News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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The Raiders were stymied by The Davenport Gorillas’ rushing attack and stiff defense stymied the Lake Roosevelt Raiders last Friday as Davenport cruised to a 44-13 home victory. It was the Raiders’ season opener as LR had pulled out of the Aug. 27 Bridgeport Jamboree because of eligibility issues. LR opened the scoring on the second play of Friday’s game as Davenport bit on the fake, allowing Justus DeWinkler to break free for a 43-yard touchdown run. The Gorillas responded quickly on the next series lining up in a modified double wing and proc... Full story
A wildfire broke out in Seaton’s Grove right below the rock cut on SR 155 just north of Elmer City just before 7 p.m. Sunday night. Several units of firefighters responded from Okanogan County Fire District 2 and Coulee Dam Volunteer Fire Dept., at least. The fire was burning in the rocky brush area around the rock cut, and police were blocking the highway. A bulldozer and brush trucks secured a fire line in the sage at the rock cut’s north side to protect property, including two out... Full story
At the season-opening Davenport Tourney, the Lady Raiders came away with a match victory against the 1A Medical Lake Cardinals, 25-21 and 25-22. “It was great to get a win against Medical Lake,” Head Coach Nathan Piturachsatit said, noting he saw many good things happen in the win. “They didn’t let the previous games get to them, I’m proud of them for that.” The Lady Raiders had played the University High School JV for the opening match of the day. Against U-High the Lady Raiders came up short, losing both games, 25-17 and 25-19. The Lady Raide... Full story
About a dozen citizens met at Electric City’s fire hall Monday night to organize a “community watch” group, a network of citizens who want a way to head off what they see as a rise in the city’s crime rate. Some in the room volunteered to be a central contact for their neighborhoods, but Birdie Hensley also said forms for reporting questionable activity would be available at city hall and secured for police eyes only. Hensley and Lonna Bussert, both city council members, called for the city to address a rising incidence of criminal activit... Full story
The Star's online edition is late this week with our major weekly update. It's going up now, so keep checking back. Our apologies for any inconvenience. We're short-handed today. Thank you for your patience. If you're actually saying unkind things right now because you're not patient, try this: If you've clicked into this story, there is a tiny blue link at the upper right that says View PDF. Click it, and it will open a virtual newspaper just like the printed edition (but with more color).... Full story
A wildfire that broke out Tuesday evening scorched thousands of acres of brush and timber and two barns -- but no homes, thanks to the quick response of local fire districts working together. The Buffalo Lake Road Fire started near the intersection of Buffalo Lake Road and Peter Dan Road just north of Elmer City about 8:30 p.m. Aug. 14. During the night, high winds would spread the fire at a fast pace with winds this reporter estimated at 20-30 mph at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. One firefighter said... Full story
It is easy to forget how important the dams are to our everyday lives in the Pacific Northwest. Without these dams, our energy bills would be higher, the Columbia Basin wouldn’t have the thousands of acres of green fields and orchards that feed millions of people around the world, and it would be more costly for our wheat farmers to get their products to market. Unfortunately, extremists – mostly from outside of Central Washington – have been trying for decades to remove these dams under the guise of salmon recovery. Their radical agenda threa...
Firefighters will have to be alert against localized erratic winds today as temperatures near the Buffalo Lake Road Wildfire creep near 100 degrees. With the fire 70-percent contained, officials estimated its size so far at 10,962 acres and the cost to fight it at $450,000. Dollars well spent, if you are one of those folks whose home did not burn (none did) but came close “In my opinion, (local firefighters) did a phenomenal job of protecting … hundreds of houses,” said Type II Team Opera... Full story
The wildfire burning since Tuesday evening above Coulee Dam has scorched 7,800 acres so far, but only burned one old barn. No other structures have been lost, thanks to firefighters fending off the flames literally at the edge of their properties in some cases. Three homes were evacuated near Buffalo Lake Road. Others in parts of Coulee Dam and Elmer City have been told they should be ready to go, just in case. The Star received one unconfirmed report that an apartment complex in Coulee Dam was... Full story
A series of free concerts at North Dam Park and Events Center will kick off with a local group offering the first backbeat on Friday, then a Spokane trio coming Saturday night. Mister Meaner will offer a couple of hours of “classic rock,” they say, “stuff people actually want to hear.” That’s how rhythm guitar player and vocalist Tony Louie describes the band’s choices in music. “We’re trying to appeal to the older crowd of Grand Coulee,” added Mason Marin, lead guitarist. “Older” may apply... Full story
Park district commissioners heard concerns from a taxpayer Monday night on their hopes to collect taxes after a vote next November. Dave McClure, a rancher with a lot of property north of Nespelem, said he would have tried to disuade the commission from going for the vote had he known of their plans. In the November election, the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District will seek a levy of 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, which would cost the owner of a $120,000 home $18 a year. CAPRD is a junior taxing district, but has never... Full story
After publication last week, I realized too late that reader John Overby’s thoughtful letter mistakenly attributed my editorial stance July 11 — encouraging the community to contact federal representatives in support of federal funding of local school construction — in part to a statement written in a letter by a member of Congress. Authority to act was not cited from anyone’s letter, but from the very law Overby referenced in his letter. In the third from the last paragraph, The Coulee Dam Community Act of 1957 gives the secretary of the Dep... Full story
We live in a fantastic, caring and giving community. You have supported your Senior Center Meals Program and Home Delivery Program in many ways, such as contributions, donations, food and volunteering hands. We strive for continual improvement in quality and healthy meals for our seniors and guests and thank you for your essential help in 2012. We have a financial need. The Meals Program is now asking our community to join in our Fundraiser by contributing financial aid. Any denomination is greatly appreciated. Your Meals Program Staff look... Full story
A wildfire burning out of control in the hills above the towns of Coulee Dam and Elmer City has consumed hundreds of acres of sage and grassland and reportedly forced some homeowners to evacuate as a precaution. The fire started Tuesday evening and by midnight looked like a long string of hellish pearls at the top of the ridge above the two towns. Police were reportedly telling residents of Tilmus and Central streets, closest to the hillside in east Coulee Dam, to be ready should they need to... Full story
A study that determined the local market area could support a community wellness center — where people could swim and exercise year round, where community events, classes and meetings could be held and that could grow into much more — came as a gratifying confirmation of a long held hunch for many of us. With that independent confirmation, backed by real numbers instead of guesses, comes a new demand on this community: figure out if you really want it, then do what it takes to make it happen. Several years ago, a group tasked with thinking of... Full story
If you want it, you can have it. That’s the bottom line of a study on whether building and operating a center for the community to come together — for events and meetings, fitness pursuits, indoor swimming and more — is at all feasible. The report, delivered Monday night to a group that has been exploring the possibility, outlines a community/wellness center that could easily be sustained, while adding good jobs to the local economy. Gary Leva, of Gary Consulting Group of Spokane, was retained last winter to honestly assess whether the idea... Full story
A series of free concerts is scheduled for North Dam Park and events center this month, starting on Friday, Aug. 17. That’s when a local rock group called Mister Meaner will take to the “stage” at the bottom of the grass amphitheater. The very next evening a cool trio from Spokane, The 45s, will rock your Saturday night with a rock-a-billy sound. Think “The Stray Cats” and you’ll come to close to hearing this fun band. The next weekend starts with a Friday night concert by Thirsty Perfect, a Coeur D’Alene, Idaho Christian rock band, sponsor... Full story
In 2010 Dana Barkdull weighed 329 pounds and decided to make a change. A year and a half later she ran her first half-iron distance triathlon. By that time, she had dropped to 254 pounds. The half iron distance, though (70.3 miles of swimming, biking and running), was still a huge challenge, undertaken only after prayer. Barkdull realized she would cross the finish line after the official race ended. She expected to be alone, without support. Instead, she approached the clearing and saw a huge... Full story
In the July 11 issue of The Star, Roger Lucas’ article on Linda Evans Parlette’s advocacy for an additional $15 million to upgrade the school district’s existing fields, track and gym, the following quote was cited: “This belief is supported by the Coulee Community Act of 1957 which states, ‘It is of prime importance to the government that these communities continue to function as wholesome and attractive communities suitable as residences of personnel essential to the care and operation.’” Sen. Parlette cited this statement in letters to Re... Full story
One man died as three others were injured in a one-car rollover south of Nespelem Thursday just before noon. John Reynolds, 44, died in the accident on SR 155, the only occupant of the 2003 Ford Explorer not wearing a seatbelt, according to the Washington State Patrol. All five of them were from Bellingham, Wash. The driver, 52-year-old Brian S. Reynolds, was airlifted to Spokane's Sacred Heart Medical Center. Jack T. Reynolds, 82; Shari Lynn Emley, 48; and Cullen J. Emley, 26, were all taken to Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee. The... Full story
• There is a difference between decision making and leadership. Leaders of the Colville Tribes discovered that recently after they made significant, long-impact decisions on behalf of their constituents without really involving them in the process that brought the tribes a huge sum of money in a settlement, but that some say also may have compromised tribal sovereignty. Coulee Dam leaders have been involved for years in a less dramatic, but nonetheless significant process as they planned upgrades to the town’s aging wastewater treatment pla... Full story
I first met Senator Linda Evans Parlette when she was campaigning for her first term in the House of Representatives in 1996. At the time I was on the local school board and I was able to share with her our unique situation with our school facilities and lack of a property tax base to obtain funding for new school construction. She herself had served as a school board member and could readily appreciate our overwhelming obstacles. Given the general political makeup of our local communities, I had expected that finally some politician in the... Full story
Voters of Eastern Washington’s 5th Congressional District, kindly listen up! Our current U. S. Representative in Congress (Cathy McMorris Rodgers) has pledged her candidacy to Grover Norquist and his Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) never to raise any taxes. ATR is a Norquist boondoggle and is a 501(c) 4 tax-exempt charitable organization that doles out cash to support his pledges. This is not bad for a blatantly political non-profit that raises over $12 million per year and pays Norquist a hefty salary. We voters can end one aspect of a s... Full story
As we hoped the roof would hold on The Star Friday afternoon, the sand and debris flying down Midway Avenue at the front of the storm looked to be achieving speeds of 50-70 mph. This community, humbled before that power, can be thankful for the small amount of damage. Energy saving mandates of the 1970s certainly did their part to hurt architecture in general and local school buildings in particular. The news that Center School needs more fresh air comes as no shock. Let’s hope that today’s policies and architecture, as we get ready to bui... Full story
People that have been around the area for a long time said last Friday afternoon’s storm was the worst they had ever seen. A National Weather Service warning at 12:54 p.m. said it was moving north through Grant County at about 30 miles per hour. The warning was issued until 1:45, but the storm hit the Grand Coulee Dam area with force about 3 p.m. In its wake, there were many reports of upended trees and roof damage, and the driving rain kept people indoors for the half hour or so of the s... Full story