News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Now it’s time to put some meat on the bones. A golf crowd met Dec. 12, to come up with what they would like to see happen at Banks Lake Golf Course so a grant could be pursued. Frank Andrews Jr., a planner and grant writer for the Colville Tribes, had met with Port District commissioners earlier and volunteered his services to write a grant. Andrews explained his interest: “I’m a golfer,” he told the commissioners. At the public meeting, attended by some 40 people, officials developed a priority list of improvements they thought should be made... Full story
Ten firemen and EMT personnel turned out to assist in the extinguishing of a grease fire at the Goodlance residence at 213 2nd Street in Grand Coulee during the early morning hours Sunday. Fire Chief Richard Paris stated that the homeowner had put a pan of grease on the stove to cook some french fries and then briefly left the room. The report stated that when the homeowner returned, the grease had caught fire. The man put the lid on the pan and then spread baking soda on the surrounding area to put the fire out, a smart move Paris said the... Full story
Several people have taken the time to write out some great explanations as to why they believe their particular nominee deserves to be recognized as the 2013 volunteer of the year. We hope readers will take time to review those nominations and help select the honoree by writing us a note on their choice or going to the online poll at grandcoulee.com So much needs to be done in any community to keep it moving in a good direction. Volunteers who work for the good of all simply because it’s the right thing to do make progress possible. Honoring o... Full story
The New Year is traditionally a time for reflection and renewal. A shiny new year lies ahead, full of promise. The New Year is a time when people pledge to change their lives: lose weight, stop smoking, be a better parent, work harder, work less. Regardless of your situation, the New Year holds the opportunity for a fresh start. Our nation needs a fresh start. We are now entering the fifth year of the economic "recovery," the slowest on record since the Great Depression. While there have been... Full story
The Bureau of Reclamation anticipates all six pump units in the John W. Keys III Pump-Generating Plant will be available to fill Banks Lake prior to the 2014 irrigation season, and expects to provide a normal irrigation water supply to the Columbia Basin. The pump plant has been out of service since a fire Nov. 18. The fire was contained to the south end of the pump plant and caused damage to the switchgear for Pump Generator 12 (PG-12). An employee injured in the fire, Dan McCulloch, 54, was flown to Harborview Medical Center’s burn center i... Full story
SPOKANE, Wash. – A Bureau of Reclamation employee died Wednesday night as a result of injuries sustained from a fall on Monday at a construction site at Pinto Dam located about 18 miles east of Ephrata, Wash. Holger “Hal” Jensen, 62, passed away with family gathered by his bedside at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash. He was a civil engineer with the construction engineering group in Reclamation’s Pacific Northwest Regional Office in Boise, Idaho. “This is simply heartbreaking,” said Lorri Lee, Pacific Northwest Regional Director. “O...
Some 63 needy families in the area will have a good Christmas dinner because of the work of the Lake Roosevelt High School Associated Student Body. The students at Lake Roosevelt sponsored a charity "Crimson and Gold" basketball game late in November and raised over $1,100 after expenses. ASB advisor Debbie Van Geystel said that Harvest Foods and Ed's Meats helped the fund stretch by giving the students a discount on food and meat. Last Friday morning,Van Geystel and student body officers were... Full story
A veteran Midway Avenue business, Fuller & Sons Auto Sales, has sold. Keith Fuller, owner, said Friday that the new owner is Choice Auto Group of Omak, pending the transfer of licenses. Fuller opened his car business in Grand Coulee in October, 1987, just over 26 years ago. Choice Auto Group owner Mike Kaiser said that when the sale is complete, Fuller would continue at the firm along with veteran vehicle salesperson Heidi Black, who has seven years experience in sales. The business will soon... Full story
Skateboarders imagine: SR-174 provides a good hill and surface for skateboarders. And the people honking their horns are doing so to wish you a nice day. Three young juveniles were confronted by police for skateboarding on the state highway just off Burdin Boulevard. The three, two of them 17 years old and the other one 16, were reported by a local resident as riding their skateboards on the highway last Wednesday night. The one reporting the incident to police said the same trio had been skateboarding the previous night, also. Police... Full story
I would like to nominate Jan (Bonamici) Erickson for volunteer of the year. I realize that because she is a teacher many see what she does as part of her job, but it goes far beyond that. I have known Jan since 1985, as a volunteer in her classroom, then co-worker for many years. I know she is a totally dedicated teacher, but she also spends untold amounts of her own money on extra materials, prizes etc. each and every year to make learning more interesting, meaningful and fun. She buys foods and many other things that fit into the curriculum... Full story
This past week my husband and I have been layed up at home; with our activities limited, and since there is 24-hour coverage, we watched plenty of news. For many years now I have been puzzled by the public stance that a number of Christians have taken against the poor and down trodden in our country. I am continually dismayed by their vehement denial of government aid to those in need, but by the same token they stubbornly protect the financial securities of the wealthy at all cost. My spirit has felt troubled by a quiet, yet persistent doubt.... Full story
A community meeting to discuss improvements to the Banks Lake Golf Course was held last Thursday night with about 40 people showing up. Port District 7, which owns and operates the golf course, was in a brain picking mood last week and explained that it hopes to put in for a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant sometime this next spring. Port district chairman Orville Scharbach told visitors at the golf course meeting room that community input was needed as part of the grant application. He introduced Frank Andrews Jr., a grant writer for... Full story
We should expect inches of snow today, the National Weather Service says. Below is their winter weather alert issued this morning: . Urgent - Winter Weather message National Weather Service Spokane WA 432 AM PST Fri Dec 20 2013 ...Heavy Snow accumulations today and tonight... Upper Columbia Basin- including the following locations...Ritzville...Grand Coulee... Odessa...Wilbur...CouLee City 432 AM PST Fri Dec 20 2013 ...Winter Weather advisory in effect from 7 AM this morning to 7 PM PST this evening... The National Weather Service in Spokane...
The Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department held its annual awards dinner at the fire station Saturday night. Charles Pope was recognized as "Rookie of the Year." Mike Day was named "Firefighter of the Year," receiving the "Terry Sieker Award." Danielle Florenzen received the "Robert McGuire Award," as the EMS person of the year. Brian Walters was recognized for making the most fire calls, and Diane Canady was recognized for making the most ambulance calls and for 25 years as an emergency... Full story
A Grand Coulee man was found dead on the Crescent Bay boat ramp Sunday. The police report stated that James Carol Arbaugh, 68, of 37 Division Street, had been fishing and apparently left the edge of the water to return for something above the ramp, collapsing on the way up its steep slope. He was found by Larry Rehn of Electric City who was in the area with his dog about 1:45 p.m. Rehn said he was in the area to wash his dog off and found Arbaugh laying on his back on the ramp. The man’s wife, Christie, told police that her husband had a h... Full story
Engineers will determine just how far Grand Coulee’s recent $232,656 grant from the Transportation Improvement Board will go for street improvements, public works director Dennis Francis said last week. The grant should cover improvements to sidewalks on both sides of the street on Federal Avenue from Spokane Way to Seaton Street with ADA ramps on all corners. Francis said that any improvements on Main Street will have to wait until Gray & Osborne does the engineering work and establish what can be done with the money included in the grant. M... Full story
Electric City will put some teeth into its nuisance ordinance in January if Councilmember Brad Parrish has his way. Parish asked at the last city council meeting Dec. 10 that the issue of cleaning up properties in the city be put on the agenda at the city’s next council meeting, Jan. 14. Parrish told Mayor Jerry Sands that he spent the afternoon driving throughout the city recently and was shocked at some of the sights he saw. He said he would like to discuss the city’s nuisance ordinance and put “more teeth” into it and get things cleaned... Full story
An Alaska resident who owns a house at 301 Columbia in Coulee Dam has tossed the town a difficult request. Patrick Wilson, who now lives in Petersburg, Alaska, owns the home on Columbia where he plans to retire soon. He says that excess water running off of Columbia Avenue, which is also State Route 155, runs down his driveway and into his garage and storage room, causing water damage. He has asked the town to do something about it, but town officials claim it is a state highway problem. When contacted, highway officials have bounced... Full story
Quincy Snow wrapped up 16 years as Coulee Dam's mayor last Wednesday at the last town council meeting of the year. He personally thanked members of the council for their support and hard work, particularly two council members, Karl Hjorten and Andy Trader, who were also defeated in the November election. The meeting was his last as mayor because the council voted to cancel the next meeting, which would have fallen on Christmas day. The town operated without much turmoil for most of Snow's 16...
An effort may still be made to complete the new K-12 school project by the end of August, 2014, and begin school around Sept. 8, in the new building complex. Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Dennis Carlson told the board of directors Monday night that he had asked Walker Construction, the general contractor, what it would take to meet this deadline. Previously, the guestimate has been for an early October finish. School and construction officials meet each Tuesday to check how they are coming on the timeline on construction.... Full story
All I want to say is my mom finally found a good doctor in Grand Coulee, instead of having to drive her into Spokane all the time. Her doctor is Dr. Chaffee, and I was so relieved when she and my dad found him! He is very caring and he gives my mom a hug every time she goes in to see him. He makes time for her, and it was a worry off me knowing she finally has a good, caring, and not a rush, rush out the door doctor. But now there are problems with the hospital, etc. Whoever you are that is in charge, please dont mess this all up with your... Full story
As a representative republic, our country is founded on the rule of law. Some regulations are necessary. But when the citizenry is subjected to too much regulation, (over 40,000 enacted last year in the U.S.) they become burdened under the weight. Mr. Hunter states that we need more regulation. There are, however, a plethora of laws that prohibit ‘Harmful/Hazardous’ activities on one’s property. Regarding Mr. Hunter’s question, “If you build a 20-foot tall shop that blocks my view and so devalues my property, is that your right?” I contend tha... Full story
We’ve often commented upon the actions of our now out-going mayor and some town council members. Their lack of concern, bullying tactics and adverse actions towards our town and its citizens have been duly noted and as a result YOU removed them from office. Not surprising but amazing is the fact that Quincy Snow has refused (through non-response) any sort of transition meeting with Mayor-Elect Greg Wilder. A facilities tour was requested and denied. A request was made for the mayor-elect to attend a meeting this month regarding the Bureau Secur... Full story
I would like to nominate Jerry Birdwell for 2013 Volunteer of the Year. Jerry has stepped up far beyond the call of duty to help keep the Banks Lake Golf Course open for the community this past year. Day after day, as the golfers hit the course, Jerry was at the course with his own truck, his own chain saw, his own tools working on the sprinklers system. Some times you could see Jerry’s truck, and finally you would see Jerry’s head pop out of the hole he had dug to find and repair a leak in the system. Right after the several wind storms, Jer... Full story
I would like to nominate Heather Downs for the Volunteer of the Year award. Heather has her hands in many different organizations and has been helpful to many different people in many different ways throughout this last year. Heather runs the local pageant program for girls and boys from the ages of 0 to 18. This youth activity program runs all year long and helps teach these kids that their shape and style is okay (without makeup) and not to be ashamed of it no matter what the media says. In this program she is also helping these young girls... Full story