News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 326 - 350 of 366
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
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
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
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
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
Grant County Health District officials say there are three confirmed, and possibly more cases of whooping cough in the Ephrata area. Three cases have been confirmed and one additional probable case, with additional cases pending, health officials announced. Whooping cough (pertussis) is highly contagious, and in an effort to control the outbreak of the disease, county health officials have recommended antibiotics for a defined number of individuals who have come into close contact with ill individuals. Health officials stated that early... Full story
Soccer will continue to be part of the Grand Coulee Dam School District’s athletic program, the school board voted Monday night. The girl’s soccer program was highly successful, Athletic Director Levi Seekins advised the board in a written memo. The program, which started last fall, had 18 girls turn out, and coaches are already involved in summer programs. The board had approved soccer on a trial basis a year ago and were quick to vote to continue the sport. “Soccer showed a lot of improvement as the year went on and we expect to do bette... Full story
The Grand Coulee Dam School District board Monday night approved a number of supplemental contracts for various functions at the school. Aaron Derr was issued supplemental contracts as a district website administrator and a 12th-grade advisor. Carrie Derr was approved as K-6 ASB advisor and for technical support. Christel Pitner was approved as 10th-grade advisor; Julie Friedlander was approved as 12th-grade advisor; Karrie Utz and Kim Stanger were approved as Native American advisors; Lee Largent was given a supplemental contract for clean-up... Full story
The Cleatis Lacy Memorial Bull Riding event this Friday, June 16, will feature an added attraction this year. Through special arrangements, bull riding fans will be able to see instant replays of all the action on a huge screen. Fans at the Ridge Rider event, which begins at 7 p.m., will be able to watch all the action — twice — as a large screen will allow them to catch something they might have missed in real time. The Ridge Riders have made special arrangements with a Montana firm, Lyons Productions, to haul the giant screen on a 27-... 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
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
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
“We will have a balanced budget next year,” Superintendent Paul Turner stated last Friday. He confirmed this before the Grand Coulee Dam School District board Monday night, going over a number of steps he is proposing to eliminate what he sees as a potential shortfall of about $740,000. Turner said changes to personnel and programs that he hopes to implement have moved the district to within $100,000 or so of his goal. The district will have until July to make final adjustments to its budget, but has until June 15 to notify teachers if the... Full story
You will be able to drive “street ready” ATVs in Grand Coulee beginning May 31. Grand Coulee’s city council approved an ordinance last Tuesday night that allows all-terrain vehicles on city streets and on state highways, as long as they have the appropriate equipment. The council took a page — in fact, took the entire ordinance — from Electric City, and passed it without fanfare. Two area citizens — Bill Moore, from Grand Coulee, and Ron Pulsipher, of Electric City — spoke before the council voted, encouraging the elected officials to... Full story
There's a new restaurant in town. The Coulee Dam Casino's Spillway Bar and Grill had its "soft" opening May 15 and is now open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Casino's new format upstairs, where Colville Tribal Federal Corporation offices were once located, is a mixture of gaming and food service. The tribal business arm offices have moved to the new tribal headquarters building on the Colville Indian Agency campus near Nespelem. Meanwhile, the casino downstairs is getting a facelift. The... Full story
Twelve new flags will be dedicated on Memorial Day, May 29, at the special Isle of Flags ceremony at Spring Canyon Cemetery. The ceremonies kick off at 11 a.m. with master of ceremonies Richard Black (Navy captain retired) getting the program started. He will deliver the memorial address. The 12 new flags honor Brandon W. Buche, Bert E. Carley, Jimmy Lee Easling, Larry M. Haag, Rodrick B. Hartman, Michael “Mick” McNeilly, Erskin R. Prevett, Michael N. Somday, James A. Stansfield, Mary E. Muller Sullivan, Patrick M. Sullivan, and Mike Tow... Full story
A few races for local public office will be contested in this year’s primaries, but the real issue is the number of offices for which nobody filed a candidacy. A special three-day filing period has been set up, May 23-25, for those who would like to file for offices currently slated to remain empty. Okanogan County announced a special three-day extended filing period May 23-25 until 4 p.m. They can file online, but filers must still appear in person at the auditor’s office by 4:30 that day, which is also the deadline to pay any fees. The top... Full story
Colorama was a huge success! That assessment came early this week from a variety of sources, not the least from the chamber of commerce and Ridge Rider officials, the two sponsoring groups. Even Grand Coulee Police Chief John Tufts commented on how busy traffic was during the Colorama events. "We didn't have any major problems, but the area was very busy," Tufts stated. Chamber Executive Director Peggy Nevsimal was quick to point out that 123 turned out for the first-ever Color Run, and 68... Full story
Those rodeo cowboys didn't waver, even with threatening skies both Friday and Saturday, as they competed for a lot of money in the 61st Colorama Pro-West Rodeo at the Ridge Rider grounds in Delano. One Ridge Rider spokesperson said that the club was pleased with the turnout and enthusiasm despite the inclement weather pattern. First-place winner for each event are listed here. For the complete listings, see page 8. One of the big winners was bull rider Wyatt Wilks, the lone bull rider to make... Full story
There will be some changes on the Colville Business Council as two vacated seats will be filled and some incumbents could be in trouble after the May 6 Primary Election absentee votes were totaled. There will be new business council members in the Inchelium District Position 1, and in the Omak District Position 2 races. Ricky Gabriel, incumbent in Nespelem District Position 1, faces a real test as Rodney Cawston received over 50 more votes than he did, 164-208. Others running and their vote total in that district were Amelia (Moses) Marchand... Full story
A Kelso Street resident appeared at Electric City’s last council meeting to suggest that if Grand Coulee adopted an ATV ordinance, he would like to see the speed limit between the two cities dropped so those owning all-terrain vehicles could travel on SR-155. Making the suggestion was Ron Pulsipher, who joins a handful of Grand Coulee residents who have been making the same pitch to their city council. That council has researched the idea using Electric City’s ATV ordinance as an example of what Grand Coulee might do. The ATV ordinance was on... Full story
Tribal members went to the polls Saturday in the primary election to determine who will run in the general election June 24. Six positions will be open this year, two that currently do not have incumbents. The vote totals are from the poll voting. Absentee ballots will be counted later this week. In the Nespelem District, incumbents in both Position 1 and 2 are trailing. In Nespelem Position 1, incumbent Ricky Gabriel collected 47 votes, with challenger Rodney Cawston getting 52. Others filing for Position 1, and their vote totals, were:... Full story
The Cleatis Lacy Memorial Bull Ride, happening June 16, will move into the big time this year with a giant replay screen, rodeo officials said this week. George Kohout, president of the Ridge Riders, said last week that an agreement has been made with a Montana firm to provide a 12- by 24-foot replay screen to show off attempts by cowboys to ride their bulls. The big replay screen agreement was developed by Shane Marchand, who is coordinating the bull ride. Marchand had been in touch with Marty Lyon, of Lyon Productions, out of Montana, to... Full story