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  • Big deals, every one of them

    May 20, 2020

    Lake Roosevelt High School staffers Friday hang up 42 banners depicting this year's graduating seniors. Extra efforts are being made to find ways to honor the class of 2020, who will not experience the long tradition of walking across the stage to get a handshake and a diploma in front of a gym full of friends and family. The big vinyl banners are hanging on the fence around the tennis courts, in front of where the graduates and families will park in cars for the ceremony planned for June 13. -...

  • Comments still open on management plan for Spring Canyon

    Jacob Wagner|May 20, 2020

    You have until the end of the day on May 30 to comment on potential changes at Spring Canyon, including the potential removal of the swim dock, removal of the concession building, and more. The Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Draft Visitor Use Site Management Plan and Environmental Assessment is available to view online and available for public comment The plan lists potential changes to nine sights along Lake Roosevelt, including Spring Canyon. Chapter two, page four (2-4), in a list of potential actions relevant to all sites along... Full story

  • Grand Coulee man dies of COVID-19

    Scott Hunter|May 20, 2020

    A man from Grand Coulee has died of complications from COVID-19, Grant County Health District said Monday night. The district was notified Monday that the man in his 50s, who was hospitalized, had died. The health district did not report where he had been hospitalized. “Our hearts are with his family and friends. On behalf of Unified Command, our staff, Health Officer, and Board of Health, we are so sorry for your loss,” a statement on the district’s website said. The death brings Grant County’s total to four, with 192 confirmed cases and ano... Full story

  • Cities allocated COVID relief money

    Jacob Wagner|May 20, 2020

    Local cities and towns could soon receive money as part of a COVID-19 federal relief package, but city officials are leery of requirements they may not meet. “Local governments will soon receive their portion of nearly $300 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funds awarded to the state to address COVID-19-related costs,” a press release from the Washington State Department of Commerce announced May 8. “The funds are flexible, allowing cities and counties to use their allocation for everything from p... Full story

  • Golfers enjoy returning to the course

    May 20, 2020

    Having been open for two weeks now, people have been out enjoying the Banks Lake Golf Course. On May 5 the state of Washington allowed golf courses to resume play with certain restrictions following a shutdown of courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Manager Jim Keene said that "the good news is the golfers are respecting the social distancing guidelines and appreciating being able to get out." "It's mostly local golfers that are golfing," he said. "The fact that the state parks and national...

  • Final voting results given for tribal primary

    May 20, 2020

    Final results are in for the Colville Business Council primary elections in which seven of the 14 positions for the governing body of the Colville Tribes are up for election. On Thursday, absentee votes were added to the total vote counts, and the top two winners in each race will move onto the general election. They are listed first in the following: In the Nespelem District Position #1 race, Andrew C. Joseph Jr received 328 votes; incumbent Janet Wak Wak Nicholson received 159; Justin Boyd received 141; and Lily “Teen” Stanger received 125...

  • On top and underway

    May 20, 2020

    A crew of workers makes progress on the new fire station under construction for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation off SR-155 Monday. Two cranes were active on the site, lifting materials to the top of the structure. - Scott Hunter photo...

  • Chamber honors business and achiever of the year

    Jacob Wagner|May 20, 2020

    "Achiever of the Year" and "Business of the Year" for 2019 were chosen last week by members of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce. Kerry Higgins, who co-owns Coulee Hardware, was named achiever of the year. Coulee Wall Variety Store was picked for business of the year. Coulee Wall Variety Store was named business of the year, an honor given to a business that "is active in the area, demonstrates growth, has innovative products or services for the community, provides excellent...

  • City contracts $405K for sewer lift station

    Jacob Wagner|May 20, 2020

    Electric City accepted a bid to build a new sewage lift station on the southern end of Grand Avenue, replacing one that dates back to the 1960s. The lift station pumps sewage to the wastewater treatment facility in Grand Coulee. The city council voted at their May 12 meeting, held via Zoom, to accept a $382,463.20 bid from TEK Industries, the lowest out of four bidders, to build the lift station. Steve Nelson from Century West Engineering, the city’s engineering firm, attended the Zoom council meeting as well. Nelson answered questions from C...

  • People For People gets GTA contract

    May 20, 2020

    Grant Transit Authority (GTA) awarded People For People, a non-profit organization, a contract to continue providing demand response transportation for individuals who qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). People For People is a local transportation service organization that has provided these services for GTA for the past 24 years. “We are thrilled to continue providing transportation for GTA’s ADA riders. This service is vital to many individuals who have disabilities in Grant County by providing them transportation to med...

  • Congressmen: include water infrastructure in COVID-19 relief package

    May 20, 2020

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Jim Costa (D-CA) last week led a letter to congressional leadership urging the inclusion of critical water infrastructure in the upcoming COVID-19 economic and infrastructure recovery package. Signed by 24 bipartisan members of Congress, the letter outlines the importance of Bureau of Reclamation water infrastructure projects in addressing water storage, conservation, and delivery to rural areas and municipalities across the country. “As we begin debate on how to restart the American eco... Full story

  • Coulee Cops

    May 20, 2020

    Grand Coulee Police 5/12 - Police spoke to a woman on A Street regarding an argument between neighbors. - A deceased person’s garage was reported open on Boulder Avenue. Police found the house secure, but the garage open and a light on, and so secured the garage. 5/15 - A woman on E Street said that her boyfriend/ex-boyfriend broke the windshield of her car with a skateboard, then locked her out of the house. The man said she broke the windshield. He was arrested for malicious mischief and taken to jail. - A man on Main Street said his a...

  • LR graduation plan very different under COVID-19 restrictions

    Jacob Wagner|May 13, 2020

    This year's Lake Roosevelt High School graduation ceremony will likely look a lot different than those of their older siblings, friends, parents, or grandparents. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected yet another part of our lives, with the social distancing requirements making the rite of passage of graduating from a high school all the more difficult. Graduation will be held June 13 at 7 p.m according to a plan reviewed by the Grand Coulee Dam School District board of directors Monday night.... Full story

  • Grand Coulee man dies of COVID-19

    Scott Hunter|May 13, 2020

    A man from Grand Coulee has died of complications from COVID-19, Grant County Health District said Monday night. The district was notified Monday that the man in his 50s, who was hospitalized, had died. “Our hearts are with his family and friends. On behalf of Unified Command, our staff, Health Officer, and Board of Health, we are so sorry for your loss,” a statement on the district’s website said. The death brings Grant County’s total to four, with 192 confirmed cases and another 35 “probable,” the district’s demographics on the disease say.... Full story

  • Final primary results for CBC elections

    May 13, 2020

    Final results are in for the Colville Business Council primary elections in which seven of the 14 positions for the governing body of the Colville Tribes are up for election. On Thursday, absentee votes were added to the total vote counts, and the top two winners in each race will move onto the general election. In the Keller District Position #1 race, incumbent Joseph Somday received 119 votes; Randolph Tonasket received 54 votes; and Terri Covington received 19 votes. In the Nespelem District Position #1 race, Andrew C. Joseph Jr received 328...

  • Officials debate re-opening Okanogan County

    Scott Hunter|May 13, 2020

    Okanogan County officials Tuesday debated possible paths for the county to progress into the state’s Phase 2 toward easing COVID-19 restrictions. To qualify to move to Phase 2 of the state’s “Safe Start Washington” phased recovery plan, a county won’t gain permission if it hasn’t seen three weeks since its last positive test for COVID-19. County commissioners met with Okanogan County Health officials in an open Zoom meeting, as a line of division became evident, following arguments similar to those heard across the state and nation: Mor... Full story

  • New chamber ED watching for community opportunities

    Jacob Wagner|May 13, 2020

    Rachelle Haven took the reins as executive director of the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce in April during a strange year for a local economy that counts on tourism. Haven moved here 10 years ago, but has been coming here longer. "I grew up on the coast, but my dad is a 'Grand Coulee original,' and I still have many family members located here," she said. "I grew up spending my summers in the Coulee with my grandparents and fell in love with the area. I decided that Coulee was my home... Full story

  • Newsbriefs

    May 13, 2020

    Spring Canyon closed for paving work Spring Canyon will be closed from May 11-21 for microsurfacing in a paving project begun in July of 2019 in which locations within the National Park Service’s Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area are being resurfaced. Music festival postponed The Sunbanks Festival that was to have taken place this weekend has been postponed until Oct. 1-4, the resort announced on its website this week. It lists some 17 blues bands lined up for the event, now put off until fall, when Sunbanks had been planning a d...

  • WiFi hotspots in Washington a priority for WSU Extensions

    May 13, 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on the internet needs of rural Washington in particular. In Washington, nearly one in 10 rural residents lack access to high-speed broadband, according to Washington State University Extension. Nationally, about 15 percent of rural Americans are offline.” WSU is taking part in the Drive-In WiFi Hotspots project partnered with multiple agencies including public utility districts, Washington State Library, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and more. “Microsoft and the Avista Fou... Full story

  • Coulee Cops

    May 13, 2020

    Grand Coulee Police 5/4 - A former Safeway employee got into an argument with a current Safeway employee, who allegedly pushed the former employee. The store asked police to inform the former employee that he was banned from the store for one year. 5/5 - A woman left her phone on the counter at Coulee Gas, then a man came in, allegedly pretended the phone was his and took it. Reviewing security footage, an officer recognized and contacted the man about the phone. The man retrieved the phone and gave it to the officer. He faces theft charges...

  • Golf resumes, but with limits

    May 6, 2020

    The ban on golf during the COVID-19 pandemic have been lifted by the governor, but there are plenty of restrictions on how play can resume, including how many people can golf together, ride in a cart, and more. The Banks Lake Golf Course is operating under new guidelines to comply with Gov. Jay Inslee’s Proclamation 20-25-2 that allowed golf courses to open, effective May 5. “Outdoor recreation activities including golfing are authorized to commence so long as participants fully comply with social distancing and coronavirus related hygiene req... Full story

  • Fishing resumes on area lakes

    Scott Hunter|May 6, 2020

    Fishing has resumed in most of the state following Gov. Jay Inslee's adjustment to his Stay Home – Stay Healthy orders. Fishing has not opened up all the way on the Colville Indian Reservation, however, as the Colville Tribes is keeping it closed to non-members until May 29. The state opened boat launches on Banks Lake Tuesday, and anglers were on the water in the early morning. On Lake Roosevelt, within Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, boat launches are open as water levels allow, t... Full story

  • Foundation wants to help local area

    Scott Hunter|May 6, 2020

    A charitable-giving organization that manages millions and has grown 380 times its initial size in 24 years is reaching out to smaller communities, including this one, wanting to make a bigger impact. Not that it hasn’t given to local causes in the past. Just recently, the Ephrata-based Columbia Basin Foundation has given the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce $1,000 for local business support, and it’s donating another $1,000 to the Care and Share Food Bank, both under the foundation’s “ReCOVIDery,” initiative to help during the COVID... Full story

  • Distance learning at LR schools, now and later

    Jacob Wagner|May 6, 2020

    In the Grand Coulee Dam School District, teachers, students, and parents have been navigating the uncharted waters and new paradigm of "distance learning" for the past few weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic, and education leaders expect it to continue as a feature of schooling after the crisis ends. "I am really proud of the work that we've done through the past few weeks with implementing our distance learning plan," said Kirk Marshlain, principal of Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School.... Full story

  • School budget looks fine for coming school year

    Jacob Wagner|May 6, 2020

    Grand Coulee Dam School District’s budget is anticipated to be in good standing this coming school year, but maybe not the year after. “I think we’re going to be OK,” Superintendent Paul Turner told the school board April 26 in a meeting held via Zoom. “My bigger worry is 2021-22.” The optimism was a shift in tone from the previous board meeting in which larger cuts were anticipated in school revenues due to the strain on the state’s funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, Turner said that cuts aren’t anticipated to be made by state l...

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