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  • After safe holiday, fire danger is now high

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 12, 2017

    It truly was a safe and sane 4th of July as far as local fires go, but current conditions call for high caution, firefighters warn. Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department Chief Richard Paris reported this week that there was only one fire in the area during the July 4 celebration, and that was in a small grassy area between North Dam and the softball fields. “The area firefighters are very appreciative of the local citizens and visitors,” Paris stated Monday. “Most people followed Coulee Dam’s ban and Grand Coulee’s new ordinance and did not f... Full story

  • Electric City Council votes funds toward new parks

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 12, 2017

    The Electric City council Tuesday night agreed to move forward with its plan to develop two new parks. But the council is going to step back and approve parts of the park development in phases. The council approved $8,292 for McNett Park and $7,262 for the Grand Avenue Park, which will take the city through the design and review stage. Robert Droll, the landscape architect selected to see the park project through, appeared and walked council members through the project. He started by telling the... Full story

  • Colville Tribes dedicates headquarters

    Jacob Wagner|Jul 12, 2017

    The Colville Confederated Tribes dedicated their government building to Lucy Friedlander Covington on Thursday, July 6. Covington, a granddaughter of Chief Moses of the Sinkiuse/Columbia Tribe, and descendent of Chief Kamiakin and Chief Owhi, was instrumental in the fight against the termination of the Colville Confederated Tribes. "If it was not for Lucy, we would not be here today," said Colville Business Councilmember Mel Tonasket, who had worked with Covington. "Lucy was our leader, there... Full story

  • Woman wants to help in rescue shelter effort

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 12, 2017

    A Delano woman who recently moved back to the area from Idaho is offering support for Dorothy Harris’ efforts to establish an animal rescue operation in Grand Coulee. Doreen Holter has been following Harris’ efforts with the city on an animal rescue plan and stated Friday, “It’s sorely needed.” She said she has been trying to figure out what to do about a number of feral cats, many of which have their eyes “caked” over, from her own area in Delano. “We have 20-30 cats, many with kittens, running wild here, and something needs to be done abou... Full story

  • Mumps over in Grant County

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 12, 2017

    The mumps outbreak in Grant County is over. So says Health Officer Dr. Alexander Brzezny, who stated last Wednesday that the county has gone through two incubation periods (50 days) without a single new case of mumps reported. The county’s last case of mumps was reported May 9. Brzezny stated that the county will still be active in monitoring the situation. There is the potential for sporadic cases since other counties are still reporting cases of mumps. County health officials were quick to thank Columbia Basin Job Corps leadership in a... Full story

  • Disappointed in holiday happenings and tourism in general

    Carol Shoning|Jul 12, 2017

    I, for one, am very disappointed in this non-4th of July, 4th of July celebration. Many who had reservations here over the 4th did not know that the fireworks were on Saturday. One of my daughters who works in the office of Columbia River Inn called all who had reservations for over the 4th and had many cancellations. I doubt that all motel and campgrounds did that, leaving many visitors unhappy when they arrived to find that the fireworks and festival in the park were already over. Folks have already heard many times over that the newest laser... Full story

  • Playhouse winner can put kids in jail, at home

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 12, 2017

    There's still time to purchase tickets for the Ridge Rider "Playhouse" drawing on the final day of the Junior Rodeo, at the Delano rodeo grounds, July 14-16. The playhouse, designed like a miniature jail, is parked in front of Loepp Furniture and was constructed by DWK Fowler Construction. Ridge Rider officials stated the drawing will be held for the playhouse Sunday afternoon, on the final day of the three-day rodeo event. Tickets for the drawing are still available and are being sold at Loepp... Full story

  • CEO out at local hospital

    Scott Hunter|Jul 5, 2017

    Almost a year after he started, the hospital’s CEO resigned last week after a committee of the hospital commission interviewed employees ahead of his upcoming evaluation. Jonathan Owens took the reins of Coulee Medical Center in July 2016. Owens stopped a plan last fall that had the hospital spending more on an electronic medical records system than it could afford. He hired a financial consultant to target high expenses and low revenue areas that had contributed to losses that forced the hospital to pay debts with county warrants, i... Full story

  • Woman pushes for animal rescue in city

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 5, 2017

    Dorothy Harris is the type of person who doesn’t give up easily. She has been trying to convince the city of Grand Coulee that a dog rescue shelter would benefit the city and provide a service that the city desperately needs. She has appeared twice at the city council, only to be turned aside. Now she plans a run at the city’s planning commission on Aug. 9. Harris was told by a neighbor that “you can’t fight city hall.” She doesn’t see it that way, but more as providing a service that the city sorely needs. She and her sister-in-l... Full story

  • Police chase down "stolen" car

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 5, 2017

    A Grand Coulee man driving a stolen vehicle at speeds up to 100 mph was finally stopped near Steamboat Rock State Park, police reported. Christopher Peoples, 23, was seen driving near Pole Park Saturday, June 24, about 7 p.m., and refused to pull over, police said. They tried to stop him as he turned onto Federal Avenue and then on a number of side streets before racing out of town on SR-155, police reported. Police had gotten a call on the stolen vehicle from its owner, who said she was pursuing her black Nissan Murano and gave police the... Full story

  • McClure Ranch almost 100 years old

    Jacob Wagner|Jul 5, 2017

    In 1918, William McClure and his son, Robert, hitched their horses to their wagon and headed from the Spokane area to the Colville Indian Reservation to establish a homestead claim to 480 acres. McClures have lived north of Nespelem for generations now as loggers, farmers, cowboys, and homesteaders. The original homestead is still standing, and over 100 relatives from as far away as Colorado gathered on the family property June 24 to celebrate a little early the 100-year anniversary of the... Full story

  • Retiring school bus mechanic recounts changes

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 5, 2017

    George Davis Jr. will soon be hanging up his wrenches, so to speak. He submitted his resignation, effective Aug. 31, to the school board last month and will take a break as head mechanic at the school district's bus garage. He will be leaving the school bus operation a lot different than he found it, some 33 years ago. When he took over the mechanic role in 1984, the district had 11 buses, nine with red tags on them. A red tag means that a bus failed to pass its annual test. That was in early Se... Full story

  • Tribal council votes close

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 5, 2017

    The Colville Tribes had some very close races in the Colville Business Council general election June 24. The poll votes and absentee votes were certified on Thursday. In Nespelem Position 1 race, Rodney Cawston won over Ricky Gabriel, 392-285. Gabriel had been expelled from the council a week earlier by vote of the council on ethics grounds. In Nespelem’s Position 2 race, longtime business Councilmember Andy Joseph Jr. won out over Charlene Bearcub, 375-305. In the Inchelium Position 1 race, Joel Boyd won over Alan Hammond, 353-124. In the d... Full story

  • Approval of funds will mean lower payments on sewage plant

    Scott Hunter|Jul 5, 2017

    A process that for a time stranded some federal funding in Washington D.C., will now play out with Coulee Dam residents paying less for their new wastewater treatment plant because a grant finally came through. With some prodding. Mayor Greg Wilder received word in an email Monday morning that more than a half million dollars of the total $7.9 million augmented plan would come through as a loan, and almost a million more in a low-interest loan to allow the town to upgrade its “solids” handling at the new plant. Wilder said the new bottom lin... Full story

  • Questions for candidates

    Glo Carroll|Jul 5, 2017

    Here are three questions/concerns/issues that have been posed by our community members to candidates in the upcoming August primary and November election. Again, I have no favor toward any candidate. I am simply asking questions so that voters can know where you stand and thus cast an informed vote. People are discussing these issues and hoping for your responses, and noting when there is none. 1) Where do you stand on consolidation of our towns and why do you take that particular position? If you are in favor of consolidation, what actions... Full story

  • Asking for a reasonable outcome for rescue

    Dorothy Harris|Jul 5, 2017

    Thank you for the nice piece on 21 June about the rescue situation in the Grand Coulee Area. It seems to me that the last sentence says it all: “But it isn’t going to happen under an R-1 zoning, Byers assured her.” Do you know what this tells me? It tells me that I have been selected by the council for its famous SELECTIVE prosecution, with no negotiation, with no tolerance or flexibility; even when I can stand in my own front yard and see the MAYOR’S RV BUSINESS operating at full capacity, I am on the other side of the street in more ways than... Full story

  • A more perfect union

    Dan Newhouse Representative 4th Dist|Jul 5, 2017

    Wealthy coastal cities versus the agrarian countryside. Supporters of big central government versus advocates of a limited government. Big states versus small states. Manufacturers versus traders. Debt hawks versus doves. Sound familiar? If you guessed that these conflicts refer to the contemporary United States, you might be surprised they were actually areas of fierce disagreement among Americans in the late 18th Century. While we may seem divided today, we have risen above more severe divisions in the past. One of the major sticking points... Full story

  • Burning banned in two counties

    Roger S. Lucas|Jul 5, 2017

    Both Grant and Okanogan County officials imposed temporary bans on outdoor burning last week. Grant County’s board of commissioners banned all outdoor burning until further notice. The temporary burn ban was prompted in part by a huge range fire near Wenatchee and Quincy, and generally very dry conditions throughout the area. The commissioners noted the current range fires were putting pressure on firefighting resources. Anyone caught burning outdoors could suffer fines and other consequences, the commissioners stated in their notice. Even t... Full story

  • School board hears retired response to employee surveys

    Roger S Lucas |Jun 28, 2017
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    Two retired school employees, one a janitor and the other a math teacher, gave the Grand Coulee Dam School District board Monday a taste of how they feel about the recent results of surveys that asked about discipline in the schools. Ray Wells, a retired janitor, spoke at length on issues he had while employed at the school. Wells came loaded with hundreds of documents from his experience of over 15 years at the school district. He told the board that he had made several complaints to the administration at the elementary school on conditions... Full story

  • No fireworks tonight at Grand Coulee Dam

    Scott Hunter|Jun 28, 2017

    If you're wondering if there will be a professional fireworks display off the top of Grand Coulee Dam on July 4, the answer is no. The annual Festival of America occurred last weekend, when the fireworks were a hit on Saturday night. Here's a bit of the finale. Fun fireworks finale from Scott Hunter on Vimeo....

  • Preschool will be moved to Grand Coulee site

    Roger S. Lucas|Jun 28, 2017

    The Grand Coulee Dam School District's preschool will move to the old middle school this fall, following a decision made at the school board meeting Monday night. "The elementary school needs the classroom for its growing early grades," according to Superintendent Paul Turner, who stated his concerns last Thursday. Earlier plans had called for the preschool to be moved to the former science classroom at the old high school, but costs to remodel the space had made this impossible, Turner said.... Full story

  • As legislators argue, school budgets are guesswork

    Scott Hunter|Jun 28, 2017

    Taking their best guess, Nespelem School District set up a tentative plan to spend $4.7 million to run the school in the next school year, give or take $525,000. Financial officer Tanya Bunting said they won’t know exactly what money will come in until the state Legislature passes a budget. The $525,000 will depend on what formula the Legislature comes up with to fully fund public education, a state Supreme Court requirement under the McCleary decision. That process is hung up and threatening a state government shutdown by Friday if D... Full story

  • Nordine files for Electric City council seat

    Roger S. Lucas|Jun 28, 2017

    Carol Nordine filed her intent to run for a seat on the Electric City Council during a special three-day filing period last week. Nordine filed for Position 4 on the council currently held by Jeremy Miller, who did not file because, he told council members, he might move. Miller has held the position for only a few weeks and was selected by the council to fill the vacancy when Brad Parrish resigned after his wife took the position as deputy clerk. The filing period was June 19-21. Nordine was the lone person filing for the seat. If Miller... Full story

  • Wednesday market opens

    Roger S Lucas|Jun 28, 2017

    The Wednesday Market began last week and will continue on Wednesdays through Sept. 13. Chamber of commerce Executive Director Peggy Nevsimal said a number of exhibitors have signed up for the entire summer. The market runs from 4-8 p.m. each Wednesday at North Dam Park. Nevsimal said those who have registered for the entire summer will have produce, other food items, decorated gourds, baked goods, children's items and some surprises along the way. This is the first year that the market has been... Full story

  • Geologist Bjornstad gives guided hike

    Jacob Wagner|Jun 28, 2017

    Geologist Bruce Bjornstad came to Dry Falls-Sun Lakes State Park June 17 to give a guided tour of the Caribou Trail to a dog and about 10 human hikers who were local, from the Seattle area, and from as far away as New England. The approximately 90-minute guided hike started with Bjornstad showing maps of the area depicting what things were like during the Missoula Floods. He showed how a large ice dam used to be where the Grand Coulee Dam is now, and how that had diverted the Columbia River... Full story

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