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Articles from the October 21, 2015 edition


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  • Council candidate forum set for Thursday night

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 21, 2015

    Residents of Coulee Dam will have an opportunity to get to know at least some of their candidates for city council positions in the November 3rd election. A forum will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, in the community room at city hall. Scott Hunter, publisher of The Star newspaper, will act as moderator of the event. Six candidates running for the three open council positions have been invited to participate in the forum, but only three plan to attend. Candidates will have an opportunity to provide information about themselves...

  • New fitness program offers a new culture at Lake Roosevelt Schools

    Scott Hunter|Oct 21, 2015

    A training program at Lake Roosevelt Schools has inspired dozens of teenagers to get up early to work out before school every day, for no credit. "We bring a culture," said former professional football player Nathan Overbay, now a key trainer with Advanced Performance X-Train, or APX. The company that began in 2007 is in 60 high schools, clubs and sports programs, offering training and nutrition programs. "It's probably the top training facility in the Pacific Northwest right now," said Loren...

  • Council: push for consolidation

    Scott Hunter|Oct 21, 2015

    When the mayor of Coulee Dam told the town council last week that consolidating police services might not go anywhere for years, they asserted it was worth pushing for anyway. Mayor Greg Wilder filled the council in on talks he’d had with Grant County and Okanogan County officials concerning the details of police dispatch if Coulee Dam Police were to serve Electric City. The two municipalities have emergency services dispatched from different county centers, creating technical issues and possibly long delays on some calls. He wanted to e...

  • Recycling effort in a tailspin

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 21, 2015

    The Regional Board of Mayors effort to begin a recycling program is in a tailspin. Even its chairman, Electric City Mayor John Nordine III, said he wasn’t in favor of it. The mayors had agreed to take the recycling issue to their respective councils, getting permission to purchase a $13,000 recycling bin. The first town to address the issue was Elmer City. Its council didn’t even vote on it and said no thanks. Electric City’s council was cool to the idea and was fearful that it would force garbage rates to increase. Councilmember Richard McGui...

  • Couple wants a fiber mill at old school

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 21, 2015

    A conditional-use permit may be the best way Grand Coulee can move forward to allow a Grand Coulee couple to purchase Center School. Mervin and MaryJo Monteith appeared before the planning commission last week to pursue interest in putting in a fiber processing center in the old Center School building. The city’s planning commission was unable to move forward on the issue because only Chairman Tammara Byers was present for the meeting. The city did have its planner, Jerry Litt, of SCJ Alliance, at the meeting, trying to walk the re-zone r...

  • Newsbriefs

    Oct 21, 2015

    Perpetual summer hours for trash The governing Regional Board of Mayors agreed last week to make year-round what have previously been summer-only hours at the Delano Regional Transfer Station. Beginning Nov. 1, hours will be from 8 a.m. to noon on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The extended program will cost about $2,000 per year more than the current expense. Fall cleanup dates this year will be Nov. 14–21, when residents can bring their garden waste to the transfer station without charge. School y...

  • He loves to fix guns

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 21, 2015

    Some people are lucky and choose vocations that are also their hobbies. That's true with Dennis Buchanan, who owns and runs Buchanan Armory in Electric City. "I've always loved guns," he said Tuesday. Buchanan came to the area after applying for and getting a position with the Bureau of Reclamation. That was from 2007 to 2010. The new gunsmith (he has been open nearly a year) has a small shop on the highway across from the Vet Center. Got a trigger problem with your gun? He can fix it. He loves...

  • To the voters of Coulee Dam

    Carol Netzel|Oct 21, 2015

    Recently, I had the privilege of spending time with three of the candidates running for the Coulee Dam Town Council. Although I spoke with each individually, I was very surprised to hear how similar their actions and views were. I told them I would be writing to The Star to share what I had heard, and if any mistakes have been made, the responsibility is mine. Ben Alling was the first to talk with me, followed by Bonnie Femling, with Keith St. Jeor last. Here is a summary of our discussions: All three are long-time residents of Coulee Dam. Ben...

  • Lots of help appreciated for the "gathering"

    Kim Stanger|Oct 21, 2015

    On behalf of the Grand Coulee Dam and Nespelem School Districts, we would like to thank everyone who helped make the 2015 Cultural Awareness Gathering a success. We were blessed to have perfect weather that day. We would like to thank the following people and groups: Coulee Dam Credit Union, Zion Lutheran Church, Faith Community Church, Nazarene Church, Grand Coulee Fire Dept., Coulee Dam Fire Dept., Colville Tribe Public Works Dept., Colville Tribes Employment and Education, CCT K-12 Program, CCT Diabetes Program, CCT Donations Committee, CCT...

  • And we'll miss her, too

    Steinke|Oct 21, 2015

    The closing of the Fusion Café comes as an unfortunate loss to the community and to myself as well. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the customers I have had the privilege and honor of serving in my job as waitress these past seven years. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. I appreciate all of you for being part my life and would like you to know you will be missed. Thank you for touching my life. With heartfelt thanks, Wiyaka Steinke...

  • Aches and pain of aging and hunting

    Jesse Utz|Oct 21, 2015

    I remember my first day of high school football practice. What I remember more is the next day barely being able to get out of bed. Every muscle, joint and bone seemed to scream with an extreme aching that had never been felt before by this young teen. Fast forward to this past weekend. It was the opening day of hunting season, and as I write this, those same muscles are singing the same tune they sang many years ago. Of course, on many occasions over the years between our youth and our current status we have all put in many a hard day’s w...

  • Eighty-One Years Ago

    Oct 21, 2015

    South end of government camp. ­– 1934...

  • Carpenters celebrate 50 years

    Oct 21, 2015

    Richard and Lucy Carpenter recently celebrated their Golden Anniversary on a Honolulu, Hawaii vacation, including a cruise to many other islands and Maui. Richard and Lucy (Haydock) were united in marriage at the First Christian Church in Bremerton, Washington in 1965. The couple has made their home in the Grand Coulee area since 1985. Richard retired as an electrician at the USBR and Lucy as a Central Services Tech at Coulee Community Hospital. The couple has two children: Richard Carpenter...

  • Meetings and Notices

    Oct 21, 2015

    Chamber Meets at Pepper Jack’s for October The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will be meeting this Thursday, Oct. 22, at noon, at Pepper Jack’s Bar & Grille in Grand Coulee. General business will be discussed. Demos to Meet Okanogan County Democrats will meet Saturday, Oct. 24, at 11 a.m. at Koala Street Grill, 14 Koala Drive, Omak. There will be discussion and planning of the 2016 County Caucuses and 2016 Conventions for county, state and national. The quarterly meeting of the Washington State Democrats 4th Congressional District Co...

  • Senior Menu

    Oct 21, 2015

    Wed., Oct. 21 - Dinner Pork Roast, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Mixed Salad, Applesauce, Cake. Happy Birthday Thurs., Oct. 22 - Dinner Broccoli Chicken Divan (Broccoli, Chicken, Rice, Cheese), Sunrise Salad, Apple Crisp Fri., Oct. 23 - Breakfast Biscuit and Sausage Gravy, Eggs, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice Mon., Oct. 26 - Breakfast Country Skillet,(Meat, Eggs, Potatoes), Toast, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice Tues., Oct. 27 - Dinner Chicken a’La King with Noodles, Mixed Salad, Green Vegetable, Fruit Cup, Pie...

  • WSU Master Gardener volunteer training offered

    Oct 21, 2015

    WSU Extension Master Gardeners needs you! WSU trains local Master Gardener volunteers to provide public education to Okanogan County communities. Master Gardeners assist the public in solving gardening and home horticulture problems, and they also provide educational programs to adults and youth on topics related to gardening, home food production, water conservation and much more. If you would like to serve your community, while increasing your gardening knowledge and skills, you really should consider becoming a WSU Master Gardener. Volunteer...

  • Lady Raider volleyball split close matches

    John R McNeil II|Oct 21, 2015

    Lady Raider Volleyball split the two matches contested last week. In the first at Bridgeport Oct. 13, the Lady Raiders lost to the Fillies three games to two. Then on Thursday at home, Lake Roosevelt defeated the Manson Trojans three games to one. Against Bridgeport, the Lady Raiders won the first two games, then lost the last three, two of them by only two points. The fourth game went to extra points to decide the game. "We gave them the last three sets," Head Coach Kasey Garvin said of the...

  • Raiders lose to White Swan

    John R McNeil II|Oct 21, 2015

    Lake Roosevelt and White Swan played a scoreless first half before the Cougars wore down the Raiders and won 31-12 at the LR homecoming game Friday night. The loss puts LR's win-loss record at 0-3 in Central Washington 2B South play, and at 2-4 overall. "We played a competitive game against a physical team," Head Raider Coach Geary Oliver said. "Their size wore us down in the second half." At the half, the score was tied at zero. The Raider defense held the Cougars out of the endzone in the firs...

  • Raider harriers finish regular season at Oroville

    John R McNeil II|Oct 21, 2015

    Raider cross country runners finished the regular season at Oroville last Saturday at the Oroville Invitational. In a field featuring good teams from across the region, the Raider boys finished seventh overall in team scoring. Three of the seven Raider boys running finished with a personal record time. Only two girls represented LR at Oroville. Robert George finished first for LR again, crossing the line at 19 minutes, 17 seconds for 18th overall. Jerry Palmer ran a PR time of 19:29 for second place on the Raider squad and 21st overall. Cole...

  • This week in sports

    Oct 21, 2015

    Wed., Oct. 21 5 p.m., JHS Volleyball at Bridgeport Thurs., Oct. 22 5:30 p.m., HS Volleyball here with Brewster Fri., Oct. 23 7 p.m., HS Football here with Kittitas. Senior Night Sat., Oct. 24 TBD HS Cross Country, league meet with Liberty Bell...

  • All smiles

    Oct 21, 2015

    Corban Wilder and Tanya Ang smile after being crowned king and queen at the Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School's homecoming Friday night. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • Coulee Cops

    Oct 21, 2015

    Grand Coulee Police 10/6 - A man who lives on Spokane Way told police that his house had been ransacked while he was out of town. He said two television sets and three guns were among items taken. He said it would take him a little time to determine what else might have been taken. 10/12 - An Electric City man told police that someone had stolen a $100 transmission jack from his porch and advised police of who he thought might have taken it. 10/13 - A man on Wenatchee Ave. NE told police that his neighbor’s dog had mauled his cats and that h...

  • No more pay boost for long service

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 21, 2015

    Electric City struck down its own “longevity pay schedule” at its meeting last week. The city had passed a resolution in 2002, initiated by then-mayor Ray Halsey, affirming the benefits of attracting and keeping key employees by giving them a longevity pay raise after 25 and 30 years employment. Halsey at the time wanted a method to keep key employees on the job, and thought that a bump in pay was the way to do that. The resolution grandfathered in employees who had 10 years in at the time of the resolution. Two employees have benefited fro...

  • LEgals for October 21, 2015

    Oct 21, 2015

    Grant County Mosquito Control Dist. 2 Notice of Meeting Change Grant County Mosquito Control District #2 will begin holding the monthly board meeting on the second Thursday of each month starting November 12, 2015. (Publish Oct. 21 and 28, 2015) \ Summary of Ordinance Passed Of the City of Electric City On the 13th day of October, 2015, the City Council of Electric City passed the following ordinance. A summary of the content of said ordinance, consisting of the title, provides as follows: ordinance no. 500-2015 AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A NEW...

  • Clyde Pugh

    Oct 21, 2015

    Memorial services for Clyde Pugh will be held Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 1 p.m., at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, Washington. Clyde passed away Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, at Holy Family Hospital (Providence) in Spokane, Washington. A complete obituary will be in next week's Star....