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 body of Jamie Marie Breckenridge, 42, who had been missing since Jan. 8, was found Sunday afternoon, about a quarter of a mile from where she was last seen. The woman was found near W. Grand Coulee Avenue by a friend of a resident who lives nearby and reported to police shortly after 3 p.m. The last known contact anyone had was when Breckenridge was seen near Four Corners and stated she planned to leave the area and go to Snohomish. There has been a statewide missing persons alert out since... Full story
For Rod Desjardins, making pizzas is more than a job, it’s a way of life. His “Hometown Pizza” restaurant was honored last Thursday by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce as the local “Business of the Year.” Desjardins’ first job as a teenager was in a Seattle area pizza parlor, and he’s been at it nearly ever since. Always modest, Desjardins lays the firm’s success and last Thursday’s honors directly at the feet of his employees. “They are the ones being honored,” he said.... Full story
The chamber’s own president, Scott Hunter, was named “Achiever of the Year” during a special luncheon last Thursday. Annually, the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce names both a “Business of the Year” and an “Achiever of the Year” at its annual meeting. Hometown Pizza was named “Business of the Year.” Hunter, president of the chamber, and owner and publisher of The Star newspaper, was honored for his many “behind the scenes” contributions he makes to the community the chamber serves, S... Full story
The Ridge Riders got $4,000 support from Coulee Dam Town Council Wednesday night. The council had budgeted a total of $1,500 for the Ridge Riders from the town’s hotel/motel tax fund but upped it $2,500 after George Kohout and Kathy Baty appeared to outline the group’s plans for the year. The town had originally set aside funds for an entrance sign, only to learn that they couldn’t use hotel/motel money for that, and then shifted enough of that budget item to make up the difference for the Ridge Riders. Before Kohout could finish his prese... Full story
A grant-funded study will determine the feasibility of each aspect of a community/wellness center for the region following the award of a contract to Gary Leva, director of the Benewah Wellness Center in Plummer, Idaho and principal at the Gary Consulting Group in Spokane. Leva was instrumental in the formation of the community center serving the Plummer, Idaho area and several others. Last summer, a steering committee rekindled a three-year-old effort to establish a community/wellness center in the area. Self-named the Coulee Region Community... Full story
Legislators to hold telephone town hall meeting Feb. 16 State Sen. Linda Evans Parlette and Reps. Cary Condotta and Mike Armstrong are inviting residents of the 12th Legislative District to participate in a telephone town hall meeting to hear from their legislators and ask questions about the 2012 legislative session. The event will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16. Residents can call in and participate in the community dialogue from the comfort of their own homes by dialing 1-877-229-8493 and entering the numbers 15405,... Full story
Bonneville Power Administration, Bureau of Reclamation and contractor representatives from Wilson Construction company will hold a public meeting, Thursday, Feb. 16, from 4-7 p.m. to inform the public on construction details for the new powerlines from Grand Coulee Dam’s Third Power Plant. Replacing lines that take an underground route now, the 500-kilovolt power line project will take power through overhead lines, past the Visitor Center and up to the switch yards and on to the regional power grid. Construction activities began last week, BPA... Full story
Greg Wilder and Coulee Dam Mayor Quincy Snow had a heated exchange at the town council meeting last Wednesday night. Wilder appeared to ask why the town hasn’t replied to his letter request of Oct. 10, 2011, for water service to a property he owns on 803 Yucca. Wilder asked why he couldn’t receive the same service offered to residents on the west side of the river, a request he has been pressing for sometime. At one point Snow asked Wilder to sit down and got this reply: “You can be smug all you want, I have to put up with you.” In his letter... Full story
Michael Williams cleans a sink at The Star newspaper, where he works two hours a week under supervision provided through a state program. The State Senate passed Senate Bill 6384 last week, a measure that would help people with disabilities find and retain jobs. Sen. Linda y Evans Parlette’s proposal would reinforce Washington’s employment-first policy for people with disabilities. The measure is now before the House of Representatives. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Coulee Area Park and Recreation District commissioners heard a proposal to use North Dam Park as a venue for a regional karaoke contest this summer. Electric City Mayor Jerry Sands proposed a contest over three monthly events, culminating in a Sept. 1 grand finale with cash prizes awarded in a “Coulee Idol” contest. “I’m for pursuing it,” CAPRD Chairman Phil Hansen said. The commissioners agreed, voting to “look into it.” In other business, commissioners discussed a timeline for determing a contractor to maintain North Dam Park this summer.... Full story
All you wannabe cowboys and cowgirls, here’s your chance. Organize and become part of the Ridge Riders Ranch Rodeo activity this season. The Ridge Riders hope to tap in to a regional ranch rodeo network where teams of four -- three men and one woman -- compete in a variety of typical real ranch skills. If it all fits together, local rancher Bubba Egbert says, competition would go on from Tonasket to Republic and Winthrop to Grand Coulee. Grand Coulee has two dates on the circuit, June 30 and (tentatively) Sept. 22. Anyone can put a team t... Full story
The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $1.5 million contract to modernize two existing passenger/freight elevators in the Third Power Plant at Grand Coulee Dam. Thyssenkrupp Elevator Corporation, Spokane Valley, Wash., was awarded the contract on Feb. 1. The contract was announced Tuesday. Work involves modernizing the two existing elevators. “This upgrade will ensure the safety of our employees while also keeping vital equipment in premium working order during the Third Powerplant Overhaul Project,” said Mark Jenson, Grand Coulee Project man... Full story
By Feb. 19, The Star’s online readers fill find a new website with better features and a cleaner interface with bigger photos and easier ways to get around the site. A month later, full access to the site will require a subscription. Stories will all be available online, as opposed to just most newspaper stories now. And online readers will discover new features we haven’t been able to smoothly integrate into the old site. I’ll spare you the technical details, but the new site will allow us to better integrate experience-completing featu... Full story
A number of months ago I requested water service for the home I’m building on Yucca Drive in Coulee Dam. I requested the same level of service as enjoyed by the town’s folks that live on the west side of the river. I received no answer, so a few weeks ago I made the request again, this time more officially - registered mail, return receipt, and such. The envelope looked very important and impressive … and it worked! The town clerk and Quincy Snow, decided that the council should resolve the matter; in the end, they didn’t, but I left with a pro... Full story
While we appreciate the coverage of our recent presentation to the Chamber of Commerce on the legislation that could adversely affect the financial well-being of our hospital, we feel it appropriate to respond to those in our community who have expressed concerns that closure of the hospital is imminent. Recently, House Bill 2130 was introduced into the legislature but no action has been taken to date. Therefore, we are in no immediate danger of the hospital closing. The point of our presentation was to ask for our community’s support in c... Full story
Grand Coulee Dam Senior Nutrition Program is a program funded primarily by Aging and Adult Care of Central Washington. Two senior center sites are included in this program. They are Grand Coulee Senior Center and Coulee City Senior Center. Both sites provide meals for seniors, either in the senior centers (congregate) or home delivery (Meals on Wheels). Grand Coulee serves breakfast on Monday and Friday, supper on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Coulee City serves lunch Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The suggested donation for... Full story
To the many members of our community, the Grand Coulee Dam Lions Club thanks you for your support with donations and attendance to the Valentine’s breakfast. Your support provides many services to our community. Dick Riehl fund raising raffle chairman... Full story
Energy policy in the United States is more a political game than a serious public discussion. The newest incarnation of energy policy-by-advertising-campaigns is the Clean Energy Standard, supported by the President and various members of Congress. You really have to suspend reality once you head down the CES route. The premise is that we need all energy technologies to meet our electric demand, regardless of risk to the public pocketbook or to the public health. It includes the oxymoron of clean coal and cheap, safe nuclear power. There is sim... Full story
Ten Years Ago All of the details have beeen arranged for the first “Balde” Eagle Festival, which will take place this Saturday. Fixing the hillside below Coulee Community Hospital cost the city of Grand Coulee at least $120,933 more than originally expected. Eric and Misty Braaten of Electric City are the proud parents of Logan Briggs “Deuce” Braaten born 02/02/02 at Coulee Community Hospital. He weighed 9 lbs., 2 oz. and was 21-1/2 inches in length at birth. The Raider boys’ basketball team will open District 6 Tournament action in Chelan Th... Full story
Jamie Marie Breckenridge, 42, was born in Corona, Calif., on September 15, 1969, the daughter of Paul and Carol Landers and passed away in Grand Coulee, Washington. Always outgoing, Jamie loved hanging out and having fun with family and friends, Jamie was very spontaneous; you never knew what she would do next. As a child, Jamie enjoyed her horses, and throughout her life there was almost always a pampered dog or cat in her home. Jamie loved the out of doors, whether at the beach or hiking... Full story
William (Bud) Lee Hertenstein Sr., entered into rest unexpectedly Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. He was born March 1, 1930, in Rush City, Minn., the youngest child of 16 born to John and Agnes Hertenstein. His father passed away suddenly after suffering a stroke when Bill was two years old. Bill spent his early years in Minnesota on the family farm and fishing from the banks of Rush Lake and Rush Creek. When he was a young man he moved to Othello, Wash., to work on the Columbia Basin Irrigation... Full story
Margaret Mary Harmon passed away Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. She was born to Ludwig and Anna (Bieker) Berning on September 3, 1927, in Topeka, Kan., into a family of 11. Margaret worked as a seamstress most of her adult life which she loved doing. She collected mini shadow boxes, and loved making doll houses. Margaret’s favorite color was red; she enjoyed watching hummingbirds, doing word search puzzles and taking pictures. Margaret leaves behind her beloved family, t... Full story
Brother and son Anthony (Tony) Fancher, age 50, of Wilbur, went on to his next journey passing away of heart failure peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. Tony was born to Bobby D. Fancher (deceased) and Virginia (Fancher) Canterbury on June 13, 1961. Tony graduated from Lake Roosevelt High School 1979 and Bates Technical College, Tacoma, Wash., in 2000. Tony struggled with various heart problems for many years but he never... Full story
“Grandma Alyce” R. Williams, 86, born in Plains Center, S.D., on February 2, 1926, to Eugene and Julia (Busch) Highrock, passed away surrounded by her family in Spokane, Wash. ,on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. Grandma Alyce was proud of her heritage as a member of the Yankton Sioux Nation, sharing her ancestors’ songs and dances with her children. Her greatest love was spending time with family, not just her own, but the many-many others whom she welcomed with open arms and who also called her “Gran... Full story
Long time area resident Thelma Thurston died February 5 of age-related causes in Eugene, Ore. She was 94 years old. Thelma was born on December 3, 1917, in Delrio, Wash., to Garnet and Wesley Rinker. She grew up on the family ranch, becoming a fearless and skilled horsewoman. With her uncle Sam Rinker’s encouragement, Thelma often jockeyed his horses in local races. She graduated from Wenatchee High School in 1935 and then went on to Spokane to graduate from Morris School of Beauty and C... Full story