Coulee Recollections

Ten Years Ago

Workers from Basin Paving Co. finished planting the last juniper tree at the intersection of highway 155 and Kent Street in Electric City. Approximately 196 trees were planted in town as part of a beautification project.

Two Lake Roosevelt coaches received honors this week announced Bruce Shields, Athletic Director at LR. Gary Darnold, Cross County and Jennifer Kann, Volleyball both were named Caribou Trail League Coaches of the Year in their respective sports. 

Last Friday at Grand Coulee Middle School, veterans from across the area were honored at a Veterans Day Assembly. United States Navy Veteran Tim Heizer, was one of the many guest speakers that spoke to a gym full of young men and women.

A decision to add more holes to the Banks Lake Golf and Country Club golf course has made the course better for golfers but has given financial headaches to the shareholders. The cost of adding nine more holes, rising costs, declining membership and declining tourism have resulted in very difficult financial times at the course. Board members are scrambling to find a way to promote the golf course and bring in more dollars.

TwentyYears Ago

Members of Grand Coulee and Electric City police committees are having difficulties coming to a consensus on this year’s police contract with Grand Coulee police. Grand Coulee wants to increase the service agreement by 4.5 percent and Electric City wants 24-hour coverage, 365 days for that amount. They currently get 19 hours of coverage for 291 days of service. Both sides will go back to the table this Wednesday and try and come to an agreement.

Robert and Kay Castrodale are happy to announce the birth of their first grandchild, Clare Cecilia, the daughter of Andrew and Sherril Castrodale, this week in Seattle.

Raider football ended the season with a 0-9 record, losing to playoff-bound Cashmere 41-8 Friday night. Raiders’ only score of the night came in the third quarter on a 14-yard pass from Shane Moore to Chris Johnson, followed by a two point conversion on a pass from Moore to Michael Dick. Coach Kent Anderson said after the game, “ I’m very proud of how the players competed throughout the season, they never quit once during the season.”

Nespelem hosted a football game for the first time in more than a quarter-century last thursday. The Savages played to a 18-18 tie with Inchelium. After halftime the players ran through a Halloween sign at the urging of fans and students. During the game, Nespelem quarterback Robert St. Pierre eluded a Hornet defender for a touchdown.

Thirty Years Ago

Celebrating their grand opening this week is the Flying J service station. The newly remodeled facility features a service station, groceries, sandwiches and soft drinks. Lou Fowler is the manager and says that The Flying J will also have video rentals, health and beauty aids and Slushies.

Jacki Miller and Mike Desautel both placed at the State Cross Country Championships this weekend. Miller finished in 35th, very good for a freshman and Desuatel finished 20th and was hampered by injuries during the race. “This was Mike’s last year as a Raider” Coach Darnold said, “ We wanted a top ten finish, with the 100 other runners, it was just a tough day.”

Linda Jones of Nespelem was the lucky winner of a trip to Las Vegas, sponsored by Grand Coulee Dam Chamber of Commerce. She plans on taking the trip at the end of January. 

Forty Years Ago  

Martin Mueller, 8th grade, found a bag containing a large amount of money and checks last Saturday. His father and he took the bag to the police station and turned it over to Chief Darrell Mortford. It was found to belong to Marvin Palanuk and he gave Martin a 10 dollar reward.

Navy Seaman Recruit Robert DeChenne, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth U. DeChenne of Grand Coulee, graduated from Recruit Training at the Naval Training Center in San Diego. He is a 1971 graduate of Grand Coulee High School.

On Saturday, Brownie Troop 309 made a field trip to Spokane. The girls were, Wendy Baum, Tina Melton, Susie Sandvig, Threase Graham, Charlene Bott, Jeanie Boll and their leader Kathie Bise. They visited the Pop Shoppe, The Spokane Museum and The Grace Campbell House.

Lake Roosevelt Lady Raiders Basketball Coach, Carol Campbell announced the girls who made the team this year Monday. They are: Glenda Logue, Carmen Green, Joanne Schrieber, Debbie Downing, Regina Thomas, Jeannie Clark, Lori Hood, Gina Scallan, Charlette Jess, Cheri Biggers, Carla Hughes, Kirby Belcher, Tina Snyder, Carla Scallan, Janet Seekins, Belinda Morger, Linda Esquivel, Joyce Edmonson, Nadine Atkins and Mary Beth Frank. 

Fifty Years Ago

The Junior class of Coulee Dam High School is having a car wash Saturday. One dollar per car, inside and out, at the Phillips 76 and Standard stations in Coulee Dam.

Are you one who has not kept up on your small pox immunizations. Then you are in danger of being a possible victim to that disease. Okanogan Health Offices have announced that there will be a smallpox clinic and immunization next week. Due to Washington State being a port of entry from the Orient and South Pacific, there is a high chance of infection in our area. Okanogan County is an international highway route and many infected travelers will travel through our area weekly. At present time we have no cases but we foresee the problem in the future.

The Grand Coulee Dam, upon completion of the third power house, will once again become the world’s largest producer of hydro-electric power. The new powerhouse is almost twice as big as the other two powerhouses and will bring the total generating power to five and a half million kilowatts.

The Maytag Shop in Grand Coulee is offering a special deal this week. You will get free a $65 dollar Electric Train Set free with the purchase of a Admiral Console TV, any refrigerator or any freezer. 

Sixty Years Ago

The Delrio Grange was host to a golden wedding anniversary party for Mr. and Mrs. Roy Rankin on Friday at the grange hall. The grange ladies served chicken dinner to about 100 friends and neighbors of the honored guests. A beautiful wedding cake was made by Eleanor Trefry. Many stories were told about the couple including some of their early years living in Strahl Canyon. 

A fire damaged the basement of Eril Wert Tuesday night. Is is undetermined what started the fire that was discovered by Buddy Fetter and the alarm was turned in by Art Gerard.

Police Court Judge Carl B. Lewis handed out the following fines and forfeitures this week: Tom McClung was fined $100.00 and sentenced to 60 days in jail for being in possession of several pairs of stolen gloves. Ike Stanger and Abraham Brooks where fined $25.00 for disorderly conduct. Oma Harrison, Dan Harrison and Herb Johnson where all fined $10.00 for disorderly conduct. Jim McDowell was found guilty of third degree assault and sentenced to 60 days in jail. Landon May was fined $25.00 in connection to the same case. Fred Stoakin was fined $15.00 and his license was confiscated for reckless driving. 

The Lions Club entertained a distinguished speaker at their Monday night meeting. He was Colonel A.D. Ficken of the far east department of University of Washington, who is lecturing on the community forum program. Col. Ficken spoke on “The Communist Movement in the Far East”.

Northwest Greyhound, out of the Grand Coulee Office, announced today that a round trip ticket to New York is now $92.10, Spokane is $5.25 and Los Angeles is $46.50.

Playing this week at the Coulee Dam Theater is “Stalag 17” starring William Holden, Don Taylor and Otto Preminger. The Roosevelt Theater has “Arrowhead” with Charlton Heston, Katy Jurado and Jack Palance.