News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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The basement of the Church of the Nazarene in Grand Coulee was filled with help Saturday as local scouts hauled in the results of their annual food drive for the Care and Share Food Bank, an effort that restocked shelves that were getting empty. Care and Share is currently serving around 130 local families, according to Director Carol Nordine, including many young families with children and working parents who find it hard to keep up. About a dozen volunteers, plus the scouts, made fairly quick...
The community is invited to hear about Grand Coulee Dam District’s proposed four-day school week, and to address the school board at a public hearing on Monday. The board will convene the public hearing at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 25 in the Jr./Sr. High Library, on the building’s second floor. The district is exploring moving to a four-day week beginning in the upcoming 2025-26 school year. In this model, school would run Mondays through Thursdays. Weeks with federal holidays falling on Mondays would shift to a Tuesday though Friday schedule. Com...
When Electric City’s leadership signaled last week that they want an independent attorney to rewrite an old, incomplete and ambiguous document governing the wastewater plant, they effectively put the ball in Grand Coulee’s court. Grand Coulee responded in kind — passing a nearly identical resolution at their Nov. 19 council meeting, and giving the wastewater plant’s joint board of operators some action items for their Dec. 5 meeting in Electric City. Then, Grand Coulee’s conversation turned toward the topic of the two cities coming together in...
A landslide into Lake Roosevelt southwest of the town of Kettle Falls cascaded several tons of sediment into the lake over the weekend, and the National Parks Service is urging caution in the area due to ongoing instability. The slide cascaded several tons of sediment into the lake from the west, dislodging trees and causing shoreline damage up and downstream. Its sheer force caused waves to cross the river, including one washing over Highway 25. Agencies reported no injuries and minimal facilit...
Thanks to Angela Tonasket for sending this photo an epic sunset at the end of what was not that sunny a day Monday. She saw and appreciated the beauty and hoped we could share it. Tonasket captured the moment about 4:15, silhouetting Steamboat Rock beneath golden skies. By the time you read this, we're likely seeing very different weather. See the weather predictions on page 3, plus sunrise and sunset times, so you catch the best parts of the day and send in your photos. - Angela Tonasket...
Veterans, community members, students and faculty watch a video slide show of local veterans Friday during a Veteran's Day assembly at Lake Roosevelt High School. Students applauded each for their service, a little louder for those in attendance or whom they knew. The assembly also featured band and choir performances, an honor song, students presenting certificates to attending veterans, a history lesson on the holiday, and even cake afterward. - Scott Hunter photo...
Two people were taken to hospital following an incident in which a 17-year-old had reportedly slashed two people with a knife at a party early Sunday morning. Coulee Dam Police responded to a Grand Coulee residence after overhearing a Grant County dispatcher call out a county sheriff’s deputy to the scene of a large fight about 2:15 a.m. at 213 Second Street. A Coulee Dam Officer responded after asking if the Grant County Sheriff’s Office wanted the assistance. On the way to the active scene he called another Coulee Dam officer for help. Whe...
Local emergency medical service volunteers are aging out and burning out, and it may be time to look at funding a new district to ensure full-time help is available. That's the message Electric City Mayor Diane Kohout and Grand Coulee Fire Chief Ryan Fish, and others shared at a community town hall meeting hosted by the Regional Board of Mayors Nov. 6. "The volunteer base has eroded over the years," Kohout said in an opening presentation in Coulee Dam's town hall. "If this continues, we're in...
The management agreement for Grand Coulee and Electric City’s shared wastewater treatment facility — written in 1984 — needs a rewrite, according to the Electric City Council members. The plant is jointly owned by the two cities and overseen by a “joint board of operators” made up of council members from both jurisdictions. However, Grand Coulee is effectively the majority owner, meaning, among other things, it was the only signer with SJ Environmental, the contractor operating the wastewater plant. That contract is currently up for renewal....
Whooping cough continues to increase sharply at both local and state levels. Last year saw only 51 cases across the state at this time, but so far 1,193 cases have been reported in 2024, including 60 in Grant County alone. Also called pertussis, the illness has been reported in 30 other counties in the state, with 28 people hospitalized, 12 of them under the age of 1. Since June, 60 people (ages 3 months to 43 years) are known to have caught whooping cough in Grant County. It’s highly likely there are more cases than reported. The last i...
Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse has secured a sixth term representing central Washington, fending off Trump-backed challenger Jerrod Sessler. Newhouse has been leading since Election Day and declared victory in the race on Monday. The Associated Press called the 4th Congressional District race for Newhouse on Tuesday afternoon. As of Tuesday, Newhouse had 52.1% of the vote while Sessler had 46.2%. "The results from this election show the people want a results-driven leader who understands th... Full story
Though questions remain, the Grand Coulee Dam school board at their Oct. 28 meeting indicated openness to switching to a four-day school week in the 2025-26 school year. Board members will likely make their official decision at the Nov. 25 meeting after hearing more direct comments and concerns from staff, faculty and students — as well as a more complete proposal including the start time and end time for each school’s daily schedule. Superintendent Rod Broadnax presented survey results that tended to show staff in support of making the cha...
As most of the country’s election map turned red last night, so did most of Washington states but with different results overall. With only 64 % of votes counted in the state as of 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris, with 51% of the vote nationally had received 58% in Washington, giving the state’s 12 electoral college votes to her. Results are unofficial until they are certified Nov. 26 by county officials, then by the secretary of state on Dec. 5. That blue leaning in the most heavily populated areas of the state carried thr...
A cellphone carrying man in a Batman costume smiles as he meets a girl in a similar outfit, complete with six-pack abs, on Halloween day at the chamber of commerce-sponsored Trunk or Treat event from 3-5 p.m. on Main Street. The two spoke briefly and bumped fists in Dark Knight style. The event drew a large, diverse crowd of people, many in costume and happy to be out in them. - Scott Hunter photo...
Trunk or treaters visit with people parked on Main Street, backed in with trunks (or pickup beds) decorated for the chamber Trunk or Treat event. - Scott Hunter photo...
Joe Lauseng and his family pose for a photo at the photo booth on Main Street during the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce's Trunk or Treat event on Halloween afternoon. - Scott Hunter photo...
The Grand Coulee Dam district will propose a four-year school funding levy to voters on the February ballot, the board indicated at its Oct. 28 meeting. If approved, the new levy would replace the current one, which expires next year, and bring in nearly $4.2 million for educational programs and operations between 2026-29. The current year’s budget for educational programs and operations is just under $14 million. Though the final resolution language still needs formal approval by the board in November, members unanimously agreed with the r...
Grand Coulee Dam schools are scrambling this week to get almost 40 of their students who live in Nespelem to formally “choice in” to GCDSD — or else risk losing $9,100 per student in so-called “full time equivalent” funding from the state. As of Monday night, Superintendent Rod Broadnax told the school board they had not received paperwork from any of the Nespelem students yet, putting around $350,000 at risk. The state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has given GCDSD the ultimatum this year: Get it done or else lose out on th...
An all-community meeting next week will explore the idea of forming an Emergency Medical Services District for the area. Local ambulance service depends on a few paid volunteers who must respond too often. The meeting will take place Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Coulee Dam Town Hall in the ballroom. The topic affects all local municipalities, and will offer information about the medical transportation needs of the community.... Full story
A thick fog obscures the towns and lakes below SR-174 in Douglas County Tuesday morning as the mist rises with the sun and the temperature. Check out our local weather forecast on page 3. - Scott Hunter photo...
A popular program that provided after-school and summer educational activities for students may return to Lake Roosevelt Schools next year. School District Superintendent Rod Broadnax told the district board of directors Monday that several people have volunteered to help get the funding back that is lacking this year from the 21st Century grant program that once funded the District’s SHARP Kids program. Broadnax said Gene Sharrett, former NCW Education Services District superintendent, and one other person met with him Friday. “I’m very excit...
The Colville Confederated Tribes signed a formal agreement with the Washington State Department of Commerce last week, committing the state agency to remove administrative barriers, improve communications and ensure data sovereignty in its work with CCT. Tribal Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson and Commerce Director Mike Fong signed the agreement on Oct. 23 at a ceremony at the Government Center, according to a news release. "The Colville Tribes welcomes a chance to work collaboratively with...
The Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department responded to a power pole fire Sunday in East Heights along the highway to Wilbur about 8 a.m. And electric power pole and a transformer were burning. A transformer exploded about 9 a.m., the department reported. Volunteers also attended a search and rescue training on Thursday at the former middle school in Grand Coulee. The department appreciated the ability to use the school for the training. "Great training and sharing of ideas between new and old...
The Economic Alliance of Okanogan County is inviting business owners to a couple educational events in November. “Pricing Power: Maximize Profit” will be offered Nov. 6, 9-11 a.m. at 238 E. Oak in Okanogan to “learn about the factors to consider when setting a price and how to avoid being overwhelmed by all the options.” Business owners, chambers of commerce, and other interested can attend a presentation by the Washington State Main Street Program on Nov. 12 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. at the Community Foundation of NCW, 715A Okoma Drive, in Omak. Par...
Congressman Dan Newhouse visited Coulee Medical Center last week as part of a tour through the north part of the 4th District to hear from leadership about the hospital's successes, challenges, and their hope to have their tiny home project included in the federal budget. The hospital district, which includes parts of four counties, brings in only about $200,000 annually from property taxes–not even enough to cover the salary and benefits for one doctor–since a large portion of the land is gov...
