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Articles from the February 20, 2019 edition


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  • Electric City approves no-shooting buffer zone draft proposal

    Jacob Wagner|Feb 20, 2019

    The Electric City council approved the draft last week of a proposal for a 500-foot-wide “no shooting” buffer zone between the main part of the city and Osborne Bay, where shooting firearms would be prohibited. The proposal needs to be approved by the city, the state Departments of Fish & Wildlife and Natural Resources, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and Grand Coulee Police. The city would pay for signs to line the 7,281-foot-long buffer-zone border, and F&W would pay for the posts and install the signs. The signs would explain the buffer zon...

  • Council member expelled from Colville Business Council

    Scott Hunter|Feb 20, 2019

    The Colville Business Council, meeting in special session Thursday with all tribal representatives present, expelled fellow councilmember Andrea George from their ranks on ethics charges that she denied in a detailed statement. George, elected last summer to represent the Nespelem District, is a lawyer her supporters insist was being expelled for calling into question procedures and actions the council takes, not for actual ethics violations. Too many of those supporters gathered outside council chambers at 9 a.m. meeting to fit inside the...

  • Walk in the park

    Feb 20, 2019

    Deer in Coulee Dam's Cole Park appear unfazed Wednesday after a fresh blanket of snow. The forecast for the week includes possible single-digit temperatures next Tuesday and more snow possible in the interim. See the forecast on page 8. - Sheri Edwards photo...

  • "Nick on the Rocks" scientist coming to town

    Jacob Wagner|Feb 20, 2019

    Coulee-ites will be treated to a guest lecture from Nick Zentner, a geologist and host of "Nick on the Rocks," which has aired on Pacific Northwest Public Broadcast System stations and is available to watch on YouTube. Zentner will be at the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center March 9, at 1 p.m., to discuss geology in a free lecture sponsored by the Grand Coulee Dam Rotary Club to celebrate their 70th year. "Grand Coulee is famous for geologists," Zentner said in an email to The Star. "Huge valley...

  • Electric City welcome sign going out to bid

    Jacob Wagner|Feb 20, 2019

    Electric City’s council voted Feb. 12 to go out to bid on a welcome sign to the city. The sign would be placed at Electric City’s southern limits on SR-155 on the south side of Osborne Bay and would read “Welcome to Electric City,” and “Re-energize your recreation,” with the city’s logo suspended between basalt columns. An earlier cost estimate for the sign from Graybeal Signs was $42,000. The council discussed whether to have the sign framed by actual basalt columns or by aluminum made to look like rock columns and questioned how long actual b...

  • Newsbriefs

    Feb 20, 2019

    Kettle Falls Marina gets 10-year contract Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who represents Washington’s 5th District in Congress, including Lake Roosevelt, recently announced a decision by the National Park Service to award a 10-year concessionaire contract for the Kettle Falls Marina. “Outdoor recreation is part of life in Eastern Washington, and the Kettle Falls Marina has served our community for decades,” McMorris Rodgers said. “I was proud to advocate directly to the National Park Service in support of a new contract and appreciate them fo...

  • Merv Schmidt sworn in to council

    Scott Hunter|Feb 20, 2019

    A retired businessman with plenty of experience took a seat on the Coulee Dam City Council last week. The decision to seat Merv Schmidt came immediately following an executive session called to make a hard choice between Schmidt and another experienced former council member, Ken Miles. Schmidt served on the council for many years, beginning in 1984 and including years when the council initially began planning for a new wastewater treatment plan, a project that is just now getting done after year...

  • POWER likely to disband after 30 years

    Jacob Wagner|Feb 20, 2019

    A longstanding local group whose efforts have enhanced area fisheries and outdoor sports for decades is likely to disband, says its longtime leader. Promoters of Wildlife and Environmental Resources, or POWER, runs the fish-raising pens in Banks Lake in Electric City and has headed or managed other wildlife-related efforts over the past 30 years, such as feeding wild game birds. It now looks like it will shut down for the lack of someone to manage volunteer work. The group met Feb. 6, and discus...

  • Shooting buffer zone questionable way to enhance safety

    Feb 20, 2019

    Electric City’s proposed “buffer zone” between homes and Osborne Bay might have been an enhancement of safety for those homes back when they actually bordered the city limits, but now it would, in fact, decrease their safety. The fact is that hunting and discharging firearms in the proposed buffer zone is already illegal under city code. The buffer zone would, however, restore an earlier hunting privilege allowed on state-owned lands that were annexed into the city several years ago. Since discharging firearms within city limits is illeg...

  • Re: "Council member forced out on leave" in 2-13-19 Star

    Kathy Ensminger|Feb 20, 2019

    Regarding Councilwoman George: Our council members have violated many codes. Ethics charges should be filed against those members that are the driving force, and Councilman Kheel should be released of his duties until this mess is cleared. Feel free to publish this comment. Thank you for writing the article. Kathy Ensminger...

  • Propaganda 101: how numerous wrongs apparently make a "right"

    Dana Cleveland|Feb 20, 2019

    I have been bombarded with a litany of Facebook posts, copies of letters to the editor from the Tribal Tribune and the Star newspaper, and telephone calls/texts regarding a handful of supporters of a self-proclaimed “victim” currently serving on the Colville Business Council. I have heard many concerns regarding the misinformation, untruths, and failed logic presented by these supporters, and also concerns about the authoritative tone which these untruths have been presented and the effect that may have on the average person reading these “fa...

  • Thanks to Grant PUD

    Mick Qualls|Feb 20, 2019

    Since 1938, we have been blessed with electricity delivered to our homes and businesses for all of our needs. Currently, we are experiencing the benefits of all of the efforts by hundreds of people that have built our Public Utility District, and I, as one, want to express my appreciation to them. Just 90 years ago we had to heat our homes with wood and use lanterns and candles for light! Today we heat our homes with renewable, cheap, electrical power from our two dams that the people of Grant County own on the Columbia River. Also, we have...

  • Learning that everyone has a story

    Roger S Lucas|Feb 20, 2019

    This news thing that I have been doing started for me back in 1958. I had a number of successful journalism classes behind me, and my professor, Helen Wilson, had talked Idaho Free Press managing editor Jack Scudder into interviewing me for an open position on the Nampa, Idaho five-day daily. I arrived at the appointed time and found Scudder to have a soft and pleasant voice, a kind of man that you might be encouraged to buy a bridge or small island from, if it was offered. We got along well, and he asked all about me, and I gave him honest...

  • Seven LR wrestlers bring home hardware from state tourney

    Jacob Wagner|Feb 20, 2019

    The Lake Roosevelt Raider wrestlers competed at the state tournament known as The Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome over the weekend, with seven of the 23 total wrestlers placing at the event. Due to the cancellation of the regional tournament because of weather, the state brackets were doubled in size, allowing for a large number of wrestlers to take part. The Raiders as a team placed second out of the 45 1B/2B schools at the event with 219 points, and eighth out of the total 448 teams at the...

  • After regionals this week, Raiders will head to state playoffs at arena

    Jacob Wagner|Feb 20, 2019

    The Raiders beat league rivals the Oroville Hornets in the District 5-6 basketball tournament in Chelan Friday before losing to the Kittitas Coyotes Saturday, and will play in the regional tournament this coming Friday. Their 55-31 victory over the Hornets Feb. 15 was something the Raiders have wanted for a while now. At the beginning of the season Head Coach Jeremy Crollard said he wanted to defeat Oroville, who had beaten LR twice by only one point in the 2017-18 season. During the 2018-19...

  • This week in sports

    Feb 20, 2019

    Wed., Feb. 20 5 p.m., JH girls’ Basketball at Tonasket 6 p.m., JH Wrestling here in HS gym Thurs., Feb. 21 5 p.m., JH girls’ Basketball here with Bridgeport Fri., Feb. 22 5 p.m., JH Wrestling Culminating Tournament, Tonasket 6 p.m. Lady Raiders play Willapa Valley, Tumwater High School Sat., Feb. 23 6 p.m., Raiders play Kittitas, Ellensburg High School...

  • Bowling scores

    Feb 20, 2019

    THURSDAY MIXUPS TEAM W L San Poil Valley 59.5 32.5 Only Nine! 48.5 39.5 The Star 40 52 High Game: Chance Epperson 223; Mae Stensgar 163 High Series: Chance Epperson 563; Mae Stensgar 435 Splits John and Mae Stensgar 3-10; John Stensgar 3-4-6-7 Previous - High Game: Chance Epperson 258; Gwen Hilson 199 High Series: Chance Epperson 615; Amber Olson 443 Splits: John Stensgar 2-4-10; Bishop Stensgar 5-6; Amber Olson 4-7-9 FRIDAY DAM KEGLERS TEAM W L #5 95 65 Native Spirit 94 66 #3 90.5 69.5 Flying W 77 83 #1 61 99 High Game: Kota Weed Butz 241; Can...

  • Lady Raiders lost two at districts, but still have a shot at state

    Jacob Wagner|Feb 20, 2019

    The Lady Raiders suffered a couple of District 5-6 tournament losses over the weekend in Chelan, but will play in the regional tournament Friday for a chance to go on to state next week. The Lady Raiders lost to Brewster 50-41 on Friday, Feb. 15. The next day LR Lost to Liberty Bell 45-26. The Lady Raiders had defeated both Brewster and Liberty Bell at the end of the regular season, but were unable to repeat those victories in the postseason. Coaches were unavailable for stats or comments. The...

  • Meetings & Notices

    Feb 20, 2019

    Chamber This Week Chamber will meet this Thursday, February 21, at La Presa Restaurant beginning at noon. Allan Peterson of the Grant County Economic Council will be the guest speaker. Grant County Fire Dist. 14 to Meet Grant County Fire District #14 will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 25, at the Electric City fire barn. GCDSD Board to Meet Grand Coulee Dam School District school board will meet Monday, February 25, in the LRHS library beginning at 6 p.m. Child Find at Nespelem School Child Find will be held Wed.,...

  • It's a girl for the Seylors

    Feb 20, 2019

    Davida and Levi Seylor of Coulee Dam, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Alianna Rose Seylor born Monday, February 4, 2019, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. She weighed 7 lbs, 8 oz., and was 20 inches in length at birth. Maternal grandmother is Joan Gross. Paternal grandparents include Karrie and Jesse Utz, Mervyn Seylor and Julie Seylor.... Full story

  • Theater auditions set for Masquers

    Feb 20, 2019

    Auditions for the next Masquers Theatre production, “I Hate Shakespeare,” will be held Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. and Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Masquers Theatre in Soap Lake. “Whether or not you are a fan of Shakespeare, we are certain you will be a fan of this show!” said Daryl Pheasant, publicity chair for the event. Director Pat Rosman and Assistant Director Kat Stahl hope for a minimum of seven actors, but would like to cast 14, give or take a few cheerleaders and zombies. Rehearsals will start the first week of March, four nights a week. The product...

  • Blood drive Monday

    Feb 20, 2019

    Vitalant, along with Grand Coulee community blood drive volunteers led by coordinator Leha Neilsen, is planning a blood drive for Monday, February 25. Donation hours will be from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at Coulee Medical Center, in the community room. Vitalant is the sole blood provider to more than 35 hospitals across the Inland Northwest and needs at least 200 donors each day to meet the needs of those patients. A single donation can transform the lives of up to three people. For more information, contact 425-314-3799....

  • Coulee Cops

    Feb 20, 2019

    Grand Coulee 2/11 - A Burdin Boulevard man reported that a neighbor pushed in the mirrors of his wife’s car and opened the door to the gas cap. There was no noticeable damage. There is an ongoing issue between the neighbors. 2/13 - A husky-like dog was reported running at large in the area of West Grand Avenue. The dog’s owner was located and given a verbal warning. - A Coulee City man became angry while on the phone with a hospital employee when she wouldn’t give patient information over the phone. The man reportedly said he would kick the h...

  • Sale of cable utility still in works

    Scott Hunter|Feb 20, 2019

    The sale of a cable television and internet provider to Coulee Dam residents will take a few more months, Coulee Dam town council members were told last week. Charter Communications, a nationwide cable, telephone and internet provider, is working on purchasing Country Cable, which has been in business serving Coulee Dam ever since it purchased the Coulee Dam Television Station more than a decade ago. The deal has been in the works for some time and is now expected to close March 1, an email from a company senior manager to City Clerk Stefani...

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