News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 817 - 841 of 1383
Coulee Dam town officials had their fingers crossed that a new clarifier would arrive before the old 35-year unit quit on them. It came Tuesday, and true to operator Tim Lynch's report to the town council, the new one was installed the same day. Lynch said it should be operable by the end of the day. But it took the combined efforts of a manufacturer's representative, a heavy equipment company and several town employees to pull it off, literally. The town council had voted $40,000 to replace... Full story
Since 2011, Grand Coulee hasn’t billed Electric City for its share of the cost of operating and maintaining the wastewater treatment plant the two cities jointly own. Grand Coulee City Clerk Carol Boyce acknowledged Tuesday that the billings haven’t been made since 2011, and that she estimates the total billing to bring the account up to date will be about $240,000. Electric City Clerk Jackie Perman said the annual billings for the wastewater treatment account ranges from $70,000-80,000 a year. Electric City owns 37 percent of the plant, whi... Full story
The new school complex in Coulee Dam opened Monday without a serious glitch. But there were kids, kids, and more kids. Following years of declines, student numbers on Monday were 22 percent more than the district had budgeted, a number that can substantially boost the amount of operating money the state allocates to the district. The first-day count was 394 for the elementary wing, plus 350 in the junior-senior high wing for a total of 744 students. The official beginning count won't be taken... Full story
Coulee Dam residents got a taste of the difficulties in coming up with a fair water rate for the town at a public meeting last Wednesday night. The audience got to hear and see how an increasing block rate would work in determining future water rates. Mayor Greg Wilder, who had prepared the presentation, said that he planned a total of four public meetings to discuss possible ways to equalize the way people are charged for water in the town. When it became a town in the late 1950s, instead of two federal construction housing projects, Coulee... Full story
A business owner and local citizen proved that you can take on city hall, you just don’t always win. Ray Duclos had a lot to say about a pavement issue near Harvest Foods, the family business, and the cleaning of a restroom at Mason City Park at last Wednesday’s town council meeting at Coulee Dam. It was the second time Duclos has asked the town to fix a pavement problem where the Harvest Foods and Coulee Dam Casino parking areas empty out onto Roosevelt Way. Councilmember Shawn Derrick replied that the council was about to put together the... Full story
Electric City may be getting a park. The mayor was instructed by the city council last week to contact the Baptist Church School officials in Electric City and develop an offer for the northern portion of the playground area. The city has for a long time wanted a park. Councilmember Lonna Bussert told the council Sept. 9 that the northern half of the church school playground might be available for purchase to establish a park. She said the site is centrally located in the city and there would... Full story
A dozen barbecue teams will compete in the Harvest Festival this weekend at North Dam Park. It is estimated that the two-member teams will spend about $500 to compete in an effort to walk away with the grand prize of $1,000. Only two teams are local; the rest come from all over the Pacific Northwest. The event with multiple areas of interest begins this Friday and concludes on Sunday. It’s the Third Annual Harvest Festival and is sponsored by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. The barbecue event is sponsored by the Pacific Northwest... Full story
The public is invited to two events at the new K-12 school complex on Friday, Sept. 12. The first is the official ribbon cutting, opening the new school. That’s at 10 a.m., with dignitaries here to cut the ribbon. Immediately after the ribbon cutting, to be held at the front door of the elementary school wing, the public will get its first opportunity to walk through the complex. At 6-8 p.m. Friday evening, members of the public who didn’t have a chance to catch the first opening, will have a chance to tour the building. School patrons wil... Full story
Grand Coulee’s Civil Service Commission will act deliberately and carefully as it progresses in finding a new police chief for Grand Coulee, according to Chairman Alan Cain. Speed is not the answer, Cain stated. “We are satisfied that we have a qualified interim chief in Sgt. John Tufts, and so we are going to take our time and do this right.” Currently the commission is in the process of developing qualifications for the job. Longtime police Chief Mel Hunt plans to retire Sept. 30. After qualifications are developed the commission will begin... Full story
There may soon be more room for that load of stuff you wanted to haul to the dump. The Regional Board of Mayors is considering the purchase of another transfer trailer. The mayors have sought a used trailer to provide extra dumping room for several months but have been unable to find one. A used one would cost from $40,000 to $50,000. The mayors Monday looked at a new one from Wilkens Industries, Inc., from Morris, Minn., at a cost of just over $100,000. The sticker price shock was enough to delay making any decision Monday. Transfer station... Full story
Police are looking for a man on a variety of charges, including burglary. Raymond L. John, 20, whose driver’s license gave an address as 4117 Rocky River HUD Road, Omak, eluded officers on several occasions after entering a house on Bowen Street in Grand Coulee, police said. A man and woman at a home at 231 Bowen, who said they don’t know John, told police he came in through a sliding door and sat down on the couch with them. The incident occurred about 3:30 p.m. last Wednesday, and police responded to a burglary-in-progress call. Seated on the... Full story
The public is in for some surprises when they tour the new school complex in Coulee Dam this Friday: - Polished concrete floors sparkle and give off a sense of expensive treatment. Workers have ground square borders in areas to resemble tiles. - Rooms in the elementary wing have colored canopies over the doors, which match colors inside the room, so younger students can find their classrooms. - Outside each classroom, a small panel gives the teacher’s name and where they went to college. - Every classroom has a great view of the o... Full story
A burned-out house that has been the focus of concern in Coulee Dam will soon be razed. Coulee Dam Mayor Greg Wilder said last week that he has received indication of cooperation of the property owner to assist the town in covering the expenses of tearing the house down and cleaning the property. The house at 609 Holly Street burned about two years ago and residents along the street have been raising their voices to get the property cleaned up. Just recently, one of the wind storms added fuel to the fire as two very large limbs were torn from... Full story
The Grand Coulee Dam School District has expanded the open house for its new K-12 school complex. Superintendent Dr. Dennis Carlson said Tuesday that the district will have a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12, with tours of the new complex to follow. Carlson said that another tour will be added from 6-8 p.m. to accommodate those who work in the daytime and can’t get to the earlier open house. The new school will welcome students, Monday, Sept. 15. Last week the final material from the demolition of the classroom wing of Lake R... Full story
Grand Coulee’s new police officer is on the job. Christopher McClanahan completed his academy training and began duties in the department Sept. 1. Chief Mel Hunt said that McClanahan was voted vice president of his academy class and placed second in his class academically. McClanahan placed first in firearms at 99.1 percent and first in the class overall. Hunt said it was the highest any of his officers have scored at the academy. “Officer McClanahan is to be congratulated on his efforts and all the extra work he did,” Hunt state... Full story
The town of Coulee Dam has submitted grant requests to the State Transportation Improvement Board for three major projects. The first is for improvements around the new K-12 school complex. A second is for the reconditioning of Sixth Street, and the third for improvements to Lincoln Avenue. In the school portion of the grant request, the town points out that there will be an increase in general traffic, an increase in heavy vehicles such as school buses and heavy delivery vehicles and an increase in pedestrian traffic. The town’s submission i... Full story
Sunbanks Lake Resort’s fall Rhythm & Blues Festival kicks off tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 4) and run through Sunday, Sept. 7. Thursday bands will begin playing at 8 p.m. in the Coulee Cantina (directly behind the lodge). Music on the main stage begins Friday at 5 p.m., Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. A variety of bands will play each evening until about midnight. Bands featured include The Fat Tones, LeRoy Bell, Junkyard Jane and Too Slim and the Taildraggers. Promoters stated that there will be a total of 19 bands performing during t... Full story
When you think of a Harvest Festival vegetables and fruits come to mind. The Chamber of Commerce’s Harvest Festival, Sept. 12-14, the third annual, at North Dam Park, is entirely different. It’s a fun festival for the entire family and a good way to polish off what has been a great summer. And it’s free! Always wanted to take a helicopter ride? You can do it at this year’s Harvest Festival, at a nominal price. Soar through the sky and look down on the things you’ve seen all year long except from a different vantage point. Rides are available... Full story
Grant County residents may dispose of household hazardous waste free on Friday, Sept. 12, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Delano Regional Transfer Station. Only hazardous waste generated by households will be accepted. Hazardous products have labels with words such as warning, danger, caustic, flammable and poison. These chemicals should be disposed of through hazardous waste collection opportunities, not in the garbage, down the drain, or on the ground. Examples include oil-based paint, contaminated used motor oil, thinners, household batteries,... Full story
Mayor Chris Christopherson made an appointment to the Grand Coulee Civil Service Commission last week, bringing it up to full strength. Named to the three-member commission was Bill Moore, a retired school teacher, and former city council member. Moore replaces Kenneth Carroll, who resigned earlier this month. Moore taught social studies, general math, shop and traffic safety during his 32-year teaching career. He retired in 1997. The commission is made up of Chair Alan Cain, Mark Graves and now Bill Moore. The Civil Service Commission meets... Full story
The school board Monday night was told not to believe rumors going around that the new school would not make the start date of Sept. 15. In fact, Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Dennis Carlson told members of the board, the special ribbon cutting for the new school will be at 10 a.m., Friday, Sept. 12, with tours for the public immediately after. Seems there has been talk about town that the school won’t be ready for students on opening day. Only a rumor, Carlson stated. He added that teachers were asked about the “what ifs... Full story
Grant County Port District 7 is in its third year as manager of Banks Lake Golf Course, which is inching forward and soon will be in the black, according to port commissioners. The Port District took control of the golf course in the spring of 2012, under distressed circumstances. Now, with a membership of 86 and a successful year of managing the course, primarily with volunteers, things are looking good, Port District Chair James Keene said last week. Commissioners praised volunteers for... Full story
It sits on a flat area overlooking the Columbia River at the north end of Coulee Dam and may someday be the site of a development to assist visitors to the area. The gift to the town by Diane Hartzell, an Anacortes resident, was made last Thursday with a signing ceremony at city hall. The property was owned by Hartzell's father, Melvin Hartzell, who worked on Grand Coulee Dam in the mid 1930s when the large concrete structure was just starting to take shape. He had always wanted to build his... Full story
Students, staff, bus drivers, and the entire lot, will celebrate the opening of the new Lake Roosevelt school Sept. 15, with T-shirt mania. Everyone will receive a Lake Roosevelt T-shirt to wear on the first day of school. The gold, black and white design is on a crimson colored t-shirt background featuring a new Lake Roosevelt logo on the front and sponsors on the back. Near the shoulder on one side is the date, Sept. 15, 2014, signifying the first day in the all-new school. The T-shirt will... Full story
by Roger S. Lucas and Scott Hunter This year's Harvest Festival will feature a barbecue competition with some $3,500 prize money, as the event continues to evolve in its third year. That and a lot more will be part of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce's Third Annual Harvest Festival, Sept. 12-14, at North Dam Park. The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce's Third Annual Harvest Festival, Sept. 12-14, at North Dam Park will also offer wagon rides, helicopter rides, an apple and... Full story