Looking back in the coulee

10 years ago

The regional board of mayors is finding out that it’s operating agreement is a poor way to run a railroad facing emergency repairs at the Delano transfer site. A month ago the mayors put a hold on the single bid they received to do the work hoping to get more bids.

This time around park commissioners Monday night barely passed a motion to allow the Chamber of Commerce to hold another beer garden event at the North Dam Park next month. Commissioners expressed frustration with learning of the planed event in the newspaper before getting a request from the Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber of Commerce has added one new twist and dropped one idea for its September 14th Harvest Fest but an added twist is the Rotary Club will have a public BBQ for the celebration featuring burgers and hot dogs. Dropped was a plan to have a nationally certified BBQ cook off that’s still a possibility for the 2014 harvest festival.

20 years ago

A group working to bring a swimming pool back to the area has been scrambling recently to raise money for the cost of running an election.

A plan by the Washington State Patrol to monitor last weekend’s Spirit Ridge barter fest resulted in numerous tickets and trips to jail for many who attended.

30 years ago

There are three volunteers in the Grand Coulee Dam area who are part of the Master Gardener Program. Bob Mueller of Coulee Dam, and Pauline Bryant and Jeannie Johnson of Electric City. They are among 422 graduates of Washington State University 1993 master garden trainer program for Grant and Adams counties.

A crowd of almost 20,000 were treated to a fireworks display following the 4th of July’s laser light show and fireworks that followed the laser light show.

Stephen Don won both the 800- and 1600-meter races at the state track meet in East Wenatchee this past month.

40 years ago

Darla Ray Pryor daughter of Rick and Clea Pryor of Coulee Dam has been named to the president’s list at Cottey College.

Local fishermen taking honors at the recent Washington State Bass Jamboree at Coulee Playland included eighth Dan Head, 9th George Farmer, and 13th Sue Head.

50 years ago

Acquisition of approximately 1000 acres of recreation land in Grant and Thurston Counties will be considered by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission at their public meeting August 20th. The proposed acquisition includes 760 acres in Northrop Canyon.

The Bureau of the Reclamation this week called for bids on a contract to complete the Grand Coulee Dam third power plant, the last major bid call to be issued in connection with the power expansion product project.

60 years ago

According to Columbia Basin project manager WWE Rawlings in Ephrata, a malfunction of one of the large circuit breakers in the right switchyard at Grand Coulee Dam Friday morning resulted in three of the dams 18 giant 108,000 kilowatt generators being taken off the line for about 26 minutes.

70 years ago

Recreational developments at the Spring Canyon beach area on lake Roosevelt will start immediately. Over $173,000 is available through congressional appropriations for this development.

The local swimming instruction classes ended Friday with 300 pupils participating.