News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Dusts ups with our North American trading partners pop up periodically, especially when there is global financial trouble. They can be acrimonious and strain relationships as President Donald Trump is learning. Trump, faced with excessive federal spending and our skyrocketing national debt ($36.6 trillion), re-launched his “Make America Great Again” initiative. It is a blueprint to stimulate job creation in America’s private sector and government efficiency. He wants investments in domestic manufacturing plants, fairer trade with more equit...
Any battle over tariffs between the United States and Canada, China, and Mexico is worrisome, but if it escalates, it will hit Washington farmers particularly hard. Avoiding that possibility should be a primary goal. Tariffs could trigger new trade wars. The last retaliation in tariffs eight years ago hurt agriculture. “A trade war with economic partners is the last thing our farmers and ranchers need,” said Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-WA4), whose family owns and operates an 850-acre farm near Sunnyside. Excessive costs, turbulent markets, inf...
In his first month as President, Donald Trump has shaken our federal government to the core. Many argue that his “meat ax” approach to cutting government waste, abuse and spending is as harmful to our country as the current “runaway “spending and borrowing. Regardless, America needs a strong wakeup call. The question is where to go from here. Is there a better way? In short, we need good comprehensive audits of current programs to determine how and where our tax dollars are spent and if we, as taxpayers, are getting our money’s worth. Pe...
Problems always get talked about more than good news. That’s just a basic fact of society, one that applies to the way we view the institutions we all depend on, such as our local schools. That doesn’t mean good things aren’t happening too, or that we should stop supporting them. That’s what the current levy election is about. It seeks to replace the one that will expire this year, and it presents your opportunity to support your local schools. A change in approaches to leadership, professional development, and accountability is always likely... Full story
I am writing to encourage each of our community to vote YES for the upcoming school levy. This levy replaces an already existing levy that will expire at the end of the calendar year 2025. I think we can all agree that our school is not fully funded by the State, and passing this levy helps support the schools by ensuring that they have the staffing, special education programs, athletics, advanced courses, extracurricular activities, transportation, food service and building maintenance that it needs to operate and function. If this levy is...
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Legislators are considering financially supporting police departments large and small as they try to hire new officers in the name of boosting public safety. Speaking at a hearing in the Senate Law and Justice Committee Tuesday morning, State Senator Jeff Holy (R-Cheney) said Seattle police had one of their best recruiting years in 2024, drawing in 84 new officers. However, he said a large number of existing officers left, ultimately adding two or three officers on net. "...
January 25, 1865, Company E, 5th U.S. Colored Cavalry troops were assigned to drive a herd of cattle from Camp Nelson to Louisville to supply the city with meat. While passing near Simpsonville, men at the rear of the herd were attacked by Confederate guerrillas. In the aftermath of the ambush, approximately 22 men were dead and another 20 wounded. Their antiquated weapons, 1853 Enfield rifles, were ineffective against the ambush. The Louisville Journal reported -- “The ground was stained w...
When he approached the broken city hall front door from the inside late Saturday night, the suspect in widespread vandalism there saw the targeting dots on his chest from an officer's taser and immediately complied with an order to lie down. Coulee Dam's Officer Mathew Ponusky, driving by on patrol just before 11 p.m., had noticed the broken glass door on the front of the building and stopped to investigate. Ponusky could hear glass breaking at the southwest corner of the building, and, looking...
In the aftermath of the catastrophic fire which gutted Paris’ Cathedral of Notre Dame in 2019, President Emmanuel Macron announced it would be rebuilt within five years and promised it would be “more beautiful than before!” Macron, who remains head of a divided French government, saw restoration of the 13th Century church as a way to restore national pride and unite fellow French citizens. When interviewed just before Notre Dame’s massive doors re-opened on Dec. 7, Macron called the restoration a miracle—an accomplishment of the unthinkab...
One of the most significant shifts from our recent elections is America is headed back to an “all of the above” strategy that expands our energy options rather than further restricting them. In the last four years, there has been an expensive shift away from carbon fuels (gasoline, and natural gas) to subsidizing wind, solar and electric vehicles (EVs). President Trump would be wise to look at inclusive strategies incorporated in the 2005 Energy Policy Act signed into law by President George W. Bush which focused on incremental imp...
After years of odious political behavior, it is time for elected officials to focus on governing our nation with civility and respect. It is time to go back to acting for the common good. Enough is enough! Our country needs leaders, irrespective of party affiliation, to set aside differences and unite — not demagogue and jockey for power. America is weakened by the continual onslaught of character assassinations, false accusations, misinformation, and bitterness which has been pervasive over the last dozen years. We do not know who to trust o...
Washington’s agriculture is a $12.8 billion business with 33,000 farms — and it runs on gasoline, diesel, and natural gas. The hundreds of big rigs hauling crops and food products are not electric. Even though new trucks have reduced CO2 and other pollutants, some politicians are hastily charging ahead to replace fossil-fueled trucks with unproven technology. According to 2021 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data, transportation was responsible for 30 percent of greenhouse gases of which 80 percent comes from cars and trucks. A qua...
I want to share how much I enjoy seeing the progress of the reopening of the Village Cinema. My sister, Cecilia, and I subscribe to The Star and enjoy sharing what is happening. My parents, Rod and Anne Hartman, ran the Coulee Dam Theatre when I was growing up. I have such memories of having my parents own the theatre. Some good, some great, and some embarrassing. We’ll start with the embarrassing. My mom would cruise the aisles with her flashlight, watching for those that were not watching the movie but were choosing to make out with their d...
When President Biden warned FEMA does not have enough money to finish the hurricane season let alone the entire year, it was surprising. Suddenly, we discovered federal disaster relief money may be insufficient for future hurricanes, wildfires, and earthquakes relief. The frequency of major hurricanes and massive wildfires is draining federal accounts, and replacement funds only add to our soaring national debt. That debt is weighing on our ability to operate our national government. For those of us in the Pacific Northwest, which stretches...
I read and listen to all of you Trump Haters out there and ask myself how can you possibly hate someone like him? I guess Biden/Harris has done such a marvelous job of allowing 20.000,000 illegal aliens to enter our country. Not the best of the best either. Murderers, Rapists, Gang Members, and known Terrorists. Let’s not forget our National Debt, that is something to be proud of. What about the draining of our oil reserves, the cost of food, gas, housing, out-of-control crime, and the list goes on and on? Do you look at demented Biden with p...
Whether you call it a ban or a significant deterrent to future natural gas consumption, voter approval of Initiative 2066 (I-2066) in Washington may be only the first giant pothole to fill. The next one in the road ahead may be a hefty tax on natural gas. In 2019, Berkeley, Calif., became the first city to prohibit natural gas connections in new buildings. San Jose, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and others followed. However, last year the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals delivered a setback by holding that federal law preempts local bans...
Once again, an old trope resurfaces. This time around, the rumor that pet cats and dogs are being kidnapped and eaten by immigrants. Race baiting has some deep roots in our nation. The consequences cause fear, repulsion or outright hatred of a specific group of people. Decades ago, this story appeared in Minneapolis-St. Paul. “…that immigrants from Southeast Asia eat cats and dogs circulated recently in Minneapolis-St. Paul.” Reporters sought comment from the Humane Society. “We got letters...
I wanted to thank you for your thoughtful editorial coverage on “Mental health troubles and news,” and the article “Man rescued from bridge standoff” in the September 11 edition of The Star. You are absolutely correct: “... Hope has to be part of the coverage” you provide, and is a reminder that each of us can offer hope to those who are struggling. Each of the community members who noticed the at-risk individual on the bridge and contacted the appropriate authorities, as well as the worker from Nespelem Valley Electric Co-Op, who was willi...
Just wanted to send a shout out to the Coulee Wall Variety Store. They opened up on Labor Day so that I could get some kitten milk replacement for some sick kittens I was asked to foster. A business and folks like this are truly a godsend to this community. Brittany Belgarde...
As a newspaper, we actually try not to cover certain stories if they’re arising from an individual’s personal mental health problems. It’s not unusual to get a report that authorities have responded to an individual in distress, or worse. But if someone threatens to do themselves harm, most often it seems far less likely that a news story would help either the individual or society, which might only suffer greater loss if a news article placed more pressure on an already bad situation for that individual. Most of the time. But it was diffi...
Are we failing to teach students about the nation’s history, it’s Constitution and civics? Are graduating students truly prepared as citizens, fully understanding how our federal democratic republic form of government operates? The University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center annually conducts a survey of public knowledge of our nation’s Constitution. The 2023 results of the annual Constitution Day survey are out. The title of the survey: “Many Don’t know Key Facts about the U...
Kelly Ortberg’s appointment as new Boeing CEO and the company returning its headquarters to Seattle are promising steps toward rehabilitating the aerospace giant started over a century ago. The Seattle Times editorial summarized it best: “Dare we hope?” Ortberg has a sterling reputation, vast aerospace experience, and a record of accomplishment. Hopefully, his experience and success pave the way for Boeing to re-emerge as the pinnacle of aerospace — where it was before the Chicago move in 2001. Boeing knows how to build good, safe airplan...
Our national debt is spreading out of control like a raging wildfire. Among other things, that added liability impacts our ability to fight those fires and reforest those scorched woods and range lands. Replanting trees is necessary to prevent erosion, provide clean drinking water, reduce CO2, protect fish and wildlife habitat, and rehabilitate public open spaces. It is very costly and under current funding schemes, the money is not available. Our national debt just surpassed $35 trillion for the first time in history. Those we elect brush...
August 11, 1934, 137 prisoners arrived at Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. They were the first prisoners to arrive and be housed in the new Federal Penitentiary. The majority were transferred from Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas. Prisoners continued to arrive; they were the incorrigibles. Among their ranks were notorious bank robbers, gangsters, murderers and counterfeiters. By the first anniversary of “The Rock” being opened, it had a population of 242 prisoners. Frank Weatherman was the last prisoner to leave the Federal Pen...
August 3, 1934, President Franklin Roosevelt visited the Grand Coulee Dam project. A massive project to ease joblessness during the Great Depression. Advocates for the construction of the dam lobbied for federal support for years. Roosevelt’s predecessor, Herbert Hoover, an engineer, had rejected plans to construct the Grand Coulee Dam and the related Columbia Basin Irrigation project. Hoover said it was too expensive, and there would be no market for power produced by the dam. He also felt t...