Coulee Recollections

Ten Years Ago

Plan finalized for water sharing. Grand Coulee and Electric City will soon share another resource when a pipe joins one water supply to the other. Last night, the Electric City town council approved a contract that promises to lead to the eventual connection of the town’s water supply to Grand Coulee’s water supply.

Old west shootout possible for Colorama. The traditional Colorama theme of the old west may be taken one step further this year. Several Okanogan County residents plan a shootout before the grand parade.

A committee in the town of Almira hopes to build on the popularity of bird watching to bring a much needed economic boost to their town. And for that to happen, they used a Grand Coulee man’s birdhouses as a basis for their plan. Almira resident Joyce Minges said the idea for the approximately 120 bluebird houses, which line the poles and fences along Old Coulee Road in Lincoln County, came from Jim Klein’s birdhouses.

A Keller sixth-grader has been selected as the queen of this week’s Nespelem Junior Rodeo. Alicia Abrahamson will ride her 14-year-old bay gelding Cody in the grand entry openings at 4 p.m. this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Twenty Years Ago

The Coulee Dam Town Council heard Wednesday the first reading of an ordinance amending the budget so the town can open the swimming pool when school gets out this spring.

Dawn Lippert and Todd Stoner are proud to announce their engagement and forthcoming marriage. The bride-elect is the daughter of Bob and Marilyn Lippert of Coulee Dam. Stoner is the sone of Ed and Candi Stoner of Davenport. The couple plan to wed July 17 in the Coulee Dam Community Church.

Nespelem Junior Rodeo Queen Kim Smith invites everyone to the Nespelem Junior Rodeo this weekend. She is the daughter of Jim Smith of Inchelium and Valerie Vargas-Smith.

Thirty Years Ago

The 1983 Royalty for the Nespelem Junior Rodeo is Queen Debbie Campbell, daughter of Larry and Mary Campbell of Owhi Flats, Princess Pete Palmer, daughter of Fred and Colleen Leskinen of Nespelem and Princess Cheryl Kosewicz, daughter of Ted and Ann Kosewicz of Belvedere.

New cement park seating has been constructed at North Dam Park. The project was a four-town community project.

A spectacular fireworks display from the top of the Grand Coulee Dam spillway where flowing waters will be illuminated in brilliant colors will be a highlight of the project’s 50th birthday party here July 16.

Winners in a poster essay contest sponsored by the Grant County Board of Realtors were: Melissa Langley, JoDee Feeley, Amy Alling and Jess Utz.

Forty Years Ago

For the first time in Colorama history, the committee this year chose two local girls as Rodeo Royalty. They are Tina Snyder and Gail Lacy. Named as Grand Marshal is George Friedlander.

Telephone rates here will increase May 1 if new tariffs filed by Pacific Northwest Bell are approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. An individual residence line will increase from $4.75 to $4.95 and a four-party residence line will change from $3.35 to $3.40.

Members of the winning team of the Hi Lo League, the Adorn Beauty Salon, gathered to celebrate at the Continental Cafe last week. Members of the team included Vivian Heckart, Lucille Smith, Shirley Voyles (sponsor), Winnie Marchand and Nila Noble.

Fifty Years Ago

Grant County Sheriff Ralph Hall said that almost $75 in cash, plus liquor, cigarettes and other items were taken in a break-in at Grand Coulee’s Silver Dollar Tavern Wednesday night.

Five boys from Columbia School participated in the Okanogan Invitational Trackmeet last Saturday. Ray Harrison won three blue ribbons for softball throw, broad jump and 160 yard dash. Dan Zlateff placed 3rd in the softball, Gilbert Desautel placed 3rd in the softball throw, Bob Johnson tied for 3rd in the 160 yard dash.

Mrs. Ray Bottorff received word of the birth of a son to Mr. and Mrs. George Farmer at Bremerton on April 18th. Robert Lee Farmer is also welcomed by a sister JoAnn. Mrs. G.H. Judges is the baby’s great-grandmother.

Sixty Years Ago

Grand Coulee School District lost two hard working members of its board of directors when Dave Rawe and Walter Thurston handed in their resignations at a recent meeting. Appointed to replace them were Cecil Trefry and Eril Wert.

The fire barn on Division Street in north Grand Coulee and several other buildings were destroyed by fire about 1:15 a.m. Saturday. Rawe and Rauch’s Hardware was endangered but was saved by the work of the firemen.

A magnificent bust of Franklin Delano Roosevelt designed by the sculptor Fredrick Littman of Portland was placed on a specially credited pedestal in a reflecting pool on the right abutment of Grand Coulee Dam last Thursday. This dramatic event was unannounced.

Mary Darland, Coulee Dam High School senior won the coveted position of valedictorian of the 1953 graduating class with a grade point average of 3.95. Donna Marie Smith is the salutatorian with a grade point average of 3.89.