News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Shane Proctor was inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame Tuesday. The Grand Coulee cowboy went on to a winning career in professional rodeo after graduating from Lake Roosevelt High School in 2003. Naming Proctor as a 2026 inductee to the Bull Riding Hall of Fame (BRHOF), the nonprofit organization listed his many accomplishments in rodeo and bull riding. Proctor qualified for the PBR World Finals nine times from 2006 to 2017 and for the National Finals Rodeo five times from 2011 through... Full story
OLYMPIA – Sheriffs from across Washington state testified against a bill that would introduce new eligibility criteria for police chiefs, marshals, and sheriffs during a contentious public hearing Jan. 15. One sheriff's testimony was considered so inappropriate that the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) is considering expelling him. And the prime sponsor of the bill said the remarks show why new requirements are needed. The sheriffs claimed Senate Bill 5974 would w... Full story
The question of whether to continue studying the question of whether to create a “regional fire authority” is still active, although two local departments that would be affected have not yet sent in a letter of intent to agree to pursue it. Fire chiefs from Electric City and Grand Coulee spoke with Electric City’s city council Tuesday night with an update on the topic. Ryan Fish, Grand Coulee’s chief, said he hoped Electric City was still planning on supporting that effort, following a stall in momentum since last August. Fish said he did rec...
Rob Carroll poses with the sign he was carrying in Saturday's protest on Midway next to a Christmas wreath that had been repurposed to note the death of Renee Good, who was killed by an ICE agent in Minnesota last Wednesday. Carroll said his sign quotes her last words, which she spoke to the agent. The killing of the 37-year-old citizen by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shocked the nation, sending masses of people into the streets of cities to protest what many see as the Trump...
While a lot of energy is put into celebrating the achievements of athletes in local schools, another celebration is in planning to do the same — for academic achievements. Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Rod Broadnax told the school board Monday that, although the district honors students who meet certain goals with a special event on a regular basis, it’s been suggested to do more to bring in parents to celebrate with students for successes in their studies. “As a matter of fact, I got an earful from a parent after an eight...
Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Rog Broadnax presented a certificate of thanks Monday night to teacher Ethan Tatum "in recognition of your hard work and dedication to the children of the Grand Coulee Dam School District." Tatum, who teaches Spanish and English Language Arts, told The Star later that after being told to attend the school board meeting, he had thought he might be expected to discuss curricula decisions made last year; the award was a complete surprise. "It has...
A new federal program aimed at improving health care in rural communities awarded Washington more than $181 million last week. State leaders argue the money will be helpful, but ultimately will fail to offset anticipated revenue shortfalls from Medicaid cuts. The large sum comes from the Rural Health Transformation Fund, a $50 billion program in the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill that Congress passed in July. Congress intended the fund to allay worries about the legislation’s cuts to Medicaid and how they would impact rural hospitals. Medicai...
Rex, an extra short, red corgi, keeps an eye on his approaching canine friend from the fishing beach at Crescent Bay on Lake Roosevelt while people fishing don't seem to mind as he walks under their lines supported in the sand. - Scott Hunter photo...
Seven adventurous souls take the polar plunge at noon on New Year's Day at Spring Canyon, just before the sky started blanketing snow and sleet on the area. Not everybody sticks around after getting out of the water, so not all the names were available, but at left are Terrie Owen, Diana Parish (in blue), her daughter and granddaughter, to her left, Tammy Norris, Gwen Hilson, and a grandson of Ross Vordahl in pink. Ross, an annual kayaker at the event, was nearby with his companion in one,...
Grant County Health Officer Dr. Alexander Brzezny, has announced the start of the 2025/2026 respiratory illness season. Since the beginning of December, and especially during the last two weeks, influenza (flu) activity in Grant County has increased sharply, GCHD said in a Dec. 31 release. This includes a noticeable rise in emergency department visits. Flu activity has also been increasing on state and national levels. Healthcare facilities should begin implementing enhanced measures to reduce...
Grand Coulee is putting owners of empty buildings on notice. The city council passed Ordinance 1105 last month, after several months of discussion, to require owners of vacant buildings to register them with the city, which could at some point start leveling initially small penalties. “Once again, we’re not trying to go after anybody here,” said Councilmember Tom Poplawski. “It’s to gain some awareness that we’d like to see the city look a little nicer.” Poplawski first introduced the idea in March 2025, when he brought council members infor...
Washington State Standard December 30, 2025 Tax hikes on big business and rental cars. Unemployment benefits for workers on strike. Those are just a few of the changes to state law taking effect in Washington on New Year's Day. Some bills passed in 2025 became law earlier in the year, while others will take years to go into effect. The next legislative session, lasting 60 days, begins Jan. 12. Here's a look at some of the new laws on the books starting Thursday. Unemployment for striking...
In mid-July, Tim Lynch was headed to the post office, when he saw the smoke. Fast forward to Monday night at the end of December, and Lynch was on hand at the Coulee Dam Town Council meeting to receive a proclamation signed by the mayor to honor his "Extraordinary Bravery and Selfless Service" for having rescued three people from a housefire before emergency services arrived that day. Mayor Bob Poch's proclamation, actually first issued in August but not presented in person until Monday, first...
Coulee Dam's town council welcomed in two new council members just before breaking for cake to honor the service of two who were leaving, especially Merv Schmidt, who, in his second stint on the council, has served for six years. "From the bottom of my being, thanks for all you've done," Mayor Bob Poch said. Newly elected Ronald Toulou will succeed Schmidt on the council. And Brian Quill will take the seat just vacated by Chris Bulger. Those two new council members were sworn in, along with...
The folks in the Wayfinders group walking along Midway Avenue Saturday were dressed more warmly than they were a week ago. Dropping temperatures didn't dissuade too many though; there were still 30 of them with signs protesting the Trump administration's policies. - Scott Hunter photo...
Grand Coulee Mayor Ruth Dalton answered a question about the status of the agreement with Electric City on the operation of the wastewater treatment plant with a short, “It’s in a process.” Renata Rollins had inquired during a public comment period at the last council meeting Dec. 22 about the negotiations, given statements reported in The Star from the last Electric City Council meeting. They are considering taking a disagreement between the two cities to mediation or arbitration after most of a year spent trying to come together to discuss it...
Another beautiful winter-in-coulee scene.... Full story
School directors voted to authorize an emergency budget resolution last week that allows the superintendent to issue RIFF-and-recall notices that warn of a possible reduction in force but would not implement them if it can be avoided. Instead, Superintendent Rod Broadnax is instructed to look for other savings and to "maximize revenue" for the Grand Coulee Dam School District. Preferred strategies for this include savings in supplies and operating costs, purchased services, and travel expenses,...
The Grand Coulee Dam School District Board of Directors will meet tomorrow morning, Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 10 a.m. in the high school library. The district's Dec. 22 board meeting was canceled last week for lack of a quorum. Notice was sent by the district office Monday that included the same agenda for Tuesday morning, on next to the last day of the year. The meeting can also be attended online via Zoom: https://gcdsd.zoom.us/j/89474772041?pwd=Zk5pNnB6MWovOUNLMEtUcTR1MEsyQT09 DO NOT CLICK "Sign... Full story
STCU's Lisa Allsbrook and Area Vice President and Branch Manager Beverly Rodriguez present a ceremonial check for $5,000 to Care and Share Food Bank Manager Dave Noggles on Friday. Rodriguez said the credit union starts its "Season of Giving" this time of year, "affording us the opportunity to give back to local non-profits with year-end gifts" and thank local non-profits for their impactful work. - submitted photo...
Douglas County Undersheriff Tyler Caille formally announced Friday that he will be running for Douglas County Sheriff in the upcoming 2026 election. Following Sheriff Kevin Morris' retirement announcement Dec. 8, Caille declared his candidacy to fill the vacant seat. He said he will also submit his name for consideration by the Republican Central Committee for appointment to the unexpired term, beginning March 2, 2026. Caille has spent nearly 20 years in law enforcement and over 29 years in...
LACEY — Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson unveiled a plan Friday to steer $3 billion into preserving the state’s roads and bridges and building three new ferries over the next decade. Ferguson would raise the money through borrowing, with the sale of bonds backed by proceeds from a slew of new and increased taxes and fees lawmakers approved this year. This included an increase in the state’s gas tax. As envisioned, there’d be roughly a billion dollars apiece for paving highways, painting and repairing bridges, and adding three vessels to the Washi...
Ryan Fish and Richard Paris, local emergency medical technicians with the Grand Coulee Ambulance Service, were recently recognized by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians for achieving 30 consecutive years of National EMS Certification, an honor held by few EMS professionals. To maintain their status as a nationally registered EMT, they completed, on a biennial basis, the most comprehensive recertification program for EMS professionals in America. The National Registry of...
Coulee Polar Plunge will be happening at noon on Thursday, January 1 at Spring Canyon. Those wanting to brave the water in a kayak are also invited to attend....
The community was thrown into grief Thursday night as word spread of the death of a mother and her young son in what law enforcement authorities are calling murder. Tribal police found Laura Dick and her 17-year-old son Anthony Vieira, dead in the family home after Damien Martinez Jr. called them and confessed, reported sources, including KXLY, which reported obtaining court records Saturday. Okanogan County Prosecuting Attorney Albert H. Lin issued a statement Monday saying Martinez was being held on two counts of first-degree murder, with...
