News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Salley Bull, who is running for Okanogan County commissioner for District 3, spoke to the Elmer City Town Council at their meeting on Oct. 11. District 3 spans from about Wauconda to Conconully, Bull noted, but everyone in Okanogan County gets to vote in the general election. “My family homesteaded in the Chiliwist Valley,” Bull said. “My relatives were community-minded doctors, nurses, teachers, preachers, council members, and on boards for the school, hospital, and irrigation district.” “I’ve been active in the community on the county level f...
Public Service Employees local union members and others hold signs and encourage drivers to honk in support Monday afternoon in the second of such demonstrations in the last two weeks during the union's negotiations with the Grand Coulee Dam School District. The two sides met Tuesday in another round of talks with an arbitrator. Messages on the signs included "We care about your kids," "Honk in Support of Strong Schools," and "Keep the McCleary Promise." Many cars honked. - Scott Hunter...
A brewing lawsuit between two towns has likely been averted after leaders took legal arguments seriously last week and a desire to work with neighbors prevailed. Coulee Dam has decided to explore options and get cost estimates to build a lift station needed to carry Elmer City's sewage to the new wastewater treatment facility being built. The treatment plant that Coulee Dam is building is about 22 feet higher in elevation than the old one that the towns currently share. That requires extra...
The Coulee Dam council Wednesday approved an agreement with the Colville Confederated Tribes, allowing them to install and maintain 144 strands of fiber optic cables through parts of the town. The tribes still need to approve the agreement before it is official. The fiber could make high-speed internet possible in the town, and be mutually beneficial for the town and the tribes, who are working to bring fiber optics to communities all around the reservation. The new, tribally owned fiber would connect to Grant County PUD’s fiber, which e...
Library adds Saturday to schedule, moves storytime The Grand Coulee Library will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturdays, in addition to their usual Monday through Friday hours. Additionally, their weekly storytime has been moved to Fridays at 11:30 a.m. Electric City water rates going up The Electric City council voted to raise the water rates by $2.50 in 2019, another $2.50 in 2020, and a dollar per year each year after that. Starting with the January 1, 2019 bill, rates will be $41.49 per month for up to 10,000 gallons for residents...
The North Central Regional Library system, of which the Grand Coulee library is a part, has more opportunities than the public may be aware of, and is working on adding more. Library patrons have the option to borrow movies, music, audiobooks and e-books digitally. "We have Hoopla, the Netflix for libraries," said Executive Director Barbara Walters. "Hoopla can be used anywhere at anytime by our library patrons." Those with a library card can access the Hoopla website and download a limited...
Who does a student with personal problems turn to in a time of need? Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School is bringing back a program that helps students with problems connect with peers they can talk to about them. A new “Natural Helpers” program at Lake Roosevelt is identifying who students turn to for help, and sending them on a retreat so they can learn how to better help their peers when they need someone to talk to. Natural Helpers was a program last in the high school 20 years ago but “collapsed because of a lack of funding,” said Je...
As we watch the larger political world seem to strain to pull itself apart, it’s heartening to see signs of local unity shining a beam of light through the clouds. Last week, Coulee Dam’s city council agreed to consider paying for the extra horsepower needed to get Elmer City’s effluent to the new treatment plant Coulee Dam is building. The two towns have been at the verge of mutually suing each other over whose responsibility that should be. Then last night, the Grand Coulee City Council voted to put the question of consolidating local munic...
We would like to thank the personnel from all of the area fire departments that responded to the fire in Elmer City on October 15, 2018. The high winds and encroaching darkness made containing the fire difficult and dangerous; however, these brave men and women worked quickly and efficiently to both contain the fire and prevent additional homes from being destroyed. Our home was surrounded on three sides with fire when it crossed Highway 155, and their efforts prevented any damage to our home. One firefighter had to climb a large tree in our...
I have known Terry for 15-plus years, quite some time before he became a PUD commissioner. Terry has integrity, incredible character and is highly qualified for the PUD commissioner position. There is no question in my mind that he is the best person to work through, and address the complexity of, challenges we face. His dedication to this resource we have has been tireless; in fact, he has not missed one PUD meeting in the last five years. There is unfortunate buzz that if you vote for one candidate, you are voting for agriculture; and if you...
Did you know that irrigated agriculture accounts for 24 percent of the employment in Grant County? Grant County agriculture directly employs over 7,000 Grant County residents, and indirectly creates employment for another 10,000. Agricultural processing and manufacturing creates another 17 percent (9,000) jobs for Grant County. All total, this means 41 percent, or 26,000 jobs are created by irrigated agriculture. Irrigated agriculture represents approximately 25 percent of the energy used from Grant County PUD. Terry Brewer and Patti Paris are...
I support Terry Brewer for Grant County PUD Commissioner. I have known Terry for over 20 years. It has been my pleasure to work with him as Director of the Grant County EDC and in his role as a PUD Commissioner. Don’t mistake Terry’s quiet demeanor and even disposition when evaluating his commitment to the people of Grant County and his advocacy for public power. Terry brings to this position extensive experience with private and public power. He is respected in the Public Power Field because of his knowledge and experience navigating the com...
It was the Three Devils Road closure that brought to light the glaring conflicts of interest within our county government. Through public records, we learned that previous road closures/vacations were being approved in spite of public testimony to their usefulness. When decisions like this affect your way of life, it is time to pay attention. Two-term Commissioner Jim DeTro voted to go with the Hearings Examiners’ decision not to vacate Three Devils, but that was after the deal was sealed – two votes to vacate already. He, then, admonished us...
Gail Morin, of Elmer City, is on her 62nd book. Are they western adventure, romance, war stories, children books? No, nothing like that. Gail writes geneology-type books, getting all her information from public records. Her books, many of them available on Amazon, have titles such as: “Manitoba Scrip” “Stignace Parish of Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan 1882 - 1910 Baptisms, Marriages and Burials” “Chippewa Half-Breeds of Lake Superior - Concerning the applicants for Half-Breed Scrip” and “St. Joachim, Fort Auguste (Fort Edmonton) 1858-1890”. T...
Randy Lee McGuire, 60, of Sumner, Washington, passed away due to a car accident Friday morning, October 12, 2018, in Everett, Washington. Randy was born on March 8, 1958, to Lowell and Corabell McGuire in Vancouver, Washington. He was one of 10 siblings: Greg, Jeannette, Judy, Richard, Robert, Roger, Rodney, Ronald, and Jewel. He was raised in Grand Coulee, Washington, where he met his first wife, Diana. They were married 15 years and had a daughter, Donelle, together. Randy and Diana divorced in 1998. He later met Christina, and they married...
Sharene (Sherry) Lee Dotson, 75, passed away Tuesday, October 9, 2018, at her home in Electric City, Washington. Sherry was born on July 15, 1943, in Portland, Oregon to James (Marvin) and Edna Marie White. She attended grade school and high school in Winston, Oregon. She married Loren Dotson in Roseburg, Oregon, in November 1960. Loren and Sherry lived in Klamath Falls; Las Vegas; Livermore, California and Eugene, Oregon before arriving in the Grand Coulee Dam Area in the early '70s, where...
After piloting the backpack program at the Wenatchee and Winthrop public libraries during the summer, North Central Regional Library is now expanding it to include all of Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Okanogan and Ferry counties. The backpacks contain a nature book, binoculars, compass, magnifying glass, trail maps, identification cards, insect catcher, measuring tape, and thermometer, as well as colored pencils to write and draw on a journal template. "The goal of the nature backpacks is to get our...
Chamber This Week Ann Diamond will be the guest speaker at the chamber lunch this week. Diamond is running as an independent candidate for the 12th District House of Representative seat in the upcoming November election. The meeting will be held at Siam Palace in Grand Coulee beginning at noon. Retirement Planning Seminar Planned Okanogan County School Retirees’ Association is sponsoring a free Retirement Planning Seminar for all school employees (PERS, SERS, and TRS) at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 24, 2018, at the Okanogan High School L...
Okanogan Valley Orchestra & Chorus will present their season-premier concert at the Omak Performing Arts Center Oct. 20, at 3 p.m. The concert is planned as an audience-participation event, a musical quiz that will keep you engaged as you go on this “Musical Pursuit,” the group says. Matt Brown and Jonathan McBride, musical directors for the orchestra and chorus, have chosen an eclectic mix of music. The chorus will perform a Chopin Prelude, a Beethoven spoof called “Beethoven’s Wig,” a choral piece from HMS Pinafore, the rock anthem “Bohemian...
The Grant County Health District’s Board of Health needs a new representative from the north end of the county. The representative should be from Grand Coulee, Electric City, Coulee City, or Hartline, can be an elected official or simply a citizen, and will attend meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in Ephrata. Electric City Councilmember Carol Nordine formerly filled the position. “Carol has done a fantastic job for us,” said Theresa Adkinson, administrator for Grant County Health. The meetings are a chance for repre...
Cecelia Abrahamson of Nespelem, Washington, is proud to announce the birth of her baby girl, Cedar Dream, born Wednesday, October 3, 2018, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. She weighed 7 lbs., 15 oz., and was 19 inches in length at birth. Sibling includes Kasen Bessette, age 4. Maternal grandparents are Phyllis Abrahamson and Herman Gorr. Great-grandparents are Beverley Abrahamson and Allen Abrahamson....
Dr. Ann Diamond is running as an independent for the diverse and large Washington Legislative District 12, Position 1. As an independent, she will not be affiliated with a party platform and is more able to represent the varied interests of our district. She can more readily promote legislation that best represents the people of the district, both Republican, Democrat and the rest. Her medical expertise in problem-solving workable solutions will benefit us as individuals, communities, and our economy. Ann has met individuals, community groups,...
Jim DeTro has been an Okanogan County commissioner for eight years and is running for another four years. This is why you should not vote for him. In 2016, after two of his compatriot county commissioners were defeated, he said that he would not run again. But, then he changed his mind because no other Republican registered. Although DeTro is the commissioner chairman, he is seldom involved except in his perfunctory role of calling for a vote or declaring a motion approved. His personal interest comments about wolves are inflammatory and...
The Grand Coulee branch of North Cascades Bank (NCB) is collecting new or gently used coats for local children in need. Gloves, scarves, hats and other warm outerwear for children are also welcome. Cash donations will be used to purchase new coats. All items will be distributed to schools in the Grand Coulee Dam School District. Donations will be accepted at NCB through the end of October. Please help keep our local kids warm this winter! If you have any questions about the coat drive, please call 633-1700. NCB, Member FDIC...
On Friday night in Manson, the Raiders continued their football win streak with a 33-7 victory over the Trojans. The Raiders scored first, with a seven-yard touchdown run by Steven Flowers. The Trojans were able to score the first points on the Raiders all year by returning the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to tie the game. “We had several attempts to make a tackle; it’s just something we’ll have to clean up,” said Coach Tim Rasmussen. “We’ve been really good on special teams. It’s a good learning experience.” Flowers ran five yards for...
