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Articles from the February 1, 2023 edition


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  • Agency issues update on fire station status

    Feb 1, 2023

    The Bureau of Reclamation said Monday that parts of its fire station construction project should be complete by the end of February, but the entire project will take over another year to complete. "Progress on previous structural, electrical, and mechanical installations at the Grand Coulee Dam Fire Station are ongoing and slated for completion by the end of February 2023," a bureau press release stated. "The next phase of construction involves initiating unfinished construction activities in th...

  • Coulee Dam approves near million dollar bid, if …

    Scott Hunter|Feb 1, 2023

    Coulee Dam will accept a $906,000 bid by a contractor for work on a sewage lift station if funding and that award is approved by a federal agency. The city council voted last week to accept a bid from Strider Construction for $906,716 to update its west side lift station, which sends wastewater from the neighborhood on the west side of the Columbia River, across the bridge to the town’s new treatment plant. But that acceptance is contingent on the federal Dept. of Agriculture’s Rural Development Fund (RD)approving extra funding for the imp...

  • Health district: Flu has plateaued, could spike again

    Feb 1, 2023

    The Grant County Health District (GCHD) has investigated three confirmed, and one probable, flu-associated deaths during the 2022-2023 flu season thus far. The confirmed deaths occurred in a woman in her 80s, a woman in her 60s, and a man in his 60s. “These deaths are a painful reminder of the high influenza activity seen in our country and also in our area, especially at the end of the year. We offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends who lost their loved ones,” said Dr. Alexander Brzezny, Grant County Health Officer in a pre...

  • School districts resolve federal funds sharing for now

    Scott Hunter|Feb 1, 2023

    The Grand Coulee Dam and Nespelem school districts came to agreement Friday on terms of a "tuition" agreement they've been negotiating for the current school year. A solution for the next school year is still under discussion. The districts had until Jan. 31 to file applications with the U.S. Dept. of Education for "impact aid" funds that are meant to replace tax levy money they can't get because of non-taxable federal land within their boundaries. They've had an agreement since 1995 on sharing...

  • Effort to make roads safer wins bipartisan support

    Renee Diaz, Washington State Journal|Feb 1, 2023

    Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and Gov. Jay Inslee say they are backing a package of new laws aimed at protecting workers, pedestrians and commuters. New bills would include reducing the blood alcohol concentration limit for operating a vehicle when driving, imposing more restrictions on high-risk drivers, and requiring a skills course for young and older drivers. Amber Weilert, a mother from Parkland, described how her son was struck and killed in a crosswalk while riding his bicycle. “I am here to be Michael’s voice to support him and...

  • Global Water, Micro Plastics & Corporate Science

    Feb 1, 2023

    A new satellite was launched by NASA in December that was built specifically to survey Earth's water. It's called SWOT, Surface Water and Ocean Topography. Both United States and French oceanographers and other partners came together and developed the satellite mission. It is the first orbital global survey of Earth's surface water. "This multidisciplinary group is tackling pressing issues such as availability of Earth's freshwater resources, our changing ocean and coasts, and much more,"...

  • A standout from the past

    John Adkins|Feb 1, 2023

    My wife and I have always thought the world of Lisa Carlson (Loe). Lisa is more LR Raider than anyone I know. I used to tape her ankles before basketball games (This was the second time I worked in a hazard zone!) and then I’d sit back and marvel at her basketball prowess. Lisa came from an exceptional basketball family so her fundamentals and game time “on the fly” IQ were exceptional. She was not the most athletic — slight of build, not that tall or fast — but she was a gamer, always reliable, who never backed down from anyone. It was amazi...

  • Vote for different values

    Roz Luther|Feb 1, 2023

    This morning’s Spokesman Review tells a sad story of a fatally strangled 16-year-old girl in the Seattle area. I am quoting important information included in the article: “Strangulation deaths, which disproportionately affect women, are generally uncommon and have decreased dramatically since passage of the federal Violence Against Women Act in 1994. … State law was changed in 2007 to recognize strangulation as one of the most lethal forms of domestic violence.” Our important House Representative, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, voted AGAINST RENEWIN...

  • Wanted: A good solution

    Jack Stevenson|Feb 1, 2023

    The U.S. national debt is now $30.4 trillion dollars. The government has spent that much more money than it has collected in tax revenue. Per person, it means that every U.S. citizen, including diapered infants, owes $95,000 dollars. The U.S. Congress has allowed the debt to increase every year, except four years, since 1970. The George W. Bush Administration increased the national debt by five trillion dollars in eight years. The Trump Administration increased the national debt seven trillion dollars in four years. We have two problems:...

  • It's past time to permanently ban fentanyl-related substances

    Congressman Dan Newhouse|Feb 1, 2023

    Last year, over 100,000 people in the United States died from a drug overdose, largely driven by the rampant spread of illicit fentanyl. In Washington state, drug overdoses have been increasing at shocking rates in the past few years, and communities across Central Washington have been devastated by the fentanyl crisis, which is now the leading cause of death for people ages 18-45. The hard truth is, no corner of our communities has been left untouched by this growing crisis. We need to classify all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I...

  • Yvaughn "Yvaughnie" Carstensen

    Feb 1, 2023

    The family of Yvaughn “Yvaughnie” Carstensen, 95, of Almira, Washington, is sad to announce her passing on Saturday, January 28, 2023, in Wilbur, Washington. Yvaughnie’s full Obituary will be in next week’s Star. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stratefuneral.com for Yvaughnie’s family. Strate Funeral Home of Grand Coulee is caring for her family.... Full story

  • Willa J. Rollins-Evers

    Feb 1, 2023

    Willa J. Rollins-Evers, 70, Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister and Master of Any Task she chose to put her mind to, passed away Sunday evening, January 29, 2023; her husband – Chuck by her side. Born Friday, August 8, 1952 in Ephrata, Washington to Glenn & Audrey Bell-Grubbs Sr., Willa grew to be very protective of her little brother – Glenn Grubbs Jr., having once beat up a boy who had bullied Glenn Jr. She graduated high school in Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1970, and went on to earn her... Full story

  • Coulee Cops

    Feb 1, 2023

    Grand Coulee Police 1/24 - Someone complained that a woman parked her car in an alleyway between D and E Street, blocking access through it. The woman said she thought it was her property and police told her she’d have to contact a land surveyor and real estate attorney to try and establish that. She said she understood and wouldn’t block the alleyway anymore. - A man recently released from jail, unhappy to learn another man was living in the Cardinal Road residence he used to occupy, threatened him. The man who was threatened was older, shorte...

  • Blood donors will receive gift

    Feb 1, 2023

    The next blood drive will be held from 1:30 - 5:15 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 20, at the American Legion in Electric City. When you give blood with Vitalant, you have the potential to help hospital patients within your community and, when the need arises, others across the country. All presenting donors will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card, redeemable via email- donors MUST be opted into our rewards program as well as have a valid email attached to their donor account to receive the gift card. Instructions for how to determine eligibility of...

  • Meetings and Notices

    Feb 1, 2023

    Care and Share Food Bank Open Care & Share Food Bank regular hours are Fridays 1-3 p.m. Join our Facebook Group. Questions call Pastor Shawn at 633-2566. AA Meetings in the Local Area AA meetings are held Monday through Saturday at the Vets Center in Electric City. Call Paul at 633-3377 days or 633-3345 evenings. New Hope Group meetings are held Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at the Vets Center. These are open and non-smoking. In Nespelem, the group Bound and Determined holds its meetings Monday evening at 7 p.m. at the Catholic Church. Contact Myrna at...

  • Raider boys win league basketball title at home

    Scott Hunter|Feb 1, 2023

    The Raider boys get to keep this regular-season, top-of-the-league boasting rights after winning at home against Tonasket last night, securing a first-round by in the District 6 tournament that starts Saturday. The win came after they had suffered a seven-point loss in Okanogan Jan. 24, the second in league loss the whole season, but emerged the top seed into the District 6 post season last night in Coulee Dam. Coming off a 22-point win against Manson Jan. 20, the Raiders met stiffer resistance...

  • Lady Raiders take third in league with win last night

    Scott Hunter|Feb 1, 2023

    Two points are so inefficient. So, Aaliyah Marchand increased her scoring efficiency by 50 percent per basket, hitting all seven from beyond the three-point line to lead the Lady Raiders in scoring against Okanogan last week with 21 - to match her jersey number. One of the team's most physical players under the basket, she got nothing 'neath the net, which may have been the Bulldogs' plan, but no matter. The Lady Raiders' only senior showed her versatility, proving the point with long-range miss...

  • Raider wrestlers to host District 6 tourney

    Feb 1, 2023

    Lake Roosevelt's boys took the win in a home wrestling dual Jan. 25 against ACH, then attended Okanogan's tournament, where four of them placed. The Raiders secured the win against Almira-Coulee-Hartline 29-24, Wednesday on the Raiders' senior night. Four Raider wrestlers placed at the Okanogan Bulldog Invite Saturday. At 113 pounds, freshman Zacheria Elwell took second place. At 138, Dakota Green also took second place. 145: Teyten Flores took third place in a tough 145-pound bracket. 182: And...