Coulee Recollections

10 Years Ago

Over 1900 acres outside of Elmer City has burned and hundreds of firefighters from the area and surrounding communities have combined in the effort to stop it. Many citizens had to be evacuated but no homes were lost. The official cause of the fire is “human caused.”

Coulee Dam officials opened up the town’s new filtration plant to a tour, after a brief ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday morning. The “state-of-the-art” plant cost about $5.9 million, of which Coulee Dam water consumers will pay $1.3 million.

20 Years Ago

In June of 1944, Tech Sgt. Wade Steed crossed the Atlantic with the rest of the National Guard at the beginning of the end of World War II. Fifty years later his division made it’s way back to celebrate the 50th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France. Steed lives in Coulee Dam with his wife Beverly.

Mike Wiltermood has been selected as the new hospital administrator on an interim basis. 

Various acts by the Wenachee Youth Circus were performed last Saturday at Green Field in Coulee Dam. Luke and Micah Seekins, of Elmer City, were two of the 150 spectators that “Ohhed” and “Ahhhed” during the performance.

30 Years Ago

A truck driver is missing and presumed dead following an accident at the rock quarry site upstream from Grand Coulee Dam. Howard A. Gumm, 48, of Grand Coulee was driving a large truck filled with granite when it left the road way and plunged 50 feet down into Lake Roosevelt. Divers have been searching since Friday and have yet to recover Gumm’s body. The truck was located about 200 feet off shore and about 125 feet deep. The search was called off Saturday afternoon.

40 Years Ago

The Grand Coulee Chamber of Commerce voted their support of Grand Coulee’s grant application for a $20,071.00 for a new ambulance to serve from Leahy Junction to Nespelem to Wilbur to Coulee City and everything in between. 

50 Years Ago

Grand Coulee Fire Chief Buzz Baker, Coulee Dam Fire Chief Charles Peck, Grand Coulee Patrolman Gordon Larson and Coulee Dam Police Chief Lloyd Atchison all showed off the new phone numbers for contacting their departments in an emergency. The new numbers will go in affect August 11th and will all have the new 633 prefix for our area.

60 Years Ago

The annual Lions Club Community Carnival got under way last night and will continue through Saturday. Ten local organizations will be featured at the event with booths decked out in an African Theme. The highlights are Western Show nightly, four major carnival rides, two tent shows, 18 concessions, and a wide variety of talent from local entertainers.