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Articles from the May 8, 2024 edition


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  • Colorama Parade is on for Saturday

    Scott Hunter|May 8, 2024

    It will start at 11 a.m., just as it has for decades, but for a few hours, chamber leaders thought the upcoming annual Colorama Parade on Saturday would have to be canceled. In fact, it was called off on Monday afternoon. Until about 5 a.m. Tuesday. That's when the executive director of the chamber got an email from the Grant County Sheriff's Office, saying they would, after all, be able to send three deputies in cars to help with traffic control. Closing two intersecting state highways for an h...

  • Search for police chief starting over

    Renata Rollins|May 8, 2024

    Don Redfield will not be the Grand Coulee police chief after all, Mayor Mike Eylar confirmed yesterday. Details were closely guarded at press time, but the city will “re-cast the net,” Eylar said, based on the city attorney’s counsel. “For reasons I can’t go into, it was on advice from counsel that we not go in that direction,” Eylar said in a phone call yesterday. “I hate to pass the buck on this because the buck stops with me. But I don’t know what in particular I’m allowed to speak of, so I’m going to err on the side of caution.” City atto...

  • Whole-community town hall postponed indefinitely

    Renata Rollins|May 8, 2024

    The town hall on regionally-significant topics spanning town and county boundaries in the Grand Coulee Dam area has been postponed indefinitely, the Regional Board of Mayors decided at their May meeting last week. It would have been the first town hall of its kind, and was to include time for the public to comment on regional issues in the presence of all four mayors and most of the council members from the four towns. But diminished staffing availability meant the most knowledgeable people wouldn’t be present for the main agenda item: the p...

  • Elementary kids run in 44th Mini Bloomsday

    Jessica Tufts|May 8, 2024
    1

    Hundreds of children took part in a 45-year-old tradition Friday by running races on the grass in perfect weather on the athletic field below Lake Roosevelt Schools. The first Mini Bloomsday occurred in 1979. The idea came from a first-grade teacher at the time, Carolyn McNeil. Mrs. McNeil and Mrs. Selle had their first-graders race to Acre's Drug Store, where the owner gave each student a free ice cream cone. The next year, in 1980, second- and third-grade students joined in on the fun, and...

  • Missing Indigenous woman located

    May 8, 2024

    Multiple law enforcement agencies investigated a missing persons case beginning on Saturday, April 27. Colville tribal member Amanda Pakootas was missing and reported by police to be held against her will with a man named Joseph Parisien. She was located April 29 near East Fourth Street and Nelson in Spokane. She was reported to be safe. Parisien was taken into custody Tuesday night, April 30, according to a press release from the Colville Tribes, sent out the next day. “Amanda’s family wishes to thank the law enforcement officers who inv...

  • Museum will be open Saturday

    May 8, 2024

    If you need something educationally amusing to do during Colorama, consider this: The Coulee Pioneer Museum in Electric City will be open on Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Current curator John Kemble says he has displays this year about local area history, including the sand pile, the Coulee Dam bridge, Mason City, the train tunnel, Engineers Town and more. The museum is at 10 Coulee Boulevard (SR-155)....

  • Let's try common sense on illegal dump

    Robert Fields|May 8, 2024

    I have tried to address the illegal dumping on federal land a couple of times, but Scott did not agree with me, so he throws my letters in the trash. So I went to The Star building and asked why? He told me I need to quit writing my letters as though they are facts. So let’s use another word, common sense. A couple of years ago Grand Coulee had a contract to do a good sized road project on Federal Ave. (The shortcut through town.) I can only guess that the contractor was paid to properly dispose of the leftover landfill. That was when five d...

  • RFK, Jr is a token candidate

    James A. Marples|May 8, 2024

    Having family at Grand Coulee, I have relatives who work at the dam and it mystifies me how little attention presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., pays to hydro-electric power. True, I mention wind and solar, but rarely (if ever) hydro. The man comes from a rich family and most of them have disavowed him as “dangerous” and called his make-believe candidacy a “vanity project”. He shows images of his father (RFK, Senior) and his uncle (President JFK). But one thing is for sure, “Junior” cannot hold a candle to either of those gentl...

  • Sunday is Mother's Day

    Roger Lucas|May 8, 2024

    We honor our mothers this week. This, of course, is something we should do all year long. I was born at the beginning of the Great Depression. My mother was a depression mother, the kind that is made of kindness and steel. She was the rock of the family. During the 1930s jobs were scarce. My father often had to work out of town and returned home for the weekends. I remember he worked one full year at Moses Lake. The depression is what brought my parents and siblings to Palouse. My father, who was born in Palouse, was discharged out of the army...

  • Betty Lacy

    May 8, 2024

    Betty Lacy passsed away peacefully on Friday, May 3, 2024, at Coulee Medical Center Long-Term Care in Grand Coulee, Washington. Services will be held at 2pm, Saturday, May 18, at Faith Community Church in Electric City, Washington. A full obituary will be in next week's Star.... Full story

  • Hallie Sena Anderson

    May 8, 2024

    Hallie Sena Anderson will be honored at a graveside memorial service on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 1:00 pm at the Riverside Cemetery, Riverside, WA off Hwy 97. We welcome you to come and share tribute for her and her gracious life.... Full story

  • Ray A. Rice

    May 8, 2024

    Ray Allen Rice passed on at age 80 on April 30, 2024, at his home in Othello, WA. He was born June 27, 1943, in Mason City, Washington to Fred & Vera (Whyatt) Rice. His sister, Darlene followed in 1944. He lived in Grand Coulee, WA where he graduated from Grand Coulee High School in 1961 as Valedictorian of the class. He played basketball all four of his high school years and was on the winning State B Championship team in 1960. From a young age he helped his father farm the family homestead unt... Full story

  • James Marion Glick

    May 8, 2024

    Olympia, Washington - James Marion Glick, Jr., of Olympia, Washington, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2024, at the age of 85. Born to Martha and James M. Glick Sr. in Deerfield, Kansas, Jim was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Jim is survived by his loving wife Myra Glick, two sisters Liz Marcolin and Fran Hove, children James M. Glick III, Lorena and Doug Talley, Richard and Erin Glick, grandchildren Andy, Lisa, Jessi, Rachel, Staci, Amy,... Full story

  • Spring Canyon Cemetery clean-up days continue

    May 8, 2024

    In preparation for Memorial Day and the Isle of Flags Celebration there will be one more clean-up day at Spring Canyon Cemetery this Saturday, May 18, from 9:00 am until noon. Thank you for coming to help. There will be tools and people to help haul away debris. Bring gloves. If you have questions, call 509 631-0551 for information. A big thank you to those who helped last Saturday....

  • Meetings

    May 8, 2024

    Grant Co. Mosquito Dist. to Meet Grant County Mosquito District #2 will hold its monthly meeting this Thursday, Wednesday, May 9, 2024 at 4:00pm at 210 W. Coulee BLVD in Electric City. Grant Co. Fire Dist. to Meet Grant County Fire District #14 will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday, May 13, at 6:00pm at the Electric City Fire Station....

  • Need to dedicate flags by May 17

    May 8, 2024

    It’s just about time for the Isle of Flags dedication. Dediations will be accepted until Friday, May 17. If you want to have a flag dedicated and in place to honor your deceased veteran for this year’s event, call Ben Alling at 509-633-0663 or 509-680-7250 before May 17....

  • It's a girl for the Seavers

    May 8, 2024

    Cole and Alissa Seaver of Coulee Dam, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Rocklyn Mae on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. She weighed 8 lbs., 7 oz., and was 20 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandparents are Jerri Smith and Dannie Mansker of Grand Coulee. Paternal Grandparents are Brett and Gina Seaver of Coulee Dam.... Full story

  • Raider Sports

    May 8, 2024

    Raider golfers are league champs The Raider boys' golf team took the Central Washington 2B League Tournament championship this week. The Raiders' top six golfers will go on to the district tournament at Alta Lake next Monday. Baseball The Raiders fell 15-0 to the Manson Trojans May 4 at Liberty Bell in the 2024 District 6 2B Baseball tourney, ending the postseason hopes of the young team. Softball The Lady Raiders will play in the 2024 District 6 2B Fastpitch Softball Tournament on their home...

  • Hello rodeo fans! 

    May 8, 2024

    Welcome to the 67th annual Colorama Rodeo! My name is Faith Jensen, your 2024 Miss Colorama Pro-Rodeo queen! I am 18 years old, and am a senior at Omak High school. My parents are Oren and Tierney Jensen. I come from a long line of cowboys and cowgirls, so it is truly an honor to continue the tradition as an ambassador for the great sport of rodeo. I have always been immersed in the sport of rodeo and western way of life and look forward to sharing that passion with others and educating younger...

  • Entertainment on tap at North Dam

    May 8, 2024

    Friday and Saturday will both include a beer garden and live music on the stage at North Dam Park. Music will be supplied both by local musicians and a couple of acts coming from Spokane. Music starts at 4 p.m. Friday, May 10, and at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Musicians include Randy Spotts, well-known local guitarist who loves classical (but got into it via heavy metal). On Friday night, Randy starts the entertainment at 4 with his classical guitar. Then at 5, Austin Carruthers will bring his...

  • Variety of vendors coming to Colorama

    May 8, 2024

    Organizers anticipate hosting 27 food and market vendors this year, including 15 who have never vended at Colorama before. This year the market will include: • face paint, • henna artists, • clothing and accessories, • resin taxidermy, • illustrations and art, • custom fishing rods, • permanent jewelry, • home goods, • vinyl records, • electronics repairs, • kids activities, and • a trucker hat bar "It's trucker hats, and then you pick the embroidery and they make it on site," one organizer sa...

  • Parade not canceled

    May 8, 2024

    Just before deadline Tuesday, The Star learned the Colorama Parade down Midway Avenue will happen as planned. The afternoon before, it had been canceled. It will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, as it has for decades, and the chamber of commerce expects up to 45 entrants. Some 34 had signed up earlier, but others often commit at the last possible moment, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nancy Zimmerman-Boord said Tuesday afternoon while actually not tearing her hair out. Mrs. B, as she says she’s glad to be called, found required police s...

  • More community fun and feed

    May 8, 2024

    If you can’t wait or don’t want to stop having fun or getting full: Before and after vendor hours at the official Colorama Festival at North Dam Park, there’s the Cowboy Breakfast at the senior center Saturday morning from 7:30 to 10:30. And MPH HiDam’s “After Party” is happening Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights going until 2 a.m. And Horns Electric City Bar and Grill will feature local hit band Lovestitch from 9-1 p.m. Friday night, with Stoney River playing from 8-12 Saturday night. After all that,...

  • The Colorama Pro Rodeo returns, bull riding too

    May 8, 2024

    The Colorama Rodeo happens Friday and Saturday evenings, but the Cleatis Lacy Bull Riding gets you going a day earlier from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9, all at the Ridge Riders Rodeo Grounds. The rodeo will be featured on The Cowboy Channel again this year, which will air it the same day, May 9 and 10. The rodeo typically offers all the events you expect - broncs, barrels, roping and riding, and ... sheep? Yes, sheep. It's a great challenge for the kids to get on a sheep for the mutton...