News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Microtel construction delayed by COVID A “microtel,” or small hotel, to be built along Midway Avenue near Pepper Jack’s Bar & Grille, is delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With construction originally intended to begin around November, co-owner Bill Stevens told The Star in an email that there are delays related to COVID. “We are on stand by till this pandemic gets figured out,” he said. Not ready for a stand Coulee Dam may yet add another business to town once it gets through discovering new hurdles to licensing a proposed coffee stand wit...
Ranchers devastated by fires in Douglas, Okanogan, and Lincoln counties have received some relief in the form of free hay to feed their horses and cows. Okandogs, a non-profit organization that usually works to help get dogs into rescue facilities and find homes, undertook the effort to get hay delivered to farmers who need it. Tiffany Wiebe Wisdom, who volunteers for Okandogs, spoke to The Star on the phone on Monday about the effort. Wisdom's own farm in rural Douglas county outside of... Full story
Local doctor Sam Hsieh continues to encourage thinking outside the box using what he calls divine creativity, and he wants to know about people who embody the "eternal struggle between conformity and creativity." Back in May, Hsieh, a surgeon at Coulee Medical Center, shared with The Star the story of a special symbol he designed back in college. Hsieh shared how the symbol, representing divine creativity, evolved into a project in which he printed the symbol on hats, giving them to CMC staff...
Speed limits through Electric City may change, following a recent review by a state highway official working with the mayor. The Electric City Council last week discussed potential speed limit changes along SR-155 on the edges of the city, as well as through the city where it's called Coulee Boulevard. Mayor Diane Kohout explained at the Oct. 13 council meeting that she has been working with Scott Cervine from the Washington State Department of Transportation's North Central Region Traffic...
The outcome of the Ice Age Park levy vote in Electric City may determine if the park is built at all. The Ice Age Park levy on the ballot for Electric City voters will, if passed, tell the city council to go forward with building the park, and will pay for the maintenance of the park for a year, after which park maintenance would simply be included in the city's budget in future years. The one-year levy asks for 14.2 cents per $100,000 in property value, or $14.22 for a $100,000 property, $28.25...
COVID-19 has its hands in everything this year, including the Halloween candy bowl, but there are ways to enjoy the holiday while still protecting your health and the health of others. The state Department of Health is recommending tips for a safe and fun Halloween: Trick or treating Stick with members of your household and keep at least six feet of distance from others. Wear a cloth mask, and remember: a plastic costume mask is not a suitable substitute. Wash your hands before and after trick-or-treating. Bring plenty of hand sanitizer....
The effort to consolidate local towns together into one has been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. A consolidation committee had been planning to get the issue put on the ballot for this year to combine Grand Coulee and Electric City, and potentially try to combine with Coulee Dam and Elmer City further down the line. Ben Hughes, who heads the committee, said that he has received “little to no responses” from SCJ Alliance, a planning consultancy that had helped get a discussion started by facilitating an evening community meeting. The eff...
I would like to give big thanks to the Grand Coulee Firefighter-EMTs. They are covering double the area by covering Coulee Dam and were so helpful and comforting when I had a medical emergency recently. I wish I had gotten all their names. Thank you, Tyler! So happy to know these fine gentleman (and ladies) are there for us, volunteering their time to keep the community safe. Winona Simons...
Our local Star newspaper has always done a good job of sharing a diversity of viewpoints: It is extremely hard for me to share these thoughts. Numerous people over the last few years have shared frustrations with me about our local school district. Many have felt they were treated poorly or even ignored. Some have taken their students out of our district. I’ve listened and shared productive solutions. I have lived in Coulee Dam for almost 40 years and have always supported our school district no matter what. I also show up and cheer on our R...
The Grand Coulee Dam School District received approximately $127,000 tax money from the Federal Government under the P.L. 874. You cannot tax the Dam etc. The district will receive at least this amount for this budget year. We are currently paying $3.20 in Levy. The district is asking another $1.00 per thousand for a total of $4.20 per thousand. Don’t forget that the state is obligated to fund education 100%, so the district receives money for “Full Time Equivalent” (FTE) students. The Board of Directors negotiated a $123,500 three-year salar...
Some of my opponent’s supporters seem to have false information about my eligibility to serve as Grant County Commissioner. In fact, I was asked a question about it at a forum(recently). Apparently, they’ve been led to believe I don’t live in Grant County. Unfortunately some folks don’t consider this area (northern Commissioner District 1) as part of the county, but I love this region and am proud to be from “up north.” I serve as the GOP Precinct Committee Officer from Hartline Rural North (Precinct 73) and serve as the 12th Legislative...
Call it American exceptionalism or not, the American people have always embraced the idea that we live in an exceptional country. We are grateful to be Americans. We take a lot of pride in our country, as we should. Pride and patriotism are among America’s greatest strengths. Having said that, we need to be clear-eyed about our limits. Sometimes we tend to think we should always be No. 1, no matter what metrics we apply. That attitude can lead to arrogance and a lack of interest in the world. There are always things we can learn from other c...
The General Election Day is near, and our ballots and the Voters Pamphlet are here. Read it and learn about the issues and candidates. Go to votewa.gov to check out your own voter registration status, see your voting history, and learn more about voting. Make sure you fill out your ballot correctly and, if you change your mind on a candidate or issue, draw a line through it and choose again. Look on both sides of the ballot. Then place it in the pink envelope, which is placed inside the white return envelope. Be sure to sign and date it. With...
Ballots are coming soon. In 10 years of working for John Knodell, I was able to observe a true professional, a master of the art, craft and science of a trial lawyer, brilliant not just at interpreting the law and applying the facts and evidence, but also in advocating for crime victims at trial, but fair to ensure that the accused’s rights were protected. John was also a brilliant defense attorney, having represented many in Grant County; that is why he could always look at both sides, the strengths and weaknesses of a case, and make the t...
Grant County Port District 7 NOTICE OF MEETING DATE CHANGE Grant County Port District 7 is changing the October meeting date from Thursday, October 29, to Thursday, October 22, due to a lack of quorum. The meeting will be held by a Telephone Conference Call at 3:45pm. Anyone wishing to join the meeting may contact the Port Secretary at portdistrict7@gmail.com prior to the meeting date for dial-in information. Thank you. Debbie D. Bigelow, Secretary/Treasurer Grant County Port District No. 7 (Publish October 14 and 21, 2020)... Full story
Grand Coulee Police 10/8 - A woman on Jackson Avenue reported finding drug needles under the hood of her newly purchased car. An officer collected the needles and brought them to the police station to be destroyed. 10/12 - A dog owner on 1st Street was cited for his dog, a pit bull, biting a neighbor’s chihuahua. Another person saw it happen. - Police responded to a report of a woman yelling at cars along Spokane Way. The woman was trying to hitch a ride to the casino. An officer gave her a courtesy ride there. 10/13 - A Burdin Boulevard w...
Nichole Birdtail of Nespelem, Washington, and Sam Jackson of Coulee Dam, Washington are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Juniper Aurora Jackson born Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. She weighed 6 lbs., 8 oz. and was 16-1/2 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Braydo Birdtail age 8, and Ellie Birdtail age 1. Maternal grandparents are Loretta L. Pakootas and Myronn Birdtail Jr. Paternal grandparents are Jeannie Jackson and James Jackson.... Full story
Grant County Fire Dist. 14 Meeting via Conference As the result of the Covid-19 and in accordance with the Governor's Social Distancing, Grant County Fire District #14 will be holding the monthly meeting Monday, October 26, 2020 via phone conference call at 6:45 pm. To join meeting, call 1-717-275-8940 then enter access code 713 2121#. (Remember to enter # sign after the number) AA Meetings for GCD/Nespelem Area A new Alcoholics Anonymous group is meeting each Saturday at noon at the Grand Coulee Community Church, 405 Center St. Meetings are op...
The Grand Coulee branch of North Cascades Bank (NCB) is collecting new or gently used coats for local children in need. 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... Full story
Encircled throughout the days with the love of family and friends, Lorretta Mary Moses, 82, slipped peacefully into heaven in the early morning of Sunday, October 11, after a courageous battle with cancer. Lorretta was born on January 19, 1938, in Nespelem, Washington, to George Alexander and Agnus Pierre. She grew up near Keller, Washington on the family homestead at Jack Creek. As a young child, Lorretta enjoyed spending summers with her grandparents near Wellpinit, Washington on the Spokane... Full story
Joan Diane Guptill passed away Friday, October 16, 2020, at her home in Electric City, Washington. Services are pending. A complete obituary will appear in next week's Star.... Full story
Grand Coulee business owners have until Nov. 20 to apply for grants of up to $3,000 in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Security (CARES) Act funds the city received. The city set aside $18,000 for the grants from the $41,799 total in CARES funds the city is eligible for. Applications can be picked up at Grand Coulee City Hall by first calling 509-633-1150, or emailed to applicants who can call first or email city hall at clerkgc@gccitywa.org to receive an application. The grants will be disbursed on a first come, first serve basis....