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Articles from the December 16, 2020 edition


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  • Colville Tribes enforcing public health rules

    Dec 16, 2020

    Public safety laws on the Colville Reservation will be strictly enforced during the current spike in COVID-19 cases, the Colville Tribes says, including with possible fines and jail time. “The Tribal Health Department is issuing specific orders to infected or exposed people, which are intended to control the spread of the disease,” a Dec. 9 press release from the Colville Tribes says. “These orders may be for an individual to quarantine or isolate and avoid all contact with others. Any violation of a Tribal Health order is a criminal Class... Full story

  • Covid case stats in local counties reported

    Dec 16, 2020

    COVID rates are still high in local counties and the state as a whole, with the state reporting over 35,000 cases in the past 14 days. In local counties, cases among those in the 20-40 age range far outnumber any other age group. As of Dec. 15: Grant County had reported 6,035 total COVID-19 cases, 103 reported just Tuesday. The total includes 65 deaths, 11 of those in the past week. There have been 22 cases in the Grand Coulee Dam area and 29 in the Coulee City area, up six in the past week. The county has had 973 cases in the prior 14 days... Full story

  • All dressed up

    Dec 16, 2020

    A car blurred by a long exposure drives past Coulee Dam's holiday-decorated Douglas Park at the foot of Douglas Street, which leads to city hall. Lighted candy cane ornaments adorn light poles all the way up the street, with this view showing the last one across from the park. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • Community donates a ton of food

    Jacob Wagner|Dec 16, 2020

    Efforts from local scouts to collect food donations from the community last week brought in over 2,000 pounds of food to the Care and Share Food Bank. Carole Nordine, who manages the food bank, said they received lots of mac and cheese, soups, and fruits and vegetables. She felt that this year’s haul from the annual event seemed better than in previous years. “It was awesome!” she said. Combined with the foods already there, the donations brought in from the girls and boys in local Scouts BSA troops will last through about March, Nordine said....

  • Potential North Dam Park improvements discussed

    Jacob Wagner|Dec 16, 2020

    Would you like it if North Dam Park had new tennis courts, lighted ball fields, new playground equipment, and more flowers? We want to know. Commissioners for The Coulee Area Parks and Recreation District last week discussed improvements that could be made at North Dam Park, which it manages. The improvements could potentially be paid for, at least in part, with money from various grants. The commissioners at their Dec. 9 meeting agreed to each look into various estimates for certain improvements to gain firmer cost ideas for any grant writing... Full story

  • School board chairman talks about education

    Jacob Wagner|Dec 16, 2020

    Education looks far different today than when George LaPlace was in school, and he thinks its future is likely to see more amazing changes even though funding inequities currently in place still need work. LaPlace has served as a school board director in the Grand Coulee Dam School District Board of Directors since the 2014-15 school year. As chairman since January of this year, he answered questions from The Star over email covering topics ranging from the role of the board, education during...

  • Bearly themed

    Dec 16, 2020

    Three bears are depicted in holiday lights originally purchased by local businesses in the 1990s gleam along SR-155 near Coulee Playland. Now dispersed across the community, the holiday lighting scenes once adorned local parks and businesses after private investments in the project led by the late Gary Reit, then owner of the Coulee House Motel. The accordion player on the left and the fiddle player on the right were part of a band with several instrument players. The bear baring gifts in the...

  • Uninformed opinion on public health should qualify chairman to resign

    Isabelle Spohn|Dec 16, 2020

    If your family member or loved one is employed by Okanogan County, I would be seriously concerned due to: The attitude of County Commissioner DeTro, chairman of the Board of Commissioners and Board of Health. Recent positive Covid tests of 11 inmates and four staff, along with 23 exposures at the county jail (not to mention 16 recently confirmed Covid-related deaths at North Valley Extended Care.) On Dec. 7, 2:21 p.m., the County Planning Department supervisor expressed her employees’ distress due to a recent unidentified positive test in t...

  • I survived COVID, but are we making the cure worse than the disease?

    Tom Dent|Dec 16, 2020

    On Feb. 29, Gov. Jay Inslee proclaimed a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 coronavirus. With this being an unknown and highly contagious virus, most folks agreed with his precautionary measures. His reasoning was to protect and not overwhelm the health care system and keep our people alive and healthy. He shut down most of our economy, allowing only “essential” businesses to operate and told everyone to stay home and protect themselves. Unfortunately, we are once again dealing with shutdowns and restrictions as our businesses and many of...

  • All with a little help

    Roger S. Lucas|Dec 16, 2020

    Ever think of the influence others have had in your life? When I went to college, I had no idea or hope that I would become a journalist. I took a college course in journalism, mainly so I could learn to write. Things went well, and my journalism professor, Helen Wilson, encouraged me to take a follow-up course. Late in my sophomore year I got a call from Jack Scudder, editor of the local daily paper to drop by for a visit. Wilson had encouraged Scudder to hire me to write for the paper. I had become editor of the college paper and had written...

  • Renewable hydrogen demonstrates our region's continued clean energy leadership

    Brad Hawkins, 12th District state senator|Dec 16, 2020

    Back in 2019, I partnered with Douglas County PUD to sponsor and pass a bill authorizing Public Utility Districts to produce and sell renewable hydrogen. Hydrogen is a gas that can be created from a process that uses electricity to separate hydrogen and oxygen molecules in water. I worked closely that year with Douglas County PUD because of their interest in using surplus hydropower to produce hydrogen. The bill’s passage allows for the production and sale of “renewable hydrogen,” which is defined as hydrogen created from an emissions-free elec...

  • "Rapid" Robert "Bob" Pachosa 1942-2020

    Dec 16, 2020

    Bob passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, in his residence on Sunday, December 13, 2020. On Saturday, December 19, 2020, Bob’s family will be available from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a “Drive Through” Meet and Greet with viewing at Spring Canyon Cemetery. You may stay in your car if you wish to pay your respects to Bob and his family. We ask that you please practice social distancing and wear a mask. A family graveside service with limited seating will follow. Full obituary in next week's paper.... Full story

  • Delivering gifts this Saturday

    Dec 16, 2020

    Trees of Sharing volunteers will be delivering Christmas gifts Saturday morning, December 19, to children in Belvedere, Elmer City, Coulee Dam, Grand Coulee, Delano and Electric City. Gifts will be delivered between 10 a.m. and noon to 115 children in 49 local families. If you have an ornament tag, please return your wrapped gift to any ‘tree’ location not later than Monday, December 14. If you were unable to purchase a gift to go with the tag you took from a tree, or if you have a gift that you cannot return to a tree by the 14th, please cal... Full story

  • Meetings and Notices

    Dec 16, 2020

    New Cancer Support Group Cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors have been gathering semiweekly to talk, in a safe environment with honesty about the physical, emotional and spiritual impact of cancer. The group meets the first and third Thursdays of the month at 6 p.m. in the multipurpose area of the Nazarene Church. Face masks and social distancing are maintained. New AA Group in the Area A new Alcoholics Anonymous group is meeting each Saturday at noon at the Grand Coulee Community Church, 405 Center St. Meetings are open. More...

  • Do-it-yourself holiday centerpiece

    Melinda Myers|Dec 16, 2020

    Dress up your holiday meals with a centerpiece crafted from greens, colorful stems and seed heads collected from your garden. Or purchase fresh materials you need from your favorite garden center or florist. Most gardeners spend some time gathering a few blossoms and creating a bouquet or arrangement for their summer gatherings. Don't let winter stop you from crafting a festive centerpiece from materials collected from your gardens this time of year. Start by gathering some greens. The fan-like...

  • Boeing donates $50,000 to Big Bend aviation programs

    Dec 16, 2020

    MOSES LAKE - Boeing officials announced a $50,000 gift to Big Bend Community College's Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) and Commercial Pilot programs Dec. 1 as part of the company's Giving Tuesday initiative. Giving Tuesday is marked around the world each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The movement was created to promote charitable acts of giving. Statewide, Boeing gave $10 million in charitable grants to 95 nonprofit organizations on Giving Tuesday. The grants focus specifically...

  • Fourth annual Coulee Polar Plunge

    Dec 16, 2020

    The 4th annual Coulee Polar Plunge will be happening at noon on Friday, January 1, at Spring Canyon. Come start the new year off with a splash!... Full story

  • Legals for December 16, 2020

    Dec 16, 2020

    Colville Indian Housing Authority Request for Quotations The Colville Indian Housing Authority is requesting quotations from Indian owned and non-Indian owned firms to furnish labor and materials for one project. All work and materials will be detailed in the scope of work for the project. Demo fire damaged Malott Unit’s 4154, 4155, and 4156. For additional information or to request copies of the complete RFQ and scope of work please contact Melissa Williams at 509.634.2548 or melissa.williams.hsg@colvilletribes.com. All written proposals m... Full story

  • Coulee Cops

    Dec 16, 2020

    Grand Coulee Police 12/5 - A woman said that she confronted two women stealing tires at apartments on Coulee Boulevard, and that she was almost run over by them. She said that when they drove off in a blue Chevy truck with a red rack she was almost pinned between their truck and hers. The woman never followed up with the police in reporting missing items. 12/8 - A man reported damage to his fence near Lakeview and Nu Coulee Boulevards. Police photographed the fence, which appeared as if someone had driven through it. The man also showed police...