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Articles from the September 17, 2014 edition


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  • Grand Coulee was $250k behind in billing Electric City

    Roger S Lucas|Sep 17, 2014

    Since 2011, Grand Coulee hasn’t billed Electric City for its share of the cost of operating and maintaining the wastewater treatment plant the two cities jointly own. Grand Coulee City Clerk Carol Boyce acknowledged Tuesday that the billings haven’t been made since 2011, and that she estimates the total billing to bring the account up to date will be about $240,000. Electric City Clerk Jackie Perman said the annual billings for the wastewater treatment account ranges from $70,000-80,000 a year. Electric City owns 37 percent of the plant, whi...

  • New LR school opens with plenty of fanfare and lots of students

    Roger S Lucas and Scott Hunter|Sep 17, 2014

    The new school complex in Coulee Dam opened Monday without a serious glitch. But there were kids, kids, and more kids. Following years of declines, student numbers on Monday were 22 percent more than the district had budgeted, a number that can substantially boost the amount of operating money the state allocates to the district. The first-day count was 394 for the elementary wing, plus 350 in the junior-senior high wing for a total of 744 students. The official beginning count won't be taken...

  • Water rate meeting gets contentious

    Roger S Lucas|Sep 17, 2014

    Coulee Dam residents got a taste of the difficulties in coming up with a fair water rate for the town at a public meeting last Wednesday night. The audience got to hear and see how an increasing block rate would work in determining future water rates. Mayor Greg Wilder, who had prepared the presentation, said that he planned a total of four public meetings to discuss possible ways to equalize the way people are charged for water in the town. When it became a town in the late 1950s, instead of two federal construction housing projects, Coulee...

  • Street, restroom problems discussed

    Roger S Lucas|Sep 17, 2014

    A business owner and local citizen proved that you can take on city hall, you just don’t always win. Ray Duclos had a lot to say about a pavement issue near Harvest Foods, the family business, and the cleaning of a restroom at Mason City Park at last Wednesday’s town council meeting at Coulee Dam. It was the second time Duclos has asked the town to fix a pavement problem where the Harvest Foods and Coulee Dam Casino parking areas empty out onto Roosevelt Way. Councilmember Shawn Derrick replied that the council was about to put together the...

  • Electric City considering building new park

    Roger S Lucas|Sep 17, 2014

    Electric City may be getting a park. The mayor was instructed by the city council last week to contact the Baptist Church School officials in Electric City and develop an offer for the northern portion of the playground area. The city has for a long time wanted a park. Councilmember Lonna Bussert told the council Sept. 9 that the northern half of the church school playground might be available for purchase to establish a park. She said the site is centrally located in the city and there would...

  • School supplies collected

    Sep 17, 2014

    Renée and Bill McCarty, managers of the Moose Lodge, get ready Sept. 3 to deliver school supplies collected by lodge members to help out students. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • Factors in success

    Scott Hunter|Sep 17, 2014

    This week, local students went from attending some of the worst school facilities in the state to attending the newest, largest and most high-tech K-12 school building in Washington. K-12 is now actually a misnomer, since the district has added preschool to the mix after the plans were initially drawn up with what the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction prescribed to be an 800-student capacity building. OSPI’s formula for determining this is the essential equivalent of a ruler following the last known direction, in this case d...

  • A week that defined community

    Greg Wilder|Sep 17, 2014

    This has been a week with three defining events… the first; a Coulee Dam Town Council meeting that clearly defined my resolve to stay a course for an accessible/open government, the fair and equitable sharing of the costs for services, and the continuing commitment to representing you each with the same focus and energy as your neighbor. The second; one of those rare feel-good events that leave us with warm hearts, hope for tomorrow, and an unselfish pride… the ribbon cutting and open house for our new K-12 school. The third; a Raiders foo...

  • Restoring freedom to information in the Freedom of Information Act

    Amy Bennett|Sep 17, 2014

    Over time federal agencies have flipped the Freedom of Information Act (ACT) on its head. Congress clearly intended the FOIA to be a tool for the public to pry information out of federal agencies. In recent years, however, agencies have blatantly abused opaque language in the law to keep records that might be embarrassing out of the public’s hands forever. One of the clearest examples of this problem has been playing itself out in court rooms over the last few years as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has successfully argued against the r...

  • The crown jewel: Lake Roosevelt School

    Jesse Utz|Sep 17, 2014

    As you read this, the new Lake Roosevelt School is open, and kids kindergarten through 12th grade are already walking the halls. Let me say this: It was a very emotional week as past teachers, students and board members walked the halls and mingled with today’s students and the future of Raider Nation. Emotions were not just limited to them either. A senator, a pastor and a superintendant also could not contain the joy of a big project being finished due to hard work, team work and tenacious d...

  • Coulee Recollections

    Sep 17, 2014

    1 Years Ago Raider football is 3-0 so far this season. “All in all we look pretty good,” Coach Matt Bona said of the team so far. Zach Bowman, Omar Fercha and Zach Thiefault have been the offensive leaders so far. 20 Years Ago Fire destroyed an Electric City home early Sunday. Pauline Bryant was at home alone at the time of the blaze and escaped with only her pajama’s. Sometime between 5 and 5:30am she awoke to the sound of the smoke detector, her bedroom was full of smoke, she screamed for help from her window until her neighbor, Steve Breeze...

  • Meetings and Notices

    Sep 17, 2014

    Chamber Meeting at Siam Palace The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet this Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Siam Palace in Grand Coulee. Mark Igo will talk about RC airplanes. Okanogan County Demos to Meet Okanogan County Democrats will be meeting on Saturday, Sept. 20, starting at 1 p.m. at Pepper Jack’s Bar & Grille in Grand Coulee. TOPS 1554 Meeting Date and Time Change TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Chapter 1524 meets on Tuesdays at 9:15 a.m. at Grand Coulee Senior Center prior to the exercise group gathering at 10 a.m. Come a...

  • Darrel W. Seibold

    Sep 17, 2014

    Darrel W. Seibold, born March 1, 1938, in Electric City, Wash., passed away September 7, 2014, in Desert Hot Springs, Calif. Darrel was an iron worker and drove truck for many years, retiring to Desert Hot Springs, 22 years ago. Darrel was a long time member of Jehovah's Witness where he made lifelong friends and enjoyed spreading the word. Darrel is survived by his son, Donald (Sis) Seibold, Colbert, Wash.., daughter, Julie Seibold Chiapetta, Spokane, Wash., sister, Maureen (Carril) Cramer,...

  • New local event determined multi-state BBQ champs

    Scott Hunter|Sep 17, 2014

    A team from Duvall, Wash. secured their third straight yearly championship of the Pacific Northwest by winning last weekend's Harvest Festival Barbecue in Grand Coulee. The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce's first barbecue competition ended up being the de facto championship for the year of the Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association as several teams competed closely for total points, and Grand Coulee's was the last event of the year. Of 10 teams at North Dam Park, two were local:...

  • Car show at Sun Lakes

    Sep 17, 2014

    The 1st Annual Decades of Distinction Car Show at Sun Lakes Park Resort will be held this Saturday, September 20th There willl be numerous trophy categories; Registration will be from 8am – 10am; 10am – 3pm will be the Car Show, Carnival Games for the whole family & Live Music with a DJ. Carnival Game armbands are just $5.00 for 20 games or you can purchase tickets for 4 for $1.00. Family Fun Passes will be available to purchase for $30.00 for the day and this entitles your family to rent paddle boats, row boats or play mini golf unl...

  • McClure earns AA

    Sep 17, 2014

    Rachel McClure received her AA degree at Walla Walla Community College this past June. She is now attending Washington State University. McClure is the daughter of Davy and Joy McClure of Nespelem and a 2011 graduate of Lake Roosevelt High School....

  • BBCC offers GED and HS21+ classes

    Sep 17, 2014

    Students who need to brush up prior to taking the 2014 Series GED exams have that opportunity beginning next week. The class is available to students sixteen years old and older, although students between 16 and 19 years old must be officially released by the school district. Adults 21 years old and older have the option of combining Big Bend Basic Skills courses with a variety of prior experiences to earn a high school diploma. An instructor and BBCC registration personnel will evaluate transcripts, knowledge gained from life experience, as...

  • Lady Raiders win two matches

    John McNeil II|Sep 17, 2014

    Lady Raider Volleyball had a successful travel week, beating both Liberty Bell and Soap Lake. “We have been working hard on the mental game of volleyball, playing through adversity, and they have done exactly that,” Head Coach Nate Piturachsatit said on how the Lady Raiders found ways to win their matches. In the Central Washington 2B North League opener Sept. 11 at Liberty Bell, the Lady Raiders on more than one occasion found themselves behind the Mt. Lions but dug deep and came back to win. In a see-saw, non-league match Sept. 13 at Soap Lak...

  • Raiders lose season opener 37-6

    John McNeil II|Sep 17, 2014

    LR Football opened their 2014 season Friday night at home against the 0-1 Tonasket Tigers, as some Raiders had to step up to fill starting roles because of ineligibility or injuries. "I thought we were fearless and competed extremely hard out there," Head Coach Steve Files said. "Great effort by our players." In the first quarter, the Tigers opened with a nine-minute drive that was capped with a 30-yard field goal for the only score of the first quarter. The Raiders looked to be turning the...

  • Bowling Scores

    Sep 17, 2014

    BOWLING TUESDAY HI LO’S 09.09.14 TEAM W L Coulee Internet Serv. 6 2 Sunflower Graphics 6 2 Fullers 6 2 Riverview Lanes 3.5 4.5 Pepsi 2.1 5.1 High Game: Pepsi 423; Nita 201 High Series: Pepsi 1225; Nita 513 Splits: Judy 5-7...

  • This week in sports

    Sep 17, 2014

    This week in sports Thurs., Sept. 18 5:30 p.m., Volleyball at Bridgeport. 5:30 p.m., Jr. High School Football at Okanogan. Fri., Sept. 19 7 p.m., Football at Soap Lake. Sat., Sept. 20 12:30 p.m., Cross Country at Runners’ Soul (Spokane Valley). Mon., Sept. 22 5:30 p.m., High School JV Football here with Omak. Tues., Sept. 23 5:30 p.m., High School olleyball here with Manson. Wed., Sept. 24 5 p.m., JRHS Volleyball at Brewster....

  • Legals for September 17, 2014

    Sep 17, 2014

    City of Electric City Small Works/ Vendor Roster The City of Electric City is accepting applications from interested contractors and vendors wishing to be placed on the Small Works Roster and Vendor Roster. Whenever the city seeks to construct any public work or improvement with an estimated cost of $200,000 or less the small works roster may be utilized. The Vendor Roster may be utilized when purchasing materials, supplies or equipment not connected to a public works project with an estimated cost of $15,000 or less. All interested contractors...

  • Coulee Cops

    Sep 17, 2014

    Grand Coulee Police 9/7 - Officers checked on a report from Tribal Police that a stolen vehicle was at a location on Sunny Drive in Electric City. The man who had the vehicle was arrested on a Department of Corrections detainer. He told police that he had made a down payment on the vehicle and still owed $2,800. The woman who owned the car stated that the man didn’t have permission to take the vehicle. The man was taken to Grant County Jail on the DOC detainer. Charges on taking the vehicle are pending. - An Electric City man was stopped for n...

  • Sheriff seeks public's help identifying burglary suspect

    press release, LCSO|Sep 17, 2014

    The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office is investigating burglary/theft cases in the southwest corner of Lincoln County and has a photo he'd like help identifying. On Sept. 12, a suspect burglarized a residence for the second time and a camera captured the suspect in the photo below. Sheriff Wade Magers is asking the public for their help in identifying the individual on the bike. Magers says suspect may have been dropped off by another individual in a pickup to allow him to burglarize the...

  • Photos up of new school opening

    Sep 17, 2014

    Finally got all the shots of the opening of the new school up. Here's a slide show of 50 of the best....