News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Several community members met with park district commissioners last week in a workshop setting to help solve a funding problem that could potentially close North Dam Park, again. The good news is that the community is responding with money and ideas. After the chamber of commerce set up a GoFundMe online donation account for the park, people immediately began donating to help raise its stated $10,000 goal. As of Tuesday night, it had raised over $5,200. Coulee Area Park and Recreation District...
A crowd of people shopped, listened to music, enjoyed frosty brews and ate food at North Dam Park in the First Friday event held there July 1. "It was a great night," said Morgan Tillman, who helped organize the event for the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. "I think everyone that came enjoyed themselves, and it was quite busy!" Republic Brewing sold beer, acoustic musician Rylei Franks provided the tunes, and Porky's Hot Dogs purveyed food for the event. Over a dozen vendors took the...
A number of community members who value North Dam Park are working to keep it afloat for the remainder of 2022. The park could close for lack of funding in August of this year, a result of the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District having been unable to renew a contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation before the end of 2021. The district is in the process of renewing their contract with the bureau for 2023, but in the meantime, is set to quit maintaining the park, including lawn care, water, power, and garbage services, in mid-August. Tha... Full story
A lot of kids enjoyed the fun and games of Koulee Kids Fest over the weekend. "Koulee Kids Fest was so much fun," Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rachelle Baughman said. "The weather was beautiful and there were so many happy faces." She said that 132 "passports" had been turned in from children, with 7-year-old Myles Salverson winning the random drawing from those for a hoverboard. Kids were required to complete six out of 15 stations at Kids Fest in order to turn...
People agree that housing for seniors in the area is needed, but the effort comes with a hefty price tag in the $15-$20 million range. The Grand Coulee Dam Area Senior Center spent $7,500 on a feasibility study for senior housing in the area in collaboration with Centerline Development, which owns the former Center School and surrounding land on Spokane Way in Grand Coulee. The study’s conclusion that there would be demand for such a facility and service led to a $20,000 engineering study. The senior center contributed another $17,500 toward t...
The Grand Coulee Dam area is in the spotlight of a new video being made to highlight the attributes of the area. Voortex Productions, out of Wenatchee, is working with the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce to produce a promotional video. "I am so excited about this project!" chamber Executive Director Rachelle Baughman said. "The purpose and mission behind this video is to highlight the Grand Coulee Area and unite the community. We want to give our community something to be proud of, as...
Koulee Kids Fest this Saturday will bring in a magic show, a car show on Main Street and kids' activities throughout local businesses. The whole event is tied together with "passports" that kids get validated at activities they take part in, qualifying them for a grand prize - a hoverboard. Look on page 9 of this issue to see the map of participating sites. There's everything from jump rope to flower planting to corn dog dipping. Passports are available at Coulee Hardware, Loepp's, Coulee Wall...
The annual Run the Dam 5k, 10k, and half-marathon event is being expanded to include a two-day festival. According to details shared in a post shared to the Run the Dam Facebook page, as well as the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce Page, the Run the Dam event will take place from Sept. 16-17. “We know you love Run the Dam and now there’s even more to love!” a page for the event reads. A beer garden is planned for the Friday evening of Sept. 16, and all day on Saturday; live bands will perform throughout the two days; there will be a...
Morgan Tillman, right, poses with her niece Avery Tillman and her new added braids, left, and her friend Hannah Heintz, who were customers at Morgan's Auntie's Salon booth at last week's first First Friday event, which she helped organize. With 10 vendors and two food trucks it was deemed a success despite moving inside the old Center School at the last minute for rain. "We are so excited for our next one on July 1 back at North Dam Park, featuring Republic Brewery in our beer garden, as well...
Update: This Friday's June 3 event has been moved to the inside of the former Center School on Spokane Way in Grand Coulee due to the rainy weather. This Friday marks the first First Friday event for the Coulee, with vendors, food, and more to provide a fun time to start your weekend. The first Friday of each month means shopping and entertainment from June through October in a new kind of event for the area. This Friday, June 3, is the first of its kind, and future “First Fridays” will be held on July 1, Aug. 5, Sept 2, and Oct. 7. Vendors and...
A big top circus is coming to town June 2, and the sponsoring Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce is working to promote the event that was a big hit last time it came here. The Culpepper and Merriweather Circus is planning two shows - at 5 and 7:30 p.m. But there's more to the experience they offer than watching from the bleachers. Those who can are welcome to "watch the big top rise" at 9:30 a.m. that morning. "You'll also get a chance to tour the grounds, learn all about life on the...
The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce has announced today that it will be visiting scenic Ireland September 20, 2022 and is inviting chamber members, family and friends of chamber members to join them on this once in a lifetime experience. Rich in history, scenic Ireland is the destination for this exciting trip. Enjoy an eight-day journey and go where Ireland takes you. Visit stunning destinations such as Limerick and the Cliffs of Moher. On this amazing trip you will also encounter breathtaking panoramic views of the Dingle...
You can sing your heart out and win $100 towards a local business at a karaoke contest at this year’s Colorama. The contest will be held at the beer tent at North Dam Park on Friday, May 6, at 7 p.m., and so will be limited to participants age 21 and over. Morgan Tillman, of Apothecary Salon, will be the master of ceremonies for the event, and said that if the contest goes well there could be more in the future, including for those under 21. “I was just trying to find an activity that is inexpensive and that I knew that our community would lik...
It may look different than past years, but there will be a Colorama festival this year, including a parade, a petting zoo, a rock climbing wall, a lot of giant inflatable things including a bounce house, a karaoke contest, helicopter rides, vendors, and more. Some of those features have come together in just the last month, one in the last week. Missing from the list is the carnival that people have come to know over the years, and there are other challenges, as well. "Coming into 2022, we are...
The idea of consolidating Coulee area towns was discussed briefly at a recent meeting of area mayors, with the general opinion expressed being that it is complicated. During the April 6 Regional Board of Mayors meeting, the group discussed at some length how to pull off a spring-cleaning event, a frequent topic with the group. When asked by The Star if they felt consolidation would help simplify what seems to be a convoluted process by having one conversation instead of four between four different towns, a few spoke on the topic. Elmer City...
The annual Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce Triple Fish Challenge drew 50 anglers in 23 boats who caught a lot of fish over two days in highly variable spring weather. Saturday was windy and rough on Banks Lake, but after a day of sunshine Sunday, smiles were everywhere as they lined up for the final weigh-in at Coulee Playland. On day one, Jim Stanley caught the 3.38-pound smallmouth bass in the adult category. Derek Hilderbrand netted 7.97-pound walleye. No one caught a trout. Among...
This is an open letter of thanks to everyone who advocated for, supported, gave a forum for discussion, or assisted us to get the message out, regarding a piece of legislation that would have had a detrimental impact on rural healthcare in Washington State and especially our communities. Because of your willingness to express your concerns about this bill, the Senate listened, and the bill was not enacted. This bill would have had short and long-term devastating effects, and if enacted, would have forced Coulee Medical Center to consider...
There should be plenty to do around town with 10 events planned for 2022 in the Coulee area, including a monthly market with beer and music, but the biggest event faces multiple challenges this year. The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce has a slew of events scheduled for the year. The Triple Fish Challenge is scheduled for April 9-10; Colorama from May 6-8; the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus on June 2; Koulee Kids Fest on June 18; the First Friday Night Market will run from June to October, the Festival of America on July 4; the Run...
A lot can be accomplished in a lifetime. The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce is starting a new award for lifetime achievement in honor of Colleen Manley who died unexpectedly earlier this year at the age of 63. “If you have been a part of this community, then you knew Colleen,” Chamber Executive Director Rachelle Baughman said at their March 8 meeting. “She was a huge aspect of this community. Colleen did a lot. She was a part of the chamber, she was a part of the Rotary, she was a part of the Lions. I’m not even sure of everything sh...
The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce announced officers and board members at their annual membership meeting March 8. Hollie Reed is taking on the secretary position, which is the only change in officers. Natalie Nachtigal-Dennis will remain as president, Patty Oliver as vice president, Scott Hunter as past president, Alicia Adamson as treasurer, and Morgan Tillman, Nic Alexander, Solveig Chaffee, Sarah Holt and Matthew Pleasants serving as board members at large. Rachelle Baughman, formerly Rachelle Haven, is executive...
The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Colorama Commitee Meeting at their office on Midway Avenue in Grand Coulee at 5:30 p.m. tonight, March 15. The meeting is open to anyone "that can come help us network and share ideas of ways to make this Colorama a success!" Chamber Director Rachelle Haven said....
"What a year to start a business," Morgan Tillman said last night about starting her Elmer City salon in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tillman's Apothecary Salon was awarded Business of the Year by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. "It was quite a wild ride," Tillman said. "I'm thankful to be a part of the chamber and the community that's been so welcoming." "There's a lot of excitement around this business, which I think is fabulous," Patty Oliver of PK's Culinary...
A man who was unconscious in his burning car gets to continue to live with his family thanks to local heroism. Three Jess Ford employees saved the Ephrata man's life in December. Joshua Bessette, 46, of Ephrata, was on his way to work at the Grand Coulee Dam on Dec. 3 at about 7 a.m. He was driving north on SR-155 at about milepost eight between Coulee City and Grand Coulee near the Million Dollar Mile, when, according to a report from Washington State Patrol Trooper John Bryant, he left the...
Elmer City folks were excited for the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Clause Monday night on the top of a Grand Coulee fire engine, along with other seasonal favorites of kids - Elsa and Anna, and even the Grinch. The visit was arranged by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. The firefighters in Elmer City were ready to receive their guests and had people warming up by a campfire while they waited. The celebrities visited Coulee Dam too, and Grand Coulee and Electric City got visits Tuesday...
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...
