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Articles from the December 31, 2014 edition


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  • Commission will report to council, not mayor

    Roger S Lucas|Dec 31, 2014

    The Grand Coulee Civil Service Commission will offer up its top three candidates for police chief to the city council, not the mayor, Chairman Alan Cain said last week. Cain said the decision was made after talking with a couple of council members who liked the idea. Cain said oral examinations of the six candidates will take place in early January and the top three will move up for interviews by the council. “We plan to have just oral exams, not written ones,” Cain said. “They have all been through the written exam phase in order to becom...

  • Grand Coulee fire department recognizes its volunteers

    Dec 31, 2014

    About 50 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical service personnel turned out Dec. 13, at Grand Coulee's fire hall for an annual meeting and special awards banquet. Charles Pope, who was last year's "Rookie of the Year," this year won the "Terry Sieker" award as firefighter of the year. This year's "Rookie of the Year" award went to Nic Alexander. Also receiving an award was Ben Alling, who was named the "Robert McGuire EMS Responder" of the year. Ryan Fish was recognized for making the...

  • Readers can name someone deserving recognition

    Scott Hunter|Dec 31, 2014

    Readers have until Jan. 12 to send in their nominations for the annual volunteer of the year honor to be decided by community poll. The Star initiative picks a worthy volunteer to be honored as an example of selfless service to others. Many people give of their time and talents throughout the year to help one or many members of the community, whether through unsung efforts to help a neighbor or in much publicized widespread efforts to tackle a bigger problem. The Star will publish the annual volunteer of the year award in January again this...

  • Cox receives three-agency award

    Dec 31, 2014

    One of Grand Coulee's first female electricians has been recognized for distinguished government service at the close of her 38-year career. Mary Cox received the Federal Columbia River Power System Meritorious Service Award during a Dec. 16 ceremony in Boise. Cox is an electrical foreman for the Third Power Plant at Grand Coulee Dam. She is a native of Nespelem and has worked at the dam since July, 1976. Presenting the award was Bureau of Reclamation Pacific Northwest Regional Director Lorri...

  • Special meeting set to decide on police coverage

    Roger S Lucas|Dec 31, 2014

    Electric City was set to make a decision late Tuesday on providing police protection for the city after its current contract with Grand Coulee expires at the end of the year. The Star, which had an early deadline due to the New Year’s holiday, will file an online update at grandcoulee.com with the results of the 8 p.m. special council meeting. Council committees from both Electric City and Grand Coulee met Dec. 23, in an effort to see if they could come to an agreement differing from one they had reached earlier. The two council committees ...

  • Newsbriefs

    Dec 31, 2014

    Men arrested on Banks Lake Fish and Wildlife officers arrested men on Banks Lake Dec. 8 on multiple charges, seized seven gill nets and 376 whitefish. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police Detachment 16, which patrols Douglas, Grant and Adams counties, conducted patrols in two-man teams throughout the night and into the early morning hours using covert surveillance techniques to observe many shore fishermen and boats at the north feeder canal, the department reported. One person there was apprehended allegedly using a gill net on...

  • Mayor: emerging plant plans cutting costs

    Roger S Lucas|Dec 31, 2014

    A plan for improvements to Coulee Dam's wastewater treatment plant is "a work in progress" that could cost residents a quarter of the amount financed in an earlier plan, Mayor Greg Wilder told the town council and a good number of residents during a December meeting. Wilder said he is exploring the possibility of several improvements to the plant, but he plans on further public meetings before doing anything. One of the meetings will be scheduled in January, Wilder stated. Wilder is trying to...

  • Winning just time

    Dec 31, 2014

    Betty Brueske smiles after winning a drawing for a big Santa at The Variety Store Tuesday, Dec. 23. - submitted photo...

  • Planning run for Congress, CEO to step down

    Dec 31, 2014

    The head of the Colville Tribes’ business arm is stepping down and has announced he’ll make a second attempt to unseat Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers in her next election. Joe Pakootas, 57, told the Tribal Tribune in a story published Dec. 23, that he plans to step down as chief executive officer of the Colville Tribal Federal Corporation after his contract ends Jan. 5. Pakootas is finishing a five-year term as CEO, a record, and is the 25th head of the corporation. Pakootas, a former chair of the Colville Business Council, noted tha...

  • Historical society to meet

    Dec 31, 2014

    Grant County Historical Society will hold their regular board meeting Jan. 13, 2015 at 11a.m. at the American Legion Post in Ephrata, 276 8th Ave NW. To order lunch for $5, call the Legion after 1 p.m. at 509-754-2761 or Rita Mayrant at 509-750-4555. The public is invited, as well as museum members....

  • Thanks to a strong city council

    Becky Billups|Dec 31, 2014

    The Grand Coulee City Council Meeting that was held Tuesday, Dec. 16, was the first encouraging meeting that I have attended. It gave me my first glimmer of hope for issues that have concerned me for a long period of time, hopefully being properly addressed and actions taken to see the Council members challenge Mayor Chris Christopherson’s actions of running our city strictly on his own decisions, and acting on them, without Council’s knowledge or even a consideration, or respect for their positions in their role to our city government. I was...

  • Good advice on community soul searching appreciated

    Alice Frost|Dec 31, 2014

    I am in complete agreement with Carol Netzel’s letter regarding the quarrels that have overtaken our community. In Alfred Lord Tennyson’s well known New Years poem “Ring Out, Wild Bells” one stanza reads: Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love and truth and right, Ring in the common love of good. These words ring true in 2015 as they did in 1850. So, please, neighbors, take Carol’s advice and do some soul searching. We can do better than this. Alice Frost Coulee Dam...

  • Citizens of Electric City should make their voices heard

    Wiyaka Steinke|Dec 31, 2014

    If you are considering putting up a fence, accessory structure, shop or garage (in Electric City), now is your chance to be heard. The ordinances are changing! There will be a public meeting at 3 p.m., on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the Electric City Hall. Please come to this important meeting (even though its time is totally inconvenient for most of us who work) and let your voices be heard. Wiyaka Steinke...

  • Thanks for helping 161 children

    Trees of Sharing Committee|Dec 31, 2014

    Thank you from the Trees of Sharing committee to everyone who helped provide Christmas gifts to 161 children in 63 families on Saturday, Dec. 20. We extend special thanks to Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union, Coulee Family Medicine, Flo’s Café, Harvest Foods, and Safeway for helping collect names and/or displaying the trees with gift tags. New this year was a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at Flo’s for which we are grateful. Additionally, we thank the United Methodist Church, the Lions Club, The Star, and the shopping, wrapping, and delivery volu...

  • Why no poaching article?

    Glen Graevell|Dec 31, 2014

    Why has there been no article on the poachers that were caught netting fish on Banks Lake on December 8, 2014. Had to have my brother call me from Wenatchee and tell me about the article in the Wenatchee World and the other article in the Spokesman Review. If people are kept informed about issues like this in this area it helps to make them more aware and alert. They are more likely to report suspicious activity to authorities when they observe it. Glen Graevell Editor’s reply: Good question. Answer: Because daily newspapers’ dedicated out...

  • Now it's time to focus on growing the economy

    Lee H Hamilton|Dec 31, 2014

    Recent economic news has been broadly reassuring. Retail sales are strong, November saw the best job gains in three years, the federal deficit is shrinking, the stock market is robust, and the Fed is expressing enough faith in the economy that an interest rate bump next year is considered a certainty. Yet the public remains unconvinced. This is partly because perceptions haven’t caught up to reality. For many middle- and lower-class families, economic circumstances have not changed very much. Strong numbers do, however, offer one unambiguous p...

  • The goal: seek out people to help

    Jesse Utz|Dec 31, 2014

    The time of year has come that we must reflect back on the previous year and prepare for the New Year ahead. Resolutions will be made, promises promised and goals set. Reflecting back can be heart breaking and inspiring but it is part of what makes us who we are today. So what changed you? What inspired you? That can make a difference. The big change for me, looking back, is the move out of the area. It is not a bad change either, it has been a blessing so far. We had a great holidays with friends and family coming and going as they needed. The...

  • Seventy-Six Years Ago

    Dec 31, 2014

    Construction activity proceeds on a 24-hour per day basis at Grand Coulee Dam. - December 28, 1938...

  • Legals for December 31, 2014

    Dec 31, 2014

    NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP NOTICE IS HEREBY that the City of Electric City Planning Commission will hold a public workshop at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at the City Hall located at 10 Western Avenue. The purpose of the workshop is to review and discuss proposed amendments to the Zoning Code, Title 18 of the Electric City Municipal Code. The amendments to the zoning code have been developed by the Commission and staff to address: modifying definitions and increasing height and size regulations in 18.40.020 for accessory structures in...

  • Coulee Cops

    Dec 31, 2014

    Grand Coulee Police 12/7 - Police went to a house on Stevens Avenue in Electric City on a report that a Nespelem man had been hit over the head with a beer bottle. Police went inside and found the injured man holding a bandana over his head. He told police to “get out” and that they were not welcome. Police waited on the porch for medical staff to arrive and when things got under control left the premises. 12/19 - A man living on Continental Heights told police that he is being harassed by another tenant. He is trying to get an ant...

  • Marissa Roxanne Gonzalez

    Dec 31, 2014

    Marissa Roxanne Gonzalez of Grand Coulee, Wash., was born in Brewster, Wash., to Oscar and Angela Gonzalez on June 4, 1993. Marissa was welcomed into heaven on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014, at approximately 3:40 a.m. Marissa was diagnosed with Lupus at the age of seven. She courageously battled multiple illnesses over the years after being diagnosed with Lupus. She finally succumbed to the side effects of the current diseases of NMO and DIC. Grand Coulee became Marissa's home in 1999 and was where...

  • Dorothy Elaine Flowers-Lawrence

    Dec 31, 2014

    Dorothy Elaine Flowers-Lawrence passed away surrounded by close family and love on Sunday, December 21, 2014 at Bishop Place in Pullman, WA. Dorothy was born on June 13, 1943 in Mason City, Washington to Jack and Edna (Shaffer) Flowers. Dorothy graduated from Grand Coulee High School in 1961. Dorothy started working for Pacific Northwest Bell in 1961. She retired from the phone company after 33 years of service. Dorothy married her high school sweetheart, James Canterbury on June 1, 1963. After...