Loosening up writers' block

There’s an effort to resurrect “Them Dam Writers” an organization that encourages people to write.

The group had been organized back in the 1980s, but in recent years had dwindled to only a few.

The effort to get the group going again will begin with a brainstorming meeting at 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 12, at the Senior Center.

Them Dam Writers is a non-profit organization that had many of its articles published in The Star newspaper in a “Reflections” column.

Them Dam Writers in the past have featured writers’ workshops, poetry writing contests in the schools and had several field trips.

Several members in the past have researched their family history and published books about their history.

A few years ago, several of the original group passed away and the group has been inactive since.

Birdie Hensley, president of the Senior Center, said this week that you don’t have to be a published author to be a member of the group. She encourages everyone interested to attend and help with the discussion.

The writers’ group already has by-laws and a bank account, so it should be easy to get the group started again, she said. One of the first things to do will be the election of officers, Hensley stated.

All ages are encouraged to attend and be a part of the discussion.

nElectric City has finally agreed to a contract with Grand Coulee to provide police services.

The council voted 5-0 to the contract offer even though some of the language was a bitter pill to swallow.

Then there was an ultimatum, the tossing of the gauntlet so to speak.

Grand Coulee tired of the document bouncing around because of language changes, told the folks at Electric City, essentially take it or leave it.

Electric City was told that if the agreement wasn’t signed by March 1, forget it.

That didn’t set well with council members who debated whether to schedule another meeting before March 1, and try to iron out language in the “indemnification” section of the agreement.

It was argued that two members of the council had met with two members of the Grand Coulee and made an agreement and after that the language had changed.

Council members tried to dredge up how the language could affect the city but couldn’t. get anything to stick to the wall.

That’s when councilman Rich McGuire said the council should move ahead, sign the agreement, and then work to get any language changed.

The agreement calls for police services for two years; the first year at $125,000, and the second a cost of living adjustment not to exceed 5%.

Instead of waiting until January, 2017, to start negotiating for a contract extension, Electric City will begin much sooner.

The old contract that the two cities were currently operating under expired Dec. 31, 2015, but there was an agreement to continue under that contract until this one was signed.