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Articles from the December 19, 2012 edition


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  • About our holiday schedule

    Scott Hunter|Dec 19, 2012

    The holidays and accompanying scheduling conflicts seem to throw off normal schedules for every organization in town. The same goes for the newspaper, especially with Christmas falling on our normal Tuesday deadline day. So here’s what’s happening with our publication schedule. You’re holding the Nov. 19 issue. On Friday of this week, you can pick up the Nov. 26 issue. That’s when we’ll get it in the mail. That issue will include the community’s choice for The Star volunteer of the year, Christmas cards by third-graders and more. We’ll be ba...

  • Elmer City to try for its own sewer plant

    Roger Lucas|Dec 19, 2012

    The town of Elmer City last week took the first steps towards developing its own wastewater treatment plant and leave Coulee Dam to pay all of the costs of a plant upgrade its been planning for both towns. The town council and Mayor Mary Jo Carey expressed disappointment Thursday night in the way officials in Coulee Dam the night before had treated Elmer City. They see development of their own sewer facility as the best alternative they have. Town officials agreed to look at a site between Elmer City and Seaton’s Grove, get an engineering f...

  • Letter sets up rift between towns

    Roger Lucas|Dec 19, 2012

    A letter Coulee Dam prepared for interested parties in its wastewater treatment plant project drew reaction from the town of Elmer City last Wednesday night that would eventually lead to a decision to end a decades-long collaboration. The letter, designed to advise all parties that the ownership of the plant would rest with Coulee Dam, and that the only official representatives of Coulee Dam authorized to speak on the project were elected officials, the town’s attorney, engineers from Gray & Osborne, Public Works Director Barry Peacock and C...

  • Santa, candy canes and books

    Dec 19, 2012

    Nancy Carlson gets ready to hand free books to a couple of young library patrons who gained Santa’s favor by waiting in line at the Etheta Anderson Library in Grand Coulee Wednesday. The holiday lighting of the library included door prizes and cookies and punch and a lot of neighborly visiting. Gathering at least 125 visitors, the effort to get people to see what the library offers was deemed a success. — Scott Hunter photo...

  • Local vet gets help from Sen. Murray

    Roger Lucas|Dec 19, 2012

    The fight to get a Veteran’s Administration disability claim settled for a Coulee Dam man took action by U.S. Senator Patty Murray. Daniel Johnson’s cancer showed up in February last year and was attributed to his contact with Agent Orange, while he was in the navy in Vietnam. Johnson said contact with Agent Orange occurred after the cease fire while his ship was still in Vietnam, through the ship’s ventilation system and eventually the ship’s water. Johnson was on a large amphibious ship that transported marines and their equipment into battle...

  • Vigil scheduled for tonight

    Dec 19, 2012

    A candlelight prayer vigil in memory of the Newtown, Connecticut victims will be held at 5:30 p.m. tonight (Wednesday, Dec 19) at Mason City Memorial Park in Coulee Dam. Charlene Bearcub and Loretta Bingham are organizers of the event. They advised to dress warm, bring your prayers, and help comfort each other. There will be songs, speakers, and healing for the community, they noted. Hearts with names of the victims will be available for writing condolences and mailing to Newtown. Balloons with victim’s names will be provided. The entire c...

  • Newsbriefs

    Dec 19, 2012

    Just say no to used bulbs Electric City Mayor Jerry Sands reminded the city council last Tuesday night that come Jan. 1, 2013, it will be illegal to dump mercury-containing light bulbs in landfills in the state of Washington. He said that the Delano Regional Transfer Station will not accept mercury bulb after that date. He didn’t know of a place where you can turn them in. Clean audit Elmer City Mayor Mary Jo Carey said this week that she was very pleased with the town’s recent state audit. It noted that the town’s internal controls were adequ...

  • Report: bragging robber says he’ll do it again

    Roger Lucas|Dec 19, 2012

    Coulee Dam police have been advised that a man sought in an alleged armed robbery of the Smoke Shop might do it again. Police received word from Colville Tribal Police that a man reported he had heard that Phillip Cody Ruiz, 23, the man sought in the Nov. 27 robbery, had told others on the Colville Indian Reservation that he was going to rob the store again. Town Police Officer Glenn Steffler went to the Smoke Shop to advise Cassandra Watters, the clerk who was robbed the first time, about what...

  • City budgets $32,500 from tourist tax

    Roger Lucas|Dec 19, 2012

    Electric City shot the rest of its hotel/motel budget for 2013, at its meeting last Tuesday night. The city council Dec. 11, held to its policy of budgeting just half of what it took in during 2012, and putting the other half into its hotel/motel reserve fund. In its 2013 budget, the city grants just over $20,000 to the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce; $6,000 to Coulee Area Park & Recreation District for North Dam Park maintenance; $5,300 to the Ridge Riders; and $1,200 to the Coulee Corridor Consortium. The city took in about...

  • Last look at new school plans coming

    Roger Lucas|Dec 19, 2012

    School patrons will get one final look at the design and color scheme of the new K-12 school complex before it goes out to bid, Grand Coulee Dam School District board members indicated at their Monday night meeting. While the date hasn’t been set for the public look, it will likely be after the holidays, and probably just before the project goes out for bid. Superintendent Dr. Dennis Carlson said the design of the complex hasn’t materially changed; however, the board felt that local school patrons might like to see the color schemes and mat...

  • Rebuff of generous offer another insult

    Greg Wilder|Dec 19, 2012

    The town of Elmer City has worked tirelessly to find financial assistance to help fund the improvements to the sewer treatment plant it jointly operates with Coulee Dam. And for good reason, they can’t afford what Coulee Dam is building! On the other hand, Coulee Dam has not put any meaningful effort into a search for “grant” monies. Even their Project Plan discounts the “free” money as too difficult to bother with. They remain content with their own “success”… borrowing another $5 million and adding to an already burdensome debt on the tow...

  • Elders rebuke council answers

    Yvonne Swan|Dec 19, 2012
    1

    To the Office of the Reservation Attorneys, through the news media, on behalf of Colville Indians for justice. In light of precedents set by former Colville Business Council who in the 1950s and 1990s immediately informed tribal members of claims settlements, called general membership meetings, and in the 1990s put the issue to a vote, I and other elders expected this example to be followed by current Colville Business Council regarding the recent (2012) $193 Million claims settlement. Also, in the light of the above-mentioned decisions by...

  • Needed: a loving freedom

    Jesse Utz|Dec 19, 2012

    Last week in Connecticut, our country had another major tragedy. This time a sick young man walked into an elementary school and killed kindergartners and some staff. Pure, unblemished faces of the young meeting the violence of our new society head on, in an act that is incomprehensible by most. We have not learned a lot (by the time I started writing this) about the details, but we do know that it is obvious. The staff there gave their lives protecting kids. If this had not happened, more...

  • Christmas events

    Dec 19, 2012

    Coulee Dam Community Church-Presbyterian Mon., Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be held. St. Henry’s Catholic Church Mon., Dec. 24 at 8:30 p.m. a Christmas Eve Mass will be held. Tues., Dec. 25 at 9 a.m, Christmas Mass to be held. Zion Lutheran Church Each Wednesday at 7 p.m. until Christmas - Advent special services . Mon., Dec. 24, 7 p.m. - Candlelight Christmas Eve Service here. 9 p.m. - Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at Bethel in Coulee City. Tues., Dec. 25, 11 a.m. Christmas Morning Service. United Methodist C...

  • Myles James Scallan

    Dec 19, 2012

    Myles James Scallan, affectionately known as “Pa”, departed this life to be with the Lord Jesus on December 12, 2012, passing peacefully with his family by his side at his home in Bowie, Md. He was born August 30, 1928, in East Chicago Indiana, the son of Thomas Francis and Margaret Hood Scallan. Myles was the beloved husband of Geraldine Frances Scallan, with whom he cherished 55 years of marriage together before her passing in 2010. In his early years, Myles lived on the family farm in Gre...

  • Larry Burlon Mills

    Dec 19, 2012

    Larry Burlon Mills, 72, passed away on Monday, Dec. 10, 2012, at Kootenai Memorial Hospital in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Larry was born on January 30, 1940, in Coulee Dam, Wash., to Dewey and Marie Mills. Larry grew up in Elmer City. He graduated from Coulee Dam High School, in1958. After high school he attended North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene,. He worked as a Civil Engineer Technician for firms in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene and retired from Welch Comer & Associates. Larry married Karen March...

  • Perfect game

    Dec 19, 2012

    Ron Toulou bowled a perfect 300 game on Friday Nov. 2, 2012. Riverview Lanes has had 10 perfect games sanctioned by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC). When a member bowls a perfect game (12 strikes), they receive a 300 ring by the USBC. The rings are made by the same company that makes class rings for students. Toulou will have his name put into the Bowlers’ Hall of Fame for his achievement. Pictured with Toulou are Sara and Pat Zlateff, owners of Riverview Lanes....

  • It’s a boy for Weger/ Desautel

    Dec 19, 2012

    Alysia Weger and Robert Desautel of Nespelem are proud to announce the birth of their son Jaxon Little Bear Desautel on Monday, Dec. 10, 2012, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. He weighed 7 lbs., 6 oz., and was 20 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandparents are Tannis Dogskin and Clinton Weger. Paternal grandparents are Janice Matt and DeWayne Desautel. Great-grandparents include Blanche Dogskin and Lucetta Desautel....

  • Raiders take fifth at Cashmere

    John McNeil II|Dec 19, 2012

    by John R. McNeil II The Raider wrestlers took fifth at the Cashmere tournament last Saturday in a field that featured mostly larger schools and only two 2B schools, LR and Kittitas. “We wrestled well,” Head Coach Steve Hood said. “Felt good to finish ahead of Kittitas and Omak.” The tourney winner was 1A Mount Baker from the Northwest Conference with 181 points. Teams finishing ahead of the Raiders included Caribou Trail League representatives Quincy in second and host Cashmere right on their heels at third. Medical Lake of the Northea...

  • Ladies lose to Nannies

    John McNeil II|Dec 19, 2012

    The Lady Raiders lost to the 1B Pateros Nannies in a close league game Friday 53-43. When asked what needs to improve, Head Coach Wallace Pleasants said, “Everything, mostly how to play through fouls and the girls not to get us to hard physical play.” The Nannies attacked the Lady Raiders from the start with hard physical defense. But LR kept the score close as Danielle Laramie, Katelynn Schilling and Rickyna Sam led the scoring in the first half with the Lady Raiders behind by only four points, 26-22. At the beginning of the second half, the...

  • Slow-starting Raiders lose to Billygoats

    John McNeil II|Dec 19, 2012

    Chance Garvin scored all three of the Raiders’ first-quarter points at Pateros last Friday as LR went on to lose to the Billygoats in a low scoring affair, 47-38. Head Coach Jeff Brisbois said the team’s overall game effort was down. “We came out flat and never got back into the game,” Brisbois said. “It’s like we lost what spark we had from the win Monday,” referring to the LR victory over Entiat, who had beaten Pateros. The first quarter finished with the score Pateros 5, LR 3. The scoring heated up in the second quarter as the Pateros shoot...

  • Coulee Cops

    Dec 19, 2012

    Grand Coulee Police 12/10 - Police checked with a woman on Burdin Boulevard to see if her runaway daughter had returned. The woman said that the daughter had returned and run away a couple of times since, but was back now. Her name was taken off the runaway list. - A Coeur d’Alene man told police that someone had taken his wallet from his truck and it held $502. The man accused a worker at an area business of taking it, but police couldn’t prove who might have taken it. - Police checked on a report that a man wearing no pants was walking in...