News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Visions of a snow day likely danced in the heads of children aboard Grand Coulee Dam School District buses struggling on the Coulee Dam hill Monday morning. The section of State Route 155 owned and operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation was closed for about 45 minutes during a heavy snowfall. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Ten Years Ago A plan to help fish by changing the way dams in Montana are run will leave Banks Lake 10 feet lower in August, possibly affecting tourism. The Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation will put the plan they call VARQ into motion this year as an interim measure to satisfy a “biological opinion” of another federal agency. It could become permanent later. Kyle Desautel recently received his Masters of Business Administration from Easter Washington University. Lake Roosevelt girls claimed two close victories against Fre... Full story
January New mayor takes over Chris Christopherson became the mayor of Grand Coulee Jan. 3. after winning the popular vote in November. He and former mayor Tammara Byers traded seats, as she took his old spot on the city council. Sewage plans explained Engineers for Coulee Dam detailed in a public meeting plans to revamp the town’s wastewater treatment plant for nearly $5 million to be financed with a near doubling of sewer bills. The plan drew criticism and is still controversial. February Raider takes championship Orrin Gross won the state h... Full story
Ten Years Ago A painting depicting American military history hangs in the Veterans of Foreign Wars center mainly due to hours of volunteer labor from two local women and a local veteran. Columbia Art Association members Darlene Morova and Edith Lael spent about 150 hours over the last year painting a mural depicting American military involvement in World War I and II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, Desert Storm and the present day military. Airplane models fill the home of an Electric City man, who restarted his childhood hobby several years ago... Full story
It wasn’t hitting four beach-heads in WWII, alcohol, Copenhagen or cancer that brought Swede down, but the old age of 95. Four months shy of his next birthday, George H. Walberg went home Christmas Eve, 2012. Born April 18, 1917, to Esther and Henry Walberg in Mullen, Idaho, he was raised and schooled in Spokane, Wash., by Aunt Ebba and Stone Henry. Entered the Army and served in WWII. When he was discharged he began working for Walt Disney Studios as an artist, then moved to Coulee Dam, W... Full story
Ten Years Ago The city of Grand Coulee’s police department will return to policing Grand Coulee Dam next year under an agreement the city reached with the Bureau of Reclamation. A program started locally gives families unable to afford fishing gear for their children at Christmas the chance to give the gear gift wrapped at no cost. The Rod and Reel program accepts rods, lures, bait and any other gear dropped off at NAPA Auto Parts in Grand Coulee, Quincy, Ephrata, Moses Lake and Omak year-round. The Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department and Am... Full story
A letter Coulee Dam prepared for interested parties in its wastewater treatment plant project drew reaction from the town of Elmer City last Wednesday night that would eventually lead to a decision to end a decades-long collaboration. The letter, designed to advise all parties that the ownership of the plant would rest with Coulee Dam, and that the only official representatives of Coulee Dam authorized to speak on the project were elected officials, the town’s attorney, engineers from Gray & Osborne, Public Works Director Barry Peacock and C... Full story
The town of Elmer City has worked tirelessly to find financial assistance to help fund the improvements to the sewer treatment plant it jointly operates with Coulee Dam. And for good reason, they can’t afford what Coulee Dam is building! On the other hand, Coulee Dam has not put any meaningful effort into a search for “grant” monies. Even their Project Plan discounts the “free” money as too difficult to bother with. They remain content with their own “success”… borrowing another $5 million and adding to an already burdensome debt on the tow... Full story
A group that has been studying the feasibility of building a community/wellness center in the area decided Thursday to push ahead with the effort, citing a very favorable feasibility study and a growing need in the area. Full disclosure: Readers should know I’ve been a member of that group since its inception and have been one of many considering the idea since long before that. After deciding by consensus to move ahead, the steering committee for the effort decided where it should be located and gave it a temporary name. The Coulee Regional We... Full story
The Coulee Area Park and Recreation District commissioners passed a budget for 2013 Monday night totaling $73,000. It includes revenues of $36,500 from a Bureau of Reclamation grant, and $6,000 from each of three local cities that collect hotel/motel taxes. The budget anticipates spending $18,000 on a master plan for North Dam Park and $50,500 on operations, maintenance and construction in the park.... Full story
Grand Coulee Police 11/26 - Police advised Safeway that one of its grocery carts was located behind the senior manor. A person was sent to collect the cart. - A man told police that he had paid a $300 bar bill at a local tavern with a debit card and when he checked with the bank the amount was $500. Since he had signed the debit slip, the bank told the man he couldn’t cancel the charge. The man is trying to get the charge corrected. - A woman whose three horses got out near the Grand Coulee RV Park collected them and returned them to the p... Full story
Ten Years Ago Several of the decades-old circuit breakers for water pumps and generators in Grand Coulee Dam will be replaced at a cost of millions over the next two or more years. The Bureau of Reclamation awarded Alburquerque, New Mexico based Gardner Zemke Company a $9.7 million contract on Nov. 20. The Washington State Silver Glove boxing championship will take place in Coulee Dam next week. AFTER HOURS - Chamber of Commerce members join Coulee Hardware hosts in an after-hours party the store hosted Thursday night. Twenty Years Ago Local co... Full story
Sewer ratepayers in Coulee Dam and Elmer City won the day last Wednesday night when many of the major parties in the wastewater treatment plant were on hand and agreed to work together. The scene was Coulee Dam’s council meeting with a presentation by Gray & Osborne, the town’s engineering firm, which was reporting on its progress on the design phase of the project. Engineer Jeff Stevens made a short presentation and then stated, “We need direction from the council on where we go from here.” Local resident Greg Wilder had preceded Stevens and l... Full story
Ten Years Ago Using water in Coulee Dam will soon become more expensive for residents as the town begins to pay for the water filtration plant it’s about to build, along with other improvements. The town council Wednesday discussed a potential ordinance that would effectively keep a flat fee for most water users. It would set a base rate of $37 for meters on lines between three-fourths and one inch in size. Students in Nespelem and Grand Coulee Dam might get an extended weekend in January if teachers take Jan. 14 off to protest possible s... Full story
Elmer City had stated that it wanted a seat at the table. Last Wednesday night, its town council met with Coulee Dam’s council, and it got a seat at the table, but significant questions remain. At issue is a $4.92 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade now under design. Foremost in Elmer City’s mind was whether it was a partner in Coulee Dam’s wastewater treatment plant, or merely a customer. While that wasn’t answered directly, Elmer City was advised that anytime in the future that Coulee... Full story
The town councils of Coulee Dam and Elmer City will meet jointly, along with their attorneys, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the Coulee Dam chambers. The agenda will cover a 50-year joint agreement between the two municipalities for wastewater treatment services. Coulee Dam, by contract, receives Elmer City’s wastewater (sewage) for treatment. Elmer City has been at odds with Coulee Dam for the way it developed its plan for an upgraded wastewater treatment plant, claiming that it wasn’t consulted. Coulee Dam on at least two occasions had inv... Full story
The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce and the Coulee Area Park & Recreation District each approached Electric City for money from its hotel/motel tax fund last Tuesday night. New chamber Manager Peggy Nevsimal made the pitch for her organization, providing an outline of plans for 2013, detailing how the money would be spent to help attract tourists to the area, the purpose of the fund under state law. She spoke of the various target markets the chamber was shooting for and how her advertising campaign would work. Nevsimal was asking... Full story
Ten Years Ago It’s not like the lake is overwhelmed with jet skiers this time of year anyway, but they’re banned from Lake Roosevelt starting Nov. 6. Jail time for some Colvile tribal members will soon take place closer to home following the symbolic first step to construction of a new correctional facility near Nespelem. Middle school students spent a day laughing, crying and being painfully honest last week in a program designed to break down social barriers. Two pit bull dogs with a history of harassing GCD area residents were shot by pol... Full story
The new Keller Ferry “Sanpoil” will be christened July 19, 2013, an official from Foss Maritime Company said Monday. However, there’s a whole lot of work that has to be completed before then. Some of that work is occurring this week near the National Park Service boat launch at Crescent Bay, where a 145-foot by 45-foot concrete slab will be poured, on which Foss workers will assemble the new ferry, which will be trucked in to the area in parts. Access to the boat launch will not be affected by the construction, said National Park Servi... Full story
For the pennies the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District is seeking in their levy on this election’s ballot, the area stands to gain back much more than the maintenance the money is for — a real beginning. A beginning to an era of unified, pick-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps political will. The Coulee Area Park and Recreation District was formed as a tool to allow the area’s people to give their blessings to efforts that will make life better for everyone in the area, such as a swimming pool. Still seen as their primary goal, commission... Full story
Construction is starting today on new concrete pad and underground electrical installation at the Crescent Bay boat launch on Lake Roosevelt. The 145-foot by 84-foot pad will serve as a site for the later assembly of a new ferry boat for the Keller Ferry. The boat, currently being built in three pieces by Foss Maritime of Oregon, will be delivered for final assembly to the Crescent Bay site operated by the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. National Park Service spokesman John Edwards said the schedule for that assembly has changed. The...
The Bureau of Reclamation will be adding jobs at Grand Coulee Dam over the next several years, boosting employment at the project by about 40 permanent jobs, plus adding a similar number that will fluctuate as special maintenance projects start and finish, Power Manager Mark Jenson announced Thursday. “We’ve got a good future for Grand Coulee. We’ve got an opportunity to get staff back up to where it needs to be,” Jenson said, speaking to members of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce at a weekly luncheon meeting at La Presa. Beginni... Full story
Coulee Dam resident Greg Wilder, who has opposed the extent of Coulee Dam’s proposed wastewater treatment plant upgrades, has become an ardent advocate for ratepayers who would have to pay for the project. The $4.92 million project is bloated, Wilder claims, and could be built for substantially less, maybe for as little as $2.2 million he says. However, the town continues to move ahead with the design of the project, using Gray & Osborne engineers. Now Wilder is trying to assist in putting together a package of financial backers to lessen t... Full story
The park and recreation district formed in 2003 has accomplished much, and with minimal tax support could provide much more to the community in the future, its chairman said last week. Coulee Area Park and Recreation District Chairman Phil Hansen spoke to chamber of commerce members at their weekly luncheon last Thursday. The district, formed in 2003 with no funding, now seeks a levy of 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The measure, on ballots mailed to voters last week, would cost the owner of a $150,000 home $22.50 a year. That... Full story
Ten Years Ago Present or potential small business owners, who need some professional help in starting or running their business, will soon have a place to go. About 20 people went to see tribal officials dig shovels into the grass outside of Colville Tribal Credit building Monday. A change is on the horizon for residents of Grand Coulee that could result in lower, more frequent water bills. Mayor Tammara Byers said the city’s water comprehensive plan calls for the city crew to take out the current water meters and install new ones. Higher garba... Full story