News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Gerry M. Laramie Boyd, 86, passed peacefully on May 28, 2026 losing her 20-year struggle with Parkinson's Disease that slowly but surely stripped her of virtually all her life's pleasures. She was born in Nespelem WA on July 21, 1939, to Joseph Laramie and Lena Jane Laramie. Gerry attended St Mary's Mission Catholic Boarding School, near Omak, WA during grade and junior high school and then Inchelium High School. It was during her high school freshman year that Gerry's best friend, Nancy... Full story
I’ve known the past three owners of The Star newspaper. My father was an owner of small- town newspapers. The business is extremely hard with few thank-you’s. Scott Hunter, the current owner for some time now, is also my neighbor. I have a great deal of respect for him. This will never change – he is a good dude! He publishes a quality product even though his business is understaffed. It’s rare, but occasionally he’ll squeeze in time to write an editorial. Every once in a while, others will disagree with his opinions and really lay on the wo...
It’s hard enough to understand the difficulties the local school district finds itself in without making an argument that resorts to deliberately cherry-picking facts to color the origins of the problems in much darker hues than a clear picture would provide. For example, citing a chart that peaked with an anomalous high enrollment of 311 students higher than the current count gives a distinctly worse impression than a more accurate average of the seven prior years, which would tell you the district is down about 130-150 students from that aver...
(These were to be made at the meeting, but I was not told the date changed) For nearly a week now, I have felt as if I was living in a parallel universe. That feeling, like you cannot believe what is happening around you! Like you woke up to a changed world. The two words that best describe my feelings last weekend are shock and hurt. Now I stand so humbled before you. I realize that what I was feeling last weekend is only a small sampling of what many of the staff, inside these walls, have felt. I am sorry it took my own pain, to begin to see...
I was born in the Ferry County Hospital in Republic Washington to Tommie and Joyce Nee on October 8th, 1952. A few days later my Daddy and Mom took me on the most amazing car drive of my life. I couldn't see very well, but I remember the feelings filling the car ...beautiful. The car was full of hope, dreams, laughter, smiles, pride, happiness and so much love. The blend of emotions was comforting and safe. We drove down the beautiful San Poil Valley to the south end of Ferry County, to a small... Full story
Nespelem School District No. 14 Okanogan County, Washington NOTICE OF MEETING TO ADOPT 2025-26 BUDGET EXTENSION AND CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE is hereby given, pursuant to RCW 28A.505.050 and RCW 28A.505.060, that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Nespelem School District No. 14, Grant County, Washington (the “District”) will hold their regular meeting on April 27, 2026, commencing at 12:00 PM at 229 School House Loop Road, Nespelem, Washington. The public hearing is called for the purpose of fixing and adopting the general fund an... Full story
Notice of Date Change for the GCDSD School Board Meeting Please be informed that the Board of Directors of the Grand Coulee Dam School District has changed the date of their School Board Meeting from Monday April 13th to Wednesday April 15th. (The meeting will be held at the regular time and location; 5:30 p.m. at the Jr./Sr. High Library) (Publish April 15, 2026) Nespelem School District No. 14 Okanogan County, Washington NOTICE OF MEETING TO ADOPT 2025-26 BUDGET EXTENSION AND CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE is hereby given, pursuant to RCW... Full story
Ella Rae Hale born in Chelan, Washington October 22, 1954, passed away March 6, 2026. Ella was the fifth child born to Harry H and Elsie Hale. She is survived by her son Flint Bjorson, grandson Zane Bjorson and granddaughter Cheyene Bjorson; her daughter-in-law and granddaughter Makelah and husband and great-grandson. She is also survived by two sisters Marlene P. Hale and Winnie Marchand, several nieces and nephews. Ella lived in Liberty and Ellensburg Wash. She went to school in Cle Elum,... Full story
Lake Roosevelt Schools will lose at least six teachers, and up to eight, after this school year to a reduction in force (RIF) authorized by the school board Monday night following reports and deliberations on how the school district “got here” and what the way forward will be. Unlike the federal government, school districts must run on a balanced budget, so when revenue falls, so must expenses, most of which is in salaries and benefits mandated by the state, but not necessarily paid for by it. The deficit before adjustments are made is pro...
Clark was born in Portland, Oregon to Lola and Clark R Slattery Senior. His dad was in the construction business building logging roads in western Washington and Oregon. The job usually lasted a year and when the road job was completed, they moved to another area to build another road. The roads were usually logging roads. Because of this Clark went to a different school for the first eight grades. The family oved to Elmer City, Wash., where he attended the Nespelem High School for all 4 years.... Full story
A wrestler at Nespelem High School's nascent athletics program has qualified to compete at the WIAA Mat Classic championships, the school announced. Natalia Saulque is no beginner. "My love for wrestling stems from my first time starting wrestling at age 10," she said in a statement. "I like the sport because it is fun and challenging. I am glad I get to represent Nespelem High School. Go Eagles."...
The educational leader who has led Nespelem School District since 2020 will resign at the end of the school year. Dr. Effie Dean, who took over in June of 2020 as the Covid pandemic was disrupting education and society in general, informed the district board of directors Jan. 30. Monday night, directors voted to begin the search for a new superintendent, engaging Northwest Leadership Associates, of Wenatchee, to begin the search and vetting process. Dean’s last official day is June 30. She told The Star on Tuesday that she is not certain of h...
Grand Coulee Police 12/23-12/28 - Reports were filed without additional details, including: a citizen assist on Grand Coulee Avenue; assisting another agency at the hospital; an overdose on Dill Avenue; a family fight on Division Street; a traffic offense on Spokane Way; custodial interference on Bowen Street; a suspicious vehicle on Cardinal Road; and a citizen assist on E Street. 12/27 - A Section Place resident told police she thought that a woman, whom she identified, had knocked on her door at 1 a.m. before stealing a bag of laundry from...
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...
The community was thrown into grief Thursday night as word spread of the death of a mother and her young son in what law enforcement authorities are calling murder. Tribal police found Laura Dick and her 17-year-old son Anthony Vieira, dead in the family home after Damien Martinez Jr. called them and confessed, reported sources, including KXLY, which reported obtaining court records Saturday. Okanogan County Prosecuting Attorney Albert H. Lin issued a statement Monday saying Martinez was being held on two counts of first-degree murder, with...
A dozen basketball games got played Saturday afternoon in the Lake Roosevelt gym, but each of them included only 10 minutes of play. The Raider teams - both junior varsity and varsity teams for both girls and boys, hosted the six-school Basketball Jamboree event with Soap Lake, Omak, Inchelium, Nespelem, and Moses Lake Christian. Each team played two short games with three referees packing in a lot of play in just 10 minutes, but not much attention was paid to stats or even scores for long. It...
by Scott Hunter The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (Colville Tribes) and Open Access Technology International, Inc. (OATI) announced a landmark collaboration last week to “advance tribal energy sovereignty and resilience through the design and deployment of multiple microgrids across the reservation.” The Tribes’ 1.4 million acre reservation, which includes parts of two counties is served by five different electric utilities, and power outages are getting worse, said the Tribes’ Business Council chair, Jarred-Michael Erickso...
An enterprise seeking to convert the old Center School into the "Center Senior Living" assisted living project has made significant progress. In fact, they now own the building. The project, driven by a dedicated board including local professionals and community members, aims to address the lack of local assisted living facilities, which forces seniors to move far away. The project has secured a $1 million federal grant for hazmat abatement and demolition, and they've raised $291,000 in local...
Mayor Ruth Dalton pulled ahead in the race to keep her office in Grand Coulee. Dalton switched the advantage since last week, when challenger Chantel Crowe, the deputy city clerk was ahead by a few votes. Dalton now leads with 56% of the vote, 120-104. Likewise, for Grand Coulee’s council member 2 seat, Andrew Dobson pulled ahead of Cameron Whitney 88- 79. Cheryl Hoffman gained a 54% lead over Jeremiah Seekins in the race for Electric City’s Council Member 1 seat, 154-129. Bradley Oliver holds an insurmountable 185-97 lead over Robbin Boy...
Even in an election year when most races were for often uncontested local offices, several were too close to call last night when county election offices stopped counting ballots after 8 p.m. In Grand Coulee, Mayor Ruth Dalton wasn’t getting too nervous yet about barely trailing by 52-48, Chantel Crowe, the city’s deputy clerk who decided to run for the mayor’s office. Neither was Crowe, reached on her way back from a leadership class in Ephrata. She also said it was too close to call. “As of now, I’m excited and I’m certainly honored,” she sai...
Luncheon to Feature Grant Winner, Interactive Art Okanogan County School Retirees’ Association will hold a general luncheon meeting 11 AM, Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at Community Presbyterian Church of Omak, 9 Birch St. S. Fall Grant winners will be chosen. T Lewis, newspaper comic artist of Over the Hedge and educational storybook illustrator, will lead attendees in an interactive artistic program. Information: (509)-945-3401. Food Bank Hours The food bank regular hours are Fridays from, 1-3 p.m. Questions call Pastor Shawn at 633-2566. Area A...
(10/8/2025) WSU Colville Reservation Extension collaborated with Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) Headstart program and CCT Diabetes program to celebrate National 4-H Week and Taste Washington Day. This group collaboratively hosted Story Walks to provide educational and fun hands-on activities for Nespelem & Inchelium Headstart students and families. A Story Walk combines reading with physical movement so that students can have fun and learn in an outdoor setting, The books used were Planting...
by Scott Hunter Nespelem School District ceremonially broke ground on construction of their new CTE building Monday morning as the whole school looked on. Nespelem's high school closed in 1956 as the state consolidated schools, sending local students to high school in Coulee Dam. The district's board of directors has long expressed their current dissatisfaction with the arrangement, thinking some of their students were not thriving in the neighboring system. Board President Jolene Marchand said...
I tip my hat to a job well done by Kelly and her entourage who make the Run the Dam so successful each year. They make a complex task seem simple. Our local prep talent Caden Portch won the 5K race with family members in tow. I’m not sure how Randy Spotts and Rick King passed through security. Locals tell me they see me running. I appreciate their kind words, but let’s get real, at best it is not even a jog. It is an old-man trot. I’ve had people walk past me — embarrassing! Recently, a girl and her little brother with training wheels on his bi...
Retirees to Meet Okanogan County School Retirees’ Association will hold a general meeting and luncheon at 11am Tuesday, September 30, at the Community Presbyterian Church of Omak, 9 Birch St S, Omak. Jeff Chambers, Outreach Teacher for Omak Highlands Alternative School, will speak. For more information: Evon LaGrou: 509-945-3401. Area AA Meetings In Electric City, the New Hope group holds its meetings Tuesday and Friday evenings at 6pm at the Vets Center. These meetings are open and non-smoking. For more information, contact Phyllis 6...