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Now former Electric City fire chief Mark Payne was fired Tuesday night, after the city council voted unanimously to carry out the mayor’s recommendation to remove Payne from the post in which he’s served since 2013. Payne had faced a second disciplinary hearing Monday to respond to charges he hadn’t complied with a plan set in place after the first one last spring, and that he’d been insubordinate toward the city administrator. Payne had met with Mayor John Nordine and City Administrator Russ Powers to discuss possible discipline that could b...
KELLER – Keller Ferry users will need to plan additional travel time during an upcoming closure. Material procurement delays and curing of paint have pushed back the 16-day closure, initially scheduled to begin by Friday, Sept. 13. The ferry vessel M/V Sanpoil will now be out of service from Monday, Sept. 16, through Wednesday, Oct. 2. Travelers planning to cross the Columbia River on State Route 21 should choose an alternate route during the closure, via SR 25 or SR 155 and SR 174. Plan additional time for travel as it can take up to an hour t...
It’s good to have goals so you know which direction to go. The Grand Coulee Dam School District board of directors discussed the district’s “Strategic Plan” Monday night and the goals it contains. Superintendent Paul Turner described the strategic plan as a “living document” as the group discussed its three goals, the objectives behind each goal, and possible changes to the goals, the order they’re in, and other aspects of the document that the board may feel needs amending, or clarification. Board Director George LaPlace wants more input fr...
City hall getting new address for same location The Electric City Council passed a resolution Tuesday changing the city hall address from 10 Western Avenue to 10 Stevens Avenue. The change came from the removal of the stretch of Western in front of city hall in a construction project currently being worked on that is to eventually include a larger parking lot in front of city hall. The resolution passed 4-1, with Councilmember Birdie Hensley voting no. City Administrator Russ Powers said the city prints its letters and other documents as needed...
Under the scoreboard erected last year at Lake Roosevelt High's footbal field, for which they raised funds, American Legion members measure and level a new sign Monday that says "THANK YOU VETS" that fans at Friday night's game will see. From left are, Jon Halvorsen, Greg Behrens, Jim Brakebill, Ben Alling, and Monty Fields. - Scott Hunter photo...
A design image from ID Sculpture shows a mammoth head with playground equipment, which the Electric City Council chose unanimously on Tuesday, opting for the so-called "live" mammoth structure for their "Ice Age Park" over a skeletal one. The skeletal one would be "kind of creepy," Councilmember Aaron Derr said in his motion....
Here's some highlights from the Ferry County Fair...
He put a ring on her finger the night she graduated from high school seven decades ago, and the love was still palpable between them Saturday as Don and Gerry McClure celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Friends and family came from as far away as Florida to the McClure Ranch north of Nespelem, where the two have made their home on the acreage homesteaded by Don's father and grandfather in 1918. "Lightning stuck," Gerry McClure said about Don's proposal that came just three days after...
Local artist Keith Powell answers questions about his art at an event at the Grand Coulee Library Sept. 5. Powell spoke about his past, present, and future, with stories about some of his work, and anecdotes from his life, as well as pieces of history that inspired him. One of the works he showed was a steel eagle head (to left in photo) he is working on by hitting the cold steel over an anvil with a hammer. "I see a lot of artists do eagles, and it's like they aren't looking at the same bird I...
The recent discussion about a new jail for Grant County, illegal drug use and the criminal actions created by drug users, focused my attention on a policy issue that the nation needs to be talking about. Certainly, if the nation won’t, the states should. Drug addiction is a real societal disease that has high costs in human lives, property loss and community resources. Smoke it, inject it or swallow it, and more is needed to keep the fix going. The fix wares off and the user scurries around, d...
A new jail to house addicts will surely make those Heathens turn clean! No. Stop with the ignorant way of thinking. If you believe that putting addicts in jail will suddenly make them non-addicts, then you must also believe that unicorns are real. Addiction is a plague that infects communities; it’s a cancer running through the bodies of those it affects. How many smokers have thought, “Man, if I could just put this cigarette down and never light another one,” only to strike up the next one a short time later? Or how about the alcoholic sitti...
Ted got it right This is my first letter to the editor! I read Ted Piccolo’s letter about the Electric City “Town Administrator shutting down a perfectly good street.” He hit the nail direct on the head! Three cheers for Ted. I couldn’t have said it nearly as well. I thought about a sit-in but they moved the equipment. I just hope the fire trucks have a direct way through when there is a fire. Thank you, Ted, for speaking out for the rest of us. Evelyn Russell This is the first time I have written to any newspaper. I just want to say Thank Y...
Since hunting season is getting started and the sportsmen of the rifle are heading out soon to their favorite grounds, I thought I would tell you all my favorite hunting story. Of course, I must change the names to protect the innocent and not so innocent. So, let’s call one of the hunters Bob, (not me) and the other LeRoy (really not me). They were getting ready for the big late hunt in Ferry County. It was an “any buck” in the section they were hunting but there were only a few public hunti...
In North Central Washington, the Columbia River is the cornerstone of life. But even more important is the infrastructure that makes up the Columbia Basin Project. Grand Coulee dam provides electricity, flood control, and recreation and the ditches and canals deliver water to fields — all critical to the economic vitality of our communities. In the 1930s, President Roosevelt had the vision. The Columbia Basin Project would bring families to settle the land, make it productive, and supply the country with food. At the same time our country n...
Alyce Graham, age 79, passed away on July 29, 2019, in Spokane, Washington. She was born in Phoenix City, Alabama, on October 23, 1939. She spent the majority of her early years in Reno, Nevada where she met her husband, Allan. They were married in Reno in 1957. Alyce and Allan had three children, all born in Reno, where they all lived until 1965. They then lived for a few years in Los Banos and Coalinga, California, before moving to Grand Coulee in 1970 where Allan was a construction inspector...
On Friday, September 6, 2019, Pauline Vivian Laufer Bryant, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away at the age of 92. She spent the last five years of her life living in the care of her daughter Colleen and Bill Simpson. Pauline was born on December 28, 1926, to Paul Conrad Laufer and Edith Vivian Richardson in Lewiston, Idaho. Pauline graduated from Lewiston High School in 1945 and continued on to Sacred Heart Nursing School through Gonzaga University receiving her nursing degree in 1948. She served her country as a...
On Thursday, September 19, 2019, starting at 1p.m, the Grand Coulee Power Office Diversity Council, Morale Committee, and Safety department are hosting a Suicide Awareness and Understanding informational meeting, to be held at the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center. There is no charge to this event and all in the community are welcome to attend. Learn how early intervention can prevent suicide and what resources are available. Speakers: David Clees, Counselor, MA, LMHC, LPCC. For over 30 Years Mr. Clees has practiced creative counseling and...
4Mark and Cindy Lemaire - a talented husband and wife musical team will present a fun program featuring many musical styles on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. The Lemaires are known for their unique style that blends finger-picking slap and tap harmonics and hand percussion with exquisite vocal harmonies...
At the recent NCW District Fair, Wyatt Egbert of Grand Coulee received honors as Reserve Champion in the Intermediate section of Beef Fitting and Showing and Market Beef....
Chamber Meetings at Siam Palace The chamber of commerce will be meeting the month of September at the Siam Palace. This Thursday, Sept. 12 will be general business beginning at noon. Grant County Mosquito District 2 to Meet The Grant County Mosquito District #2 will hold its monthly meeting at 5 p.m., Thursday, September 12, at 210 W. Coulee Blvd., in Electric City. Food Bank Hours Normal operating hours are every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. It is located at the Church of Nazarene, Hwy 174, Grand Coulee. Clients are encouraged to provide their own...
OLYMPIA – Sept. 9, 2019 – In honor of National Public Lands Day, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites the public to visit a state park for free on Saturday, Sept. 28. No Discover Pass will be required for day-use visits by vehicle. National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is coordinated by the National Environmental Education Foundation. State Parks free days are in keeping with 2011 legislation that created the Discover Pass, which costs $30 annually or $10 for a one-day visit. The pass is required for vehicle access to sta...
Raider football fans attended a Thursday Night Lights fundraiser at the Lake Roosevelt football field Thursday, marking the first success for a new booster club The event was well attended, with the parking lot looking as crowded as it is during games. The Raider football players were introduced to the crowd by name and jersey number before running drills. Those included lineman contests, a seven-on-seven drill, and 11-on-11 style play. "There's some pretty big boys out there," a fan could be...
School bells have called students back to the classroom, and the American Red Cross wants to make sure every student is safe back at school for the this academic year. “While safety is a top priority for all students, there are special steps for parents of younger kids and those headed to school for the first time,” said Alex Dieffenbach, CEO of the Northwest Region of the Red Cross. “Make sure each child knows their phone number, address, how to get in touch with their parents at work, how to get in touch with another trusted adult and how to...
A 19-year-old Grand Coulee woman was not injured in a wreck south of Mesa, Washington Monday. The Washington State Patrol reported that Meliya R. Zarate was driving north in the right lane on the highway about three miles south of Mesa when a car in the left lane merged into her lane. She overcorrected and rolled the 2000 Dodge Durango she was driving, the Patrol said. The report listed her as not injured, but indicated she was taken nevertheless to Lourdes Medical Center in Pasco. The accident was caused by inattention, the report...
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR GRANT COUNTY CITY OF GRAND COULEE, NO. 19-2-00562-13 a Washington municipal SUMMONS BY corporation PUBLICATION Plaintiff, v. BERTHA V. VLACHOS, deceased; unknown heirs of BERTHA V. VLACHOS, deceased; and all other persons or parties unknown claiming any right, title, estate, lien, or interest in the real estate described in the complaint herein, Defendant. The State of Washington to the said BERTHA V. VLACHOS, deceased; unknown heirs of BERTHA V. VLACHOS, deceased; and all other...