News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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A Grand Coulee man was arrested Jan. 18 after reportedly admitting to shooting his rifle at a boat on Rufus Woods Lake to try to “scare the occupants away,” a sheriff’s report says. Deputies of the Douglas County sheriff arrested Shawn W. Robison, 41, after an investigation, a Jan. 22 release from the sheriff’s office states. One of the five people on the boat called to report the shots, and deputies were dispatched at 8:14 p.m. to the “1000 block” of Strahl Canyon Road, which is at about its intersection with Road 32 NE in a remote sect... Full story
The city of Grand Coulee will write a letter endorsing a local effort to explore forming a regional "fire authority," the city council voted Tuesday night. A fire "authority" differs in state law from a "district" in that it is possible to include emergency medical services in it. Each of the affected areas in the currently proposed area must write a letter of its intent to move forward with such a study. The vote at Grand Coulee was unanimous, ticking off one more box on the list of things to...
Shane Proctor was inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame Tuesday. The Grand Coulee cowboy went on to a winning career in professional rodeo after graduating from Lake Roosevelt High School in 2003. Naming Proctor as a 2026 inductee to the Bull Riding Hall of Fame (BRHOF), the nonprofit organization listed his many accomplishments in rodeo and bull riding. Proctor qualified for the PBR World Finals nine times from 2006 to 2017 and for the National Finals Rodeo five times from 2011 through... Full story
I met this Japanese man through a program I belonged to at the University of Washington. The program was made up of families that sponsored students at UW. When it was learned that I was going to stop over in Tokyo, he said he would like me to meet his family members there and he would give them my itinerary and where I would be staying. I was staying at the Okra Hotel. Soon after my arrival the man’s sister and mother knocked on the door. They showed me the city even though neither spoke English. We did a lot of dictionary hunting. I was i...
I studied the classical philosophers in college, including Plato, Socrates and Aristotle. But the most profound advice I’ve culled over a lifetime of scholarship has come from contemporary pop stars. The Beatles reminded me in a rather pithy way that “All You Need Is Love,” although I believe they might have stolen that from Jesus, or Burt Bacharach. The Vogues taught me that it’s a “Five O’Clock World” and not to lose sight of life’s fleeting pleasures. Bobby Sherman advised me that material possessions are irrelevant, as they “Easy Come, Easy... Full story
The question of whether to continue studying the question of whether to create a “regional fire authority” is still active, although two local departments that would be affected have not yet sent in a letter of intent to agree to pursue it. Fire chiefs from Electric City and Grand Coulee spoke with Electric City’s city council Tuesday night with an update on the topic. Ryan Fish, Grand Coulee’s chief, said he hoped Electric City was still planning on supporting that effort, following a stall in momentum since last August. Fish said he did rec...
While a lot of energy is put into celebrating the achievements of athletes in local schools, another celebration is in planning to do the same — for academic achievements. Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Rod Broadnax told the school board Monday that, although the district honors students who meet certain goals with a special event on a regular basis, it’s been suggested to do more to bring in parents to celebrate with students for successes in their studies. “As a matter of fact, I got an earful from a parent after an eight...
Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Rog Broadnax presented a certificate of thanks Monday night to teacher Ethan Tatum "in recognition of your hard work and dedication to the children of the Grand Coulee Dam School District." Tatum, who teaches Spanish and English Language Arts, told The Star later that after being told to attend the school board meeting, he had thought he might be expected to discuss curricula decisions made last year; the award was a complete surprise. "It has...
A new federal program aimed at improving health care in rural communities awarded Washington more than $181 million last week. State leaders argue the money will be helpful, but ultimately will fail to offset anticipated revenue shortfalls from Medicaid cuts. The large sum comes from the Rural Health Transformation Fund, a $50 billion program in the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill that Congress passed in July. Congress intended the fund to allay worries about the legislation’s cuts to Medicaid and how they would impact rural hospitals. Medicai...
Last Friday, the Washington State Supreme Court issued a ruling that, for once, I can agree with — a decision that clears the way for a long-standing problem to be addressed. That decision stems from a lawsuit brought by the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC), in which Lincoln County, along with Yakima County and Pacific County, are plaintiffs, challenging how public defense is funded in Washington. The lawsuit was first heard in Thurston County Superior Court, where the judge ruled that counties did not have standing to bring t...
My duty as US citizen is to try to stay politically informed which includes closely following my US Representative Michael Baumgartner. As such, I subscribe to his weekly, often quite lengthy, Friday evening emails and read them carefully. Unfortunately, they’re mostly filled with politically motivated platitudes, and who or where he visited. The visits are generally with Fifth Congressional District individuals and organizations, mainly supporters, although most recently Nigeria at the invitation of President Donald Trump who threatened to i...
Twice in my life I have been beaten by a door. The first time was in Houston while we were in Texas visiting my brother, some years ago. He was taking us to a fancy restaurant for dinner. We entered the restaurant through a revolving door. Just when I was in my small compartment in the door, the door jammed. Here I was trapped in my own little space. It took them some time before they could free the door and yours truly. Meanwhile, my brother was fuming because he was embarrassed. The next time, it was here in Electric City and the famous, or...
In the race to reshore manufacturing and stay ahead of foreign competition, America needs an abundance of added skilled workers and electricity sources. “Electrify Everything” has been our recent political mantra as key politicians race to replace natural gas and coal-fired generation with vast fields and wildlands of wind turbines and solar panels. However, that strategy has glaring glitches, which could derail our economic recovery and job creation. For example, it is bureaucratic nightmare siting power lines and reliable power plants. “Am...
Righting the record on the Affordable Care Act by George Ochenski, Washington State Standard December 16, 2025 With the Affordable Care Act subsidies on the chopping block in the Republican-controlled Congress, it’s no surprise the Lee newspapers did an interview with Montana’s former senator Max Baucus. As the chairman of the Senate’s powerful Finance Committee, Baucus “was chief architect of the Affordable Care Act known as “Obamacare.” According to Baucus: “For 15 months, I had the committee work on health care, and it was totally nonpo... Full story
Grand Coulee is putting owners of empty buildings on notice. The city council passed Ordinance 1105 last month, after several months of discussion, to require owners of vacant buildings to register them with the city, which could at some point start leveling initially small penalties. “Once again, we’re not trying to go after anybody here,” said Councilmember Tom Poplawski. “It’s to gain some awareness that we’d like to see the city look a little nicer.” Poplawski first introduced the idea in March 2025, when he brought council members infor...
Washington State Standard December 30, 2025 Tax hikes on big business and rental cars. Unemployment benefits for workers on strike. Those are just a few of the changes to state law taking effect in Washington on New Year's Day. Some bills passed in 2025 became law earlier in the year, while others will take years to go into effect. The next legislative session, lasting 60 days, begins Jan. 12. Here's a look at some of the new laws on the books starting Thursday. Unemployment for striking...
This year, Christmas packages were available for pickup for seventy-one children in 32 families at the Grand Coulee Dam Area Senior Center on Saturday, Dec. 20 thanks to this community’s participation in Trees of Sharing 2025. Many thanks to contributors and volunteers who supported this project by making cash donations or purchasing and wrapping gifts for children who might not have otherwise received one this season. Trees of Sharing cannot happen without your active involvement. Each year we count on and extend special appreciation to S...
In mid-July, Tim Lynch was headed to the post office, when he saw the smoke. Fast forward to Monday night at the end of December, and Lynch was on hand at the Coulee Dam Town Council meeting to receive a proclamation signed by the mayor to honor his "Extraordinary Bravery and Selfless Service" for having rescued three people from a housefire before emergency services arrived that day. Mayor Bob Poch's proclamation, actually first issued in August but not presented in person until Monday, first...
Coulee Dam's town council welcomed in two new council members just before breaking for cake to honor the service of two who were leaving, especially Merv Schmidt, who, in his second stint on the council, has served for six years. "From the bottom of my being, thanks for all you've done," Mayor Bob Poch said. Newly elected Ronald Toulou will succeed Schmidt on the council. And Brian Quill will take the seat just vacated by Chris Bulger. Those two new council members were sworn in, along with...
Grand Coulee Mayor Ruth Dalton answered a question about the status of the agreement with Electric City on the operation of the wastewater treatment plant with a short, “It’s in a process.” Renata Rollins had inquired during a public comment period at the last council meeting Dec. 22 about the negotiations, given statements reported in The Star from the last Electric City Council meeting. They are considering taking a disagreement between the two cities to mediation or arbitration after most of a year spent trying to come together to discuss it...
Congratulations. You’ve just lived through one of the most unpredictable years in at least six decades, so you might already be primed to accept a little advice about the coming months: stay loose. The country has had enough political tension in 2025 for each of us to snap a whole box of Sharpies. That’s by design and not something any of us can control, so don’t let it control you. Instead, look for the bright side and the humor in the absurd, right after you decide to do something about it. You’ll live longer and think better when you let...
Another beautiful winter-in-coulee scene.... Full story
School directors voted to authorize an emergency budget resolution last week that allows the superintendent to issue RIFF-and-recall notices that warn of a possible reduction in force but would not implement them if it can be avoided. Instead, Superintendent Rod Broadnax is instructed to look for other savings and to "maximize revenue" for the Grand Coulee Dam School District. Preferred strategies for this include savings in supplies and operating costs, purchased services, and travel expenses,...
LACEY — Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson unveiled a plan Friday to steer $3 billion into preserving the state’s roads and bridges and building three new ferries over the next decade. Ferguson would raise the money through borrowing, with the sale of bonds backed by proceeds from a slew of new and increased taxes and fees lawmakers approved this year. This included an increase in the state’s gas tax. As envisioned, there’d be roughly a billion dollars apiece for paving highways, painting and repairing bridges, and adding three vessels to the Washi...
I am announcing that I will not seek reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives. Serving the Fourth District of Washington has been the honor of my life, and this decision comes with no reservations or remorse, only gratitude for the tremendous opportunity to have represented my home state in Congress. After over 25 years of public service, including more than a decade in the House, I am grateful to the Washingtonians who put their faith in me, as well as the colleagues I have served with on both sides of the aisle. Public service takes...