Coulee Recollections

20 years ago

Low income or disabled senior residents, 62 and older, qualify for a five-percent utility discount from the town of Coulee Dam, starting this year along with the same discount already available for garbage service. The discount amount is set by he Dept. of Community Trade and Economic Development and each eligible recipient must prove a yearly income based on federal tax returns. A town newsletter from Mayor Rod Hartman, sent out just before Christmas, said the 1995 town budget will increase the average homeowner’s utility taxes by $11. The new yearly budget passed at the town council meeting Dec. 18 with only one resident attending to protest the increase. Rubin Braunstein questioned the council about the need for extra police officers, the expenses for fixing up the ballroom as well as the increase for water, sewer and electricity.

Justin Arnold, a senior at LRHS and the son of Gina and Gleason Arnold of Electric City, has enlisted in the Air Force delayed enlistment program, announced the USAF.

30 years ago

Officers elected to lead the Grand Coulee Dam Chamber of Commerce are: President, Jim Black, Gold Historian Printing; Vice-President, Ross Vordahl, Vordahl’s Variety Store; Secretary, Jerry Kennedy, Foisy and Kennedy Insurance; Treasurer, Donna Benton, SeaFirst Bank; new board members, Ted Davis, River Lanes; Flora Long, Sage Inn. Chairpersons for various committees include: Rod Stallman, Coulee Center Pharmacy, Gov. Liaison; Jim Hitter, GCD Supt., Education; Rod Hartman, Coulee House, Jeannie Sanford, Sky Deck Motel, Tourism; Dave Portch, Loepps, Debbie Meinzer CDCU, Retail Trade; Flora Long, Sage Inn, Community Enhancement; and Mary Jane Bailey, Hanson Realty, Community Development. The new officers will take over at the annual banquet Jan. 26.

Robbers broke into the Washington State Liquor Store in Grand Coulee some time after 4 a.m. Sunday by smashing in the glass in the store’s front door with a metal object, said Grand Coulee Police Chief Mel Hunt. An undetermined amount of cash and liquor were stolen in the store’s first ever burglary.

James A. Flowers, 37, of Coulee Dam was fatally injured Saturday morning when his snowmobile smashed into a parked pick-up owned by Keith Renken of Grand Coulee. The accident happened about eight miles north of Grand Coulee on the old Highway 10-B where Renken’s truck had been parked near his tractor for three weeks. Flowers was snowmobiling with friends, including Ron Rinker and had departed from Rinker’s place prior to the accident.

40 years ago

Frank Del Vecchio, former owner of local Radio Station KFDR, was sentenced to serve up to 15 years in prison for each of two counts of grand larceny and second degree burglary by presiding Okanogan County Judge B.E. Kohls. He was convicted of breaking into a Pacific Northwest Bell Mountain station and stealing radio equipment valued at $3,000. The equipment was later recovered from the bottom of Banks Lake. He still has an outstanding charge of violating his parole in Lincoln County in connection with burning his own radio station about two years ago.

Three Lake Roosevelt Raiders attended an awards ceremony for the Cross-Country League during the Basketball Jamboree held at Okanogan Dec. 3. John Pryor, LRR Team Captain and First Place finisher at State accepted the trophy for his team; with Rick George, 31st place finisher and Darryl Moulton, 37th at state, attending also. Winning the Football League Championship and trophy, as presented at the Basketball Jamboree, was the Okanogan Bulldogs.

Justin Francis, 14, of Nespelem died Christmas Eve in a car accident south of Colville Indian Agency, He was born in Republic on Jan. 15, 1954 to Herman Francis, presently of Keller, and Rita Francis of Nespelem. Other survivors include, sister Deborah, brothers, Robert and Ronnie, all of Nespelem, his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Francis, Keller and his grandmother, Annie Circle, Nespelem. His rosary, and funeral Dec. 28, were held at the home of Nettie Francis, Keller with Fr. Pat Twohy officiating, and burial took place at the Keller Cemetery.