News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Since day one in the White House, President Biden has touted that his administration would promote “the most ambitious climate change agenda in history” and “expand affordable clean energy to every American.” While this is a talking point we continuously hear from both the President’s campaign and at the White House’s daily press briefings, I fear President Biden has a misunderstanding of how we can actually achieve the clean energy future he talks about. We cannot face our climate challenges today by viewing the issue through a straw hole....
At the end of a high school sports season like this one, it’s good to reflect on why running or playing with a ball matters. It doesn’t, of course, but those sports can be the means to learning something profound and life-changing for young people, whether winning or losing. It will never matter to almost every high school football player in another five to 20 years that they ever learned to play that game. Same for volleyball players, soccer players and players of just about every game we spend so much time pursuing or watching. But what wil...
Congratulations on your prestigious WNPA award. You are sooooo worthy of being recognized for all the hard work you have put into The Star for so many years. We certainly recognize the problems that go with owning a business. But providing local information in an unbiased way is a big talent. We also thank you for all of your work promoting and improving the Grand Coulee Dam community. Jim and Mary Jane Bailey...
Congrats on the Turnbull Award. Journalism is a tough gig right now and rural journalism even tougher. You’ve managed to keep the community informed and educated and entertained despite their resistance at times. The Star is really a hub for the whole area and you are doing consistent, outstanding work. I’m pleased it has been recognized by your peers. It’s well earned. And ask Carl Russell if he’s ever heard of James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Zachary Taylor or Herbert Hoover. You should know all the preside...
I first met Mr. Sis when I took my shoes in to get them half-soled. Sims had the local shoe repair shop in Palouse. His daughter Delores was in my class at school and a close friend of mine. Not of the dating kind of friend, just a friend. Mr. Sims visited with me for quite a while, which surprised me, but I thought it was probably because Delores knew me. When I returned to pick up my shoes, he took some time visiting with me and asking a lot of questions. Then he suggested that when I wasn’t busy some afternoon to drop by his shop. I’m sti...
While the last veterans who survived the “surprise” Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor are dwindling rapidly, we cannot let their sacrifices and the memories of that horrific day that propelled America into World War II fade into history. On December 7, 1941, 350 Japanese aircraft descended on Honolulu’s military installations in two shocking waves. More than 2,400 Americans were killed, and 21 ships were sunk or damaged. Our soldiers, sailors and pilots who fought and won WWII are now 90 or older,...
In 1992, a single male sockeye salmon managed to swim 900 miles from the mouth of the Columbia River to Redfish Lake located deep in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains — the end of his migratory journey. Biologists dubbed the sole survivor, “Lonesome Larry.” By 2010, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council happily reported record-setting runs for sockeye —387,000 had climbed the fish ladders at Bonneville Dam. Last year, 751 sockeye were trapped at Redfish Lake Creek and taken to nearby Sawtooth...
Biden is the worst man to ever set in the oval office. His administration is the most inept in history. None of them had the qualifications to hold the position they have. You can’t count on anything they say. I have never witnessed an administration or president that tells more lies. But the news media protects them, including The Star paper. Thank you, Carl Russell...
Our Scott Hunter received the Miles Turnbull award for excellence in journalism. Turnbull was the publisher of the Leavenworth paper and later executive director of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. He is deceased, but remembered for his dedication to the principles of journalism. Miles traveled around the state visiting the various newspapers and was always asked for tips on how to run a newspaper more efficiently, especially a need in today’s marketplace. The award is given periodically to an outstanding publisher who beats t...
After you’ve had your fill of Thanksgiving leftovers and chaotic Black Friday crowds, you may be looking for a way to change up the menu and enjoy more leisurely and memorable experiences. Small Business Saturday on November 25 is exactly what’s needed as the bustling holiday season kicks off. Shopping and dining at small establishments not only provides customers with unique and personalized experiences but comes with the added bonus of making a positive impact on your community. For example: • Small businesses support your favorite cause...
President Biden’s $65 billion infrastructure bill contains $8 billion for regional hubs to develop ways to produce and distribute hydrogen fuel. One is planned for the Pacific Northwest and should help haulers and truck manufacturers in Renton and Portland in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, long-distance haulers need a network of hydrogen fueling stations (like today’s truck stops) along with affordable trucks and fuel. Hub researchers’ added challenge is 95 pe...
Immigration has been one of America’s long running problems. Historically, climate irregularities have induced famine, civil conflict, and migration. If scientists are correct about the climate change in our future, the world will again experience those disruptions of life including large scale migration attempts. We need to solve our immigration issues. Immigration is a responsibility of the federal government. Our national government has abdicated a significant measure of that role to border states. The individual states should not be taxed w...
Everyone has memories and favorite places. Here are a few of mine. We were vacationing in Wyoming and had our oldest son, Paul, with us. Our plan was to stay overnight and travel to the Tetons the next day. We stopped at the Irma Hotel to get rooms and learned that we could get the Buffalo Bill suite that had two bedrooms for a very reasonable amount, so we took it. We learn that Bill Cody stayed there when he wasn’t traveling with his Wild West show. The suite was well worn and very plain. A large picture of Cody was on the wall, the only a...
Halloween is upon us, which means you’d better be cautious about the costume you choose. Halloween has long been a staple of childhood, but in the past few decades it has been increasingly celebrated by adults — and for good reason. Until recently, it was the one day where adults could dress up in funny, outrageous costumes that satirized popular culture and the complexity of modern life. Dressing up as a rock star, Albert Einstein, a famous sports figure, or some other pop icon could be fun and funny. There should be some limits to our costume...
I was honored and ambivalent at the same time earlier this month to accept the highest honor awarded by the 136-year-old Washington Newspaper Publishers Association (WNPA) at a time when, more than ever, I’m still trying to figure this business out. Because it’s much more than a business; community newspapering is an institution and a calling that from the early days of America has been recognized as a big part of what makes this country work. Newspapers were “the power which impels the circulation of political life,” philosopher Alexis de Tocq...
We visited Grand Cayman Island back in the 1970s, before it mushroomed into a popular vacation spot. Grand Cayman is one of three islands in the chain, and about 200 miles off Cuba. My wife and I were looking for a getaway place, and our travel agent in Kirkland said he had just the spot for us. At the time, the only thing I knew about the Cayman Islands was that people hid their money there so they didn’t have to pay taxes. I didn’t have any money so it wasn’t going to be a problem. At the time, the biggest island, Grand Cayman, was large...
Recently while visiting Cole Memorial Park in Coulee Dam, I noticed a few small decorations at the edge of the swimming pool, now a beach volleyball court, along with the following note: "I tried to beautify this area of memories. I wanted to bring back the joyful laughter and energy that used to echo off the walls. It was a safe place for kids to splash and holler and play with their school friends during the heat of the summer. "Because of the lifeguard, it was a place kids walked to for...
I’ve lived in the Nespelem area most of my life and am a graduate of Lake Roosevelt High School. My children were raised here too and are graduates of LRHS. Now my grandkids, grandnieces and grandnephews are being raised here on their way to being graduates of LR. I came from a traditionally Native home that was riddled with alcoholism and, unfortunately, so were my children. Now our families are living alcohol free, some of us 6-plus years in, and are doing our best to raise our children and grandchildren without that dysfunction of a...
On Homecoming night October 7, 2023, at about 11 p.m., I witnessed a Coulee Dam Police SUV travel through Grand Coulee at a very high speed with blue lights on. I would guess 70 miles per hour or more. If there would have been anything in his way it would be roadkill. To Coulee Dam, get a hold of your officer. Our officers in Grand Coulee may not do the traffic control that I like but they do show common sense. Robert Fields...
In the aftermath of the heinous attacks on Israel orchestrated by the Iran-backed terrorist organization, Hamas, it is crucial to acknowledge Israel’s right to defend itself against a repressive regime. Over the past weekend, Israel witnessed unimaginable horrors and faced multiple attempted infiltrations. Soldiers were brutally attacked, entire families were tragically slaughtered in their homes, and parents lost their lives while shielding their infants from these unspeakable atrocities. The scenes were nothing short of abject horror, and a...
My pick is the fall. It offers some relief from the heat, and everything seems to return to normal. The tourists have thinned out, school is back in session, and the football season is upon us. I also like the fall colors. We don’t have a lot here in the coulee, but what we have is great. I’ve been to the New England states, but never at the right time of year. I moved to southern Idaho when I was in my 20s and always anxious to see new things. I discovered the South Hills, a splotch of hills and forests just south of Twin Falls. There were lar...
National Newspaper Week (October 1-7) compels me to acknowledge my journalistic catastrophe of fifth grade. Based on my passion for reading Nashville’s two dailies, Miss Bunch handed me the plum assignment of launching a newspaper for our class. I joyously composed articles of my own and proofread the contributions of classmates. Alas, my mechanical ineptitude reared its ugly head and for the life of me, I couldn’t operate the mimeograph! So the project died without its first issue hitting the...
It’s football time and I am getting confused. Between time taken up by penalties and replays, plus ads, it’s getting tough to watch games. There are five- and 10-minute stretches where nothing is happening except poorly conceived ads and avoidable penalties. With all the talent in the country, you would think at least some ads would show some creativity. The penalties show me that there isn’t a lot of fine tuning going on in football programs. Upping test scores It’s time for parents and townspeople to take more of an interest in our schools...
The debate surrounding grizzly bear introduction into the North Cascades ecosystem is far from new. For decades, Central Washingtonians have been fighting to ensure their voices are heard in opposition to this ill-conceived plan. Regrettably, last week’s announcement from the U.S. National Park Service and U.S Fish & Wildlife Service, which outlines their plan to introduce grizzly bears to the North Cascades, proves—once again—our voices are being ignored. Last week, the Biden Administration began seeking public comment on a proposed ruled...
I don’t think Uncle George did things because of a will to succeed; he did that many times over. I think he was so driven because he saw how never giving up, always stepping up, and always saddling up helped so many others to succeed. I don’t think he ever told me no when asked to borrow his truck and trailer, boat, camper, tractor, or whatever I may have needed. Uncle George traveled many different trails in his life, but the constant was service, family, and friends. He was a big John Wayne fan. I smiled when I read a magazine not long ago...