News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Articles from the October 25, 2023 edition


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 20 of 20

  • For lack of a nurse, school shuts for a day

    Scott Hunter|Oct 25, 2023

    Lake Roosevelt Schools took an unplanned day off Monday after the district learned on Friday it would not have a school nurse. Superintendent Rod Broadnax said he learned as he was out of town Friday that the nurse who had been supplied to the schools for two days a week by the local hospital district would no longer be available. Registered nurses are in short supply in Washington state, and Coulee Medical Center spends large sums to bring in temporary nurses, as do many, if not most, hospitals. Broadnax said Monday night in a letter to...

  • Ferry out of service

    Oct 25, 2023

    The San Poil ferry, which crosses Lake Roosevelt between Keller and Wilbur on SR-21, temporarily went out of service Sunday about 1 pm with mechanical issues, the state Transportation Dept said. It’s out of service until further notice....

  • Watch for black ice

    Oct 25, 2023

    The National Weather Service says drivers should watch for black ice this morning: “Areas of light snow are moving through northeast and east-central Washington and the northern Idaho Panhandle this morning. Although little more than a dusting is expected in most locations, sub- freezing temperatures have allowed for areas of black ice to develop on untreated surfaces. If traveling this morning, be prepared for slick spots....

  • Special Board Meeting

    Oct 25, 2023

    NOTICE OF SPECIAL BOARD MEETING Grand Coulee Dam School District Board of Directors October 27, 2023 1:30 p.m. Notice is hereby given that the Grand Coulee Dam School Board of Directors will be holding a Special School Board Meeting via Zoom on Friday, October 27th at 1:30 p.m. Regarding the nursing contract....

  • Tension apparent over hiring for sewer plant

    Scott Hunter|Oct 25, 2023

    Tension simmered last week during a discussion of what staffing direction Grand Coulee will ultimately take in staffing its wastewater treatment plant. Council members Anita Eylar and Ruth Dalton pressed others on which direction the council was leaning: filling the need with the city’s own employees or continuing to contract it out. The latter was the course the council took earlier this year, but only on an emergency basis. The city’s current contract with a union allows for contracting out city jobs in an emergency only, city officials sai...

  • On the trail of scare

    Oct 25, 2023

    From left, Anita Eylar, Marie Anderson, Stan Cass, Lonna Bussert are pleased with the Moose Lodge's entry into the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce's Scarecrow Trail. The chamber is asking people to vote for their favorites. Maps for the entries are on page 10, along with a website and QR codes. We found most of them and include photos in this issue, plus a few more not entered but worthy of it. - submitted photo...

  • Brian Buche seeks re-election to council

    Scott Hunter|Oct 25, 2023

    Brian Buche sees himself as a voice for the community. Running for re-election to the Electric City Council seat he's held since 2020, full-time UPS driver and now part-time farmer says he takes pride in talking one-on-one with people. "Anybody can approach me and tell me what it is they think or they don't like or whatever," he said. "I'm an open book." Elected when council members at the time were taking considerable heat for some controversial projects, Buche said listening to people is...

  • Levi Johnson looks for seat on council

    Scott Hunter|Oct 25, 2023

    Levi Johnson sees public safety as the most pressing issue facing Electric City. So do his fellow officers. Johnson is a police officer in Grand Coulee, as are two other candidates running against incumbents for Electric City council seats. Johnson, who joined the Grand Coulee Police Department in 2015, says that's no accident. When the Electric City Council decided to change its police services contractor, choosing Coulee Dam over Grand Coulee last year, they took notice. "I think that's kind...

  • Going up

    Oct 25, 2023

    Masonry workers in Elmer City Tuesday work on the walls of a new garage to house fire engines that Okanogan County Fire District 2 has been working to get out of the weather for at least two years. The new 2,268-square-foot, cinderblock building with three bay doors will cost nearly $1.3 million, mostly state funds. Okanogan County commissioners also kicked in $143,000 of American Rescue Plan money to get the project fully funded. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • Hydrogen hubs could hasten switch from diesel in big rigs

    Don Brunell|Oct 25, 2023

    President Biden’s $65 billion infrastructure bill contains $8 billion for regional hubs to develop ways to produce and distribute hydrogen fuel. One is planned for the Pacific Northwest and should help haulers and truck manufacturers in Renton and Portland in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, long-distance haulers need a network of hydrogen fueling stations (like today’s truck stops) along with affordable trucks and fuel. Hub researchers’ added challenge is 95 pe...

  • Border disorder

    Jack Stevenson|Oct 25, 2023

    Immigration has been one of America’s long running problems. Historically, climate irregularities have induced famine, civil conflict, and migration. If scientists are correct about the climate change in our future, the world will again experience those disruptions of life including large scale migration attempts. We need to solve our immigration issues. Immigration is a responsibility of the federal government. Our national government has abdicated a significant measure of that role to border states. The individual states should not be taxed w...

  • Memorable stops, sights along the way

    Roger Lucas|Oct 25, 2023

    Everyone has memories and favorite places. Here are a few of mine. We were vacationing in Wyoming and had our oldest son, Paul, with us. Our plan was to stay overnight and travel to the Tetons the next day. We stopped at the Irma Hotel to get rooms and learned that we could get the Buffalo Bill suite that had two bedrooms for a very reasonable amount, so we took it. We learn that Bill Cody stayed there when he wasn’t traveling with his Wild West show. The suite was well worn and very plain. A large picture of Cody was on the wall, the only a...

  • The dying art of Halloween costume humor

    Tom Purcell|Oct 25, 2023

    Halloween is upon us, which means you’d better be cautious about the costume you choose. Halloween has long been a staple of childhood, but in the past few decades it has been increasingly celebrated by adults — and for good reason. Until recently, it was the one day where adults could dress up in funny, outrageous costumes that satirized popular culture and the complexity of modern life. Dressing up as a rock star, Albert Einstein, a famous sports figure, or some other pop icon could be fun and funny. There should be some limits to our costume...

  • Scouts' food drive coming

    Oct 25, 2023

    Local scouts soon will be out "Scouting for Food" like other scouts across the country. The scouts will be putting out fliers on door handles or near home entrances this year with no bag. You may still put food in a bag or box and hang the flier from it so the scouts know to pick it up in two weeks. Pack 24 and Troops 24 (boys) and 52 (girls) have been busy learning and doing lots of things. This past weekend, they took a trip to camp Edward and Pigott on the west side, adult leaders report....

  • Meetings & Notices

    Oct 25, 2023

    Okanogan County School Retirees’ Association to Meet Okanogan County School Retirees’ Association will hold a luncheon meeting at 11 AM, Friday, October 27, at Community Presbyterian Church of Omak, 9 South Birch S, Omak. Brewster teacher and OCSRA grant winner, Cindy Brown, will speak. Information: Penny: 509-429-0292 Parks Committee to Meet The Electric City Parks Committee will meet on first Wednesday of each month at 6:00pm at city hall in Electric City. ‘ Planning Commission to Meet The Electric City Planning Commission will meet on the f...

  • Taxes are due

    Oct 25, 2023

    Grant County taxpayers are reminded that real, mobile home, personal property second half taxes are due by October 31st. Please verify that all parcels that you intend to pay were included on your statements. Please send the bottom right side coupon of your statements if you are paying by mail for proper crediting. If you have more than one coupon, you may make one check for the total taxes and please remember to sign your check. A drop box is set up outside the courthouse next to the election ballot drop off box for those taxpayers who wish...

  • Coulee Cops

    Oct 25, 2023

    Grand Coulee Police 10/16 - After he called asking about them, police relayed over the phone that a man’s boat and truck had been towed. 10/17 - Police checked on an alarm activation on Dill Avenue and found all doors secured at the address and no signs of forced entry. - Police spoke to a Midway Avenue business owner who said that a delivery driver delivering beer to a neighboring business has on multiple times parked in front of her business, this time blocking access to a handicap parking stall. Police spoke to an owner of the neighboring b...

  • October 25, 2023 Legal Notices

    Oct 25, 2023

    City of Electric City REQUEST FOR STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING SERVICES The City of Electric City will accept Statements of Qualifications from firms interested in providing professional municipal engineering services during the 2024-2025 calendar years. The City will be selecting a consulting engineering firm for various municipal engineering services for water, sewer, drainage, and street projects, comprehensive plans, municipal planning, traffic studies, capital facilities plans, rate studies, technical engineering...

  • Two wins put Lady Raiders into postseason

    Scott Hunter|Oct 25, 2023

    The Raider volleyball team scored two wins this week to put them third in the Central Washington 2B League with a 9-5 win-loss record. The Lake Roosevelt girls put away the Brewster Bears Oct. 19 in three sets on LR's home court on senior night, a label that applies to two-thirds of the varsity team. LR bested Brewster 25-23, 26-24, 25-21, with displays of discipline and versatility. Precision setting by Shy Marchand preceded several Carly Neddo kills like clockwork, a pattern that repeated...

  • Raider wrap-up

    Oct 25, 2023

    Football The Raiders traveled to Ritzville Oct. 20 to take down the Broncos 20-8. Terrell Bush rushed for 96 yards in three carries in the game, including a touchdown. The Raiders gained 146 yards rushing, and another 200 in the air as Wyatt Egbert completed 11 of 18 attempts, including two for touchdowns. Chase Marchand caught four receptions for 110 yards. Bear Vargas-Thomas caught two, gaining 21 yards, including a TD. Champ Louie scored on one of two receptions for 20 yards to add to his...