Ridger Riders get support

The Ridge Riders got $4,000 support from Coulee Dam Town Council Wednesday night.

The council had budgeted a total of $1,500 for the Ridge Riders from the town’s hotel/motel tax fund but upped it $2,500 after George Kohout and Kathy Baty appeared to outline the group’s plans for the year.

The town had originally set aside funds for an entrance sign, only to learn that they couldn’t use hotel/motel money for that, and then shifted enough of that budget item to make up the difference for the Ridge Riders.

Before Kohout could finish his presentation, Councilmember Ben Alling moved to give the Ridge Riders the $4,000 they requested.

Electric City has voted $4,000 from its hotel/motel fund and Grand Coulee council voted to look at the request at its next council meeting, Feb. 21.

Grand Coulee Councilmember Paul Townsend raised questions about hotel/motel money being used for traveling expenses for rodeo queen Caelan Pitts when she participated in parades, rodeos and other community events out of town. The council was going to ask its attorney about the use of funds for travel.

The Ridge Riders have a fully expanded program for the year that includes a riding clinic, March 31 - April 3; a pending banquet/auction; the annual Colorama Rodeo, May 11-12; Cletis Lacy Memorial Bull Riding event, May 13; a pending junior rodeo and two ranch rodeos, June 30 and Sept. 22.

The hotel/motel tax money will be used to advertise the events.