News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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As a type 2 incident management team was leaving the area Sunday and the local fires are contained and final mop up is being done -- 81,000 acres worth -- it is time to reflect on what happened locally and thank all the citizens, visitors, DOT workers, police officers and fire fighters for their hard work, sacrifices and patience. As a fire fighter and chief, there were a lot of emotions the last week. The greatest is relief that no one received major injuries during this fire. A resident from the fire area did suffer a broken leg, and a... Full story
Thelma J. “Teila” St. Paul (57) was born February 13, 1955, in Nespelem, Wash., to John and Christine (Dick) Lezard. Teila passed away in Spokane, Wash., surrounded by her beloved family on Wednesday morning, September 19, 2012, at Sacred Heart Medical Center. A graduate of Riverside High School in Anadarko, Okla., Teila attended NW Indian College of Bellingham, Wash. On June 28, 1998, she married Darius “Kanie” St. Paul in an outside ceremony at North Dam Park in Grand Coulee, Washing... Full story
The Leahy fire is essentially out, but ranchers will be dealing with the effects of it for a long time. One ranch family, Jim and Michelle Hemmer, whose 20,000-acre pastureland was essentially blackened, are trying to deal with the problems the fire caused, one day at a time. They took some time Friday to show a reporter the results of the fire that started from lightning Sept. 9 and consumed more than 91,000 acres in what came to be named the Barker Canyon Complex, most of it in high ranch land... Full story
Fire contained The Barker Canyon Complex fire was declared 100 percent contained at 6 p.m. Tuesday evening. Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Chief Rick Paris stated that the fire was turned back to local fire groups and they will be carrying out patrols through the week. Paris said if fire is seen people should call 911 immediately with information on location. No dog exchange A pet adoption event scheduled for next Sunday, Sept. 23, has been cancelled. Chris Holeman said Adams County Pet Rescue authorities thought the event would be inappropriate... Full story
A dispute over how the administration is being handled at Center School erupted at Monday night’s school board meeting. Grand Coulee Dam School District Chair Joette Barry started things rolling when she told Superintendent Dennis Carlson that she didn’t see any difference between the leadership model now presented from the one presented a month ago. Carlson had told the board last month that he would have an updated version of an administrative plan put together since the departure of principal Sue Hinton. Board members responded by pas... Full story
Electric City citizens will be able to vent their feelings about the city’s plan to charge $20 per license tab for residents within the city limits. The occasion will be a public hearing on the license tab issue at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, at city hall. Under Senate and House Bill 1858, counties and communities within the state can vote to form a “transportation benefit district” that allows the entity to charge up to $100 per license tab. The $100 tab takes a vote of the people, but the $20 can be charged by just forming the distr... Full story
Electric City is advertising for a person interested in serving on its city council. The person selected will fill out the Position 4 term of Birdie Hensley, who vacated her seat earlier this month. The council started advertising for the vacancy this week and advises those interested to submit a letter of interest to the city council no later than Monday, Sept. 24. The letter may be sent or hand delivered to city hall. Those interested, but who have questions about the appointment can call the city clerk at 633-1510 for clarification or inform... Full story
Wilson Construction employees gather at the top of the middle of the lower three 300-foot-plus towers Friday to mark the basic completion of the six-tower project. Lines will be strung from the Third Powerhouse on Grand Coulee Dam after tourism slows. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
A series of wildland fires started by lightning Sept. 8 burned nearly 127 square miles of land, threatened two towns and consumed some $1.65 million of state and federal money to fight it. The Barker Canyon Complex fire was finally declared 100 percent contained Tuesday, but not before prompting evacuation warnings and orders for parts of Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam and families living in rural Douglas County. The fire tested the resources of local and surrounding fire fighting agencies, while... Full story
Mayors asked Monday what went wrong with the debris from Wright Elementary. The town permit obtained by Elder Demolition to dismantle the old school requires debris from the job go to the Delano Transfer Station. Transfer station Manager Randy Gumm told the mayors Monday that he only received one load, and that Elder Demolition was hauling the debris directly to the Ephrata landfill, bypassing the local collection point. The contractor was advised when it took out the demolition permit that it must haul the debris to the transfer station,... Full story
Paul Lietzen, Anacortes, Wash., emerges from Lake Roosevelt at Spring Canyon Saturday after the swim portion of his race. To search for times and results of the race, see RESULTS More great shots from the race: 2012 Grand Columbian SuperTri Triathlon - Images by Scott Hunter and Ralph Rise... Full story
We would like to thank the wonderful firemen, neighbors with shovels, the helicopter pilot and driver of the DNR tractor that joined forces to save our farm home from the wildfire on Sunday, the 9th. Without your help we would have surely lost some structures, if not the entire farm. Just thank you seems inadequate, but we mean it from the heart. Ted and Darlene Dittmer... Full story
We wanted to say thank you for working so hard to save our house on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. We appreciate it more than you could ever know and have no doubt that without your help, we would not have a home now. This includes Douglas County Fire Dept., Coulee Dam Fire Dept., Grand Coulee Fire Dept., Electric City Fire Dept., and all the others who fought to save our house. Thank you so much, Ray Green, for getting to us so quickly and getting a fire line around our place. Many of you are also our neighbors and we appreciate you even more as your... Full story
A huge thank you to the firemen who worked so hard to save everyone's farms and homes during the Barker Canyon and Leahy fires. It is truly amazing that every home where someone lives was saved. Fences can be rebuilt and pastures will grow back with time. We thank you all for your dedication and committment to keeping us safe. Richard and Kathy Rice Smith Lake Rd. Grand Coulee... Full story
The dictionary defines fortitude as “mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger or temptation courageously” and mettle as “courage and fortitude.” These two words are extremely apt descriptions of the Volunteer Firefighters in our area. These folks are just everyday people that live next to you and me and have normal jobs, families, pets, and hobbies, plus a deep desire to help others. During the Barker Canyon-Leahy Junction fire, I was ordered to evacuate. Leaving Tom behind was hard for me to do but as part of the... Full story
Last night, while I was reading my “news feed” on Facebook, I saw that one of my friends had posted that they drove to Wilbur and bought their gas there. They said that it was 27 cents cheaper than here in the Coulee. I wrote a letter a while back about how the gas prices are so high here in our area and said that I would not buy gas here until someone could explain to me why they were so much higher. Well, no one has explained this to me, and I haven’t bought gas here for several months. I spend roughly $50 a week on gas, so about $200 a month... Full story
A few days ago, an inspiring and passionate nurse from Spokane, Washington, came all the way to Washington, DC to talk with me about the future of health care in America. As part of a group with the American College of Cardiology, DeAnna Jones struck me not only with her steadfast commitment to preserve Medicare, but with the compassion she has for her patients and her tireless work to make their lives better. She reminded me how hard nurses and doctors all across this country work every day to improve people’s lives. And as I’m reminded whe... Full story
Ten Years Ago Voters approved, by about 69 percent, a proposal to re-divide the Grand Coulee Dam School District last night. As a result, the school board has the authority to change the boundaries of all five respective districts. Jennifer Sedillo, 15, brought home four trophies from the Miss American Junior Teen Pageant in Seatac, Wash., held Labor Day weekend. Fears about attacks on the United States on the one-year anniversary of the events of September 11 have caused several changes to public access at Grand Coulee Dam. Bureau of... Full story
All are invited to a Memorial Celebration of Rodney“Rod” Wayne Green’s life to be held in a place he loved - the main arena of the Grand Coulee, Washington Ridge Rider Rodeo Grounds at 1 p.m., Saturday, September 29, 2012. On Monday, September 10, 2012, Rod, 50, quietly passed away in Grand Coulee, surrounded by his loving family following a courageous battle with cancer. Rod was born in Coulee Dam, on May 18, 1962, just minutes apart from his twin brother Ron. A graduate of Lake Roose... Full story
Raymond G. Stroh, 85, a retired electrical and consulting engineer died September 10, 2012, in Tracy, Calif. Mr. Stroh, a native of Tower City, North Dakota, grew up in a farm family of eleven children. He received his higher education at the North Dakota School of Science in Wahpeton, N.D. This is where, in 1946, he met the love of his life Katherine Neubauer. They were later married in 1948. His life and education were interrupted by his service in the United States Navy during World War II from January 1945 to July 1946. He commenced his... Full story
Phyllis Jean Avey, born November 9, 1931, in Spring Canyon, Utah to Elias and Thelma (Henningson) Degn, passed on to her heavenly home in Moses Lake, Wash., on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012. A 1950 graduate of Grand Coulee High School, Phyllis married Clifford Wayne Avey on November 22, 1959, in the little LDS Church which stood at the intersection of Civic Way and Yucca in Coulee Dam. Together Phyllis and Cliff built their home in Coulee Dam on Walnut Street, with Phyllis moving wheelbarrow loads of c... Full story
Long-time Coulee Dam residents, L. Kent and Linda Peterson, have received a mission call from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their service will be for a duration of 18 months at the church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their primary assignment will be in the language production resources division as interpreter coordinators. Mr. Peterson is retired from the USBR and served as Bishop of the L.D.S. congregation in Coulee Dam for just under eight years. Mrs. Peterson... Full story
Faith Community Church will be hosting an Open House Thursday, September 27, 1 - 7:30 p.m. Come take a tour of the newly renovated building.... Full story
Rebecca Miles-Heilman and Levi Redd are proud to announce the birth of their son Jackson Alexander Redd on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 6 lbs., 7 oz., and was 19 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandparents are Chay and Jerry Heilman of Grand Coulee. Paternal grandfather is Robert Redd of Yakima. Great-grandparents are Judy Kitchen of Pinehurst, Idaho, and Angelina Valenzuela of Freemont, Calif.... Full story
Grant County Fire District 14 to Meet The regular monthly meeting of the Grant County Fire District 14 will be held Monday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m., at the Electric City Fire Station. PEP to Meet Planet Earth Players will be meeting Thursday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Grand Gallery Theater in Grand Coulee. Ideas for a December performance will be discussed and a report will be given about the musical review to be held in October. PEP welcomes people interested in stage crew and set construction, sound and light technology and costumes, as well as... Full story