News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Cases of COVID-19 have doubled in less than a month in the cities of Electric City and Grand Coulee. Since Aug. 4, local cases in Grant County have doubled to 98 total cases, up by 13 in the last week. Grant County Health District Tuesday reported 286 additional cases countywide since Friday, with 17 patients currently hospitalized for covid, ranging in age from their 20s to their 70s. The 14-day incidence rate in the county is at 1,143 cases per 100,000 population. Earlier this month, that... Full story
Reversing an earlier decision, the Colville Tribes will now allow previously canceled stick games and a powwow to go one, but only vaccinated people can attend. The Star received an email announcing the decision late Wednesday morning, after the printing this week's issue. The decision was made by 2 p.m. Tuesday. Below is the new press release: The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation has decided to let the powwow and stick games set for September proceed, provided that each event will require all participants to show proof of...
Attendees of the Omak Stampede are urged to watch for symptoms of COVID-19 after an outbreak was announced in an Aug. 25 press release from Okanogan County Public Health. "Okanogan County Public Health is reporting a COVID-19 outbreak associated with the four-day Omak Stampede, held in Omak, Washington on August 12 – August 15, 2021," the press release says. "Cases have been identified among residents of Okanogan County, the Colville Reservation, and Skagit County." “As of today, we are aware of over two dozen lab confirmed COVID-19 cases in... Full story
Nespelem School students will go to work like many of their parents do — four days a week — after the school board voted Monday night to approve the new schedule that ends the week on Thursday instead of Friday. Principal/Superintendent Effie Dean told the Nespelem School Board that, in applying for a variance from the state to allow the schedule change, she explained that the proposed schedule would actually give students 20% more time in school using longer days. The change is good for the community, too, she said she told the state, because...
Terry S. "Juppo" Francis Jr., 64, Wanderer, Story Teller and proud member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, passed on to his fathers, Saturday, July 24, 2021 from Seattle, Washington. Juppo entered this world on Tuesday, January 17, 1957, to Terry S. Sr. and Dora Owhi-Francis in Nespelem, Washington. Juppo was on Chemawa Indian School, "Brave" football team in Salem, Oregon, graduating in 1975. He went on to attend college in Wenatchee, Washington. A member of Longhouse... Full story
David Allen Louie Sr., 73, known to all simply as "Dave Louie"; passed away Friday afternoon, August 13, 2021, at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, Washington. Dave was born Sunday, January 18, 1948, in Nespelem, Washington, to Francis and Elvina McClung-Louie. A 1967 graduate of Coulee Dam High School in Coulee Dam, Washington where he was named the Beavers Basketball Team's MVP; Dave attended college in Roswell, New Mexico, where he learned welding; a trade at which he worked for many years and... Full story
The business development arm of the Colville Tribes has announced it is looking at a site between Pateros and Chelan for its latest economic development efforts, saying spot has the hallmarks of a new “flagship” resort for the tribes. The Colville Tribal Federal Corporation (“CTFC”) said in a press release that it has completed a “preliminary review” of the site, “colloquially known as MA-18, [which] consists of over 640 acres located across the highway from Azwell, Washington, between Pateros and Chelan. The site features views of the Columb...
The Colville Tribes filed a lawsuit last week against the United States, seeking damages related to the massive wildfires that burned more than 240,000 acres on the Colville Reservation in 2015. “The Tribes alleged that the United States failed to maintain adequate forest health, through measures such as prescribed burning, which led to fires of unprecedented size and intensity,” a press release from the tribes explains. In August 2015 the North Star and Tunk Block fires burned more than 590 square miles and 800 million board feet of tim...
Inchelium, Wa. – The cold front that moved into the area yesterday brought measurable rain to the Summit Trail Fire, Upper Lime Creek Fire, and Chuweah Creek Fire. This moisture gives firefighters the opportunity to build direct fire line, while fire behavior is still moderate. Even though this moisture is helpful, the fire is not yet out. A drying trend will start today and continue with warmer temperatures throughout the week which will increase fire activity. Firefighters will hit the fire hard today with more direct attack in areas where p... Full story
A Level 2 notice to evacuate, meaning be ready, has been issued for the SR-155 corridor from the Colville Agency at the Columbia River Road to Nespelem to the Mission turnoff. The notice was issued at 9:18 p.m. Saturday due to the advance of the Whitmore Fire north and east from the Kartar Valley. In addition, the Washington State Patrol reported at 9:34 p.m. that SR-21 is closed at Keller due to wildfire, from MP 117 to MP123.5. WSP said residents are being evacuated immediately (level 3) by... Full story
Pastor Bob Phillips, 72, minister and member of the Cherokee Nation of Tahlequah, OK, met his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ face to face, Friday morning, July 23, 2021, from Spokane, Washington. Bob was born Saturday, March 12, 1949, to Job & Eva Sunday-Phillips in Porum, Oklahoma. A 1969 graduate of Porum High School, Bob went on to graduate from Baptist Bible College, Springfield, Missouri. In November of 1976, Bob married Charlene Drywater, in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the New Life Indian Baptist Chu... Full story
Gov. Jay Inslee met with tribal leaders and people affected by wildfire in Nespelem last week, characterizing the area as perhaps "the epicenter of climate change." He met with the Colville Business Council as well as with incident command staff from recent reservation fires in a closed meeting inside the Lucy Covington Government Center, the Tribal Tribune reported. "These are such difficult days dealing with COVID and these fires," Inslee is reported as saying in the July 21 meeting. "No...
A $4.9 billion pumped-storage hydropower project has been given preliminary nods by regulators for a site 35 miles upstream from Grand Coulee Dam, near Creston. Similar to the proposed Banks Lake Pumped Storage Project being developed for the Grand Coulee area, the 2,650-Megawatt Halverson Canyon Pumped Storage project got a preliminary permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Developer Daybreak Power Inc. says the project "would connect to the nearby Bonneville Power...
Gov. Jay Inslee has scheduled a visit to the Lucy Covington Government Center in Nespelem today. The governor is meeting with leaders of communities impacted by recent wildfires, including the Colville Business Council. Inslee plans to hear directly from a select group of community members greatly impacted by the fire on the first floor of the Government Center starting at 3 p.m., a press release from the Colville Tribes sent Tuesday night said. The governor will receive earlier briefings from the Colville Business Council and from fire...
Here is this morning's update on the Chuweah Creek Fire from the incident commander, along with an updated map. Cooler weather is helping for now, and acreage estimates have been changed with better mapping. CHUWEAH CREEK FIRE UPDATE NORTHWEST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM 12 Incident Commander: Bobby Shindelar July 17, 2021 8:00 AM Operations Today: Firefighters continue to make good progress on the Chuweah Creek Fire, which was started by lightning on July 12 and is burning east of Nespelem.... Full story
You may soon be able to bet on sports at Colville Tribal casinos. After more than a year of negotiations, a tentative agreement has been reached between the state of Washington and tribes within the state regarding authorizing them to offer betting on sporting events. “The proposed amendment to the existing compact will enable the Colville Tribes to effectively offer sports betting to its casino patrons,” a press release states. “The agreement is comprehensive, covering a wide range of concerns that include money laundering and integrity of spo...
3 Tribes Mill Bay Casino announces the official opening of the 12 Tribes Mill Bay Casino RV Park. Reservations are now available online or at the Players Advantage Club. “Lake Chelan is a beautiful area, and given our pristine location we decided to expand and provide an oasis for our guests,” said Kary Nichols, Colville Tribal Federal Corporation (CTFC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO). “With the increase in outdoor recreation, we are excited to open and provide 30/50-amp RV Park spaces near the 12 Tribes Mill Bay Casino and Lake Chela...
In a special meeting Thursday afternoon Grant County’s leaders declined to ban the sale or use of fireworks in the county, after fire officials across the county had urged them to do so. A motion by Commissioner Danny Stone, of Hartline, to ban the sale of fireworks did not receive a second motion from either Commissioner Cindy Carter or Commissioner Rob Jones, and so did not move on for a vote. “My position was, I felt like our fire marshal had made a good case,” Stone said later. County Fire Marshal Nathaniel Poplawski had urged the commi... Full story
Buying or selling fireworks, or having any open fires are prohibited on the Colville Reservation beginning today and lasting until October 1. The Colville Business Council passed several emergency resolutions on July 1 to mitigate the fire risk due to extreme fire conditions on the Colville Reservation and surrounding areas. A July 1 press release from the tribes says that "the sale and ignition of fireworks are now prohibited within the Reservation boundaries. In addition, open fires are prohibited within the Reservation boundaries. All... Full story
The Colville Tribes will soon have a new chairman, as current Chairman Rodney Cawston has been voted out in the recent election for seven Colville Business Council positions. Absentee vote tallies were added to poll votes and certified Thursday for a final vote count in the general election for seven of the 14 positions on the CBC, which governs the Colville Confederated Tribes. Alison Boyd-Ball defeated Cawston 418 votes to 322 in the race for Nespelem District Position #1. Cawston was first elected to the council in 2017, becoming chairman...
This is an “Open Letter to the Tribal Council.” I have to address it to them and to you because you members are the ones that will ultimately pay for this if it ever comes to pass. It has to do with the removal of Enloe Dam and what you should know about it. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Tribal Council, please accept this letter as a “last ditch effort” to persuade you to have no further discussions regarding Enloe Dam. I have sent each of you my video explaining our position exactly as it was stated those many years ago. Now, it seems like the ...
Eric Charles Smiskin, 50, Loving Son, Brother, Uncle and Faithful Friend, left us all much too soon, Saturday afternoon, June 19, 2021 from Nespelem, Washington. Born Monday, April 26, 1971 in Roswell, New Mexico to William "Bill" George and Sandra Mae Clark, Eric attended Lake Roosevelt School in Coulee Dam, Washington and went on to earn his GED from Washington State University. A proud member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville and the Catholic Church, Eric enjoyed spending time... Full story
Vincent Vargas Sr., 69, proud member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville, loving dad, grandpa and faithful friend passed away surrounded by his family early Wednesday morning, June 9, 2021, in Grand Coulee, Washington. Vincent was born Sunday, July 15, 1951 in Nespelem, Washington, to Julian A. Sr. and Clara E. Edmonds-Vargas. He worked as a laborer for the Tribal Government in various capacities. Always active, Vincent enjoyed going to Pow-Wows "they have the best food", Native Rodeo &... Full story
Hotter and drier summers seem to be the trend in climate changes locally as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released the new U.S. Climate Normals for 1991-2020. The NOAA is part of the Department of Commerce and updates the climate normals every 10 years using a 30-year range of data. Comparing the 1991-2020 data to the previous 1981-2010 data shows that the Spokane area, like much of the western U.S., is experiencing hotter and drier summers. Including here. "Vegetation drie...
Grant County health officials are asking people to still wear a mask, even if you’re vaccinated, because too few have gotten vaccinations. The recommendations came Tuesday evening with a list of reasons for the decision. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has relaxed its recommended safety measures, most notably not requiring masks when outdoors unless in very crowded areas and requiring no masks for fully vaccinated persons, even indoors. But Grant County is lagging the nation in vaccine uptake, with only 35.8% of i... Full story