Coulee Recollections

10 years ago

Information released by the town of Coulee Dam under the state Public Records Act, indicates Clark Slattery has received a settlement of $13,472.23 for almost 30 year of double billing on his monthly electric bill at his home on River Drive. The town’s June, 2004 audit of residential electrical meters, showed Slattery had been double paying based on an 80 multiplier instead of 40, despite his complaints about the high bills as far back as 1977; he was told by the town clerk at the time that he just had a big house. Later, he had his meter checked, which was functioning properly. The town council has been debating paying Slattery for months and decided last August to repay Slattery for six years of over billing or $3,851.31. But at a later meeting, councilman Dave Schmidt raised the issue of ethics, making an action to repay Slattery for the remaining 29 years of double billing and it passed. The council’s public works committee including Schmidt met with Slattery to negotiate the settlement; he received it in two checks, the second check issued Nov. 4 for $9,621.02.

20 years ago

Baby Dustin Ray Siegwarth, born Jan. 21 at Coulee Community Hospital,: is the son of Kim Siegwarth and Isaac Palmer; the town of Electric City’s newest citizen; and the first baby born in the hospital’s new obstetrics (midwifery) program. After four and half hours of labor, Dustin arrived at 12:30 a.m. with the help of midwife Dawn Lovelace, weighing 8 pounds, 1 oz., and 21 inches in length.

Dr. Daniel Rawley, son of Stan and Elsie Rawley of Coulee Dam, has been promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. He is the assistant chairman of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Malcolm Grow Medical Center, at Andrews Air Force Base, Washington D.C. He is a 1974 LRHS graduate.

Robert Seller of Grand Coulee has been selected by Governor Lowry as one of 17 delegates to the White House Conference on Aging, a conference that takes place once in a decade, to be held in Washington D.C., May 1-15. Seller, the former mayor of Grand Coulee, serves on the Columbia River Area Agency on Aging advisory board.

Peter Spackman 14, son of Ray and Marian Spackman, and Jesse Sherrat, son of Pat and Julie Sherrat of Coulee Dam, each received the Eagle Scout Award at a ceremony attended by family and friends. Both scouts are in the eighth grade, with Spackman earning his award for the repair work on the local airport’s segmented circle, and Sherrat, for his involvement in road stripping in the town of Coulee Dam.

30 years ago

An early evening electrical fire in the Sky Deck Motel’s annex residence in Electric City burned up a couch and sent flames racing up the wall in the living room of owners Mr. and Mrs. George Sanford. EC Fire Chief Duane Frye said the initial damage is estimated at $10,000.

The Electric City town council has approved the 1985 police contract with the town of Grand Coulee for $26,000. Impero Construction of Bellingham, Wash. won the bid for the construction of the town’s new wastewater treatment plant. In Coulee Dam, Mayor Carl Hughs has appointed Cliff Avey as the building inspector, effective immediately.

Rod Hartman, publicity chairman and Jim Parker, general chairman for the Rotary Fun Night, have announced that this year’s event will be held at the VFW Center Feb. 23.

40 years ago

Teachers and volunteers presented 27 different subjects to Lake Roosevelt High School students during the school’s popular mini-course program featuring lectures and displays in fields such as hand-loading guns, muzzle loading, Indian cooking, native costumes, glass blowing/cutting, knife making and antiques.

Elmer Rauch, longtime resident of Grand Coulee, is retiring from the Grand Coulee Fire Department where he has been the assistant chief since the 1950s. He joined the volunteer firemen in 1941. Elmer said he keeps very busy in town activities and at the Rawe & Rauch hardware store in old Grand Coulee.

50 years ago

Responding to a Jan.14 request from the Colville Business Council, Gov. Dan Evens has issued a proclamation that Washington state is taking over complete criminal and civil jurisdiction for Indians and non-Indians on the Colville Reservation effective immediately.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day phone calls, Pacific Northwest Bell has extended low cost long distance rates so local telephone users can out on weekdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays, 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. nationwide for $1.50 per call. Calls made anywhere in the U.S. except Alaska or Hawaii any time on Sundays have been reduced to $1.00 plus tax for the first three minutes.

Representing the Grand Coulee Dam Women’s Moose Chapter 849 at the 1965 Mid-Winter Moose Womens Conference held in Omak were: Alice Romero of Coulee Dam, Senior Regent; Irene Lynch; Vivian Fischer; Jane Robinson; Ileta English; and Jerry Tonasket.