News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Police were not giving out any information tonight as officers from various agencies arrived from far away to diverge on Nespelem, where tribal police were searching for an active shooter. Colville Tribal Emergency Services posted a warning on Facebook about 7 p.m., asking Nespelem residents to stay in their homes. The mayor also issued that plea and added that a car chase was happening with someone shooting at police. Many commenters on Facebook made statements on social media giving other...
Nothing is easy, not even at a place called Playland. An estimated million dollars of upgrades are needed at Coulee Playland to bring it up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, the Electric City Council learned last week. The popular campground that includes a tackle and camping gear shop, boat launch, and more has been in the process of being sold to new owners this year. That process has been slowed as the Bureau of Reclamation reviews the new agreement between the city and the potential new owners to make sure it doesn’t contradict...
Elmer City appointed a new council member in addition to other business they took care of during their Oct. 13 council meeting. Long named new council member Flora Long expressed her interest in Council Member Position #4 during the meeting, saying that she is "just trying to do my civic duty." She has lived in the community for 40 years, she said, adding that her parents grew up in Elmer City. Long is also the sister of Councilmember Bill Dunlap. The council approved her appointment. She will...
The Electric City Council took a formal stance last week against the idea of consolidating their city with Grand Coulee. Mayor Diane Kohout told the council that because of a renewed interest in the topic of consolidation, and multiple residents asking about it, she would like the council to say whether they support the idea. Councilmember Cheryl Hoffman, formerly a member of a committee for consolidation, said that although she likes the idea of consolidation in theory, in practice it is not so practical. Councilmember Brian Buche said of all...
The topic of forming a local Emergency Medical Services district continues to be discussed, most recently at Electric City’s Oct. 11 city council meeting. Nic Alexander, who serves as assistant fire chief to Chief Ryan Fish for the Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department and the Grand Coulee Ambulance, spoke at the meeting, explaining many of the same details he made to Grand Coulee’s council in August. He said the area needs a full-time, paid ambulance director, plus additional staff. The current EMS boundaries reach from Leahy Junction to abo...
The Regional Board of Mayors is continuing to look into forming a cemetery district. At their Oct. 5 meeting, the RBOM discussed different factors they’ll need to look into regarding trying to form a cemetery district that would take over management of the Spring Canyon Cemetery, currently managed by the local Lions club. Complications include that the cemetery is located in Lincoln County, but none of the four cities of Electric City, Grand Coulee, Coulee Dam and Elmer City are in that county. Also, the RBOM was formed primarily to take c...
by Jacob Wagner Lake Roosevelt students got a taste of what it's like to work at a hospital, an environment some could end up working at one day. Coulee Medical Center helped give LR students the experience of what it might be like to be a surgeon, nurse, or medical assistant during a career fair held at the LR gym on Oct. 5. There, high school students from LR, Almira-Coulee-Hartline, and Wilbur were able to speak with CMC employees and participate in activities that simulated surgery, CPR, dra...
High school can go beyond the rigidity of reading, writing, and arithmetic that we sometimes think of it as, and Lake Roosevelt proves that by offering classes that are a little different. LR’s class catalog includes options that readers may not have been offered when they were in school, classes such as Rock Band, Journalism, American Sign Language, Native American Literature, and Natural Fire Science. Such classes engage students in ways that may be more appealing than more traditional classes, offer skills that can be useful in careers, o...
Okanogan County’s burning restrictions have been extended through Oct. 28, a notice from the county’s Emergency Management department said Monday. Restrictions had been set to expire Oct. 15, but with no recent rain and none expected for two weeks, the county’s Fire Advisory Committee recommended restriction continue. That means no field, pile, rubbish, slash, yard vegetation or non-emergent agricultural burning is allowed on unincorporated private lands within Okanogan County. Recreational fires must be attended at all times and be conta...
Okanogan County Sheriff says his office has gotten multiple reports of someone phoning people and claiming to be with the sheriff’s office. He’s not, Sheriff Tony Hawley said. The resident is asked to call a number on a “very urgent” matter. The number they are asked to call, 509-414-7003, is not a number in the county, but is supposed to be associated with the Chattaroy, Washington area. The name given is not that of an employee in the sheriff’s office, and “Okanogan” is pronounced incorrectly. “Please do not provide any personal inform...
Families gather around an inflatable movie screen to watch a film at the last First Friday event of the season Oct. 7 at North Dam Park. The earlier sunset provided a good opportunity to offer the free family activity at the last of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce's series that started in June with a monthly venue for vendors (in background here) and a beer garden (at left in background.) - Scott Hunter photo...
Oct. 21 Start of 18-day voting period (through Election Day). Ballots are mailed out and Accessible Voting Units (AVUs) are available at voting centers. Oct. 31 Online and mail registrations must be received eight days before Election Day. Register to vote in person during business hours and any time before 8 p.m. on Election Day. Nov. 8 Deadline for Washington State voter registration or updates (in person only). General Election - Deposit your ballot in an official drop box by 8 p.m....
OLYMPIA – Wildfire smoke is sticking around several parts of Washington and forecasts show smoke will likely get worse before it gets better. Breathing in smoke is not good for anyone. Days of consistent smoke exposure can take a toll on your health, making it especially important to protect yourself and those around you by staying alert and doing what you can to reduce smoke exposure. When it’s smoky outside, track air quality levels on the Washington Smoke Information website and follow related health recommendations. Do your best to stay ind...
The Grand Coulee Dam School District school board will hold a meeting on Oct. 10 at 5:30 p.m., in the Raider Hub at Lake Roosevelt where they will hold a question-and-answer session about the upcoming educational levy. That levy proposes to collect $2 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation to replace three levies collecting at a rate of $4.20 per $1,000 that are expiring at the end of 2022. More on the levy can be found in a July 27 Star story titled "Smaller school levy confirmed for Nov....
It’s October, and watching the 1993 Disney film “Hocus Pocus” in the park, in addition to enjoying food, drink, and craft vendors, may be the perfect way to spend your Friday night. On Oct. 7, the last “First Friday” event of the year will take place from 5-9 p.m. at North Dam Park. The event will include food and craft vendors, a beer garden featuring selections from One Tree Cider, Rocky Coulee Brewing, and other options, a DJ set by Jimmy Philips, and an 8 p.m. screening of the movie. Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce Executive...
Nate Krohn was appointed to a vacant commissioner seat with the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District at their Sept. 28 meeting. Krohn joins fellow commissioners Brian Warnecke, who also serves as president of the group, Kevin Portch, Carla Marconi, and Eric Wiitanen. A natural fit for the group, Krohn was born and raised in the Coulee area then went to Washington State University to become a landscape architect and in that capacity served the National Park Service for 12 years as a project...
Cindy Carter has been a Grant County commissioner since 2007, and wants to stay in that position to help share her knowledge with the large number of new people in leadership positions in county government. "I have the historical knowledge to continue moving forward," she said in an email to The Star. "We have two new commissioners, a newer Public Works Director, new Public Works Engineer, new Building Department Director, new Planning Director, [Geographic Information System] person and most im...
Jeff Foster sees changes that need to be made in Grant County, feels like he is the man for the job, and is challenging incumbent Commissioner Cindy Carter, who has held the seat since 2007, for the spot. "I believe that the people of Grant County should have the issues looked at from a new perspective with new energy!" he writes on his website. "I have the skills and experiences to help the citizens of Grant County and can give back to the community that has been very good to me professionally...
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area may implement the following prescribed fire during the fall of 2022: • At Gifford, 67 acres adjacent to the Gifford Campground and Boat Launch. • One large pile at each of the following locations: Stevens County - Evans, Kettle Falls, Gifford, Lincoln County - Fort Spokane, Keller Ferry, and Spring Canyon. The goals of prescribed burns include promoting forest health and decreasing forest fuel loads adjacent to campgrounds, residences, and structures. Benefits will include: Increased understory plant div...
by Jacob Wagner Those who have an interest in the education of local youth will have two opportunities to learn more about an upcoming school levy that will be on the ballot for the November election. The Grand Coulee Dam School District’s proposed educational levy seeks $2 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation, down from the $4.20 total collected from three levies expiring at the end of this year. The educational levy is also tied to about $700,000 more per year from the state that the district doesn’t get if voters don’t approve a levy....
Raider football fans cheer at last Friday night's game against the Liberty Lancers, the LR defeat of whom boosted the Raider rating to second in the state after four games this season. See details on page 5. - Jacob Wagner photo...
After a nice break for a couple weeks, the infection control nurse at Coulee Medical Center had to get back in the saddle the third week in September with three employees out with Covid-19. And as of Monday night, reported CEO Ramona Hicks to the hospital district board, five more employees were isolating due to exposure and 10 more were testing for it. The hospital has lost 710 working days among staff, due to the covid pandemic. Covid-19 isn’t going anywhere, officials say, but there are still precautions to take to prevent yourself, and o...
The Coulee area looked so festive last year with scarecrows that another Scarecrow Trail is planned this year by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. During the scarecrow trail, residents and businesses display scarecrows outside of businesses and in their neighborhoods. This year’s event will be held from Oct. 15-Nov.15 and participants have until Oct. 14 to register to be included in the contest, with awards given for first, second, and third place. “We are sure that the scarecrows displayed will be nothing short of fantastic! Let...
The wastewater treatment plant that takes care of all the sewage from Grand Coulee and Electric City has been in operation continually since 1985, treating 127 gallons a minute on average. The two cities have not grown out of it capacity-wise, but it’s “aging out” and needs an update, according to consulting engineering firm Gray and Osborne, which is working on a plan to update for the next 20 years. “What the guys are largely running up against is that … some of the equipment is just no longer made,” Gray and Osborne Engineer Nancy Wetch...
It can be hard to imagine mastodons roaming around in Eastern Washington, but they did, and a Grant PUD pulled a bone from one out of a bag last week. Back in March, the jawbone of an estimated 6-million-year-old Ringhold mastodon was found on Carbody Beach in the upper Hanford Reach area of the Columbia River, north of the Tri-Cities. Brett Lenz is an archaeologist and manager of Grant PUD's Cultural Resources division. He came across a picture of the jawbone on Facebook. A "rockhound" had...