Newsbriefs

Attendance down at schools

Attendance at Grand Coulee Dam schools is running under budget estimates for December.

The budget estimate was for an average of 707 students. December’s report showed attendance at 700.9 full-time-equivalent students. The ninth grade and fifth grade continue to be the largest grade levels. The fifth grade showed 70.61 FTEs, while the ninth grade showed 72.

Pot-impaired driver rear-ends trooper

Washington State Patrol Trooper Conner Bruchman sustained minor injuries when he was rear-ended by an impaired driver on US 97 near Okanogan on Sunday night about 6:10, the patrol said in a press release. Bruchman was northbound at about 55 miles per hour, following slower traffic, when 18-year-old Dakota Simpson of Okanogan, also northbound, rear-ended the trooper, the patrol said.

Bruchman was treated and released at Mid Valley Hospital in Okanogan and will be recovering at home for the next couple days.

Simpson was not injured and was arrested for Driving Under the Influence. A drug recognition expert evaluated Simpson and concluded he was under the influence of cannabis and a depressant at the time of the collision. He was booked into Okanogan County Jail for DUI.

School board members take oath

Three school board directors took the oath of office Monday night after winning re-election in November. Taking the oath were Ken Stanger, George LaPlace and Richard Black. A fourth member winning re-election, Carla Marconi, was absent.

Coulee Dam Post Office extends hours

The Coulee Dam Post Office, 402 Mead Way, is extending retail hours of operation during the busy holiday mailing season to assist customers with their mailing needs.

The Coulee Dam office will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 16, and Saturday, Dec. 23.