News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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And some of the rest of the photos from this week ... 2-6-13 Star - Images by Scott Hunter... Full story
The civil discussion at the Coulee Dam council meeting was a welcome relief from the tension building over the wastewater treatment plant issue. More than that, it was a model of how a town council meeting should be run. Kudos to all involved. Concerns about cleanliness and snakes notwithstanding, one has to wonder about our misgivings about chickens in town, when reportedly they can exist unknown to neighbors until a fence blows down. We’ve seen enough government audits to know when one would disapprove of not depositing government-held c... Full story
Two days earlier, people on opposite sides of a contentious issue hadn’t gotten along so well, but the regular meeting of the Coulee Dam Town Council Wednesday progressed with civility remarkable by contrast. The town council accepted without comment a 275-signature petition by citizens to submit plans for a wastewater treatment facility upgrade to third-party engineers for “value engineering,” a formal process performed on many projects by engineers who do nothing else but look for ways to save money in such proposals. The petition also said... Full story
by John R. McNeil II Victories over Bridgeport and Manson last week placed the Lady Raiders solidly atop the Central Washington North with just five games left in the regular season. Against the Fillies Jan. 22, the Lady Raiders took to the court without leading senior scorer Danielle Laramie who took time out to heal some minor injuries. Katelynn Schilling stepped up to fill the void, putting together a double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Lady Raiders to a very convincing... Full story
The Raiders four-game win streak was snapped by a fourth-quarter comeback by Bridgeport on the Jan. 22. Then the Raiders dropped to second-place Manson last Friday, allowing the Trojans to tie with them atop of the Central Washington North standings. Against Bridgeport, the Raiders had diffculty in the first quarter getting the offense going as Bridgeport came away with the lead going into the second, 10-5. The Raiders came back into the game with a solid second quarter, scoring 16 points and... Full story
Raider Wrestlers finished the regular season last Saturday at Pateros where they wrestled in a preview of this week’s sub-regional meet in Republic. At the league mixer in Pateros, the Raiders wrestled 27 matches against all-league competition. Some matches determined seeding for the coming Republic event. “We had a really good day and are ready for sub-regionals,” Head Coach Steve Hood said. Zack Erickson recorded his fourth win of the season by pinning Meric Merkley of Selkirk in the third round. Jacob Smith wrestled Trent Skelton of Liber... Full story
When citizens come into conflict with elected leaders or officials, it’s easy to forget the most important position the other holds: that of a human being. Passions can flare when one knows one is right, or when one feels under attack. But cooler heads should prevail at just such a point, remembering that it’s likely everyone has the same ultimate goal in mind, even if the path to it appears different. Truly, everyone who wants the best for a cause or a community is on the same side, eventually. Coming to that realization and ultimate agr... Full story
A blood collection drive scheduled for today (Monday, Jan. 28) has been cancelled. The collection was cancelled after Inland Northwest Blood Center personnel arrived at Coulee Medical Center’s Professional Building A (the former clinic building) and found it not ready. “They chose to go back to Spokane and hopefully return in a couple of days in one of their coaches,” local drive coordinator volunteer Bonnie Femling said. “Please hang on to your blood and come to donate it when they return!” Coulee Medical Center spokesman Steve Becker sa...
For Rayne Rabe, a distinct connection exists between belting out a tune and barreling through your opposition. Practicing one has given her the ability to do the other. Before moving to Coulee Dam in July, Rabe had earned a reputation by another name, “Chick Norris, Derby Rayne-ger.” That was in Orange County, Calif., where she rolled with the Orange County Roller Girls roller derby team. Now she can’t wait to start a team here. Demonstrating her moves last week at the skate park in Grand Coule... Full story
How wonderful it was to see so many citizens of Coulee Dam, energized and organized, at the special meeting held by Coulee Dam’s Town Council on Monday. The outcome of this meeting was to announce the Council’s intent to stop the WWTF project for a period of 90 days so that more information can be acquired, more relationships can be explored and so that the community can increase involvement. It must be disconcerting to the Council to have citizens show up at this late day to become involved. Honestly, that is always annoying in ANY end... Full story
I have been asked to give a definition of the word Okanogan, and decided to let everyone know because it is a word you hear every day and have never understood. Though there is no real consensus as to the definition of the word Okanogan there is a definite way to explain the word to you. The people who speak Nsylixcn (Okanogan) lived from Wenatchee to Vernon, from Revelstoke to the Kettle River and from the Cascade Mountains to the Kettle Falls. This is Indian Country to me, and a couple of ways to define “Okanagan.” The Okanagan People hav... Full story
Two bills making their way through Washington State Legislature aim to take away the public's right to transparent government and review of public decision making. If your city, or the state ever made a decision you questioned, or if you joined a committee to have your city council members or state officials hear your side of a controversy, then write your senator and representative immediately and STOP House Bills HB 1128 and HB 1185. Laws on our books protect citizens’ right to information. RCW 42.56.030 states "The People, in delegating a... Full story
With a victory over Oroville last Friday, the Lady Raiders moved into first place for the Central Washington North. The victory also extended their win streak to four games. In a rematch with Liberty Bell on Jan. 15 at home against the winless Mountain Lions, LR put on an early press which quickly led to points, but kept Liberty Bell scoreless until the last three minutes in the first quarter, which ended 25-4 for LR. The Lady Raiders led at half 42-12 and racked up a 40-plus point lead by the... Full story
The Raiders’ win streak moved to four with a victory at Oroville last Friday. The four-game win streak has also placed the Raiders atop of the Central Washington 2B North. The coaches liked the drive the players showed in both games. Against Liberty Bell on the 15th, the Raiders were able able to learn from their previous mistakes against Liberty Bell at Brewster. The Mountain Lions jumped out early but the Raiders responded quickly with a 8-0 run to take the lead in the first quarter. Raider r... Full story
Raider wrestling traveled to East Valley last Saturday to take part in the Dream Dual Wrestling Tournament which featured most of the top teams in Eastern Washington. At the 2B ranks, Liberty-Spangle and Selkirk did not team up to fill out their rosters, instead competing as separate teams to give the field four 2B squads. To fill holes, the coaches of the 4A and 3A schools sent their extra wrestlers for exhibition matches against the 2B competition. The Raiders defeated Liberty-Spangle 48-4 as... Full story
Berries are an impressive and beautiful addition to any yard, plus you can truly enjoy the fruits of your labor. Berry plants, bushes and brambles come in a wonderful variety of sizes and shapes and can offer visual interest from January through December. With so many options you can meet the needs of even the most discriminating palate and find those that will thrive in the somewhat tricky climates of our region. Raspberries, blackberries, and trailing blackberries (‘Marion’, ‘Boysen’, and ‘Logan’) are all caneberries, sometimes referred to... Full story
Several coulee area residents competed in last weekend’s outhouse races in Conconully, getting nixed in the end by a team from Japan. Ian Waltermeyer, Dylan Tipps and Guy Payne, the Coulee Crapper team, won their first two heats in the “Bucket Race,” attaining the quarter finals before falling to Team Fartacus, from Bothell. In the Family category, Guy Payne and Guy R. Payne teamed up with Adam Lange of Wenatchee to take first place, defeating Omak’s Geobel Septic in the opening heat and crushing the Chronicle CanDoo team in the semi-fi... Full story
Multiple and prolonged critiques of Coulee Dam’s proposed upgrade of its decades-old wastewater treatment plant; reasonable doubt cast by a seemingly less expensive, yet comparable, plant at Rock Island; possible funding partners who would like another study; and now a citizens’ petition asking the council take another look at the plans all seem to suggest strongly that the town council do just that. Surely no one thoughtful enough to serve fellow citizens by taking a seat at any town council post would turn away from ways to save citizens sig... Full story
Coulee Dam’s town council will meet in a special meeting Monday at 2 p.m. with one item on the agenda, the wastewater treatment plant, according to a notice delivered late Friday. A notice faxed to The Star Friday afternoon did not elaborate or offer a reason for calling a town council meeting in mid-afternoon on a federal holiday. Monday is Martin Luther King Day. Controversy over the planned upgrade of the plant, and associated costs, and the town’s contract with Elmer City are at the heart of a petition circulating in the town asking the...
A killing in Connell resulted in a lockdown in Grand Coulee Dam School District schools Friday after police notified the district that the suspect could be in the local area. Authorities in Connell were reportedly looking for 40-year-old Julio Cesar Hernandez after a 30-year-old hispanic man was shot to death Thursday night in Connell. Police “pinged” his cell phone, and believed he was in Electric City. Grand Coulee Police were notified of the suspect’s possible presence. They notified the school district, said Superintendent Dennis Carls...
A petition asking Coulee Dam’s town council to reconsider it current course to upgrade the town’s wastewater treatment plant is being presented door to door by a half dozen people. Greg Wilder, a resident who has been skeptical of the proposed design and critical of the town’s process in the matter, said the group hopes to present signatures from 90 percent of the town’s households to the council at its Jan. 23 meeting. Monday afternoon, he said, some 200 signatures were in hand. The petition drive was started by Kathy and Tom Skordas, he said... Full story
A couple years after it burned the first time, firefighters had to answer another fire call to what is arguably Grand Coulee’s biggest eyesore Monday night, one that shouldn’t be there at all. The little green house at Van Tyne and Spokane Way has been just a shell after burning the first time. It should have been torn down long ago. Not tearing it down leaves not just an eyesore but what insurance carriers call an attractive nuisance, one that could cause injury. And it probably leaves someone, possibly the city of Grand Coulee, in a pos... Full story
As many in the Colville Tribe and surrounding communities are aware of, there is currently a Tribal Council Recall effort under way. It is within the constitutional rights of the membership to initiate such an action when there has been a breach in the leadership amongst Council representatives. This letter is not to provide evidence of what those breaches are, but to provide support and documentation of this legal effort amongst tribal members. While all members do not share the viewpoint that there has been any wrongdoing within the tribal... Full story
by John R. McNeil II The Lady Raiders rebounded from the loss to White Swan by knocking off the Manson Trojans and Kittitas Coyotes last week to improve their win-loss record to 7-4. Head Coach Wallace Pleasants attributes some of the better play in both games to watching the film after White Swan. “The girls made a commitment that they are not going to look that bad again,” he said. At Manson Jan. 8, the Lady Raiders started off slow due in part to Manson’s quick girls upsetting the Lady Raider... Full story
Raider wrestlers had their last multiple match week as they travelled to Kettle Falls for a mix and match on Jan. 8, hosted Okanogan on the Jan. 10 for senior night, then travelled to Rainier for last Saturday’s Sgt. Justin Norton Memorial Tournament. At Kettle Falls, the Raiders went up against five other squads; Kettle Falls, Selkirk, Republic, Oroville, and Colville’s JV. At Kettle Falls, Raider Zack Erickson recorded his first pin ever by defeating Meric Merkley of Selkirk in the first round. “Zack went out and got a takedown and then... Full story