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 Star is seeking nominations for the annual Volunteer of the Year honor to be awarded to one individual who deserves to be acknowledged for their unselfish efforts to help others or the community. To nominate someone you think is deserving of the recognition, write a letter of nomination, detailing how your nominee volunteers. Include names and contact information of more people who know about your nominees activities. Send letters of nomination via email to star@grandcoulee.com with the subject line Volunteer of the Year. Or mail letters...
Hospital District Commissioner Jerry Kennedy said Monday that a commission meeting that had been scheduled for Dec. 18 has been rescheduled for Dec. 26. Kennedy said the commission discovered that a regular monthly meeting can only be rescheduled during a regularly scheduled meeting, but the Dec. 18 change had been made during a special meeting last month. The commissions bylaws require the meeting to take place on the next business day, which is Dec. 26. Kennedy, who sits on three committees formed to respond to community concerns, said those...
With a line of kids and parents waiting to see Santa in the background, three girls sing out a Christmas song at the annual library lighting night Thursday at the Grand Coulee Library. Taylor Burns, with arms outstretched, Janell Denchel, to her left and Uriah Morse to her right, finish up the tune to the delight of several smaller children. More photos are available at grandcoulee.com. - Scott Hunter photo...
A small group of parents with concerns about bullying, buses and more met Monday night to discuss ways to help the local school district improve. But if response to a posting on The Star’s Facebook page is an indication, the issues are a hot button item with much of the community. The meeting at the Grand Coulee Fire Hall, facilitated by parent Heather Downs, drew eight including Downs, plus Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Dennis Carlson, who attended to listen. The parents attending have a total of 15 children in the d...
A Wellpinit man escaped serious injury when his semi truck with double trailers, laden with dry cement, crashed at the bottom of the Coulee Dam hill about 9 a.m. last Wednesday morning, Dec. 4. Darwin L. Newport, 51, said his truck brakes, fully engaged, failed, and he turned into the left powerhouse access road, just below the Visitor Center at Grand Coulee Dam, to avoid hitting other vehicles ahead of him on highway 155. Newport was taken by ambulance to Coulee Medical Center and was released...
Early day postal notes were collected by Birdie Hensley from a book donated to the Coulee Pioneer Museum from Ron Rinker. The book tells the history of many of the post offices in Douglas County. One, the Barry post office, was located seven miles north of Coulee Dam on the west shore of the Columbia River, its final location. The original location was a small store about three miles southwest of the final location, and established Aug, 31, 1887. The first postmaster was Mrs. Alba J. Barry. In the early days, mail came from Wilbur three times a...
Very early deadline for newspaper The Star Newspaper will publish early for the two holiday dates, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. News copy for the Dec. 25 issue needs to be turned in by noon Friday, Dec. 20; and news copy for the Jan. 1 issue needs to be in the Star office by noon Friday, Dec. 27. Golf course input needed Port District 7 commissioners have called a community meeting for 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 12, to discuss and get input on what improvements people would like to see for Banks Lake Golf Course. Commissioners are planning to apply for a gr...
George Kohout was elected to his third term as president of the Ridge Riders at a meeting last Wednesday night. Other officers named were Bubba Egbert, vice president; Monty Fields, treasurer; Debbi Achord, secretary; and trustees Janet Doughty, Ryan Poe and Marlene Poe. Janet O'Neil is chairperson for the Colorama Rodeo. Highlights of the coming year include a sweater party in January, the group's third annual banquet and auction on March 22; the annual riding clinic in the spring with...
Shane Proctor stands in fifth place at the National Finals Rodeo in the Las Vegas Thomas and Mack Center. Proctor, a 2003 graduate of Lake Roosevelt High School and former world champion bull rider, turned in winning scores in the first two go-rounds, pocketing $18,629.81 each night and was the front runner going into Saturday’s round. Last Thursday, Proctor scored 89 points on News Flash for top money and on Friday scored 89 on Squirrel Grove. But the Grand Coulee cowboy, now out of North Carolina, ran into a “Wicked” bull. “Wicked” had his w...
Firefighters responded to a vehicle fire about 5:15 p.m. Sunday when they found a four-door Saturn engulfed in flames. Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Chief Richard Paris said the fire was put out with water, but with the temperature about 12 degrees, it caused icy conditions on the roadway. The vehicle, owned and driven by Bill Brown, was located at E Street and SR-174. The Washington State Department of Transportation sanded the slick roadway so the area wouldn’t be a hazard to other motorists. Paris stated that the car would be a total loss a...
The Colville Tribal Federal Corporation was named the William D. Bradford Minority Business of the Year on Thursday night at the 2013 UW Minority Business of the Year Awards ceremony. “We are honored to receive this prestigious award that speaks to the significant turnaround of our organization over the last couple years,” CEO Joe Pakootas said in a company press release. “We’ve worked hard to focus on tribal businesses both large and small that can create additional revenue for the Tribe and community. We have a vision for the future of grea...
There have been several articles in the newspaper lately about Coulee Medical Center, and I feel it is time for me to voice my concerns. We all are expected to choose a primary health care provider. That health care provider gets to know you as a person and knows your medical history. When a health issue arises you shouldn’t have to wait a month or more to get in to see your primary care provider. If you end up seeing someone else, they usually know nothing about you or your medical history. We need more health care providers, not less, in o...
The people of this small town will support our providers and our hospital with everything we have. This whole administration is a problem. We have chosen to live in a small town and raise our children. We are a community. I am proud to say I have the best provider in the world for my family. I have never been taken better care of, and I have been to the big city, as well, and no one knows us like Wendy Hughes. So please, all of you who care about our hospital, take your stand, be at the next board meeting. Tell the board and this...
After reading the article on Dr. Chaffee regarding the turmoil at Coulee Medical Center, I must say I agree with his comments. As a past employee, I left on my own due to actions from the HR Dept. manager and executive assistant. I have never worked anywhere in my career that was so demoralizing. It was as if every corner you turned you had to be careful. From one day to the next you never knew who would be escorted out of the building or if you would even have a job. The entire administration should be held responsible for all unkind actions...
I would like to thank David Noggles on his (letter to the editor) in the December 4 issue. I first heard about the CMC issues on the November 27 issue and the “red flags” started going up when I heard the three words: “just in time” when tied to “inventory.” I would also assume that since the CMC has adopted the Virginia Mason management style, that management is using similar measuring tools for such things as “performance or productivity” (more red flags). When I worked over on the “wet side” for a large well known aerospace firm, we...
If not for Dr. Castrodale and Dr. Chaffee, I wouldn't have a family as I do today. … Back in the mid ’90s, Castrodale found a problem with my daughter no other doctor had found. If not for him, my daughter would not be here today. Between them they have delivered six beautiful grandchildren for me, and I will go to my grave always being thankful for them. Wendy Hughes has been my personal lifesaver these last few years. Without her and her listening to me and helping me deal with issues, I doubt if I'd still be here to enjoy these kids and gra...
I have been following your CMC articles with great concern. I do not know Mr. Graham. I do know Dr. Castrodale. He has been my doctor since I moved here in 1997. He is awesome! I also know that Mr. Graham won’t be the one to save my life should I have a medical emergency. This community needs to rally around our medical staff at CMC. We have some amazing doctors and great back-up staff. It should be a no-brainer. Good doctors and staff are hard to get. Administrators are much easier to replace. In my point of view, we need an administrator w...
There was a storm blowing. Bitter coldness caused the frost on his beard to freeze in a crust of ice. She rode, but felt the cold worse than he. She was wrapped in a big blanket and kept her head covered but it kept out nothing. The wind cut through like a knife and her tears were now frozen to her face. He kept pulling the mule forward, but even the animal had better sense than to be out in this horrid weather. They had gone too far now, the man thought, there is now way we can stop now. He...
Lucy A. Stanczak, 68, born November 10, 1945, in Nespelem, Washington, to Chester and Cecelia Covington-Clark Sr., died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013, surrounded by family in Spokane, Washington. On June 10, 1966, Lucy married Lyle Jack “Whitey” Stanczak Sr. in California. Everyone knew Lucy loved her Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in which she was intimately involved in all aspects of church ministry, particularly the pilgrimages. Aside from her church activities, Lucy worked as a van driver, electrician and grew trees at the tribal greenhouse. Luc...
Chamber to Meet The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet at noon this Thursday at Pepper Jack’s Bar & Grille. Vinters & Brewers recap is on the agenda. Eagles #2577 Meetings The Auxiliary meets the first and third Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m., during the winter months. Next meeting is the Christmas party potluck and gift exchange on Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. The Last Chance Bazaar and Lunch is scheduled for Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To reserve a free table call Margie at 633-3443. The Eagles #2577 Aerie meets on the second and f...
A girl chats with Santa at the Grand Coulee Library lighting celebration Thursday night. The event packed the facility with kids and other patrons, who came for Santa, punch and cookies and door prizes. - Scott Hunter photo...
Senior Meals Wed., Dec. 11 - Birthday and Christmas Dinner. Ham, Cheesy Potatoes, Scalloped Corn, Fruit Salad, Roll. POTLUCK DESSERT Thurs., Dec. 12 - Dinner Split Pea Soup with Ham, Egg Salad Sandwich, Mixed Green Salad, Fruit Crisp. Fri., Dec. 13 - Breakfast Biscuit & Sausage Gravy, Eggs, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice. Senior Center General Meeting, 10 a.m. Mon., Dec. 16 - Breakfast Ham Slices, Eggs, French Toast, Pears, Orange Juice. Tues., Dec. 17 - Dinner Taco Salad, Veggie Salad Bar, Sour Cream, Salsa, Chips, Fruited Cupcakes. Wed., Dec. 18 -...
The Raider boys are 1-1 with a win over Omak and a better start than the Raiders had in their first two games last season. "Our confidence in ourselves playing together is very high, and our team chemistry is gelling faster than expected," Head Coach Matt Simpson said. In their jamboree Dec. 3, the Raiders played the Eagles of Soap Lake and the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors. Against Soap Lake, the Raiders played hard using a nine-man rotation to keep up the effort and to experiment with...
Raider wrestlers started their season Dec. 5 at the Okanogan Jamboree. They wrestled against many area schools, with all nine Raiders wrestling in three matches apiece. Most came away with two wins, but James Monaghan swept the field, winning all three of his matches. The Raiders took the same nine wrestlers to Davenport for the 23rd Annual Davenport Invitational Dec. 7. LR tied with Freeman for seventh overall in the tournament at 77 points. Kittitas took first with 123 team points. LR had...
The Lady Raiders opened the 2013-14 season with three nights of contests. LR suffered two injuries and two losses to old rivals Omak and Okanogan on back-to-back nights. The Lady Raiders played Bridgeport and Almira/Coulee-Hartline in the Dec. 3 Lake Roosevelt Jamboree. LR defeated the Fillies 17-14 and the Warriors by two. Against Bridgeport, Katelynn Schilling fell to the floor with a knee injury. The crowd fell silent until she was assisted back to the bench by Head Coach Wallace Pleasants...