Coulee Recollections

Ten Years Ago

Elmer City Mayor Paul Till-man announced that he was resigning as the mayor of Elmer City because he will be moving to Coulee Dam. Mary Jo Carey was named as the mayor pro-tempore.

Kristen Maher, daughter of Jim and Tracy Maher of Coulee Dam, will dance as the Winter Fairy in “Cinderella” part of the Children’s Dance Theater production. She is an 8th grader at Grand Coulee Middle School and has studied ballet for 10 years.

An outdoor fire, that was thought to be out, flared up Thursday and destroyed a shed behind an Electric City man’s home. Paul Nachtigal guessed that his son was burning weeds the day before behind the shed and must have thought the fire was out. Nachtigal lost camping materials, fishing poles, bullets, propane bottles and other materials kept in the shed. It took Grand Coulee and Electric City about an hour to put out the fire.

Twenty Years Ago

Grand Coulee School District will be holding public meetings to research the future site of a new school building and the future community use of the existing buildings. “This is the first in a great many steps toward modernizing or building a new facility” said Jerry Ressa, a consultant with Pacific Group in Spokane.

A few Raiders received all league honors this week. Chris Johnson was the lone football team member receiving an honorable mention at the wide receiver position. In volleyball, junior Kelli Ayling and senior Melanie Bjorkland received first team honors. Senior Karen Lyngholm received an honorable mention. 

Thirty Years Ago

Two men were seriously injured Thursday when the truck in which they were traveling in rolled on Highway 174 near the Crown Point turn off. The driver apparently braked too late for the corner, went into the ditch on the right side of the road and lost control of the truck causing it to roll. The truck, that was was hauling logs, lost its load and spread it all over the roadway and down the embankment. The driver and passenger were both from Spokane and taken  to the local hospital with injuries.

Professional Teleflorist John Francis of Seatons Grove has excelled in all requirements of design and service to serve as a professional teleflorist and has received an award for his accomplishments. John has been the owner of Seatons Grove Greenhouse for the past 7 years.

Forty Years Ago  

Things come big in Grand Coulee Country said Amos Shaw of Belvedere, as he held up his five pound Early Rose potato. Amos said that was one of the small ones.

Rodney Clay Norton and his parents left Monday on the long wished-for trip to Disneyland. Mr. and Mrs. Norton expressed their appreciation and thanks to the many friends and community members that made this trip possible for Clay. Particularly Kathy Skordas, Bonnie Cameron, Linda Reamer, Beverly Fletcher, Donna Bird, Diane Hart, Anita Tinsley, Ike Patrick and Jenny Sauer for all their time and attention  on this successful project.

Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Monteith celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with family and many friends. Before serving the cake Mr. Monteith gave a toast that had everyone laughing and then together he and his bride lit ceremonial candles. 

Fifty Years Ago

Miss Polly Brim, 15, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Brim, won the trophy buckle in barrels and the blue and gold ribbon in Texas barrels last week in Woodenville. The top 10 riders in each event compete for this under the Washington State Horseman division.

The Grand Coulee School Music Boosters will be taking orders this week for the community calendar. All birthdays and anniversaries will be listed and many business firms will have advertising listed. The cost is $1.00 per person or $2.00 for a family. The price will get you a calendar and all the dates you provide listed. 

Sixty Years Ago

Co-promoters Tex Hager and Hat Freeman will be bring professional wrestling to the Grand Coulee High School  Gym. The promoters will bring “ the  mighty, mighty midget wrestlers”, Tom Martindale and Gregerio Iribarren will square off in the main event, Tom Thumb, Fuzzy Cupid, Little Beaver, Al Warshawski and Frank James are all going to be in action.

Nominated for the Board of Directors on Electric City Chamber of Commerce  this week were: Ray Upright, Ruben Vaughn, Mike Bowers, Leo Benbow, Lightle Samsel, Merlin Brace, Charles Binger, Bill Sanders, M.K. Longley, Ernie Dietzman, Ray Mudd and Les Sterly.