News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Two new city leaders have been sworn in this month in two local cities. Kevin Black was selected two weeks ago to fill Council Position #1 in Coulee Dam, left vacant by Fred Netzel's resignation last month. The city council voted to put Black in the seat, which will be up for election in November for a four-year term. Councilmember Merv Schmidt said that he felt both candidates who applied were qualified, but that Black's experience with utilities, being the manager at Nespelem Valley Electric,...
“Koulee Kids Fest was such a great time!” Grand Coulee Dam Area Executive Director Rachel Haven about last Saturday’s event. “I believe it was a success. Kids were smiling from ear to ear all over town.” Three-year-old Cairo Billups won the iPad Mini and Beats headphones grand prize drawing that kids entered by participating in the event. This year’s Koulee Kids Fest featured L-Bow the Clown. “L-Bow the clown was so much fun!” Haven said. “L-Bow’s act included unicycling and juggling, making balloon animals and hats, and the grand finale of a f...
With temperatures set to soar to record-breaking levels in the next week, all fires at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area are prohibited effective 12:01 am, Friday, June 25, 2021 until further notice. No open flames are permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, all fires in NPS provided fire rings and boxes, shoreline fires, charcoal fires, tiki torches, incense burners, candles, and propane campfires. Self-contained propane or gas stoves and lanterns are still allowed during the full fire ban. For the most current information... Full story
After growing up in Grand Coulee, Michael Thomas now jumps out of helicopters in Bahrain. After graduating from Lake Roosevelt High School in 2016, Thomas went to Western Washington University to pursue a computer science major. But after a semester there, Thomas headed in another direction. His father Dale Thomas had been in the Navy, and friends had joined other branches of the military, so Thomas spoke to a recruiter who showed him the path to becoming an aviation rescue swimmer, someone who...
Grand Coulee Police 6/15 - Police didn’t observe any puppies at large near Bachelor Square but did talk to the owner who wasn’t sure how the puppies could have gotten out. - A woman was pulled over on Midway Avenue for driving with a shattered windshield. An officer noted that she seemed indifferent about the shattered windshield. She was cited for the windshield as well as for driving without insurance. 6/16 - A woman on Electric Boulevard reported that she never received a package from her aunt containing stitched fabric of a family tre...
GRANT COUNTY, WA – In response to the high temperatures we are experiencing across the Columbia Basin, the Grant County Health District is issuing a heat advisory and urging people to take extra precautions to avoid heat related illnesses. Extreme heat often results in the highest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards. Heat-related illnesses are preventable. It is important to learn the symptoms and what to do if you or a loved one shows signs of having a heat-related illness. In extreme heat, evaporation is slowed, and t... Full story
Lake Roosevelt High School graduates took deep breaths of fresh air at their graduation ceremony Saturday after two school years boxed in by a global pandemic. The class of 2021, 56 in all, took their seats on the bleachers above the football field, facing a throng of families strategically distanced from each other in groups on the field below. Unlike last year, the weather cooperated on a beautiful day. Speeches from the valedictorian, salutatorian and two class speakers tried to summarize...
With a recent wildfire started by a ricocheted bullet adding to safety and noise issues, target shooting at Osborn Bay is a concern for some, and the federal agency that owns the area says it is illegal to target shoot on their lands. In response to the June 5 fire at Osborn Bay, Electric City resident Jerry Kennedy submitted a public comment in an email that was read at Electric City’s June 8 city council meeting. The area lies within city boundaries. Kennedy lives less than a mile north of a common, unofficial shooting range there where a s...
In its 80th year, Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union is in the process of merging with a larger credit union, a process that has been repeated across the country many times over the last couple years. A special members’ meeting is set for next Monday evening at CDFCU’s Coulee Dam headquarters. Members are already voting online and by mail — 955 times as of Monday, CEO Colleen Manley said. Voting for CDFCU’s 11,788 eligible members has been open since the end of April. The boards of directors of both CDFCU and Spokane Teachers Credit Union already...
Being a father of three, I understand how important fathers are to their kids. My three amazing children - Emmaline (10), Malyala (8), and Callaway (6) are a tribute to my parents. I wish I could take full credit for the way they are, but I can't. Growing up, my dad wasn't around the house much; he was busy running a restaurant to provide financially for his family. He worked six days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 at night. I have heard him share several times that all he did was "wake up, go...
Grand Coulee Police 6/6 - A man reported things stolen from his unattended campsite at Osborn Bay. The man had observed some shady looking men in an orange/yellow work truck near his campsite looking around his vehicle. They left when he approached them. The missing items include a battery, LED lights, and more, and are valued at a total of about $250. 6/8 - A woman was banned from the Continental Heights apartments and left without incident. She was alleged to have smoked meth at the apartments at one point. - A loose puppy was reported on...
KELLER – Keller Ferry users who travel across the Columbia River on State Route 21 will need to find alternate routes. The Keller Ferry, M/V Sanpoil, was removed from service earlier today due to issues with the rudder. Currently, there is no estimated time for the vessel to return to service. Traveler’s planning a trip across the Columbia River on SR 21 should choose an alternate route during the closure via SR 25 or SR 155 and SR 174. Plan additional time for travel as it can take up to an hour to complete the detour.... Full story
A fire at Osborn Bay in high winds Saturday forced two people there to stay in the water for hours as flames came near enough at times that they could feel the heat. The fire near Osborn Bay, south of Electric City burned approximately 30 acres of sagebrush, dry grass, trees, and other vegetation in high winds on Saturday after a bullet ricocheted and started the fire. Electric City Fire Chief Mark Payne said the fire started at approximately 12:55 p.m. when a man shooting in the area reported...
A Lake Roosevelt student-athlete testing positive for COVID has led to students quarantining and basketball games being cancelled, but an outdoor graduation ceremony is still planned for Saturday. Basketball games on June 4, 5, 7, and 8 were canceled as a result of the situation. A June 5 notice on the Raider’s athletic website announced that a student-athlete had tested positive for Covid resulting in the basketball teams quarantining. A June 7th update on the school’s Facebook page explained that in response, the school’s “admin team has been... Full story
Get your passports ready; Koulee Kids Fest is taking place on June 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with lots of free activities for kids to participate in around the town. The “passports” are used by the kids to go to various activities and get their passports stamped at up to 16 local businesses offering fun activities to qualify to win prizes. “My hope for Koulee Kids Fest is for it to draw families outside, support the community, and engage in some safe and fun activities,” Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Executive Directo...
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...
A dozen boat-in campsites at Steamboat Rock State Park in the Ponderosa Campground are now closed to camping as the area becomes designated for day-use only. Washington State Parks announced the closure, which began June 1, in a May 26 press release. The day-use only area has "900 feet of shoreline available for picnicking and exploring," the release says. The press release also shows a satellite map of the now day-use area, located northeast of the boat launch and bordering an area that technic...
THANKS to ALL the local FIRE Responders and Response Teams from surrounding communities for the quick and professional RESPONSE to the Osborn Bay Fire last Saturday. Under the dry, windy conditions this could have been disastrous. Thanks also to the DNR crews for the mop-up. Sincerely, Ronald and Wendy Kosloski...
The Grand Coulee Library has a new librarian, Catherine Matthews, and she's excited to meet you. Matthews moved to Electric City by way of Whidbey Island and started work at the library on May 18. Speaking with The Star by phone, Matthews explained her love of books and libraries. She said that she always went to her local public library as she was growing up and got exposed to different viewpoints and opinions. "I read a lot," she said. "I read very widely, across genres and lots of different...
Grand Coulee 5/29 - Police drove to Osborne Bay for a noise complaint of loud music playing. Police heard music playing somewhere in the area upon arrival, but then it stopped. Police waited to see if the music started again, but it did not. - A catalytic converter was sawed off the muffler of a business’ delivery truck. - Police pulled over a car suspected of being driven under the influence because of some erratic lane travel and sudden braking. The driver did not appear intoxicated but was tired and wearing medical scrubs. She said she w...
A congressman and a state legislator met with several local leaders last week to hear about local needs and ambitions, leaving with a list of to-dos. Congressman Dan Newhouse and Washington State Rep. Mike Steele met with the group at the Grand Coulee Dam School District office in Coulee Dam May 28 to briefed on an introductory course in how the federal and state governments have fallen short in support of the unusual area, where four or five counties come together, with an Indian reservation,...
A fire near Osborne Bay south of Electric City is burning sage brush and other vegetation in high winds. Helicopters from the Department of Natural Resources and the Bureau of Land Management are helping fight the fire along with fire fighters from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and the departments from Electric City, Grand Coulee, Coulee Dam, Elmer City, and Lincoln County. Electric City Fire Chief Mark Payne said the fire started at approximately 12:55 p.m. and is suspected to have started... Full story
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
Voters will decide on about 30 positions up for election in the 2021 elections for local town councils, school boards, and more. The primary elections will take place in August, while the general election will take place in November. Grand Coulee Three seats on the Grand Coulee City Council are up for reelection this year, all to four-year terms. Three candidates have filed their intentions to seek Council Position #1, currently held by Tammara Byers who is not running for reelection. The candidates who have filed are: Ben Hughes, Tracey...
Social media has become such a big part of modern life, to the point that now the Grand Coulee Dam School District has an employee policy about it. The district’s board of directors approved a social media policy during their May 24 meeting. Superintendent Paul Turner explained to The Star that the policy isn’t required by the state but rather “is preemptive” and “also initiated because of some previous issues.” Turner declined to elaborate on the nature of those previous issues. “Without a policy, there is no guidance to stay consistent wh...