News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Retail chain Dollar General is looking to build a store in Grand Coulee. During Grand Coulee’s Oct. 18 council meeting, a man named Darryl Hackworth spoke during the public comment period, and said he has been working with Dollar General for the past few months, and said they are interested in acquiring city property on Federal Way behind where it intersects with Midway Avenue. “I think it would be a good move for the city,” he said, adding that he works for the Bonneville Power Administration, which plans on doing work locally that could...
by Jacob Wagner School is an institution built around educating students, and now the local school district has student representatives. The Grand Coulee Dam School District approved the appointment of two student representatives from the student body during their Oct. 24 school board meeting. Juniors Layla Flett and Celeste LaPlace will fill those positions. LaPlace, the daughter of the Board Chairman George LaPlace, had made a presentation to the board back in January about having student representatives. “A lot of my friends think no one car...
The Colville Indian Reservation will have greater internet access thanks to a large federal grant. “The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation accepted a federal grant to construct internet infrastructure across the Colville Reservation in the amount of $48,405,830.78,” an Oct. 12 press release from the tribes reads. “Construction will occur over the next five years, and the specific final scope of the project is yet to be determined. “Fiber will be connected directly to homes as much as possible. Where it is not possible, wireless ser...
Young students and Lake Roosevelt Elementary take a cheer clinic Tuesday afternoon with high school Raider cheerleaders. Some of them will be seen on the football field at halftime this Friday night. - Jacob Wagner photo...
The Colville Tribes and top federal officials of the Environmental Protection Agency met Tuesday to discuss and announce proposed changes to air quality regulations that affect some Indian reservations, including the Colville Reservation. The Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) apply to all residents and businesses on or within 39 reservations in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation hosted the EPA's deputy administrator, Janet McCabe, and...
The Colville Tribes announced Friday night that the final suspect in this week's shootings on the Colville Reservation is now in the custody of law enforcement. The arrest follows the apprehension of two other suspects earlier today. Curry Pinkham was arrested in Elmer City by Colville Tribal Police, a post on the Colville Tribes Emergency Services Facebook announced at 6:08 p.m. “Details of this tragic event are still being assembled as law enforcement investigates,” Jarred-Michael Erickson, chairman of the Colville Tribes, said in a sta...
Two suspects are in custody and a third is still being sought in last night's shooting and chase, which police have revealed killed two and injured a police officer. Colville Tribal Emergency Services said in a Facebook post at 2:52 p.m. Friday that police are still searching for Curry Pinkham. Anyone with information on where he is asked to call tribal police at 509-634-2472. Residents in the Nespelem and Keller areas are still asked to remain indoors. An earlier update today had named Pinkham...
Police were not giving out any information tonight as officers from various agencies arrived from far away to diverge on Nespelem, where tribal police were searching for an active shooter. Colville Tribal Emergency Services posted a warning on Facebook about 7 p.m., asking Nespelem residents to stay in their homes. The mayor also issued that plea and added that a car chase was happening with someone shooting at police. Many commenters on Facebook made statements on social media giving other...
Nothing is easy, not even at a place called Playland. An estimated million dollars of upgrades are needed at Coulee Playland to bring it up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, the Electric City Council learned last week. The popular campground that includes a tackle and camping gear shop, boat launch, and more has been in the process of being sold to new owners this year. That process has been slowed as the Bureau of Reclamation reviews the new agreement between the city and the potential new owners to make sure it doesn’t contradict...
Elmer City appointed a new council member in addition to other business they took care of during their Oct. 13 council meeting. Long named new council member Flora Long expressed her interest in Council Member Position #4 during the meeting, saying that she is "just trying to do my civic duty." She has lived in the community for 40 years, she said, adding that her parents grew up in Elmer City. Long is also the sister of Councilmember Bill Dunlap. The council approved her appointment. She will...
The Electric City Council took a formal stance last week against the idea of consolidating their city with Grand Coulee. Mayor Diane Kohout told the council that because of a renewed interest in the topic of consolidation, and multiple residents asking about it, she would like the council to say whether they support the idea. Councilmember Cheryl Hoffman, formerly a member of a committee for consolidation, said that although she likes the idea of consolidation in theory, in practice it is not so practical. Councilmember Brian Buche said of all...
The topic of forming a local Emergency Medical Services district continues to be discussed, most recently at Electric City’s Oct. 11 city council meeting. Nic Alexander, who serves as assistant fire chief to Chief Ryan Fish for the Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department and the Grand Coulee Ambulance, spoke at the meeting, explaining many of the same details he made to Grand Coulee’s council in August. He said the area needs a full-time, paid ambulance director, plus additional staff. The current EMS boundaries reach from Leahy Junction to abo...
The Regional Board of Mayors is continuing to look into forming a cemetery district. At their Oct. 5 meeting, the RBOM discussed different factors they’ll need to look into regarding trying to form a cemetery district that would take over management of the Spring Canyon Cemetery, currently managed by the local Lions club. Complications include that the cemetery is located in Lincoln County, but none of the four cities of Electric City, Grand Coulee, Coulee Dam and Elmer City are in that county. Also, the RBOM was formed primarily to take c...
by Jacob Wagner Lake Roosevelt students got a taste of what it's like to work at a hospital, an environment some could end up working at one day. Coulee Medical Center helped give LR students the experience of what it might be like to be a surgeon, nurse, or medical assistant during a career fair held at the LR gym on Oct. 5. There, high school students from LR, Almira-Coulee-Hartline, and Wilbur were able to speak with CMC employees and participate in activities that simulated surgery, CPR, dra...
High school can go beyond the rigidity of reading, writing, and arithmetic that we sometimes think of it as, and Lake Roosevelt proves that by offering classes that are a little different. LR’s class catalog includes options that readers may not have been offered when they were in school, classes such as Rock Band, Journalism, American Sign Language, Native American Literature, and Natural Fire Science. Such classes engage students in ways that may be more appealing than more traditional classes, offer skills that can be useful in careers, o...
Okanogan County’s burning restrictions have been extended through Oct. 28, a notice from the county’s Emergency Management department said Monday. Restrictions had been set to expire Oct. 15, but with no recent rain and none expected for two weeks, the county’s Fire Advisory Committee recommended restriction continue. That means no field, pile, rubbish, slash, yard vegetation or non-emergent agricultural burning is allowed on unincorporated private lands within Okanogan County. Recreational fires must be attended at all times and be conta...
Okanogan County Sheriff says his office has gotten multiple reports of someone phoning people and claiming to be with the sheriff’s office. He’s not, Sheriff Tony Hawley said. The resident is asked to call a number on a “very urgent” matter. The number they are asked to call, 509-414-7003, is not a number in the county, but is supposed to be associated with the Chattaroy, Washington area. The name given is not that of an employee in the sheriff’s office, and “Okanogan” is pronounced incorrectly. “Please do not provide any personal inform...
Families gather around an inflatable movie screen to watch a film at the last First Friday event of the season Oct. 7 at North Dam Park. The earlier sunset provided a good opportunity to offer the free family activity at the last of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce's series that started in June with a monthly venue for vendors (in background here) and a beer garden (at left in background.) - Scott Hunter photo...
Oct. 21 Start of 18-day voting period (through Election Day). Ballots are mailed out and Accessible Voting Units (AVUs) are available at voting centers. Oct. 31 Online and mail registrations must be received eight days before Election Day. Register to vote in person during business hours and any time before 8 p.m. on Election Day. Nov. 8 Deadline for Washington State voter registration or updates (in person only). General Election - Deposit your ballot in an official drop box by 8 p.m....
OLYMPIA – Wildfire smoke is sticking around several parts of Washington and forecasts show smoke will likely get worse before it gets better. Breathing in smoke is not good for anyone. Days of consistent smoke exposure can take a toll on your health, making it especially important to protect yourself and those around you by staying alert and doing what you can to reduce smoke exposure. When it’s smoky outside, track air quality levels on the Washington Smoke Information website and follow related health recommendations. Do your best to stay ind...
The Grand Coulee Dam School District school board will hold a meeting on Oct. 10 at 5:30 p.m., in the Raider Hub at Lake Roosevelt where they will hold a question-and-answer session about the upcoming educational levy. That levy proposes to collect $2 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation to replace three levies collecting at a rate of $4.20 per $1,000 that are expiring at the end of 2022. More on the levy can be found in a July 27 Star story titled "Smaller school levy confirmed for Nov....
It’s October, and watching the 1993 Disney film “Hocus Pocus” in the park, in addition to enjoying food, drink, and craft vendors, may be the perfect way to spend your Friday night. On Oct. 7, the last “First Friday” event of the year will take place from 5-9 p.m. at North Dam Park. The event will include food and craft vendors, a beer garden featuring selections from One Tree Cider, Rocky Coulee Brewing, and other options, a DJ set by Jimmy Philips, and an 8 p.m. screening of the movie. Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce Executive...
Nate Krohn was appointed to a vacant commissioner seat with the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District at their Sept. 28 meeting. Krohn joins fellow commissioners Brian Warnecke, who also serves as president of the group, Kevin Portch, Carla Marconi, and Eric Wiitanen. A natural fit for the group, Krohn was born and raised in the Coulee area then went to Washington State University to become a landscape architect and in that capacity served the National Park Service for 12 years as a project...
Cindy Carter has been a Grant County commissioner since 2007, and wants to stay in that position to help share her knowledge with the large number of new people in leadership positions in county government. "I have the historical knowledge to continue moving forward," she said in an email to The Star. "We have two new commissioners, a newer Public Works Director, new Public Works Engineer, new Building Department Director, new Planning Director, [Geographic Information System] person and most im...
Jeff Foster sees changes that need to be made in Grant County, feels like he is the man for the job, and is challenging incumbent Commissioner Cindy Carter, who has held the seat since 2007, for the spot. "I believe that the people of Grant County should have the issues looked at from a new perspective with new energy!" he writes on his website. "I have the skills and experiences to help the citizens of Grant County and can give back to the community that has been very good to me professionally...