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Articles from the December 4, 2019 edition


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  • Keller Ferry closes for 19 days

    Dec 4, 2019

    A temporary closure of the Keller Ferry begins today, Dec. 4, making travelers between Keller and Wilbur follow an hour detour. They ferry will be closed until Dec. 23, while the Washington State Department of Transportation performs repairs on it. The closure of the M/V Sanpoil, is “for crews working for (WSDOT) to make permanent repairs to the hull and allow the United States Coast Guard to inspect the vessel,” an announcement on the WSDOT website says. “During the closure the ferry will be moved to dry ground near the Keller Ferry Rest...

  • In pursuit of daycare: grain elevators

    Scott Hunter|Dec 4, 2019

    The local hospital has an acute need to provide daycare for its employees, a circumstance that has led to the purchase of nearby grain elevators. Coulee Medical Center asked employees in a survey earlier this year about their need to find daycare for their children. Some 65 children of hospital employees would be served by a daycare if the hospital built one, concluded Chief Executive Officer Ramona Hicks. So that's now one of her goals. CMC has been successfully recruiting young professionals...

  • Tribal education leader dies in crash

    Scott Hunter|Dec 4, 2019

    A woman who helped generations of members of the Colville Tribes pursue their educations died in a crash Friday night just north of Coulee Dam. The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation held a remembrance event Tuesday in the auditorium of the Lucy F. Covington Center after the unexpected passing of longtime employee and tribal member Gloria Atkins. She was 70. "I've known Gloria my entire life," lamented Colville Business Council Chairman Rodney Cawston. "To not have her here,...

  • Grant Transit Authority buying new buses

    Jacob Wagner|Dec 4, 2019

    Grant Transit Authority, which provides bus services through Grant County, will be buying four more buses with federal grant money. The acquisition of those buses will not add any routes to the Grand Coulee Dam area. Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell announced Dec. 2 that the Washington State Department of Transportation will receive $3,932,622 in federal funding from the Federal Transit Administration “to provide improved bus service to rural areas across the state,” a press release from her office states. “WSDOT will receive funding for the r...

  • Smartphones: a distraction or a tool?

    Jacob Wagner|Dec 4, 2019

    Are smartphones a hindrance to learning in the classroom, or an asset? A recent article in The Star reported on smartphone-related discussions at a recent Grand Coulee Dam School District board meeting. That article directed readers to a poll on the topic to get their opinions. The article was also shared to The Star’s Facebook page asking people to take the poll. Although only receiving 30 responses, a variety of viewpoints were presented in the results, including those of two students, eight teachers or staff members, 13 parents, and seven w...

  • Mystery hole still draws interest

    Jacob Wagner|Dec 4, 2019

    An unexplained phenomenon took place 35 years ago on a farm on a plateau west of Omak Lake in which a three-ton piece of earth was lifted out of the ground, landing some 73-feet away. It's still a mystery. No signs of machinery were seen near the 10-foot by 7-foot hole, nor near the relocated piece of earth, which is said to have fit the hole like a jigsaw puzzle piece, like it was cut with a giant cookie cutter. Greg Behrens, who worked as a geologist for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the...

  • Re: "CBH: Huge hydropower project now far more likely here" Nov. 20, 2019

    Ken McDowell|Dec 4, 2019

    This looks like somebody’s off-the-wall dream. We are in an earthquake zone, and I, for one, don’t want any 30-foot water tunnels under me. Also, the tunnels shown are only from North Dam to the Grand Coulee city limits, which is the simple part. Where are the details thru Grand Coulee? Or on the Lake Roosevelt side? Not much room there for a two-machine powerplant, unless you put it in Poop Lagoon. The Banks Lake discharge works shown look like they’ll discharge directly in to Coulee Playland. Anyone who’s boated on Banks Lake knows about t...

  • A politician you truly can admire

    Roger S Lucas|Dec 4, 2019

    We live in a day when the caliber of our elected officials is in question. And for good reason as it becomes apparent that they continually lie to us, often when the truth would serve them better. I like a bumper sticker I saw recently that states, “The truth is out there.” There is one politician that stands apart from others: former President Jimmy Carter. While he didn’t have a distinguished one-term presidency, he is a distinguished person and continues to be so to this present day. There were a couple of things that marred his presi...

  • Time to honor and preserve Washington's Native Heritage

    Dan Newhouse|Dec 4, 2019

    November is recognized as National Native American Heritage Month, and I believe this is an important time to remember and celebrate the contributions and history of our Native friends and neighbors in Central Washington and across the United States. With 29 federally-recognized tribes across the state, Washingtonians from every corner of the state live alongside Native Americans who contribute to our communities through entrepreneurship, military service, and sharing their rich and storied history. The Yakima Herald-Republic recently...

  • The air in our lungs

    Bob Valen|Dec 4, 2019

    The air around us is polluted, and the level of pollution in our air varies constantly. The causes of the pollution fluctuate as well. The pollution consists of gases and particulate matter. Common “natural” sources are forest and range fires, volcanic activity and various gases that originate in nature. Most all of these natural sources are not constant, unlike the sources that humanity produces on a recurring and regular basis. Envision pre-historic human activity after fire became part of...

  • The Scheibner Sawmill in Northrup Canyon

    Dec 4, 2019

    The Scheibner Brothers in Northrup Canyon also ran a pre-industrial age sawmill on Northrup Creek around the year 1900. Original Steamboat Rock pioneer William Fleet worked as a millwright, helping with the design, implementation and upkeep of the Scheibner watermill. Charles Scheibner and William Fleet, along with one other gentleman, would back up the creek at night with a dike, creating a small pond. In the morning they would run the water down a long sluice that would turn a water wheel and...

  • Legals for December 4, 2019

    Dec 4, 2019

    Town of Nespelem Notice of Public Hearings Notice is hereby given that the Town of Nespelem will hold a Preliminary Budget Hearing on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 5:00 PM at Town Hall. Copies of the 2020 Preliminary Budget are available at Town Hall during normal business hours. All interested persons will be given the opportunity to provide either written or oral comments concerning the 2020 Budget at said Preliminary Budget Hearing. Notice is hereby given that the Town of Nespelem will hold a Final Budget Hearing on Wednesday, December 11, 2... Full story

  • Gloria Lynn Atkins "Mish ee twie"

    Dec 4, 2019

    Gloria L. Atkins passed away Friday, November 29, 2019, as a result of a car accident. Gloria was born March 28, 1949, in Nespelem, Washington, to Joseph and Lorraine (Sam) Atkins. She attended Nespelem Grade School and Coulee Dam High School, graduating in June 1967. She attended Eastern Washington State College (Eastern Washington University), graduating in 1970, after attending Eastern for 16 straight quarters. She met Albert Andrews and they were married in August 1970. She started her... Full story

  • Michael Dwayne Stead Sr.

    Dec 4, 2019

    Michael Dwayne Stead Sr., 55, passed away Tuesday, November 26, 2019, in Grand Coulee, Washington. Michael was born Friday, March 27, 1964, in Rosebud, South Dakota, to Benjamin and Hannah Cornelius-Stead. During his school years, Michael loved sports and enjoyed being a member of the school track, football and especially the baseball team. He attended Sherman Indian School in California and then Lake Roosevelt High School in Coulee Dam, Washington, where Michael graduated, Class of 1983. A... Full story

  • Coulee Cops

    Dec 4, 2019

    Grand Coulee 11/26 - A man was taken to jail on a burglary charge. He was pulled over as he drove near the skate park at North Dam Park because his vehicle matched the description of one that may have been involved is a possible burglary that had been reported. He said he was the only one who had gone into a Lakeview Avenue home, although there were others in his vehicle, including one man who ran away towards Delano, ultimately eluding police, and who is wanted on arrest warrants. The driver said he only took some tools and car cleaning...

  • McGinnises have a girl

    Dec 4, 2019

    James and Charlotte McGinnis of Nespelem, Washinton, are proud to announce the birth of their dauhter Destiny Reign McGinnis, born Monday, November 11, 2019, at Coulee Medical Center in Grad Coulee, Washington. She weighed 6 lb., 5 oz., and was 18.5 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Jasilynn, James III, Deelan, Garrett, Kaugen and Buck. Maternal grandparents are Cerv and Gwyn St. Peter. Paternal grandparents are Lili Clark. Great-grandparents are Don and Betty Ferguson and William and Mabel Dick....

  • It's a girl for the Tufts

    Dec 4, 2019

    Jessica and Alex Tufts of Electric City, Washington, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Lucille Josephine Tufts, born Satrday, November 16, 2019, at Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee, Washington. She weighed 5 lbs., 14 oz., and was 20 inches in length at birth. Siblings include Jackson age 5, and Charles age 3. Maternal grandparents are Bob and Cathy Sternberg, Electric City. Paternal grandparents are John and Patti Tufts also of Electric City. Great-grandparents are Shirley Sternberg and Dave and Phyllis...