News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Playland holds steady The Electric City Council approved Coulee Playland prices and fees for the coming tourist season. Manager Hal Rauch informed the council that most rates for overnight stays will remain the same. Rauch stated that he was in his 29th season as manager of the resort. This year the resort plans to introduce a stand-up paddleboard for rent. Electric City appointments made Councilmember John Nordine was elected mayor pro-tem for Electric City at its last council meeting. The mayor pro-tem takes over for the mayor when he is... Full story
It was uncomfortable at first, but the nursing staff at Coulee Medical Center has made a cultural adjustment for transparency in the service of improvements to patient care at the hospital. So said Chief Nursing Officer Ramona Hicks in a presentation to the chamber of commerce on substantial changes in nursing and other processes at the facility. Hicks, whose CNO position gives her oversight of nursing, surgical services, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, outpatient services, labor and delivery... Full story
New Wood Resources announced Jan. 16 that David Niessner has joined the company as general manager of Omak Wood Products in Omak, Wash. Niessner will help manage the 90-person team at Omak Wood Products, which was formed through an agreement with New Wood Resources and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation to restart the veneer mill in Omak, and to enter into a long-term log supply agreement from tribal-owned timberlands. “David brings expert leadership and a keenly analytical mind to the unique opportunity and partnership New W... Full story
Lincoln County Sheriff Wade Magers last week awarded Wilbur resident Seth Coffman for his role in the saving the life of a woman thrown from a boat near Keller Ferry Marina in 2011. Magers gave Coffman a letter and a “Lincoln County Sheriffs Office Challenge Coin.” Coffman commandeered a boat just before noon Oct. 7, 2011 when a boat was noticed circling out of control in tight circles. “You had heard the commotion and responded to the marina where you commandeered a boat and heroically responded to the scene to assist the two strangers in ne... Full story
OLYMPIA — Discover Pass revenue is going up, but not fast enough. With the general fund money gap, it’s hard to keep parks open. But they are managing by trying to promote the pass program and reduce staff. Three years after Washington’s Discover Pass program was implemented, revenue from sales of the pass continues to grow. The pass, which is a user fee for vehicle entry into public lands such as state parks and natural resource lands, brought in an average of $13 million a year during its first two years. But during the fiscal year ending in... Full story
OLYMPIA—The push to label genetically modified organisms – termed GMOs – is back on the table in Olympia. But the focus is on genetically engineered, or transgenic, fish. A transgenic animal has had one animal’s DNA spliced with another to create an animal with new characteristics. House Bill 2143 proposes to ensure that consumers will know exactly what kind of fish they are purchasing at the supermarket – whether it’s farm-raised, wild-caught or “genetically engineered.” Before a Jan. 17 hearing on the bill in the House Agriculture and... Full story
This week's photo extras are now online for your viewing pleasure. 1-22-14 Star - Images by Scott Hunter... Full story
A majority of hospital district commissioners voted Thursday to immediately hire new legal counsel, then went into closed session with the new attorney. Commissioner Jerry Kennedy said the board’s reasons for changing attorneys had been compounded the week before when the hospital administration mailed a notice of a privacy breach, reportedly to thousands, saying a doctor had violated federal patient privacy rules. “One of the hopes that I had was that … having legal counsel involved in that would help minimize reputational damage to the insti... Full story
Jerry Birdwell is the area's "Volunteer of the Year" for 2013. He was so honored by a vote of the people over three other candidates. Birdwell, 58, of Grand Coulee, could also claim the honors as "Mr. Fixit" of the area, because you can always find him where there's some kind of a problem. Birdwell edged out Fern Blaylock 59 votes to 55. Also nominated were Jan Erickson, who picked up 11 votes, and Heather Downs, who had 20 votes. Those who know him say Jerry can fix anything, but since... Full story
When the mayor’s away… Bob Poch was elected mayor pro-tem at Coulee Dam’s council meeting last Wednesday night. Poch will conduct meetings when Mayor Greg Wilder is unable to attend a meeting. Poch will serve for six months, at which time the council will name a council member mayor pro-tem for another six month term. A chance to serve Think you would like to serve on the city council? Here’s your chance if you live in Grand Coulee. The city is looking for a registered voter who has been a resident of the city for a year to submit a letter... Full story
One of the doctors who felt his reputation was unneccessarily harmed by a notice sent to his patients and placed in the newspaper, last week explained the work he had been up to. In an interview, Dr. Andrew Castrodale said the “HIPAA” notice, made under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, implied the work had been about figuring out bonus pay, but was actually meant to devise a reliable tool for measuring and reporting the efficiency and productivity of health care providers at Coulee Medical Center. Although it did... Full story
Mayor Greg Wilder marked his turf so there would be no misunderstanding with members of the council, at the town council meeting last Wednesday. Wilder proposed, and the council unanimously confirmed, a number of resolutions during the course of the evening. The new mayor even wrote up motions for council members to make to approve the resolutions. Wilder skillfully wove his way through what could have been a minefield of resistance. The town’s attorney, Mick Howe, was present, but not needed, as Wilder drew from chapter and verse of state l... Full story
Nearly half a century after hundreds of American Indians were arrested during the "Fish Wars" in the Northwest, a proposed state bill would give those who were convicted a chance to clear their records. Along with arrests, American Indians were repeatedly harassed and beaten while trying to exercise their treaty rights to fish, according to Hank Adams, a Sioux-Assiniboine tribal advocate. "Fish-ins"--illegal encampments modeled after the sit-ins of the civil rights movement--were set up by...
Stefani Bowden has been hired as Coulee Dam’s new town clerk/treasurer. Mayor Greg Wilder said that Bowden will begin her new duties, Friday, Jan. 17. Bowden has been assistant city clerk in Wilbur for the past nine years, is a high school graduate of Wilbur and attended both Spokane Falls Community College and Central Washington University. She will lead a team of two others in the town offices. Also hired, as utility clerk, a full time position, is Michelle Bredstrand, who served as manager of Bank of America’s local branch for a number of... Full story
Coulee Dam’s new mayor, Greg Wilder, reduced council committees from seven to four at last Wednesday night’s meeting. The new committees, and council members on them are: - Budget & finance - mayor, town clerk, Ken Miles (chairman), Gayle Swagerty and Bob Poch (alternate). - General government - Swagerty (chairperson), Duane Johnson and Ben Alling (alternate). - Public works & utilities - Poch (chairman), Johnson and Miles (alternate). - Public safety - Johnson (chairman), Alling, and Poch (alternate). The three other committees from pre... Full story
by Scott Hunter A draft budget for the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District could be slashed in half, or not, depending on what other agencies do. The $57,005 bottom line for the agency with no direct revenue of its own would have to be altered substantially if levels of support from local cities stay low, or if Grant County commissioners don’t approve a grant request for work the district would like to accomplish this year. Chairman Phil Hansen’s simple budget includes a donation of $9,000 from Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam, but neither has... Full story
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will seek to purchase some 2,100 acres in northeast Douglas County as part of a plan for long-term protection of sharp-tailed grouse, deer hunting and for watchful wildlife experiences. The 2,100-acre purchase is part of a greater plan that could eventually cover 20,500 acres of shrub steppe habitat. The WDFW stated that it will not use traditional budget funding, but will seek grants to make the purchase. The land in question is known as the Grand... Full story
Golfers and interested parties will have another opportunity to have input for a golf grant application the port district is working on for the Banks Lake Golf Course. The meeting is at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the golf course’s meeting room. Frank Andrews, Jr., who works for the Colville Tribes as a grant writer, is spearheading the Thursday meeting and will write the grant. “I need those who are knowledgeable to provide information on the various aspects of the grant application,” Andrews stated. Andrews said Kyle Guglas, who is with... Full story
The Regional Board of Mayors have set spring and fall cleanup dates, when residents can take their garden and lawn waste to the transfer station for free dumping. The spring date for Electric City, Grand Coulee, Coulee Dam and Elmer City and other residents within the garbage pickup area is April 5-12, which covers two Saturdays. In addition, Electric City and Grand Coulee will provide curbside pickup April 14-18 for those unable to haul to the transfer station. The curbside pickup was scheduled later than the spring cleanup week so the... Full story
Coulee Dam’s council gave Mayor Greg Wilder authority to sign an agreement with a Wenatchee firm, SCJ Alliance, to update the town’s Shoreline Master Plan. The project is funded by the state and will keep the town in compliance with the 1971 Shoreline Management Act. The firm, SCJ Alliance, is also developing the shoreline plans for Grand Coulee and Electric City. The agreement with SCJ is for $47,720, for professional services and $2,280, for town expenses/costs, all reimbursable by the state. Wilder stated, that while the update of the tow... Full story
A computer used by Coulee Dam’s former mayor is missing, and the new mayor has asked the sheriff to investigate the possible theft of public property and destruction of public records. Newly elected Mayor Greg Wilder said when he entered the office at the beginning of the year, a brand new computer was already there for his use. It had never been used, and no files existed on its hard drive. Wilder, who defeated Quincy Snow in the mayoral race last fall, had earlier lodged a complaint with the state Public Disclosure Commission alleging the i... Full story
The Grant County sheriff says an attempted theft of metal was interrupted Friday when a vigilant property owner saw a suspicious car parked near a trailer on his land. Around 9 a.m. Jan. 10, deputies were called to 15390 Stratford Road Northeast for a report of a burglary and theft. The property owner, Doug Hendrickson, said he had spotted a suspicious red Dodge Neon with a temporary registration tag near a single wide trailer on the property. Hendrickson was watchful because he had been the victim of several recent burglaries and thefts....
The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office is seeking information from anyone who may have information on recent criminal activity that has occurred in the Spring Canyon and Lake View Terrace area’s of northern Lincoln County, Sheriff Wade W. Magers reports. Magers said that on Jan. 2, his office received a report of a theft/burglary that occurred in the area of Sunny Hills Lane. The absent home owner was notified by a neighbor that his residence had been burglarized. Deputies determined that jewelry and other items were stolen from inside the r... Full story
A special meeting of the commission that governs Coulee Medical Center, originally called for last night, was postponed, likely until Thursday night, Jan. 9, because an attorney central to the agenda could not make it out of Spokane due to snowy roads. [Update 1-9-14: Confirmed: the meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight.] A majority of the five commissioners called the special meeting to consider, among other things, hiring a different law firm, a proposal that died at a regular meeting of the commission Dec. 26, less than two weeks earlier.... Full story
Joe Pakootas, chief executive officer for the Colville Tribal Federal Corporation, confirmed Tuesday that he has filed for Washington's Fifth Congressional seat as a Democrat. While Pakootas, 56, stated he will make his formal announcement in a week or so, he told the Spokesman-Review in a business interview published last Sunday that he was going to run for Congress. He confirmed this Tuesday. Pakootas stated that his run was about jobs, health care, economic inequality and education, all... Full story