News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Tax revenue from tourists who stay in hotels is a critical resource for Washington state’s cities and towns, which often rely on that income to promote and expand events that attract visitors, according to those who testified on bills introduced this legislative session in Olympia. The proposals relate to the state’s hotel and motel tax, also known as the lodging tax. Individual counties and cities may choose to levy a fee of up to 2 percent on charges to customers by hotels and motels. Lodging-tax proceeds are used in most cases for tou... Full story
As everyone knows, the proposed new waste water treatment plant is being discussed at Coulee Dam Council meetings. There are a few people who religiously attend this meeting and do all they can to keep a run-away Town Council in check. Their behavior at recent meetings can only lead us to believe that they only agreed to a three-month hiatus on the forward motion of the project to appease the people who signed the petition to stop it. At the last meeting, Councilmember Karl Hjorten (up for re-election this year) made a motion that we once... Full story
Dry indeed, February brought a parching 0.09 inch of precipitation that included 0.6 inch of fresh snow. The mean precipitation is 0.92 inch while we had a high of 3.58 inches back in 1940. Mean snowfall is 2.5 inches. So, as you can see, we were behind by about 90 percent. Temperatures were higher, as well. The mean for February here at the home weather station was 34.2°F, while the historical mean is 32.7°F. That’s a 1.5°F uptick from the mean. The low for the month was 24.1°F (average minim... Full story
In November 1982, our state’s unemployment rate peaked at 12.2 percent, the highest since the Great Depression. Interest on a fixed rate home loan was 13.4 percent, and an 11.5-percent inflation rate burned through our checkbooks. The economy was a mess. The impacts of President Ronald Reagan’s Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 hadn’t fully kicked in yet, and Gov. John Spellman (R) and the Legislature had repeatedly increased taxes and cut programs to balance the state’s budget. It was a bleak t... Full story
Reviewing data from the past four Januarys shows we didn’t have any changes from the normal. We had good, measurable snowfall this year (2013, 7.3 inches) and last (2012, 9.9 inches). Here’s how it broke down for 2013 and showing all-time records in parenthesis. High temperature 46.0°F(record is 61°F), low 12.7°F (record -17°F), mean 26.5°F (record 36.1°F), total precipitation 0.60 inches (2.25 inches) and snowfall 7.3 inches (21.6 inches). January was nothing to write home about. Given the... Full story
When we moved from Montana to Olympia 35 years ago, we saw enticing television and magazine ads for our neighboring states, but none for Washington. Fast forward to 2013 and nothing has changed. It was puzzling then, but even more perplexing today, considering the money and jobs at stake. Tourism in our state is no small potatoes, it is big business. Visitors spent $16.4 billion in 2011 and accounted for 150,000 direct jobs, which is nearly twice Boeing’s workforce in our state. But our state i... Full story
California and Texas are like the two biggest kids on the block going toe-to-toe for bragging rights. Who’s the biggest? Who’s the best? Bravado aside, comparing the business climate in these two states reveals why one state is lagging while the other is thriving. California, once the most attractive business environment in the nation, is today caught in a downward economic spiral while Texas is on the upswing. Between 1960 and 1990, more than four million people moved to California, attracted b... Full story
Giving farm families the ability to protect their property and livestock from predatory wolves is a right protected by the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment, claims Sen. John Smith (R-7th District, Colville) as he testified Tuesday (Jan. 29) before the Senate’s Natural Resources Committee on legislation he’s proposing to control the marauding animals. A second bill Smith is sponsoring would allow law enforcement officers to kill attacking wolves under certain circumstances. The two bills would also limit the Department of Fish and Wildl... Full story
This thank you letter is long past due, but I’m getting slower as the years go by. When was the last time that you said a thank you to a volunteer? At this time I would like to say a big thank you to all of our volunteers! Our veterans are on top of the list for serving our country during a war or in peace time. Our volunteer firemen and EMTs who are there to help us anytime we need their help. These two groups of volunteers spend a lot of time away from family and friends when they are needed! Next would be all of our community volunteers w... Full story
Reviewing data sets for December 2011 and 2012 shows we were a bit warmer and wetter. Our low for December 2012 was 21.9°F compared to 2011, which was 16.4°F. That’s a 5.5 degree difference. The all-time low temperature for December was a minus 16°F in 1968, while the mean low is 29.6°F. Precipitation shows a difference of 1.63 inches. We measured 2.12 inches for 2012, while in 2011 we received only 0.49 inches. Snow accumulation for December 2012 was 6.4 inches and in 2011 just 1.3 inches. For... Full story
To educate the whole person, you must develop fully the mind, the body and the spirit. Are our schools (public and private) doing this? Consider these facts: • HS School dropout rates vary from 30-50 percent. • Students graduating from HS oftentimes require at least one year of remedial education at Community College to meet entry requirements. • Science and mathematics skills are dreadful (elem-HS). • Obesity is indication of poor physical fitness and health. • Stress abounds due to poor priority choices and prevalence of constant assaults... Full story
The new 113th Congress are now seated. The 112th Congress failed to recognize veterans of the Vietnam War. House Bill HR-3612 and Senate Bill S.1629, to restore The Agent Orange Equity Act did not make it out of committee. In all probability, these bills are dead and must be re-introduced. There are 439 members of Congress, 100 members of the Senate. In the 112th assembly of both houses, only 126 representatives co-sponsored the house bill and 14 senators co-sponsored the Senate bill. What does this say about those legislators who ignored the... Full story
On Tuesday, noon at Omak City Park, Jan. 22, 2013, there will be a march for life in Omak so that we will not forget that it is legal to kill an innocent, helpless baby in a mother’s womb through abortion. Everyone is welcome to join us January 22 to commemorate the sad, infamous day that the U.S. Supreme Court passed the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion on demand in the United States of American in 1973. Common sense tells us that this is wrong. It seems that not much attention is directed at the killing of these babies any longer, i... Full story
I would like to apologize to the people of the Grand Coulee Dam Area and the wonderful people that were willing to volunteer their time to honor the victims of the Newtown shooting. I realize it was cancelled with very short notice due to the increasing hazardous weather conditions. I contacted the parties that I had been involved with, and it was my understanding that the other parties would be contacted as well. My apology to the people that showed up only to find that it had been cancelled. It is my understanding that it is in the process... Full story
Our snowfall certainly wasn’t anything to get too thrilled about. Over a two-day period, the Dec. 10-11, we got 1.9 inches of snowfall here at the home weather station. That’s slightly more than the November mean of 1.4 inches. Mean precipitation for November is 1.25 inches, while we recorded a meager half inch here at home. For the year, we are well above our average precipitation of 10.50 inches, currently at 13.56 inches here at home. We had a November mean temperature at 40.9°F, below the... Full story
Although not a local resident, I would like to make a nomination for your volunteer of the year. As you are aware, TriFreaks puts on a rather large event in the Grand Coulee area annually in September. Although we have many volunteers in the community, there is always one that truly shines. With an event that requires so much time and commitment, the high school students come out and shine every year. In 2011 I had the honor of meeting a particular student by the name of Hillary Carriere. She was an amazing volunteer, taking charge of the... Full story
I would like to nominate Carol Estrada for volunteer of the year. I think she is very deserving of this award as she volunteers a lot of her time throughout the communities, whether it be at the hospital, the schools, or at the Eagles. She also helps out with the Trees of Sharing. No matter what she is helping with at the time, she enjoys doing it all. Sam Stanczak Nancy Bolyard... Full story
This January, core government functions such as scientific research, education, public safety, and environmental protection will face deep cuts under budget sequestration. If lawmakers cannot put politics aside to avoid continued cuts to these programs, our nation’s security, global competitiveness, and economic growth will be compromised. Teachers will be taken out of classrooms, cutting-edge research will be stifled, and conservation of America’s natural resources will be diminished. Experts agree these essential jobs and services are not... Full story
The Coulee Pioneer Museum is looking for members that want to preserve the history and heritage of the Grand Coulee Dam Area. The museum is moving forward with plans to gather information, photos, personal histories, and much, much more about the area. The name is “Coulee Pioneer Museum”. We have a tax number, logo, a slate of officers and an address. With memberships and donations, we will open a bank account soon. At this time we are looking for a donated area where we can gather information and work on projects. One day we will grow big enou... Full story
In “the good old days,” schools emphasized “reading, writing and arithmetic” taught to the tune of the hickory stick. But today, we seem to have created a two-tiered education philosophy. College-bound students are encouraged to learn science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). But STEM skills are not emphasized for students going directly into the job market, the military or to a trade school. That’s a mistake. Part of the problem started with our parents’ generation. For example, my... Full story
If the presence of snow indicates winter’s arrival along with less daylight, I’d say winter is here. So far, here at the home weather station, we’ve had 1.9 inches of snow with rapid melt-off. We’ve had three days of low temperatures below the freeze level, too. The coldest being 21.6°F. More of those to come, I’m sure. Here’s a tip of the hat to winter. November can be cold and the records show that in 1985 we had a -10°F. Our mean temperature is 37.5°F. Mean precipitation is 1.25 inches an... Full story
I want to thank Jesse Utz for the heartwarming article October 24 (the son becoming 18). In this age of family upsets, it was so good to know about the love there. Thanks. P.S., I remember you and your dad, Jesse, and ice cream, when you were little at Smitty’s! (where NCNB is now). Long time ago! Love the articles. Tell all hello and doing much better, but miss everyone. Shirley Shelby Grandview Village #301 5800 64th St. NE Marysville, Wash. 98270-48652... Full story
First, as a retired Navy veteran and Lake Roosevelt graduate, thank you for all who served, will serve, and support the local community. As I read the comment about racism in that article, I find myself wondering what I fought for. I have no problem with your concerns about the coverage on your son, but please don’t make that an excuse for a possible mistake by the local media. Remember, nobody is perfect. If this is the direction of this country in playing the race card for every disagreement or contoversy, then why did I serve? Sad day in A... Full story
I have given up waiting to receive a name of a particular soldier to mail packages from home to. So I went on line and there is a website: “Anysoldier.com” and it lists names of soldiers (from every branch) who is wanting to receive packages from home. This will work out great, and I’m ready to start baking and sending, and I have heard from many others who are also ready and willing to think of our heroes serving us and our country. I would encourage everyone to pick a name and send a letter and box of holiday cheer to someone (any one of th... Full story
I watched as President Obama was sworn in as President. He placed his hand on the Bible as he took the oath of office swearing he would uphold the Constitution and the laws of United States of America. Lately it appears his word is meaningless. He gave orders for the Border Agents not to enforce laws pertaining to illegal immigrants crossing into the U.S. in July. Obama made matters worse by closing nine Border Patrol Stations of an already stretched force, now leaving only two agents for 26 counties in Texas. The Dream Act is putting Law of... Full story