We're all in this together
We're all in this together
The Grand Coulee Dam School District is asking employees to complete a fall culture and climate survey by Monday, Nov. 16. Superintendent Rod Broadnax told the school board Monday that the survey had received 30 responses from the district’s 124 employees. He encouraged staff to respond and provide honest feedback about how the district can improve. “We really want to know your feedback so we can get better as a school community and administration,” Broadnax said. “If we don’t know what’s what, what you need or our staff needs, we...
Lake Roosevelt Jr/Sr High School’s senior class is planning a trip to Los Angeles from May 30 to June 1, 2027, with a return to school June 2. The school board tentatively approved the destination and dates, pending a written proposal to be submitted for consideration at next month’s meeting. Planned stops include Universal Studios, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Venice Beach and Griffith Observatory. Advisors said students must meet attendance and academic requirements to go. Advisor Lacey Ward said the class has raised the money to go....
Just before Monday's school board meeting, members Shannon Nicholson and Rich Black get quick preview of a display of veterans photos and histories set up in the Lake Roosevelt High School gym before the next morning's Veterans Day assembly. - Scott Hunter...
The manager of the regional transfer station, urged leaders of the four local towns to require asbestos reports for remodels, rebuilds and demolitions involving older homes and buildings. Randy Gumm said Wednesday that older structures in the area may contain asbestos and that reports could help prevent hazardous material from being mishandled. Gumm cited debris loads hauled from a house on Main Street in Grand Coulee, where he said a container of renovation debris produced brown dust with sparkly particles when dumped. He said he did not...
Lake Roosevelt Jr/Sr High School Vice Principal Serena Carlson, left, gives a tour of the newly refurbished and expanded weight room at the school Monday night. Carlson led an effort to obtain grants and recruit volunteers to help tear out a wall, paint and more as new flooring was prepared before new equipment could line the walls. She said the project cost about $196,000. Superintendent Rod Broadnax praised her work at the school board meeting later and said the facility, combining an older...
by Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard November 9, 2026 Chris Reykdal, who has led Washington state's public school system through a period of financial and political upheaval, and a pandemic, announced Monday that he will not seek re-election to a fourth term in 2028. "Public institutions are strengthened when leadership changes, new voices emerge, and those entrusted with public office understand that the position belongs to the people, not to the person holding it," he said in a...
The American Legion post in Electric City will serve breakfast on Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11 for whatever donation you would like to make. “So after you eat it, you can determine how much you want to give,” Rich Black, a member of the Legion, told the school board, of which he is also a member, Monday night. “And actually, it’s a great socialization opportunity, and the eggs are real.” The event starts at 7 a.m. and lasts until 11, or until the food runs...
An outcome of the November 3rd Mid-Term elections that hasn’t receive much attention: the number of physicians, scientists, mathematicians, and engineers that were elected. They were elected to state legislatures, governorships and the United States Congress. There are 20 physicians in our current Congress, that number will be surpassed by the new incoming congressional class. Is this a positive, I believe it is. Simply put, these individuals know subjects that will likely affect future legislation. Legislation that needs addressing is in...
Warning: Potty humor ahead – literally! There was a time in our household when I could blame at least one of our three daughters for any (almost daily) home toilet debacles. Usually, I could address these issues with a plunger, a screwdriver, a hazmat suit, or a combination of the three. Recently, though, the problem took a more sinister and mysterious turn when the commode in our master bathroom stopped flushing altogether. After some frantic, fruitless handle-jiggling, which pretty much exhausted my plumbing expertise, I naturally blamed...
November 12, 1899, Albert Ruger died in Akron, Ohio. Ruger was born in Prussia and emigrated to the United States where he worked as a stonemason. He served with the Ohio Volunteers during the Civil War. He began creating ariel views of the Union campsites for publication. The views offered a perspective not seen before, panoramic mapping. After the war, Ruger settled in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he worked drawing unique views of Michigan cities. Ruger was the first artist to gain real success as a panoramic, or bird’s-eye-view...
Christmas is coming soon! Trees of Sharing 2026 is beginning this week so we’ll be ready to give a hand up to families by providing a Christmas gift for their children. Beginning in the 1980’s, the Trees of Sharing program has been a pathway for Grand Coulee Dam Area residents to provide gifts to children facing financial hardship. If you are a parent or guardian in a family with children under age 18 living in the Coulee as far north as Belvedere that could use the encouragement of having Christmas gifts provided, please fill out Trees...
Area AA Meetings In Electric City, the New Hope group now holds its meetings Monday thru Friday @ 6 pm every night, at the Vets Center in Electric cCty. . Need more info? Call Betty at 509-429-7817 . In Nespelem, the group Bound and Detemined holds its meetings Monday evening at 7 p.m. at the Catholic Church. Contact Myrna at 634-4921. Food Bank Seeks Canned Goods Care and Share Food Bank is running short of some items and is hoping for some community assistance. “We are really in need of some canned goods, especially tuna and chili,...
Joaquin Marchand's photo and information should have been in our Veteran's Day section this week, but we missed the email. We'll include him in next year's section, but offer it here to at least get him in this same issue with information submitted to us. Joaquin Marchand served as a sergeant in the 82nd Airborne Division of the 1-505th Parachute Infantry Regiment between 9/1/2001 - 12/31/2005. He participated in multiple missions abroad during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi...
Coulee Dam Police 11/1 - Police were unable to locate a vehicle possibly being driven by an intoxicated person as a concerned person reported following a verbal dispute at the bar in Electric City. - Police performed a welfare check on a man in Electric City who told police he was fine. - An officer helped a woman get in touch with her mother whom she hadn’t been able to reach that day. 11/2 - A vehicle stalled out on the Coulee Dam hill near the dam was positioned in the middle of the roadway posing a possible traffic risk. The vehicle was...
My husband passed away on October 4, 2026, leaving behind a family who loved him deeply and countless friends whose lives were brightened by his warm, friendly, spirit. Born in Denver, Co. to Anne and Raymond Zowada, Steve grew up in Coulee Dam, Wa. We shared a lovely 33 years of marriage and raised our two sons, Ryan and Nicholas in Colorado. Together we built a life centered on love and family. Steve was a loving husband and devoted father who was immensely proud of his boys. He treasured spending time with them and being part of their...
There is a $50 charge for obituaries published in the Star. This includes a photo and up to 500 words. Reminders for Celebrations of Life and Death Notices are $25. Articles must be either e-mailed, faxed or dropped off at the Star office. They will not be accepted over the phone. The deadline to submit an article is Monday by 5 p.m. For more information, call 509.633.1350 or visit our website at...
Northrup competes at state cross country meet Mica Northrup, a Lake Roosevelt junior, finished the 3-mile course at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco Saturday in 18 minutes, 51.0 seconds at the WIAA State Cross Country Meet. That brought him across the finish line as the 77th, out of 144 boys in the 2B category. This was Northrup's first year in the LR cross country program. "The exciting thing is that he will be back for us again next year, along with some other promising runners," Coach...
Public Hearing Notice is hereby given that the Town of Elmer City regular scheduled November Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 18th at 5:30 p.m. Elmer City will hold a Public Hearing on November 18, 2026, at 5:45 p.m. for the 2027 Preliminary Budget for revenue source, ad valorem, and consideration of possible increases in property tax revenues. Elmer City will hold a Public Hearing on November 18, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. to approve the operating budget for 2027. All interested individuals will be given the opportunity to provide...
