News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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An effort to keep an American flag flying in an unlikely spot saw success last week as the stars and strips were hoisted proudly above Delano Friday. Anyone traveling between Delano and Electric City can see it to the south of the highway. It's easily the highest flag in the area. Jay Kemble and Mike Rounds made the trek to the top of the large rocky hill that separates the Delano neighborhood from Electric City and raised the flag on a pole fashioned long ago by long-dead patriot Wade... Full story
Early next year, many businesses and some homeowners can expect a modest decrease in the cost of their fire insurance. Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department Chief Rick Paris said this week that the city has improved its fire protection classification from a seven to a six, effective Feb. 1, 2016. Monday, insurance broker Jerry Kennedy stated that the new rating will definitely save local businesses money on their next fire insurance policy. “Many homeowners may also see modest decreases in their fire policies,” he said. “Policyholders shoul... Full story
One of the Grand Coulee Dam School District’s trucks was stolen last Tuesday and recovered a few hours later at Crescent Bay. A school employee, Dean McPherson, was working on the roof at Center School and looked down to see his truck being driven away by an unidentified man. McPherson immediately called police, who combed the area but were unable to locate the truck. McPherson said when he looked down, the suspect appeared to be changing his shirt and then took off, heading east on SR-174. The truck had recently been filled with gas, so o... Full story
The Eagles Club was broken into sometime early Sunday morning. A burglar entered by breaking through the back door. Security cameras showed that a male intruder ransacked the place and stayed inside the lodge for about half an hour. Dispatch notified police that the Eagles’ security alarm was going off, and officers Adam Florenzen and Sgt. Gary Moore both responded. The officers searched the building and photographed potential evidence, which was then turned over to the Washington State Crime Lab. Several interior doors had been forced open, a... Full story
Coulee Dam police are investigating a break-in at the Riverview Bowling Alley that occurred Sept. 15. Owner Pat Zlateff told police that he had arrived to do some work and found a number of items lined up at the back door. The burglar had gone through the business area and taken small change from vending machines and then stacked up items to take when exiting the building. Zlateff said a Craftsman three-drawer tool box was missing. Officers found cigarette butts scattered throughout the building, suggesting the intruder had been in the place... Full story
Blood drive set The Inland Northwest Blood Center, along with Grand Coulee Community Blood Drive Volunteers, will hold a blood drive Monday, Oct. 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the community room at Coulee Medical Center. INBC needs an average of 200 blood donors every day to meet the needs of more than 35 hospitals in the Inland Northwest. Haunted house planned A haunted house is being planned at the Grand Theatre on Grand Coulee’s Main Street for Oct. 26-30. Workers will be busy in the next few weeks coming up with scary ideas for the H... Full story
The Grand Coulee Library will host Mike VanQuickenborne for a public presentation at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 8, as part of a Speakers Bureau program. VanQuickenborne is a philosophy instructor at Everett Community College and organizer of the world's first philosophical film festival "Philosophy in the Dark." He will speak about philosophy through comedic films. The public is invited.... Full story
EPHRATA, Wash. — (Updated with new information at 7:10 p.m.) At approximately 4:15 p.m. today an explosion was reported at Priest Rapids Dam along the Columbia River. At this point there are six confirmed employees with various levels of injury that have been taken to regional medical facilities via airlift or ground ambulance. All six employee families have been notified. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time. The cause of the explosion is attributed electrical equipment and the hydroelectric facility remains stable. A... Full story
In a press release sent about 5 p.m. Monday, Okanogan County Public Works said one bridge near Nespelem will be closed and another restricted on Tuesday. The agency said it is closing Bridge B-3 at milepost 5.08 on Park City Loop Rd, and will post a 5-ton weight restriction on Bridge B-15 at milepost 2.15 on Joe Moses Road. “Your patience during these short delays is greatly appreciated," the press release said. “We apologize for any inconvenience you may encounter during the construction.” It did not specify the purpose of the bridge restr...
A town council meeting at Coulee Dam that was designed to discuss consolidation of services such as police, ambulance and fire departments with other cities and towns was essentially postponed until Oct. 7, because only three of five council members were present last Wednesday. Mayor Greg Wilder said he didn’t want to get into serious discussion on consolidation until all members of the council were present. Wilder has indicated on numerous occasions that he favored some type of consolidation of services in the area for greater efficiency and s... Full story
Kids at Nespelem Elementary know what a spleem is. It's what you're not supposed to do. A pax, on the other hand, is what you are supposed to do. Those two concepts, and those labels, are part of a new game at the school that is changing not just classrooms, but migrating into the larger community, too, some say. And it's giving students a new tool to help with school and life. The PAX Good Behavior Game is making a difference in the school, helping kids learn how to behave appropriately and... Full story
Elmer City has a new clerk. Garrett Benton, an Elmer City resident, takes on his new position at the town hall this Thursday. Garrett said Tuesday that he is looking forward to his new role as the chief number cruncher for the town. The new town clerk grew up in the Seattle area, and has a degree in agronomy from Washington State University. “I wanted a background in agriculture because I wanted to go into the Peace Corps,” he said. Benton spent two years in the Peace Corps in Nepal, where he helped local farmers in a remote area to dev... Full story
Coulee Dam is looking for grant money to hire a school resource officer (SRO). Should the U.S. Department of Justice grant come through, at least the police officer in the schools would have wheels. The town council approved a budget amendment last Wednesday night for $35,000 to purchase a squad car. Mayor Greg Wilder, early on as the town’s chief executive officer, said one of his goals was to get a grant to support hiring of a school resource officer. The grant would provide $238,970 to cover the cost of an SRO for the first three years. T... Full story
At a popular station at last Thursday's "Cultural Awareness Gathering" at Lake Roosevelt Schools' Greene Field, Austin "Bubba" Garcia pulls back on an arrow aimed at an elk replica target. The event, which is organized every other year by Kim Stanger, integrates various aspects of native American culture, creating several learning experiences for students. This year, the event took up the whole field with some 22 stations ranging from traditional medicine and plants to smoking salmon. - Scott... Full story
Grant County Port District 7 commissioners passed a resolution last Thursday adopting any future rules developed by the Federal Aviation Administration concerning drones flying near the airport. The rule being considered may allow unmanned aerial vehicle flights within up to three miles of an airport when they have permission, but no flights higher than 500 feet. A commercial operator who wants to fly a UAV near the airport to take pictures would first have to get permission from airport officials. Recently a commercial drone operation was... Full story
The town of Coulee Dam hopes to have the position of superintendent of public works filled by the first of the year, Mayor Greg Wilder informed the council last Wednesday night. Wilder said the town continues to get applicants for the position, both from western Washington and eastern Washington. He said that the town will review applicants Oct. 6, and begin the process of selecting a new superintendent. The former superintendent, Barry Peacock, retired at the end of August after serving 29 years with the town. Wilder was asked if any of the... Full story
Hendrickson joins fire department Matt Hendrickson is a new member of Coulee Dam’s volunteer fire department. Hendrickson is a certified EMT and has passed all tests. He was voted into the department by the town council at last Wednesday’s council meeting. City fireworks law needs more work Grand Coulee’s city council sent a proposed ordinance on fireworks back to the drawing board in an effort to define where, or if, fireworks could be set off at a designated area. In past years, residents in the area have set off fireworks at North Dam,... Full story
Grant County Port District 7 officials produced a preliminary budget for 2016 at their meeting last Thursday. The budget shows income of $216,500, with $127,000 coming from the Banks Lake Golf Course in membership dues and playing fees. Other revenues in the new budget come from general property taxes, $47,000; investment fund interest, $500; airport grants from FAA, $14,200; airport fees, $2,800; golf pro shop and restaurant, $24,000; and cash on hand, $1,000. The port district will hold a public hearing on its 2016 budget at 4:30 p.m.,... Full story
Eastern Washington University last week announced an academic and community program to honor the legacy of Lucy Covington, a Colville Tribal Council member who changed the course of American Indian history through her courageous and selfless style of leadership in the face of great odds, the school said in a press release. Covington was instrumental in reversing the United States government’s effort to extinguish its unique relationship to American Indian tribes. The Lucy Covington Center at EWU will honor Covington’s place in history by wor... Full story
Grand Coulee came very close last week to changing local law to allow the licensing of a marijuana retail store in the city. An ordinance before the city council Sept. 15 originally would have restricted any such license if it was illegal under state or federal law. But that quickly changed when Councilmember David Tylor made a motion to remove the reference to “federal law” from the ordinance. Voters passed Initiative 502 in November 2012, making it legal in the state of Washington to open such stores. Although it is still against federal law,... Full story
Eastern Washington University is proud to announce an academic and community program to honor the legacy of Lucy Covington, a Colville Tribal Council member who changed the course of American Indian history through her courageous and selfless style of leadership in the face of great odds. Covington was instrumental in reversing the United States government’s effort to extinguish its unique relationship to American Indian tribes. The Lucy Covington Center at EWU will honor Covington’s place in history by working to educate the next gen...
Shep Douglas blocks a kick from Elizabeth Piturachsatit in the championship game of human foosball at the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce's Harvest Festival last Saturday. The tabletop game, popular since the 1970s in basement rec rooms and taverns, grew to life size at the event with four teams competing. Winners of that and other festival contests are included in this issue. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
A Grand Coulee couple has indicated an interest in purchasing Center School and its property. Mervin and MaryJo Monteith, who represent the North American Wool Cooperative, told Grand Coulee city officials last week that they will seek a rezone of the Center School property so they can purchase it for a fiber mill and education center. The Monteiths have an alpaca operation in Lincoln County and also own an airplane parts operation in Grand Coulee that supplies small parts for both commercial and military operations. The Grand Coulee couple... Full story
The members of the Regional Board of Mayors are trying to wrap their arms around recycling again. This time they are talking about budgeting for a recycling program of sorts for 2016. First, the mayors of the four towns making up the board will need to go to their respective councils to get an OK to spend some $13,000 for a recycling bin. All four councils need to approve the expenditure before the RBOM can purchase a bin. Or, as Electric City’s clerk, Jackie Perman, pointed out, the RBOM might be able to rent a bin. Recycling dominated M... Full story
The Bureau of Reclamation will install wooden log booms across Moonbeam Bay and the bay at Redford Canyon beginning in late October, the agency announced Tuesday. During construction, and upon completion of the project, motorized watercraft will be prohibited in each of these areas. Non-motorized activities will continue to be allowed in both bays, the bureau press release said. The log booms are being placed to reduce shoreline erosion from wave action to protect critical resources in these... Full story