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School district directors did not rush into a decision Monday to reopen Lake Roosevelt Schools sooner than the start of the second quarter, but students who need to will be able to start using the computer labs this week. The Grand Coulee Dam School District board of directors held a Zoom meeting Sept. 28 that included a discussion on reopening school to a hybrid model of distance learning and classroom learning, in which some students would be in the school on Mondays and Tuesdays and others...
In Okanogan County, voters will choose a candidate in the upcoming election for Commissioner District #2 between incumbent Andy Hover, a Republican from Winthrop, and Katie Haven, a Democrat from Twisp. Hover "I have been an Okanogan County Commissioner for almost four years now," Hover told The Star in an email. "In that time I feel proud about the state of financial affairs that I have helped bring to Okanogan County. I feel proud that I can see county government working more efficiently for t...
Coulee Dam will offer grants to city businesses to help with expenses due to the COVID-19 emergency. The town might have as much as $14,000 in its own expenses to cover with money allocated the city through the “CARES Act” passed by Congress this year for relief during the pandemic. But that sum would leave plenty left over to help local businesses. The city’s allocation of funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act recently increased to $49,500 from an earlier $33,000. It can be used for many needs within the town gover... Full story
Coulee Medical Center financial documents show a loss of just over $332,000 in August, but a huge pot of cash came through under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Congress passed earlier this year. CMC banked some $4.4 million in CARES Act funds, Chief Financial Officer Kelly Hughes reported to hospital district commissioners Monday night over a Zoom meeting. That put the hospital in the black by $4,085,192 for the month and $988,443 for the year so far. That compares to the gain CMC had planned on, pre-pandemic, of nearly...
Washington, D.C. — The Fallen Journalists Memorial (FJM) Foundation, News Media Alliance, National Newspaper Association and National Association of Broadcasters today commended the U.S. House of Representatives on passing bipartisan legislation authorizing the FJM Foundation to establish a national memorial that honors the many reporters, editors, photographers and broadcasters who have lost their lives reporting the news. “Washington has many monuments honoring those who have sacrificed their lives to protect our freedoms — yet, there is no...
The rate of COVID-19 cases has gone down in the state of Washington, and in Grant and Douglas counties, but has gone slightly up in Okanogan and Lincoln counties over the last week. Counties need an incidence rate of 25 cases or fewer per population of 100,000 in the past 14 days to move forward a phase in the Washington Safe Start Recovery plan. And to partially open in-person schooling, that rate must not exceed 75. Here are the latest data for COVID-19 in Grant, Okanogan, Lincoln, and Douglas (GOLD) counties. As of Sept. 29, Okanogan County...
Moses Lake’s Stratford Road bridge crossing will be completely closed to all traffic from 6:30 pm to 6:30 a.m. nightly this week, the city of Moses Lake said Tuesday when construction work closed it. Construction should be completed Friday night, Oct. 2. The work is closing Stratford Road between Broadway Avenue and Valley Road, so drivers should allow extra travel time and plan to use an alternate route. Stratford is a popular route from for people from the Grand Coulee area heading to Moses Lake....
The Lake Roosevelt High School Class of 2021 will host a drive-through Indian taco dinner Oct. 1 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the school. A donation of $10 will get you fry bread, chili, toppings, a drink and desert. ASB advisor Sheila Darnold said diners will just drive up to the school to be met by students who will hand them their dinner. She said with students limited on fundraising options due to the COVID-19 health rules, such an event might even become a monthly event, if successful....
The fire season has reminded us once again of how vulnerable our county is. In the Pearl Hill and Cold Springs fires, approximately 414,000 acres and over 180 structures were burned. Wildfires are a natural part of our ecosystem, but with better planning and management we can expect better outcomes than we had this year or in the other bad years of this decade. Okanogan County has a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) which is a requirement for government funding of wildfire disasters. It is on the county’s website: ww...
Dr. Anthony Fauci thinks that drug companies may develop a COVID-19 vaccine before year’s end. But that doesn’t mean the pandemic will be over. Distributing hundreds of millions of vaccine doses will pose an enormous challenge, and our country’s medical supply chain — responsible for producing, transporting, and delivering crucial equipment and treatments — is already overwhelmed. From shortages of life-saving medical devices to logistical obstacles, the United States is woefully unprepared — especially since the flu season will complicate...
Many of us are familiar with how our school districts are funded. Construction costs, maintenance updates, teacher salaries, and more are funded by local taxpayers. With local property taxes, levies, and bonds, superintendents and school district administrators work to ensure our students receive the high-quality education they deserve. Over the past several years, many of our school districts have expanded to accommodate growing numbers of students. But what happens when a school district is on or surrounded by federal land? To fulfill our...
Sometimes doing things only once is a good idea. This is particularly true for me when it involves heights. The top rung in an eight-foot ladder is enough for me. Flying into Kodiak, Alaska was a prime example of the kind of coward I’ve become. We were in an old plane, I should say a primitive plane, which held about 20 passengers — and our suitcases were loaded inside the passenger compartment. We were making our approach to the runway with 70 mph winds pushing the plane to the side. The pilot would rev the engines to bring us back in lin...
Town of Nespelem CALL FOR BIDS The Town of Nespelem is requesting bids for the installation of a fire hydrant. The bid packet may be obtained by contacting Town Hall at 509-634-4691 or emailing townofnespelem@centurylink.net. Sealed bids must be submitted by 12pm October 14, 2020. The Town of Nespelem reserves the right to reject any and all bids. (Publish September 23 and 30, 2020) CITY OF ELECTRIC CITY MOSQUITO DISTRICT POSITION #4 VACANCY The City of Electric City is requesting letters of interest to fill vacant position #4 on the Grant... Full story
Although the area got some badly needed rain last week, local firefighters found out firsthand it wasn’t enough. Volunteers from the Grand Coulee and Electric City fire departments fought a 100-acre wildfire for four hours along the Columbia River with Douglas County Fire District 3 firefighters Sept. 24. Crews from Douglas Okanogan Fire Dist. 15, Douglas County #5 and the Bureau of Land Management also sent fire trucks and personnel. “The fire burnt well considering the rain we received yesterday, but the winds dried out the (grain) and shr... Full story
Grand Coulee Police 9/18 - A Kent Street man said he didn’t want to press charges against a man he said had come to his home to collect on a debt but punched him the face and threatened him with a hammer when he only paid him $20. The report didn’t specify what the total debt was. - An officer spoke with a woman from Grand Coulee on the phone. The woman was difficult to talk to and slurred her words, and the officer found himself repeating himself to her quite often. The woman said she loaned her credit card to a man who hadn’t returned it. T...
Rebecca Miles and Levi Redd of Grand Coulee, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their son, Ajani Jerry-Lee Redd, born Wednesday, September 9, 2020, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 6 lbs., 10 oz., and was 18 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Jackson and Chayla Redd. Maternal grandmother is Chay Heilman of Grand Coulee.... Full story
Ashley and Gabe Moses of Nespelem, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Remmi Rein Moses, born Thursday, September 10, 2020, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. She weighed 8 lbs., 3 oz., and was 20.5 inches in length at birth. Grandparents include Pamela Ludwig and Ralph Moses of Nespelem; Jerald Palmer Sr., Grand Coulee. Great-grandparents are Linda and Mike Palmer of Nespelem.... Full story
Barney and Nicole Ferguson of Electric City, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their son Tanner Gene Ferguson born Monday, September 14, 2020, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. He weighed 7 lbs., 12 oz., and was 21 inches in length. Siblings include Bradley age 2 and Colton age 1. Maternal grandparents are Jerry and Linda Novotney. Paternal grandparents are Jack Ferguson and Robin Peoples. Great-grandparents are JoAnn Graham and Betty Ferguson.... Full story
Karl and Michelle Minor of Grand Coulee, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Elissyia Llynn Minor, born Wednesday, September 16, 2020, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. She weighed 6 lbs., 11 oz., and was 18 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Ricky Lee 13, Kyra Lianne 7, and Eli Louis 3. Maternal grandparents are Walter and Angel New. Paternal grandparents are Hubert and Marline Minor. Great-grandparents are Ron and Joanne Breeze.... Full story