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Articles from the October 9, 2013 edition


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  • Newsbriefs

    Oct 9, 2013

    Council canceled Coulee Dam’s regular council meeting, scheduled for 6 tonight (Wednesday) has been cancelled for lack of a quorum. The town’s next council meeting will be held at the same time on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Anti-freeze collection in Ephrata Grant County Solid Waste offers a free year-round collection of used antifreeze for households at the Ephrata Landfill and the CDSI Transfer Station and Recycling center. Residents may bring up to five gallons per week during normal hours of operation. This collection is for antifreeze gen... Full story

  • Relishing the spooky season

    Scott Hunter|Oct 9, 2013

    Bob Hinkey spends a lot of time, energy and money making Halloween a kick for all those brave enough to trick or treat at his Coulee Dam home. We found him busy Saturday afternoon with preparations for this year's spectacle....

  • Surplus items draw interest

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 9, 2013

    Grand Coulee’s city council declared surplus a number of items from the police department at last Tuesday night’s meeting. Included were two bullet proof vests from the 1970s, a breath analyzer device referred to as “dial a drunk” by Police Chief Mel Hunt, a Polaroid camera with case, boxes of electronic items, some phone parts, and an outdated fax machine and typewriter. But the items that caught the fancy of members of the council were two horsehide leather coats about 40 years old. Several members of the council tried the coats on. The hea... Full story

  • Nespelem eighth graders each get laptops

    Scott Hunter|Oct 9, 2013

    Last Friday, eighth graders at Nespelem Elementary School gained something in common with students in far-flung school districts around the continent intent on making sure students are prepared for the future that’s already here. Each Nespelem eighth grader received a new laptop computer to use for all their school work. While many “one-to-one” districts are opting for cheaper tablet computers (the Los Angeles Unified School District just launched a $1 billion program), the Nespelem Schoo... Full story

  • City bans marijuana businesses for six months

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 9, 2013

    Grand Coulee passed an ordinance last Tuesday night declaring a moratorium on any type of marijuana operations in the city. The moratorium came after a public hearing where three residents of the city spoke supporting the issue. Speaking against any marijuana activity in the city were Cheryl Piturachsatit, Linda Black and Al Jordan. All were for the moratorium and against marijuana operations in the city. The moratorium is for six months, effective from Tuesday’s meeting, to April 1, 2014. Residents of Washington State voted approval of I... Full story

  • Firm gets 15-year contract on Lake Roosevelt

    Oct 9, 2013

    The National Park Service has awarded a 15-year concession contract to Dakota Columbia Rentals, LLC to operate at Keller Ferry and Seven Bays within Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. Dakota Columbia will operate a full service marina, including houseboat and other boat rentals, moorage, retail/grocery, marine fuel and oil sales, pump-out services, and related services at the Keller Ferry and Seven Bays Marinas. The firm will also operate the Keller Ferry campground, according to a Sept. 30 press release from NPS.... Full story

  • New daycare opens

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 9, 2013

    Coulee Dam has a new licensed day care. The day care center, at 1111 Central Drive, is run by Clarissa Cawston and is designed to take care of 12 children, from 6 months to 12 years of age. She has named it “Coulee Kids Day Care.” Cawston has designed the daycare center to be somewhat like a preschool, with educational materials including lesson plans and learning opportunities. It’s an opportunity for her to exercise her education degree from Washington State University and still be home with... Full story

  • Light pole victim of sleepy driver

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 9, 2013

    Some people have a tough time getting to work on Monday mornings. That was the case for Jason Mucciaccio this past Monday when he fell asleep and his pickup truck left the roadway and knocked down a power pole on SR-174, near Knute Street at North Dam Park. Mucciaccio was driving to work at the new school building project, where he is employed by a subcontractor, when he fell asleep, he told police. His vehicle and trailer left the roadway, jumped a curb and severed the light pole. Police said damage estimate was $5,000 to the pickup, $3,000... Full story

  • Dinner will benefit museum

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 9, 2013

    A special dinner to benefit the Coulee Pioneer Museum will be held Friday, Oct. 25, at the Senior Center. Tickets are $10 per person or $20 for a family and are available from museum members or at the Senior Center. Museum coordinator Birdie Hensley said the spaghetti dinner proceeds will help the museum move along in its efforts to define itself. “It’s all you can eat,” Hensley stated. The dinner is sponsored by Flo’s Restaurant. As part of the fund raiser, a quilt raffle will be held at $1 per ticket or six tickets for $5, Hensley stated.... Full story

  • Officer on board

    Oct 9, 2013

    Grand Coulee Police Chief Mel Hunt, left, swears in Adam Florenzen, a new provisional officer. Florenzen who replaces Otto Heath who is leaving the department to take a similar position in the Boise area. Florenzen has been a patrol officer in Coulee Dam for the past two years, but was let go when the town of Coulee Dam lost its contract with the Bureau of Reclamation. The council voted last Tuesday night to allow the police department to add a provisional officer. -- Roger S. Lucas... Full story

  • Kids will put on Blackbeard play

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 9, 2013

    Coulee Dam area school children will put on “Blackbeard the Pirate” when they perform as part of the Missoula Children’s Theater on Nov. 9, according to Crystal Jones, vice president of the PTA here. School children from kindergarten through sixth grade will be the actors. Auditions start Monday, Nov. 4, at the Center Elementary School gym. Jones said that 50-60 kids will be involved in the play. Representatives from the Missoula Children’s Theater operation will be in the area directing the youngsters for performances on Saturday, Nov. 9.... Full story

  • Enough is enough!

    Stacy Snow|Oct 9, 2013

    For months and months I have followed my father’s lead and taken the high road and let Mr. Wilder harass, belittle, try to discredit and tell lie after lie about him, but enough is enough. My father is my idol, and I can not remember a time in my life when he has not been doing something for the community. He has worked hard for this community and I take exception to someone who has just rejoined the community, after being gone for over 40 years, coming in and trying to undermine his efforts. If he wants to run for mayor then run on his own m... Full story

  • Contrasting responses insightful

    Dave Winzer|Oct 9, 2013

    I’d like to share an experience I just had. At the time of this writing it is day two of the government shutdown and I decided it was time to contact my senators and representative. Upon arriving at Senator Murray’s website and the “Contact Me” icon I received a message stating that due to the shutdown she was unable to receive emails from her constituents. That was irritating. There was a phone listing for her Spokane office, so I called during normal business hours and received the same message. No one could/would receive my call or comment... Full story

  • Program deserves a chance

    Becky Billups|Oct 9, 2013

    I was sorry to see the “Liability issue puts damper on horse-kid match-ups,” article in The Star Oct. 2. I believe that “The Nourishing Hand” program would and could be a great program for the kids in this area. Animals have a great positive effect on people of all ages. This has been proven by the use of this type of programming in prisons, nursing homes, and also for troubled teens, with huge positive results, comforting the sick, the dying, the troubled, and even those that society said there was no hope for, by simply incorporating animals... Full story

  • Who are the peach pickers?

    Jerry Beierman|Oct 9, 2013

    They are a group of local community volunteers who have volunteered to pick peaches, apples, Italian plums, apricots, tomatoes and whatever else may need to be picked. Whatever is picked usually goes to the senior centers in Grand Coulee and Nespelem, and also to the Senior Manor in Grand Coulee. Also, items are delivered to homebound elderly senior citizens in the Grand Coulee Dam area. Yes, the pickers do sample the products as we would never give out a product that we would not eat ourselves! A big thank you goes out to all of the citizens w... Full story

  • Health screenings made preventive health approach possible

    Liz Marcolin|Oct 9, 2013

    My husband and I thoroughly agree with Sheryl Moore’s letter in last week’s newspaper concerning the discontinuing of the annual Health Screening labs sponsored by the local hospital during National Hospital Week each May. We centered our medical care around the annual screening, and the only prescription I take is for a condition discovered by Chris Seyler, PAC, from lab results many years ago. I don’t know how long it would have taken to be diagnosed had it not been for the annual screening. Because of Medicare and our private insur... Full story

  • Gems in the Coulee - Mikey Williams

    Jesse Utz|Oct 9, 2013

    The Raider sports is in full swing at Lake Roosevelt, and for one person football season is his time to work. He is at every practice, every game (home and away), every meeting, he even checks in on the athletic director from time to time to make sure he is doing his job. You might have gone to a home football game and seen him, or you might have run into him in the store as he is hugging someone and giving an enthusiastic smile with a “Hey Buddy.” You might have got a look at him working at... Full story

  • Jeanne McKay Motsenbocker

    Oct 9, 2013

    Jeanne McKay Motsenbocker October 3, 1954 – October 4, 2013 Jeanne McKay Motsenbocker passed into the arms of her Heavenly Father surrounded by her loving family on October 4, 2013, following a courageous three-year battle with ovarian cancer. Jeanne was born October 3, 1954, to Phillip and Patricia McKay of Grand Coulee, Wash., and spent her formative years on the family wheat and cattle farm northwest of town. Jeanne attended school in Grand Coulee from kindergarten through high school and graduated from Lake Roosevelt High School in 1972. S...

  • Its a Boy for Frank/Paul

    Oct 9, 2013

    It’s a boy for Frank/Paul Leah LeeAnn Frank and Stanley Michael Paul Jr. of Keller are proud to announce the birth of their son Hunter Elijah Paul on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 8 lbs., and was 20-1/2 inches in length at birth. Siblings include MaryJane Lyla Frank-McKay age 9 and Scarlette Minnie Moon Frank, 1. Maternal grandmother is Sally Mae Frank of Wapato, Wash. Paternal grandparents are Marcella Wapato of Nespelem and Stanley M. Paul Sr. of Vancouver, B.C....

  • Thats one big Pumpkin!

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 9, 2013

    That’s one big pumpkin! Bill Niendam of Elmer City shows off what he calls his “300 pound pumpkin.” He and his wife Dusty raised a single pumpkin in their garden on Front Street. He said the pumpkin vine had a number of blooms but only one pumpkin. “We used a giant pumpkin seed for this one,” he said. It doesn’t look like he will move the pumpkin. “We would need a lift truck to get it out of here,” he stated. (Roger S, Lucas photo)...

  • Meetings and Notices

    Oct 9, 2013

    Chamber to Meet The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet at noon, Thursday, Oct. 10, at Pepper Jack’s Bar and Grille. Singers Wanted The Coulee Community Choir meets Mondays at 7 p.m. at St. Henry’s Catholic Church. Singers are welcome. Come and check it out. Free Retirement Seminar The Okanogan County School Retirees Association is sponsoring a free Retirement Seminar for all school employees on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. at the Okanogan High School Library. For more information call 509.826.5068. Retiree’s Association Okano...

  • Senior Menu

    Oct 9, 2013

    Senior Meals Wed., Oct. 9 - Dinner BBQ Pork Roast, Twice Baked Potato, Mixed Veggies, Roll, Fruit Salad, Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Icing (Happy October Birthday Folks) Thurs., Oct. 10 - Dinner Hamburger Steak & Gravy Over Egg Noodles, Buttered Squash, Fruit Salad, Frozen Coolwich. Fri., Oct. 11 - Breakfast Biscuit and Sausage Gravy, Eggs, Assorted Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice. Senior Center General Meeting 10 a.m. Mon., Oct. 14 - Breakfast Ham Steak, Eggs, Pancakes, Pears, Orange Juice. Columbus Day Observed. Tues., Oct. 15 - Dinner Chicken Noo...

  • Raiders lose to Kittitas

    John McNeil II|Oct 9, 2013

    Raiders lose to Kittitas in league opener By John R. McNeil II Lake Roosevlet’s three-game winning streak came to an end last Friday as the Raiders lost to the Kittitas Coyotes 24-14 in their Central Washington 2B League opener at Greene Field. “We had our moments against Kittitas,” Raider Head Coach Steve Files said, “but I know we are capable of better performance. … They simply outplayed us.” The Raiders rushed for 171 yards, with Jesse Louie gaining 114 of them. Josiah Desautel ran for 49...

  • Cross country races at Can Am

    John McNeil II|Oct 9, 2013

    Cross country races at Can Am by John R. McNeil II After a week off, Raider cross country returned to the races at Colville High School for the 2013 Can Am race Oct. 5. Normally the race is held in Kettle Falls at the National Park Service’s Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, but with the government shutdown, the race had to be moved to Colville High School. Head Coach Gary Darnold said that, unlike in football, the bye week is not an advantage in cross country. “Having an extra week doe...

  • This week in sports

    Oct 9, 2013

    This week in sports Thurs., Oct. 10 5 p.m., Volleyball at Liberty Bell. Fri., Oct. 11 7 p.m., Football at Manson. Sat., Oct. 12 11 a.m., Cross Country at Quincy Invitational (the home cross country meeting was cancelled because of local construction.) 11 a.m., Volleyball at Pateros. Mon., Oct. 14 5:30 p.m., JV Football here with Tonasket. Tues., Oct. 15 5:30 p.m., Volleyball here with Oroville. Thurs., Oct. 17 5 p.m., Volleyball at Bridgeport. Fri., Oct. 18 7 p.m., Football here with Oroville. Sat., Oct. 19 5:30 p.m., Volleyball here with...

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