News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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The management agreement for Grand Coulee and Electric City’s shared wastewater treatment facility — written in 1984 — needs a rewrite, according to the Electric City Council members. The plant is jointly owned by the two cities and overseen by a “joint board of operators” made up of council members from both jurisdictions. However, Grand Coulee is effectively the majority owner, meaning, among other things, it was the only signer with SJ Environmental, the contractor operating the wastewater plant. That contract is currently up for renewal....
Whooping cough continues to increase sharply at both local and state levels. Last year saw only 51 cases across the state at this time, but so far 1,193 cases have been reported in 2024, including 60 in Grant County alone. Also called pertussis, the illness has been reported in 30 other counties in the state, with 28 people hospitalized, 12 of them under the age of 1. Since June, 60 people (ages 3 months to 43 years) are known to have caught whooping cough in Grant County. It’s highly likely there are more cases than reported. The last i...
Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse has secured a sixth term representing central Washington, fending off Trump-backed challenger Jerrod Sessler. Newhouse has been leading since Election Day and declared victory in the race on Monday. The Associated Press called the 4th Congressional District race for Newhouse on Tuesday afternoon. As of Tuesday, Newhouse had 52.1% of the vote while Sessler had 46.2%. "The results from this election show the people want a results-driven leader who understands th... Full story
Though questions remain, the Grand Coulee Dam school board at their Oct. 28 meeting indicated openness to switching to a four-day school week in the 2025-26 school year. Board members will likely make their official decision at the Nov. 25 meeting after hearing more direct comments and concerns from staff, faculty and students — as well as a more complete proposal including the start time and end time for each school’s daily schedule. Superintendent Rod Broadnax presented survey results that tended to show staff in support of making the cha...
As most of the country’s election map turned red last night, so did most of Washington states but with different results overall. With only 64 % of votes counted in the state as of 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris, with 51% of the vote nationally had received 58% in Washington, giving the state’s 12 electoral college votes to her. Results are unofficial until they are certified Nov. 26 by county officials, then by the secretary of state on Dec. 5. That blue leaning in the most heavily populated areas of the state carried thr...
A cellphone carrying man in a Batman costume smiles as he meets a girl in a similar outfit, complete with six-pack abs, on Halloween day at the chamber of commerce-sponsored Trunk or Treat event from 3-5 p.m. on Main Street. The two spoke briefly and bumped fists in Dark Knight style. The event drew a large, diverse crowd of people, many in costume and happy to be out in them. - Scott Hunter photo...
Trunk or treaters visit with people parked on Main Street, backed in with trunks (or pickup beds) decorated for the chamber Trunk or Treat event. - Scott Hunter photo...
Joe Lauseng and his family pose for a photo at the photo booth on Main Street during the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce's Trunk or Treat event on Halloween afternoon. - Scott Hunter photo...
The Grand Coulee Dam district will propose a four-year school funding levy to voters on the February ballot, the board indicated at its Oct. 28 meeting. If approved, the new levy would replace the current one, which expires next year, and bring in nearly $4.2 million for educational programs and operations between 2026-29. The current year’s budget for educational programs and operations is just under $14 million. Though the final resolution language still needs formal approval by the board in November, members unanimously agreed with the r...
Grand Coulee Dam schools are scrambling this week to get almost 40 of their students who live in Nespelem to formally “choice in” to GCDSD — or else risk losing $9,100 per student in so-called “full time equivalent” funding from the state. As of Monday night, Superintendent Rod Broadnax told the school board they had not received paperwork from any of the Nespelem students yet, putting around $350,000 at risk. The state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has given GCDSD the ultimatum this year: Get it done or else lose out on th...
An all-community meeting next week will explore the idea of forming an Emergency Medical Services District for the area. Local ambulance service depends on a few paid volunteers who must respond too often. The meeting will take place Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Coulee Dam Town Hall in the ballroom. The topic affects all local municipalities, and will offer information about the medical transportation needs of the community.... Full story
A thick fog obscures the towns and lakes below SR-174 in Douglas County Tuesday morning as the mist rises with the sun and the temperature. Check out our local weather forecast on page 3. - Scott Hunter photo...
A popular program that provided after-school and summer educational activities for students may return to Lake Roosevelt Schools next year. School District Superintendent Rod Broadnax told the district board of directors Monday that several people have volunteered to help get the funding back that is lacking this year from the 21st Century grant program that once funded the District’s SHARP Kids program. Broadnax said Gene Sharrett, former NCW Education Services District superintendent, and one other person met with him Friday. “I’m very excit...
The Colville Confederated Tribes signed a formal agreement with the Washington State Department of Commerce last week, committing the state agency to remove administrative barriers, improve communications and ensure data sovereignty in its work with CCT. Tribal Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson and Commerce Director Mike Fong signed the agreement on Oct. 23 at a ceremony at the Government Center, according to a news release. "The Colville Tribes welcomes a chance to work collaboratively with...
The Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department responded to a power pole fire Sunday in East Heights along the highway to Wilbur about 8 a.m. And electric power pole and a transformer were burning. A transformer exploded about 9 a.m., the department reported. Volunteers also attended a search and rescue training on Thursday at the former middle school in Grand Coulee. The department appreciated the ability to use the school for the training. "Great training and sharing of ideas between new and old...
The Economic Alliance of Okanogan County is inviting business owners to a couple educational events in November. “Pricing Power: Maximize Profit” will be offered Nov. 6, 9-11 a.m. at 238 E. Oak in Okanogan to “learn about the factors to consider when setting a price and how to avoid being overwhelmed by all the options.” Business owners, chambers of commerce, and other interested can attend a presentation by the Washington State Main Street Program on Nov. 12 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. at the Community Foundation of NCW, 715A Okoma Drive, in Omak. Par...
Congressman Dan Newhouse visited Coulee Medical Center last week as part of a tour through the north part of the 4th District to hear from leadership about the hospital's successes, challenges, and their hope to have their tiny home project included in the federal budget. The hospital district, which includes parts of four counties, brings in only about $200,000 annually from property taxes–not even enough to cover the salary and benefits for one doctor–since a large portion of the land is gov...
A letter from the city’s attorney to the Bureau of Reclamation official, which the city council ratified last week, confirms that the city of Grand Coulee and the federal agency “have mutually agreed to ‘pause’ or significantly reduce service under the Contract due to the lack of City personnel to fulfill the Contract service requirements.” Along with the city’s current police staffing shortage, the Oct. 2 letter from City Attorney Julie K. Norton to Sandra Snediker at Reclamation’s Pacific Northwest Regional Office in Boise, Idaho, unders...
Village Cinema may not be licensed to screen copyrighted films yet, but owner Larry Hernandez isn’t letting that stop him from bringing movies to the Coulee Dam theater. This weekend he’ll screen two films that are in the public domain, meaning, the copyright has expired and therefore no licenses are required to show public screenings. Saturday night, those looking to celebrate spooky season can come watch Night of the Living Dead, George A. Romero’s classic 1968 horror film often credited with popularizing the modern image of flesh...
Electric City resident Eric Bronson takes the top of the winners' podium after fighting for first place gold at the Revolution 53 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tournament, which drew over 3,000 competitors Oct.12-13 in Puyallup. Bronson owns Grand Coulee BJJ, where he instructs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai to students as young as 4 years, as well as offering classes for adults. Both forms of martial art emphasize different styles of combat and self-defense. Bronson says interested people can learn...
Residents of Grand Coulee should start preparing for a nearly $30 fee increase per month on sewer bills once the upcoming $12 million sewage treatment plant upgrades are complete and the loan comes due, city leaders discussed at the council meeting last week. There were signs and unhappy expressions all around the council table as members deliberated on two possible loans to fund the upgrade. A 20-year loan would have meant an increase of $36.59 per month. The 30-year loan increase comes to $28.89. “I don’t like either one,” said Counc...
Like many volunteer-driven efforts, fire and ambulance services that depend on donated labor have seen participation drop in recent years. Local leaders are considering an alternative model: creating a special taxing district to fund ambulance and emergency medical services, subject to approval by voters. The discussion is not yet a formal proposal, but the Regional Board of Mayors invites interested residents to learn more at a public town hall meeting Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. in the ballroom at Coulee Dam Town Hall. Grand Coulee Fire...
A fairy gives a Star Wars character a prize during the River Artist Celebration in Coulee Dam Friday when the first night included a costume contest. The closed Mead Avenue saw a lot of costumes, hosted many vendors and heard good music bands during both days of the event. It was organized by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce working with the Northwest Native Development Fund. - Scott Hunter photo...
Grand Coulee has decided to re-advertise its police chief position, signaling an intent to rebuild its own department rather than contracting out with another jurisdiction. “I am recommending here that we go ahead and set out to hire our own chief of police at this point,” Mayor Ruth Dalton told the council at its Oct. 15 meeting. “We need to kind of take care of this as soon as possible here, to get our police department back where it needs to be.” The council approved an annual salary range of $110,000 to $130,000 for the police chief j...
Last month, two people were shot while walking along Spokane Boulevard in the Delano area, who then drove themselves to Coulee Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police reports from the Sept. 16 shooting. Though police did name a suspect, no arrest was made and an “attempt to locate” dispatch was ultimately canceled the next morning due to lack of probable cause. The case has been forwarded to the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office. According to Grand Coulee Police Department reports, one victim, a 35-year-old, refus...