Coulee Recollections

Ten Years Ago

One of the final obstacles to the construction of the town of Coulee Dam’s filtration plant has now been removed. Fourth Congressional District Representative Richard “Doc” Hastings announced yesterday that Coulee Dam will receive federal grants and a loan to pay for its water filtration plant. “It’s great,” said Coulee Dam Mayor Quincy Snow. “It goes to show that the squeeky wheel gets the results.”

High temperatures could not prevent shooting enthusiasts from attending a tournament designed to test their skills with a variety of moving targets last weekend. The Almira Gun Club’s third annual Brenner Sporting Clay’s “Fun” Shoot took place last Saturday at the club.

Cuts in the state’s budget have forced the Grand Coulee Dam area’s only prescription drug provider to ponder the future of accepting Medicaid in its pharmacies.

Shane Proctor, a senior at Lake Roosevelt High School, has earned a position on the Washington State National High School Rodeo Team and will be traveling with fellow teammates to Farmington, New Mexico, from July 22-28, 2002, to compete at the 54th Annual National High School Finals Rodeo.

Twenty Years Ago

More than a half million dollars for a Lake Roosevelt water quality recovery plan was approved by a House of Representatives subcommittee late last month.

An 81-year old woman stopped traffic on highway 155 after the fireworks show Saturday when officials had to take her in a ambulance up the wrong side of the road.

Officials of Grand Coulee Dam estimated that the largest crowd ever assembled for a single local event at Grand Coulee Dam happened for the Fourth of July. Somewhere between 60,000 and 70,000 people were on hand for a holiday fireworks display that followed the dam’s display that followed the dam’s evening laser light show.

Thirty Years Ago

The final ceremony dedicating the Time Capsule Sundial a project of the GCD Area Bicentennial/History Book Committee, was held July 4, at North Dam Park. Master of Ceremonies was Wayne Monteith.

George Simon was installed as president of the GCD Rotary Club at a banquet recently.

Rhonda Pickering, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Pickering qualified for the State High School Rodeo Finals in barrel racing.

Forty Years Ago

The Circle Grounds across the highway from the Agency at Nespelem resembled a bee hive as crews worked toward getting everything ready for the 100th birthday celebration of the Colville Indian Reservation.

Joe Ehlers was recently named to the Dean’s List at Wenatchee Valley College during the spring quarter.

Cathy Chamberlain, Terry Stone and Nancy Finch of Elmer City were among the girls who attended the Grand Assembly of Rainbow Girls at Tacoma recently.

Fifty Years Ago

Mary Elizabeth, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Michaud, was recently christened at St. Benedict’s Church in Coulee Dam.

Young men from this area that attended Boys’ State were Bill Trefry, Ron Ponder, Dean Skorheim, Larry Johnson and Tony Atkinson.

Mrs. William Carr left Monday with the junior and senior high school group of the Baptist Church for Camp Lutherhaven at Coeur d’Alene. Those attending were Jim Conner, Terry Thoren, Bruce Gore, Barbara DuCette, Clark Crim, Patty DuCette, Amy Weber, Ilana Carr and Janice Kusel.

Sixty Years Ago

Jim Tillman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Otis Tillman of Elmer City, is leaving for Alaska where he will work for the summer for the Alaska Road Commission at Valdez.

Under the lights at the Beaver Bowl Friday night the GCD Athletics will face the Ephrata Jaycees. Last Sunday at Almira, the locals blasted out a lopsided 18-1 win behind the steady hurling of Evan Jensen.

Mr. and Mrs. John Edyvean who recently purchased the Bob Worden place at Belvedere had as their guests Mr. and Mrs. Jess Evans of Grand Coulee.

Seventy Years Ago

General excavation work was finished in the two switchyards. Anchor holes for steel towers were being drilled.

June saw the placement of a 525-ton rotor for the first of the world’s greatest turbo-operated generators in the Grand Coulee Dam powerhouse. Completion of the mammoth generator was scheduled for mid-July. Dry runs were made before the actual acceptance by the Bureau of Reclamation. Delivery of electrical power was expected to be in early August.

A 42-year-old stake set by government surveyors in 1899, was removed from a spot six miles below Kettle Falls. The stake was used to note a land allotment of Pierre and Lucy St. Paul. It was of cedar and in a good state of preservation.