News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Articles from the November 30, 2016 edition


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  • New pharmacy projected for 2017

    Jacob Wagner|Nov 30, 2016

    Grand Coulee Dam area residents may soon have a second option for where they pick up their prescription drugs. Coulee Medical Center expects to have a new retail pharmacy up and running by early 2017, according to Jonathan Owens, chief executive officer. “We have had multiple request from the community for a new pharmacy and our board felt this was a service that was something that they also supported,” Owens said. Currently the only place for local residents to fill their prescriptions is the Safeway pharmacy. Revenue projections for the pha... Full story

  • Ski Club meeting next Wednesday

    Nov 30, 2016

    The Grand Coulee Dam Area Ski Club will be having an informational meeting on December 7th. We will be meeting at Nespelem School at 5:15 and then at Lake Roosevelt High school at 7:30. Loup Loup representatives will be here to issue season passes so that they can be used during Christmas break.... Full story

  • Kids line up for Santa at North Dam Park

    Roger S Lucas|Nov 30, 2016

    About 80 children showed up to see Santa Claus and to take part in a "cake walk" program last Saturday at North Dam Park. A number of local citizens provided cakes, some 25 in all, to be passed out to children whose numbers were called. It was a community affair, with the Eagles and Moose lodges taking part, along with the City of Electric City and a dozen members of the community choir. The program began at 3 p.m. and lasted until five, with Santa arriving about 4. There were hot dogs and hot... Full story

  • CMC planning new daycare center for employees

    Jacob Wagner|Nov 30, 2016

    Coulee Medical Center has “every intention” of building a daycare center for their employees, according to Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Owens. Completion of the project is anticipated for May or June 2017, at the latest, Owens told his board of commissioners Monday night. Owens said $10,000 to $15,000 has already gone into remodeling the old clinic’s basement for the purpose, but because of updates from city and state regulators, building a separate daycare would be “much more cost effective.” Owens described a potential new building... Full story

  • City hall renovations to continue

    Roger S Lucas|Nov 30, 2016

    Electric City plans to continue its renovation of city hall next year. The 2017 improvements include new windows and doors. The project is being funded in the 2017 budget and is expected to cost less than $20,000. In the last year, city hall was painted, new air conditioning installed and the city’s new logo placed on the front of the building. Previously the city had installed carpets, painted the council chambers and added a new, enlarged table for the council members.... Full story

  • Nespelem Elementary students don their lab coats

    Jacob Wagner|Nov 30, 2016

    Students at Nespelem Elementary received a hands-on science experience from chemical engineers from Washington State University last week. Doctor Seu Ha, an immigrant from Korea, received his Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from North Carolina University and his doctorate from the University of Illinois before finding himself as a professor at WSU. Ha was joined by his student, Jake Gray, a Mead High School graduate, who has a bachelor's degree in chemistry and one in chemical... Full story

  • Proposed Electric City park will wait for grant

    Roger S Lucas|Nov 30, 2016

    Electric City’s proposed park, behind the fire department building, may not get developed until sometime in 2018, city officials stated. The council, at its October budget workshop, decided to wait until a grant application to Washington State Recreation Council Office is decided. The application is due in 2017, for funding in 2018. Grants are up to 50 percent matching, and city officials decided to wait for possible funding before starting on the project. The city will have $60,000 budgeted for possible matching money next year. City Clerk J... Full story

  • LR National Recreation Area Public Scoping Meeting

    Nov 30, 2016

    Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area is considering expanding recreational areas at the northern half of the recreation area. The National Park Service unit will host a public scoping meeting at the Community Colleges of Spokane Colville Campus, 985 North Elm Street, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m. The focus of meeting is to discuss the expansion of a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities and a forest health project near Rickey Point in Stevens County. Preliminary recreational options include: development of a disc golf course, installation of a... Full story

  • Adding bus possible, but drivers still needed

    Roger S Lucas|Nov 30, 2016

    The Grand Coulee Dam School District will have enough money in its transportation fund to order another new bus next year, according to the financial report school board members heard Monday night. Already the district has two new 35-passenger buses on order, each costing $63,463, and delivery of those buses could occur almost anytime, bus mechanic George Davis stated Tuesday. Davis is filling in as supervisor of bus personnel since Bill Kemble resigned for health reasons. The report stated that the transportation fund will have $144,000 in it... Full story

  • Proposing a compromise on the Electoral College

    Joe Bialek|Nov 30, 2016

    The framers of the US Constitution created the Electoral College as a result of a compromise for the presidential election process. During the debate, some delegates felt that a direct popular election would lead to the election of each state’s favorite son and none would emerge with sufficient popular majority to govern the country. Other delegates felt that giving Congress the power to select the president would deny the people their right to choose. After all, the people voted for their representatives to the federal legislature. The c... Full story

  • Federal government must listen to local community on snake river dams

    Dan Newhouse Representative 4th Dist|Nov 30, 2016

    Hundreds of local residents showed up last week in Pasco for a debate that many thought had long been settled. We again find ourselves making the case that proposals to breach the Columbia and lower Snake River dams would hurt our local community, and that negative impacts would far outweigh any benefit. I attended the meeting in Pasco to add my voice in strong opposition to proposals to remove the four dams. I was one voice among many, seeing firsthand the passionate feelings on the matter. Last week’s meeting was a glaring example of the i... Full story

  • Cheap gas fueling petrochemical expansion

    Don C. Brunell|Nov 30, 2016

    In Washington, an abundance of low cost, reliable hydropower spurs economic growth. It is a key reason why energy intensive industries locate here. Today, our nation has a profusion of carbon-based energy. Unlike a decade ago when we relied upon imported natural gas and crude oil, fracking technology put us on the path to be the world’s largest producer of processed petroleum. While fracked gas and oil are a boon to America’s economy, they are a big problem for traditional oil-rich nations like Saudi Arabia and Russia. The Wall Street Jou... Full story

  • Your Story Part 1

    Jesse Utz|Nov 30, 2016

    It starts with a question. That question can be difficult for some to answer, or for others it can release the flood gates of time and you end up knowing everything about them. A simple question, “What’s your story?” can require a person to dig deep within themselves and uncover things seldom thought about, much less talked about. For others, they spew the information out like they are counting grains of sands in the desert, a task that goes on and on. So why am I bringing this up? I was recently challenged to tell my story. I was met with... Full story

  • Thirty-one years ago

    Nov 30, 2016

    Excessive snow on December 8, 1985, made it possible for artist Perry Ferguson to create this sculpture of an Indian on a horse. Assisted by Joe Kiehn, the sculpture was begun on Dec. 8 at 10:30 a.m., and finished by 11 p.m. It was near Kiehn's Pawn Shop parking lot on SR-174.... Full story

  • Jacob Fischer

    Nov 30, 2016

    Jacob Fischer died unexpectedly at age 42 last week. The 1993 graduate of Lake Roosevelt High School lived in Spokane. A service in his memory is pending. A complete obituary will follow in next week’s Star.... Full story

  • Meetings and Notices

    Nov 30, 2016

    No Chamber This Week The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will not meet this Thursday due to the upcoming Vintners and Brewers event Saturday night. Meetings will resume at noon Thursday, Dec. 8. American Legion to Meet The American Legion Post 157 holds legion meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. The next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec 12 at the Vets Center in Electric City. Democrats to Meet Okanogan County Democrat are holding a no-host luncheon and reorganization meeting at noon on Saturday, December 3, at The... Full story

  • Senior Menu

    Nov 30, 2016

    Wed., Nov. 30 – Dinner Chicken Strips, French Fries, Mixed Vegetables, Fruit Platter, Cupcakes Thurs., Dec. 1 - Dinner Italian Casserole (meat, veggies, noodles and cheese), Cauliflower, Pears, Cook’s Choice Dessert Fri., Dec 2 - Breakfast Ham and Eggs, French Toast, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice Mon., Dec. 5 - Breakfast Bacon and Eggs, Hashbrowns, Toast, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice Tues., Dec. 6 - Dinner Hot Turkey Sandwich and Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Peas and Carrots, Cranberry Salad, Flip Flop Dessert Wed., Dec. 7 - Dinner Beef Str... Full story

  • Free compost class

    Nov 30, 2016

    Learn how to compost your yard and garden waste at a free class on Thursday, December 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the Grant County Public Works public meeting room located at 124 Enterprise St. SE, Ephrata. The class will last approximately 60 minutes. After attending the class, one participant from each household will receive a free, portable compost bin. Participants do not need to pre-register to attend. Composting is a beneficial way of turning yard and garden waste into a beneficial resource that helps plants grow healthier and faster by keeping... Full story

  • Leaf pickup finished

    Nov 30, 2016

    Town crew members finish the seasonal leaf pickup Monday on Grant Avenue with Coulee Dam's mulching machine. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story

  • Pioneer calendar now for sale

    Roger S Lucas|Nov 30, 2016

    The 2017 Coulee Pioneer Museum calendar will feature pictures of the Third Powerhouse at Grand Coulee Dam, Birdie Hensley said this week. The calendar is dedicated to the men and women who worked on the project, the 50th anniversary date of which is Jan. 3, 2017, Hensley stated. Calendars are $10 and are available through Hensley, as well as membership in the museum. The calendar is full of historical dates of the overall Grand Coulee Dam project. Typical of the historic dates is the arrival of 3,000 Coulee Dam souvenir coins on January 25... Full story

  • Bids due on old school

    Roger S Lucas|Nov 30, 2016

    Bids on the sale of Center School, and property surrounding it, are due this Thursday. Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Paul Turner said that his understanding was that three parties might be bidding on the old school. But he reminded the school board Monday night that, due to a possible conflict of interest, former superintendent Dennis Carlson is handling the details of the sale. Turner had stated a month ago that he was taking himself out of the process because a relative of his had shown interest in bidding on the property.... Full story

  • Legals for November 30, 2016

    Nov 30, 2016

    Town of Elmer City Availability of 2017 Preliminary Budget and Final 2017 Budget Hearing Notice is hereby given that a Preliminary Budget for the Town of Elmer City is now available, and that the city will hold the Final 2017 Budget Hearing on December 8, 2016, at 7 p.m. at Elmer City Town Hall. All interested persons will be given the opportunity to provide written or oral comments at said meeting. Elmer City Town Hall is accessible to the handicapped. Gary Benton, Clerk/Treasurer (Publish Nov. 23 and 30, 2016) IN THE TRIBAL COURT OF THE... Full story

  • Coulee Cops

    Nov 30, 2016

    Grand Coulee Police 11/19 - A Nespelem woman will likely receive a citation from the court for having expired tabs and no insurance. She was stopped when an officer noticed the tab expiration, and she was given a few days to supply the police department with proof of insurance. Later the officer learned that the woman had posted on social media a snide remark about the traffic stop. Now she faces citations. 11/22 - A Grant County sheriff’s deputy responded to a report, along with a local officer, that a woman had been hit on the back of the hea... Full story

  • Keeping their feathers numbered

    Nov 30, 2016

    Turkeys cross a lawn in Grand Coulee, pleased to have survived another Thanksgiving. - Jacob Wagner photo... Full story