News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 1155 - 1179 of 1840
Still worried about a possible lack of money coming in after the Legislature’s late decisions in double overtime last month, Nespelem School District Superintendent Mary Hall told school board members Monday it’s going to be a fiscally tight year. The board passed budgets totalling nearly $5.4 million, including the general operating budget for $4.57 million, and a capital (major building expenses) budget of $695,200. Hall advised the board the district could end up paying for some items from reserves as the state lets go of funds later tha... Full story
There will be no primary election for the town of Coulee Dam’s town council race, even though three candidates filed their intention to run, according to Mila Jury, elections officer for the Okanogan County Auditor’s Office. That’s because those finally filing did not do so until an extra filing period was declared because no one had filed earlier. Jury said three names will appear on the November ballot and the county auditor’s office will certify one as the winner. That’s true even though one of the three declared last week that he was withd... Full story
Two toy toads may soon be homeless as the result of a town council decision to direct the mayor to get the worst of Coulee Dam's broken sidewalks fixed this year, not later. The decision was foisted upon Mayor Greg Wilder after he told the council during their regular semi-monthly meeting Wednesday that a planned street and sidewalk project would not start this summer, as had been planned. Wilder said he'd been informed that day by the state Transportation Improvement Board that bids on the... Full story
At a special meeting last Wednesday in the wake of the CEO’s resignation, hospital district commissioners approved a letter to employees about the future leadership of Coulee Medical Center. The letter was penned by commission President Jerry Kennedy but sent from the whole board of commissioners and later posted to the hospital’s website. Owens resigned during the June 28 hospital commission meeting. The letter expressed confidence in the executive team composed of Interim Chief Executive Officer Ramona Hicks, Chief Financial Officer Kel... Full story
Four young adults were injured Monday night in a high-speed crash a mile north of Nespelem, including the driver, who now faces charges. The Washington State Patrol reports that Curry A. J. Pinkham, 20, of Nespelem, was driving a purple 2007 Honda Ridgeline pickup south on SR-155 about 9:30 at a high rate of speed when the pickup left the roadway to the right and hit gravel when he lost control. The vehicle went into a field over an embankment, rolled once and landed on its wheels. Three passengers, all of Nespelem, were injured in the crash, i... Full story
Almost a year after he started, the hospital’s CEO resigned last week after a committee of the hospital commission interviewed employees ahead of his upcoming evaluation. Jonathan Owens took the reins of Coulee Medical Center in July 2016. Owens stopped a plan last fall that had the hospital spending more on an electronic medical records system than it could afford. He hired a financial consultant to target high expenses and low revenue areas that had contributed to losses that forced the hospital to pay debts with county warrants, i... Full story
A process that for a time stranded some federal funding in Washington D.C., will now play out with Coulee Dam residents paying less for their new wastewater treatment plant because a grant finally came through. With some prodding. Mayor Greg Wilder received word in an email Monday morning that more than a half million dollars of the total $7.9 million augmented plan would come through as a loan, and almost a million more in a low-interest loan to allow the town to upgrade its “solids” handling at the new plant. Wilder said the new bottom lin... Full story
If you're wondering if there will be a professional fireworks display off the top of Grand Coulee Dam on July 4, the answer is no. The annual Festival of America occurred last weekend, when the fireworks were a hit on Saturday night. Here's a bit of the finale. Fun fireworks finale from Scott Hunter on Vimeo....
Taking their best guess, Nespelem School District set up a tentative plan to spend $4.7 million to run the school in the next school year, give or take $525,000. Financial officer Tanya Bunting said they won’t know exactly what money will come in until the state Legislature passes a budget. The $525,000 will depend on what formula the Legislature comes up with to fully fund public education, a state Supreme Court requirement under the McCleary decision. That process is hung up and threatening a state government shutdown by Friday if D... Full story
The city of Grand Coulee restricts the use of legal, personal fireworks to a single venue: off the top of North Dam. But even there, local police would like you to know, they still have to comply with state law. And that lets out any mortar-style fireworks to those under the size of a golf ball. Firecrackers are illegal, as are bottle rockets, or any other missiles or rockets and other fireworks lacking the proper state seal. Officer Gary Moore said last week that he’d rather not spoil anyone’s fun, but he will if he discovers illegal fir... Full story
Nespelem School District has brought back Dr. Mary Hall, who was sworn in as the new superintendent at a board meeting Monday. The board also approved hiring Jeff Golding as a middle school science teacher. The Gonzaga University graduate is not a certificated teacher yet and will work on getting that certificate this year. Director Nancy Armstrong-Montes said he would also be receiving classroom management training. The board also approved hiring Marshal Stanger Adolph as a... Full story
The possibility of changing Coulee Dam from a “town” under state law to a “city” drew significant discussion at a town council meeting Wednesday, where the audience was packed following a door-to-door push last weekend by a candidate for council. Fred Netzel, who is running against David Schmidt for the council, said he wanted enough people at Wednesday’s meeting to ensure a basis of knowledge on the subject among townspeople and encourage open discussion. Mayor Greg Wilder said the question is one of importance for the town, which currently... Full story
The Colville Business Council Friday expelled one of its 14 members on a split vote just before elections set for this Saturday. Following an investigative hearing, the CBC expelled Ricky Gabriel with a 9-4 vote, citing ethics violations, according to a press release from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. The expulsion took effect immediately. The CBC said it found that Gabriel had violated three sections of its Code of Professional Responsibility, including: • Use of the council member’s position “to obtain financial gain... Full story
Members of two Grand Coulee Dam School District unions responding to recent internal surveys outlined a number of complaints dealing with discipline, communication and training issues. The survey responses provide a glimpse into a district, many of whose workers are disillusioned enough that union leaders felt compelled to ask questions of the membership. While the survey respondents collectively fell short of painting a no-confidence opinion, several within the two unions stated that they... Full story
A 20-foot-wide, 346-foot-long load weighing about a million pounds made it to its destination after a two-day trip from Coulee City to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's 230-kilovolt Switchyard early Thursday morning. The big rig carrying an electrical transformer had to be driven in the middle of the night in order to block as little traffic as possible and stopped at a pullout along SR-155 across from Steamboat Rock on Wednesday. The sight and a post on the state Department of Transportation... Full story
For some time, The Star has published just about all of its stories online as well as in print. That practice will continue, but by the end of this month, online access will not be free. Why? Because we can’t afford to lose you, and we are starting to. Across the country, newspapers have increasingly turned to charging for online access to the work of their journalists. It’s time The Star followed that course, and many seem to expect and understand that move. We hope our loyal readers will keep reading us wherever they prefer, in print or onl... Full story
Some 66 anglers caught and released 461 walleye over the course of the Gordon Steinmetz Memorial Spring Walleye Classic at Coulee Playland last weekend, but the biggest catch was likely the tournament, itself. Bill and Robin Harrison ranked highest with a total two-day haul of 36.42 pounds of walleye, a total helped considerably by the biggest fish of the event at 9.5 pounds. The tournament brought in those 66 teams, 132 anglers, plus others in their entourages, a number that likely produced a l... Full story
A million-pound load of equipment will slow traffic on local highways from Coulee City to Grand Coulee next week as it creeps to its destination just north of Grand Coulee, with delays expected of up to 90 minutes at a time. Drivers probably should not plan to travel on SR-155 late Tuesday night, May 30, nor early Thursday morning, June 1, when a huge piece of equipment will be blocking traffic for up to an hour and a half. An Oregon company will be moving a million pounds along the route from Coulee City to Grand Coulee, then up SR-174 on... Full story
Nancy Armstrong-Montes was honored with the Friends of Children award by the North Central Washington Educational Service District at a banquet in Wenatchee. Armstrong-Montes, who retired from teaching in Nespelem a few years ago, now volunteers on the school board, in the kitchen, the classroom, administration office and just about anywhere else there is a need, commented Superintendent Rich Stewart, who nominated her. "Rarely have I ever come across anybody that is so selfless," Stewart said,... Full story
[Update] The company planning the move of the big transformer has delayed the move after "discrepancies" were noted during a "weigh and measure" session with the state Department of Transportation, the company said. No word yet on a new schedule. Original story: Drivers probably should not plan to travel on SR 155 late Monday night/Tuesday morning, nor early Wednesday morning when a huge piece of equipment will be blocking traffic up to 90 minutes at a time. An Oregon company will be moving a million pounds along the route from Coulee City to...
The horrific scene was only revealed after five buses of students and staff from Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School arrived and had lined up behind yellow police tape to witness a disturbing mock scenario. When Colville Tribal Police staff lowered the black plastic, students saw the aftermath of an accident caused by a driver who had been texting. For several minutes, a crying Olivia Arnold wandered in a daze amid the carnage she had caused, while another victim screamed obscenities,... Full story
Students who witnessed a mock crash scene last Friday may not realize it, but they were given an important advantage that we hope they don’t squander. As horrific as the actors and organizers of the mock accident scene made it, the impact of any such impression naturally fades over time. But at least the students of Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School were subjected to the event organized by Colville Tribal Police in the first place. Now comes the tricky part. The mock crash depicted the scene of a two-car collision with multiple deaths a... Full story
Several local educators in two districts were honored last month, chosen for accolades in front of their counterparts from district all over this part of the state. Their own union members voted to send them to ceremonies of the North Central Washington Educational Service District, after nominations by colleagues. From the Grand Coulee Dam School District, Jess Utz was chosen from the classified educator staff for the Excellence in Education award. Jeff Piturachsatit got the award from the... Full story
This coming weekend is typically one that is packed full for many local folks, in a good way. This year it promises much the same, weather holding. With Mother’s Day, the Colorama festivities, the big rodeo, and the old-home week atmosphere at local gathering places, there’s no excuse for boredom. The chamber of commerce never stops working at improving Colorama, a multi-faceted, complex enterprise, the successful completion of which will leave many revelers pleasantly exhausted, but not more so than its organizers. The Colorama Rodeo, the con... Full story
Coulee Dam's town hall will end up with an almost entirely newly refurbished police department, community ballroom, kitchen and more after repairs to damage done last winter from a variety of causes. The work will likely cost more than $100,000, with the bill paid, for the most part, through insurance, says Mayor Greg Wilder. Last December a hot water heater in the kitchen off the facility's ballroom blew its top, flooding water went undetected for some period of time while no one was in the tow... Full story