News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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A dozen barbecue teams will compete in the Harvest Festival this weekend at North Dam Park. It is estimated that the two-member teams will spend about $500 to compete in an effort to walk away with the grand prize of $1,000. Only two teams are local; the rest come from all over the Pacific Northwest. The event with multiple areas of interest begins this Friday and concludes on Sunday. It’s the Third Annual Harvest Festival and is sponsored by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. The barbecue event is sponsored by the Pacific Northwest... Full story
KELLER FERRY – The Keller Ferry vessel, Sanpoil, is back in service as of 6 a.m. this morning (Monday, Sept. 15), after hull seepage repairs were made. Additional work on the hull exterior will be scheduled within 30 days. A representative from the U.S. Coast Guard was on site, inspected the vessel, and approved it to return to passenger service.... Full story
The public is invited to two events at the new K-12 school complex on Friday, Sept. 12. The first is the official ribbon cutting, opening the new school. That’s at 10 a.m., with dignitaries here to cut the ribbon. Immediately after the ribbon cutting, to be held at the front door of the elementary school wing, the public will get its first opportunity to walk through the complex. At 6-8 p.m. Friday evening, members of the public who didn’t have a chance to catch the first opening, will have a chance to tour the building. School patrons wil... Full story
The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $7 million contract Aug. 29 to Voith Hydro, Inc. in York, Pennsylvania, to perform turbine repair for Grand Coulee and Hungry Horse dams. The turbine runners to be serviced have been in operation since the early 1950s. The work requires specialized welding and grinding, and will be completed over the next five years. “These repairs at Grand Coulee and Hungry Horse dams are essential to maintaining the turbines at these hydropower facilities,” said Regional Director Lorri Lee in a press release. “This work... Full story
Grand Coulee’s Civil Service Commission will act deliberately and carefully as it progresses in finding a new police chief for Grand Coulee, according to Chairman Alan Cain. Speed is not the answer, Cain stated. “We are satisfied that we have a qualified interim chief in Sgt. John Tufts, and so we are going to take our time and do this right.” Currently the commission is in the process of developing qualifications for the job. Longtime police Chief Mel Hunt plans to retire Sept. 30. After qualifications are developed the commission will begin... Full story
There may soon be more room for that load of stuff you wanted to haul to the dump. The Regional Board of Mayors is considering the purchase of another transfer trailer. The mayors have sought a used trailer to provide extra dumping room for several months but have been unable to find one. A used one would cost from $40,000 to $50,000. The mayors Monday looked at a new one from Wilkens Industries, Inc., from Morris, Minn., at a cost of just over $100,000. The sticker price shock was enough to delay making any decision Monday. Transfer station... Full story
Nespelem School held a welcome back barbecue on its new school year orientation day last Wednesday. School board member Nancy Armstrong-Montes, left, serves up watermelon to an incoming student. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Truck declared surplus Grand Coulee’s city council declared surplus a 1977 Ford F900 pumper truck at its meeting last Tuesday night. It’s now up for sale and only has about 20,000 miles on it, but it has other problems relating to pumps, etc. The council also put some computer equipment on the surplus list. Serving the library Joyce DeChenne was named to fill a vacant position on the Grand Coulee Library Board. She was recommended to the council by chair Diane Canady. She replaces Terri McPherson who had served two terms on the board. The app... Full story
A man flies above the surface of Banks Lake just off Coulee Playland Sunday using a jetpack. The devices suck water through a long tube from the lake, holding the operator aloft by the thrust generated by pushing it out two exit tubes. The photo was taken by Linda Palmer, who thought that it "sure looked like fun."... Full story
Due to the cooler temperatures and moisture accompanying early fall weather and a reduction in the overall fire hazard, the Grant County Board of Comissioners and the County Fire Marshal announced Sept. 8, that the County Wide Burn Ban is being lifted, effective immediately. Although the ban is lifted, please remember that the use of burn barrels is strictly prohibited. In addition, only natural vegetation may be burned (no household garbage). For information regarding this otice, please contact the Commissioners’ office at 509.754.2011 ext. 4... Full story
A Nespelem man was sentenced in federal court Sept. 3 for assault with a dangerous weapon, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington said in press release last week. Vernon Mason Saulque,32, pleaded guilty May 21, to four counts of the charge. Last Wednesday in United States District Court, Chief Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson sentenced Saulque to a 21-month sentence on each count, to run consecutively, for a total of 84 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of court supervision after he is released. A... Full story
The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $1.85 million contract Sept. 2 to ABB, Inc. in Cary, North Carolina, to replace transformer oil coolers at Grand Coulee Dam. Over the past several years the existing transformer oil coolers have shown the need for replacement, the bureau said in a press release. The contract will require furnishing and installing new transformer oil coolers, as well as disposal of the existing ones. The work is scheduled to be complete by April 30, 2015. “This project is just one way Reclamation is continuing to ensure effici... Full story
To celebrate the opening of the new Lake Roosevelt School, we’ve dedicated a lot of space throughout the paper this week to that coverage. You’ll find photographs on most pages of the progress inside the building and out, and businesses have taken out advertisements in support of this truly great moment for our community. That’s something sensed by everyone, including those directly involved in the project itself, whether bending steel, or sweeping up. “We’re changing lives here,” one proud worker said to a Star photographer outside the school... Full story
Saturday Sept. 6, my husband, Dale Henriksen, and I decided to canoe on Lake Roosevelt. When we were finished we decided to take the canoe out of the water at the beach to load in our truck. There was a couple there that offered assistance in loading. We chatted with them as they wanted to know where the closest Walmart was and found out that they were from Kennewick. The wife, Michelle Allgaier (www.chelldesignstudio.com), was sub-contracted to paint the L.R. in the gym with the quote, “ActiveKidsDoBetter” (from a school website). It just ama... Full story
Until recently, I never really paid much attention to the Native American mascot issue. “It’s not my fight,” I thought. I live in Los Angeles County, home of the largest urban Native American and Alaska Native population in the United States. When I first moved to L.A. in the 1990s, I was constantly being asked if I was Latina. Sometimes people would get upset because I wasn’t able to speak Spanish. Occasionally, I would resort to sticking two fingers behind my head to act as a feather to illustrate being American Indian. Unfortu... Full story
This last weekend was the men’s retreat again and once again a group of local men gathered and listened to how to be better dads, husbands and leaders. I am always in awe of the vast difference of the men that come to this gathering. Different life experiences and journeys to get to this point; sometimes if you stood back and peered through the window, you would have no idea what would be going on. From looking at the appearance of the group, you would have no idea what was the relationship o... Full story
1 Years Ago Last Wednesday a disaster drill took place at North Dam Park, testing local Emergency Services. Emergency medical technicians, drivers, firefighters, police, pilots, and others from services all over our area responded and took part in the event. The drill also tested Coulee Community Hospital as a required exercise for personnel. Relay for Life had a four page spread in the Star this week. Two conversations with cancer survivors from the area highlighted the insert. Sue Shear and Bonny Schmidt shared of their struggles and... Full story
Michael Clark Pierce, 60, passed away surrounded by family and friends in Grand Coulee, Washington Tuesday evening September 2, 2014, following a courageous battle with cancer. Born on April 4, 1954 into the Coulee Dam Washington home of Frank and Barbara (Vail) Pierce, Michael graduated from Lake Roosevelt High School in 1972, where he enjoyed playing sports, particularly basketball. Following high school, Michael attended college, worked for the park service for several years and most... Full story
Patrick John Kane passed away Tuesday morning, Sept. 2, 2014, at home on the farm in Rock Creek Valley east of Fairfield, Wash. Pat was born on March 14, 1944, at Wenatchee, Wash., to Patrick Albert Kane and Anna Laura (Gossett) Kane. He grew up on the Kane Family farm between Hartline and Wilson Creek, Wash. Pat farmed with his dad most of his life. Pat attended Wilson Creek Grade School and graduated from Coulee City High School in 1962. He then attended Big Bend and Columbia Basin Community Colleges obtaining associate degrees in Ag... Full story
Superintendent Dennis Carlson gives direction to a volunteer helping to move furniture Friday in the new school as they wheel stand-up computer stations across the polished concrete floor, which workers have ground to resemble tile. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Tracey L. Peone and Phillip P. Tonasket of Keller, are proud to announce the birth of their son Charles Raymond James Tonasket, born Saturday, August 30, 2014, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 8 lbs., 11 oz., and was 21 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Malakai, Keisha, Kayla and Kaiden. Maternal grandparents are Raymond Peone and Michele and Larry Thomas. Paternal grandparents are Diana Tonasket and David Tonasket. Great-grandmother is Ramona Peone.... Full story
Jolee and Roy Slaven of Coulee Dam, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Hannah Belle born Sunday, August 31, 2014, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 8 lbs., 11 oz., and was 20 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandparents are Brenda and Charles Fuller of San Diego, Calif. Paternal grandparents are Janice Isaak of Vancouver, Wash., and Mark Slaven of Lake Charles, LA. Great-grandparents include Gennie Koury, Melvin and Willie Slaven and Austin and Helen Brumfield.... Full story
No Chamber This Week The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will not be meeting this Thursday due to the upcoming Harvest Festival this weekend. Come out and enjoy the festivities. Meetings will resume Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Siam Palace in Grand Coulee. OES to Meet The Order of the Eastern Star will hold Initiation at its September 11 meeting. It will be Chapter Dress and long form. Refreshments will be provided by Bonnie Farr and birthday cake by Vivian Dugan. Lincoln County Fire Dist 9 Regular Meeting Lincoln County Fire Dist. 9... Full story
Police are looking for a man on a variety of charges, including burglary. Raymond L. John, 20, whose driver’s license gave an address as 4117 Rocky River HUD Road, Omak, eluded officers on several occasions after entering a house on Bowen Street in Grand Coulee, police said. A man and woman at a home at 231 Bowen, who said they don’t know John, told police he came in through a sliding door and sat down on the couch with them. The incident occurred about 3:30 p.m. last Wednesday, and police responded to a burglary-in-progress call. Seated on the... Full story
A kid who just couldn’t wait for opening day plays on the new equipment in the courtyard of the new school. Another playground to north was sodded this week. The checked ground is a padded surface. Walker Construction, general contractor on the project, donated $200,000 of playground equipment. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
