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 town council meeting at Coulee Dam that was designed to discuss consolidation of services such as police, ambulance and fire departments with other cities and towns was essentially postponed until Oct. 7, because only three of five council members were present last Wednesday. Mayor Greg Wilder said he didn’t want to get into serious discussion on consolidation until all members of the council were present. Wilder has indicated on numerous occasions that he favored some type of consolidation of services in the area for greater efficiency and s...
Kids at Nespelem Elementary know what a spleem is. It's what you're not supposed to do. A pax, on the other hand, is what you are supposed to do. Those two concepts, and those labels, are part of a new game at the school that is changing not just classrooms, but migrating into the larger community, too, some say. And it's giving students a new tool to help with school and life. The PAX Good Behavior Game is making a difference in the school, helping kids learn how to behave appropriately and...
Elmer City has a new clerk. Garrett Benton, an Elmer City resident, takes on his new position at the town hall this Thursday. Garrett said Tuesday that he is looking forward to his new role as the chief number cruncher for the town. The new town clerk grew up in the Seattle area, and has a degree in agronomy from Washington State University. “I wanted a background in agriculture because I wanted to go into the Peace Corps,” he said. Benton spent two years in the Peace Corps in Nepal, where he helped local farmers in a remote area to dev...
Coulee Dam is looking for grant money to hire a school resource officer (SRO). Should the U.S. Department of Justice grant come through, at least the police officer in the schools would have wheels. The town council approved a budget amendment last Wednesday night for $35,000 to purchase a squad car. Mayor Greg Wilder, early on as the town’s chief executive officer, said one of his goals was to get a grant to support hiring of a school resource officer. The grant would provide $238,970 to cover the cost of an SRO for the first three years. T...
At a popular station at last Thursday's "Cultural Awareness Gathering" at Lake Roosevelt Schools' Greene Field, Austin "Bubba" Garcia pulls back on an arrow aimed at an elk replica target. The event, which is organized every other year by Kim Stanger, integrates various aspects of native American culture, creating several learning experiences for students. This year, the event took up the whole field with some 22 stations ranging from traditional medicine and plants to smoking salmon. - Scott...
Grant County Port District 7 commissioners passed a resolution last Thursday adopting any future rules developed by the Federal Aviation Administration concerning drones flying near the airport. The rule being considered may allow unmanned aerial vehicle flights within up to three miles of an airport when they have permission, but no flights higher than 500 feet. A commercial operator who wants to fly a UAV near the airport to take pictures would first have to get permission from airport officials. Recently a commercial drone operation was...
The town of Coulee Dam hopes to have the position of superintendent of public works filled by the first of the year, Mayor Greg Wilder informed the council last Wednesday night. Wilder said the town continues to get applicants for the position, both from western Washington and eastern Washington. He said that the town will review applicants Oct. 6, and begin the process of selecting a new superintendent. The former superintendent, Barry Peacock, retired at the end of August after serving 29 years with the town. Wilder was asked if any of the...
Hendrickson joins fire department Matt Hendrickson is a new member of Coulee Dam’s volunteer fire department. Hendrickson is a certified EMT and has passed all tests. He was voted into the department by the town council at last Wednesday’s council meeting. City fireworks law needs more work Grand Coulee’s city council sent a proposed ordinance on fireworks back to the drawing board in an effort to define where, or if, fireworks could be set off at a designated area. In past years, residents in the area have set off fireworks at North Dam,...
Grant County Port District 7 officials produced a preliminary budget for 2016 at their meeting last Thursday. The budget shows income of $216,500, with $127,000 coming from the Banks Lake Golf Course in membership dues and playing fees. Other revenues in the new budget come from general property taxes, $47,000; investment fund interest, $500; airport grants from FAA, $14,200; airport fees, $2,800; golf pro shop and restaurant, $24,000; and cash on hand, $1,000. The port district will hold a public hearing on its 2016 budget at 4:30 p.m.,...
Eastern Washington University last week announced an academic and community program to honor the legacy of Lucy Covington, a Colville Tribal Council member who changed the course of American Indian history through her courageous and selfless style of leadership in the face of great odds, the school said in a press release. Covington was instrumental in reversing the United States government’s effort to extinguish its unique relationship to American Indian tribes. The Lucy Covington Center at EWU will honor Covington’s place in history by wor...
Nothing is more important than our children. They are the future, so providing for them strengthens us all and the society in which they live, in which we all live, inseparable, whether we acknowledge it or not. That’s why the top story this week is about a good program at Nespelem’s school, which has seen a decline in student behavior over several decades. If the PAX program is successful, it could reverse that decline, leading to better lives for all the community’s children, in both the Nespelem and Grand Coulee Dam school districts. Teach...
So, let’s say someone said to you, “You can only take 10 things with you for the rest of your life.” All of the rest of your stuff will be destroyed, and the clothes on your back don’t count against you. What do you take? My mind instantly goes to survival mode, thinking of knives, guns, ammo, filters and so on. But soon I become overwhelmed. I know I will want at least one picture. What about food? Does my wife count as an item and does she get to bring 10 things too? Can I choose 10 friends and select their 10 things? My mind soon becomes...
October is National Farm to School month (#F2SMonth). “Farm to School” refers to schools serving local, farm-fresh foods ranging from fruits and veggies to honey and meat. The more local foods we serve our kids, the better. One-third of U.S. children are obese or overweight, and only 2 percent of children get the recommended serving of fruits and vegetables each day. Farm-to-school programs increase students’ daily fruit and vegetable consumption significantly. Moreover, each dollar invested into Farm to School stimulates an additional $2.16...
Here is some advice to the young looking for their first job: Start by cleaning up your act. Also accept the fact that you’ll likely be starting out at a minimum wage, but will not be there very long if you’re a good worker and look presentable. When asked by their leading association, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), to name the biggest problems small-business owners faced in filling job vacancies: • 61 percent listed lack of job-specific or occupational skills as a typical or occasional problem • 54 percent cited t...
The building of Grand Coulee Dam. – date of photo unknown...
Chamber Meets at Pepper Jack’s The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will be meeting this Thursday, Oct. 1, at noon, at Pepper Jack’s Bar & Grille in Grand Coulee. On the agenda Bob Valen will speak on his time at Alcatraz. Free Open Sew Moves to New Location Coulee Creators, a free open sew group, has moved its meeting place to 412 Federal Ave., room 207 of the old middle school in Grand Coulee. (Enter from east end.) The group meets Tuesdays from 1–4 p.m. Erratics Chapter to Meet Oct. 13 Wenatchee Valley Erratics Chapter of the Ice A...
Bruce Albert Brandstrom, 82, passed away on Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, in Spokane, Washington. A complete obituary will be in next week’s Star....
This past Saturday a doubles tennis tournament was held at the new tennis courts. Next Saturday, October 3, at 9 a.m., at the high school courts, there will be a singles tournament. Everyone is welcome. Bring a can of new balls. Format will be determined by the number of participants. Last week's double results: Girls' singles: Bonnie Christensen defeated Janice Archer Boys' doubles: Jeff Wilt and Jeff Dewinkler defeated Jordan Charles and Edmond Fenton; Jesse Tillman and Mark Piturachsatit...
A new doctor has been added to the Gillespie Eye Care team. Dr. Galen Schmidt has joined the eye care firm in Grand Coulee after some 30 years in private practice. Schmidt, and his wife, Pam, who is originally from the Omak area, come to the area from Spokane. The doctor is well versed in treatment and management of eye diseases, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, dry eyes and diabetic retinopathy. Originally from Cozad, Nebraska, Schmidt served in the U.S. Army during the...
The Raiders exceeded their football win total from 2014 last Friday night as they defeated the Manson Trojans 28-12 at home. "We had great effort from start to finish," Head Coach Geary Oliver said. "We had a great week of practice, and our kids worked hard to correct last week's mistakes. We are learning how to play for each other as a team." Oliver said Manson "is a good team, and they executed their scheme well, but this week we won the turnover battle." Oliver noted that "Beau Michel had an...
The Lady Raiders won in three after losing in three last week. On Manson’s home court, Lake Roosevelt lost in a three-game set Sept. 22 before defeating Tonasket in Coulee Dam Thursday in a three-game sweep. The match at Manson was disappointing as the Lady Raiders came out with poor energy, head coach Kasey Garvin said. “They came in with a very strong energy, and we had no energy,” she said. After the loss, Garvin challenged the team to rebound quickly from the loss, rather than let it linger. “On Wednesday, we addressed things that needed...
This week in sports Wed., Sept. 30 5 p.m., JHS Volleyball at Oroville Thurs., Oct. 1 5:30 p.m., HS Volleyball here with Okanogan 6 p.m., JHS Football at Okanogan Fri., Oct. 2 7 p.m., HS Football here with Warden Sat., Oct. 3 10:30 a.m., HS Cross Country at Kettle Falls Mon., Oct. 5 5 p.m., JHS Volleyball here with Liberty Bell 5:30 p.m., HS Volleyball here with Bridgeport Tues., Oct 6 5 p.m., HS Volleyball at Liberty Bell Wed., Oct. 7 5 p.m., JHS Volleyball here with Okanogan Thurs., Oct 8 5:30 p.m., HS Volleyball here with Oroville 6 p.m.,...
Notice of Application for coverage under the Statewide General Permit for Biosolids Management Notice is hereby given that the Grand Coulee-Electric City Wastewater Treatment Plant [WWTP] is applying to the Washington State Department of Ecology for coverage under the statewide General permit for Biosolids Management. Biosolids are produced at the Grand Coulee-Electric City WWTP, located inside the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Compound c/o City of Grand Coulee, 306 Midway Ave./ P.O. Box 180, Grand Coulee, WA 99133 and applied to wheat/fallow...
Grand Coulee Police 9/22 - A man on Banker Street told police that a vehicle was parked in the alley and blocking movement of traffic there. A woman told police that she would ask the owner to move the vehicle. - A man on Roosevelt Drive advised police on three occasions of a barking dog on Mead. He stated the dog barks constantly. - Recovery of a motorcycle became a problem when the owner found out that a man at the place where it was stored had sold it. It is being treated as a vehicle theft. - A person who took items without paying for them...
