News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 1332 - 1356 of 1383
Mayor Quincy Snow assured those attending a town council meeting last Wednesday night that the town would follow through on a “value engineering” study of its $4.92 million wastewater treatment plant project. He made the announcement after a long presentation by David Dunn, an engineer from the state Department of Ecology, who came to the meeting to explain the value engineering process. At the end of the presentation, Snow asked if the town should have gone through this process earlier. “It is late in the process for major changes to be made,... Full story
The boards from the Nespelem and Grand Coulee Dam school districts districts met jointly last week, in another of what have become quarterly meetings. Concerns were shared about the two districts’ school calendars for next school year. Efforts have been made in the past to get the two calendars as closely aligned as possible. In this instance, Nespelem Director Jolene Marchand stated, Coulee Dam passed its calendar without Nespelem getting to look at it. At its last meeting, Grand Coulee Dam School District passed a calendar that scheduled s... Full story
A food service truck stolen from the Grand Coulee Dam School District has been recovered. Two district employees traveled to the Seattle area last Wednesday and brought the 1994 Ford truck back to the bus garage for repairs. The truck went missing sometime during the weekend of Feb. 9-11, and was found abandoned on Interstate 5 near Seattle by the Washington State Patrol. District employees found the truck in an impound lot and stated that the steering column had been peeled so the vehicle could be started. When the door was opened, the front... Full story
The man you can’t say “no” to was awarded two plaques at the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2013 installation and awards banquet last Thursday night at Pepper Jack’s Bar & Grille. George Kohout, of Electric City, was first awarded a plaque for “Business of the Year,” awarded to the Ridge Riders club, of which he is president. Moments later Kohout was called to the front again, this time as the 2012 “Achiever of the Year,” an unprecedented double recognition, this time for his outs... Full story
Fish and Wildlife officials are seeking information about poachers who killed five whitetail deer near the Rosenberg Ranch in Lincoln County. The department was alerted to the poaching by an Electric City man who had been in the area shooting coyotes and stumbled across the deer carcases. Fish and Wildlife biologist Eric Braaten said only the back straps and rear quarters of the deer were taken, and the remainder of the deer were left behind. He said that entry to the property, which overlooks Lake Roosevelt, was through two gates. Those... Full story
The city of Grand Coulee is advertising for people interested in serving on the city’s Civil Service Commission. All three positions are vacant. City officials stated that positions for two-year, four-year and six-year terms are open and available. The Civil Service Commission provides for the administration of the city’s civil service process. Commissioners conduct interviews of applicants for open police positions and move forward their top three selections for consideration. The civil service is independent of city control and its rec... Full story
The Electric City Council put out the welcome mat for chickens at its Tuesday night meeting. Council members looked at the new chicken ordinance prepared by the planning commission and liked what they saw. After routine comments and suggestions, they passed it. Come Monday, Feb. 18, it will be lawful for residents to have chickens, up to six. You’ll still have to use your alarm clock because the ordinance specifies no roosters. There are a lot of regulations. No loose chickens. There’s a chicken license you have to get at city hall - $15 wor... Full story
Jess Ford’s detail shop, now being constructed across the street from the car agency, when completed, will allow the Ford dealer to have a tire alignment shop and also sell tires. Wade Jess, president of the dealership, said that moving his detail shop across the street will free up space in the agency’s main building to do wheel alignment and sell tires. Jess purchased the property, across the highway from the agency, and has installed a used vehicle lot there. Now a 30-foot by 60-foot bui... Full story
A school district food service truck stolen from its location at Center School sometime between Saturday and Monday was found abandoned near milepost 144 on Interstate 5 in western Washington, the Washington State Patrol reported. The truck was found Monday and was towed to a neutral location. District officials said a driver and mechanic are going to the site to recover the truck today (Wednesday). The theft resulted in cold district meals for students since the truck housed a large food warmer used by kitchen personnel to deliver warm meals t... Full story
Two young men face first-degree burglary charges following a midnight break-in at 16 W. Coulee Boulevard in Electric City last Wednesday. Police Chief Mel Hunt stated Monday that damages to the building and to items in the building amounted to about $6,200. Arrested at the scene were Michael Desautel, 18, from Nespelem, and a 17-year-old juvenile from Electric City. The police report said both were armed, one with a screwdriver and the other with a knife. Police Officer Adam Hunt, who was on patrol only a couple of blocks away, got a report of... Full story
Some $2,800 that was lingering in a 300-pound safe at the golf course, stolen last week, was from last season’s final golf tournament and had been earmarked for fertilizer. Orville Scharbach, chairman of Port District 7 commissioners, stated Thursday that he didn’t know that the funds were still in the safe. He stated that the fertilizer has already been delivered and it appears, Scharbach said, that the port district’s insurance will cover the money, safe, and damage to the door where entry was gained. The final tournament of the year was a... Full story
The town of Coulee Dam has indicated that it would be in favor of going through a “value engineering” study of its plans for the proposed wastewater treatment plant. Town officials Monday issued a statement that they have invited an engineer from the Department of Ecology to brief council members on the process and procedures of value engineering at their next meeting, Wednesday, Feb. 13, starting at 6 p.m. The public is invited to the meeting. In a statement published this week in The Star, the town noted that the council understands the value... Full story
Electric City’s new arsenic treatment plant goes into operation this week. The $1.3 million project received final adjustments by Gray & Osborne, the city’s engineering firm, and Clearwater Construction, the firm that did the construction. Tuesday, officials were making final computer program adjustments to the automated system. The project has been under construction for several months and was delayed when additional parts had to be manufactured. The plant was due for operation in Dec... Full story
Those moonglow junipers in Electric City continue to get bad reviews. Since planting 196 of the trees along SR-155 as it winds through the center of Electric City, some dozen have already been removed, and if Brad Parrish of the city council has his way, more will be removed. Parrish has been complaining about having sight view of approaching cars when coming onto the state highway from the street across from H&H Grocery. The tree in question will be taken out, city officials stated, as soon as weather permits. The city planted the trees in... Full story
Brian Wells has been named manager of the Variety Store in Grand Coulee. Owner John Sweeden made the announcement this week. Wells, a Spokane native, replaces Daniel Klug, who died of cancer on Jan. 25. The new manager took over duties at the store this week, and has long retail experience. Wells said Tuesday that he is looking for rental housing in the Grand Coulee area. He and his wife Donna are currently living in Coulee City. Wells attended North Central High School in Spokane, worked for... Full story
Things are about to happen with the new “Sanpoil” ferry, the one that will replace the “Martha S. at Keller Ferry, sometime this year. Late last fall, a large concrete slab was poured near the Crescent Bay boat launch site where the pieces of the new ferry will be put together. Ken Rau, who will be here along with Foss Maritime Company workers, will be preparing the slab site for a large cocoon-type covering to be placed where actual work on the ferry will occur. Sometime in February, electric power will be provided at-the-site and workers will... Full story
Elmer City is advertising for consulting engineering firms to provide professional services for wastewater treatment planning. The request also covers an analysis of its existing system, hydro-geological investigations, evaluation of treatment alternatives and preparation of a wastewater treatment plan and subsequent design and construction engineering and inspection for wastewater facility upgrades. The request is in regard to the town’s plan to have parallel planning tracks. While working with Coulee Dam on its plan to upgrade its w... Full story
Grant County prosecutor D. Angus Lee is proposing legislation that he says will make it harder for the mentally ill to access and misuse firearms. “In an effort to reduce criminal misuse of firearms, I am proposing a simple amendment to RCW 9.41.047(3) that I anticipate will have universal support, will reduce or prevent future gun violence, and will have little or no fiscal impact,” Lee said this week. He said the current law allows for the restoration of firearm rights for those with mental health issues so severe that they have been involunt... Full story
A safe with an estimated $2,800 inside was taken from Banks Lake Golf Course during the night hours Monday. Thieves dragged the 300-pound safe out the back door after gaining entry with a crowbar, police stated. The loss was discovered by Port District 7 Commissioner Orville Scharbach, along with Mike Parisian. The port district operates the golf course and Parisian is an employee. Grand Coulee Police Chief Mel Hunt said the safe was dragged across the floor and through the same entry door. Police suspect that there had to be at least two... Full story
If they allow chickens in the city, they might attract snakes that would come for the eggs. That and a declaration that chickens are “filthy birds” were among comments The Electric City Council heard Jan. 22. Ken Doughty, who was against the city allowing chickens, said that he drove around his neighborhood on Sunset Drive and estimated that there could be 300-400 chickens there if they were permitted. He said that chickens could attract raccoons. The issue is still before the planning commission and will be a subject at a February council mee... Full story
Grand Coulee Dam School District board members took next year’s calendar and turned it upside down at their Monday night meeting. A printed calendar for the 2013-14 school year was given to board members at the district’s last meeting a month ago to give them an opportunity to look it over. Look it over they did, and they were quick to note they didn’t like it. Board member Ted Piccolo jumped in first, stating that he didn’t think the district needed to take so many days off. The calendar that had started with Wednesday, June 11 being the las... Full story
The local housing market is surviving a bumpy ride and is showing signs of improvement, real estate broker Merle Kennedy told chamber of commerce members at a Thursday luncheon last week. Kennedy said that the housing market last year looked bleak but with a number of sales late in the year, 2012 nearly matched the value of homes sold the year before. Before the international financial crisis, home sales through Foisy & Kennedy in 2007 totalled over $8 million, with 75 units sold. In 2011 sales totaled $6,638,600 and home sales came to... Full story
A Grand Coulee woman is seeking information on the whereabouts of her 14-year-old son, who was reported to police as a runaway Jan. 15. Keyana Gendron told The Star newspaper Monday that her son, Terrance Jim, has been missing for more than two weeks. In the original police report, which was published Jan. 23, it was stated that Terrance had run away three times previously. The family lives on Bowen Street. The Jan. 23, report stated that the boy had left with a friend. Gendron said that if... Full story
The school board gave the Rotary Club a list of possible projects that it could take on to enhance the new K-12 school. The Rotary Club advised school officials that it had $15,000 and would like to see how far it could leverage the money toward something at the new school. The Rotary Club plans to apply for a Rotary District grant to double its monies and continue leverage with other possible grants. The school board picked student plaza tables, a gathering spot for students and also visitors to the gymnasium. Cost of this project was... Full story
The Grand Coulee Dam School District board debated Monday whether to allow ACH (Almira/Coulee/Hartline) athletes to train with Lake Roosevelt track athletes. And ACH won, but only after a debate that ended with a split school board vote. Last season, ACH athletes were allowed attend practice at the district track to train with Lake Roosevelt athletes, but compete for ACH at events. And from reports, everything went smoothly. The issue came up at Monday night’s meeting when an agenda item asked for a two-year extension of the practice. Board Mem... Full story