News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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The Williams Flats fire, burning upstream from the Keller Ferry, is 50% contained and has burned approximately 45,000 acres. As of Aug. 13, according to a press release from Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, there were 812 people working on the fire, down from the 1,203 working on the fire Aug. 10. Firefighters are being re-assigned as more of Williams Flats comes under control. Still assigned to the fire on Tuesday were 16 hand crews, one medium helicopter, one light helicopter, four ambulances, 28 engines, 12 dozers, one...
After decades of absence, the "chief of all of the rest of the fish" returned to the upper Columbia River Friday when a tribal elder slipped an adult salmon into the water of Lake Rufus Woods, followed by 29 more that had begun their journey years ago after coming into existence at a hatchery downriver. A ceremonial song to reintroduce the chinook echoed back from the Douglas County side of the river Friday morning at the Colville Tribes' campgrounds near commercial fish-raising pens along Lake...
Several local offices up for election with no one running have necessitated a special filing period. The special filing period has been set in Okanogan and Grant counties for Aug. 21-23. A four-year position for a Coulee Dam Town Council member is open, as is a four-year term on the Elmer City Council. But in Nespelem, no one has filed for a two-year mayoral term or for five council positions —three four-year terms and two two-year terms. A four-year school director position in the Grand Coulee Dam School District is still open. And a f...
Fire created thunder and lightening Scientists flew through the clouds created by the Williams Flats Fire last week to study the first incidence of a "pyrocumulonimbus" cloud in continental United States this year. The flight was one of the first ever to record data from inside such a cloud. A Seattle Times story about it is here: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/washington-wildfire-smoke-just-triggered-a-thunderstorm-nasa-researchers-flew-through-the-middle-of-it/ The time lapse was hotographed by Keller photographer...
Animal control, a common need among local towns, is being addressed by the Regional Board of Mayors, who are looking into contracting with the Colville Confederated Tribes to address the issue. The RBOM met on Monday, when animal control was discussed by Elmer City Mayor Jesse Tillman, Electric City Mayor John Nordine, Coulee Dam Mayor Bob Poch, Grand Coulee Mayor Pro Tempore Tom Poplawski, and Marica Sample, the sole employee of Colville Tribal Animal Control. “It’s a need throughout all of our towns,” Tillman said. Sample said the tribe...
The Coulee Dam Police Department last week took part in National Night Out, a sort of meet and greet event that takes place each August nationwide at thousands of police departments who interact with their communities in a casual way. Coulee Dam Police Chief Paul Bowden said that in 15 years in law enforcement, he had not yet taken part in National Night Out and decided it was time to do so. He plans to do so again next year. "It's just for people to come out and meet us, know where we're...
A child holds up her slime creation at the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce's weekly Kids' Night event Thursday. Making slime, a popular thing for kids to do these days, was sponsored by The Star and held indoors at the Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center due to smoky air. This week's event offers finger painting and is scheduled to be outdoors at the "Coulee Plaza," at the other end of the block on Main Street in Grand Coulee. - Scott Hunter photo...
I’m Mikayla Higgins, and I have lived in Electric City since I was 2. Two years ago, I left for the first time when I began college in Seattle at the University of Washington. When I got the opportunity for the internship at the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, I was excited to spend a few more months in the town I grew up in, and to reconnect with people I have known my entire life. I have been reflecting on how much the area has shaped the young adult I have become. When I first moved to Seattle, I was moving to a large city to a...
Young people today, when you make up your bucket list, be sure to put in a train ride. Transportation by train is a rarity today, and only on occasion do you stumble on a coal-fired engine. I was a “gandy dancer” for the Northern Pacific Railroad during my high school career, working from 7-4 on Saturdays as part of their section crew. My fascination with steam locomotives didn’t start then. I remember that, as a kid, whenever a train went through Palouse we would be down by the tracks to watch it. Sometimes the engineer would wave at us, m...
Thank goodness for the rainstorms that flowed through the area over the weekend. It was great news for firefighters and for our area. I know not everyone was happy with the downpour. I am certain the tourists who were here for our beaches, boating and BBQs where wondering where the sun went, but there were at least three other people who found out that rain in the coulee can also mean “watch for falling rocks.” Saturday evening, part of the family and I decided to boogie on down to Ephrata rea...
Many families have rich memories of the Green Hut Restaurant and their key employees. Clarence D. Newland built the restaurant in Coulee Dam in 1938 on property overlooking Grand Coulee Dam and brought in McKinley (Red) Sayles as the head chef, who formerly was a chef on railcar diners. Mildred Bixler ran the curio shop, along with Shorty Compton, who kept a watchful eye on the waitresses. The restaurant provided a beautiful view of thundering whitewater cascading over the Grand Coulee Dam, but...
Officers for the year in one of the oldest, if not the oldest, service club in the area were announced this week. From left are incoming President Dena Avey, Vice President John Nordine II, Tail Twister Betty Brueske, Treasurer Rob Loch, and Birdie Hensley on membership. Not shown are Secretary Rick Bako, Lion Tamer John Nordine Sr. and Rich Avey, membership. Chartered in 1935, the club held its first Annual Lions Easter Egg Hunt in 1936. They place 2,000 eggs each year. The club has also...
Brandilynn and Shonn George of Hartline, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their son Gavin Paul George, born Friday, August 2, 2019, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. He weighed 8 lbs., 0.08 oz., and was 21 inches in length at birth. Sibling includes Kymburlee George, age 5....
The Energy Assistance Program of OIC of Washington will open winter enrollment on September 4th, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. To register for an appointment please visit our Moses Lake local office or call at: 903 W. Third Ave., Call: (509) 765-9206. Please note appointments are issued on a first come first serve basis. To be eligible you must live within Grant/Adams Counties, fall within the income guidelines, show proof of income for the previous 3 months, and provide proof of identification for every member of the home. For more information please...
Spokane County – The State Veterans Cemetery, Medical Lake, will hold a Forgotten Heroes interment for unclaimed Veterans, on September 10 at 2 p.m. WDVA works closely with Veterans service groups, funeral industry partners, public administrators and other concerned citizens to ensure the dignified burial of unclaimed veterans. Collectively we work to locate, positively identify, and inter eligible veterans and family members. These organizations work tirelessly throughout the year researching military service records and vital records to l...
The Grand Coulee branch of North Cascades Bank is collecting backpacks and school supplies for local children in need. Cash donations are also welcome and will be used to purchase additional supplies. All items will be distributed to schools in the Grand Coulee Dam School District. Donations will be accepted at North Cascades Bank during the month of August. Please help us prepare our local youth for the new school year! If you have any questions about the school supply drive, please call Jerri Smith at 633-1700. North Cascades Bank is a divisi...
Fall sports practices are starting soon at Lake Roosevelt Schools. High school football and cheer practices begin Aug. 21. High school cross country, soccer, and volleyball practices start Aug. 26. Junior high cross country, football, and volleyball practices start Aug. 28. Additionally, Coulee Medical Center will offer a sports physical night in the Lake Roosevelt High School Raider Hub Aug. 21 from 6-8 p.m. The cost is $27, in cash or check, and a parent or guardian must be present....
Okanogan County Notice of Special Filing Period There will be a special 3 day filing period for offices that no one filed for during the regular filing period for offices with vacancies. Special Filing Period: August 21-23, 2019 The Special Filing Period will start at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 21, and end at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 23. Candidates can come into the Auditors Office to file or file online by going to vote.wa.gov/Okanogan All candidates will go on the General Election Ballot. If you have any questions please call the...
Grand Coulee Police 8/5 - Police responded to Kings Court RV Park where they were shown footage of two persons entering a room in the laundromat where the public is not allowed. The footage showed a woman appearing to be on the lookout while a male looked in the room. Police were told the door was left open and there are no signs saying “Employee’s Only.” - Police spotted a man they knew to be wanted on a warrant on Kelso Avenue, arrested him, and took him to jail. 8/6 - Police responded to Lakeview Avenue, where a man reported a possi...
In Grant and Adams counties, motorists driving impaired will have a greater chance of being pulled over by law enforcement, as nearly 150 additional DUI patrols begin across the state. Patrols run from August 14 through Labor Day weekend, a time when fatalities from impairment tend to increase. To reduce fatalities, traffic safety officials offer a simple message for drivers who consume alcohol or other drugs: plan before you party. “We conduct the ‘Plan before you party’ campaign during the busy summer travel time because we want everyone to g...
The Grant County Health District is looking for a representative for their Board of Health from the northern part of the county, which includes Electric City and Grand Coulee in addition to the Coulee City and Hartline area. The position is for a two-year term. The board meets for a couple hours each month on the second Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Ephrata. Board members are compensated for their mileage at 70 cents a mile. Theresa Adkinson, an administrator for GCHD, met with the Regional Board of Mayors Monday to encourage the group to find someone...