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Articles from the October 30, 2013 edition


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  • Opponent files PDC complaint against mayor

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 30, 2013

    Mayoral challenger Greg Wilder says he has filed a complaint against Coulee Dam Mayor Quincy Snow with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, contending that Snow used his office and town resources to support his own campaign efforts. Contacted for comment, Snow said he didn’t use town facilities for campaign purposes. Snow, Wilder charged, requested public records on Wilder from the city of LaCenter and made the request in his official capacity as mayor, using the town’s e-mail and telephone to try to find material that was det... Full story

  • Woman's body found in Nespelem

    Scott Hunter|Oct 30, 2013

    NESPELEM (Nov. 1) — Tribal police are investigating the death of a 29-year-old woman whose body was found in Nespelem, just before 5 p.m. Oct. 31. Colville Tribal Police Chief Cory Orr said in press release that the woman had been identified as Maria Victoria Sanchez, born May 31, 1984. Orr said police are currently investigating "the cause and circumstances surrounding the female body" and that no other information would be released until after a medical examination scheduled for Sunday. C... Full story

  • Blackbeard The Pirate auditions Monday

    Oct 30, 2013

    Auditions will be held for Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) production of Blackbeard The Pirate from 3 to 5 p.m., Monday Nov. 4 at the Grand Gallery Theater on Main Street in Grand Coulee. Those auditioning should arrive by 2:50 and plan to stay for the full two hours. Some of the cast members will be asked to stay for a rehearsal immediately following the auditions. Among the roles to be cast are Blackbeard and his crew of bearded Pirates, Sailors of the High Seas, cranky Crabs and Crocodiles,... Full story

  • Cleanup urged for gun range

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 30, 2013

    Clay Hearne and his sons, Ronnie and Kenny, appeal to those using the Osborne Bay gun range to pick up their garbage after they get through sighting their rifles in. The Hearnes, from Electric City, recently hauled two large pickup loads of garbage from the site. Included in the trash were cardboard boxes, burned up mattresses, bottles, cans, a muffler and tailpipe and scores of shotgun shells. Clay said the place is a mess and people should pack out items they bring in. It is apparent that... Full story

  • Coulee Dam still negotiating for USBR contract

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 30, 2013

    Officials in the town of Coulee Dam are hopeful that they will be able to make a deal with the Bureau of Reclamation on a law enforcement contract. Mayor Quincy Snow, Police Chief Pat Collins and Councilmember Bob Poch met last Wednesday with the Bureau’s regional director, Lorri Lee, to make another attempt to land a contract. Chief Collins said that another meeting is scheduled for later this week and that “negotiations continue.” Recent developments saw the Bureau award a continuing contract to Grand Coulee, but Coulee Dam’s law enforce... Full story

  • Dam explosion was man-made thunder

    Scott Hunter|Oct 30, 2013

    Residents of Coulee Dam reported hearing, and feeling, a loud explosion coming from Grand Coulee Dam Wednesday afternoon. It was basically man-made thunder. Workers getting ready to test a generator under repair in the left powerhouse opened a gate to the penstock that flows water from behind the dam to the turbine that powers G-8, the generator under repair, explained Public Affairs Officer Lynne Brougher. Excess water in that process overflows through a bypass valve and out onto the face of the dam through a large tube that opens onto the... Full story

  • Old town trail needs some help

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 30, 2013

    The Candy Point Trail is in trouble, and Carol Netzel has asked the Coulee Dam Town Council for help. Access to the Candy Point Trail is through Netzel’s front yard and when you arrive at the top you are afforded a bird’s eye view of Grand Coulee Dam and the town of Coulee Dam. In a letter to the council last Wednesday, Netzel appealed to town officials to come up with a plan to fix the deteriorating trail. “Although this is not on city land, it has always been considered one of our local attractions,” Netzel wrote to the council. A sign in... Full story

  • Hospital commission adopts meetings policy

    Scott Hunter|Oct 30, 2013

    Coulee Medical Center’s governing commissioners passed a resolution Friday night that sets out Public Hospital District 6’s typical meeting agenda and policies for handling unruly meetings. Resolution 815 adopts normal agendas for regular and special meetings, essentially identical to what the commission has used for years. A section on public comments restricts them to the end of the meeting agenda, allotting three minutes per speaker and other rules, including those set for the removal of “individuals who interrupt the orderly conduct of an... Full story

  • Port district OKs half-million budget

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 30, 2013

    Grant County Port District 7 commissioners approved their 2014 budget last Thursday. The budget shows $534,500 in revenues and $523,200 in expenses. The largest revenue and expense is a $322,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration which will enable the port district to purchase a new dump truck with snow removal equipment attached, plus construct a building to house the new equipment. The proposed budget also predicts $134,000 income from the port’s 18-hole golf course from memberships and pro shop sales; and shows $132,600 in expens... Full story

  • Queen selected

    Oct 30, 2013

    We have a new Colorama Rodeo Queen. Haley Wade, a 17-year-old senior from Ephrata, was crowned Oct. 13 after a number of field and question-and-answer tests at the Ridge Riders Rodeo Grounds. She takes over from Erin Wieldraayer, this year's rodeo queen, who was present to help Wade go through the paces. Wade rode her 10-year-old Apendix Quarter Horse "Latago Bee," during the Sunday tryouts. She was the lone applicant for the queen position, but still had to score high in all categories to win...

  • Schools to observe suicide prevention day

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 30, 2013

    Grand Coulee Dam District schools will take part and allow Native students to participate in a Colville Indian suicide prevention day this Friday. Karee Picard, manager of the Colville Tribes’ K-12 Youth Program, appeared before the school board Monday night asking members to allow a minute of silence during lunch hour Friday to remember those on the reservation who have succumbed because of suicide. She told the board that the Friday suicide program will be held in four places on the reservations and last most of the day. Meetings will be h... Full story

  • New fire chief at Electric City

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 30, 2013

    by Roger S. Lucas Mark Payne is the new fire chief of Electric City’s volunteer fire department. He replaces Bill Miley, who resigned as fire chief after serving for about 10 years. Miley is retiring. Others named in the reorganization of the Electric City fire department were Gary Roscom, assistant chief; Carl Sheehy and Ken Dexter, captains; and Carlos Lira, training officer. Payne told the council last Tuesday night that his current contingent of volunteer firefighters is 23. “We could use a couple more volunteers,” Payne told the counc... Full story

  • Nespelem firm gains national award

    Oct 30, 2013

    The Northwest Native Development Fund was given the Circle of Honor Award in Philadelphia Oct. 23 at a national conference on economic development in Native American communities. The award is given to recognize a community development financial institution that is successfully increasing access to capital and financial resources in Native communities by developing innovative loan products, promoting community development and overcoming challenges. Chief Executive Officer Ted Piccolo accepted the award at a ceremony that capped off the 10th Annu... Full story

  • Coulee Dam to get LED street lights

    Roger S Lucas|Oct 30, 2013

    A project to replace some 300 streetlights in Coulee Dam should get started in about a month, public works director Barry Peacock said last Friday. The town awarded a $118,246.25 contract to Northwest Edison, a Seattle firm, as the result of a 100-percent grant received from the Transportation Improvement Board. Coulee Dam is one of six communities in the state to receive the grant. When completed, just over 300 LED (light-emitting diode) street lights will save the town about 60 percent in energy costs, plus additional maintenance savings.... Full story

  • Nespelem firm gains national award

    Oct 30, 2013

    The Northwest Native Development Fund was given the Circle of Honor Award in Philadelphia Oct. 23 at a national conference on economic development in Native American communities. The award is given to recognize a community development financial institution that is successfully increasing access to capital and financial resources in Native communities by developing innovative loan products, promoting community development and overcoming challenges. Chief Executive Officer Ted Piccolo accepted the... Full story

  • Voting for Clover

    Jerry Beierman|Oct 30, 2013

    The time is near for all eligible citizens to get out and vote! Why vote? If you don’t vote you have no reason to complain as how the election turns out. Locally we have various positions open to the vote of the local people. I am writing in regards to our local community hospital. Community hospital sounds great but how does the community have any say in the operation of the local hospital? I’m referring to the decision that was made that our community hospital could not hold a yearly blood draw as it was against the law to do so. How... Full story

  • Town leaders are true and honest

    Candi Poch|Oct 30, 2013

    Yes, I am a councilman’s wife. However, I am not writing in that capacity, but that of a citizen. Please know what and who you are voting for! I feel compelled to comment on the many months of ranting from people who are wanting something for nothing and seem to prefer mud-slinging to knowing the facts and the people who are trying to continue the good, honest and productive way the town of Coulee Dam has been run since its inception. Not everyone feels a need to make someone else look bad just to promote themselves. Many of us have made our h... Full story

  • Recalling Snow's accomplishments

    David Reese|Oct 30, 2013

    Let's not forget Mayor Snow's contributions to Coulee Dam in deciding the community's future. Much has been accomplished during his time on the council and as mayor. For example, Douglas Park has been renovated, a grant-funded water treatment plant constructed, the park south of Roosevelt Drive built, the Cole Park tennis courts improved, and more. Now a new K-12 complex is being built in town. In addition, he put forward the innovative idea to have the wind-toppled trees of Mason City Park transformed into those wooden sculptures. Each of... Full story

  • Mayor offers insight on police contract

    Quincy Snow|Oct 30, 2013

    I wish to provide some insight to the USBR Law Enforcement Contract with regards to the benefits this contract provides to the citizens of the Town of Coulee Dam. The Coulee Dam Police Department has provided 24 hour 7 day a week Police Protection to the Bureau of Reclamation since September 11, 2001. This Contract has provided for additional security presence within and around Coulee Dam, along with enabling the town to provide for additional employment and maintain and improve its police equipment. In detail these funds provide for up to... Full story

  • Asking for your involvement

    Mark Graves|Oct 30, 2013

    It seems in today’s world we are bombarded constantly with an onslaught of political opinion. I say opinion because even news organizations no longer publish news but the agenda they are trying to foster. And this is both from the Right and Left, Blue and Red, etc. Our representatives offer little in substance while trying to spin events and issues to match their schema while continually playing the blame game. Yeah, the political divide in this country appears to be at an all-time high. But that’s not what this letter is about. I men... Full story

  • Thanks for quiet service with a smile

    Carol Netzel|Oct 30, 2013

    At the last Coulee Dam Council I asked that the city make tourists aware that hiking the Crown Point Trail could be hazardous after the fire, the windstorm and the torrential rain. They agreed to put up a sign and one was there the next day. They also agreed to find volunteers to take on the project. The next day as I came home from running errands an angel, wearing a black and red shirt and a backpack came walking down the trail. It was Frank Ward, who had hiked the whole trail, clearing and cleaning as he went. And the next day he was back,... Full story

  • Auto mechanics and glass houses

    L.B. Lohne|Oct 30, 2013

    In the interest of “fairness” I must confess; my family and I are lawbreakers. It’s best to be up front about it before Mr. Horne and Mr. Madsen hold us before the city council and besmirch our very character. First, our home is not located in an area zoned for business, and no one in the family has a valid business license. Yet we seem to have persevered in small enterprises requiring both. My sister will be devastated, her life in ruin, branded a tax evader after babysitting for family and friends. Perhaps, my brother will be on par with... Full story

  • I challenge you all

    Jesse Utz|Oct 30, 2013

    I had a great conversation with a really good friend a few weeks ago. She spoke of the difficulties in her life and how things can sometimes snowball to a place where we never have seen ourselves, or in our worst nightmares saw ourselves living. I knew of her ordeals, but I got a small glimpse into how tragic events can change the way you see yourself and the way others can perceive you and the difficult balance of remaining yourself. I, too, have had the misfortune of thinking I was one way,... Full story

  • Coulee Recollections

    Oct 30, 2013

    Ten Years Ago The trial of former Grand Coulee School District bus driver, Dennis Clinkenbeard, is scheduled to start Tuesday in Okanogan County Superior Court. He is accused of two counts of second-degree child molestation, sexual misconduct and communication with a minor for immoral purposes. Misty Rose Fulfer and Nathan Lee Krohn announced they were united in marriage. The two were married outside at Cole Park in Coulee Dam last June. Lake Roosevelt boys’ cross country team began the week as Caribou Trail League champs and finished with a v... Full story

  • Bill Brashears

    Oct 30, 2013

    Bill Brashears passed away Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013, in Grand Coulee. At his request, no services will be held. A complete obituary will appear in next week’s Star.... Full story

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