News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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After Washington families were asked last week not to gather with people outside their households over the coming holidays, the governor added more details and broader restrictions in a modified order Sunday. If you get together for Thanksgiving with people not living with you, you'll be going against that ask, - unless you had already begun to quarantine by Friday and you keep it up until Thanksgiving, or keep it up for seven days prior and get a negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours...
COVID-19 cases are up and down all over the map and the state is seeing record high days. The Seattle Times reported Nov. 16 that "for the third day in a row, state health officials have reported a record number of daily cases in Washington, with 2,309 new COVID-19 cases as of Sunday afternoon." That compares to statewide case rates in the 600s two weeks ago. As of Nov. 17: Okanogan County has reported 1,204 total cases, including 14 deaths. There have been 15 cases in Coulee Dam, five in Elmer...
The fate of Electric City’s potential Ice Age Park may be decided at the city’s Dec. 8 council meeting. At their Nov. 10 meeting, the council discussed the park following the failure of a levy to raise funds for maintenance of the park for one year. That levy failed 330-192 in the Nov. 3 election. During the public comment period of the meeting, Mayor Diane Kohout read aloud an email signed by Ian and Cara Turner. The email offers “some insight from the perspective of a community member, planning commissioner, and parent to young child...
Anthropologist to speak online Robert Moïse will be the guest speaker at the Grand Coulee Dam Rotary Club’s Zoom meeting Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 5:15 p.m. and the public is invited. Moïse, a consulting anthropologist, has worked a lot in Africa, and he’s been tapped to share his insights, derived from a career of helping big organizations trying to do good in small communities. You can join the meeting from your phone or computer. If you don’t have a Zoom app, just search in google for “join zoom meeting” and follow the prompts. In the Zoom ap...
From left, music teacher Karen Pace, BrieAnn Whittaker, Skylar Armstrong, Nathan Weldon and Channell Smith gather in the student Hub at Lake Roosevelt High School to sing a few tunes and read some tributes for scaled back Veteran's Day non-assembly Nov. 11 via a Zoom connection with dozens attending remotely. Inset: the choir's view of their sound equipment and the audience on Zoom. - Susan Duclos photos...
Public health authorities are asking anyone from multiple communities who attended a large wedding near Ritzville Nov. 7 to get tested for COVID-19 and self-quarantine through Nov. 21. Grant County Health District said it knows of nearly 40 cases in their county resulting from the Adams County event with more than 300 attendees. More cases are being added daily. Weddings are supposed to be restricted to no more than 30 attending. “Due to the multi-jurisdictional impact of this large event, GCHD felt it was necessary to notify the public,” GCHD...
Coulee Dam residents will likely soon pay about another $1 a week to have their trash picked up at the curb. The city council in a Monday budget workshop found that a hike of about $4 a month is likely inevitable, following a boost in dumping fees Grant County’s landfill near Ephrata will charge the Delano Transfer Station to haul garbage there. That, coupled with the city taxing its own funds with a large B&O tax as a means of systematically transferring funds to its “current expense” general spending account has led to a shortfall in payin...
Elmer City residential sewer rates will likely go up by about 20% in 2021. The raise was discussed by the city council during a budget discussion meeting Nov. 12. A sewage lift station pump replacement in the Lone Pine area may cost up to $25,000, Public Works Director Jimmer Tillman explained. With 166 sewer customers, the council and mayor discussed, a $10 boost in rates would raise $19,992 a year, which would go towards the pump and any future sewer-related expenses that may come up. In-town rates would go from $51 to $61, and out-of-town...
Just a comment on Scott Hunter’s thoughts on starting in-person learning again: In my 70s and raising a now teenager who says I am an (old fashioned, crazy, crabby old lady), I often wonder if she is right. I have answered the questionnaires, polls and spoken to school administration a few times. I keep up with the Covid stats for WA, and so far I am for keeping distance learning for, who knows how much longer. Thank you, Scott, for your like opinion. I just heard tonight (Nov. 15) that Gov. Inslee is on the brink of closing the state down a...
The other day I made a public information request for documents concerning the GCD School District Board meeting on Nov. 9th, 2020. One item I asked for was a copy of Form 1430F, Request to be Placed on the Board Agenda. This form is to be filled out by the public if they wish to be placed on the agenda to make a presentation during the “public comments” portion of a school board meeting. The Superintendent is to read and approve the request, confirming it doesn’t have anything construed as “singling out” or of a discriminatory nature. I...
I cried today — Friends and family of John Coykendall will understand. A more genuine and dear soul you would not find. I enjoyed conversation with him over the great little things and the little big things. (To clarify: he recognized the daily little things were the really important stuff life was made of, more so than the bigger world stuff). He was interesting and spoke with a twinkle in his eye. He was both lighthearted and deep —eager to share his experiences, but never pushy. I cried today, realizing I would no more hear his stories of...
It’s no secret that the Coronavirus pandemic has made a huge impact on how Washington retailers and restaurants operate. With additional restrictions implemented at the start of the holiday season as cases surge, it’s another challenge for local small businesses. But that’s where we as a community can step in. Small retailers and restaurants are relying on us to send a message with our dollars that says, “We’ve got your back.” And in 2020, this support is needed more than ever. Approximately 62% of small businesses have reported they need t...
Colleen Leskinen has had her eye on Nespelem for a very long time, essentially since her birth year, 67 years ago. Some people know her as the lady who runs the daycare, within the shadow of the town limits. Others know her as the town mayor and councilwoman and town administrator. Everyone knows Colleen. Currently, she runs a daycare on an 80-acre ranch, just a stone’s throw from town center; maybe a hefty toss. Colleen welcomes some 28 kids on weekdays. Her daycare acts as an extension of the public school system, with 15 students and a...
As part of its Centennial Year Celebration, the Washington State Patrol has been offering information on each of the 30 individuals at the patrol who have lost their lives in the line of duty, including Jim Saunders, who was assigned to Grand Coulee right after completing his basic training in 1991. Here is his story: Washington State Patrol Trooper James E. Saunders lived life large, both in stature and in heart. Beloved by those who knew him for his sense of humor and selfless nature, the husb...
Lincoln, Neb. – Celebrate this year’s holiday season with friends and loved ones while supporting conservation and tree planting with the help of the Arbor Day Foundation. Give-A-Tree® cards from the Arbor Day Foundation offer a unique holiday giving opportunity with conservation benefits that will endure for generations. And again, this year, Give-A-Tree cards can be purchased individually and with customized text. Cards can be purchased for $6.95. Purchasing the Arbor Day Foundation’s coffee helps preserve rain forests in Central and South...
Trees of Sharing 2020 is here to help struggling families provide a Christmas gift for their children. Since the early 1980’s, the Trees of Sharing program has been a pathway for Grand Coulee Dam area residents to be a blessing to needy children living in the area. Trees are located at Safeway, Coulee Family Medicine, and Harvest Foods. The schedule: • November 20 – December 11: Trees decorated with ornament tags with children’s wishes available at North Cascades Bank, Safeway Pharmacy, Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union, and Harvest Foods....
New Cancer Support Group Cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors have been gathering semiweekly to talk, in a safe environment with honesty about the physical, emotional and spiritual impact of cancer. The group meets the first and third Thursdays of the month at 6 p.m. in the multipurpose area of the Nazarene Church. Face masks and social distancing are maintained. New AA Group in the Area A new Alcoholics Anonymous group is meeting each Saturday at noon at the Grand Coulee Community Church, 405 Center St. Meetings are open. More...
Grant County Port District No. 7 NOTICE OF MEETING CHANGE We are changing the November Meeting Date from Thursday, November 26th to Thursday, November 19th due to Thanksgiving Day falling on the 26th. Prior to the regular meeting we will be holding our 2021 Budget Hearing. The Budget Hearing will begin at 3:45pm and the Regular Meeting will be held immediately following the Budget Hearing. Both will be held by a Telephone Conference Call. Anyone wishing to join the meeting may contact the Port Secretary at portdistrict7@gmail.com prior to the... Full story
Grand Coulee Police 11/7 - A woman at the Hill Avenue apartments reported a boy threw a bottle at her window. No damage was caused. The boy’s mother said he knew better and isn’t allowed near the other woman’s apartment. 11/10 - A woman driving a blue Honda Element was heading west on SR-174 and neglected to yield to a man driving a green Mazda driving north on SR-155, striking him at the four-corners intersection on the passenger side, causing damage to the passenger side mirror and door. - A woman at the Center Lodge motel reported that...