News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Faced with various groups annually vying for tourism tax dollars, most Coulee Dam Town Council members verbally endorsed an approach suggested by Mayor Greg Wilder last week: outsource it — with provisos. Wilder advocated an approach similar to what the chamber of commerce was trying to organize last year, a separate tourism advisory board that each of the three towns collecting the tax from tourists would empower to use funds for marketing the whole area. But even if such an entity does not yet exist, Wilder was in favor of taking that approac... Full story
As local towns decide on how much money they’ll spend next year, the season always brings out what for councils is a bothersome and needlessly complicated question: How much money should we spend to promote tourism, and how should we spend it? Three local municipalities collect a tax on motel rooms and campground spaces that is supposed to be spent to promote tourism. That brings groups that qualify, and some that don’t, to the town government asking for those tax funds collected from tourists. The process is cumbersome at best and depends on t... Full story
[This story has been updated with more accurate numbers of workers that were made available.] With a massive new headquarters under construction near Nespelem for the 12 Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, plus their big new casino going up in Omak, contractors are in need of some good help locally. A job fair at the Nespelem Community Center Nov. 6 was designed to help fill that need. "It's going to get exciting and our need is going to go up quite a bit in the next three months,"... Full story
Hospital District 6 commissioners passed a budget Monday night that anticipates changes in fee structures, increased employment, new doctors and a razor thin 0.1-percent net margin, basically break even. “We’re going to start conservative and expect to get better, not worse,” said Chief Executive Officer Debbie Bigelow. She presented the budget that she said was conservative in expecting $22.3 million in net patient revenues for Coulee Medical Center. The budget news was mixed with announcements of new doctors coming on board, possibly inclu... Full story
As a matter of fact, we view the four towns as one in many ways, but in purely practical terms joining just two would be very good start. In any large city, the populations of Electric City, Grand Coulee, Coulee Dam and Elmer City would barely qualify as a neighborhood, let alone four municipalities each with separate mayors and councils, budgets to work out and utility bills to track. Combining the towns seems so obviously a good idea. But smaller steps often make the start of a long and worthy journey. Two of the cities already share so much... Full story
The elections are over, back to business with Congress as they have many unsettled issues in need of attention. The VA scandal is still a priority for Congress to settle. Although the VA has made some progress toward veterans care and benefits improvements, it is not yet 100 percent thought out. Our Congress needs transparency in bipartisanship and to be held accountable. A quote by Theodore Roosevelt: “A man who is good enough to shed his blood for the Country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards.” We veterans need a square deal... Full story
The flags along the 155 corridor are all ripped and unsightly. Should be replaced or removed immediately. Disgraceful for viewing on Veteran’s Day. Phil Berry... Full story
LR Cross Country finished the State B race in 14th place in the team standings out of 16 full teams running at Pasco Nov. 8. With much of the team being new to state, Head Coach Gary Darnold depended on his leaders to calm the jitters. "We had three of the 11 returning from the state meet last year," Darnold said, "and I depended heavily on them to give their advice from their state experience, and they really came through." Darnold enjoyed seeing the team perform to the best of their... Full story
Sean Garvin, Areielle White, and Kammi Rosenbaum were all named to the Central Washington 2B North All League Volleyball squads. Sean Garvin is the only freshman on the First Team. Areielle White is the Second Team Libero. Kammi Rosenbaum was given an honorable mention. For a Freshman to make first team is a feat. Head Coach Nate Piturachsatit had much praise for Garvin. “She has put so much time into the game of volleyball, that even though young, she is as experienced as most seniors,” her... Full story
Even while much of the world is just waking up to what the potential spread of Ebola fever in Western Africa might mean for the rest of the globe, the local hospital in Grand Coulee is already making sure it won't be caught unprepared for the disease if it ever comes here. Major hospitals in other parts of the United States have made dangerous mistakes in how they handle infected patients, even when they'd had protocols in place. The staff at Coulee Medical Center is training for serious infecti... Full story
I wish to thank the entire community for their support following the passing of my wife Donna. I have received hundreds of cards and condolences since the sudden event. I cannot personally respond to them all, so I will address many of you via the newspaper. Donna’s wish was the support of “Polio Plus” through Rotary International’s program. So far, a total of $3,435 has been donated. I appreciate all of you. The many meals and foods that have been delivered to me is overwhelming. In the six weeks since her passing, I have seldom had to cook... Full story
The Varsity 7 boys of the Raiders Cross Country team are heading to state on Friday after qualifying as the number-three team from the District 5-6 race Saturday in Wenatchee, along with Loryn Moore, who took the girls' championship. Liberty Bell came in first with 71 team points. Tonasket finished second with 92 team points. LR edged out Manson by just one point for the last team spot to state, 102-103. That's a scenario the Raiders had talked about. "Team scoring is found by adding your... Full story
Lady Raider Volleyball missed out on going to the district tournament after losing to Liberty Bell in a tiebreaker match Thursday, three games to one. “This was a particularly hard loss as it was the last game of the season and our goal was to make it to the postseason,” Head Coach Nate Piturachsatit said. “Our girls have tons of potential if they are willing to put in the gym time.” After losing to Okanogan Oct. 28, the Lady Raiders needed to pick up their spirits and play their hearts out aga... Full story
Raider football ended the 2014 season with a loss to Soap Lake on Senior Night at Lake Roosevelt, 37-7. LR finished 1-7 overall and 0-5 in Central Washington 2B South League play. "Not the result we wanted on Senior Night," Head Coach Steve Files said. "Our two seniors, Trey Nicholson and Curtis Nault, were invaluable to us this season." LR entered the game with a depleted roster and many players playing different spots than they had in the Homecoming game just three weeks earlier. Soap Lake... Full story
A 38-year-old Mallot man walking along SR 97 was hit by a car Thursday night about 6 p.m., the Washington State Patrol reports. Tarence Marconi was walking north along the highway when a northbound car drove onto the shoulder, striking Marconi and knocking him into the ditch. The unkown vehicle continued north. Marconi was taken to Mid-Valley Hospital. The incident is under investigation.... Full story
National Park Service officials at Coulee Dam presented their proposal last week to boost boat launch and camping fees for Lake Roosevelt. One of their main concerns, said Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Superintendent Dan Foster, is that the current fee structure doesn't comply with the law against undercutting local business rates. The NPS area's camping fees, for example are currently just $10 a night, compared to an average $18 in region, a park study found. Foster said they held pub... Full story
Since 9-11 I have watched the evolution of Bureau security in and around the Dam. For a long time, it appeared that the after a shaky start, the program would mature with age. I now think I was wrong. In the beginning, the powers that be did everything they could to have a security “presence.” That presence was to make sure us local terrorists didn’t fish in peace, walk on the Bureau’s hallowed ground in the early morning or evening or stop our cars and take pictures. Moreover, the Bureau gave the security staff guns and formed swat teams.... Full story
These ridiculous moratoriums against legal marijuana businesses only stops jobs from coming to our community! I understand that the people that are opposed to these businesses have all the money they need to get by. ALL THE REST OF us have to go without jobs or travel to work. Phyllis M. Melberg... Full story
Lady Raider Volleyball will play a tiebreaker match to settle the matter of who is the number-five team in the North tomorrow at Pateros High School. LR will be playing Liberty Bell, who finished with the same league record as the Raiders (5-9) and split the regular season series with LR. The winner goes to the District 5/6 tournament at Ephrata High School on Saturday for a single-elimination match at 10 a.m. The Lady Raiders set this tiebreaker in motion by defeating the Tonasket Tigers at... Full story
Raider Cross Country finished the regular season Oct. 25 at Liberty Bell, where the boys’ team finished third in the Central Washington District 6 B League Championships. LR had 78 points, while champion and host Liberty Bell scored 27. Second-place Tonasket recorded 70. There were only 14 girls running at Liberty Bell, all scored as individuals. “Each team member put in strong efforts at this league meet,” Raider Head Coach Gary Darnold said. Chris Oates led the Raiders, finishing fifth with... Full story
On a wet night in Kittitas, the Raiders lost their fourth game in a row to the Coyotes by the score of 72-6. “Disappointing performance by the Raiders,” Raider Head Coach Steve Files commented. “We were not competitive against Kittitas.” LR tried early to fake a punt deep in their own territory. Kittitas stopped the Raiders for a loss and quickly scored. Momentum was on the Coyotes side as LR fumbled on the next offensive snap and the Coyotes picked it up for another touchdown. LR’s only score came on a Nathaniel Hall 72-yard kickoff return fo... Full story
Wednesday night, science program students at Lake Roosevelt High School stood by exhibits offering to explain some complex subjects they've been learning lately, and those questioned by The Star seemed to know their stuff. The exhibit, held in conjunction with a meal and program by the Johnson O'Mally Indian Education committee, attracted about 60 people to learn about those programs. As a bonus, a Boy Scouts troop set up a booth and gained several interested youth. Cub scouts seemed to... Full story
Gayle Swagerty spoke for quite a few people in the entire community this week when she asked why there is no recycling program organized by the four towns whose waste disposal is governed by the Regional Board of Mayors. The mayors’ response was that it’s not economically feasible to sustain such a program in an area of this population. That may be so, but the mayors should let the market prove it. Evidently, that’s not an option currently because the waste disposal contract gives the regional refuse hauler the right to run a recycling progr... Full story
I remember when I was working in the Vancouver, WA area and living in Electric City next to Bill he asked me if I could stop by the Washougal fish hatchery in western WA. and pick up two holding nets for this project. Barely got in my little pickup but I got it done. Next time I came home, they were in the water in Banks Lake. Great achievement. Fred Hanks... Full story
A grateful Nespelem Creek Kids 4-H club gave Merl and Linda Roberts an embroidered Pendleton blanket Oct. 7 in appreciation for working with the group's bee-raising project. Club advisor Ian Wilder said Merle Roberts, a beekeeper himself, supported the project with expertise and experience and plenty of time. The group, with 14-16 kids involved, wanted to raise bees this year to collect honey and wax, help with local pollination needs, and eventually donate to honey to the Convalescent Center... Full story
