News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Grand Coulee’s city council last week approved a $375,000 settlement with long-time police officer Sean Cook, who filed suit last fall, claiming the city had not provided public records he had requested, violating the state’s Public Records Act. The financial part of the settlement was outlined in three parts: • a lump-sum payment of $175,000 for settlement of Cook’s public records claims; • a $125,000 settlement for Cook’s tort, disability, discrimination and employment-related claims against the city; and • a payment of $75,000 to Cook’s att... Full story
At 150,000 acres, the North Star Fire is still threatening Nespelem and, now, Republic. More resources to fight the fire are being added each day to fight the fire, occurring in what Incident Commander Rich Nieto called “epic conditions, historical conditions” at a community meeting Saturday at Lake Roosevelt Schools. But it’s been slow getting the resources that would normally be added quickly, only because of the hundreds of fires throughout the dry West. Officials said the fire was the larges single fire burning now. That doesn’t include... Full story
A Coulee Dam-based effort to help out firefighters on the North Star Fire is catching on like wildfire. It started with a GoFundMe effort to raise money for a continuing effort to supply baked goods and other small items that fire- fighters might need. But it has expanded to include minor medical supplies to the growing force based at the Nespelem Community Center and to other fire-fighting centers, said Glo Carroll, who with her husband Rob started the site and organize deliveries. A small... Full story
Good people of the coulee area have already sought a way to donate clothing and other items for any evacuees from the fires, but the Red Cross shelter at the school is not the place to take them, officials there said Thursday. Stepping up to fill that role is the American Legion Post 157 in Electric City, which will take such donations in clothing and other necessities, or in cash, to give to people in need because of the fire. The post doesn’t have manpower to staff the center all the time, but members will meet people there quickly, given a... Full story
A Colville Confederated Tribes North Star Fire Donation Center has been established at the old Okanogan Bingo Casino located at 41 Apple Way Road, Okanagan, a tribal press release said. Volunteers are needed for the following positions: • Inventory Clerks • Heavy Lifters • Stock Organizers •Runner/Drivers to evacuation areas The North Star Fire Donation Center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The following schedules have been established for volunteers: • 8:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. • 12:00 p.m. -4:00 p.m. • 4:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. Families in n... Full story
Mona Berland is in a red zone, ordered to leave, just like everyone else at Owhi Lake. She’s not going to, but she’s convincing her neighbors they must in advance of a day firefighters are saying could go badly. On Thursday, wind in the Nespelem area was blowing from the south, holding the then-75,000-acre North Star Fire at bay. But since then, the fire has grown to more than 150,000 acres, and the town of Nespelem is still in danger. And Berland’s home east of town is still in the immediate evacuation zone. Hurting from fibromyalgia at 64 ye... Full story
Grand Coulee police are investigating a Monday-night burglary at Sunbanks Lake Resort. A clerk, Debbie Rimel, noticed the burglary early Tuesday morning when she arrived at work and started to make coffee. She told police that she noticed a container holding golf balls was ajar, and that the wrong key was in the cash register. When she got into the register, she noticed that two cash bags had been cleaned out. Each had held $200. A timer on the register showed that it had been opened at 12:38 a.m. Rimel showed police that the window at the... Full story
Children at the Coulee Kids Day Care in Coulee Dam are working on providing treats for the firefighters on the North Star Fire. "A lot of the little guys here have dads and uncles out there," said owner Clarissa Cawston, "so we're just trying to do our part." – submitted photo... Full story
In the midst of smoke and flame, a rising beam of hope shows a promising path, one that will need our focus in the months to come: the desire good people have to help. That desire is striking in the experience of Rob and Glo Carroll, whose own desire to help led them to set up a GoFundMe page to which donations have been coming in steadily for a week. Their effort supplies normally self-sufficient firefighting organizations with items they need but find hard to get amid the massive, thinly-stretched firefighting efforts across the West. They... Full story
There has been growing recognition of the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease but the funding to find a cure lags dramatically behind what’s necessary. In 2010 Congress unanimously passed legislation that set a goal of finding a treatment for Alzheimer’s by 2025. But National Institutes of Health (NIH) research on dementia has not increased to the $2 billion-a-year level that scientists say is needed. In fact, for every $100 spent on Alzheimer’s research, Medicare and Medicaid programs spend $26,000 to care for people with the disease. Current... Full story
Reducing stigma. Someone wants to promote a “stigma”? and keep part of it? and you offer them space? Curious. Harold A. Maio, retired mental health editor Ft Myers, Florida... Full story
Post offices are crucial anywhere, but especially crucial in rural areas that depend on the postal service to stay connected through news delivery, services crucial to businesses, and, in some communities, a link to prescription drugs and other services. The mail service is a national treasure that has been in operation for 240 years. Every day, the Postal Service provides affordable, universal mail service to all—without using taxpayer dollars for its operation. The Center for Rural Affairs has signed letters of support for continuing reliable... Full story
As I write this, and probably as you read it, there are firefighters on the front line of a fire, battling the smoke, heat and flames. There is also a homeowner deciding if they should evacuate or stay and defend his or her home. There are also loved ones worrying about their better halves, praying that they will be safe. There is someone with asthma who can’t wait until they can go outside again. There is a citizen wondering what they can do to help? I have a past in firefighting. In the e... Full story
Ten Years Ago Dave Marrs resiend his position as marshal of Elmer City on Monday. Marrs has had an on-again off-again relationship at Elmer City. After his hours were cut from 120 a month to 80 under this year's budget, there has been a lot of turmoil with the marshal positions. Animal control became an issue at the Grand Coulee council meeting Aug. 16. Grand Coulee residents from Banks Avenue and Dill Streets complained to the council of a pack of dogs running loose. Twenty Years Ago An... Full story
The town of Coulee Dam has scheduled three nights this week when bowlers can go to Riverview Lanes and retrieve articles left there. Town Clerk Stefani Bowman said the bowling alley, which has been closed, will be open from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, Aug. 26-28. “People can come in and sign for their articles during those dates,” Bowman stated. The town owns the building, but not the bowling alley equipment. “We may try to find another operator for the bowling alley, but council hasn’t decided how it wishes to proceed... Full story
Want a book about Grand Coulee Dam or the Nez Perce? If so, the Visitor Center at Grand Coulee Dam is a great place to go. The new "Discover Your Northwest" bookstore is located just within the lobby of the Visitor Center and is there under special arrangements with the National Park Service and the Bureau of Reclamation. Discover Your Northwest specializes in things about the five Pacific Northwest states and is an extension of a bookstore that used to be in the NPS offices in Coulee Dam.... Full story
North Central Regional Library has announced the Fall 2015 Columbia River Reads book, "The Mockingbird Next Door," by Marja Mills. In Mills's memoir, she recounts her time living next door to the enigmatic author of "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Go Set a Watchman," Harper Lee, and her sister, Alice Lee. The book gives great insights into Harper Lee's life and of the town and its inhabitants that inspired "To Kill a Mockingbird." Mills will be at the Wenatchee Public Library on October 29, at 7... Full story
Chamber Meets at Siam Palace for August The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will be meeting this Thursday, August 27, at noon at Siam Palace, Main St., Grand Coulee. General business including fire updates and Harvest Festival. Fire Dist. 14 to Meet Grant County Fire District 14 will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday, August 31, at 7 p.m., at the Electric City Fire Station. CMC Guild to Meet The Coulee Medical Center Guild (Auxiliary) meets the second Monday of each month at noon at Coulee Medical Center. Next month’s meeting is... Full story
Wed., Aug. 26 - Dinner Hot Chicken Sandwiches, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Mixed Salad, Cranberries, Ice Cream Thurs., Aug 27 - Dinner Lemon Pepper Cod, Rice Pilaf, Steamed Vegetables, Seasonal Fruit Cream Pie Fri., Aug. 28 - Breakfast Biscuit & Sausage Gravy, Eggs, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice Mon., Aug. 31 - Breakfast Breakfast Sandwich (Eggs, Canadian Bacon, Cheese), Potato Cakes, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice... Full story
Everyone from Washington who joins the Arbor Day Foundation in September will receive 10 free trees as part of the Foundation’s Trees for America program. Through Trees for America, everyone is encouraged to plant trees, which benefits the environment and improves quality of life. With nearly 1 million members and supporters, the Arbor Day Foundation is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. Everyone joining this month will receive an eastern redbud, white pine, sugar maple, white flowering dogwood, pin oak... Full story
Grand Coulee Dam school personnel have offered their buildings for use by firefighters and other fire needs. Superintendent Dennis Carlson said Tuesday that there is an 80 percent chance that the opening of school will be delayed until Sept. 8, due to the fires. He said a final decision will be made Thursday. Both the Grand Coulee Dam and Nespelem school districts postponed their board meetings Monday night for a week. Nespelem's school is in a Level 2 evacuation zone. Carlson noted that there... Full story
Grand Coulee Dam School District students will have a “welcome back Raiders night” Thursday, Aug. 27, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The evening will allow elementary students to find out who their teacher is and get acquainted with their rooms. On the 7th-12th-grade side, students will be able to choose their lockers, pick up their class schedules and purchase ASB cards. ASB cards will also be available for elementary students at the Junior High/Senior High office. School officials stated that the register would be open so students can take care of... Full story
Calling all LRHS alumni, current LRHS players, and community members: come help celebrate our beautiful new high school tennis courts! Mark your calendars with these three dates: Saturday, September 12 at 9 a.m. show up with your racket and a can of balls and we will put together some matches. Saturday, September 26 at 9 a.m., Doubles Tournament. Saturday, October 3 at 9 a.m., Singles Tournament. Fee: $10.00 OR 2 cans of balls. Format will be determined by the number of entries. To enter, contact the tournament organizers, Steve or Janice... Full story
Public Notice Town of Coulee Dam NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF COUNCIL MEETING To the citizens of the Town of Coulee Dam, Washington, the Town Council of the Town of Coulee Dam, Washington will not conduct a Council Meeting on Wednesday, August 26, 2015, due to lack of agenda items. The next regular council meeting will be held on September 9, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. Stefani Bowden, Clerk/Treasurer (Publish August 26, 2015) CITY OF GRAND COULEE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE September 15, 2015 To Consider Right of Way Vacation – Main Street Between Spokane W... Full story
The National Park Service here has landed a traveling quilt show for July 1-4, 2016, as part of a celebration of its 100th anniversary. Administrative Officer Janet Valen at the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area said the traveling exhibit has 177 quilts depicting the flora, fauna and landscape of the country’s 59 major national parks. Quilts depict subject matter from Arcadia to the U.S. Virgin Islands, from Gates of the Arctic to American Samoa and others in between. Valen stated that the quilts are made by some 148 fiber artists n... Full story