Newsbriefs

Ballots delivered

Ballots for the Nov. 6 general election were mailed last week. If you haven’t received one, you should call your county auditor’s office.

One very local issue asks voters to decide on a tax levy for the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District.

Anyone not currently registered can still register in person at their county auditor’s office until Oct. 29.

Wreck on 17

A man was injured Tuesday afternoon when the 2011 Ford Fiesta he was driving south on SR 17 drifted to the left and rolled onto its right side about 16 miles north of Coulee City.

Ronnie Ray Etheridge, 66, of Moses Lake was taken to the Brewster hospital with injuries not specified in a Washington State Patrol report.

The cause of the accident, which occurred just before 2 p.m., is under investigation.

Clean audit

The state Auditor’s Office found no problems in its regular review of the books and procedures of Grant County Fire District 14, an Oct. 8 report released this week states.

The district provides fire suppression services in the county with a budget of about $35,000 a year.

Burning banned

The Okanogan County Board of Commissioners reminded residents of the county that there is currently a burn ban in effect. More detailed information may be obtained by calling (509) 422-7100.

Some fire OK’d

The U.S. Forest Service announced that due to the large amount of rain that has fallen, the ban on campfires in the Methow Valley and Tonasket Ranger Stations has been lifted. Fires may be started in camping areas where they normally are allowed, the report stated.

Student numbers stated

An average of 619.8 students attended Grand Coulee Dam School District’s three schools in October, enrollment figures show. That’s down 21 students from a year ago but nine students over the district’s budgeted number. The district averaged 628.25 students during the past school year.

School board

opposes

charter initiative

The school board voted Monday night to oppose Initiative 1240, which would create a public charter school system in the state. The privately operated, but publicly funded, charter schools created under Initiative 1240 will only serve a small part of Washington’s student population, providing no guarantee that students who are struggling will have access to charter schools, the board’s resolution stated.

Board accepts

donation

The school board Monday night accepted a donation of woodworking equipment from Judy Mayne, a Meridian, Idaho, woman. The equipment arrived at Lake Roosevelt High School last week. The donor’s late husband served with LRHS athletic director Richard Black when he was in the navy.