local school patrons, staff and others have made clear their concerns about local schools. But concerns about discipline issues at the forefront are an entirely separate problem than the one school leaders are hoping to address with the proposed capital projects levy on which voters will decide Aug. 7. That levy would address maintenance and safety issues and swap a burden that has fallen in the past on the general budget to levy dollars,...
As a community we are approaching an important election, the outcome of which will clearly affect the quality of education received by our school-aged children. This election will require a decision by voters on whether our community will continue to financially support the Grand Coulee Dam School District by approving a school levy. The levy is funded through local property taxes. Why is a levy or tax needed? Our community is uniquely disadvantaged because of the large percentage of federally-owned land and land that is not otherwise eligible...
Next month, local voters will have the opportunity to approve the Capital Project Levy for the Grand Coulee Dam School District. This is only a supplemental levy that will address facility and safety needs of the district, as well as offset lost funding from the state. This would not result in an increase of your taxes. The Capital Project Levy’s value would be seen in updated technology, facility improvements, better communication infrastructure, and increased security/safety measures. I’d like to discuss that last item first. The biggest pri...
This last weekend was our annual family campout and this year we welcomed Cairo on his first visit to the “plantation,” our huckleberry heaven. The crop was in good standing this year; an abundance of purple gold was everywhere and everyone ended the weekend with a permanent stain on their picking fingers that you could flavor your coffee with. Karrie and I went up first to grab our coveted spot along the plantation and we went back to our younger days, sleeping on the ground in a tent. It was...
Last month, General Electric lost its place among our nation’s top 30 performing corporations. It was the last member of the original companies which composed the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Since 1896, American investors have looked to the Dow to judge how the top performing companies’ stocks are trading each session. The Dow favors companies with excellent reputations for sustained growth and which have broad investor interest. GE, once the world’s most valuable company, was replaced by Wa...
Our hearts are broken as we mourn the loss of our beloved mother, wife and best friend, Patty Lyn (Lacy) Schmidt. Patty left us on May 9, 2018, in Grand Coulee, Washington, at the age of 78, surrounded by family. Per Patty’s wishes there will be no service. Patty wanted her life to be celebrated just as she welcomed it every morning, with open arms and a smile. Family, friends and others whose lives Patty touched are welcome to join us for a celebration of life during an open house at 1112 Tilmus, Coulee Dam, Washington, from 1 to 4 p.m. on S...
Director Patty Jardine announces that the Masquers Theater will be holding auditions for the upcoming fall musical “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” on Saturday, July 28, at 5 p.m., and Sunday, July 29, at 2 p.m., at the theater, 322 Main Ave E in Soap Lake. The musical opens October 19 through November 11, for 11 shows. Rehearsals begin the first week of August. Visit www.masquers.com for audition materials and information....
Chamber This Week The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet at Siam Palace in Grand Coulee at noon this Thursday, July 19. Ryan Rodin, from Greater Spokane Incorporated, is the guest speaker. Ryan is a Government Contracting Assistance Specialist and will hold a workshop during lunch about finding, bidding on and securing government contracts. Food Bank Open Fridays The food bank at the Church of the Nazarene has normal operating hours every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. It is located at the Church of Nazarene, Hwy 174, Grand Coulee....
The Washington Flats area burns last week as temperatures climb and humidity drops in the summer fire season. See the story on the front page. - Jacob Wagner photo...
Jayme Ma Jackson and Jesus A. Castaneda, of Elmer City, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their son, Hux’lee Alberto Castaneda, born Wednesday, July 4, 2018, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. He weighed 7 lbs., 9.3 oz., and was 20 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandparents are James Jackson Jr. and Toria Sandaine. Paternal grandparents are Rodrigo N. Castaneda and Maria Francisca Aguirre. Great-grandparents are James Jackson and Gloria Marchand and Robert and Peggy Sandaine....
Kara Thomas and Dylon Johnson of Nespelem, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Amerailia Sweet Journey Johnson, born Thursday, July 5, 2018, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. She weighed 8 lbs., 1 oz., and was 21 inches in length at birth. Siblings include: Atom, Alastar, Rocksand, Abel, Duarte and Ramsii Thomas. Maternal grandparents are Richard Thomas of Nespelem and Laura Tulee of White Swan, Washington. Paternal grandfather is Raymond “Dode” Louie of Nespelem....
Jazmyne Marchand and Daniel Tonasket Jr. are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Bella Tonasket, born Sunday, July 8, 2018, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. She weighed 7 lbs., 5 oz., and was 20 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandparents are Desiree Hertenstein and Steve Marchand. Paternal grandparents are Daniel Tonasket Sr. and Rhondi West. Great-grandparents are Veronica Nee and Charlie LaPlante and Frenchy Tonasket and Jean Tonasket....
Breanna Johns, of Creston, Washington, is proud to announce the birth of her daughter, TaeLynn Ma’Ree Johns, born Monday, July 9, 2018, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. She weighed 5 lbs., 14 oz., and was 18-3/4 inches in length at birth. Sibling includes Rita Jo Johns, age 9. Maternal grandmother is Laurie Johns. Great-grandparents are Norm and Dolores Willett....
The North Central Regional Library Board voted on Friday to appoint Barbara Walters as the next executive director of the library district. Walters has been acting director since June 2017 and has been part of the district's administrative team since 2007. "During the selection process, Barbara impressed us with her professionalism, her knowledge of our unique NCRL communities, and her high personal standards and work ethic," the board said in a prepared statement. "She has a passion for...
Summer reading events are in progress at the Grand Coulee Public Library. Coming up: Wed., July 18 (today) - Cheryl Hoffman will be doing a special STEM program Rocks and Minerals. Thurs., July 19, the Alpacas are coming back! Mon., July 23, 11 a.m., the NCRDL Puppet show #2. For more information contact the library at 633-0972....
The Grand Coulee Dam School District will invite public comment on its 2018-19 school year budget at its July 23 board meeting at 6 p.m. in the high school library in Coulee Dam. Sally Ryan, the district’s business manager contracted from Educational Service District 171, will present the budget, and people will be able to comment on it if they wish. The budget, estimated at $12 million, will not take funds that would be generated from the proposed capital projects levy into account. “We have to build a budget on facts,” Superintendent Paul...