News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Last weekend was Easter, and while some were searching for some bunny to get chocolate and eggs from, I was searching for the “Beauty of Christ.” I had been given an assignment and was to speak at church on Sunday morning. Three of us had really, and we all had different characteristics of our savior’s name to dive into and come out on the other side. Mine was Beautiful. Another was Powerful and the third was Wonderful. We all went about the task differently, but the end product was very moving. I cannot tell you about the journeys of the o... Full story
I had the honor and privilege of attending two events this week that moved me in such a way that I will always remember. I attended the Northwest Indian Youth Conference as a chaperone and our son’s wedding, as, well, me. Both were very special. At the conference I got to see a side of some young people that I don’t always get to see. Leaders emerged, responsibility followed and fears were conquered. The list of speakers was astounding. Simon Moya Smith from CNN spoke. He is one of the only Native American reporters working at a major net... Full story
Every once in a while someone surprises me — with their actions, words or change in character. This is especially encouraging when it is a young person. Sometimes we don’t give them the credit that is due to them. We lump them into a generation that we feel is disconnected, entitled or lazy overall. We judge a younger group and figure they are all playing video games all night, binging on NetFlix and drinking energy drinks until they crash into a four-day coma only to emerge with less brain tissue than they had when they started their sugar-ind... Full story
The phrase “Life is just not fair” has been said by many of us many times over our lives or we have heard others say it. Even in my own life I have felt slighted or treated unfairly or even wronged by others or circumstances and just thought the world was against me. Things at times seem like we are sinking in the “quicksands” of life with nothing to grab hold of. We have seen it at all levels, but there are times when a little ray of success blasts through the gloom and lifts our spirts out of the joy-sucking sand. A flower in a weed garden.... Full story
Back when I was younger, (yes, that long ago), I found something on television that would change my Saturday-morning cartoon watching forever. If I got up early enough I could watch the Lone Ranger (in black and white) and Sergeant Preston before Bugs Bunny and Road Runner came on. Then one day I got up extra early. Whammo, my imagination was changed forever. Names like Hulk Hogan and Super Fly Snuka became legends in a child’s mind, leading to new games and characters to pretend you were. Sergeant Slaughter and Tommy “Wild Fire” Rich becam... Full story
Although spring does not officially start until March 20, I feel something in the air. Along with feeling the brisk morning air, I am smelling the morning wetness, seeing the sprouting buds, hearing the early-morning song birds and feeling the itchiness that comes with pollen. Yep, spring is here. After being held captive by the ice queen of a winter and the grumpy ground hog, we’ve made it to the thawing and warming process. Gardeners will be out tilling, weeding, raking and pruning, preparing for the bountiful harvest of seeds now in their h... Full story
I sat down with the young lady I call “Live” and learned a bit more about what makes her tick. I have known the Arnold family for a long time and have watched this senior at Lake Roosevelt bloom into an amazing adult, but I heard more than I expected in my sit down chat. When I asked how her senior year is going she answered with an enthusiastic “Great,” followed by, “It is a lot less hectic than I thought it was going to be.” She said all this with that bigger-than-life smile she gets. She went on to explain that she had to make up extra cr... Full story
Ask any married couple who has a successful marriage and the word “communication” will come up as a key to a healthy, long partnership. Also, any successful business will use the word communication as a key to a thriving venture. In the last week I have taken two trainings on communication, each focusing on different phases and approaches. In the world we currently live in, communication should be so easy, yet we still find ourselves struggling. Communication with our spouses, kids, friends, bosses and co-workers is still a major obstacle in... Full story
“It was a dark and stormy night.” This is considered one the worst beginnings of a suspenseful novel. But we have been living it. Cold weather, lots of snow and now the melt-off. Add very little sunshine and the winter blues hit you where it counts. Multiply in Christmas shopping recovery, political turmoil, tragedy in the area and the yuck bugs going around; we all might lock ourselves in our houses with nothing but Net-flix and Theraflu until the sun shines again. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. As the mud rises and the sno... Full story
I recently sat down with a young man I have known for a long time. Will “The Thrill” Friedlander is a man of few words, as many of you know, but I was able to extract a few things from the current senior at Lake Roosevelt High School. I asked Will how his final year of high school was going and he gave his typical one-word answer, “Memorable.” After a long pause, he explained. This year the class of 2017 has come together, they are enjoying each other’s differences and discovering their similarities. They realized they have been on this jour... Full story
The Super Bowl was Sunday, and if you missed it you missed a little bit of NFL history. Tom Brady and Coach Bill Belichick solidified their spots in the annals of Best QB and Best Coach of all time. Granted, I do not care for either of them, but the results of Sunday’s game made it perfectly clear. Tom Brady must be mentioned with the likes of Montana, Manning, Favre and Elway as the greatest of all time; and, yes, I must admit, as much as it hurts to say this, he may be on top of that list. T... Full story
Our youth can sometimes get a bad rap. A small group of rebellious teens can sometimes make an impression on an individual that defines an entire generation in that person’s eyes. The words disconnected, lazy, distracted and entitled are some of the terms used today to describe the upcoming adults who will be leading us before we know it. To be honest, if I look back at my own childhood and think about where I saw myself then, I did not see me standing where I stand now. What was important to me then is not now, and the maturity that can h... Full story
What a confusing weekend in America. The greatest democracy in the world held its most historical and patriotic event Friday, and those who did not agree with the outcome of the process (a process that I have not agreed with at times, I might add) got ugly. Not only did they riot, destroy, slander and accuse, but they basically spat upon the honor and justice of this nation. They put a black mark on the entire history of America and did so in the name of freedom and protests. I understand the feeling of believing you were wronged and doing... Full story
This past week I received a wake-up call. That came on the same day that I learned of Eldon Wilson’s passing and of Duane Frye’s illness. These two men have given more to our community and nation than we will probably ever know. Eldon sat beside me for many years at basketball games. While I was announcing the game, he was keeping track, running the clock and scoreboard. His heart was vested in Raider Sports; he had more passion for what was happening on the court than many of the fans and players who filled the gym. He took his job ser... Full story
As we start the New Year I wanted to highlight some of the seniors in this year’s class at Lake Roosevelt who are succeeding and striving to make a difference in their own lives. I choose Aiyanna Picard because, well, she is “The Legend,” and we kind of have a history with each other. A long time ago, when I worked with Colville Tribal Emergency Services, we got a call about a lost girl. To make a long story short, this girl was lost for a few days in the woods, and hundreds were called in to look for her. She was found and was perfectly fine,... Full story
The year 2016 saw many of my childhood heroes and icons pass away. As the year wound down, they seemed to come in waves and it got me thinking more and more about the celebrities who entertain us throughout the years, and in some cases become part of the family. David Bowie passed on Jan. 10, and although he was not one of my favorite musicians, he was an icon in the music industry. He influenced many of the bands we currently listen to and broke the mold on showmanship and entertainment. Alan Rickman passed four days later, and although you ma... Full story
As 2016 is wrapping up and we prepare for what lies ahead in 2017, it is always good to glance back at the last year and remember the events that affected us most. Now, I could go global for this column, but I decided to keep it personal because I found myself over the holidays looking at the faces of family members around me and thinking about them. How have I affected them? Have I left anything undone? How can I help them in the future year and in years to come? How have they affected me in my life, good and bad? How can we all change?... Full story
Last Sunday night was Faith Community Church’s Annual Christmas Dinner and it got me to thinking about holiday traditions. Maybe it was the Archers and their 30-plus years of service to God and church. Maybe it was watching the Hansens’, Moores’ and Lyngholms’ kids, grandkids and elders come up on stage and perform the unforgettable 12 Days of Christmas. Or maybe it was seeing all the little kids running around like their parents did years ago in a church that used to sit on the very spot the new church now sits. It could have been the smell o... Full story
This early snow and cold front has me remembering back to my childhood and the fun we had in the snow jungles during winter. We spent almost all day outside, in the bitter cold. Of course, we were stacked up with layers upon layers of long johns, socks, sweats, pants, sweaters, moon boots, snow suits, scarves, gloves, beanies and whatever other clothing we were required to wear. We all felt like the “Michelin Man” as we waddled to our locations. Sledding, snow ball fights, snow angles and many other cold weather events kept us out all day. I m... Full story
Last week I started telling you about my story, using only the three important parts that I thought were most relevant to my story. Sometimes what we think is important or a part of us is not essential to the heart of the person listening to our story. The important things to us are not the key elements to a life-changing tale. To tell your life story, you must have the potential to change the life of the person listening. With that being said, let me pick up where I left off last week. I had just packed my stuff and left. I had no idea where I... Full story
It starts with a question. That question can be difficult for some to answer, or for others it can release the flood gates of time and you end up knowing everything about them. A simple question, “What’s your story?” can require a person to dig deep within themselves and uncover things seldom thought about, much less talked about. For others, they spew the information out like they are counting grains of sands in the desert, a task that goes on and on. So why am I bringing this up? I was recently challenged to tell my story. I was met with... Full story
Wrestling is a dedication sport. It is not always about the wins and losses and skill level. It is about the dedication you put into yourself and the time you’re willing to put in to be the best. How much are you willing to sacrifice? This time of year is the time we see grapplers headed to Mr. Hood’s mat room, running circuits and eating the bare essentials. All so they can elevate themselves to the next level. The last five years have seen state wrestling champions in the halls of LR. Octavio Alejendre, Kodie Horn, Jacob Smith and Orrin Gross... Full story
I read in last week’s paper of the passing of Reg Morgan. To say the least, I am a little heartbroken to hear of this. On these very pages, week after week, Reg wrote about fishing, hunting, travel and the occasional stray pet as he let you in on little glimpses of his life and shared what was important to him. It did not matter if it was a local play, what was hot with fishing or changes in the hunting regulations; he spoke with passion, integrity and his own creative style. He was a mentor to me even though he did not mean to be. He only e... Full story
Communication has always been a key to success. Ask any businessman or woman and they will agree. Ask any teacher and they will also agree. Ask any coach and the answer is the same: communication is key to winning and losing. In the classroom, on the field and in the board room, talking to each other is a must. Communication is also a key ingredient in good parenting. The conversation around a meal can be one of the most insightful times. Kids can learn how busy their parents are and parents can also learn about a school day or Snapchat. Kids c... Full story
When someone mentions artists in the Coulee, we almost always think of Keith Powell. We have all seen his handiwork on buildings, paintings or other stuff around the area, and this Friday a dream of his is coming true as he has a “Grand Opening” of his art gallery in Spokane. I can remember Keith from when I was very young. He came to our school once, probably for an art lesson or an assembly. What I remember most is he did not look like your average artist. He looked more like a country western singer or a fur trapper from Hudson Bay Com... Full story