Town and tribes setting up Christmas trees in Coulee Dam

What better way to express the joy of Christmas than a lighted tree? Two lighted trees, of course, said Barbara Durnil, of the town of Coulee Dam’s Parks and Recreation committee.

The town and the Colville Confederated Tribes are arranging just that. The town will have two Christmas trees this year, one in east and one in west Coulee Dam, to light the season.

First, Durnil said, an evergreen in Mason City Park, across from the post office, will become a new bright Christmas tree for east Coulee Dam, replacing one from long ago.

Second, through the efforts of Colville Tribes, there will be a cut tree added to Douglas Park on Columbia Avenue. That tree will travel from the forests of the Colville Reservation to be honored with lights for the west side.

This tree has been cut and brought down in recognition of the forest management and resulting products that come from the tribes, Durnil said.

City Superintendent Mike Steffens said at a recent city council meeting that folks had been dropping off a lot of donated Christmas decorations for the effort.

A ceremony for setting up and decorating the Douglas Park tree will take place on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. Anyone wishing to help string lights, or simply watch the setting up, should feel free to come, Durnil said.