News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Three school district levies are expiring at the end of 2022, and two proposed levies totaling the same tax rate are on the ballot for the February 8 election to replace them. The levies have collected up to $4.20 per $1,000 of assessed value from property taxes. Two educational “enrichment” levies expiring at the end of 2022 are being combined into one proposed levy, the Educational Programs and Operations Levy, which would collect an estimated $2.50 per thousand dollars of assessed property value. The capital levy would remain at the sam...
I am writing in support of the two upcoming levies for the Grand Coulee Dam School District. As a teacher for the district for 42 years, I have seen how levies have supported and provided opportunities for students and staff. The levies have provided support to the athletic programs, upkeep for our school buildings and provide programs that are available for our students. In supporting our levies, we are supporting and providing for the future of our students. Gary Darnold Retired teacher and coach for GCD School District...
Upcoming school levies in the Grand Coulee Dam School District don't have a lot of support among those who took a Star poll. The online survey, found in last week's issue of The Star and shared online, received 59 responses, with 15 (25%) saying they support the Educational Programs & Operations Levy, 39 (66%) saying they don't, and five (9%) saying they aren't sure. Those who support or do not support that levy tended to feel the same about the Capital Levy for Safety, Technology and...
The Grand Coulee Dam School District (GCDSD) is seeking voter approval for two separate levies in the upcoming election on February 8, 2022. The intent of my letter is to provide the facts regarding these levies and enable voters to make well-informed voting decisions. The first of these levies is the educational programs and operations levy—commonly referred to as an “enrichment” levy; and the second is the capital levy for safety, technology and facilities improvement, or simply, “capital levy.” Both of these levies have been approved...
Call for Bid Okanogan County Fairgrounds RV Park Pedestal Replacement Okanogan County is soliciting sealed bids from interested licensed Electric Companies for the installation of new electrical pedestals at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds. The following is a project description: The removal of old RV Park pedestals. Provide and install all metering equipment using Okanogan PUD specification. Install proper grounds per NEC regulations. Install 120/208-volt, three phase panels 124 RV sites throughout the fairgrounds. Obtain all proper permits...
With two school levies on the ballot for the Feb. 8 election, one teacher/parent/taxpayer weighs in, and you can too in an online survey. The two levies — the Educational Programs and Operations Levy and the Capital Levy for Safety, Technology and Facilities Improvement — would bring in an estimated combined total of $1.4 million and $1.7 million annually from 2023 through 2026. The Star reached out to a handful of teachers at Lake Roosevelt via email for comment. Pam Johnson, who teaches language arts at the high school and has been a tea...
DARE logos painted on the side of the former middle school and at the Grand Coulee Police Station may be relevant again with the return of the program aimed at teaching youth to make smart decisions regarding drug use. A Grand Coulee police officer persuaded the city council last week to pay for his training. "I believe the DARE program would not only be a great educational tool, but also a great way to get involved in the community," Officer Blake Martin told the council. The program, whose...
Shannon Nicholson takes the oath of office to join the Grand Coulee Dam School District board of directors Monday night. She joins fellow board members Ken Stanger and Rich Black, who were both recently reelected to their seats, Alex Tufts, and bard Chairman George LaPlace. Superintendent Paul Turner swore Nicholson in. - submitted photo...
The populations of Electric City, Grand Coulee, and Nespelem have gone down, while the populations of Coulee Dam and Elmer City have gone up. According to 2020 census data, the population of Electric City is 956, down from 968 in 2010. The count in Grand Coulee is 972, down from 988. And the number of people living in Nespelem stands at 180, down from 236. The population of Elmer City, on the other hand, bumped up to 239 from 238; and the population of Coulee Dam rose to 1,211, up from 1,098. That pegs the total residents within the proper boun...
A shooting threat allegedly made last week by a student at Lake Roosevelt Schools was found to not be credible, a Coulee Dam Police Report states. Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Paul Turner emailed a statement to district parents and staff Thursday morning stating that the school was “investigating a threat allegedly made by a student.” “In the evening of December 8th, GCDSD administration was made aware of an alleged threat of violence towards Lake Roosevelt schools from a student,” the statement reads. “An investigation, incl...
Grant County Port District No. 7 NOTICE OF SURPLUS SALE Grant County Port District No. 7 has declared land and personal property as surplus to the needs of the Port District and is interested in receiving expressions of interest from interested buyers. Anyone can obtain a copy of the Resolution declaring assets as surplus, including a complete description of assets available for purchase, by contacting: Grant County Port District No,7, P. O. Box 616, Grand Coulee, WA 99133 or portdistrict7@gmail.com. A general description of the property is...
Lake Roosevelt Schools are investigating a threat allegedly made by a student. Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Paul Turner sent a statement about the incident at 8:05 a.m. this morning, Dec. 9. "In the evening of December 8th GCDSD administration was made aware of an alleged threat of violence towards Lake Roosevelt schools from a student," the statement reads. "An investigation, including law enforcement, was started immediately. The district was able to identify the student in question and the student will not be at school...
Grant County Port District No. 7 NOTICE OF SURPLUS SALE Grant County Port District No. 7 has declared land and personal property as surplus to the needs of the Port District and is interested in receiving expressions of interest from interested buyers. Anyone can obtain a copy of the Resolution declaring assets as surplus, including a complete description of assets available for purchase, by contacting: Grant County Port District No,7, P. O. Box 616, Grand Coulee, WA 99133 or portdistrict7@gmail.com. A general description of the property is...
Douglas County Fire Protection District #3 The 2022 budget for Douglas County Fire Protection district # 3 has been prepared, discussed and accepted. And will be placed on file. (Publish Dec 1, 2021) City of Electric City Public Notice Notice is hereby given that the 2022 Preliminary Budget Public Hearing will be held by the ELECTRIC CITY CITY COUNCIL, in council chambers at City Hall, 10 Stevens Avenue, on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 6:00pm. All interested persons will be given the opportunity to provide both written and oral comments...
After serving 14 years on the Grand Coulee Dam School District Board of Directors, Carla Marconi will be leaving the board after not filing for reelection this year. At their Nov. 22 meeting, Superintendent Paul Turner, Alternative Learning Environment Principal Mark Herndon, and Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School Principal Sara Kennedy all thanked Marconi for her service to the district. Colville Business Council Chairman Andy Joseph, Jr., as well as CBC Member Jarred-Michael Erickson,...
Hackers disrupted the Grand Coulee Dam School District’s board meeting Monday night as “trolls” who logged onto the Zoom meeting. Superintendent Paul Turner, along with the district’s board of directors, held the meeting in the school library while others attended via ZOOM. While Board Director Carla Marconi, who is leaving her position, was saying thank you to those who had just honored her at the meeting, a person logged on with the name “Taylor Duffy” and began playing a clip on a loop from the rap song “Wishing Well” by artist Juice WR...
What if Lake Roosevelt baseball and softball were played at the same place? What if there were two gyms? What if there was a track around the football field? After abandoning the costly, $50 million idea of locating all sports courts, gyms and fields at the main LR campus in Coulee Dam, the district’s board of directors spoke with architects about the idea of locating baseball and softball fields at the former middle school in Grand Coulee and building a track around the football field in Coulee Dam. The current tennis court would remain. T...
With an estimated 300 ballots left to count before another vote count update Monday, incumbents in local elections still appear to be keeping their seats, according to Grant County’s website, which also states that 38.41% of the county’s voters turned out. In the race for Grand Coulee Council Position #1, Ben Hughes leads 92 votes to 58 over Tracey Wright, with there additionally being 40 votes for write-in candidates. For Grand Coulee Council Position #2, incumbent Tom Poplawski leads 133 votes to 52 over challenger Cameron Whitney, with the...
Two levies with a combined tax rate of $4.20 per thousand dollars of assessed property value will be on the ballot in February to replace expiring levies of the same combined rate. On Monday, the Grand Coulee Dam School District Board of Directors approved two resolutions containing the language of the levies for the upcoming ballot. Together, the levies are expected to raise between $1.4 million and $1.7 million annually from 2023 through 2026. The Educational Programs and Operations Levy seeks an estimated $2.50 per thousand dollars of assess...
Trees of Sharing 2021 is launching this week se we’ll be ready to give a hand up to families by providing a Christmas gift for their children. Since the early 1980’s, the Trees of Sharing program has been a pathway for Grand Coulee Dam area residents to be a blessing to needy children living in the area. If you know a family with children under age 18 living in the Coulee as far north as Belvedere that could use some help, please take time to fill out Trees of Sharing slips for their children. The slips and collection boxes are located at Saf...
Incumbents in local positions appear to be keeping their seats as election results come in. Although there will be more votes to count, including 1,300 Grant County ballots, 1,760 Okanogan ballots, plus those arriving by mail postmarked on or before Nov. 2, vote counts so far for local elections have been posted. According to Grant County’s website, 25.35% of the county’s voters turned out. In the race for Grand Coulee Council Position #1, Ben Hughes leads 74 votes to 39 over Tracey Wright, with there additionally being 29 write-in votes. In th...
Fall is in the air and Christmas is on our minds! Trees of Sharing 2021 is launching this week se we’ll be ready to give a hand up to families by providing a Christmas gift for their children. Since the early 1980’s, the Trees of Sharing program has been a pathway for Grand Coulee Dam area residents to be a blessing to needy children living in the area. If you know a family with children under age 18 living in the Coulee as far north as Belvedere that could use some help, please take time to fill out Trees of Sharing slips for their chi...
Some workers in Washington state, faced with the ultimatum to get the jab or lose their jobs, have chosen to quit or retire instead of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. With employees in various fields, including school, health care, and state government required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as a requirement for their employment by Oct. 18, many workers in the state have opted to retire early or simply quit their jobs. Locally, council members for the city of Grand Coulee, as well as the mayor, expressed support for city employees to make...
Following the death of a city employee, Coulee Dam is considering requiring all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Councilmember Dale Rey raised the question during a council meeting last Wednesday. Rey remarked on the recent death of one employee and a positive coronavirus test of another, although he said he was speculating on the cause of death. “Our town employees not only interact with each other and with us, but they also interact with and communicate with and are around members of the community,” Rey said, so requiring vaccinat...
It sounded like a good idea at the time: See if there’s a way to gather the Grand Coulee Dam School District’s athletics facilities onto one campus. With that direction from the board of directors, the district hired an architect last spring to look into the possibilities. Anything is possible for a price, but maybe not one you want to pay. When the new K-12 school was built with no local debt, funding was not available to include a new gym, and school leaders have been trying to find a way to build one ever since, plus fix other dis...
