News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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In a political statement four years ago, Gayle Swagerty talked about getting public involvement. Since taking the position of council person, she has made little effort to get the public involved or even give the public adequate opportunity for comments. Now, Councilperson Swagerty wants to meet with the public she has pretty much ignored over the past years. All registered voters should go and talk with Councilperson Swagerty to become informed about her positions and views concerning our town’s problems. In addition, be an informed voter a... Full story
While I would like to hang up my phone and put down my pen and just wait for the U.S. to heal by itself, I just can’t sit idle. Participation in the direction of our nation is the basis on which our country was founded. We all recognize the phrase “No taxation without representation.” What concerns me more and more is the concept of “representation.” It used to be that we would elect representatives who represented us, their constituents. But ever since the Supreme Court upheld Citizens United, Representative Dan Newhouse and his colleagues lis... Full story
The Regional Board of Mayors has asked that needed repairs at the Delano Transfer Station go out for regular bid. The group’s insurance firm, Clear Risk Solutions, had inspected the transfer station earlier this year and came up with an estimated $20,000 to $25,000 of needed repairs. Electric City, which manages the transfer station, had asked for bids from its small works roster since repairs were estimated to be under $35,000, not meeting the threshold for having to advertise and go out for the full bidding process. One bid was received f... Full story
A meeting last week to discuss Electric City’s park and recreation plan failed to attract local residents. However, it did attract a pair of city council members, the city’s planner and two members of the community park advisory committee. Councilmembers Birdie Hensley and Lonna Bussert, both park proponents, city planner Kurt Danison, and park committee members Brad Parrish and Cindy Greely all attended. The issue went to the council last night to see if members would approve money to move forward with engineering costs for the two pro... Full story
Local residents will have an opportunity to see and comment on Electric City’s park and recreation plan Thursday, June 8, at 3 p.m. at city hall. The park plan has yet to come before the city council, and there will be plenty of time for public comment before it becomes chiseled in stone, City Clerk Russell Powers stated. In addition to this public presentation, the city is planning a public hearing on the plan sometime in July. The plan was developed by a team of an assistant professor and students at Washington State University after several... Full story
The city council at Electric City will have the opportunity next Tuesday, June 13, to select the design firm for its two proposed city parks. The community parks committee has recommended that a Lacey firm, Robert Droll, Landscape Architect, be selected to take the city through the design and engineering phase of the future project. City Clerk Russell Powers said last week that the city had received five proposals from its advertisement seeking either a landscape architect, or an engineering firm to do the advance work for the two Ice Age Flood... Full story
A 20-foot-wide, 346-foot-long load weighing about a million pounds made it to its destination after a two-day trip from Coulee City to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's 230-kilovolt Switchyard early Thursday morning. The big rig carrying an electrical transformer had to be driven in the middle of the night in order to block as little traffic as possible and stopped at a pullout along SR-155 across from Steamboat Rock on Wednesday. The sight and a post on the state Department of Transportation... Full story
The fireworks over Grand Coulee Dam will occur this year on Saturday, July 1, officials said last week. The traditional Festival of America, the July 4 celebration, will be June 30 – July 1 this year, according to the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of the event. "Our board labored over this for a long time and reasoned that because July 4 split the work week, members thought this was the best solution," chamber Executive Director Peggy Nevsimal stated. The Independence Day ho... Full story
This is all about kids. And everything is free! It’s the annual Koulee Kids Fest, Saturday, June 17, a one-day event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids can get their passports, free, at the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce office, Coulee Hardware, Loepp Furniture or at the Visitor Center at Grand Coulee Dam. There’s lots to do — and everything is free — so bring the kids and enjoy the day with them. There’s mini golf, free pedal boats, face painting, ice cream, kettle corn, a barbecue, chalk art, classic cars, fishing, disc golf, photo cut... Full story
The Grand Coulee Dam School District is looking for additional parking for its staff. Superintendent Paul Turner told his board that discussions are underway with the National Park Service to use the lower end of the NPS complex for school parking. Turner said last Friday that, on occasion, parking around the new school complex is in short supply. “If we are eventually able to utilize some space across the street from the school for parking, it would be very helpful,” Turner stated. It is uncertain what kind of arrangement could be made wit... Full story
This year’s vegetable, fruit, and craft market will be offered on Wednesday evenings, the sponsors said last week. The market is sponsored by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, and will be from 4-8 p.m. each Wednesday, starting June 21 and ending Sept. 13. “We have six booths signed up already, for all 13 weeks,” chamber Executive Director Peggy Nevsimal stated Tuesday. The Wednesday Market will be at North Dam Park. Exhibitors pay $5 a week for booth space, or $50 for the entire 13 weeks. Additional information on the Wedne... Full story
For some time, The Star has published just about all of its stories online as well as in print. That practice will continue, but by the end of this month, online access will not be free. Why? Because we can’t afford to lose you, and we are starting to. Across the country, newspapers have increasingly turned to charging for online access to the work of their journalists. It’s time The Star followed that course, and many seem to expect and understand that move. We hope our loyal readers will keep reading us wherever they prefer, in print or onl... Full story
As you probably know, the current Coulee Dam mayor has chosen not to file for another term, and with that decision, we need to elect a new mayor. I’ve been active on Town Council for almost four years. I serve on town committees with well-thought and balanced service. I have worked with the current administration from the beginning of the Waste Water Treatment Facility, Transportation Improvement Board roads/sidewalks grant applications, and other projects and programs, and am able to provide a seamless transition as we construct the f... Full story
Only one office in the coulee area will require a primary runoff to see who makes it to the general election Nov. 7. Three people have filed for Position 3 on the Coulee Dam Town Council, requiring the runoff election. In all other races, candidates will automatically move to the general election Nov. 7. Bruce Bartoo, Timothy Brooks and Marcia Warnecke each filed for the same council seat in Coulee Dam last Friday, which will bring on a primary election to select the top two on Aug. 1. Others who have filed for Coulee Dam council are David... Full story
The circus is coming to town, and no, not your in-laws. An actual circus! The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus, to be exact. Complete with lions, tigers, a huge tent, and a variety of other entertainment. The circus will take place at North Dam Park on Thursday, June 8, with two 90-minute shows starting at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The circus has been featured on National Geographic's Explorer television series, Entertainment Tonight, the A&E special "Under the Big Top," and in "On the Road with Circu... Full story
There will be a new Care and Share Food Bank manager July 1. Carol Nordine, former Electric City city council member, will take over food bank duties from Fern Blaylock. Blaylock, now 81, has a hard time remembering when she started at the food bank, since it has become such a big part of her life. But she is off on another of her favorite things, helping kids at Grand Coulee Dam District schools. "Fern was a fixture when I came to this position 20 years ago," said Teny Archer, who supervises... Full story
The new owners of the former Shaw's Fruit and Produce in Delano, Dave and Alma Draper, plan a Grand Opening June 1. The name of the business will be Alma and Dave's Fruit and Produce. The couple bought the property from long-time owner and operator Roy Hamilton earlier this year. And kids, the Drapers wanted you to know that the "Pumpkin Patch" will return. The space is all ready to be planted. Plans for the future call for the addition of an espresso stand layout with pastries, sandwiches and... Full story
If you hear a loud explosion, hopefully it's just local man Alan Cain, who recently received his Pyrotechnics Display Operator License allowing him to use display-type fireworks that normal civilians can't get their hands on (lest they lose some fingers). To get the license, Cain had to prove he had experience in at least six fireworks shows. Cain said he has experience with about 27, including baseball stadiums, events in Spokane, and other areas. Also needed to get the license are four... Full story
POWER, the organization that manages the fish pens in Electric City, was advised last week that it has received an $8,275 grant. The Department of Fish and Wildlife stated in a letter to Carl Russell, longtime POWER (Promoters of Wildlife and Environmental Resources) member, that the local grant request ranked high enough to receive the grant, despite cuts in funding. The “Banks Lake Rainbow Trout Net Pen Project” was one of 91 groups seeking funding for various wildlife projects in the state. The local fish pen operation receives about 150... Full story
Electric City council plans to review, again, benefits for its employees at its June 13 meeting. The council is looking at providing 11 paid holidays and several other benefits when they pass the final employee package at the next council meeting. The 11 holidays are: New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King’s birthday (third Monday of January); Presidents’ Day, (third Monday of February); Memorial Day (last Monday of May); Independence Day (fourth day of July); Labor Day (first Monday of September); Veterans Day (11th of November); Thank... Full story
The Turkish government is obviously familiar with the concept of “chutzpah,” if not necessarily the word. Ankara summoned the American ambassador to protest allegedly “aggressive and unprofessional actions” by the Washington, D.C., police. Their offense? Intervening after Turkish security personnel mauled peaceful protesters outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence in Washington. Video of the incident is jaw-dropping. About a dozen people protested Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- arriving at the ambassador’s residence after a Whi... Full story
In the last decade, there has been a highway construction boom in Texas. On the other hand, lawmakers in Olympia still scramble to fund road maintenance. Texas, a state with a population of 27 million, is flush with cash thanks partly to a 10-year voter approved initiative which will pump $2 billion a year into highways. Then recently, that state’s legislature added $9 billion to further help relieve traffic congestion. “What’s Texas doing that we aren’t?” The answer is private-public partnerships. Since 2011, the state’s transportat... Full story
Raider Darin Whiteman traveled to Richland, Washington, last week to compete in the 1B/2B boys' state tournament. "Darin battled hard under perhaps the toughest conditions imaginable for a state tournament," his coach, Steve Files, said. At Horn Rapids Golf Course, the competitors faced temperatures in the 90s and winds of 15-20 miles an hour. "It ended up being a grueling seven-hour endurance test," Files said. "Darin got into trouble on two or three holes with a couple wayward shots, but... Full story
The spring runoff from melting snow in Canada is now coming down the Columbia River, and Lake Roosevelt is beginning to refill. Following the long 2016-17 winter, Lake Roosevelt has been kept at a low water level in anticipation of the large mountain runoff to come. Currently, with the water level at an elevation of about 1,256 feet above sea level on Tuesday, the target for May 31 is for the lake to be no higher than 1,262, according to the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. The lake is completely fu... Full story
The Lake Roosevelt Schools music department just won a $6,250 grant. Karen Pace, music director ,said the grant was given through the umbrella of the Washington Music Education Association. Pace directs four bands in the district and the district’s choir, for a total of about 165 students, Pace said Friday, plus elementary music. Shee put in for the grant in March and received word that the grant was coming through for the district earlier in May. The money will be used to purchase new instruments, repair older ones, and provide music stands a... Full story