News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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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... Full story
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...
Evacuation alert issued in Okanogan County A wildfire in Carlton warranted a level 2 (be ready to go) evacuation alert Tuesday afternoon that was still active by early evening. The Leecher Fire near 188 Vintin Road was about 30 acres in size at 6 p.m. County fire districts 3, 6 and 15 had been dispatched and were making good progress, the county’s Emergency Management Department reported. Firefighters with the state Department of Natural Resources were expected to remain through the night. Mosquito district has open seats The Grant County M...
A school’s vision and mission will inevitably affect the success of the education of the children who go there, and the Grand Coulee Dam School District is working on updating their strategic plan. The current strategic plan originates from 2017 and was last updated in 2020. At the GCDSD’s Sept. 12 board meeting, it was looked at piece by piece, and board directors suggested changes that could be made to it. The plan states that the district’s mission is to “empower all students to become successful members of our diverse society,” and that...
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Elmer City has entered the digital age with their own website found at www.townofelmercity.com, which includes helpful information for residents. Recently hired City Clerk Kelly Ross designed the website, which includes a few historical photos as well as information such as the contacts for city hall, emails for the mayor and council members, a water/sewer emergency number, public notices, council meeting information, city ordinances and more. Grand Coulee also started a website earlier this year, found at http://www.gccitywa.org. Electric...
Although the idea of consolidating local towns wasn’t popular during a brief discussion in Electric City, the idea of consolidating local fire and EMS services does have support. During their Sept. 13 council meeting, the council briefly discussed the idea of the consolidation of towns. Councilmember Brian Buche said the vast majority of people he has spoken to on the topic are against the idea. Councilmember Bob Rupe agreed. Fire Chief Mark Payne said that he wasn’t in favor of consolidating the towns, but was in favor of consolidating loc...
People in Nespelem opened up a new ball field Friday, complete with dugouts, fencing all around, bleachers, a tall backstop, and synthetic turf. The baseball/softball field can also be used for other activities, such as soccer and flag football. To underscore that point, after speeches concluded, the first game played was a game of kickball with players of all ages. Little bits of black rubber rose like heavy dust behind runners, then falling immediately back below the fabric that serves as the...
It was constructed nearly three years ago, but people behind putting up an informative kiosk at North Dam Park, delayed by circumstances, decided to hold a ceremony to officially open it last Saturday. The kiosk tells historical information about the area, and gives overviews of some of its features. Washington State Parks' Coulee Corridor Area Manager Dennis Felton and board member Birdie Hensley were joined by longtime corridor president Tim Alling, who cut the ribbon on the basalt...
Don’t open any recent emails from Grant County government entities or respond with any data as they aren’t actually from Grant County officials. “Grant County government has had several email accounts compromised,” a notice from Grant County Sheriff's Office reads. “If you receive an email asking you to open a proposal or the sender is sharing a file, delete the email. Do not open the email; do not input any username or password if requested. “If you have questions or have received an email and wish to let us know, please call 509-754-201... Full story
Time to lace up your sneakers because the Run the Dam festival takes place this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 16-17, and includes fun and activities for people of all ages in addition to the race. About 300 runners are expected to run in the event, according to event organizer Kelly Buche. Runners can participate in 5k, 10k, and half marathon races that begin by running across the top of the Grand Coulee Dam starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Participators can pace themselves in the event, and can...