News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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With Veterans Day approaching on Nov. 11, this newspaper is asking local veterans — those who have served and those currently serving — to send us, or bring in, a photo of themselves to be placed in a special tribute section in next week’s Star. We also welcome photos of those veterans no longer alive. Many in this country have served in its armed services, and they deserve recognition and thanks. Just as importantly, we hope it proves instructive for readers to see the amount of sacrifice and dedication represented by those depicted in this... Full story
The port district took its first step last Thursday toward the development of a 48-space RV park at the Banks Lake Golf Course. Commissioners gave the go-ahead to the USKH engineering firm of Spokane to do a $7,500 feasibility study of the proposed park. Lisa Corcoran, associate project manager for the firm, outlined a view of what the RV park would look like. Port District 7 Commissioner Stan Conklin said the project needs to, “be up and running by late April. This is what’s going to support the course.” The port district has provided the d... Full story
Lake Roosevelt High School students gather around a bonfire in the parking lot Thursday night in a school spirit-boosting tradition. Along with the big fire, several smaller campfires allowed roasting marshmallows. Hot dogs, however, were served off a gas barbecue grill. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Electric City will soon be the recipient of $20 license tab fees on vehicles, probably before the first of the year. Meaning when you go to a vehicle license bureau, and live within the city limits of Electric City, you will pay $20 more for the tab. The city council has completed all but one of the processes so the city can collect the fee. City Clerk Jackie Perman said that it has yet to exercise an interlocal agreement with the state, however, she stated that is expected to be accomplished within a few weeks. Cities throughout the state are... Full story
Lighter moments in government Ken Dexter, Electric City’s public works director, lightened things up a bit at the city council meeting last Tuesday night as he ran through a long string of needs for his department for next year. He had been asked by Mayor Jerry Sands to go over the list of needs so the council would know what he wanted in his budget. Dexter explained that among other things, he needed new lights. The mayor asked, “How many lights in the fire hall don’t work?” Dexter replied, “All of them that don’t go on when I throw the s... Full story
The town councils of Coulee Dam and Elmer City will meet jointly, along with their attorneys, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the Coulee Dam chambers. The agenda will cover a 50-year joint agreement between the two municipalities for wastewater treatment services. Coulee Dam, by contract, receives Elmer City’s wastewater (sewage) for treatment. Elmer City has been at odds with Coulee Dam for the way it developed its plan for an upgraded wastewater treatment plant, claiming that it wasn’t consulted. Coulee Dam on at least two occasions had inv... Full story
The wind-damaged trees at Mason City Memorial Park have taken on a new life — with a wildlife look — through the skills of chainsaw artist Jacob Lucas. The west-sider completed the second tree late Saturday afternoon, treated the exposed wood, and was on his way by nightfall. He uncovered a hawk, bear, coyote and giant feather in the second tree, going along with a giant Chinook salmon in an earlier tree sculpture. After a big wind storm and cleanup last July, two tree stumps, one about 10 fee... Full story
Those interested in participating in a local museum can do so by attending a meeting of the “Coulee Pioneer Museum” on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 1 p.m., at the art room by the Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center. An effort is being made to develop a local museum and preserve artifacts, documents and other materials so they won’t be lost to the area. “The local history is being lost as the elderly move from the area, and the stories and materials die when they pass away,” said Birdie Hensley, who is organizing the meeting. The museum has a logo, tax... Full story
Raven Clark figures out how to borrow digital books for her Kindle from the North Central Regional Library system at the Grand Coulee Library Thursday night, with the help of NCRL employee Marilyn Numiller of Wenatchee. Numiller was there specifically to show people how to borrow from the library’s digital collection. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce and the Coulee Area Park & Recreation District each approached Electric City for money from its hotel/motel tax fund last Tuesday night. New chamber Manager Peggy Nevsimal made the pitch for her organization, providing an outline of plans for 2013, detailing how the money would be spent to help attract tourists to the area, the purpose of the fund under state law. She spoke of the various target markets the chamber was shooting for and how her advertising campaign would work. Nevsimal was asking... Full story
Chickens may eventually come home to roost in Electric City. Council members Oct. 23 unanimously agreed, it’s time for chickens to take their rightful place in the city. New Councilmember Brad Parrish made the motion, referring to an “urban chicken movement.” Mayor Jerry Sands said the city would develop a plan of how to move forward on the chicken issue. Former council member Troy Ritter brought in a copy of Grand Coulee’s ordinance that allows chickens — six hens it says, but no roosters. It stipulates that the area where chickens must be k... Full story
Kudos to the Grand Coulee Dam Rotary Club on the completion of the Handicap Accessible Fishing Pier at Steamboat Rock State Park. This most worthwhile project is a wonderful tribute to the work of many who throughout the years took it on until it was done. It was a special dream of Dick Taylor, Gary Reit, Rod Hartman, Bill Black, Roy & Donna Hamilton to name but a few of the many. Most importantly of all, it is a Rotary Project for the entire community at large. This group has worked tirelessly for our community for years, never ones to... Full story
Due to long term and ongoing issues with fatigue and balance due to Multiple Sclerosis, I now use a walker for my mobility and need handicapped-accessible parking, which is available locally in most public parking areas as indicated in the Americans With Disabilities Act passed in 1990. I've made requests with the city of Grand Coulee, Pepper Jack's and the Eagles about having disability parking signs installed at those locations, with little or no response. Both locations have been in the community for many years, and winter's coming again.... Full story
I have given up waiting to receive a name of a particular soldier to mail packages from home to. So I went on line and there is a website: “Anysoldier.com” and it lists names of soldiers (from every branch) who is wanting to receive packages from home. This will work out great, and I’m ready to start baking and sending, and I have heard from many others who are also ready and willing to think of our heroes serving us and our country. I would encourage everyone to pick a name and send a letter and box of holiday cheer to someone (any one of th... Full story
Ten Years Ago It’s not like the lake is overwhelmed with jet skiers this time of year anyway, but they’re banned from Lake Roosevelt starting Nov. 6. Jail time for some Colvile tribal members will soon take place closer to home following the symbolic first step to construction of a new correctional facility near Nespelem. Middle school students spent a day laughing, crying and being painfully honest last week in a program designed to break down social barriers. Two pit bull dogs with a history of harassing GCD area residents were shot by pol... Full story
As every good businessman knows — including Gov. Romney with whom I had been associated as a limited partner at Bain Capital Ventures — the soundness of a company and its ability to create jobs does not rest on lower taxes or tax avoidance — for the company or its senior management. If Gov. Romney and congressional Republicans continue to insist on renewing the special Bush tax cuts that go only to the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans like me, it will do nothing to create jobs. It is a fiction, pure and simple, that taxing so-called “job... Full story
Bob and Sandy Hendrickson of Coulee Dam celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last Saturday. The couple were married in Spokane, Wash., on Oct. 27, 1972. They have enjoyed living in the Nespelem and Coulee Dam areas since 1984. Bob is a retired school teacher and Sandy currently works for the Grand Coulee Dam School District. Their children and grandchildren live in Spokane; Twin Lakes, Iowa; and Three Rivers, Calif. They are pictured here with five of their eight grandchildren and are... Full story
Chamber at Siam Palace The Chamber of Commerce meeting will be held Thursday, Nov. 1, at noon at the Siam Palace. Debbie Bigelow, Director of Community Outreach for Coulee Medical Center will speak on grant writing essentials. Debbie and chamber member Birdie Hensley recently attended a grant writing seminar and will be sharing at the chamber luncheon tips on how to structure, format and write a successful grant. International Survivors of Suicide Day Set The International Survivors of Suicide Day is set for Saturday, Nov. 17. This is a day of... Full story
Senior meals Wed., Oct. 31 - Dinner Chili Hallo-weenies, with Cheese and Onions, Potato Salad, Fruit Face Surprise, Mud Cups. Thurs,. Nov. 1 - Dinner Creamed Tuna & Peas on Biscuits, Veggie Salad, Spinach, Peaches, grocery shopping and errands with Sara. Fri., Nov. 2 - Breakfast Sausage and Cheese Omelet, Hashbrowns, Toast, Applesauce, Orange Juice. Mon., Nov. 5 - Breakfast Bacon & Eggs, Pancakes, Bowl of Fruit, Orange Juice. Tues., Nov. 6 - Dinner Salisbury Steak, Baked Potatoes w/Sour Cream, Veggie & Fruit Bar, Bob’s Strawberry Sundae, with a... Full story
Mom passed away and joined her mother, father, brother Bud, and sister Betty on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012 just two weeks and two days short of her 92nd birthday. Phyllis was the first child of five born to Perry H. Brooks and Ella (Swayze) Brooks on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington state. She graduated a straight A+ student from Nespelem High School as their Valedictorian. She married Jay B. Webley in 1939, and they had a son Roy A. Webley and a daughter Lynda H. Webley (Pennington).... Full story
The new Keller Ferry “Sanpoil” will be christened July 19, 2013, an official from Foss Maritime Company said Monday. However, there’s a whole lot of work that has to be completed before then. Some of that work is occurring this week near the National Park Service boat launch at Crescent Bay, where a 145-foot by 45-foot concrete slab will be poured, on which Foss workers will assemble the new ferry, which will be trucked in to the area in parts. Access to the boat launch will not be affected by the construction, said National Park Servi... Full story
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake off the coast of British Columbia Saturday evening was felt as far away as Nespelem. Colleen Leskinen called Tuesday to report that she and members of her family were sitting at the kitchen table after dinner and things started swaying. Leskinen said she looked up at the kitchen clock and it said 8:13. The British Columbia quake, some 660 miles northwest, was recorded at 8:04 p.m. Leskinen said that the first sign was the sound of the wind chimes. “I looked up and the chandelier was swinging,” the Nespelem res... Full story
Francis Somday has been named the new executive director for the Colville Tribes, Colville Business Council Chairman John Sirois announced Friday. “We are very excited to have Francis home, working for the Tribe, and leading the organization in the direction of expanded success and prosperity,” Sirois said. “His vision and work ethic will help set the tone as we move forward together as a Tribe. We have every confidence that our challenges and successes are in very good hands with Mr. Somday.” The Colville member has previously worked for the... Full story
The Melody Restaurant in Coulee Dam will reopen sometime later this year. Coulee Dam Councilmember Karl Hjorten reported that negotiations for a lease on the restaurant property have been completed and he expected the new business to open within eight to 10 weeks. The operators of the business will be the Moreno family, with members in Coulee Dam, Boise, and Long Beach, Calif, Hjorten said Juan Moreno, who has been associated with another local restaurant, will be operator of the facility. Family members Luis Moreno and a sister, Veronica... Full story
Children’s book author Avi and librarian Caroline Leadingham stand in front of a display of his books being featured in the bookcase outside the Grand Coulee Dam Middle School library Wednesday on a visit to talk to students about his writing. “He is a prolific author and writes historical novels for young people,” said Dan Howard, associate director of the North Central Library District. Avi visited 10 school districts while he was in the area. — Roger S. Lucas photo... Full story
