The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Illness

outbreak

investigated

Grant County Health District staff are investigating three laboratory confirmed cases and 210 people who have come in contact with ill individuals with whooping cough (pertussis) in Mattawa and Quincy, No one has been hospitalized. “We are responding to a cluster of whooping cough cases among migrant farm workers. Dr. Alexander Brzezny said. “Because of a large number of exposed and ill individuals in a very well-defined area, we are considering this a local outbreak,” Between July 3 and July 7, 210 patients received antibiotics, officials stated.

Man says bands too loud

Steve Salstrom, complained to the Electric City council that police should get a decibel meter so they could measure the noise from bands playing at Electric City Bar and Grille. Salstrom said the city should look at its noise ordinance and make some changes. He said when the bands are playing outside the noise is so bad that he can’t sleep. Salstrom lives about a block from the tavern.

Chamber:

holiday

numbers up

The chamber of commerce reported this week that the Festival of America over the July 4 weekend was a huge success. Executive Director Peggy Nevsimal said that food and craft vendors reported huge sales numbers and the fireworks crowd was the largest for the area for the past several years. The chamber had placed a strong media buy on the west side of the state promoting the various activities.

Blood drive

set for July 21

There will be a community blood drive, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday, July 21, at Coulee Medical Center, in professional building B. The blood drive is being managed by Inland Northwest Blood Center with local volunteers. Additional information is available by calling Jennifer Tollefson, 509.280.8570

Vandalism prompts

camera buy

The town of Coulee Dam passed a budget amendment last week to take $9,500 out of its hotel/motel tax fund to purchase and install security cameras at its Douglas Park restrooms. There was a report of vandalism at the restrooms.

Seniors select low bidder

Claw Construction of Coulee Dam was the low bidder on a pole building being planned by the Senior Center for housing buses. Details of the bid were being worked out this week. Larry Curtis announced that there were three bidders and all were close on the bid amounts. He didn’t release the amounts of the bids.