News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 3517 - 3541 of 6735
Two retired school employees, one a janitor and the other a math teacher, gave the Grand Coulee Dam School District board Monday a taste of how they feel about the recent results of surveys that asked about discipline in the schools. Ray Wells, a retired janitor, spoke at length on issues he had while employed at the school. Wells came loaded with hundreds of documents from his experience of over 15 years at the school district. He told the board that he had made several complaints to the administration at the elementary school on conditions... Full story
If you're wondering if there will be a professional fireworks display off the top of Grand Coulee Dam on July 4, the answer is no. The annual Festival of America occurred last weekend, when the fireworks were a hit on Saturday night. Here's a bit of the finale. Fun fireworks finale from Scott Hunter on Vimeo....
Here's our complete guide to the Festival of America this Friday and Saturday.... Full story
Both Grant and Okanogan Counties imposed temporary burn bans on outdoor burning. Read the full press releases from each county below. Grant County Board of County Commissioners Press Release June 28, 2017 For more information contact: Grant County Fire Marshal's Office Grant County Courthouse Ephrata, Washington 98823 Phone: (509) 754-2011 ext 3001 GRANT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IMPOSE TEMPORARY BURN BAN EPHRATA-The Grant County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) today imposed an emergency, temporary ban on outdoor burning effective immediately,... Full story
The Grand Coulee Dam School District's preschool will move to the old middle school this fall, following a decision made at the school board meeting Monday night. "The elementary school needs the classroom for its growing early grades," according to Superintendent Paul Turner, who stated his concerns last Thursday. Earlier plans had called for the preschool to be moved to the former science classroom at the old high school, but costs to remodel the space had made this impossible, Turner said.... Full story
Taking their best guess, Nespelem School District set up a tentative plan to spend $4.7 million to run the school in the next school year, give or take $525,000. Financial officer Tanya Bunting said they won’t know exactly what money will come in until the state Legislature passes a budget. The $525,000 will depend on what formula the Legislature comes up with to fully fund public education, a state Supreme Court requirement under the McCleary decision. That process is hung up and threatening a state government shutdown by Friday if D... Full story
A boater cruises down Banks Lake Tuesday at the start of a very moderate weather week, expected to feature blue skies and pleasant temperatures. See the forecast on page 8. - Jacob Wagner photo... Full story
Carol Nordine filed her intent to run for a seat on the Electric City Council during a special three-day filing period last week. Nordine filed for Position 4 on the council currently held by Jeremy Miller, who did not file because, he told council members, he might move. Miller has held the position for only a few weeks and was selected by the council to fill the vacancy when Brad Parrish resigned after his wife took the position as deputy clerk. The filing period was June 19-21. Nordine was the lone person filing for the seat. If Miller... Full story
The Wednesday Market began last week and will continue on Wednesdays through Sept. 13. Chamber of commerce Executive Director Peggy Nevsimal said a number of exhibitors have signed up for the entire summer. The market runs from 4-8 p.m. each Wednesday at North Dam Park. Nevsimal said those who have registered for the entire summer will have produce, other food items, decorated gourds, baked goods, children's items and some surprises along the way. This is the first year that the market has been... Full story
Geologist Bruce Bjornstad came to Dry Falls-Sun Lakes State Park June 17 to give a guided tour of the Caribou Trail to a dog and about 10 human hikers who were local, from the Seattle area, and from as far away as New England. The approximately 90-minute guided hike started with Bjornstad showing maps of the area depicting what things were like during the Missoula Floods. He showed how a large ice dam used to be where the Grand Coulee Dam is now, and how that had diverted the Columbia River... Full story
Grant County Health District officials say there are three confirmed, and possibly more cases of whooping cough in the Ephrata area. Three cases have been confirmed and one additional probable case, with additional cases pending, health officials announced. Whooping cough (pertussis) is highly contagious, and in an effort to control the outbreak of the disease, county health officials have recommended antibiotics for a defined number of individuals who have come into close contact with ill individuals. Health officials stated that early... Full story
The city of Grand Coulee restricts the use of legal, personal fireworks to a single venue: off the top of North Dam. But even there, local police would like you to know, they still have to comply with state law. And that lets out any mortar-style fireworks to those under the size of a golf ball. Firecrackers are illegal, as are bottle rockets, or any other missiles or rockets and other fireworks lacking the proper state seal. Officer Gary Moore said last week that he’d rather not spoil anyone’s fun, but he will if he discovers illegal fir... Full story
Forests across America are a prized natural resource, and anyone can help plant trees in these vital areas by joining the Arbor Day Foundation this month. Through the Replanting Our National Forests campaign, the Arbor Day Foundation will honor each new member who joins in July by planting 10 trees in forests that have been devastated by wildfires, insects, and disease. The cost for joining the Arbor Day Foundation is a $10 donation. America’s national forests face enormous challenges, including unprecedented wildfires that have left a b... Full story
Grand Coulee Police 6/19 - Police responded to a report that two brothers were fighting at an Electric Boulevard location. One brother said he had tried to enter the house to get some sleep but the other prevented him from doing so, so he punched him in the face 10 times, the report stated. - A driver southbound on Martin Road was stopped by police because it was noted that he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Police cited the driver on the seatbelt issue and also for driving with a suspended license and for driving without a valid operator’s lic... Full story
The possibility of changing Coulee Dam from a “town” under state law to a “city” drew significant discussion at a town council meeting Wednesday, where the audience was packed following a door-to-door push last weekend by a candidate for council. Fred Netzel, who is running against David Schmidt for the council, said he wanted enough people at Wednesday’s meeting to ensure a basis of knowledge on the subject among townspeople and encourage open discussion. Mayor Greg Wilder said the question is one of importance for the town, which currently... Full story
Bullfighter Drew Payne, of Wellpinit, steps in to draw the ire of a massive bull to prevent it from trampling the bullrider it just threw off at the annual Cleatis Lacy Bull Ride at the Ridger Riders Rodeo Grounds Friday night. . - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Betsy Devos, secretary of the United States Department of Education, has proposed $10.6 billion in cuts for public education institutions, targeting, among other things, after-school programs, technical and career training, special education, and college grants. The proposal presented by the USDOE would use the savings from the cuts toward giving families the option to use vouchers of federal tax dollars for sending their children to private and religious schools, as well as charter and magnet schools, and for homeschooling. Locally, and in... Full story
Check your calendar closely. This year’s Festival of America is coming Friday and Saturday, June 30 and July 1. This year’s July 4 Independence Day holiday falls on Tuesday. Chamber of Commerce officials don’t think their annual festival would get good attendance if it were held on a Tuesday, as the work week is split in two. But there are some real treats to come on the two new dates, the Friday and Saturday just before July 4: The fireworks over the dam will fire off just after the Laser Light Show Saturday evening, about 10:30 p.m. In the pa... Full story
A Grand Coulee woman appealed to the city council Tuesday, June 20, to approve a "dog rescue" at her residence. Dorothy Harris, who resides on Young Street, offered to work with Grand Coulee in writing language for an ordinance that would be acceptable to the council. However, zoning got in the way. Councilmember Tammara Byers, who chairs the city's planning commission, told Harris that "there's no way that we are going to allow a rescue operation into an R-1 (residential) zone." Harris told... Full story
A working smoke detector is credited with avoiding a bigger fire, as it allowed for getting a blaze under control at a mobile home at 904 King Street in Grand Coulee last Thursday evening. Volunteer Fire Chief Richard Paris said it appeared the fire started in an electrical connection on the underside of the trailer. Firefighters responded to the alarm at 7:10 p.m. and were able to leave the site within 45 minutes. The trailer resident and a neighbor were able to turn off the power and use a garden hose to knock the blaze down. The trailer was... Full story
The Northwest Pyrotechnics Association put on a fireworks show from North Dam on Saturday night. "I heard a lot of 'oohs' and 'ahs' and that's what we're always looking for," said Alan Cain, a local pyrotechnician who helped organize the event and set off the fireworks. "We were seriously delayed because we were missing two keys," Cain explained of a late start to the show. One of the missing keys opened a gate where the pyrotechnician was stationed, and the other to where the equipment was... Full story
The Colville Business Council Friday expelled one of its 14 members on a split vote just before elections set for this Saturday. Following an investigative hearing, the CBC expelled Ricky Gabriel with a 9-4 vote, citing ethics violations, according to a press release from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. The expulsion took effect immediately. The CBC said it found that Gabriel had violated three sections of its Code of Professional Responsibility, including: • Use of the council member’s position “to obtain financial gain... Full story
The Cleatis Lacy Memorial Bull Riding event this Friday, June 16, will feature an added attraction this year. Through special arrangements, bull riding fans will be able to see instant replays of all the action on a huge screen. Fans at the Ridge Rider event, which begins at 7 p.m., will be able to watch all the action — twice — as a large screen will allow them to catch something they might have missed in real time. The Ridge Riders have made special arrangements with a Montana firm, Lyons Productions, to haul the giant screen on a 27-... Full story
Members of two Grand Coulee Dam School District unions responding to recent internal surveys outlined a number of complaints dealing with discipline, communication and training issues. The survey responses provide a glimpse into a district, many of whose workers are disillusioned enough that union leaders felt compelled to ask questions of the membership. While the survey respondents collectively fell short of painting a no-confidence opinion, several within the two unions stated that they... Full story
With diplomas waiting in the foreground, Quincy Williams shreds it on an air guitar that sounded exactly like the lead guitar riff in Journey's 1981 epic song "Don't Stop Believin'," which he and the rest of the senior choir sang during the class of 2017's graduation ceremony at Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School Saturday. "They like to have fun," Superintendent Paul Turner said as he certified that the students had met the requirements to graduate. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story