Newsbriefs

Moose Lodge to offer holiday party for kids

The Moose Lodge invites all kids to “Kids Holiday Fun” time from Saturday, Sept. 12 from 1-3 p.m. Activities include ornament making, karaoke, food, prizes and fun, plus having their picture taken with Santa. The Lodge is located at 216 Continental Heights in Grand Coulee.

They lit the

decoration

You know it’s the Christmas season when you see the large, lit, seasonal sign at the south end of Electric City. With the help of Young’s Welding boom truck, the following worked several hours putting the sign in place: Ken Dexter, Donna Deckman, and Jared Armstrong from Electric City’s public works department; and Mike McClane, Rich Gerard, Kevin Tipps and Carl Sheehy.

Fire department

party planned

The Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department will hold its annual party Saturday, Dec. 12, beginning at 5 p.m., at the fire station.

Cold down

your neck — not

Snow barriers for the roof of the Lake Roosevelt High School gym are on site and will be put up soon. The barriers will prevent snow from falling off the roof onto people as they enter the gymnasium.

Students on board?

The Grand Coulee Dam School District board is considering having a student representative meeting with the school board on a regular basis, giving students an understanding how the schools operate. A few years ago the board included a student representative.

Late start for USBR

The Bureau of Reclamation’s Grand Coulee Dam workers were given a late start time last Thursday, when freezing rain was predicted to blanket much of the region until 10 a.m. Workers got an automated phone message at home at 1 a.m. informing them of the three-hour late start.

While the Coulee Dam area did not experience freezing rain, about 40 percent of the project’s work force reportedly commutes from out of the area.

Ferry was

out of service

The Keller Ferry on SR-21 across the Columbia River was out of service Dec. 4 and 5.

One of the two engines on the vessel had some issues that required immediate repairs. Under US Coast Guard regulations, the boat cannot be operated in passenger service with only one engine. Parts were scheduled to arrive early Saturday, Dec. 5.

The ferry was underway sometime before Tuesday night, according to the Washington Department of Transportation information service.

The problem was similar to issues on the other engine, although not as severe, that occurred on Thanksgiving weekend. The two engines on the vessel are Detroit Diesel/MTU Series 60 and have nearly 15,000 hours in service since the vessel, the M/V Sanpoil, began serving the route in August 2013.

Don’t drink, or puff, and drive

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission is reminding Washingtonians to plan ahead and use alternative transportation after drinking alcohol or using marijuana during celebrations.

Preliminary Fatality Analysis Reporting data shows more than 500 traffic deaths so far in 2015, nearly 100 more reported deaths than this time last year.

“We have seen an unfortunate increase in traffic deaths this year,” said Darrin Grondel, WTSC director. “By encouraging people to plan ahead over the holiday party season, and to ensure a sober ride home, we hope our state will experience zero traffic deaths in December and through the New Year.”

Extra DUI enforcement patrols statewide began November 26 and will end January 1.

In Grant (Ephrata, Grand Coulee, Mattawa, Moses Lake, Quincy, Royal City, Soap Lake, and Warden Police Departments, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and WSP), Adams (Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Othello and Ritzville Police Departments, and WSP), Lincoln (Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and WSP), and Ferry Counties (Ferry County Sheriff’s Office, Republic Police Department, and WSP), law enforcement will be teaming up and participating in the extra patrols, with the support of the Central Basin Traffic Safety Task Force.