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Articles from the December 8, 2021 edition


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  • Art finds its way

    Dec 8, 2021

    Santana Titla paints in a Pueblo style at the holiday bazaar at Lake Roosevelt Schools Saturday, where shoppers found plenty to take home from many vendors. Titla just moved to the community in November from New Mexico to take a position with the Colville Tribes. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • School investigates alleged threat

    Dec 8, 2021

    Lake Roosevelt Schools are investigating a threat allegedly made by a student. Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Paul Turner sent a statement about the incident at 8:05 a.m. this morning, Dec. 9. "In the evening of December 8th GCDSD administration was made aware of an alleged threat of violence towards Lake Roosevelt schools from a student," the statement reads. "An investigation, including law enforcement, was started immediately. The district was able to identify the student in question and the student will not be at school...

  • Coulee Dam carjacker gets over eight years

    Dec 8, 2021

    A man who stole a car at gunpoint from a Coulee Dam resident in 2020 was sentenced to 107 months in prison by a federal judge last week. Kyle Steven Scott Cate, 30, a member of the Colville Tribes had pleaded guilty earlier this year to two federal indictments. According to court documents, on April 30, 2020, at 2:30 a.m., Cate began banging on the door of a residence located in Coulee Dam, Washington, on the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Cate’s victim, who also is an enrolled member of the Colville Tribes, came to the d...

  • Vintners and Brewers Auction raises $10k

    Jacob Wagner|Dec 8, 2021

    The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce raised $10,000 last Saturday in their annual Vintners & Brewers Auction. "This year's Vintners & Brewers Auction went well!" said Rachelle Haven, executive director for the chamber. "Thanks to our generous community, we raised $10,000! We couldn't be more grateful to our donors and community members for all their support in this event. Without them, we wouldn't be able to continue our efforts in year-round festivals. We so look forward to getting...

  • Delano Regional Transfer Station rate increase of 33% looks likely

    Jacob Wagner|Dec 8, 2021

    After much ado, the city of Grand Coulee has agreed to raise rates 33% at the Delano Regional Transfer Station to keep that facility from losing money, which makes the raise look likely. The transfer station, which is shared by Electric City, Grand Coulee, Coulee Dam, and Elmer City, had been on track to lose roughly $150,000 a year as detailed in last week’s Star article titled “Transfer station needs to raise rates to stay out of the red.” The loss in money results mostly from a 71% increase in rates at the county landfill in Ephrata where...

  • City approves vaccination incentive pay

    Scott Hunter|Dec 8, 2021

    Coulee Dam’s town council approved a policy Thursday that full-time employees will be paid a $1,500 incentive payment for proof they’ve been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Part-time employees will receive a $100 payment. The written policy was presented as Resolution No. 2021-07 at a special online council meeting held specifically for that purpose alone after the council had requested it at a special meeting Nov. 29. City attorney Mick Howe had it prepared and ready by Thursday. The city plans to use some of...

  • Grant County reports 27 more dead of Covid in October and November

    Dec 8, 2021

    Grant County reported an additional 27 COVID-19 deaths in the county occurring from October to November in a Dec. 1 update, including one man from Grand Coulee in his 70s. The deaths include 16 unvaccinated people, 10 fully vaccinated, and one partially vaccinated person. Of the 27 who died, 24 had underlying medical conditions. Grant County’s last announcement of covid deaths came on Oct. 13, but Grant County Health District Public Information Officer Misty Aguilar explained to The Star that the newly announced deaths could have occurred p...

  • Ephrata man injured in wreck

    Scott Hunter|Dec 8, 2021

    A 46-year-old Ephrata man was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle Friday after the car he was in crashed and burned about 8 miles north of US 2 on SR-155 along Banks Lake. The Washington State Patrol reported that Joshua J. Bessette, 46, had been driving north just after 7 a.m. when the 2008 Honda CR-V left the roadway to the right, struck a rock bank and rolled. The Honda ended up in the ditch on the east side of the highway, where it caught fire “as a result of the collision,” the WSP report states. Bessette was first taken to Cou...

  • Raiders looking for volunteers at home sports events

    Dec 8, 2021

    The Lake Roosevelt Raiders need volunteer workers for home events. In his weekly sports update, Athletic Director Tim Rasmussen said that “for home basketball games we are looking for score clock, shot clock and score book help.” “Also, if you are interested in being a greeter and welcoming our fans to our events, while making sure those that attend know our indoor guidance for covid protocols, please let me know.” Those interested can reach Rasmussen at the school at 509-633-1442....

  • Why progress is hard for this community

    Scott Hunter|Dec 8, 2021
    1

    The current runaround faced by the local Regional Board of Mayors points to a structural problem we’ve tried to work around before and failed. The RBOM, itself, was created as an end run around the reality that this is a community split by municipal boundaries drawn in a time when they may have made perfect sense but no longer do. That group of four mayors was formed so we could have and operate a landfill, with all four towns paying their fair share. It has worked for decades and might possibly work for decades more. But not well, and with f...

  • Never turn a good job down

    Roger S. Lucas|Dec 8, 2021

    I never could understand why a person in good health would choose not to work. Several times, as early as high school, I had more than one job at a time.There was a period in my junior and senior years in high school in Palouse when I had three jobs at the same time. It started by being fast at peeling potatoes at the Oasis Restaurant. A week later, the evening fry cook didn’t show up and I was made the fry cook. I already had a job six days a week running Darigold milk products to the door. Shorty Ransom was my boss, and we delivered to S...

  • Study: June's heatwave was part of a bigger trend

    Bob Valen|Dec 8, 2021

    Several interesting research efforts have provided findings about our atmosphere and its content. Here are two that I found to be noteworthy and wanted to share them here. Just last month the Journal of Climate published the work of five climate scientists. Their work addressed historic Northern Hemisphere large concurrent heatwaves driven by changing atmospheric circulations. Remember the heatwave we witnessed in June 2021? Our new all-time high temperature for that month is now at 112˚F. Up...

  • America's recovery hinges on people returning to work

    Don C. Brunell|Dec 8, 2021

    To “Build Back America” people must return to work! In a U.S. Chamber of Commerce poll released in early December, the findings spell trouble for America’s employers whether they are in the private or public sectors. It found that over 60 percent of the respondents are in no hurry to return to work and over a third of the unemployed are not actively going after a job or looking at all. The problem is growing worse. A large number of respondents feel they can get by for at least another six months before they have to find employment. The surve...

  • Laura Ann Baker-Knighten

    Dec 8, 2021

    Laura Ann Baker-Knighten, 76, lifelong resident of the Grand Coulee, Washington area, passed away at her daughter's home in Okanogan, Washington. She was surrounded by family for several weeks leading up to her passing in the early morning hours of Tuesday, November 23, 2021. Laura was born Monday, July 23, 1945, in Grand Coulee, Washington to Melvin Baker and Mae Kolkman. Laura graduated from Grand Coulee High School, Class of 1963. On Saturday September 6, 1980, Laura married the love of her...

  • Meetings & Notices

    Dec 8, 2021

    Grant County Fire Dist. 14 to Meet Grant County Fire District #14 will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday, December 20,2021 instead of Monday, December 27, 2021 at 7:00 pm at the Electric City Fire Station due to the holidays. Food Bank to Hand Out Christmas Food Care & Share food bank will be handing out Christmas food on Dec 17, 12-3, and closed on Dec 24 & 31. Care & Share Food Bank is open Fridays from 1-3 p.m., for drive-through service. Please wear a mask. AA Meetings for GCD and Nespelem Area Confused in the Coulee AA meetings...

  • More than 40 state parks will offer First Day Hikes

    Dec 8, 2021

    OLYMPIA – Dec. 6, 2021 - Washington State Parks invites the public to take a First Day Hike on Jan. 1, 2022. At least 42 state parks have scheduled staff-led hikes, self-guided hikes, dog strolls, cross-country ski trips and more for New Year’s Day. State parks in every part of Washington will host free, family-friendly activities. Jan. 1 marks the first free day of 2022. Visitors won’t need a Discover Pass to park on state recreation lands. First Day Hikes will range in difficulty from paved, flat ADA-accessible trails to moderate hill climb...

  • Coulee Cops

    Dec 8, 2021

    Grand Coulee 12/1 - Police killed an injured deer on SR-174 near milepost 20. A nearby citizen was allowed to “harvest” the animal. - Police responded to Silver Drive on a report of animal cruelty. Police spoke to a man who showed playful, healthy puppies to police. He said he disciplines the dogs but doesn’t beat or abuse them. Police didn’t see any signs of abuse. - A screen had been pried loose from an apartment door on Hill Avenue to gain access. The resident reported missing about $300 and a gold necklace. She named a possible suspect who...

  • Still time to make a child's Christmas

    Dec 8, 2021

    The Trees of Sharing are now out in area businesses. The schedule is: Now – December 11: Trees decorated with ornament tags with children’s wishes will be available at North Cascades Bank, Safeway Pharmacy, Spokane Teachers Credit Union, and Harvest Foods until December 11. Please pick up a tag & fill the wish. Monday, December 13: (Very important date!) All gifts, wrapped and with tags attached to the outside of the package, need to be returned to a ‘Tree’ location so they can be organized for delivery. Saturday, December 18, 10:00 – 11:00...

  • Raiders wrestle their way to victory

    Jacob Wagner|Dec 8, 2021

    Raider wrestlers placed first as a team at the Davenport Tournament Dec. 4 when they garnered 262 points, the most out of nine teams, with Reardan placing second with 180.5 points. “We did really well as a team, only losing a few matches all day,” Head Coach Billy Monroe said. Five Lake Roosevelt wrestlers placed first including: Roger Cate, who placed first wrestling in the 113-pound division; Colton Jackson, who placed first at 126; Francis Louis who placed first at 145; Landon Krohn, who placed first at 170; Sergio Galicia, who placed fir...

  • Boys beat Indians in season opener

    Jacob Wagner|Dec 8, 2021

    The Raiders played a tight game with the Reardan Indians Dec. 4 in Coulee Dam, and emerged the victor. LR led 20-13 at the end of the first quarter, but Reardan came back, outscoring LR 16-9 in the second quarter to lead LR 30-29 at the end of the first half. LR found their rhythm again in the second half, winning the game with a 64-57 final. "We made a few adjustments at halftime," Head Coach Jeremy Crollard said. "We put Chase Clark on their post player who was hurting us. Chase darted him...

  • Lady Raiders overpower Reardan

    Jacob Wagner|Dec 8, 2021

    Off to a great start, the Lady Raiders basketball team won their 2021-2022 season opener Saturday at home against Reardan, 50-30. LR led 10-8 at the end of the first quarter, then 25-15 at the end of the half. They continued to dominate in the second half, leading 41-22 at the end of the third, and finishing the game with the 50-30 final score. LR's defense held Reardan to only 15 points in both halves. "First game of the season is always an interesting one, dealing with nerves, trying to find...

  • LR students compete at Knowledge Bowl

    Dec 8, 2021

    Lake Roosevelt Knowledge Bowl participants competed Monday at a meet at Okanogan. With nine schools competing, the team managed to keep a fifth-place ranking for two rounds, but dropped to eighth place after an incredibly tough set of questions in the final round, reported advisor and language arts teacher Pam Johnson. Team members, led by captain Lucy Budravage, came up with answers ranging from “derivatives” to “Miley Cyrus” and from “vectors” to “myoglobin.” The team is rounded out by members Peyton Robison, Virgil Bearcub, and Kailah Lead...

  • Legals for December 8, 2021

    Dec 8, 2021

    Grant County Port District No. 7 NOTICE OF SURPLUS SALE Grant County Port District No. 7 has declared land and personal property as surplus to the needs of the Port District and is interested in receiving expressions of interest from interested buyers. Anyone can obtain a copy of the Resolution declaring assets as surplus, including a complete description of assets available for purchase, by contacting: Grant County Port District No,7, P. O. Box 616, Grand Coulee, WA 99133 or portdistrict7@gmail.com. A general description of the property is...