Newsbriefs

Primary ballots

out this week

Ballots for the Aug. 7 primary, will be mailed to voters today, Wednesday, in Grant County and Thursday in Okanogan County, their respective elections departments noted.

If you don’t get a ballot by July 25, you can call Grant County’s department at 754-2011 ext. 377 or ext. 423. Okanogan County’s election officials can be reached at (509) 422-7240.

Trees coming down

The Bureau of Reclamation plans to cut down eight or nine trees in North Dam Park.

Public Affairs Officer Lynne Brougher said that Bonneville Power Administration had asked that trees in the park that are under power lines be taken down.

Brougher said that the usable firewood from the trees will be stacked in the park and the wood would be available to anyone who wants it.

Brougher also stated that BPA will work with Coulee Area Park & Recreation officials in providing some new trees and taller shrubs to replace trees taken out.

Work to remove the trees will commence soon.

Kids work windmills

SHARP Kids “Windmill Warriors” visited the Gehrke Windmill Garden in early July for the start of their ongoing service learning project in partnership with the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District. Participants weeded and added new potting soil to planters. They also observed the conditions of the windmills to determine how the windmills work and gathered ideas aboout potential repairs. This project is ongoing until it ends Aug. 2.

Breakfast/lunch served

The Grand Coulee Dam School District is providing a free open meal site through the USDA Summer Food Program for children ages 18 and under. Meals are served at Center School with breakfast from 8:30-9 a.m, and lunch from 12 noon to 12:30 p.m,. Monday through Thursday until Aug. 2. On average, they are serving 30 local children at breakfast and 40 local children at lunch. For more information regarding meal times or menu options contact SHARP Kids at 633-3033.

Bus hits patrol car

A Grand Coulee Dam tour bus ran into a Grand Coulee police patrol car on top of the dam last Tuesday.

The officer, Heath Otto, was outside his patrol car checking on a vehicle that was blocking the top of the dam at the time of the collision. There were tourists in the bus at the time, but no one was injured and the patrol car received limited damage.

Tour bus driver was Kenneth Miles of Coulee Dam.

Scammers call utility customers

Telephone scammers are calling area PUD customers and threating to shut off electricity unless an immediate credit card payment is made over the phone.

Customers from Grant, Douglas and Chelan county PUDs have recently reported receiving calls. The scammers identify themselves as being with “the local power company” and the numbers they are calling from do not have a 509 area code.

PUD customers concerned about a call regarding their electrical service should tell the caller they will hang up and call back. Grant PUD’s main customer service number is (509) 766-2505 or toll free (800) 422-3199.

Calls that are suspected to be a scam should be reported to local police.

Lake bed fires banned

Acting Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Superintendent Natalie Gates has banned campfires on any exposed lake bed in Lake Roosevelt until September 30.

Campfires in park-provided fire grates at developed campgrounds are allowed. The use of gas and propane barbeques and self-contained stoves is allowed.

K-12 team to meet

The core planning team for the K-12 building project will next meet with architects at 3:30 p.m. Monday, July 23, at the District Office.