News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 6041 - 6065 of 7269
The Star is seeking nominations for the annual Volunteer of the Year honor to be awarded to one individual who deserves to be acknowledged for their unselfish efforts to help others or the community. To nominate someone you think is deserving of the recognition, write a letter of nomination, detailing how your nominee volunteers. Include names and contact information of more people who know about your nominees activities. Send letters of nomination via email to star@grandcoulee.com with the subject line Volunteer of the Year. Or mail letters... Full story
Hospital District Commissioner Jerry Kennedy said Monday that a commission meeting that had been scheduled for Dec. 18 has been rescheduled for Dec. 26. Kennedy said the commission discovered that a regular monthly meeting can only be rescheduled during a regularly scheduled meeting, but the Dec. 18 change had been made during a special meeting last month. The commissions bylaws require the meeting to take place on the next business day, which is Dec. 26. Kennedy, who sits on three committees formed to respond to community concerns, said those... Full story
A small group of parents with concerns about bullying, buses and more met Monday night to discuss ways to help the local school district improve. But if response to a posting on The Star’s Facebook page is an indication, the issues are a hot button item with much of the community. The meeting at the Grand Coulee Fire Hall, facilitated by parent Heather Downs, drew eight including Downs, plus Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Dennis Carlson, who attended to listen. The parents attending have a total of 15 children in the d... Full story
A Wellpinit man escaped serious injury when his semi truck with double trailers, laden with dry cement, crashed at the bottom of the Coulee Dam hill about 9 a.m. last Wednesday morning, Dec. 4. Darwin L. Newport, 51, said his truck brakes, fully engaged, failed, and he turned into the left powerhouse access road, just below the Visitor Center at Grand Coulee Dam, to avoid hitting other vehicles ahead of him on highway 155. Newport was taken by ambulance to Coulee Medical Center and was released... Full story
Early day postal notes were collected by Birdie Hensley from a book donated to the Coulee Pioneer Museum from Ron Rinker. The book tells the history of many of the post offices in Douglas County. One, the Barry post office, was located seven miles north of Coulee Dam on the west shore of the Columbia River, its final location. The original location was a small store about three miles southwest of the final location, and established Aug, 31, 1887. The first postmaster was Mrs. Alba J. Barry. In the early days, mail came from Wilbur three times a... Full story
George Kohout was elected to his third term as president of the Ridge Riders at a meeting last Wednesday night. Other officers named were Bubba Egbert, vice president; Monty Fields, treasurer; Debbi Achord, secretary; and trustees Janet Doughty, Ryan Poe and Marlene Poe. Janet O'Neil is chairperson for the Colorama Rodeo. Highlights of the coming year include a sweater party in January, the group's third annual banquet and auction on March 22; the annual riding clinic in the spring with... Full story
Shane Proctor stands in fifth place at the National Finals Rodeo in the Las Vegas Thomas and Mack Center. Proctor, a 2003 graduate of Lake Roosevelt High School and former world champion bull rider, turned in winning scores in the first two go-rounds, pocketing $18,629.81 each night and was the front runner going into Saturday’s round. Last Thursday, Proctor scored 89 points on News Flash for top money and on Friday scored 89 on Squirrel Grove. But the Grand Coulee cowboy, now out of North Carolina, ran into a “Wicked” bull. “Wicked” had his w... Full story
Firefighters responded to a vehicle fire about 5:15 p.m. Sunday when they found a four-door Saturn engulfed in flames. Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Chief Richard Paris said the fire was put out with water, but with the temperature about 12 degrees, it caused icy conditions on the roadway. The vehicle, owned and driven by Bill Brown, was located at E Street and SR-174. The Washington State Department of Transportation sanded the slick roadway so the area wouldn’t be a hazard to other motorists. Paris stated that the car would be a total loss a... Full story
There have been several articles in the newspaper lately about Coulee Medical Center, and I feel it is time for me to voice my concerns. We all are expected to choose a primary health care provider. That health care provider gets to know you as a person and knows your medical history. When a health issue arises you shouldn’t have to wait a month or more to get in to see your primary care provider. If you end up seeing someone else, they usually know nothing about you or your medical history. We need more health care providers, not less, in o... Full story
After reading the article on Dr. Chaffee regarding the turmoil at Coulee Medical Center, I must say I agree with his comments. As a past employee, I left on my own due to actions from the HR Dept. manager and executive assistant. I have never worked anywhere in my career that was so demoralizing. It was as if every corner you turned you had to be careful. From one day to the next you never knew who would be escorted out of the building or if you would even have a job. The entire administration should be held responsible for all unkind actions... Full story
I would like to thank David Noggles on his (letter to the editor) in the December 4 issue. I first heard about the CMC issues on the November 27 issue and the “red flags” started going up when I heard the three words: “just in time” when tied to “inventory.” I would also assume that since the CMC has adopted the Virginia Mason management style, that management is using similar measuring tools for such things as “performance or productivity” (more red flags). When I worked over on the “wet side” for a large well known aerospace firm, we... Full story
If not for Dr. Castrodale and Dr. Chaffee, I wouldn't have a family as I do today. … Back in the mid ’90s, Castrodale found a problem with my daughter no other doctor had found. If not for him, my daughter would not be here today. Between them they have delivered six beautiful grandchildren for me, and I will go to my grave always being thankful for them. Wendy Hughes has been my personal lifesaver these last few years. Without her and her listening to me and helping me deal with issues, I doubt if I'd still be here to enjoy these kids and gra... Full story
This week's photos, including those not used, are up on our photo site. Here's a slide show you can share: 12-11-13 Star - Images by Scott Hunter...
Doctors and other health care providers at Coulee Medical Center have vowed to quit if the hospital’s chief executive officer doesn’t leave, one frustrated doctor finally told The Star last week. Dr. Jacob Chaffee said the situation is critical and that doctors would already have resigned if they hadn’t been convinced to stay. “He’s my fourth CEO,” Chaffee said of Chief Executive Officer Scott Graham. “I’ve never seen it like this. The morale throughout the hospital is horrible.” In an interview Wednesday, Chaffee said he resigned as chief medi... Full story
A semi loaded with cement crashed at the bottom of the hill below Grand Coulee Dam on highway 155 Wednesday morning. The big rig pulling double tanker trailers, reportedly full of cement (the dry powder, not the mixed concrete) was headed north down the steep hill alongside the dam when it left the road to the right just below the Visitor Center, just as it entered the town of Coulee Dam. It overturned about 100 feet or less off the roadway after crossing the lawn and missing trees and power...
Coulee Dam mayor-elect Greg Wilder will get the use of the community room, without charge, to conduct his swearing in ceremony, Dec. 23, officials said this week. Wilder had asked for use of the room for special swearing in ceremonies for himself, and two new council members — Gayle Swagerty, Duane Johnson — and possibly returning Councilmember Bob Poch. Swearing in the new town officials will be U.S. Attorney Mike Ormsby of the Department of Justice, Eastern Washington. Wilder and Ormsby have been friends for some time. The use of the roo... Full story
An Elmer City couple needs some help with their near 2-year-old baby, Victoria. Victoria was born with brain damage and eyesight problems to Stephanie Detwiler New and Daniel New Detwiler. (The two determined to keep their own names when they were married so each took the other's as a middle name.) Their baby, who will be 2 in March, suffers from optic nerve damage and brain damage and requires constant attention. These conditions require that the couple take Victoria, whose nickname is "Tori,"... Full story
A letter from Port District 7 went out to a targeted list asking them to attend a meeting Dec. 12, to discuss possible improvements to the Banks Lake Golf Course. Port District commissioners got the idea of applying for a grant to improve the course from Colville Tribal planner and grant writer Frank Andrews Jr. Andrews had attended a previous Port District meeting but the agenda was so long he didn’t have time to speak to commissioners. That changed in the port’s November meeting and Andrews outlined the possibility of applying for a grant wit... Full story
Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler made national news when he quickly rejected President Obama’s call for insurers to extend individual health insurance policies cancelled because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also referred to as Obamacare. While five million insurance policies have been cancelled to date, the Obama administration estimated that as many as 18 million of these policies will be cancelled because of the ACA. Here in Washington state, some 290,000 people h... Full story
Only Wenatchee and East Wenatchee put more kids on NCW Youth Football fields than the local effort that fielded 60 kids from 8 to 12 years of age this year. "That's awesome, considering we are one of the smallest school districts in the league," noted Brandon White, who coached one of two bantam teams of 8- to 10-year-olds through the two-month season that ended Nov. 2. The young players practice hard and play hard in full uniforms that reflect their local high school's team colors and mascots,... Full story
An eventual contract for law enforcement services between the Bureau of Reclamation and local agenices will probably end up looking like this -- Grand Coulee, four officers; Coulee Dam, two officers; and two officers from the Colville Tribal Police department. While discussions are still going on, and no date has been set for a final decision, The Star has learned that the bureau has realigned its five zones of coverage to just two. Grand Coulee would cover zone 1, which goes from the switchyards to the Washington Flats on the west side of the... Full story
Directions in the management of Coulee Medical Center are aimed at providing for the long-term survival of the hospital, despite shorter-term difficulties, its top administrator and board chairman said this week. Chief Operating Officer Scott Graham and hospital district President Greg Behrens spoke with The Star Monday, seeking to add their perspective on the developing controversy that has filled recent board meetings with citizens concerned about everything from prices charged for services to cutbacks in staff scheduling. The hospital... Full story
Mayor-elect Greg Wilder will be sworn in Dec. 23, as Coulee Dam mayor by U.S. Attorney Mike Ormsby from the U.S. Department of Justice Eastern Washington, Wilder stated last week. Others elected to office in the town of Coulee Dam will likely take advantage of the special ceremony. Those include council members Gayle Swagerty, Duane Johnson and Bob Poch. Wilder said the swearing-in ceremonies will be in the community room at city hall early in the evening. Wilder stated that state law allows that swearing in can occur 10 days before newly... Full story
Port District 7 commissioners voted Thursday night to purchase 21 golf carts that they have had on lease since 2008. District President Orville Scharbach told commissioners that the carts would be paid for in three years. The package includes the 21 carts and some 96 batteries, and includes a utility cart used for work around the golf course. Scharbach said the current batteries have been in the carts since 2008, “and that’s about the only thing that can go wrong with the carts.” Separately, the port district is leasing a new fairway mower... Full story
Port district commissioners approved a plan at their meeting last Thursday to seek a grant to fix up the Banks Lake Golf Course. The idea came from Frank Andrews Jr., a planner and grant writer for the Colville Confederated Tribes. Andrews called commissioners’ attention to grants offered by Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office that cover golf courses, as well as other types of projects. Commissioners listed and then quickly approved a plan to proceed with the grant plan. Accordingly, Port District 7 will hold a public meeting a... Full story