Coulee Recollections

Ten Years Ago

A master plan is now in the works for Coulee Dam’s Mason City Park and all of the town’s residents can help decide what the plan will contain. A proposed master plan with a rough outline of future changes to the east Coulee Dam park was approved by the town council last Wednesday.

The town of Coulee Dam has received a grant of $3,000 to inventory its trees and prepare a plan to maintain and expand one of the town’s most visible and valuable assets, an official committee announced in a press release.

The first brush fire of the summer hit the Grand Coulee Dam area last weekend when two acres burned in Grand Coulee. Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Dept. Chief Rick Paris said a brush fire started about 1:15 p.m. Saturday at the corner of Martin Road and Hill Street. Twenty Years Ago

The Grand Coulee Dam area’s Independence Day celebration will include a two-day festival and a spectacular fireworks display from the top of the dam.

Charlene Fountain will be managing a new gift shop housed in the corner of the Coulee House Motel.

A Nampa, Idaho, woman has been appointed to take over the music program for the GCD School District. Directors approved a contract for Vickie Watson at their June 28 meeting.

As of July 1, Washington State Parks will be charging year-round for launching boats at 38 parks throughout the state.

Thirty Years Ago

Michelle Malone, 1983 Ridge Rider Junior Rodeo Queen, won the Girls’ All Around at the Omak Apple Valley Benefit Junior Rodeo May 29.

Two local girls received scholarship awards from the Washington State Women’s Federation Club. Laura Garcia received a $400 award and Maria Goodwin a $250 award.

Fred and Barbara Meyer recently returned from a trip to Chicago where Barbara attended a tax seminar sponsored by the National Association of Enrolled Agents.

At the annual pet show at the Grand Coulee Public Library, the winners included Jeff Olsen with Shogun a Shih-Tzu, Kimberly Campbell with Snickerdoodle, a dachshund, Shelly Stine with BJ a Labrador, Cory Haynes with Mary Jane a mix-breed cat, Teresa Sanford with Bandit, a guinea pig, Holly Campbell with Cotton, a rabbit and Kaylee Bjorson with Buster Brown, a rabbit.

Forty Years Ago

Selected as outstanding athletes in the Grand Coulee Dam area were Ann Hullett, Mark Popp and David Payne.

Marcia Snyder recently purchased Dixie’s Hobby Shop from Dixie Tillman. The location will stay in Elmer City until Snyder finds a building in Grand Coulee. The shop will hereafter be known as Marcia’s Hobby House.

New officers for the Rotary Club of Coulee Dam were: Fred Meyer, president; Jim Green, vice president; Tom Skordas, secretary; Paul Larson, treasurer; Blaine Hamann, sgt. at arms and board of directors: Bryon Edgett, Dick Greiner and past president Maurice Rocheleau.

Fifty Years Ago

The Coulee Dam Community Church is soon to welcome its new pastor the Rev. J. William Woodworth.

The Washington State Game Department truck is back upon the lakeshore at Banks Lake near Electric City emptying a tank of five-inch rainbow. The total fish plant so far in the 27-mile reservoir as of June 18 has been 50,000 with the promise in the 150,000 fish bracket.

Gary Aker of Coulee Dam became the new owner of Coulee Dam Drug Store on July 1. He purchased the store from the estate of Alvin Jacobsen.

The Colorama Festival float won the grand sweepstakes award at the Ephrata Sun Festival last week.

Swimming lessons for the young people of the area will begin on July 15 at North Marine with instructors qualified by the American Red Cross.

Sixty Years Ago

Roy Rinker was elected the new drill captain and Cleatis Lacy parade captain of the Ridge Riders, replacing Fay Wilson who has served in both capacities for the past two years.

Representatives from Grand Coulee were at the ceremony officially opening the new Grand Coulee to Wilbur highway Monday.

The Jaycee Club is planning to publish a Grand Coulee Dam tourist publicity booklet and expects to have it ready soon.

One of the first Bureau of Reclamation buildings to be erected during the building of Grand Coulee Dam is now being ordered razed by Phil H. McKay, a cattle rancher on the Bridgeport highway out of Grand Coulee.

The board of directors for the Teen Spot met Tuesday evening and announced the name selected for the spot is “The Cozy Corner”.