Newsbriefs

New ferry set to

arrive in March

A new ferry, the Sanpoil, which will replace the Martha S ferry at the Keller Ferry crossing, will be delivered to Grand Coulee in three pieces for assembly in March, 2013, Laura Johnson of the Washington State Department of Transportation Ferry Division said last week.

The new ferry is being constructed by the Foss Maritime company in Rainier, Ore. The ferry will be transported by truck in three pieces to Crescent Bay boat launch, where it will be assembled and undergo final testing before being put into service.

Town will clean

up unowned

property

The town of Coulee Dam plans to clean up the property where a Sept. 18 fire destroyed a house at 611 Holly Street.

The house poses a hazard to the town, Police Chief Pat Collins told council members. He said the town would have someone clean up the property and then slap a lien on it in the hopes of recovering the cost.

Complicating the problem is the fact that no one owns the house, Collins stated.

Big wood

carvings

proposed

The two tall stumps in Mason City Park may soon be home to bear, eagles and salmon.

Mayor Quincy Snow told council members last Wednesday night that a wood carver had given an estimate of $12,000 to carve animals and fish on the stumps, using hotel/motel tax money.

The two trees were decimated during July’s major wind storm and the trunks were salvaged by the mayor for carvings similar to those along the road in Bridgeport.

Office

closed

for a day

Grant PUD’s local office in Grand Coulee will be closed Monday for training. Customers will still be able to speak with a customer service representative that day by calling (509) 754-0500 or toll free 1-800-422-3199. The local office will reopen Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 8 a.m.