News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Elementary students will be at school while junior/senior high students keep on distance learning at home, a decision rendered in a three-hour school board meeting Monday. The Grand Coulee Dam School District Board of Directors voted 4-1 to have third- through sixth-grade students return to physical school two days each week in alternating groups, but that 7th- through 12th-grade students must still wait to return, possibly until the second semester starts Feb. 1, 2021. Kindergarten through...
SUNNYSIDE—At 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, daylight saving time for 2020 will come to an end, clocks will turn back an hour, and State Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, will once again lament that this annual ritual is even still a thing Washingtonians must do. The Republican lawmaker has been working for several years, with numerous states, to develop language to move to permanent daylight saving time. That effort was thwarted during the 2019 session, when the Democrat majority co-opted the issue and passed a measure of its own, which Honeyford s...
The Nespelem School District will hold a public Zoom meeting with parents of students next week to see how they think and feel about students returning to physical school. That meeting will be held on Nov. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81107207311?pwd=Y0FoZlhrd3FtMTVnWkVPY1JOVFVWQT09 Principal and Superintendent Effie Dean told The Star on Thursday that kindergarten- through second-grade students would be the first to return, and that the next group of students would come three wee...
Grand Coulee business owners have until Nov. 20 to apply for grants of up to $3,000 in federal relief funds the city received. The city set aside $18,000 for the grants from the $41,799 total in CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Security) Act 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-served basis....
The COVID-19 virus is still very much around, although in local counties the incidence rate is down slightly, while the state as a whole has seen a rise in the rate. Grant County Health District reported its 25th death from the disease on Tuesday, of a Quincy man in his 50s with underlying health conditions. They also published on Monday a graphic of an "event cluster" that ended up infecting 39 people, including the "index" first case of someone who attended a public gathering. It spread from...
The Grand Coulee City Council voted last week against allowing a local man to keep several small billboards on his property on Main Street. Sam Hsieh owns "Coulee Plaza," a lot with grass and picnic tables overlooking the end of Main Street where he has hosted events ranging from Cars & Coffee to Koulee Kids Fest activities and more, and where he hopes to host live music, wine tastings, and more in the future. Helping pay for the maintenance of the lot is advertising money that comes from signs...
Scarecrows, jack-o-lanterns, paper ghosts, and dried cornstalks all show that it’s time for Halloween once again in Washington. Unfortunately, Halloween decorations can become truly scary if they catch fire. By planning ahead, you can help make this Halloween a fire-safe one. · Use battery-operated candles, flashlights, or glow-sticks in jack-o-lanterns. They are safer than real candles and can prevent kids’ costumes from catching on fire. · If you use real candles, place lit jack-o-lanterns out of the path of trick-or-treaters and away from...
Voting is our civic obligation, but loving our neighbors is our moral duty. One does little common good without the other in a democracy. If you have not yet voted, you should. At this point in the week, you might be better off putting your ballot in one of the several collection boxes available. Those will be emptied for the final time on election night at 8 p.m. U.S. Postal Service officials earlier this week recommended mailing ballots at least a week in advance, but we’re past that point. No matter which way you vote, bear in mind that t...
Sixty-four days and 2020 will be gone, and we all hope that 2021 will be a lot better year for everyone and everything. As I am sure you are aware, the Grand Coulee Dam Area organizations have taken a very large hit. They have not been able to hold their annual money raising events, so their treasurers are short. Even though several organizations have not had events, the volunteers have still been very busy trying to keep the clubs going. The holidays are almost upon us, so now is the time to dig a little deeper into your pockets and support...
I see that the Ice Age Park is now coming up for a vote with the final decision being left to the Electric City Community but the enjoyment of it being shared by many of those passing through. A few months back, Harvey Haven of Amboy, Washington, a former resident of the area during our growing up years, penned a letter to the editor extolling the virtues of having such an attraction to the area. Even though the letter was sent to The Star, it was directed to the citizens of Electric City and at that time to the Powers that Be. I felt it was...
Wow, it was great to hear from Ray Gilman in The Star newspaper last week. Ray served the Grand Coulee Dam School District as an administrator for decades. His loyalty and longevity were amazing. He is aware of what is going on with funding in our local school district, regionally and statewide. Our school district is in the “B” school classification. “B” schools are the smallest size-wise in Washington state. With our student population, we are grossly over-staffed with administrators. Ray is spot on about the district office, but there is ove...
If you really want to know when the Bureau of Reclamation fire station will be completed, keep track of the sani-cans outside. Star reporter Jacob Wagner gave a good rundown of the history of the project in the newspaper a couple of weeks ago. I would like to fill in the story a bit. The estimated cost of the project was $13.6 million. It is now estimated that the fire station will be completed in 2021. The project was started in 2016, with the awarding of the construction contract. Total cost is a number that would be embarrassing even for any...
I have often said that small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and that could not be truer in Central Washington’s rural communities. The owners and employees of Main Street businesses are integral to the well-being of our communities, and the support for small businesses I have witnessed during my travels throughout our district is inspiring. We are in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic, which has affected nearly every aspect of our daily lives. Unfortunately, our small and local businesses – from restaurants and clothing ret...
Joan Diane Guptill, age 71, passed away on Friday, October 16th, 2020. Joan was born in Kirkland, Washington, on June 11, 1949 to Ray and Vera Freeman. She grew up in Woodinville, Washington, graduated from Bothell High School, attended Everett Community College and Washington State University and graduated as a Business Teacher in 1972. She taught at Lake Roosevelt High School, Kootenai High School near Harrison, Idaho, Almira High School, and Almira Coulee Hartline High School. Joan was greatl...
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...
NCW Libraries and Wenatchee Valley College will host bestselling author Tommy Orange on Thursday, November 12, at 4 p.m. for a virtual author talk as part of the NCW Virtual Reads author series. Tommy Orange is the author of There There, a multi-generational, relentlessly paced story about the lives of urban Native Americans. There There shows us violence and recovery, hope and loss, identity and power, dislocation and communion, and the beauty and despair woven into the history of a nation and...
Grant County taxpayers are reminded that real, mobile home, personal property 2nd half taxes are due by Monday, November 2. Since October 31 is on a weekend, the due date is pushed to the next business day, November 2. If you are sending your payment by mail, please make sure your envelope is postmarked by Post Office personnel on or before November 2nd to avoid being considered delinquent. A drop box is set up outside the courthouse next to the election ballot drop off box for those taxpayers who wish to drop off their tax payment and do not n...
New AA Group in the Area A new Alcoholics Anon mous group is meeting each Saturday at noon at the Grand Coulee Community Church, 405 Center St. Meetings are open. More information call 509.680.9549 AA Meetings for the Area Confused in the Coulee AA meetings are held on Mondays and Fridays at 6 p.m. at the Vets Center in Electric City. Call Paul at 633-3377 days or 633-3345 evenings. New Hope Group meetings are held Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at the Vets Center. These are open and non-smoking. In Nespelem, the group Bound and Determined holds its...
Electric City’s new planning commission will hold a public workshop tonight (Wednesday, Oct. 28) at 6 p.m. via Zoom. The meeting will kick off a process to review and revise the city’s Comprehensive Plan, zoning code and more. And it will provide an overview of the update process, existing plan and regulations, solicit comments from the public on land use-related issues, and establish a “docket” of potential amendments to review during 2021. As a community required to plan under the Growth Management Act (GMA), the city is limited to amendin...
Colville Indian Housing Authority REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS ENCC Fire Rehab 1198 Bullrope St. Omak, WA 98841 Description: 1. Provide quotation on the Rehab of fire damaged building. (see scope of work). The Colville Indian Housing Authority is requesting Quotations to furnish Labor and material for the above items as contained in the attached scope of work, All work and materials will be as shown in the Scope of Work and Provisions to the Cotnract. The following documents are attached and will be included in and become part of the Contract Documen...
The local PTA is putting on a drive-by "Trunk or Treat" event at Lake Roosevelt Schools Thursday, Oct. 29, from 5 to 6 p.m. Anyone with a vehicle is welcome, and costumes are encouraged - but no foot traffic. "Please do not exit your vehicle," a GCD PTA flier says. "This is a drive by event. Laughing, honking and cheering are encouraged." The event will happen at the back of the school. Vehicles will enter the bus lane from the south by the old gym and exit by the elementary side of the...
Grand Coulee Police 10/17 - Residents on Roosevelt Drive were concerned about neighbors possibly selling pills with “shady” people coming to the residence at all hours of the day and night. The residents filmed a truck at the residence. A passenger who noticed they were filming began yelling at them, challenging them to a fight. The driver and passenger then left. 10/20 - Someone told police about a boat and trailer on King Street with tabs that expired 10 years ago. Police placed a notice on the vehicle that it would be towed in 24 hours if...
