Newsbriefs

Sanity sighted

in U.S. Senate

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) Tuesday released the following statement:

“This committee will hold hearings beginning the week of September 4th on the actions Congress should take to stabilize and strengthen the individual health insurance market so that Americans will be able to buy insurance at affordable prices in the year 2018. We will hear from state insurance commissioners, patients, governors, health care experts and insurance companies. Committee staff will begin this week working with all of our committee members to prepare for these hearings and discussions.”

Blood drive set

There will be a Grand Coulee Community Blood Drive in the community room at Coulee Medical Center from noon to 4:30 p.m., Aug. 21. The blood drive is in conjunction with Inland Northwest Blood Center.

Fire district

seeks new

commissioner

Grant County Fire District 14 is advertising for someone to fill Position 2 on its board of commissioners, due to a resignation. Anyone interested in the position and living within the district boundaries, but not within the city limits of Electric City or Grand Coulee, can apply by submitting a letter of interest to Grant County Fire District 14, P.O. Box 282, Electric City, Wa., 99123. August 25 is the deadline to submit letters. The commissioners meet again on Aug. 28, at 7 p.m., at the Electric City fire hall. One person, Debbie Nelson, submitted a letter of interest at the district’s meeting on Monday.

Dam run needs volunteers

Volunteers are needed for the “Run the Dam” event scheduled for Sept. 16. Information on volunteering and participating is available online at http://www.runthedam.com or email info@runthedam.com.

Mosquito

district to meet at new building

Mosquito District 2 commissioners will meet in their new building at 210 Coulee Boulevard in Electric City on Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend the meetings. Regular meetings are held the second Thursday of each month.

Hot weather

can kill

This week’s triple-digit weather will make it extra dangerous and deadly for children or pets if left in a vehicle, even for a short amount of time.

AAA Washington recommends that parents, caregivers and pet owners never leave a child or pet unattended in a vehicle, even if the vehicle is parked in the shade or has a window open.

On a mild or overcast day with an outside temperature of 70 degrees, the internal temperature of a vehicle will increase to 104 degrees in just 30 minutes, causing a child or pet left in the vehicle to suffer heat stroke or possible death.

In 2016, 39 young children in the U.S. died of heatstroke because they were left in a vehicle, and there have been 29 heat-related deaths this year.