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Articles from the October 25, 2017 edition


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  • Investigation shows report of shooter at school was a rumor

    Roger S. Lucas|Oct 25, 2017

    A report of a “shooter” incident at Lake Roosevelt Schools was determined to be a rumor, according to investigators. Last Wednesday, a person overheard some high school students talking on the school bus about a “shooter,” thought that it might be a threat, and reported it late Thursday. “As soon as we heard about it, we started an investigation,” Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Paul Turner stated this week. That investigation continued late on Thursday, and on Friday school officials called a staff meeting to report that it had...

  • Crisp air and good food

    Oct 25, 2017

    At lunch after the "Breast Cancer Awareness Color Me Pink and Purple" fun run and walk at North Dam Park, Chelsea Shelton warms her sons, Jackson, 2, and Grayson, 1, as they finish up a bread bowl of hot chowder, along with Holly Buche (middle) and Debbie Flett. The lunch served 118 people and raised $2,990 for the Cancer Care Northwest Foundation. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • Newsbriefs

    Oct 25, 2017

    City’s open house tonight The city of Grand Coulee will hold an open house this evening (Wednesday) at 6 p.m. so planning commission members can discuss proposed changes to the city’s Comprehensive Plan. Visitors will be able to ask questions, make suggestions and generally get an understanding of where the city is planning to go. A survey will be available to the public attending. New coaches hired The school board completed two hires, both in basketball, at its meeting Monday night. Hired were Jeremy Crollard as head boys bask etball coa...

  • "White power" painted on school window

    Roger S. Lucas|Oct 25, 2017

    School officials this week are investigating who painted the words “white power” on a window at Lake Roosevelt School. Superintendent Paul Turner said that the incident occurred early last week, and was scrubbed off by school janitors. “We haven’t had any racial incidents at the school, and we are trying to find out who was responsible,” Turner said. Turner re-stated the fact that “words matter” and that students need to be made “more aware” of this. He was referring to a rumor of a “shooter” incident at the school, also last week. In that ca...

  • Tribal museum to be remodeled soon

    Roger S. Lucas|Oct 25, 2017

    Work is scheduled to begin this week to make the Colville Tribal Museum in Coulee Dam handicapped accessible. Last week, museum workers were busy packaging everything up on the lower level to get ready for the project to begin. DWK Fowler Construction was the successful bidder on the nearly $800,000 museum remodeling. The project calls for ramps at both levels of the building to meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and new concrete siding, to replace rotting wooden materials. Entrance doors at both levels will be...

  • Transfer station budget approved

    Roger S. Lucas|Oct 25, 2017

    All four cities and towns have approved the Delano Regional Transfer Station budget for 2018. The budget shows revenues of $503,975 and expenses of $675,850. The deficit can be tied to two big-expense items: paying off the transfer station semi-truck at $142,615, and the purchase of another trailer, at $90,000. In spite of the deficit, the budget was passed with only one time through the monthly meetings of the four town councils. It hasn’t often been that way; in the past, some councils have been reluctant to approve measures that come to them...

  • Meet your local candidates

    Oct 25, 2017

    Elected positions for Grand Coulee Dam School District and the city of Coulee Dam are up for election. In this issue, The Star offers candidate interviews for each contested position. In Coulee Dam, the mayor’s office is sought by current Councilmember Gayle Swagerty and Larry Price. Voters will also choose between incumbent Councilmember David Schmidt or challenger Fred Netzel for Position 1 on the council. Bruce Bartoo and Marcia Warnecke both seek Position 3 on the council. Each of the contested Coulee Dam offices entail a four-year term. F...

  • David Schmidt seeks to continue work on council

    Scott Hunter|Oct 25, 2017

    For David Schmidt, serving on the town council is a civic duty, one he is currently fulfilling for the second time, having served an earlier term a decade ago. "It's just a sense of feeling of responsibility to the community where you live," Schmidt said in an interview last week. "Everybody has a responsibility to ... offer to society what you have the skills for." Schmidt served as president of the Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union for 35 years, taking the financial institution from $1.2...

  • Netzel looks for council seat to do more

    Scott Hunter|Oct 25, 2017

    Fred Netzel has been prodding Coulee Dam's current administration and town council for more than a year to take action on issues he finds important, so he's running for a council seat to be more effective. It started with encouraging the town to fix badly broken sidewalks, an issue he raised at a council meeting in July 2016. "As time unfolded, I realized that from the outside you can only get so much done," said Netzel, who has canvassed the town door-to-door with flyers and petitions to make...

  • Penny Auction is back

    Roger S. Lucas|Oct 25, 2017

    After a year’s absence, this year’s senior class is bringing back the popular school-related fundraiser. The Penny Auction will be held Nov. 18, at both the senior and elementary cafeterias in the new school, from 11 a.m. to the drawings, scheduled for 1 p.m. A “baked potato” bar will be set up with a variety of desserts and drinks. Senior class advisors Tammy Norris and Aaron Derr were responsible for getting the Penny Auction started again. Norris stated that a number of community members said they missed the Penny Auction and were pleased...

  • Lake Roosevelt National Recreation is "sister park" to South African reserve

    Oct 25, 2017

    The Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and Spioenkop Nature Reserve in South Africa have signed a five-year “sister park” agreement that will allow the parks to collaborate and exchange information. The agreement signed Oct. 11 allows for intellectual exchange, international cooperation, sharing ways to enrich visitor experiences, and enhance training of park staff, said a news release from LRNRA. The relationship also encourages both parks to share first-hand information on a variety of topics, including park management, resource con...

  • Observe the moon Saturday

    Oct 25, 2017

    If you see people at Crescent Bay looking up at the sky on Oct. 28, don’t be alarmed; it’s not an invasion from outer space, it’s “International Observe the Moon Night.” The event is sponsored by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission and partners. The National Park Service will be present to guide a 6-9 p.m. study of the moon. The “International Observe the Moon Night” is an annual worldwide event that encourages observation, appreciation and understanding of the moon and its connection to NASA planetary science and exploration. Th...

  • Correction

    Oct 25, 2017

    Last week The Star reported in error that Electric City Council named Ken Anderson to fill a vacant spot on the board of Grant County Mosquito District 2. Electric City is requesting that persons interested in serving on the district submit a letter of interest to city hall. It is the same procedure used to fill a vacated city council seat. The position is open until filled by vote of the city council....

  • Consider carefully before you cast your vote

    Greg Wilder|Oct 25, 2017

    Before you cast your vote — take the time vetting. In other words, “make a careful and critical examination.” Do you “really” know about our Coulee Dam candidates? You already know about David Schmidt and Gayle Swagerty … they actually work for you and they serve us in a thoughtful way. To serve as a mayor or council member, a board or a committee member is a gift to the electorate. Some may have little or no governmental experience … that’s not important. What is important is if they stand tall with the energy, ideas, minds, AND their ethic...

  • Passion and belief

    Jesse Utz|Oct 25, 2017

    I recently had to write a recommendation letter for a young man in our community that has been nominated for an award. Part of the criteria was to write about his “Passion and Belief.” That got me thinking. What would others say about my passion and my belief, and do I see passion and belief in others? I know, deep question with deeper thoughts, but I dove in anyway, partly for James Pakootas and partly for myself. What do others see as my passion? Well, that used to be firefighting and eme...

  • Amazon's plan reminiscent of Boeing's Chicago move

    Don C. Brunell|Oct 25, 2017

    Last year, Seattle Times aerospace reporter Dominic Gates wrote about the similarities and differences between Boeing’s corporate office move to Chicago and Amazon’s plan for a second headquarters. Boeing wanted to leave Seattle in an effort to separate its corporate leadership from manufacturing sites, while Amazon, with an unusual strategy, plans to keep its headquarters here but set up a parallel operation elsewhere. Boeing hoped to find a more conservative business climate while Amazon wants a city which is a “cultural fit.” Gates reporte...

  • Sixty-eight Years Ago

    Oct 25, 2017

    Form Work for the cut and cover section - Preparing forms for the entrance to the cut and cover stretch of the feeder canal. A transition section from round to square is required and a further transition to the ordinary canal section will also be necessary. Here workmen are preparing the steel for the base of the round-to-square transition. - Oct. 7, 1949 photo...

  • Kathleen Larson

    Oct 25, 2017

    Kathleen Larson passed away peacefully to her heavenly home on Wednesday, October 18, 2017, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington, where she had spent the final year of her life receiving excellent care and love from the wonderful staff there. Kathleen was born in Mason City, Washington, to Gladys and Dwight McNeilly on September 9, 1940. She married her handsome groom, Gordon Larson, on September 27, 1958. Soon after, they moved to the Edmonds, Washington area. She spent most of...

  • Rain not a problem

    Oct 25, 2017

    Dwight Combs and his dog were among the walkers who finished the "Breast Cancer Awareness Color Me Pink and Purple" fun run and walk at North Dam Park Saturday and didn't let very soggy weather deter them. About 50 people participated in the event. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • What's cooking at the seniors

    Oct 25, 2017

    Wed., Oct. 25 - Dinner Chunky Beef and Vegetable Stew Homemade Bread, Mixed Fruit, Cookies Thurs., Oct. 26 - Dinner Twice Baked Potato, Green Salad, Fruit Slices, Rice Krispy Treat Fri., Oct. 27 - Breakfast Meat and Cheese Omelette, Hashbrowns, Toast, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice Mon., Oct 30 - Breakfast Links, Eggs, Pancakes, Fruit Bowl, Orange Juice Tues., Oct. 31 - Dinner Fish and Chips, Salad and Fruit Bar, Doughnuts...

  • Lutherans to celebrate 500th anniversary

    Oct 25, 2017

    The Zion Lutheran Church of Grand Coulee will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation at their regular service this Sunday, October 25, at 11 a.m. A potluck dinner will follow....

  • Guild plans book sales; appreciated participants of fun walk

    Oct 25, 2017

    Coulee Medical Center Guild is sponsoring two book and gift sales to help you get ready for Christmas. Collective Goods, formerly “Books are Fun,” will be here on Wednesday, Nov. 1, and Usborne Books on Wednesday, November 29. Both events will be held in the hospital lobby from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. A “thank you” to all those who braved the weather and attended the Breast Cancer Awareness fun run/walk last Saturday. Winners of the Costco gift cards were: Gwen Hilson, Gwyn Anderson, Tracy White and Nancy Baum. We appreciate all your support...

  • Guildner new CEO at NCB

    Oct 25, 2017

    Chelan, WA – October 11, 2017 – North Cascades Bank, a division of Glacier Bank, is pleased to announce the appointment of Charles ("Charlie") Guildner as President and Chief Executive Officer. Guildner joins North Cascades Bank from People's Bank in Bellingham, Washington, where he held several leadership positions, most recently Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer. Guildner began his banking career at Cascade Bank in Everett, Washington, where he became a top producing len...

  • It's snow time: Sno-Park permits go on sale Nov. 1

    Oct 25, 2017

    OLYMPIA – Oct. 18, 2017 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission announced today that Sno-Park permits will be available for purchase online and through various vendors statewide beginning midnight Wednesday, Nov. 1. Sno-Park permits allow visitors to park in specially cleared, designated parking lots with access to areas for cross-country skiing, skijoring, snowmobiling, dog sledding, snowshoeing, tubing and more throughout the state. Online and in-person purchase of the Sno-Park permit is available Nov. 1 through April 30. Reven...

  • Meetings and Notices

    Oct 25, 2017

    Chamber to Meet The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce will meet this Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Siam Palace in Grand Coulee. Meeting begins at noon. This week’s program will be given by Bob Valen, who will be speaking about “bugs on and in your face.” Okanogan County School Retirees’ Assoc. to Meet Okanogan County School Retirees’ Association meets 11 a.m., Friday, October 27 for a no-host luncheon meeting at Koala Street Grill, 914 Koala St, Omak. Rose Corso and Alex Ettel will speak about the Tonasket School Garden project. Informati...

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