News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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After losses totaling more than $1 million in the two months prior, June’s negative nick of just $48,000 felt like very good news for hospital leaders Monday night. “The corner is turned,” commented Commissioner Geary Oliver following a report on the hospital district’s finances at Monday night’s meeting of the Hospital District 6 commissioners. In her report, Interim Chief Executive Officer Debbie Bigelow said the hospital has worked to reduce expenses to meet declines in revenue. The loss of income has been associated with the loss of primar... Full story
Demolition of the classroom wing of Lake Roosevelt High School started Monday. Walker Construction, which has the overall contract, expects the demolition to be completed by the end of this week. A subcontractor from Moses Lake, Advance Demolition, after completion of the demolition, will take out the concrete foundation and provide some 8 feet of fill, raising the area where the classroom wing was located to match the elevation of the new construction area. Most debris from the demolition will... Full story
A Spokane Valley driver was critically injured last Friday when the vehicle she was driving crossed the center line and hit a tractor trailer head on. The accident occurred at about 8:20 a.m., about five miles west of Wilbur in Lincoln County on SR-174, according to the Washington State Patrol report. Deceased at the scene was Melinda L. Hirst, 53, driving a 2003 Thunderbird. Hirst was wearing her seatbelt when the accident occurred. The Thunderbird crossed the center line and struck a 2014 Volvo tractor trailer. The semi-truck was driven by... Full story
Plastic explosives from a mining operation in Canada have been showing up in Lake Roosevelt with some degree of regularity, the most recent near Crescent Bay. A tube of the explosives, about a foot long and several inches wide, was detonated at Crescent Bay by the Spokane Bomb Squad on July 31. The Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department was on standby during the detonation. One local resident, who saw the detonation, said it made a pretty big bang. Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Chief R... Full story
Retirement checks diverted to Kentucky An Electric City woman reported to police that someone had altered her Social Security account so that her monthly check was sent to a Louisville, Kentucky bank. She was notified through Social Security that the checks were going to the Republic Bank in Kentucky. The federal government is investigating. Men arrested for backburning arson Two Twisp men have been arrested for lighting “back burn” fires along Benson Creek Road in Okanogan County after property owners and firefighters told them not to, the... Full story
Two Electric City women were arrested early Monday morning and are being charged with burglary and making false statements to a law enforcement officer. Taken to Grant County jail were Jennifer M. Miley, 33, of 340 Electric Boulevard; and Juliana Y. Terry, 30, of 58063 2nd Street NW. The two were found in a house at 110 E. Grand Avenue, Grand Coulee, at about 2:30 in the morning. A nearby resident had called police to say that some people were prowling around the house. When police arrived, the report stated, a back window was broken and when a... Full story
The Keller Ferry went back in service at 6 a.m. Aug. 13. after steering system issues were resolved. The Keller Ferry is down, with a steering problem. The relatively new ferry, the Sanpoil, went down Monday shortly after 2 p.m., and officials from the Washington State Department of Transportation stated that there is no estimate on when the ferry will be back in service. The new ferry, with a price tag of nearly $12 million, went into service August 14, 2013, connecting travelers from Wilbur to Republic across Lake Roosevelt on SR-21. The... Full story
Smoke choking the area from The Devil's Elbow Complex fires north of Keller comes in part from firefighters' efforts to battle the blaze, as they burn out fuel to deny the fire a way to spread. It has consumed nearly 21,000 acres so far and still threatens about 150 homes and 90 other structures. Highway 21 is closed and evacuations along it have extended north from Capoose Creek/Meadow to the Bear Creek campground. More than 100 firefighters took part in a burnout operations during the nights... Full story
A land donation to the town of Coulee Dam by an Anacortes woman will close at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, at town hall. Diane Hartzell, whose father, Melvin Hartzell, worked on Grand Coulee Dam in the mid-1930s, had purchased the property being donated, with the hope of someday building a retirement home here. The property, about an acre in size, is located at the north end of River Drive, with a portion of it overlooking the Columbia River. Diane will be in Coulee Dam to work with Mayor Greg Wilder and Town Attorney Mick Howe to close the... Full story
Grant and Adams County law enforcement agencies are cooperating in a “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. The campaign runs from Aug. 15 through Sept. 1, officials stated. Agencies cooperating include the Moses Lake, Othello, Quincy, and Ritzville police departments, the Grant and Adams County Sheriffs offices and the Washington State Patrol. The groups will have the support of the Central Basin Traffic Safety Task Force. All of these extra patrols are part of “Target Zero” an effort to end traffic deaths and serious injuries in Washing... Full story
A Grand Coulee man who was in a Spokane hospital lost his safe containing from $5,000 to $8,000, plus coins and other money when an unknown person entered his home on Martin Road sometime from Aug. 1-6, a police report stated. Dean Stucker, former owner of Stuck’s Tavern, was in a Spokane hospital at the time of the burglary. Police stated that entry was likely gained through an unlocked window on the north side of the residence. This gave the intruder access to an enclosed porch area where a hammer was used to smash a window in a door that l... Full story
The city will spend more on a recent water pipe maintenance project than it thought earlier. Grand Coulee’s city council approved two change orders totaling $53,147.66, on its recent water project on Midway Avenue. Gray & Osborne officials appeared at the council meeting asking the elected body to approve the change orders and gave an explanation for the extra charges. The work was done by Pikin Construction of Wenatchee. The first change order was for $34,016.23, and was necessary because of rock excavation while digging across SR-155, a... Full story
I find bullying a serious problem that we need to address in our schools and community. Nowadays we have the Internet, cellphones, tablets, and social networking. This can be a serious problem for even the most trustworthy of children, making it easier to post things that we do not mean. Unknowingly to some parents, children may be cyber bullied, and socially harmed, due to the fact that they did not report the incidents immediately, because anything you put into cyberspace cannot be removed permanently. There are other types of bullying,... Full story
Pvt. Jeff Bergdahl, who left his base and post of duty (deserted) while serving in Afghanistan and released after five years in exchange for five Taliban commanders held in “Gitmo,” has been honored by his “commander-in-chief” by being praised on the White House garden before the nation on TV as having served honorably after walking off his duty station not once but on two occasions. He not only was praised for this, but also promoted to sergeant, given back pay and a desk job at an army station until his situation is resolved. In additio... Full story
It is funny how things play out in the world and with what you do in your own little environment. Sometimes it tweaks your way of thinking on a global scale or a heavenly scale. Let me explain. If you have paid attention at all to the happenings in the Far East, then you know a global epidemic is upon us. People are being slaughtered for their beliefs. They are being murdered if they do not pay a tax to a terrorist group or if they do not denounce their God and swear allegiance to that of the te... Full story
Today, there is a tendency to look with distain at manufacturing facilities, especially those located on working waterfronts. Historically, those factories were sited there because the raw materials and finished products could be transported only by water. But as our state and nation progressed, railroads, highways and even airports were added and industrial areas formed. In fact, our legislature, cities, counties and ports funded the necessary improvements to those areas to specifically... Full story
1 Years Ago Detective Don Redfield of the Colville Tribal Police stated that no charges will be filed against the 9-year-old child, who apparently started the 1900 acre fire that threatened homes on the hillside of highway 155 near Elmer City on July 29th. The child was playing with a lighter and setting small dolls on fire when the fire erupted. Grand Coulee School District new Athletic Director Brad Wilson says you can expect very little changes this year in the way he handles the athletes... Full story
Memorial services for Al Newkirk wil be held Saturday, August 16, 2014, at Faith Community Church in Electric City beginning at 10 a.m. Burial will follow with military honors at Spring Canyon Cemetery. Al passed away May 6, 2014.... Full story
Santiago "Sandy" Arrieta Orbe' (85) passed surrounded by his family in Grand Coulee, Washington, July 31, 2014. A proud Basque, Sandy was born on July 25, 1929 in the town of Arrieta, located in the Basque Province of Vizcaya, Spain, to Felix Arrieta and Paulina Orbe'. In 1952, after serving in the Spanish navy, Sandy moved to the United States as a contracted sheepherder, eventually settling in Keller, Washington. He married Donita Marshall in 1957 and they raised their four children on Manilla... Full story
Wed., Aug. 13 - Dinner Turkey, Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Green Bean Casserole, Fruit Salad, Pumpkin Pie, Rolls. Happy Birthday. Thurs., Aug. 14 - Dinner Meat Loaf, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Corn, Seasonal Fruit Platter, Cinnamon Coffee Cake. Fri., Aug. 15 - Breakfast Sausage Links, Obrien Potatoes, Toast, Eggs, Oatmeal, Mixed Fruit, Orange Juice. Mon., Aug. 18 - Breakfast Spanish Omlette with Ham, Chilies and Cheese, Hashbrowns, Toast, Pears, Oatmeal, Orange Juice. Tues., Aug. 19 - Dinner Cheesy Broccoli Soup, Deviled... Full story
An author who has written extensively about Okanogan County history, will offer a reading at the Grand Coulee public library. Bruce Holbert will read from his recent book "The Hour of Lead" a epic family novel and coming of age story that is once again imbibed with the mythology of the west at 6 p.m., Aug. 19. The public is invited, and this book along with his previous novel "Lonesome Animals" will be on sale that evening. Holbert, the son of Pat Holbert of Electric City, graduated from Lake... Full story
Chamber This Week The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet Thursday, August 14, at noon, at La Presa in Grand Coulee. Launi Ritter of Heaven-Sent Compter Services will be the guest speaker. OES to Meet Grand Coulee Dam Order of Eastern Star will be holding an Education Night on Thursday Aug. 14, at the Masonic Lodge. It will be in chapter dress and long form. Refreshments will be provided by Vivian Dugan and Jo Ayers with birthday cake provided by Joyce Moore. Okanogan County Demos to Meet Okanogan County Democrats will be... Full story
The Grand Coulee branch of North Cascades Bank is collecting backpacks and other school supplies during the month of August for needy students. Monetary donations are also being accepted and will be used to purchase supplies. All items will be distributed to schools in the Grand Coulee Dam School District. You can help North Cascades Bank to prepare local students for the new school year by making your donation. If you have any question you can call branch manager Sjana Bird at 633-1700.... Full story
At Spring Canyon This week at Spring Canyon, the following ranger conducted activities include: The exploration center is open Saturday and Sunday from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Hands-on activities Junior Ranger activities, brochures and park information are offered. Crafts will be held from 2-3 pm. on both days. Parents must supervise their children. Sat., August 16, 4:30 p.m., Bunchgrass Prairie Nature Trail Plant Walk. Join Ranger Deb on a 1/2 mile walk on the Bunchgrass Prairie Nature Trail in the campground at Spring Canyon. We will be talking abou... Full story
Still in his dream state and far away from his storage site in the town of Coulee Dam, Sammy paused for a time in the deep, clear waters of the upper Columbia River to listen to his friend, a two-legged man named Billy Frank, Jr., talk about life on earth. He said to himself that he’d remember Billy’s observations and share his wisdom with his old and new friends during his trip down the river. With his tail moving behind him at a fast clip, Sammy decided to check out the river’s surface above him; he saw the shadows of two-legged peopl... Full story