Newsbriefs

New officer in Grand Coulee

The city of Grand Coulee has a new police officer, Matthew Ponusky, bringing the police department back up to eight

officers. Ponusky recently graduated from the police academy and is assigned to the graveyard shift.

Food bank closes for holiday

The Care and Share Food Bank will be closed Friday, Sept. 1, for the Labor Day weekend, according to Pastor Shawn Neider.

People put it on the card

More than 20 customers have used the new third-party credit card system to pay their utility bills, Grand Coulee City Clerk Carol Boyce advised the city council last week.

Very busy EMTs

Volunteer fire Chief Rick Paris reported to Grand Coulee council that EMTs had their busiest 12 hours that he can remember in July. Paris said EMTs had seven calls in a 12-hour period.

Fire district contracts with city department

Grant County Fire District 14 has contracted with Grand Coulee’s Volunteer Fire Department to provide fire support for the 2018 year for a price of $5,000.

Repairs not OK’d

Grand Coulee council rejected a repair-work bid for the Delano Regional Transfer Station.

A lone bid of $54,000 had been presented to the Regional Board of Mayors and was rejected by them. Mayor Paul Townsend asked council members if they would be willing to move forward on the bid if it came before the mayors again. Council members said no.

Eclipse readings you couldn’t see

Local weather hobbyist and Star columnist Bob Valen recorded temperature and solar radiation readings during Monday’s solar eclipse.

Valen says the temperature dropped from 74° Fahrenheit to 70.6, and solar radiation went from 499 watts per square meter to just 53 watts at the peak of the eclipse at 10:25 a.m.