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Articles from the August 25, 2021 edition


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  • Intercity speed limit drop being eyed again

    Jacob Wagner|Aug 25, 2021

    The speed limit between Electric City and Grand Coulee, currently at 45 miles per hour, could drop to 30 with the construction of a new pedestrian/bike pathway. The Star would like to know whether you want the speed limit lowered. With pedestrians regularly traveling the stretch of road, a pathway is seen as a way to give them a safe place to walk or ride their bikes. In 2018, the project was accepted for a $672,410 grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation with a 5%, $35,390 match from Electric City. ​​The original ped...

  • Omak Stampede linked to cluster of COVID-19 cases

    Aug 25, 2021

    Attendees of the Omak Stampede are urged to watch for symptoms of COVID-19 after an outbreak was announced in an Aug. 25 press release from Okanogan County Public Health. "Okanogan County Public Health is reporting a COVID-19 outbreak associated with the four-day Omak Stampede, held in Omak, Washington on August 12 – August 15, 2021," the press release says. "Cases have been identified among residents of Okanogan County, the Colville Reservation, and Skagit County." “As of today, we are aware of over two dozen lab confirmed COVID-19 cases in...

  • Big week for COVID in the Coulee area

    Aug 25, 2021

    Another 20 COVID cases have been reported in the Grand Coulee and Electric City area of Grant County since just last week, making up 23.5% of the total cases in the area since the start of the pandemic. Grant County Health District has reported additional cases in updates from Aug. 18, 19, 20, 23, and 24, bringing the total in the Grand Coulee/Electric City area from 65 to 85. Coulee City, Hartline, and “Almira Rural” cases total 78, up from 75 last week. The GCHD reported 12 additional Covid deaths on Aug. 24, bringing the county’s total...

  • Vaccines required for some to be employed

    Aug 25, 2021

    Workers in some fields are required to be vaccinated or face losing their jobs, and indoor masks are required again in Washington state as the delta variant of the coronavirus sickens more people than earlier strains did last winter. On Aug. 18, a week after announcing that state and healthcare workers must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 or lose their jobs, Gov. Jay Inslee announced, along with Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, the same vaccination requirement for employees working in K-12 schools, in most childcare and early...

  • Park renamed again, taking champ's name off

    Jacob Wagner|Aug 25, 2021

    Well, it lasted longer than 8 seconds, but after just four years of being named Shane Proctor Park, that park is going back to its old name. The park on SR-174, in Grand Coulee between a gas station and La Presa restaurant is called Grand Coulee City Park. In 2017, the city council approved renaming the park after professional bull-riding champion and Grand Coulee native Shane Proctor. Now, after just four years as Shane Proctor Park, it's being changed back to Grand Coulee City Park. On August...

  • Fall will mean sports

    Aug 25, 2021

    Lake Roosevelt Raiders practice Tuesday evening at Greene Field in Coulee Dam with a fuller schedule ahead of them this season, starting just a few weeks after the state covid health emergency rules allowed them only a brief season last spring. Coach Tim Rasmussen said then he looked at that season like an early extension of a summer football camp. Practice for football started last week. All other fall sports - cross country, girls' soccer, cheer, and volleyball - started Monday. Look for a...

  • School leaders stress student mental health to governor

    Jacob Wagner|Aug 25, 2021

    The mental health of students should be addressed more regularly by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, according to a letter school superintendents sent to him and to the state Department of Health. Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Paul Turner is one of 40 superintendents in Washington that signed an Aug. 18 letter to Inslee in response to a July 28 DOH update requiring masks for all K-12 students and staff. “OUR STUDENTS NEED HOPE,” the letter starts. “Coming off an unmasked summer of Washington State being ‘fully open’, our students...

  • Nespelem School moves to four-day week

    Scott Hunter|Aug 25, 2021

    Nespelem School students will go to work like many of their parents do — four days a week — after the school board voted Monday night to approve the new schedule that ends the week on Thursday instead of Friday. Principal/Superintendent Effie Dean told the Nespelem School Board that, in applying for a variance from the state to allow the schedule change, she explained that the proposed schedule would actually give students 20% more time in school using longer days. The change is good for the community, too, she said she told the state, because...

  • Lake Roosevelt Schools to feature STEAM Fridays

    Jacob Wagner|Aug 25, 2021

    Students at Lake Roosevelt Schools may start saying “TGIF” for two more reasons this school year: early release, and a different educational approach. On Fridays, students at LR, from kindergarten age to seniors in high school, will be participating on “STEAM” focused projects, or projects that revolve around Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. “​Activities and experiences will look different depending on grade level and topic,” Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High Principal Sara Kennedy explained to The Star in an email Tuesday...

  • Withdrawal symptoms

    Jack Stevenson|Aug 25, 2021

    The video portraying an American Air Force plane moving on a runway with a mob of Afghani citizens running beside the aircraft and some on the outside of the aircraft presented an embarrassing image of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. The fast collapse of the American sponsored Afghani regime is equally distressing. Young readers may not recall, but the U.S. experienced a humiliating final exit from Vietnam in 1975. Photos portrayed desperate people climbing to the top of the U.S. Embassy attempting to get aboard departing helicopters. Pe...

  • Climate change statements of the past

    Carl Russell|Aug 25, 2021

    Here is a small example of some of the history of the climate change theosophy. “It is already too late for the world to avoid a long period of famine. Paul Ehrlich said the time of famines is upon us and will be its worst and most disastrous by 1975. He said population of the United States is already too big, that birth control may have to be accomplished by making it involuntary; by putting sterilizing agents into staple food and drinking water and the Roman Catholic Church should pressure into going along.” — The Salt Lake Tribune, 11/17...

  • Change is one thing you can rely on

    Roger S. Lucas|Aug 25, 2021

    Life is full of changes, and they hit at an early age. I was born on a farm outside Palouse, and we didn’t have indoor plumbing. Our facility was located about 25 yards from the house and alongside our parking area. It was a two-hole outdoor toilet. I could never figure out why we had a two-hole toilet? I guess I never felt like I knew anyone well enough to sit there with another person beside me. We didn’t have toilet paper, only a Sears Roebuck catalog. You get the picture? One of my greatest fears is that I would fall in. Now nighttime and...

  • Working on behalf of our veterans

    Dan Newhouse|Aug 25, 2021

    Throughout American history, the burden of keeping our great nation free and secure has largely fallen on the shoulders of the men and women bravely serving in our Armed Forces. The care we provide to our veterans reflects our gratitude for the courageous servicemen and women who selflessly risk their lives in the protection of others, and it is my responsibility to ensure that the federal government keeps its commitment to provide our veterans with the respect and highest level of care they deserve. I have had many opportunities to sit down wi...

  • America's Band of Roughnecks fueled Allied D-Day Mission

    Don C. Brunell|Aug 25, 2021

    When thinking of England’s fabled Sherwood Forest, the medieval images of Robin Hood and his band of archers and swordsmen hiding in the woods giving the Sheriff of Nottingham a hard time comes to mind. Who would envision a crew of young American oil workers concealed among the giant oaks drilling oil wells? However, the crude production from those wells was essential in helping fuel the D-Day invasion launched from English shores in 1944. Until Guy Woodward and Grace Steele Woodward published “The Secret of Sherwood Forest – Oil production in...

  • Marjorie Maxine Williams

    Aug 25, 2021

    Marjorie Maxine Williams, 91, passed away in Spokane, WA on August 16, 2021, after a short illness. She was born on November 12, 1929, in Pawnee City Nebraska to Glenn and Margaret Packett and was the third eldest of thirteen children. She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years Ken Williams, her son Michael G. Williams, her parents, and 8 siblings. She is survived by her siblings Ed Packett, Pat Packett, Gary Packett, Doris Taylor, her son John K. Williams, and his spouse Cathy William...

  • Gail Kuehne

    Aug 25, 2021

    Gail Kuehne, 86, of Keller, Washington passed away peacefully Sunday morning August 22, 2021 in Spokane, Washington. Gail’s services are as follows: Thursday, August 26, 2021, a Visitation will be held from 3:00pm to 7:00pm at Strate Funeral Home, 329 East Grand Coulee Ave, Grand Coulee, WA. Friday, August 27, 2021, Funeral Service will begin at 10:00am at the Keller Community Center in Keller, WA. Graveside Services will follow at the Keller Community Cemetery. Gail’s full obituary will be published at a later date. Strate Funeral Home of Gra...

  • Terry S. "Juppo" Francis Jr.

    Aug 25, 2021

    Terry S. "Juppo" Francis Jr., 64, Wanderer, Story Teller and proud member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, passed on to his fathers, Saturday, July 24, 2021 from Seattle, Washington. Juppo entered this world on Tuesday, January 17, 1957, to Terry S. Sr. and Dora Owhi-Francis in Nespelem, Washington. Juppo was on Chemawa Indian School, "Brave" football team in Salem, Oregon, graduating in 1975. He went on to attend college in Wenatchee, Washington. A member of Longhouse...

  • David Allen Louie Sr

    Aug 25, 2021

    David Allen Louie Sr., 73, known to all simply as "Dave Louie"; passed away Friday afternoon, August 13, 2021, at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, Washington. Dave was born Sunday, January 18, 1948, in Nespelem, Washington, to Francis and Elvina McClung-Louie. A 1967 graduate of Coulee Dam High School in Coulee Dam, Washington where he was named the Beavers Basketball Team's MVP; Dave attended college in Roswell, New Mexico, where he learned welding; a trade at which he worked for many years and...

  • Meetings & Notices

    Aug 25, 2021

    Grant County Fire Dist. 14 to Meet Grant County Fire District #14 will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday, August 30, 2021, at 7:00 pm at the Electric City Fire Barn. NCB Collecting Supplies for Back to School The Grand Coulee branch of North Cascades Bank is collecting 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...

  • Legals for August 25, 2021

    Aug 25, 2021

    City of Electric City Notice of Open Record Public Hearing NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Electric City Planning Commission will hold an open record public hearing at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at Electric City City Hall on the proposed amendments to Chapters 18.05.010 Definitions, 18.40.022 Accessory Dwelling Units, Table 2 18.45.020, 18.45.060, 18.40.020, 18.40.070 District Use Chart and Chapter 18.70 Recreational Vehicle Parks. All interested persons are invited to attend and be heard. Those requiring assistance are...

  • Coulee Cops

    Aug 25, 2021

    Grand Coulee Police 8/17 - Police collected a Glock 43 handgun found at Sunbanks Lake Resort. A woman called police later and said it was hers. Police told her she would have to talk to the evidence clerk and most likely have to go through a pistol transfer process to get it back. 8/18 - Police gave an intoxicated woman who had been yelling obscenities at the hospital a ride to a friend’s house. At the same time, police convinced a man with a head wound outside the hospital, who had initially refused care, to get care for his wound. Police t...

  • Ivermectin should not be used to prevent or treat COVID-19

    news release, Washington Dept. of Health|Aug 25, 2021

    OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) warns people should not take ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19, following today’s Health Alert Network advisory released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug used commonly in humans and animals. Although it is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of some parasitic worms, external parasites and skin conditions, evidence shows it is ine...