News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Gov. Jay Inslee met with tribal leaders and people affected by wildfire in Nespelem last week, characterizing the area as perhaps "the epicenter of climate change." He met with the Colville Business Council as well as with incident command staff from recent reservation fires in a closed meeting inside the Lucy Covington Government Center, the Tribal Tribune reported. "These are such difficult days dealing with COVID and these fires," Inslee is reported as saying in the July 21 meeting. "No...
Grant County Public Health issued a public health advisory today which includes advice for those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated, including to wear a mask indoors and avoid contact with at-risk individuals. "Due to rapidly increasing spread of COVID-19 in Washington state driven by the Delta variant, Region 7 public health officers are recommending a change to masking practices," the health advisory reads. "All residents are advised to wear a mask in indoor public places and practice...
A fire that started along the highway along Banks Lake Thursday evening quickly turned into a threat to a local landmark canyon and to farms above the coulee wall. The Northrup Fire that scorched the canyon its named for started about 5 p.m. July 22 at milepost 18 on SR-155. Logan Braaten caught an image of the fresh fire on the coulee wall side of the highway and posted it on Facebook. Local firefighters responded quickly, but the intensity of the fire's approach during initial attack took at l...
Firefighters work up an appetite saving homes and lands, and they have to eat, often in a small town with no notice of a big need for food. The Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center served 500 meals this past weekend to firefighters who fought the Northrup Fire that started on Thursday. The senior center had helped feed firefighters on the Grass Valley Fire a few years ago, and they appreciated it so much they asked if the senior center could help feed them again. On Friday, a dinner was provided, on...
Grand Coulee getting new electronic speed signs The Grand Coulee City Council approved on July 20 the purchase of two electronic, solar-powered, speed limit signs estimated to cost between $5,000 and $6,000 total. The signs will be placed somewhere on the east end and west end of the city limits on SR-174 for drivers coming into the city, and will show their speed compared to the speed limit. Grand Coulee supports sheriff The Grand Coulee City Council passed a symbolic motion of support for Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones, president of the...
Loud gunfire that woke and frightened Coulee Dam residents Thursday night was part of a “routine military training,” a US Army spokesman said. The repeating racket that started about 10:30 sounded to some former military men like 50-caliber automatic weapons. Flashes from multiple gun barrels could be seen on the hillside above the Third Powerhouse on the east side of Grand Coulee Dam. And one caller reported seeing flames at the top of the north end of the powerhouse. The weapons fire, which continued until after midnight, woke at least one...
If you are one of many with questions you’d like answered before deciding whether to get vaccinated against the SARS Cov-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, take note: you may get your questions answered at an upcoming forum on the topic hosted by Coulee Medical Center on Zoom. Dr. Jennifer Knox, a family practice physician at CMC, will present information and discuss with anyone attending what’s true and known about the disease and the vaccines being used to fight its spread worldwide. Knox met the hospital’s staff Monday to present the same...
Local cities will be able to spend money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, with a combined total of about a million dollars, on things like infrastructure and helping residents. The cities receive money based on their estimated 2019 populations. A list of distributions to cities from the Department of Treasury shows that Electric City, with a population of 1,002, qualifies for $279,706; Grand Coulee, population 1,048, qualifies for $292,547; Coulee Dam, population 1,080, qualifies for $301,480; Elmer City, population 248, qualifies...
I offer, here, a few words of history that were overlooked when you were in school. Diseases have been master killers throughout human history. There was no defense against the misery, death, and sorrow until modern medical science developed vaccines, antibacterial medicines, and other methods to prevent or treat diseases. Historian William Manchester reports that during the Middle Ages “… half the people in Europe died, usually from disease, before reaching their thirteenth birthday.” Vaccines do not ordinarily eradicate a disease, but small...
“Well regulated” does not mean regulated by the government. The founding fathers knew that the right to bear arms and maintain a militia was indispensable because governments throughout history strive to grow and must be held in check. They had just fought a war and lost many precious loved ones in order to get out from under the rule of such a government. Therefore, well regulated means the armed militia does have order from within it, and does not break laws. Beyond that, our government has no say. It is a God given right to be able to mai...
In 2021, our State Legislature enacted several bills related to law enforcement. Most of the police reform bills go into effect on July 25, 2021, affecting how we will deliver police services. As your elected Sheriff, it is my responsibility to make sure the residents we serve are aware of the level of service that law enforcement can provide under the new laws. To get the agency prepared for these changes, the department is providing mandatory training to all commissioned and limited-commissioned personnel, particularly focusing on legislated...
(Editor’s note: The writer asked that his letter to Bureau of Reclamation Power Manager Coleman Smith be included on this opinion page) Dear Mr. Smith: I am writing in regard to an incident that happened last night, July 22. At about 10:30 PM we were startled by loud automatic weapons fire up towards the top of the east side of the dam. I was extremely alarmed by this situation as the gunfire was coming from multiple locations. As you are aware the Grand Coulee Dam is considered a target and has lots of security in place. We all know this. T...
Every fire season brings back a sense of apprehension and appreciation. A number of years ago my wife and I signed on with OK Cascade, a Bothell firm that provided support for firefighters. We did this for two seasons and were at a number of fire situations in both Washington and Oregon. While the support staff was a ways from the fire, they were essential to any firefighting success. Our support staff provided food, showers, laundry, and other needed help to those facing the actual fires. We could get a sense of how difficult things were for...
William E. "Bill" McCarty, 79, passed away Tuesday afternoon, July 20, 2021, in Grand Coulee, Washington. Bill was born Sunday, June 28, 1942, in London, Ohio, to William E. & Emma L. Holcomb. His mother later remarried - Ross McCarty, Jr. and Bill chose to officially change his last name to "McCarty." Bill graduated from Union High School in Milford Center, Ohio, and in 1961 enlisted with the United States Air Force. He served his country as jet fighter mechanic for four years, completing his...
"Shakespeare Ate My Brain" is the August production at Masquers Theatre being directed by Marla Allsopp with tech help from Kat Stahl. Written by Jeffery Goodson and Brian Shay, this one act farce tells the story of Dr. Marlowe-Thomas (played by Bohica Bee), an aspiring new director, who is desperate to stage the ultimate Shakespearean production of the "Scottish Play". She is convinced Shakespeare originally wrote his plays to be performed by a cast of unusual actors. To that end, she is auditi...
Here are a few things to remember about you ballot. The ballot envelope must be signed. If you mail your ballot, postage is paid. Check with your local Post Office for cutoff times to get you ballot postmarked properly. The Auditors Office, 149 3rd Ave N, Okanogan, is open Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM and on Election Day only from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM for the following services. Drop box locations open for the August 3rd, 2021 Primary Election locally include: Nespelem- Tribal Agency- 21 Colville St.; Coulee Dam- 300 Lincoln Ave, City H...
Grand Coulee Police 7/19 - Police responded to Burdin Boulevard on a report that a white pitbull had a fawn in its mouth. The reporting party told police that the dog dropped the fawn when approached and the fawn ran off. They were also told the dog was chasing a cat at 4 a.m. as well, and frequently gets out and causes problems. Police went to the house belonging to the dog owner. The dog was inside and growled at the officers from inside the house. Police were unable to contact the owner. The dog is unregistered with the city, according to...
A 2021-2022 school budget of $14.6 million in expenditures was approved on Monday. The Grand Coulee Dam School District Board of Directors approved the budget in their regular meeting following a public hearing in which there was no public input. The beginning fund balance is roughly $1 million, and with about $14,455,000 in revenues, the total funds available in the 2021-22 school year total about $15,480,000. Those revenues include roughly $816,000 in local taxes dollars (property taxes), $900,000 in local “non-tax” dollars, $6.9 million in...
Two candidates for Grand Coulee City Council were not reached before deadline. With three candidates on the ballot for Council position 1, it’s the only local election in the primary that ends Aug. 3. The Star attempted to reach out to the other two candidates who filed their intent to seek the position in Grand Coulee at the same time that a July 14 article was written on candidate Ben Hughes. The other two candidates include Frank Jones, who didn’t provide contact information when filing for election, and Tracy Wright, who did not res...
Eagles Auxiliary to Meet Grand Coulee Eagle Auxiliary will be holding a 2 p.m. meeting on the first and third Monday of the month. Applications are now being accepted for membership. For more information call Margie at 633-3443. New Cancer Support Group Cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors have been gathering semiweekly to talk, in a safe environment with honesty about the physical, emotional and spiritual impact of cancer. The group meets the first and third Thursdays of the month at 6 p.m. in the multipurpose area of the Nazarene...
