News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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by Jacob Wagner Those who have an interest in the education of local youth will have two opportunities to learn more about an upcoming school levy that will be on the ballot for the November election. The Grand Coulee Dam School District’s proposed educational levy seeks $2 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation, down from the $4.20 total collected from three levies expiring at the end of this year. The educational levy is also tied to about $700,000 more per year from the state that the district doesn’t get if voters don’t approve a levy....
Raider football fans cheer at last Friday night's game against the Liberty Lancers, the LR defeat of whom boosted the Raider rating to second in the state after four games this season. See details on page 5. - Jacob Wagner photo...
After a nice break for a couple weeks, the infection control nurse at Coulee Medical Center had to get back in the saddle the third week in September with three employees out with Covid-19. And as of Monday night, reported CEO Ramona Hicks to the hospital district board, five more employees were isolating due to exposure and 10 more were testing for it. The hospital has lost 710 working days among staff, due to the covid pandemic. Covid-19 isn’t going anywhere, officials say, but there are still precautions to take to prevent yourself, and o...
The Coulee area looked so festive last year with scarecrows that another Scarecrow Trail is planned this year by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. During the scarecrow trail, residents and businesses display scarecrows outside of businesses and in their neighborhoods. This year’s event will be held from Oct. 15-Nov.15 and participants have until Oct. 14 to register to be included in the contest, with awards given for first, second, and third place. “We are sure that the scarecrows displayed will be nothing short of fantastic! Let...
The wastewater treatment plant that takes care of all the sewage from Grand Coulee and Electric City has been in operation continually since 1985, treating 127 gallons a minute on average. The two cities have not grown out of it capacity-wise, but it’s “aging out” and needs an update, according to consulting engineering firm Gray and Osborne, which is working on a plan to update for the next 20 years. “What the guys are largely running up against is that … some of the equipment is just no longer made,” Gray and Osborne Engineer Nancy Wetch...
It can be hard to imagine mastodons roaming around in Eastern Washington, but they did, and a Grant PUD pulled a bone from one out of a bag last week. Back in March, the jawbone of an estimated 6-million-year-old Ringhold mastodon was found on Carbody Beach in the upper Hanford Reach area of the Columbia River, north of the Tri-Cities. Brett Lenz is an archaeologist and manager of Grant PUD's Cultural Resources division. He came across a picture of the jawbone on Facebook. A "rockhound" had...
Evacuation alert issued in Okanogan County A wildfire in Carlton warranted a level 2 (be ready to go) evacuation alert Tuesday afternoon that was still active by early evening. The Leecher Fire near 188 Vintin Road was about 30 acres in size at 6 p.m. County fire districts 3, 6 and 15 had been dispatched and were making good progress, the county’s Emergency Management Department reported. Firefighters with the state Department of Natural Resources were expected to remain through the night. Mosquito district has open seats The Grant County M...
A school’s vision and mission will inevitably affect the success of the education of the children who go there, and the Grand Coulee Dam School District is working on updating their strategic plan. The current strategic plan originates from 2017 and was last updated in 2020. At the GCDSD’s Sept. 12 board meeting, it was looked at piece by piece, and board directors suggested changes that could be made to it. The plan states that the district’s mission is to “empower all students to become successful members of our diverse society,” and that...
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Elmer City has entered the digital age with their own website found at www.townofelmercity.com, which includes helpful information for residents. Recently hired City Clerk Kelly Ross designed the website, which includes a few historical photos as well as information such as the contacts for city hall, emails for the mayor and council members, a water/sewer emergency number, public notices, council meeting information, city ordinances and more. Grand Coulee also started a website earlier this year, found at http://www.gccitywa.org. Electric...
Although the idea of consolidating local towns wasn’t popular during a brief discussion in Electric City, the idea of consolidating local fire and EMS services does have support. During their Sept. 13 council meeting, the council briefly discussed the idea of the consolidation of towns. Councilmember Brian Buche said the vast majority of people he has spoken to on the topic are against the idea. Councilmember Bob Rupe agreed. Fire Chief Mark Payne said that he wasn’t in favor of consolidating the towns, but was in favor of consolidating loc...
People in Nespelem opened up a new ball field Friday, complete with dugouts, fencing all around, bleachers, a tall backstop, and synthetic turf. The baseball/softball field can also be used for other activities, such as soccer and flag football. To underscore that point, after speeches concluded, the first game played was a game of kickball with players of all ages. Little bits of black rubber rose like heavy dust behind runners, then falling immediately back below the fabric that serves as the...
It was constructed nearly three years ago, but people behind putting up an informative kiosk at North Dam Park, delayed by circumstances, decided to hold a ceremony to officially open it last Saturday. The kiosk tells historical information about the area, and gives overviews of some of its features. Washington State Parks' Coulee Corridor Area Manager Dennis Felton and board member Birdie Hensley were joined by longtime corridor president Tim Alling, who cut the ribbon on the basalt...
Don’t open any recent emails from Grant County government entities or respond with any data as they aren’t actually from Grant County officials. “Grant County government has had several email accounts compromised,” a notice from Grant County Sheriff's Office reads. “If you receive an email asking you to open a proposal or the sender is sharing a file, delete the email. Do not open the email; do not input any username or password if requested. “If you have questions or have received an email and wish to let us know, please call 509-754-201... Full story
Time to lace up your sneakers because the Run the Dam festival takes place this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 16-17, and includes fun and activities for people of all ages in addition to the race. About 300 runners are expected to run in the event, according to event organizer Kelly Buche. Runners can participate in 5k, 10k, and half marathon races that begin by running across the top of the Grand Coulee Dam starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Participators can pace themselves in the event, and can...
There will be a levy committee meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 5:00 pm in the HS HUB. Community members interested in helping with the levy are needed. Karen Depew will be running the meeting so come with your thoughts and ideas. Hope to see you there....
Junkyard Jane plays at Sunbanks Lake Resort's music festival Saturday night, where they had the crowd jumping after being a presented a banner on their 25th year of playing music. The resort was packed with campers for the festival that featured 18 bands from Thursday through Sunday nights. - Scott Hunter photo...
Do you know who’s going to need a career to make a living someday? High school kids. And do you know who could use some employees? The local hospital. Put two and two together, and you’ve got Coulee Career Connection. The local hospital has jobs to fill, and local high school students could eventually be the perfect fit. Lake Roosevelt High School students will be attending an event called Coulee Career Connection on Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the school gym where they can learn about different careers in the medical field and the edu...
There is a confirmed case of the Monkeypox Virus (MPV) in Grant County. The Grant County Health District said Sept. 13 that they are investigating the case. “The patient is in good health and is currently in home quarantine,” the release states. “GCHD is working to identify others who may have been exposed. To date, no one who was exposed is considered a possible positive case. Depending on the situation, people who had close or intimate exposure to a person with monkeypox might be advised to get a vaccine for monkeypox. Because of this, it is...
The wildfire smoke in the air, which may come from this or that fire depending on which way the wind is blowing, is unpleasant and unhealthy to breathe, and has an effect on local events. Grand Coulee Dam School District leaders discussed air quality at their board meeting on Sept. 12 when Superintendent Paul Turner discussed www.purpleair.com, showing how sensors installed at volunteer locations measure air quality. Local sensors on the network include one south of Osborn Bay, one near Spring Canyon, one in downtown Grand Coulee, another in ea...
Music fans float just offshore behind the stage to listen to the music at Sunbanks Lake Resort's music festival Saturday night. A dozen or so floaters, including a contingent of kayakers stopped in for a listen. - Scott Hunter photo...
Local park district commissioners have secured funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to help keep North Dam Park alive for several years to come, provided matching funding can be secured for a park that is the center of community-wide events. “It looks like we have done it, mission accomplished,” Commissioner Kevin Portch of the Coulee Area Parks and Recreation District said Aug. 31 in an email to the other commissioners and interested parties, including The Star. CAPRD, which manages North Dam Park, located on USBR land, was in some fin...
People at last week's "First Friday" market shop from various vendors at North Dam Park as a couple talk with a candidate running for sheriff. The park, a center of community events, relies on funding from the Bureau of Reclamation matched by local dollars through the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District. - Scott Hunter photo...
Fall approaching doesn't mean we are in the clear as far as wildfires go, and many of our worst fire seasons have happened in September and October. "Washington state is in the midst of wildfire season," the Washington State Department of Health warned in a statement last week. "Although it's been a mild season to date, it is important to be prepared and ready to protect yourself and your family from wildfire smoke before the smoke hits." It was in September of 2020 that about half a million acr...
Seven men were arrested in Grant County over the course of several days as part of an operation identifying individuals allegedly involved in the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, after a multi-agency law enforcement effort, officials said late last month. The multi-day operation involved the Washington State Patrol (WSP), local Grant County law enforcement agencies and several partner agencies. The cases will be reviewed by the Grant County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to determine whether or what criminal charges should be filed. ...