News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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A few words of thanks and a ribbon cutting opened up a long-hidden part of the Grand Coulee Dam Project Thursday, as Bureau of Reclamation officials beamed to share a smaller but very interesting engineering feat, an old model of the Grand Coulee Dam at 1:60 scale. The model, most of which was hidden from view after it last operated as a tool for hydrologic research in 1952, was built to give engineers a way to test different water flow scenarios, measuring the results in the included scale...
Many recounted great times had over the Independence Day weekend at The Festival of America, until the finale on America's 250th birthday celebration. That's when, as everyone looked up, a few fireworks haltingly shot toward the sky from the top of Grand Coulee Dam, until they just stopped a few minutes after starting, later igniting fireworks of a different kind on Facebook. A technical problem with the fireworks had led to a fire. That had to be dealt with quickly, then technicians had to...
Bridge repairs originally planned to start July 6 will now start a week later, on Monday, July 13 and are scheduled to conclude Aug. 21with this "emergency" fix. Travelers will encounter slowdowns, lane closures and delays, a Washington State Department of Transportation release stated. For this "temporary" repair, contractor crews next week will start repair of the bridge's expansion joints. They will remove existing asphalt and install steel plates to hold the bridge deck panels in place and...
As the nation celebrates 250 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Grand Coulee Dam area is celebrating too, and at the Festival of America that means three days with kids' games, fun, a beer garden, and vendors, and two afternoons and evenings with live music, then the culmination of the festival with fireworks off the top of Grand Coulee Dam on July 4th. See our guide to the festival in this issue's second section. The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, which...
Town council members last week turned down a request from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation to amend their fiber optics franchise with Coulee Dam, with the mayor arguing the change would interfere with a longplanned power line replacement project. At the June 24 council meeting, Mayor Bob Poch said the proposed fiber easement would run in the same narrow corridor where the town and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation have been working for 15 to 17 years to replace electrical feeders 1 and 3 coming down the hill into town. The...
A man walks on the sidewalk along highway 155 approaching Grand Coulee Dam, where the Bureau of Reclamation adorned fences and walls with patriotic buntings and American flags on light poles amidst a community contest those planned inspired. - Scott Hunter photo...
Two nearby fires this week underscored the ease with which dry vegetation burns as summer begins, and two others not far enough away burned thousands of acres. Firefighters responded quickly and traffic was blocked at a fire in Belvedere north of Elmer City Sunday afternoon. Another fire blackened the dry grass and trees alongside the Columbia River Bridge in Coulee Dam Monday morning after 10 a.m., also blocking traffic as fire trucks occupied the bridge. Those smaller blazes brought home the...
Nearly $3 million in federal grants since 2008 have helped Grant County Port District 7 improve the Grand Coulee Dam Airport, adding equipment and technology that saves lives and property. Airport officials say the upgrades have made the airport increasingly important for emergency medicine, firefighting and regional transportation. A review of Federal Aviation Administration records identified at least $2.89 million in confirmed federal airport grants awarded to the district since 2008. State m...
If Electric City and Grand Coulee do not come to an agreement on the operation of the wastewater treatment facility they share, a lawsuit may follow. The Electric City Council June 9 discussed what that city views as a violation of an interlocal agreement between it and Grand Coulee. The 1984 agreement established joint ownership of a wastewater treatment facility, although operations have historically been performed by Grand Coulee employees. After a departure and a retirement of two separate...
Bureau of Reclamation workers mount U.S. flags on the light poles around a curve along SR-155 June 12, ahead of the June 14, which was Flag Day and President Donald Trump's birthday....
Grand Coulee Police 5/19 - An Amazon package was reported as stolen from a trailer park on Grand Coulee Avenue. 5/20 - A “verbal disturbance” was reported on SR-174 near U.S. Bureau of Reclamation power stations. The man was banned from all Bureau property at their request. He wasn’t happy about that but told police that he understood. 5/21 - Police checked on a 90-year old E Street man and he was doing just fine. - Police assisted the Grant County Sheriff’s Office at Steamboat Rock State Park on a report of a stranded boat on Banks Lake. P...
Larry Bruce McClain, 79, of Seaton’s Grove, passed away on April 30, 2026. Larry was born on June 21, 1946, in Coulee Dam, Washington, to Raymond and Alice McClain. He proudly served in the United States Army for four years. Following his military service, Larry built a long and dedicated career with the Bureau of Reclamation, where he worked for 33 years before retiring. In 1973, he married the love of his life, Helen Nelson. Together they raised two daughters and two stepsons; Alicea, H...
Julie Ann Jones passed away at her home in Almira WA on Sunday, 4/12/2026. She was born 4/6/1942 in Kirkland, WA to Larry and Mary Gunderson. Her early years were spent in Kirkland, Garrison ND, and finally Almira where she spent the rest of her life. She married Nick Campbell on 1/16/1960. Julie and Nick lived north of Almira and farmed until Nick's death in 1971. Julie moved to town in the spring of 1972. She married Karl Jones on 2/22/1975 and resided in Almira until her death. Over the...
Coulee Dam is preparing for what organizers say will be its biggest Festival of America yet, stretching to two and a half days and expected to draw between 20,000 and 25,000 visitors. Speaking to the Coulee Dam Town Council Wednesday, Chamber representative Krystal Fillis said last year’s oneday festival drew about 15,000 people. But with the Fourth of July falling on Saturday this year, the decision was made to expand after securing bigger-name entertainment and additional support. The festival will run Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with T...
Notice of Date Change for the GCDSD School Board Meeting Please be advised that the Grand Coulee Dam School District’s Board of Directors has moved their regularly scheduled meeting from Monday, March 23rd to Tuesday, March 24th. Monday, March 23rd the board will hold a Board Work Session at 5:30 p.m. at the Jr./Sr. High School Library. (Publish March 18, 2026) Public Notice Irrigation operations begin for the Columbia Basin Project In preparation for the 2026 irrigation season, the Bureau of Reclamation released water on March 2 at Dry F...
Smoke curls off the top of a house at 412 Roosevelt Drive Feb. 26 where firefighters were called about 12:30 p.m. They doused a front porch fire, then found more flames under the house. Crews from Grand Coulee, Electric City, the Bureau of Reclamation, Grand Coulee EMS and Grand Coulee Police responded, had the fire out, and left the scene by 1:54 p.m. - Jacob Wagner photo...
Grand Coulee Police 1/28 - Police spoke to a man whose ex had posted photos of him on Facebook without his permission. They have a custody issue playing out. The officer told him unless the photos were explicit in nature it was likely a civil issue, but a police report would be filled out if he wanted it. - Someone staying in a short-term rental on Spokane Way told police it sounded like someone was outside of the bedroom area messing with the A/C unit. Police checked the area and didn’t see anyone around. The person was told to call 911 if s...
After years of arguing that Grand Coulee is treating it like a paying customer instead of a co‑owner of the regional wastewater treatment plant, Electric City is turning to the courts. The City Council voted Tuesday to seek a legal judgment on the 1984 agreement that created the joint facility, saying Grand Coulee has ignored board decisions, relied on a costly contractor, and refused to enter mediation. The two cities are parties to a 1984 interlocal agreement that created the jointly owned t...
The city of Grand Coulee will write a letter endorsing a local effort to explore forming a regional "fire authority," the city council voted Tuesday night. A fire "authority" differs in state law from a "district" in that it is possible to include emergency medical services in it. Each of the affected areas in the currently proposed area must write a letter of its intent to move forward with such a study. The vote at Grand Coulee was unanimous, ticking off one more box on the list of things to...
Here are a few reasons I feel foratunate. I appreciate those involved with the Center Senior Living proyject. Looking forward to future updates. Very exciting! Persistence, hope and unwavering commitment pays off for CMC’s Leadership. The $3 million innovative workforce federal funds they received for an on-site “tiny village” to house rural health care workers is necessary and long overdue. Once again, thanks for showing your critical employees they are valued. It’s great to see all incumbents back on the Board after recent elections. They al...
Ron was a hard working man who retired from the Bureau of Reclamation in Grand Coulee Dam. He loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren beyond measure. His interests in life were hiking, camping, fishing, hunting and most everything that dealt with the outdoors. Ron was a Vietnam Veteran but did not like to talk about his time in the Army. He was a Sergeant during his time of service. He will be truly missed by his family and friends....
The Bureau of Reclamation's new fire station has won a national award for design, taking the gold in Firehouse Magazine's annual contest. The Magazine announced the winners of its 12th annual Station Design Awards program Nov. 9. The program recognizes outstanding architecture and design from fire departments and emergency facilities nationwide. Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were issued across eight categories of facilities: Career 1, Career 2, Co-Located, Combination, Renovations, Satellite,...
December 9, 2015, article by Roger Lucas addressed the Bureau of Reclamation’s new EUV’s (electric utility vehicles). “The vehicles are supposed to have a battery capacity of 50 hours and are now running out of power after only 15. It had been estimated that the battery-powered vehicles would save the government about $110,000 in fuel costs alone, as they would be recharged with electricity produced at Grand Coulee Dam. “The contract for the 27 EUV’s was for $900,000 including maintenance. The fleet of the white mini-vehicles have been acti...
Bureau of Reclamation workers on Monday morning inspect and repair links between the floats that form a barrier for boats on Lake Roosevelt to keep them away from Grand Coulee Dam. That float line, which stretches all the way across the lake, has broken several times this year. - Scott Hunter photo...
Betty Rae Black, 99, of Elmer City, Washington, entered into rest with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 22, 2025. Betty Rae (Zorn) Black was born on November 21, 1926, in Greenwood, Louisiana, to Franklin Raymond Zorn and Alice Beatrice (Stafford) Zorn. At a young age, she traveled the country with her family as her father worked construction, including on the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge. At just 15 years old, Betty was ready to settle in one place, and on May 6, 1942, she...