Coulee Recollections

Ten Years Ago

Using water in Coulee Dam will soon become more expensive for residents as the town begins to pay for the water filtration plant it’s about to build, along with other improvements. The town council Wednesday discussed a potential ordinance that would effectively keep a flat fee for most water users. It would set a base rate of $37 for meters on lines between three-fourths and one inch in size.

Students in Nespelem and Grand Coulee Dam might get an extended weekend in January if teachers take Jan. 14 off to protest possible statewide budget cuts to education.

A movie slated for release nationwide will feature an artist born and raised in the Grand Coulee Dam area, who uses his upbringing for inspiration. The song, “Shoot It Out”, written and performed by Ceth Leonard, a former Seaton’s Grove resident, has been selected for a new movie called “Skins”, which depicts the effects of the Vietnam War on a Lakota Sioux family.

Twenty Years Ago

Coulee Community Hospital is weighing its options for housing a new laundry and shop after the contractor that was to build the new building went bankrupt holding hospital money.

Residents in the unincorporated areas of Electric City and Grand Coulee are getting a change of address, compliments of Grant County.

Coulee Community Hospital will do about $66,500 in routine business with the Bureau of Reclamation next year under a contract awarded in October. CCH will furnish examinations and x-ray services.

Like the towns in which they are located, the area’s two Catholic churches have decided it is time to consider the issue of consolidation.

Thirty Years Ago

The Grand Coulee Cleaners bowling team won first place award in the 1981-82 State Bowling Tournament at Yakima. Pat Wiese has sponsored this team for 22 years. Team members include Sharon Rinker, Gerry Beck, Winnie Marchand, Kitty Eagle and Twila Evans.

Patricia Knighten of Grand Coulee received a check this week for $1,000 from the Carnation Company of California. Knighten entered a Celebrity-Pet match up contest last August and was informed she had won third place.

Raider cross country State finalists included Cassandra Banick, Carla Reyes, Julie Castrodale, Karie Benson, Jeanne Boll, Mike Desautel and Doug Jones.

Forty Years Ago

John Elkins and Donald Williams were presented an incentive award for their suggestion to inter-tie the condensing cooling water on the 12th floor from the control bay service water to the fire protection water line.

The Almira Farmers Warehouse closed its doors last Friday and will no longer be in business.

Fifty Years Ago

The Womens Club of Agency entertained the adults of the personnel agency with a Halloween party Saturday night.

Sixty Years Ago

One of Grand Coulee’s pioneer clothing establishments will close its doors within a few weeks, according to Helen Goldfoot of the Hub Clothiers.

Jean Rickard of Nespelem won a blue ribbon at the Yakima State Fair where she entered the 4-H baking contest.