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Articles from the November 8, 2023 edition


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  • Voters have a taste for the new

    Scott Hunter|Nov 8, 2023

    In local elections Tuesday, Electric City voters demonstrated a preference for change, favoring two newcomers over one current and one former city council member, and giving another current councilman a fairly close race, with two of the three Grand Coulee Police officers who ran for council poised to take office. Incumbent Councilmember Brian Buche appears to have survived a challenge from Thomas Levi Johnson for council position 3 by a vote of 117 to 89 or 57-43%. But Matt Gilbert clearly won the race for position 4 seat that former council...

  • Young Grand Coulee man sentenced to five years for assaults

    Nov 8, 2023

    An 18-year-old Grand Coulee man was sentenced to 60 months in prison after having pleaded guilty to “Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner in Indian Country,” the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington Vanessa R. Waldref announced last week. Xander Lee Ostenberg also pleaded guilty to two counts of “Assault by Beating, Striking or Wounding.” U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Ostenberg to the federal prison term to be followed by a three-year term of court supervi...

  • Down and out, temporarily

    Nov 8, 2023

    Grant PUD crews work to restore power to much of Grand Coulee Monday after a pole fire outside Coulee Medical Center caused an outage early in the morning. Most of the business district along Midway Avenue was without power. The hospital kept its emergency room and walk-in clinic open but rescheduled all morning appointments. The hospital announced it had power available again at 1:30 p.m. Grant PUD announced on X (formerly Twitter) that power had been knocked out for 328 customers in "the...

  • Just to get you ready for Veteran's Day

    Scott Hunter|Nov 8, 2023

    Inside this issue of The Star and inside Lake Roosevelt Schools this week are two things designed to help you remember what Veterans Day is all about. And if that were not enough, how about adding a good breakfast. At Lake Roosevelt Schools this Thursday, the public is invited to a special assembly in honor of veterans at 9 a.m. in the gym. The assembly both honors the veterans and impresses on students the importance of understanding their commitment to the country. At the annual assembly students personally honor attending veterans, and a...

  • Imagining what could be

    Nov 8, 2023

    Local artist Keith Powell sent us this image of a watercolor he painted as a study for a larger one he plans to do, inspired by the recent reintroduction of bison to the Colville Reservation. "I'm so happy that we are witnessing the reintroduction of bison," he said. "So cool." The view in the painting is from Jonah and Tera Whitelaw's house near McGinnis Lake with Castle Rock in the background. Powell noted that the last wild buffalo in Washington state was killed in the Grand Coulee in 1825,...

  • They really are all winners

    Nov 8, 2023

    At the end of a high school sports season like this one, it’s good to reflect on why running or playing with a ball matters. It doesn’t, of course, but those sports can be the means to learning something profound and life-changing for young people, whether winning or losing. It will never matter to almost every high school football player in another five to 20 years that they ever learned to play that game. Same for volleyball players, soccer players and players of just about every game we spend so much time pursuing or watching. But what wil...

  • Recognition due

    Jim and Mary Jane Bailey|Nov 8, 2023

    Congratulations on your prestigious WNPA award. You are sooooo worthy of being recognized for all the hard work you have put into The Star for so many years. We certainly recognize the problems that go with owning a business. But providing local information in an unbiased way is a big talent. We also thank you for all of your work promoting and improving the Grand Coulee Dam community. Jim and Mary Jane Bailey...

  • On award and presidential worst

    Bruce Holbert|Nov 8, 2023

    Congrats on the Turnbull Award. Journalism is a tough gig right now and rural journalism even tougher. You’ve managed to keep the community informed and educated and entertained despite their resistance at times. The Star is really a hub for the whole area and you are doing consistent, outstanding work. I’m pleased it has been recognized by your peers. It’s well earned. And ask Carl Russell if he’s ever heard of James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Zachary Taylor or Herbert Hoover. You should know all the preside...

  • Three times no thanks

    Roger Lucas|Nov 8, 2023

    I first met Mr. Sis when I took my shoes in to get them half-soled. Sims had the local shoe repair shop in Palouse. His daughter Delores was in my class at school and a close friend of mine. Not of the dating kind of friend, just a friend. Mr. Sims visited with me for quite a while, which surprised me, but I thought it was probably because Delores knew me. When I returned to pick up my shoes, he took some time visiting with me and asking a lot of questions. Then he suggested that when I wasn’t busy some afternoon to drop by his shop. I’m sti...

  • Never forget our vets

    Don Brunell|Nov 8, 2023

    While the last veterans who survived the “surprise” Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor are dwindling rapidly, we cannot let their sacrifices and the memories of that horrific day that propelled America into World War II fade into history. On December 7, 1941, 350 Japanese aircraft descended on Honolulu’s military installations in two shocking waves. More than 2,400 Americans were killed, and 21 ships were sunk or damaged. Our soldiers, sailors and pilots who fought and won WWII are now 90 or older,...

  • Portch competes at state cross country

    Scott Hunter|Nov 8, 2023

    Caden Portch competed at the state cross country meet at the Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco last Saturday, turning in his best time ever in the 5,000-meter race. The sophomore Lake Roosevelt Raider completed the course in 18 minutes, 13.3 seconds, a time he fairly steadily whittled down all season from a high of 21:56.9 in Manson on Sept. 16. when he finished 21st. Two weeks later, he took the top honors at Tonasket in 19:35.8, then trimmed his time to 18:58.0 in Omak a week later. "He's a...

  • Lady Raiders end season at Mead

    Scott Hunter|Nov 8, 2023

    The Lady Raiders lost their last volleyball game of the season in three sets Saturday to the Lind-Ritzville-Sprague Broncos at Mead High School in Spokane. The teams met in a District 6/7 2B Volleyball Crossover game in which the Broncos prevailed in three sets 25-14, 25-14, 25-9, sending them to the state tournament this coming weekend in Yakima. Lake Roosevelt finished the season with a 9-5 win-loss record in the Central Washington B League, 10-9 overall....

  • Raiders end football season with crossover loss

    Scott Hunter|Nov 8, 2023

    The Raiders ended their football season with a drubbing at the hands of Northwest Christian in the District 6/7 Crossover game at Riverside High School in Chattaroy Friday night. The Crusaders (10-1) took down the Raiders 76-14, ending the season for Lake Roosevelt with a 5-5 win-loss record overall. Lake Roosevelt's team scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, one on Francis Louie's long run after he had the presence of mind to pick up a still-live ball near the end of a play, took off for...

  • Geoff Foot

    Nov 8, 2023

    Memorial services for Geoff Foot will be held at the Faith Community Church in Electricy City on Friday, Nov. 10, at 2 pm. All are invited....

  • Myrna Joy Francis

    Nov 8, 2023

    Myrna Joy Francis (84), of Electric City, Washington passed away following a brief illness, Monday morning, October 23, 2023 at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. Born Wednesday, July 6, 1939 in Rifle, Colorado to Phillip & Lenore Paddock, Myrna attended high school in De Beque, Colorado, where she was one of six in her graduating class. Myrna was also a cheerleader for the De Beque High School Dragons Basketball Team..."They did not have a sufficient number of students in the... Full story

  • NCB collecting coats

    Nov 8, 2023

    The Grand Coulee branch of North Cascades Bank (NCB) is collecting new or gently used coats for local children in need. Gloves, scarves, hats and other warm outerwear for children are also welcome. 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...

  • Meetings and Notices

    Nov 8, 2023

    Mosquito Dist. 2 to Meet Grant County Mosquito District #2 will hold its monthly meeting Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 4:00pm at 210 W. Coulee Blvd. in Electric City. Area AA Meetings In Electric City, the New Hope group holds its meetings Monday through Friday evenings at 6pm at the Vets Center. There is also a noon meeting every Wednesday. These meetings are open and non-smoking. For more information, contact Paul 631-4551 or Phyllis 631-1187.I In Nespelem, the group Bound and Determined holds its meetings Monday evening at 7 p.m. at the...

  • Trees of Sharing 2023 Schedule

    Nov 8, 2023

    Christmas is in our heart and on our mind! Trees of Sharing 2023 is launching this week so we’ll be ready to give a hand up to families in need by providing a Christmas gift for their children. Since the early 1980’s, the Trees of Sharing program has been one way for Grand Coulee Dam Area residents to be a blessing to local children. If you know a family with children under age 18 living in the Coulee as far north as Belvedere that could use the encouragement of having Christmas gifts provided, please take time to fill out Trees of Sharing slip...

  • OBHC Veterans Day holiday hours

    Nov 8, 2023

    In observance of the Veterans Day holiday, Okanogan Behavioral HealthCare administration offices and Highland Center will be closed on Friday and will reopen on Monday, Nov. 13 with regular business hours. Crisis response services remain available 24 hours a day throughout the holiday by calling toll-free 1+(800) 852-2923, and are also available via TTY at (509) 826-2113, or by texting HOME to 741741. Shove House will remain operational throughout the holiday....

  • Coulee Cops

    Nov 8, 2023

    Grand Coulee Police 10/30 - A senior center trustee was banned for one year from the center because the president of the center was unhappy with the trustee’s behavior toward a contractor scheduled to work on the building. She was confronting the contractor regarding permits, which the president said weren’t yet necessary as the contractor was only dropping off supplies. The trustee turned in her key, and police explained she was still allowed to use the public sidewalks and streets by the building. - A collapsible cart was left near Weil Place...

  • Final play

    Nov 8, 2023

    Elijah Broadnax runs the ball in a play during Lake Roosevelt's crossover game against Northwest Christian in Spokane Friday. The game story is on page 6. - Scott Hunter photo...