News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Articles from the November 28, 2018 edition


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 23 of 23

  • Grand Coulee supports Republic police chief's stance against new gun law

    Jacob Wagner|Nov 28, 2018

    In a symbolic gesture at their council meeting on Nov. 20, the Grand Coulee City Council unanimously came out in support of the chief of police in Republic, Washington, who has announced he will not enforce a new gun law passed by voters in the recent election. Initiative 1639 passed in Washington state with 60 percent of the vote. In Ferry County, where Republic is located, 73 percent voted against the initiative. In Grant County, where Grand Coulee is located, 68 percent voted no, and in Grand Coulee in particular, citizens voted 175-138, or...

  • CMC will end year with $1.5 million gain

    Scott Hunter|Nov 28, 2018

    After a year of financial nerves and fiscal restraint, Coulee Medical Center officials delivered good news on progress toward a turnaround Monday night. Hospital commissioners passed a budget that comes close to double what it was in 2014 and projects a positive bottom line for what would be the second year in a row. Following a report by Chief Financial Officer Kelly Hughes, commissioners approved a budget that hits nearly $30 million in net patient revenue for 2019 and ends with a net gain of slightly more than $1.3 million. Hughes said it...

  • Sunshine and symmetry

    Nov 28, 2018

    The symmetry of the arches on the bridge on top of Grand Coulee Dam is reflected in the sunny, still waters of Lake Roosevelt Saturday. For the weekly Weather Watcher forecast, see page 8. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • Newsbriefs

    Nov 28, 2018

    Foundation rumor unfounded A rumor of a crack in the foundation of the new fire station under construction was put to rest by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Tuesday. Lynne Brougher, public affairs officer for the bureau, told The Star in an email on Tuesday that the foundation is just fine. “An inspection of the Fire Station was completed this morning and the only cracking that was observed is within normal parameters for concrete,” Brougher said. “The building has control and expansion joints per engineered designs to control cracking. It al...

  • Covington selected for school board

    Jacob Wagner|Nov 28, 2018

    Brenda Covington was chosen Monday night by the Grand Coulee Dam School District directors to join their the board. Covington and Lisa Lyngar were interviewed for about half an hour each to fill the Electric City area spot on the board left vacant earlier this year, with the board choosing Covington after deliberating in executive session. Covington will finish the unexpired term of the position left vacant by Joette Barry, which has less than two years left on it. Covington will have to run for re-election for a four-year term. Covington said...

  • Federal and state money will repair Grand Coulee streets

    Nov 28, 2018

    The state Transportation Improvement Board is covering Grand Coulee’s match in a large grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded to repair street damage from the harsh 2016-17 winter. In late 2017, FEMA awarded Grand Coulee $853,990 in the form of a grant that requires a 12-percent match. The TIB is covering that match, equal to $106,750. The $957,639 total will go toward improving city streets that suffered some damage from the harsh winter of 2016-17, as well as the wear and tear of time. To be repaired are “pieces from abo...

  • Nuisance dogs could be taken

    Jacob Wagner|Nov 28, 2018

    An owner could have his dogs taken away if he doesn’t address the ongoing issue of the dogs barking. The dogs, located on Grand Coulee Avenue, are constantly barking and running at large, resulting in 20 calls made through Multi Agency Communication Center dispatch in 2018 alone. Each call cost the city $29.42, or $588.40 total. Police Chief John Tufts said that whoever reports the dogs doesn’t want to just call the police station directly, and may be calling the non-emergency MACC number, which charges the city the same rate as it would for...

  • Electric City discusses possible drug ordinance

    Jacob Wagner|Nov 28, 2018

    Electric City is looking into adopting a drug nuisance ordinance, similar to one Grand Coulee passed in October, that would allow the seizure of known drug houses for up to a year. State law on the abatement of drug houses, Revised Code of Washington 7.43, says that If a house is regularly the scene of police enforcement, drug use, drug dealing, or otherwise, the home could be evacuated and boarded up for a year to effectively remove any ongoing nuisances. The process requires superior court approval to seize a house. “If Grand Coulee is going...

  • Bazaar season

    Nov 28, 2018

    A young shopper at the Vintage Christmas Market Saturday checks out handbags at Coulee Dam Town Hall. The Grand Coulee Community Church will hold a bazaar this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and a Coulee Christmas Bazaar will be held at the Lake Roosevelt Elementary School from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Next Saturday, the Senior Center Christmas Bazaar will be offered from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Main Street in Grand Coulee. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • Icy roads at heart of crashes, including three deaths

    Scott Hunter|Nov 28, 2018

    Vehicle crashes attributed in part to icy roads killed three people in the region in the last week, authorities said. Richard Howe, 62, of Omak, died about 8:35 p.m. Nov. 21 on SR-155 six miles south of Disautel Pass. Howe was wearing a seatbelt in the 2004 Ford F350 pickup as he lost control just after passing another vehicle, according to a Washington State Patrol investigation. The pickup, headed north, fishtailed several times, went onto the shoulder on the southbound side of the road into an embankment and struck two trees, coming to rest...

  • Consolidation equals positive change

    Nov 28, 2018

    The subject of consolidation has come up many times over the years, and the benefits seem to always outweigh the negatives. Sometimes it comes down to the personal feelings of the sitting councils and what they are willing to look at in their own governmental establishment. How the end game ends up is unknown, but the talk and discussion should still be had. This huge, but needed, change will only benefit the citizens of our area. Yes, growing pains will be there, but it will be worth it. Here are some of the things I think about. County...

  • Examples of stewardship good and bad

    Nov 28, 2018

    This is about stewardship. I have always been impressed with the organizations and individuals who understand the need to preserve historic buildings in this area. The Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union immediately comes to mind. The way the CU has kept its headquarters, the old Columbia School, looking like it’s a new building — not bad for a building that was constructed in the 1930s. The credit union also has protected and keeps improving the looks of the grounds around its building. I imagine it has been a huge expense over the years, but bei...

  • What does it really mean to be patriotic?

    Lee H Hamilton|Nov 28, 2018

    Patriotism has been on a lot of people’s minds lately. French President Emanuel Macron recently criticized President Trump and other world leaders for their “us versus them” view of patriotism. “By putting our own interests first,” he said, “with no regard for others, we erase the very thing that a nation holds dearest, and the thing that keeps it alive: its moral values.” Meanwhile, just ahead of the midterm elections, The New York Times noted that two clashing visions of patriotism were heading to the polls. President Trump and Republicans s...

  • Barbara Elaine Rederick

    Nov 28, 2018

    Barbara Elaine Rederick, age 86, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 15, 2018, at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, Washington. From her birth on June 14, 1932 to George W. Steyer and Lucy Porterfield in Confluence, Pennsylvania, to her passing she nourished people around her with unconditional love, faith and compassion. Barbara was preceded in death by her loving husband Eugene. Barbara Elaine Steyer married Eugene E. Rederick on October 24, 1948, in Accident, Maryland. The young couple...

  • Marvin Armstrong

    Nov 28, 2018

    A memorial service for Marvin Armstrong, of Coulee City, will be held at 1 p.m. Sat., December 7, 2018, at the Soap Lake First Baptist Church, 322 Division St. South. Lunch following. Marvin died November 20th in Richland....

  • Meetings & Notices

    Nov 28, 2018

    No Chamber This Week Due to the Vintners and Brewers Tasting and Auction Dec. 1, there will be no chamber this week. Meetings will resume Thursday, December 6. Lions Club Meets The GCD Lions Club will be meeting at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, December 4, at the Melody Restaurant in Coulee Dam. American Legion to Meet The American Legion Post 157 next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 11 at the Vet Center in Electric City. AA Meetings for Area Confused in the Coulee AA meetings are held on Mondays and Fridays at 6 p.m. at the Vets Center...

  • Timber!

    Nov 28, 2018

    Steve Harrington, custodian at Lake Roosevelt High School, puts yellow tape around a damaged tree Tuesday to keep people away from it until the mess can be cleaned up. Big branches of the blue spruce fell down next to the Career and Technical Education building, the former high school. Superintendent Paul Turner speculated the branches may have been weakened by wind the night before and finally fell. No one was hurt. Harrington believes the tree will be fine once they remove the large branches....

  • Not too late to get an ornament

    Nov 28, 2018

    The Trees of Sharing 2018 are now out decorated with ornament tags with children’s wishes. Pick up a tag and fill the wish. Trees are placed at North Cascades Bank, Safeway Pharmacy, Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union and Harvest Foods. All gifts wrapped and with tags attached to the outside of the package must be returned to a tree location by Monday, Dec. 10. Gifts are scheduled to be delivered Saturday, December 15 from 10 – 11 a.m. Please call Linda Black, 633-3611, to volunteer with Trees of Sharing. There are opportunities to organize, sho...

  • Slam dunker

    Nov 28, 2018

    High school basketball season is firing up. Tyler Jordan, who stands 6-5, dunks the ball during the Crimson & Gold, Raiders vs Raiders warm-up game Nov. 20 at Lake Roosevelt High School, setting the tone for another season of Raider and Lady Raider basketball. Watch for The Star's early season special section next week, with schedules, rosters and expectations. - Jacob Wagner photo...

  • Sports this week

    Nov 28, 2018

    Wed., Nov. 28 6 p.m., LRHS Wrestling at Okanogan Thurs., Nov. 29 5 p.m., LRJH Boys’ Basketball here with Brewster Sat., Dec. 1 10 a.m., LRHS Wrestling at Davenport Tournament LRHS Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball here with Manson. GJV noon, GV 1:30 p.m., BJV 3 p.m., BV 4:30 p.m....

  • 1947 Lake Lenore sodium explosions available to view online

    Jacob Wagner|Nov 28, 2018

    In January 1947, the United States Army had an excess of metallic sodium left over from World War II and determined that the alkaline waters of Lake Lenore would be a good spot to dump and neutralize the acidic element, which reacts with water with intense explosions. Barrels containing 20,000 pounds of metallic sodium were rolled off a cliff onto the frozen lake where, according to the video description, they were shot with machine guns to expose the sodium. As the sodium reacted to the water, an estimated 162,000 cubic feet of hydrogen gas...

  • Legals for November 28, 2018

    Nov 28, 2018

    Grant County Conservation District Board of Supervisors PUBLIC NOTICE A polling site election for an open position on the Grant County Conservation District Board of Supervisors will be held on February 12, 2019 from 8:30 AM until 12:30 PM at the Grant County Conservation District, 1107 S Juniper Drive, Moses Lake, WA 98837. Interested candidates must be registered voters who reside within the boundaries of the District. Candidates may be required to be landowners or operators of a farm, depending on the current composition of the District...

  • Coulee Cops

    Nov 28, 2018

    Grand Coulee Police 11/20 - A Young St. man was cited with animal cruelty after allegedly abandoning his dog, which had reportedly been chained up outside in freezing temperatures and without food and water. A neighbor reported the man, who had left the residence several days earlier after an assault case also was reported at the residence. - A man wanted on a warrant was seen on Van Tyne, where he was arrested and taken to Coulee City, from where a Grant County Sheriff deputy took him to Grant County Jail. 11/21 - A driver received a speeding...