News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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A storm that ripped through the area Sunday afternoon toppled a tree that pulled down a powerline in Coulee Dam, closing River Drive and leaving the area without power for several hours. A 60-foot evergreen tree fell across a front porch at 1015 River Drive but didn't damage the house or a pickup parked in the driveway - under the downed tree. But it did pull down power lines crossing River Drive, which is also SR-155 through town. Coulee Dam fire trucks closed the road while Nespelem Valley...
Officials for the barely funded public agency currently responsible for managing the park that holds major events in the area said Tuesday they may have to close it down. North Dam Park, which is owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation but managed by the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District (CAPRD) is the venue for events like Colorama, Run the Dam, summer softball and baseball games, a skate park, the Gehrke Windmills display, countless private events, and more. But CAPRD commissioners Brian Warneke and Kevin Porch said Tuesday that USBR... Full story
The Diversity Divine Auto Show returns this year to Coulee Plaza where car enthusiasts can show off their prized vehicles. On June 18, the DDAS, hosted by Coulee Medical Center's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sam Hsieh, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on his property on Main Street in Grand Coulee known as Coulee Plaza. "We are very excited!" Hsieh said. "We are just hoping that the recent spike in gas prices doesn't affect people from bringing their cars to the show." Categories in the car show...
There are multiple political races in local counties, including for sheriff positions, county commissioners, judges, clerks, and more. An Aug. 2 primary will narrow any races with more than two candidates down to just two, and the general election will take place on Nov. 8. In Grant County, running for sheriff are three Republicans: James Baker of Moses Lake, Joe Harris of Quincy, and Joey Kriete of Ephrata. Current Sheriff Tom Jones announced Tuesday that he is retiring July 1. Okanogan County...
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...
The town council in Coulee Dam Wednesday night approved spending $3,020 to “move dirt” in an area just above the city hall, a residential neighborhood, and a motel so police can use it for a shooting range. Officer Josh Watkins introduced himself to the council as the firearms instructor for Coulee Dam’s two-officer police department and explained the need for such a space. Watkins said the biggest benefit would be the ability to get free training. Police have training requirements to keep up with, but scheduling time at the U.S. Bureau of Re... Full story
Scouts in Pack 24 and Troupes 24 and 52 reveal an unfolded American flag before demonstrating the 13-fold process of folding it, with the meaning of each step narrated by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class (retired) Sara Zlateff. More photos of the 46th annual Isle of Flags ceremony on Memorial Day are on page 5. - Scott Hunter photo...
With public health agencies now reporting two-week-old covid case rates and home testing widely available, hospital admissions seem a more reliable indicator. Those are trending up, even locally. Coulee Medical Center CEO Ramona Hicks told hospital district commissioners Monday that more tests at CMC for COVID-19 are showing its presence, with the positivity rate rising from 10% last Friday to 18% by Tuesday, including some admissions to the hospital. Statewide, too, hospitals are recording an...
There’s a lot of turnover this year at Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School. The Grand Coulee Dam School District board of directors accepted the resignations of Junior/Senior High Principal Sara Kennedy, Dean of Students Billy Monroe, and Athletic Director Tim Rasmussen, as well as math and drivers’ ed teacher Jeff Piturachsatit. The school board got the news at their meeting May 23. Although they didn’t discuss them publicly following a private executive session that preceded the acceptance of the resignations, Board Director Butch Stange...
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...
Grand Coulee City Park is receiving upgrades this year including a half-court basketball court, a new barbecue pit area, walkways, and playground equipment. The park, located along SR-174 between a gas station and Mexican food restaurant, is benefiting from a $162,000 grant that the city was awarded last year from the Ephrata-based Paul Lauzier Foundation. Old playground equipment, including swings, teeter-totters, and a slide have been removed to make room for new playground equipment, while a “merry-go-round” device still remains. The cur...
Ashley Atkins took on the role of Indian Education director this school year at Lake Roosevelt Schools and spoke to The Star recently about the importance of teaching Native American culture and history. "I will introduce myself in my language (Crow) first," she wrote in an email to The Star. "Kahay! Baalaashe' Amiiaxxisesh huuk, baashchiilitaailia, 'Lucky and Receiving' huuk. I am Apsaalooke from the great Crow Nation of Montana. My husband [LR science teacher Derek Atkins] is Psquosa...
The Bureau of Reclamation announced last Wednesday that the Grand Coulee Dam “One River, Many Voices” laser light show and the John W. Keys III Pump-Generating Plant public tours would come back on May 28, in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Tours were not allowed in 2020 or 2021 due to restrictions under the health emergency due to COVID-19, and the bureau warned that those could be re-imposed if necessary. The light show will run nightly at 10 p.m. Pacific Time through July 31. Beginning Aug. 1, the show will start at 9:30 p.m., and beg...
Two school boards learned Monday night that a major source of funding education for local students is apparently coming to an end if local officials can’t find a way to appeal a recent “review” of their method of sharing federal funds. An agreement to funnel “Impact Aid” from Nespelem School District to Grand Coulee Dam School District hasn’t been correct for years, a federal “reviewer” recently informed the Nespelem superintendent, a finding that will have a large financial impact on Lake Roosevelt Schools. For decades, the two districts h...
The Grand Coulee Dam School District Board of Directors will be holding a special board meeting this Thursday May 26, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. to approve the staff salary increase. This meeting will be a Zoom meeting....
The annual Isle of Flags, with its Memorial Day ceremony, will honor 15 more veterans whose families have requested a flag be flown in their honor. The annual event, which started in 1976, continues to add more flags every year to the spectacle that community volunteers (more needed) will start putting them up at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at the Spring Canyon Cemetery. They will be flying 599 American flags. A Veterans’ Center Memorial Day Breakfast will be offered free of charge to all Saturday from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Vets Center in E...
Part of Federal Avenue in Grand Coulee is receiving a half a million dollar makeover. Wheeler Excavation, LLC out of Benton City is the contractor for the project, replacing the main water line, installing a sidewalk and storm drainage, and rebuilding the street. The full project is expected to cost $535,555, Grand Coulee City Clerk Lorna Pearce said. The streetwork is being done with state Transportation Improvement Board money up to an amount of $524,096. The city will be paying for the...
A $7,000 study funded by the Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center found that developing senior housing in the area would be beneficial. The senior center pledged up to $25,000 for studies geared towards developing land currently owned by Centerline Development into living options for senior citizens. With this initial study saying it is a good plan, further studies would include financial studies, an architectural plan and legal expenses, among other items, totalling about $50,000. At a March 14 meeting at the senior center, Ian Turner and Nic...
Electric City could expand beyond Osborn Bay, but first they need to have a water system there. Electric City is applying for a Washington State Department of Commerce grant from the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) to help pay for a water feasibility study to be done for an area just south of Osborn Bay. The feasibility study will tell the city if they could drill a new well there, which would allow for future development of residences in that area, Mayor Diane Kohout said. She...
Electric City is forming a new committee focused on developing a city park, and Electric City residents can be a part of that committee. At a May 18 special council meeting, the council approved going forward with forming a new park committee focused solely on building a city park. Councilmember Brian Buche noted during the meeting that people have expressed interest in taking up the cause again. Buche was elected as part of a new administration in 2019, including all new council members, a new mayor, and a new city clerk, with the park being...
Some people aren't too thrilled about a possible impending speed limit reduction on a stretch of highway between Electric City and Grand Coulee. The upcoming construction of a pedestrian and bicycle pathway along Banks Lake connecting the Coulee Playland area to the North Dam area may come with a speed limit reduction from 45 miles per hour to 35 mph for an 800-yard stretch of road if the state Department of Transportation deems it appropriate. The path will narrow the roadway, which will...
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...
Results are in for the May 7 primary elections for positions on the Colville Business Council. The CBC is the governing body of the Colville Tribes with 14 positions total for the council, and seven up for re-election each year. Poll votes in the current primary were certified May 9; absentee ballots were certified May 12. There are four positions each in the Inchelium, Nespelem, and Omak districts, and two positions in the Keller district. Four of the races this year went through the primary process to narrow them down to two candidates each....
When you call 911 in a medical emergency, those who respond are people who spend considerable time training and belong to local and national organizations dedicated to helping them learn or certifying that they have. In 2021, Grand Coulee Dam area emergency medical service responders answered over 500 calls, says Grand Coulee Ambulance Service Director Richard Paris. May 15-21 is National EMS week, the theme for which is “Rising to the Challenge.” “This is the 47th annual celebration of EMS Week, where we honor our frontline heroes, dedic...
A construction project is beginning on a new waterline and paving on a section of Federal Avenue in Grand Coulee from Main Street down to Midway Avenue by The Star newspaper building. The street was closed Tuesday to through traffic. The project also involves putting in a sidewalk and storm drains on one side of the street. Construction is anticipated to be finished by July 7, City Clerk Lorna Pearce said at the May 17 council meeting. The Star reported in September of 2021 that the city's...