News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 881 - 905 of 1383
Four Western Washington men were convicted last week in Grant County Superior Court for poaching on Banks Lake, using gill nets to catch dozens of fish Dec. 5, 2013. “There really is no excuse for this behavior,” Grant County Prosecutor Angus Lee said. “We will be asking the court to impose two months of county jail time on each of these four defendants.” Arrested at the time were Vladimir Savchenko, 36, Edmonds; Peter Zhezhelev, 46, Kenmore; Aleksandr Kashnikov, 45, Everett; and Sergey Mitsevich, 38, Everett. The four were charged with using g... Full story
Of the 81 workers who lost their lives while working on Grand Coulee Dam, 79 have been identified by researcher Susan Dechant. Dechant has been researching the accident incidents for the past several years and only recently reported that she was able to identify two more victims. The Colville resident spoke before the Coulee Dam Town Council this spring when council members showed an interest in developing a monument to honor the victims. It would be a replacement monument since one that was placed here in the mid-30s was taken back by the... Full story
Some lucky child is going to end up with a playhouse this weekend. It's the annual one built by DWK Fowler Construction and given to the Ridge Riders for a special drawing, this year at the Junior Rodeo. Tickets for the raffle drawing are $1 each and may be purchased from Cindy Edwards at Loepp Furniture on Grand Coulee's Main Street, or at the rodeo grounds before the drawing. You can even check the playhouse out in front of the Loepp Furniture store. Fowler Construction has been building and... Full story
The police issue between Grand Coulee and Electric City took a number of twists and turns this past week. Electric City had threatened to walk away from extending its law enforcement contract with Grand Coulee and develop its own police department. That ended last Thursday evening when two council members from Electric City — John Nordine and Aaron Derr — and two council members from Grand Coulee — David Tylor and Erin Neilson — got together and developed a plan that could eventually lead to a combined police department. Grand Coulee... Full story
Consolidation — the word that sends chills up local spines, was spoken last Tuesday night. City Councilmember Tom Poplawski brought it up at the Grand Coulee City Council meeting. And he even said it out loud. Poplawski noted that maybe it was time that the different cities thought about combining operations — like police departments, city clerks, and more. Mayor Chris Christopherson jokingly said, “We could call it the Grand City.” Poplawski went on to say if the different towns and cities could combine, they could get a city manager and dev... Full story
A number of small fires marred the busy July 4 holiday weekend, Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Chief Richard Paris reported this week on behalf of several responding agencies, and one large fire near Keller was still being battled Tuesday morning. At least five of the fires were caused by fireworks incidents, but none covered more than small areas. Thursday night Electric City firefighters responded to a small fire just north of Devil’s Punch Bowl along Banks Lake. That fire covered a tenth of an acre. Friday night, July 4, Grand Coulee f... Full story
Crews from IB-1, an asbestos abatement firm, are currently removing asbestos from the classroom wing of Lake Roosevelt High School, and district officials stated last week that it will take about two weeks to complete the work. Then it will be time for the wrecking ball. Work was temporarily delayed recently when it was discovered that there was more asbestos in the building than previously thought. Thirteen of the classrooms had asbestos tile under carpeting. Superintendent Dr. Dennis Carlson stated this week that the abatement firm plans to... Full story
The Grand Coulee Dam School District approved a five-year contract Monday night with Chartwell Food Service of Wenatchee, but has its eye on doing the food program within the district sometime in the future. The five-year contract will allow the district to opt out after any given year with a 30-day advance notice. Chartwell has been providing food service management to the district for the past five years. The board appointed Susan Chaffee and Carla Marconi to do a study on the benefits, if any, of the district managing its own food service.... Full story
A special levy on the Aug. 5 primary ballot could produce about $200,000 towards an Electric City police department, city officials said Monday. Mayor Jerry Sands and City Clerk Jackie Perman said the idea of an Electric City police department would be the main item on the city council agenda when it meets July 8. “We need a decision that night so we can prepare for a community meeting to explain and get input from community members,” Sands stated. A public meeting could be scheduled at the July 8 council session. The $200,000, coupled wit... Full story
Coulee Dam is moving ahead with an “alternatives analysis” of its plan for revisions to its wastewater treatment plant. The council voted funds, not to exceed $104,572, to move forward and to determine the scope of work, and best location for, the town’s proposed wastewater treatment plant overhaul. The town had earlier selected the engineering firm Varela & Associates, a Spokane business, to do the analysis. That selection was made with participation of Elmer City, the Colville Tribes, and representatives from councils and staff. Varela was a... Full story
Coulee Dam officials have their fingers crossed that a critical piece of equipment at its wastewater treatment plant now in operation will last until a new one is received. The town council voted Wednesday to spend some $40,000 to replace the "clarifier" at the treatment plant. Public works director Barry Peacock outlined the problem for city officials at the council meeting. The wastewater plant doesn't have a backup for the clarifier, and if it went down before the new one could be installed,... Full story
Gary Haag was selected as commissioner of Port District 7 at a meeting last Thursday night. He replaces Orville Scharbach, who resigned from the commission several months ago. With the addition of Haag, the board is now at full strength. Haag came to the area in 1969, when his father transferred here to work at the Grand Coulee Dam project. He attended one year of high school in Coulee Dam and then transferred to Grand Coulee High School, where he graduated in 1971. Haag recently retired from... Full story
The district’s K-12 school complex is right on schedule, members of the school board were informed Monday night. Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Dennis Carlson stated that the elementary wing will be turned over to the district Aug. 4, and be ready for furniture. Shortly after that, on Aug. 11, the libraries and dining halls will be turned over to the district and ready for furnishings. Aug. 15, the junior high and high school wing will be ready for furnishings. On Sept. 2, the school offices will be open and ready for r... Full story
An Electric City 10-inch waterline project to Sunbanks Lake Resort, which had been scheduled to begin Monday, has been delayed until after July 4 weekend. City Clerk Jackie Perman said the contractor on the job said if his crew wasn’t set up to go on Monday he would delay the project. The job calls for a nearly 1,900-foot long trench for a 10-inch pipeline to provide city water to the resort. The 10-inch line to be installed alongside the pavement of SR 155 will be capped for any eventual service to new construction across the causeway. S... Full story
In the rocky hills above Lake Roosevelt last Thursday, some 25 chamber of commerce members got to experience the dream farm of members Merv and Mary Jo Monteith. At their Spring Canyon Alpacas and D&M Gardens, they were introduced to the couple's Alpaca herd, about 30 in number, and got a special introduction to a 3-week-old newcomer to the farm. Visitors took a winding gravel and dirt road up a hill and past the D&M Garden lavender grow, now nearly in full purple bloom. A barbecue prepared and... Full story
Ever wonder what a real cowboy does? You can find out Saturday evening when the Ridge Riders hold their Ranch Rodeo in Delano. Action begins at 7 p.m. It's the second year that the Ridge Riders have brought ranch rodeo action to Grand Coulee. Saturday's program is an excellent time to bring the family because children 10 and under can attend free. Team contestants will compete in the following categories: 1) Team branding; 2) Trailer loading; 3) Pasture gathering, and a special individual... Full story
Three newcomers have won their way onto the 14-member Colville Business Council as a result of the Colville Tribes’ general election tally last Thursday. The newcomers are Marvin Joseph Kheel, and brothers Edwin and Michael E. Marchand. Kheel won over Yvonne Swan 284-158 in the Inchelium Position 2 race. Edwin Marchand won over John E. Gorr, 286-179, for Position 1 in the Omak District. Michael E. Marchand won Position 2 over Duane E. Hall, Sr., 267-198. In other races, Jim Boyd was re-elected from Inchelium District Position 1, over Gerald R... Full story
The town of Coulee Dam is looking for a third Civil Service Commission member. Mayor Greg Wilder said two commissioners have been selected, but a third is still being sought. Wilder named Shawn Derrick to the two-year term and Herb Sherburne to the six-year term. He is looking for an interested person to serve a four-year term. Derrick is currently a town councilman, and according to Wilder, can also serve on the commission. Anyone interested in serving on the commission can contact Wilder at city hall, 633-0320. The commission, when... Full story
The old school will match the new one, and upgrades to existing facilities will become a reality, for $1.3 million. With the district's three schools ready to merge into its into its new K-12 complex this fall, the Grand Coulee Dam School District board approved plans to use the district's construction contingency fund to do three projects on already existing facilities nearby. Board members started the process of using some $1.3 million to make outside changes to the old gymnasium, re-do the... Full story
Residents of Electric City will soon be able to comment on the size of accessory buildings. The city council decided last week to move forward on a possible change in the comprehensive plan that would allow larger accessory buildings in the city. Electric City has been under pressure for over a year to allow larger accessory buildings. The city plans to soon send out surveys to all residents in the city to give them an opportunity to express their view of changing the comprehensive plan. City Clerk Jackie Perman said the city has already spent... Full story
Grand Coulee Councilmember David Tylor said that a meeting Thursday with two Electric City council members to discuss a new law enforcement contract went better than he expected. Grand Coulee Mayor Chris Christopherson had stated before negotiations could be started that, “They need us, we don’t need them.” “It was like throwing the gauntlet down,” Tylor said. Surprisingly, the meeting with John Nordine and Aaron Derr, the two Electric City council members on the negotiating team, went very well, he said. “I got the impression that Electric Cit... Full story
Buyers, many of them with lumps in their throats, flocked to Lake Roosevelt High School's classroom wing Friday and Saturday to pick up items that were on sale in the soon-to-be-demolished structure. Many of those who showed up had been students at the school, and with a tear in the eye, scrambled through the rooms looking for just that right memento. Some were there trying to purchase the locker that they had used. Unfortunately, the lockers came in rows of four, five, and more. But people... Full story
The Grand Coulee Dam School District is working with the town of Coulee Dam in an effort to get a police officer at the new school complex. The “resource officer” would be part of the Coulee Dam police force and his or her assignment would be primarily to schools. School district Superintendent Dennis Carlson stated that Coulee Dam will be seeking a grant that would provide 75 percent of the cost of the officer for the first three years, with the town picking up the other 25 percent of the cost. Under the grant, the town would provide full fun... Full story
Work will begin June 23, on a water project that will enable Electric City to provide water service to Sunbanks Lake Resort. The project will provide a 10-inch line from State Street to the entrance of Sunbanks, and then a six-inch line to service water needs within the park. The work is being done now, in spite of it being the high point of the tourist season, because health officials will not allow “The Cantina” restaurant at Sunbanks to operate until the water problem is solved. At a pre-construction meeting early this past week, it was est... Full story
Grand Coulee is advancing a proposal for law enforcement coverage for Electric City that would triple the price, a proposal that its own police chief hadn’t seen. Chief Mel Hunt took one look at the proposal and stated, “This is the first time I’ve seen this.” The copy of the proposal had been made available to The Star by the city clerk’s office in Electric City. Officials there were going through sticker shock last week when they looked at the proposal from Grand Coulee for $209,982 for 2015. In the final year of the current five-year contrac... Full story