Newsbriefs

Dangerous crosswalk discussed

Cheryl Hoffman, president of the local senior center, asked Grand Coulee City Council to do something about the dangers of the crosswalk on Federal Way. She said that seniors use this crosswalk and drivers coming down the hill are often speeding, making crossing the street dangerous to older people. She suggested a “hidden crosswalk” sign or putting in a four-way stop sign at the corner of Federal Way and Main Street.

Fire and ambulance calls reported

Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Chief Richard Paris reported that his department had 447 dispatches in 2016, including 45 fire calls and 404 ambulance calls. He reported to the city council that in January firefighters had three calls — one structure, one alarm and one vehicle. He also reported 39 ambulance calls in January — six in the Coulee Dam area, 24 in the Grand Coulee area and nine transports to facilities elsewhere.

Telephone worker injured

A CenturyLink worker was pulled from a vault in the ground alongside SR-155 alongside Grand Coulee Dam Thursday after a co-worker reported the man had been “electrocuted.” The injured man was breathing, however, and taken to Coulee Medical Center just before 5 p.m.

A helicopter ambulance had been called in as a precaution, reported Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Chief Richard Paris, and arrived at Coulee Medical Center just as the local ambulance crew was bringing the man in.

Paris said the incident involved only CenturyLink employees. The vault below the road is the spot where CenturyLink had been working on repairs for a week following a phone service outage.

New golf sign planned

Early this spring you will see a new golf course sign along SR-155. The large golf ball will be repainted and a larger sign will be installed next to it. Port District 7 Commissioner Jerry Sands is working on the 5- by 10-foot sign, which will feature Seahawks colors. The Port District manages Banks Lake Golf Course.

Gardening meeting tonight

The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a Community Gardening meeting tonight (Wednesday) at 6 p.m., at the chamber office, 17 Midway Avenue in Grand Coulee. Learn good gardening practices and what vegetables you can grow in this area.

Student enrollment up

February’s average school attendance for Grand Coulee Dam Schools was 712, which is 22 above the district’s projected budget. The fourth grade had the most students, 68; next was the ninth grade, with 63.

Nespelem Elementary also reported greater numbers than budgeted, at 132 instead of 110.

Gifts accepted

The Grand Coulee Dam School District board Monday night accepted two gifts given to the school. The first was a gift of a 2005 Dodge Stratus for the Lake Roosevelt junior and senior auto shop. The vehicle was given by Bart and Cora Sarzynski. The second gift was a trumpet and flute given by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Heaton.

Headed to DC to lobby

Superintendent Paul Turner, along with a number of Washington State school representatives, will attend the NAFIS impact aid conference in Washington D.C. March 13-15. “Our presence in Washington D.C. carries considerable weight, as Washington State is a microcosm of the program nationwide,” said John Adkins, president of the Washington State Impact Aid Association. Adkins, the former superintendent at Nespelem School District, has been encouraging school districts that depend on impact aid to attend the meeting.

Spelling winners reported

Jenna Cleveland was the winner of the 4th — 8th grade spelling bee, winning with the word “coronet.” Kathy Nordeen placed second, and

Showaway Hunt was third.

Cleveland and Nordeen will represent the district as the next round in spelling moves to Wenatchee.

Union contract rolled over with eye on lawmakers

The school district’s contract with the teachers’ union at Grand Coulee Dam schools was rolled over for another year, Superintendent Paul Turner reported to the school board. Turner said he appreciated working with the teachers and that the two parties will get together again after they see what occurs with the state Legislature.