News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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(Nespelem, WA) — The Colville Tribes announced today that it is immediately lifting all public safety measures previously instituted to protect the community from COVID-19. A Resolution first passed on March 25, 2020, which imposed multiple public safety measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, including the closure of the Colville Reservation and limits on gathering sizes. These safety measures have been extended on multiple occasions as the pandemic continued to remain a threat, but they are all now lifted, effective immediately. The C... Full story
OLYMPIA – Starting today everyone 16 and older who wants a COVID-19 vaccine can receive one in Washington. The eligibility expansion marks the four-month anniversary of vaccine rollout in our state. Since mid-December, nearly 4.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across the state. More than 2.67 million people have received at least one dose and more than 23% of Washingtonians are fully vaccinated. Opening eligibility to everyone 16 and older will further protect our communities and help us get closer to crossing the f...
Grant County Health District is reporting 11 additional confirmed COVID-19 associated deaths of Grant County residents. Ten deaths were associated with Long Term Care Facilities (LTC) outbreaks first reported on Nov. 20. All those residents had underlying conditions putting them at higher risk for severe complications due to a COVID-19 infection. Lake Ridge Center in Moses Lake has had a total of 15 confirmed COVID-19 associated deaths during the recent outbreak. There are 3 known additional deaths pending death certificate review. These most r... Full story
SOAP LAKE, WA – Grant County is experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak in one long-term care facility (LTC), McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Soap Lake, WA, with over 30 cases reported in residents and staff. At this point in time all COVID-19 residents have been moved out of the facility. Unfortunately, one resident has recently died due to COVID-19 complications, which was reported in yesterday's press release. McKay had remained COVID-19 free since the on-set of the pandemic. F... Full story
SUNNYSIDE—At 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, daylight saving time for 2020 will come to an end, clocks will turn back an hour, and State Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, will once again lament that this annual ritual is even still a thing Washingtonians must do. The Republican lawmaker has been working for several years, with numerous states, to develop language to move to permanent daylight saving time. That effort was thwarted during the 2019 session, when the Democrat majority co-opted the issue and passed a measure of its own, which Honeyford s... Full story
TUMWATER — A handful of businesses are facing fines for violations related to lack of mask use by customers and staff. Yet thousands of others that were the subject of complaints are following the governor’s order after numerous contacts and education about requirements from L&I, the agency says. Since mid-July, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has looked into mask complaints concerning more than 4,200 retailers, restaurants and other businesses in the state. In the vast majority of cases, the businesses that were violating the rul... Full story
Grand Coulee Dam’s Third Powerhouse will be renamed, the secretary of Interior announced, according to the following press release from the office of Rep. Dan Newhouse, who represents the state’s 4th District in Congress. Press release: WASHINGTON, D.C. – On August 12, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt announced the Third Power Plant at Grand Coulee Dam would be renamed as the "Nathaniel 'Nat' Washington Power Plant," in honor of the father-son duo who were instr...
According to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, 85% of all wildfires in Washington State are caused by humans. Already this summer the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area has had five wildfires started on National Park Service lands, the NPS says. One of those was caused by a lightning strike, the other four were caused by humans — either through the illegal use of fireworks or unattended campfires. “There is not much land between the park and our private neighbors,” an NPS release notes. “Fires can quickly spread...
CHELAN COUNTY — A Chelan waterpark has been ordered to close immediately to prevent workers from being exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19). This action comes after a similar order from the state Department of Health last week. Today, the state Department of Labor & Industries delivered an “Order and Notice of Immediate Restraint” directing the waterpark to cease operations until the business is approved to operate under the Governor’s Stay Home Stay Healthy Order. In addition to the order and notice, after completing an inspection earlier... Full story
EPHRATA – Grant PUD, in conjunction with Columbia Basin Foundation, has contributed to eight food banks throughout Grant County this spring with Pay-It-Forward grants totaling $11,000. The services of these food banks are greatly needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many in our communities are struggling to put food on the table for their family and these donations help to provide healthy meals. Food banks receiving assistance include: Coulee City, Grand Coulee, Ephrata, Mattawa, Moses Lake/Warden, Quincy, Royal City and Soap Lake. The P... Full story
OLYMPIA – The arrival of spring typically means drivers in Washington have until March 31 to remove studded tires. However, this year the Washington State Department of Transportation is extending the deadline to Thursday, April 30, due to COVID-19 virus concerns and in support of Gov. Jay Inslee’s guidance to help reduce the spread of the virus by limiting social interactions. “Washington is experiencing some extraordinary challenges with COVID-19 right now and we recognize this is not a time for ‘business as usual,’” said WSDOT Maintenance... Full story
KELLER – Keller Ferry users who travel across the Columbia River on State Route 21 will need to find alternate routes. The M/V Sanpoil will be removed from service starting Wednesday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 22, in order for crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation to make permanent repairs to the hull and allow the United States Coast Guard to inspect the vessel During the closure the ferry will be moved to dry ground near the Keller Ferry Rest Area. While the ferry is out of the water, crews will weld cracks an... Full story
EPHRATA – Priest Rapids Dam operators extinguished a small fire in equipment called an exciter, which provides energy to start up one of the generating units, shortly after 1 a.m. today. The fire affected Unit No. 7 at Priest Rapids Dam. On Oct. 3, there was a similar fire in the exciter for Unit No. 1. In both situations, dam operators – using methods learned during training – were able to extinguish the fires promptly, keeping them isolated to the cabinets that house the exciter equip...
KELLER – Keller Ferry users will need to plan additional travel time during an upcoming closure. Material procurement delays and curing of paint have pushed back the 16-day closure, initially scheduled to begin by Friday, Sept. 13. The ferry vessel M/V Sanpoil will now be out of service from Monday, Sept. 16, through Wednesday, Oct. 2. Travelers planning to cross the Columbia River on State Route 21 should choose an alternate route during the closure, via SR 25 or SR 155 and SR 174. Plan additional time for travel as it can take up to an hour t...
KELLER – Keller Ferry users will get a two-week reprieve on a terminal repair project closure, with work now starting in September. Initially, the 14-day closure and repair was scheduled to be complete by Aug. 30, but delays in obtaining materials have pushed back that work.The ferry vessel M/V Sanpoil will now be out of service for two weeks in mid-September. The closure dates have tentatively been set for the evening of Friday, Sept. 13, through Friday, Sept. 27 - but those could be pushed back if any fires in the area restrict first r... Full story
In partnership with the Grant County Health District nine graduate students in the University of Washington Community-Oriented Public Health Practice (COPHP) program will visit Grand Coulee to learn about important health issues facing the local community, and how Grand Coulee residents support each other to live healthier lives. The visit will take place during the week after Thanksgiving, from Monday, November 26th - Thursday November 29th. During that time, the students, led by Sharon Bogan,... Full story
The body of a 17-year-old Lynnwood, Washington boy was recovered Saturday evening, May 26, from the waters of Banks Lake after he went missing late Friday evening near Steamboat Rock State Park, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office reported Sunday morning. Friends had reported David V. Fesko missing around 8:30 p.m. Friday after watching him try to swim to shore after falling off a personal flotation device. Fesko went under water and didn’t resurface. Deputies, state park rangers and boaters searched the waters and shoreline until nightfall sus... Full story
Near ELECTRIC CITY—Grant County deputies on Wednesday morning recovered the body of a man from the waters of Banks Lake south of Electric City, the sheriff's office said in an advisory. Deputies were called around 7:30 a.m. after a boater discovered the body, later identified as 72-year-old Garlan W. Crosswhite of Olalla, Washington in Kitsap County. Mr. Crosswhite’s boat was found beached along the east shoreline about two miles away. Mr. Crosswhite’s body is in the care of Coroner Craig Morrison whose staff will determine cause and manne... Full story
The following is an update on behalf of the Okanogan Department of Emergency Management & Northeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team on the flooding in Okanogan County and a current flash flood warning: OKANOGAN FLOODING 2018 Incident Update – May 17, 2018 12 P.M. Okanogan County – The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch due to severe thunderstorms that are predicted for later today. These storms will produce the potential for flash floods especially over recent burn scars, as well as the possibility of rap... Full story
A Grand Coulee man and woman are jailed this morning and more arrests are expected after a search warrant served on a home yielded meth and heroin, the Grant County Sheriff's Office reported. Grant County's Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (INET), the Moses Lake Regional Tactical Response Team (TRT), and Grand Coulee Police raided the home at 212 Dill Avenue early this morning. There they found meth, heroin, scales and packaging materials, a GCSO press release said. Michael Capshaw, 36,...
Grant County’s Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team busted another illegal marijuana growing and sales operation last week, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office said Monday. Based on a tip from a patrol deputy, INET opened an investigation on 42-year-old Cesario Huerta of Moses Lake, and last Wednesday served a search warrant at his house in the 1600 block of North Frontage Road East, the GCSO said. INET seized 99 plants, 50 pounds of processed marijuana, 10 firearms and a gun silencer. Huerta faces charges including manufacturing marijuana and...
MOSES LAKE, Wash. (17OCT2017) – In response to an October 5 traffic stop by Moses Lake Police Department where a suspect was found with nearly eight pounds of methamphetamine and heroin, a subsequent Grant County INET investigation has led to an additional seven warrants served. Those busts netted 25 more pounds of methamphetamine, seven pounds of heroin, and 40 pounds of processed marijuana with a combined street value of $1.2-million. Sheriff Tom Jones said, "This is huge. In fact, it's the la...
US 2 roundabout construction begins on Thursday, Aug. 10 near Airway Heights and Fairchild Air Force Base west of Spokane AIRWAY HEIGHTS, WA – Construction of a multi-lane roundabout on US 2 just west of Airway Heights begins early Thursday, August 10. When all the construction lane restrictions are in place, US 2 will have two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane for the duration of the work. Lane restrictions will be in place 24/7. Drivers on US 2 between the Fairchild Air Force Base Main Gate and the Airway Heights city center should be a... Full story
Winthrop, WA — On Wednesday, management of the Canyon Creek Fire, near Carlton transferred to a Type 4 Incident Management Team led by Incident Commander Kathleen Russell. The 1,200 acre fire has been contained since Tuesday evening. The two 20-person crews and strike team of engines that remain are patrolling and extinguishing areas of heat. Two lookouts are supporting firefighters, providing information on locations of smoke within the fire perimeter. Previous predictions for lightning in the area have changed. The next possible predicted l... Full story
KELLER FERRY – The Keller Ferry that crosses the Columbia River on State Route 21 is in service after repairs were completed on the north shore loading ramp. ### WSDOT...