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 Colville Tribal Federal Corporation was named the William D. Bradford Minority Business of the Year on Thursday night at the 2013 UW Minority Business of the Year Awards ceremony. “We are honored to receive this prestigious award that speaks to the significant turnaround of our organization over the last couple years,” CEO Joe Pakootas said in a company press release. “We’ve worked hard to focus on tribal businesses both large and small that can create additional revenue for the Tribe and community. We have a vision for the future of grea... Full story
Doctors and other health care providers at Coulee Medical Center have vowed to quit if the hospital’s chief executive officer doesn’t leave, one frustrated doctor finally told The Star last week. Dr. Jacob Chaffee said the situation is critical and that doctors would already have resigned if they hadn’t been convinced to stay. “He’s my fourth CEO,” Chaffee said of Chief Executive Officer Scott Graham. “I’ve never seen it like this. The morale throughout the hospital is horrible.” In an interview Wednesday, Chaffee said he resigned as chief medi... Full story
A semi loaded with cement crashed at the bottom of the hill below Grand Coulee Dam on highway 155 Wednesday morning. The big rig pulling double tanker trailers, reportedly full of cement (the dry powder, not the mixed concrete) was headed north down the steep hill alongside the dam when it left the road to the right just below the Visitor Center, just as it entered the town of Coulee Dam. It overturned about 100 feet or less off the roadway after crossing the lawn and missing trees and power...
Nic Alexander leaves opposing defenders in his wake on his way through a large yardage gain during an ad hoc Thanksgiving Day flag football game at Grand Coulee Dam Middle School. Brian Walters organized the "1st Annual Grand Coulee Turkey Bowl" using Facebook. Now he's trying for a New Year's Day game. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Coulee Dam mayor-elect Greg Wilder will get the use of the community room, without charge, to conduct his swearing in ceremony, Dec. 23, officials said this week. Wilder had asked for use of the room for special swearing in ceremonies for himself, and two new council members — Gayle Swagerty, Duane Johnson — and possibly returning Councilmember Bob Poch. Swearing in the new town officials will be U.S. Attorney Mike Ormsby of the Department of Justice, Eastern Washington. Wilder and Ormsby have been friends for some time. The use of the roo... Full story
An Elmer City couple needs some help with their near 2-year-old baby, Victoria. Victoria was born with brain damage and eyesight problems to Stephanie Detwiler New and Daniel New Detwiler. (The two determined to keep their own names when they were married so each took the other's as a middle name.) Their baby, who will be 2 in March, suffers from optic nerve damage and brain damage and requires constant attention. These conditions require that the couple take Victoria, whose nickname is "Tori,"... Full story
A letter from Port District 7 went out to a targeted list asking them to attend a meeting Dec. 12, to discuss possible improvements to the Banks Lake Golf Course. Port District commissioners got the idea of applying for a grant to improve the course from Colville Tribal planner and grant writer Frank Andrews Jr. Andrews had attended a previous Port District meeting but the agenda was so long he didn’t have time to speak to commissioners. That changed in the port’s November meeting and Andrews outlined the possibility of applying for a grant wit... Full story
It’s library light time A special program is planned for the Etheta Anderson Grand Coulee Library on Thursday, Dec, 5. from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. A special lighting of the library, a repeat of last year’s program, is planned. The library, a branch of North Central Regional Library, is located at 225 Federal Avenue. The ceremony will usher in the Christmas season in Grand Coulee with door prizes donated by local businesses, caroling, refreshments, and both the young and old will see Santa Claus arrive in a Grand Coulee fire truck. Visitors will als... Full story
The Colville Tribes' Fish & Wildlife (CTFW) staff have been counting the Okanogan River Chinook salmon spawning, a tribal press release said. Biologists and fish technicians spend six to eight weeks each year conducting aerial and on-the-water surveys to document where, and how many fish are spawning in the Okanogan River. "This year's run appears to be a strong return, at or slightly above recent averages," said Keith Wolf, project leader for the Chief Joseph Hatchery Science Program. "It will... Full story
An eventual contract for law enforcement services between the Bureau of Reclamation and local agenices will probably end up looking like this -- Grand Coulee, four officers; Coulee Dam, two officers; and two officers from the Colville Tribal Police department. While discussions are still going on, and no date has been set for a final decision, The Star has learned that the bureau has realigned its five zones of coverage to just two. Grand Coulee would cover zone 1, which goes from the switchyards to the Washington Flats on the west side of the... Full story
Directions in the management of Coulee Medical Center are aimed at providing for the long-term survival of the hospital, despite shorter-term difficulties, its top administrator and board chairman said this week. Chief Operating Officer Scott Graham and hospital district President Greg Behrens spoke with The Star Monday, seeking to add their perspective on the developing controversy that has filled recent board meetings with citizens concerned about everything from prices charged for services to cutbacks in staff scheduling. The hospital... Full story
–Patrons of the penny auction last Saturday listen for the winning numbers for hundreds of items they'd bid on during the auction and lucheon. The fund raiser for Lake Roosevelt's sophomore class will likely clear about $3,200, class advisor Cheryl Garvin said. - Scott Hunter photo... Full story
Mayor-elect Greg Wilder will be sworn in Dec. 23, as Coulee Dam mayor by U.S. Attorney Mike Ormsby from the U.S. Department of Justice Eastern Washington, Wilder stated last week. Others elected to office in the town of Coulee Dam will likely take advantage of the special ceremony. Those include council members Gayle Swagerty, Duane Johnson and Bob Poch. Wilder said the swearing-in ceremonies will be in the community room at city hall early in the evening. Wilder stated that state law allows that swearing in can occur 10 days before newly... Full story
Port District 7 commissioners voted Thursday night to purchase 21 golf carts that they have had on lease since 2008. District President Orville Scharbach told commissioners that the carts would be paid for in three years. The package includes the 21 carts and some 96 batteries, and includes a utility cart used for work around the golf course. Scharbach said the current batteries have been in the carts since 2008, “and that’s about the only thing that can go wrong with the carts.” Separately, the port district is leasing a new fairway mower... Full story
Roy Moon installs electrical components in the K-12 new school project, which is making fast progress now that workers can work inside. The elementary school side is completely boxed in and workers closing in the high school side of the complex. - Roger Easling, Wenaha Group, photo... Full story
Star observes holiday The Star Newspaper office will be closed both Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28 and 29, for the observance of Thanksgiving. The newspaper office will open at 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2. LR soft soled for NA month Lake Roosevelt High School observed Native American Month by having a “wearing your mocassins” day. Staff and students participated in the event. The special day, Nov. 15, was organized by Kim Stanger. Eagles get water rebate Grand Coulee’s council agreed to a near $1,400 rebate to the Eagles Lodge on a year-long water... Full story
Port district commissioners approved a plan at their meeting last Thursday to seek a grant to fix up the Banks Lake Golf Course. The idea came from Frank Andrews Jr., a planner and grant writer for the Colville Confederated Tribes. Andrews called commissioners’ attention to grants offered by Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office that cover golf courses, as well as other types of projects. Commissioners listed and then quickly approved a plan to proceed with the grant plan. Accordingly, Port District 7 will hold a public meeting a... Full story
They are lighting up Main Street. Grand Coulee Main Street merchants have bundled some money together to purchase special holiday season lighting in an effort to make the local season more delightful. A large number of stringed white lights were placed along Main Street Friday by Grant County PUD workers using their boom truck. Kevin Portch from Loepps said the lights will be turned on immediately. Merchants participating in the lighting project include KISSed Quilts, The Wolf's Den, the Senior... Full story
Grand Coulee had a bit of sticker shock when officials learned that it would cost about $20,000 to make repairs on its brush fire truck. Fire chief Rick Paris told the council last Tuesday night that the fire truck had blown a head-gasket and when mechanics looked it over, they discovered that there was a factory error on the diesel engine that would have to be fixed -- with a hefty price attached to it. Paris explained to the council that one of the head bolt holes had been drilled crooked and it had caused major damage to the engine. It was f... Full story
It’s light the library time. A special program is planned for the Etheta Anderson Grand Coulee Library on Thursday, Dec, 5. from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. A special lighting of the library, a repeat of last year’s program, is planned. The library, a branch of North Central Regional Library, is located at 225 Federal Avenue. The ceremony will usher in the Christmas season in Grand Coulee with door prizes donated by local businesses, caroling and refreshments. And both the young and old will see Santa Claus arrive in a Grand Coulee fire truck. Vis... Full story
An art committee made up of local residents will soon begin the process of selecting some $140,000 work of artwork for the new K-12 school complex. Under state law, 1 percent of public funds for construction projects must be put aside to purchase artwork. Covered by this requirement this is the original $14 million provided by the state for the project. About half of the art allowance will come through the Washington State Arts Commission, which will provide ideas of specific professional art for selection. Those named to the art selection... Full story
(Seattle–Nov. 27, 2013) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is continuing burn bans on several reservations in Washington, Oregon and Idaho because of continuing stagnant air conditions and air monitor readings indicating diminished air quality in the region. The burn bans for the reservations listed below will continue. There is also a burn ban in place for the Colville Reservation. A burn ban is in place until 10:00am Saturday Nov. 30 for the following reservations west of the Cascades and in Oregon: Stillaguamish Reservation M... Full story
The top administrator at Coulee Medical Center narrowly avoided a vote of no confidence from his board Monday night, with a decision by the hospital district commission that clearly disappointed members of his staff. In a special meeting of the Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, Okanogan Hospital District 6 commission, members voted to form a committee to immediately intervene in a deteriorating relationship between the hospital’s top administrator, Scott Graham, and the medical staff, who had taken their own vote of no confidence in him Nov. 8. With t... Full story
The Lake Roosevelt Raider basketball players will play against each other on Tuesday to raise funds to feed families for the holiday season. They're hoping to raise enough to feed 50 needy families, and they're challenging the community to match their contribution. All proceeds from the game - both from the gate and from concession sales - will go to the RAIDERS Reach Out effort. The game starts at 6 p.m. An earlier notice had stated the game started at 7. Bags to feed a family of four will... Full story
A Bureau of Reclamation employee was critically injured Monday as a fire started at a switch in the John W. Keys III Pump Generating Plant. Daniel McCulloch, 54, was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with burn injuries. Another employee was treated locally for smoke inhalation. McCulloch, an operator, has worked for the bureau since 2008. He was listed in serious condition at Harborview's intensive care unit Tuesday, a medical center spokesperson said. All plant employees were... Full story