News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 254 - 278 of 968
Terri Lee Covington was called home to join her ancestors in the early morning hours on Sunday, December 20, 2020. Terri was brought into this world on Monday July 4, 1966 in Brewster, Washington, by Odile Bigwolf and Edward Covington Sr. She was an enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes from the Wenatchi and Moses-Columbia Tribes on her father's side, she was also Kainaiwa of the Blood Band in Standoff Alberta, Canada on her mother's side. She received her education from Nespelem... Full story
Jennifer Faye Joseph, 62, was surrounded by loving family, Wednesday evening, December 16, 2020, when she departed this life, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. This inspiring woman was born Tuesday, September 9, 1958, in Portland, Oregon, to Andrew Joseph Sr. and Geraldine Friedlander. A proud member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Jennifer attended Intermountain Indian School in Brigham City, Utah, where she graduated with honors in 1976. She went on... Full story
Opportunity for growth has opened for the town of Nespelem with an upgraded water system now up and running. Mayor Darcy Epperson explained to The Star over the phone on Tuesday that the town actually has two water systems, and needed to repair one of them. "We did two because if our one goes down, we are without [water] and our town has no way to get that water to our customers. So that's why it was such an emergent situation. We have them both up and running now." "The town had been in this...
The Colville Tribes extended the closure of the Colville Reservation to non-essential visitors until midnight on May 31, 2021, and started a curfew in the Keller District. Chairman for the Colville Tribes Rodney Cawston said in a Dec. 22 press release that the Keller District is “experiencing a severe outbreak of COVID-19 infections.” As of Dec. 21, there are 15 active cases of COVID-19 in Keller and more people in quarantine while they await test results or to see if symptoms develop. “It is absolutely necessary to impose this curfew to prese... Full story
Public safety laws on the Colville Reservation will be strictly enforced during the current spike in COVID-19 cases, the Colville Tribes says, including with possible fines and jail time. “The Tribal Health Department is issuing specific orders to infected or exposed people, which are intended to control the spread of the disease,” a Dec. 9 press release from the Colville Tribes says. “These orders may be for an individual to quarantine or isolate and avoid all contact with others. Any violation of a Tribal Health order is a criminal Class... Full story
Public safety laws on the Colville Reservation will be strictly enforced during the current spike in COVID-19 cases, a Dec. 9 press release from the Colville Tribes says. “The Tribal Health Department is issuing specific orders to infected or exposed people which are intended to control the spread of the disease,” the release reads. “These orders may be for an individual to quarantine or isolate and avoid all contact with others. Any violation of a Tribal Health order is a criminal Class A violation of the Colville Tribal Criminal Code punis... Full story
The Colville Tribes has imposed a curfew in Inchelium due to a COVID outbreak there with dozens diagnosed. The curfew is active each day between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to a Dec. 7 press release from the tribes. During that time, all residents or visitors to the Colville Reservation in the area must remain indoors. Travel is allowed only if essential, such as to or from a verifiable place of employment or to seek urgent medical attention. Those who violate the curfew may be cited or prosecuted pursuant to the Colville Tribal... Full story
Francis John Michael Reyes, 83, passed away on Wednesday, December 2, 2020. He was born on May 24, 1937, in Nespelem, Washington, to Modesta (Abraham) Shadle and Catherino Reyes. He grew up in Okanogan County, graduating from Okanogan High School in 1955. Francis then joined the Air Force in 1955 serving until 1959. Francis moved to Portland, Oregon and met and married the love of his life, Bonnie Overberg. They made their way back to the Grand Coulee Dam area in 1974 where they raised six... Full story
Timothy Raymond Neal, age 70, passed away Dec. 2, 2020, in Tonasket, Washington. Tim was born October 27, 1950 to Ray and Elaine Neal in Spokane, Washington. He was a proud member of the Colville Confederated Tribes. He lived in Coulee Dam, Washington and attended elementary school there until his father, a powerhouse operator, was transferred to Mattawa, Washington. He finished his elementary education there before moving to George, Washington where he grew up ranching with his Dad. They raised... Full story
Native American history is engrained in the culture of the Pacific Northwest. Throughout our region, we are reminded of Tribal culture and heritage which greatly influence our way of life. November is Native American Heritage Month, and in Central Washington, we have a rich, storied Tribal history that should be recognized. The federal government has a unique relationship with Native American tribes as we work in tandem to respect their culture, traditions, and treaty rights. The Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Nation (Yakama...
Chinook salmon have successfully spawned in the San Poil River for the first time in decades after Chief Joseph Dam and Grand Coulee Dam have "prevented the migration of salmon into the northern reaches of the Columbia River and its tributaries for nearly seven decades," The Tribal Tribune reported Oct. 29. In August, Colville Tribal Fish and Wildlife trapped and hauled 100 adult chinook salmon from Wells Fish Hatchery and released them into the San Poil River, a tributary of the Columbia, at...
The Colville Indian Reservation will soon have more internet access. The Colville Tribes is one of the first recipients of a spectrum license issued through the Federal Communications Commission and its Rural Tribal Window program. “This license provides the Tribes exclusive use of wireless spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band to connect communities on the Colville Reservation to wireless services,” a release from the tribes announced Tuesday. The Colville Tribes plans to implement this license by deploying wireless broadband in two phases. Phase one...
The construction of additional campsites at Steamboat Rock has resumed after a nearly four-year delay. The construction of 30 full-hookup RV sites at what will be called Cove Loop at Steamboat Rock State Park is on track to be finished in February of 2021, with the sites likely to be ready for campers in late spring or early summer next year, according to Dennis Felton, area manager for state parks in the Coulee Corridor, including Steamboat Rock, Sun Lakes-Dry Falls, and Potholes. A...
Let’s not risk losing Chris Branch as Okanogan County District 1 commissioner. I can confirm the complexity of an Okanogan County commissioner’s job, having taken notes at commissioners’ meetings since 2014. It includes such duties as writing and repealing laws; land use decisions; economic planning; coordinating over 20 departments, such as public works, the judicial system, emergency management; and more — including responsibility for an approximately $70 million budget. With this job, varied and extensive experience are crucial. Previou...
Update 9/16 11:55 a.m. The state Dept. of Ecology has extended the Air Quality Alert until noon Friday, although locally the air seems a lot less chewy (not a technical term) than it was before Tuesday. And it is only unhealthy currently, as opposed to outright hazardous. Good news: The Natonal Weather Service has co-opted the data from PurpleAir.com, which uses cheaper, but plentiful, air monitors. They've put up a useful new fire and smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/?la... Full story
Lawrence J. "Larry" Whalawitsa, 68, born Monday, August 11, 1952, in Nespelem, Washington, to Lawrence E. and Sophie Dick-Whalawitsa, passed away Monday morning, August 31, 2020, in Spokane, Washington. A proud member of the Colville Confederated Tribes, Larry bravely served in the US Army, during which time he was awarded "The Purple Heart" after being wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy. He was then employed for many years with "Ethel M Chocolates" in Las Vegas, Nevada,... Full story
Sept. 11, 9:30 a.m. update: The Cold Springs Fire is now at 187,689 acres and is 25% contained, according to a Sept. 10 update from the Northeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team. Power companies are working on replacing poles and to restore power in affected areas. "Priorities today will focus on the area east of Omak Lake and the Haley Lake area," the update says. "This area is where the most fire activity is and firefighters on the ground will be assisted by bucket operations... Full story
The Colville Tribes is working to address the problem of students in the Nespelem area not having access to the internet while schools are switching to a distance-learning model of education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Nespelem School District board of directors Aug. 26 approved allowing the Tribes to build an internet tower on school grounds, something that Superintendent/Principal Effie Dean said would bring internet access to the town of Nespelem. And beyond the town people could create “hotspots” using their phones, altogether bri... Full story
Janet Louise Nicholson age 66, proud member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, whose life was spent in service to the her nation, passed away in Elmer City, Washington Tuesday morning August 25, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. Born Saturday, August 21, 1954 in Nespelem, Washington to Isaac & Marie Covington–Wak Wak, Janet was baptized into the Catholic Church, was a member of Seven Drums – “Washaat,” and American Legion Post 114 of Nespelem, Washington. First employed by the tribal government at age 14 years; Janet w... Full story
Census takers will be visiting homes on the Colville Indian Reservation between now and Sept. 30, the Colville Tribes said last week. “The visits are designed to reach every household which has not yet completed their 2020 census form and give every resident an opportunity to participate in the census,” an Aug. 21 press release states. “While the Reservation is closed to non-essential visitors, the census enumerators are deemed essential and are permitted access to the Reservation due to the importance of census participation.” Rodney Cawston,...
Effie Dean, superintendent and principal at Nespelem Elementary School, carries another load of three meals (hot dog, chips and watermelon) to a waiting parent's car Monday night. She and school board member Nancy Armstrong-Montes, left, handled the food table, while teachers and staffers in the background were ready to hand out information packets. The school normally opens the year with an orientation barbecue day but couldn't because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The school board is set to...
Update 8/13/20 Firefighters say the Lower Coyote Creek Fire is now about 65 % contained and they will begin mop-up operations today, following a successful night of eliminating hotspots and cutting down unburned snags and material in the fire area, which has now been mapped at 2,580 acres. The Northeast Interagency Incident Management Team 1 has had 11 hand crews, 20 engines, four dozers, a pump cat and one skidgine on the fire, all watching out for hazards like dangerous snags, mine shafts and...
Due to a Red Flag Warning for fire conditions and potential changes to fire behavior, a Level 1 evacuation order has been placed on the area between Redthunder-Cutoff Road, Mill Creek Road, to Harrison Ranch Road on the Lower Coyote Creek Fire burning about four miles west of Nespelem. A map of the fire shows the evacuation zone northeast of the burn area and northwest of the town of Nespelem. It straddles SR-155 and includes at least 15 "structure address points." Isabelle D. Hoygaard, DNR... Full story
A fire that started Thursday afternoon near the tribal greenhouses near the Columbia River east of the Colville Indian Agency moved rapidly over dry hills to Schoolhouse Loop Road about two miles away, burned the tribal recycling center and threatened the correctional facility, the school, the tribal archives and the town itself, the Mt. Tolman Fire Center said. By evening, the blaze had burned about 1,200 acres of grass, sage and bitter brush as winds pushed it quickly across steep slopes...
City of Electric City CALL FOR BIDS FOR 2018 JEEP RENEGADE The City of Electric City will sell by sealed bid the following: 2018 Sport Utility Jeep Renegade with approximately 5,900 miles on odometer, minimum bid is $17,000. The vehicle is being sold AS IS and is available for viewing. Please call City Hall at (509) 633-1510 to make an appointment during normal operating hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00am– 5:00pm). Bids must be submitted on the City supplied bid form which may be obtained at Electric City City Hall or online at ww... Full story