Newsbriefs

Newspaper closed Memorial Day

The Star newspaper office will be closed Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day. The deadline for news and advertising will be 5 p.m. Friday, May 26.

Ambulance and fire calls stated

The Grand Coulee ambulance service had 24 calls during the month of April, volunteer fire Chief Rick Paris reported to the city council at its last meeting. Five of the calls were in the Coulee Dam area, 14 were from the Grand Coulee area, and five were to transport patients between facilities. The number of calls this year through May 16, Paris stated, was 159. In fire calls, there were eight in April, with one being a structure fire.

Deserved recognition

Washington state Governor Jay Inslee has proclaimed May 21-27 as “Emergency Medical Services” week. The proclamation honors emergency workers for their willingness to be available to serve the public in the event of an emergency 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Rick Paris, chief of the Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department, stated: “We celebrate this week a group of people that sacrifice time, effort, and much more to help those in need.”

An excerpt from the Faces of EMTs states: “It takes compassion, it takes courage, it takes commitment, it takes a desire to make people safer and the world better. It takes a team of individuals with different backgrounds who have become a part of something important, something special, something bigger than themselves. EMS is made up of EMTs, advanced EMTs, dispatchers, supervisors and administrators serving our citizens and visitors.”

Ferry out of service

Keller Ferry is out of service until further notice, the state Department of Transportation said Tuesday in an email.

“The Keller Ferry that crosses the Columbia River on state Route 21 is out of service until further notice due to issues with the north shore loading ramp,” read the statement from Al Gilson, communications manager for the WSDOT Eastern Region. “Drivers are advised to seek alternate routes. There is no estimate on when ramp repairs will be complete.”

Sale added to park funds

Carol Nordine reported that the yard sale to develop money to support Electric City parks netted $716 last Saturday. Donna Shear and Nordine put the event on at the Vets Center.