News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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The idea of joining two or more local towns into one involves a lot of factors, not to mention public opinion, which might soon be addressed if two cities are willing to fund a consultant’s help. A proposed agreement between the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce and SCJ Alliance to consider issues pertaining to consolidating Grand Coulee and Electric City is moving forward and awaits details of Grand Coulee’s 2016 budget decisions. The chamber hopes to enter into an agreement with the SCJ group from Wenatchee to provide planning service... Full story
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation employees begin a Tuesday morning exercise that might have alarmed police scanner listeners not paying close attention. The hazardous material/explosives drill involved USBR security and emergency response, Grand Coulee's ambulance and Coulee Medical Center in a scenario that started with a security officer approaching two suspicious subjects claiming to enjoy the view and some coffee. Within minutes, a bomb exploded (on paper only) and the two subjects and the... Full story
The first of December is still the target date for the reopening of the bowling alley in Coulee Dam, the new owner said Tuesday. Scott Elmore said the Riverview Lanes and working areas are ready for business. “We have the lanes up and working and I’ve just a few more things to do before we can welcome customers,” Elmore stated. Most of the equipment has been refurbished, the lanes treated, and, Elmore said, the lanes will be ready for play. He plans to be open Tuesdays through Saturdays, continuing the same hours as the lanes were open befor... Full story
Former Star owner, editor and publisher Jack Hilson, a man whose political expertise helped to build the local airport, Steamboat Rock State Park and more, has died. After serving in the Navy in World War II, Jack and his wife, Dolores, became involved in the newspaper in 1947, and began buying it from family members in 1958. Hilson served on the Grant County Port District 7 Commission for 10 years and also sat on the state Parks and Recreation Commission. His friendships with powerful United States senators and the speaker of the House of... Full story
After more than a year of on-and-off negotiations, and an interlude with a third town, Grand Coulee and Electric City are set to wrap up an extension of their current police contract in December, ensuring police protection for Electric City in 2016. The new agreement proposed by Grand Coulee is for a two-year period at a basic annual cost of $125,000. The agreement calls for Grand Coulee police to answer all police calls, provide traffic control (including radar), check on business buildings during the night, do regular car patrols, do... Full story
A stream of shoppers place their penny bets in cups to bid on prizes at the annual Penny Auction Saturday in the Lake Roosevelt High School gym. The fund-raiser for the class of 2016 drew people for the lunch and to buy bags of small pieces of numbered paper, one for each penny they spent to buy the bag. Winning numbers were drawn randomly for each prize. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Nissen named for national honor Nespelem’s Brian Nissen has been named as a 2015 Native American “40 under 40” award recipient. Nissen was among the winners of the prestigious award from the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development during the 40th Annual Indian Progress in Business Awards (INPRO) Gala last week at the Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The award is given to individuals under the age of 40, nominated by members of their communities, who have demonstrated leadership, initiative, and d... Full story
Three representatives of area organizations went mining for a slice of Grand Coulee’s lodging tax funds for 2016, and they came out winners. Now it all depends on the city council passing its new budget, a task that will likely happen in December. Peggy Nevsimal, executive director of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, attended the city council last Tuesday to ask for $13,325, for advertising and promoting the area. She got it. George Kohout, president of the Ridge Riders Saddle Club, asked for $12,500. He got his amount. And Bob V... Full story
There could be an announcement soon on who is going to be Coulee Dam’s new police chief. The town’s Civil Service Commission, made up of Herb Sherburne, Joe Tynan and Councilmember Shawn Derrick, has received 10 applications of interest in the position. The commission has pared this down to six final candidates. A four-member interview team, made up of Sherburne, Tynan, town Councilmember Ken Miles and Nate Piturachsatit finished interviewing six of the 10 candidates who made it to the interview process last Saturday. Sherburne said the six... Full story
Maggie Stewart presents a handmade drum to Launi Ritter, representing the Chamber of Commerce, at the group's weekly meeting Thursday at the Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center. Stewart gave a presentation on her many crafts, from beadwork to dolls in buckskin, and her longtime career of selling them to clients as far away as Germany. She made the drum just for the occasion. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Some streets in Electric City will be receiving new names and numbers as a result of an ordinance passed last week by the Electric City council. The new names and numbering are being assigned to those properties that were taken in at the city’s latest annexation. The city has been working with the property owners affected in an effort to make the changeover without a hitch. A few of the property owners attended the last council meeting and seemed satisfied with the explanations given by Deputy Clerk Russell Powers. The numbering changes will m... Full story
There could be an announcement soon on who is going to be Coulee Dam’s new police chief. The town’s Civil Service Commission, made up of Herb Sherburne, Joe Tynan and Councilmember Shawn Derrick, has received 10 applications of interest in the position. The commission has pared this down to six final candidates. A four-member interview team, made up of Sherburne, Tynan, town Councilmember Ken Miles and Nate Piturachsatit finished interviewing six of the 10 candidates who made it to the interview process last Saturday. Sherburne said the six... Full story
While Mr. Hunter’s editorial (“Seeking the fairy tale land of no taxes,” 11/18) makes some good points about how taxes are used to pay for the upkeep of our roads, I take issue with some of the other statements. I do believe that most people realize that some taxes are necessary to maintain roads, provide police/fire protection, keep the parks nice, etc. But how much is enough? He says that “we all want services, and we all want to not pay for them.” That statement does not tell the whole story. We pay income tax, property tax, vehicle license... Full story
Seriously?! So this dog had ONE incident involving a FERAL CAT and it is possibly going to be labeled “dangerous?” SERIOUSLY?! When did dogs EVER start liking cats they didn’t already live with? I have two cats and two dogs. They get along fine, but if another cat came into my house or yard, I know for a fact that my dogs would probably try to catch it and do harm to it. I don’t understand this situation! I can understand if this was an incident involving a person being attacked or the dog getting loose and acting aggressively with people... Full story
This year, at this time, it is important that we think about the last 365 days and think of the things that we are most thankful for. (I know, that is a lot of words beginning with “th.”) We have watched on the news recently or read online the terror that is striking numerous other countries around the world. It reminds us of the day the towers fell in New York, and we know what those citizens are going through right now. It also reminds us to keep watch out our own backdoor for the same type of thing. Panic is not an option, but preparedness a... Full story
The Grand Coulee Tigers football team had a most successful season. Leading rusher for the squad was Landy Harrell, averaging 9.44 yards per carry for the year. He was followed by John Hotchkiss, who averaged 5.91 yards. The two big guns on the defensive screen were co-captains Rodney Bise and Fred Manzer. These seniors, along with the rest of the line, composed of Ron Kosloski, Marvin Palanuk, John Weber, Dennis Thomas and Dick Behrens, will also be missed by next year's team. Team scoring:... Full story
Every year, Gallup asks people how much confidence they have in various institutions. The results aren’t surprising. Only 8 percent had “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in Congress. Big business scored 21 percent. That’s no better than TV news. Small business, on the other hand, came in second with 67 percent of respondents considering it trustworthy. Only the U.S. military scored higher. While politicians bicker with each other and Wall Street focuses on the 1 percent, Main Street remains the lifeblood of our economy and our com... Full story
Jack A. Hilson, 90, of Electric City, Washington, passed away on Thursday, November 5, 2015, at Coulee Medical Center, Long Term Care, Grand Coulee, Washington. He was born May 14, 1925, to Herman and Ethel Hilson in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. He graduated from Almira High School in 1943. On June 9, 1944, he entered into the U.S. Navy. He was a Radioman 2C, stationed on the USS Vincennes in the South Pacific. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon, American Area Ribbon and the Victory Medal. He... Full story
Warren Henry Byam, formerly of Electric City, Washington, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 7, 2015, surrounded by his family in Oregon City, Oregon, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Born March 12, 1927, in Billings, Montana, he was one of 10 children. He served in the United States Navy as a Seabees during WWII and worked for the United States Bureau of Reclamation at Grand Coulee Dam for 45 years. His hobbies were building trailers, rebuilding and selling cars and... Full story
Raymond R. (Ray) Green, passed away Friday, November 20, 2015, in Grand Coulee, Washington. His home was in Coulee Dam, Washington. Funeral Service was held Tuesday, November 24, 2015, at 11 a.m., at the Nespelem Community Center, Nespelem, Washington. A full obituary will follow in next week’s paper. Strate Funeral Home, Grand Coulee, is caring for the Green family.... Full story
No Chamber Next Two Weeks The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will not be meeting this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday or Thursday, Dec. 3, due to the Vintners and Brewers event held Saturday, Dec. 5. Meetings resume Thursday, Dec. 10, at noon, at the Coulee Dam City Hall. Grant County Fire Dist. 14 to Meet Grant County Fire District No. 14 will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday, Nov. 30, 2015, at 7 p.m., at the Electric City fire station. Care and Share Food Bank Closed This Friday The food bank at the Church of the... Full story
Susan Miller ladles up some gravy for Dale Hotchkiss at the Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center, where the Senior Meals Program served 98 early Thanksgiving dinners Wednesday. They also delivered 18 meals to homes of people who couldn't make it to the center. - Gwen Hilson photo... Full story
Janae and Cody Ray of Nespelem, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their son Ryder Joseph Ray, born Monday, November 16, 2015, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 8 lbs., 3 oz., and was 20 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandparents are Debbie and Monte Joseph. Paternal grandparents are Trina Ray and Bennie Bane.... Full story
Nespelem School District will ask voters to support a four-year levy in February. The school board voted Monday night to pass a resolution for the $36,000 levy, which would replace the current operations and maintenance levy and gain the tiny district state “levy equalization” funds that would likely total more than a million dollars over the four years. The levy, proposed by Superintendent Rich Stewart, would remain at $36,000 each year and not increase, with a tax rate of about $2.49 per $1,000 of assessed value on real property. Stewart sai... Full story
High on the list of things to do for the school board is to find a new superintendent. Present superintendent, Dr. Dennis Carlson, has indicated to the board that he plans to retire when his contract is up, June 30, 2016. Carlson has been in the district for five years. That item will likely be on the agenda when the board meets Nov. 30. The board has several options, including the hiring of a search consultant to assist them. When school board members attended the Washington State School Directors meeting last week in Bellevue, they had an... Full story
