News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 5948 - 5972 of 6747
The Bureau of Reclamation is having trouble attracting and retaining new skilled employees, Power Manager Mark Jenson told a number of local leaders Monday afternoon. Jenson said that often a combination of local factors creates a problem for workers recruited or transferring to work here on the Grand Coulee Dam project. Jenson stated that project employment, now 466 workers, will move to 582 by September of 2014. That’s a payroll jump from the present $32.6 million to $42 million in 2015. That expected boost of 116 employees is “not a tem... Full story
The largest producer of hotel/motel taxes in the area proposed changes to the way the funds are used at a meeting of some 20 community people Monday. Pat Welton, managing partner of Sunbanks Lake Resort, stated that the three local municipalities that collect the tax are currently “hoarding” the money and releasing it bit by bit. The fourth local community, Elmer City, doesn’t have any campgrounds or motels within its borders. Sunbanks, located inside Electric City’s boundaries, accounts for about $60,000 a year of the funds collected from th... Full story
The Bureau of Reclamation reported this week that it had received an exception to the federal government hiring freeze so it could fully staff its Grand Coulee Dam tours. The Bureau had earlier stated that it might have to trim the number of days and hours that it provided tours due to the hiring freeze. Public Affairs Officer Lynne Brougher said the job offerings will be posted this week and it was her intention to have the tours fully operable by Memorial Day weekend. After the hiring process is complete, tour guides will have to be trained,... Full story
A solution to the Coulee Dam wastewater treatment plant controversy that could satisfy a large number of the stakeholders could come next Wednesday night when the council meets. Councilmember Karl Hjorten said Tuesday that he plans to make a motion next Wednesday to move forward on the project doing only what is necessary to take care of the sludge, chemical levels and rotor problems. This would cut the costs of the project down to around $2 million to $2.5 million, Hjorten stated. Currently the... Full story
The Colville Tribes pitched the Elmer City council last Thursday to provide the town’s official police force. Appearing at the town council were Public Safety Director Bill Elliot and Tribal Police Chief Corey Orr. Elliot told the council that the Tribal Police Department would like to put in for a state-funded police grant, but to be successful it must represent a town or city. He said that the Tribal Police would not charge the town anything to be its law enforcement department, but would use the grant to supply reserve officers to cover Elme... Full story
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new K-12 school facility will be at 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 23, school district Superintendent Dennis Carlson announced. All contracts and processes have been concluded and the general contractor, Walker Construction, is about ready to start. Carlson said the north parking lot at Lake Roosevelt High School will have to be vacated so contractors can place their equipment on site. Carlson said school board members, the contractor and architect will be there that day, along with others, to participate in the... Full story
The Spanish teacher at Lake Roosevelt High School, Guillermo Guzman, was arrested Thursday by U.S. Border Patrol agents and Coulee Dam Police on a number of federal charges, and is currently in Okanogan County Jail. Among a list of charges that Police Chief Pat Collins said was expanding: Guzman had used someone else’s Social Security number, wasn’t a citizen, and didn’t have a valid work permit. The arrest was made late afternoon Thursday, and came about after the person whose Social Secur...
Two local residents, Andrea Marconi and Angela Feeley, who appeared a few weeks ago before Grand Coulee’s city council to look into starting a daycare service on Main Street, met the same results again last Tuesday night. They were informed that it took the city two years to get its zoning ordinance in place, and the city wasn’t interested in changing it. The zoning code doesn’t allow a daycare center in the “central commercial” zone. Mayor Chris Christopherson encouraged the two to seek a different location, one zoned for their interests... Full story
Remember the blood draw program at Coulee Medical Center every year during “National Hospital Week?” It’s history. Hospital officials said this week that the blood draw, which can give patients an indication of their health, actually runs counter to the law that governs public hospital districts. That was the message from hospital administrator Scott Graham. “The simple truth is, it has been brought to our attention that state regulations prohibit any sort of reduced fee gifting of services,” CMC’s Chief Executive Officer Scott Graham said... Full story
More than 50 people crowded into the Grand Coulee Library as the NCRL Puppeteers put on a puppet show that captivated kids. The library will host a special musical event next Tuesday. That story is on page 4. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
by Roger S. Lucas Fishing for rainbow trout in Banks Lake is about to get a little bit better. The POWER organization (Promoters of Wildlife & Environmental Resources) plans to release 50,000 rainbow trout into Banks Lake April 20. Carl Russell, spokesman for the group, said that POWER will receive 50,000 more rainbow trout on April 23, and start the process of feeding them and growing them into maturity for future fishing. Fish scheduled for release April 20, were received last Oct. 24. They were then 2 to 3 inches long, and it took 21 of the... Full story
They’re not the Frisbees you’re used to tossing around on Saturdays, but they’re similarly shaped and heavier, and disc golfers will travel to courses set up for playing with them. Disc golf is a growing sport that Josh Rabe thinks would catch on in Grand Coulee and provide an extra activity for tourists. Rabe is proposing to set up a “nine-hole” course around North Dam Park, an idea endorsed by the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District. Rabe met with district commissioners Monday for the second time, and provided them with a cost breakdown... Full story
Officials at Banks Lake Golf Course reported that sometime between last Tuesday and Wednesday nights, someone had entered the course’s golf cart shed and made off with over 100 gallons of both diesel and gas fuel. Orville Scharbach, chairman of the Port District 7 commission that runs the course, said the loss was about $763. The police report stated that entry to the fuel tank wasn’t forced, so it was likely the door was left unlocked or the thief had the combination to the lock. It was reported that locks on the tanks were unlocked from key... Full story
The Regional Board of Mayors met and dismissed their meeting for lack of a quorum Monday afternoon. Only two of the four mayors showed up, Electric City’s Jerry Sands and Elmer City’s Mary Jo Carey. Both Coulee Dam’s Mayor Quincy Snow and Grand Coulee Mayor Chris Christopherson missed the meeting. Those attending did hear reports from the Delano Transfer Station. Grand Coulee produced some 759 tons of material for the transfer station, the leading city in the garbage department. Coulee Dam produced 602 tons of garbage, Electric City, 472 tons... Full story
Colorama buttons go on sale Colorama buttons went on sale last week in a number of places in the coulee. Cost $3. Buying one supports the community’s biggest annual celebration and puts you in position to win a number of good prizes. Buttons are available at the following business locations: The chamber office, the Star Newspaper, the Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union, H&H Grocery, NCNB, Coulee Hardware, Coulee Medical Center, Coulee Playland, Eagles Lodge, Electric City Bar & Grill, Flo’s Cafe, Funzee’s, Grand Coulee Center Lodge, Harvest Foods... Full story
Lou Nevsimal congratulates finishers Sunday of last weekend’s “Are You Tough Enough? Triple Fish Challenge” fishing tournament on Banks Lake. Organized by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce as a way to advertise the year-round availability of fishing on local lakes, the tournament at Coulee Playland Resort challenged anglers to catch three species of fish on each of two days. Predicted bad weather and rough waters combined to limit signups to five boats, so those who braved condi... Full story
The Regional Board of Mayors met and dismissed their meeting for lack of a quorum Monday afternoon. Only two of the four mayors showed up, Electric City’s Jerry Sands and Elmer City’s Mary Jo Carey. Both Coulee Dam’s Mayor Quincy Snow and Grand Coulee Mayor Chris Christopherson missed the meeting. Those attending did hear reports from the Delano Transfer Station. Grand Coulee produced some 759 tons of material for the transfer station, the leading city in the garbage department. Coulee Dam produced 602 tons of garbage, Electric City, 472 tons... Full story
The Colville Tribes will hold their fourth annual Earth Day celebration, Monday, April 22, at the powwow grounds near Nespelem. Joaquine Bustamante, of the tribal recycling program, told the local Rotary Club he’s hoping for some 1,600 participants this year. They had 1,200 last year. Activity will begin at 10 a.m. and run until 1:30 p.m., officials stated. Organizers stated that there will be over 60 informational booths, as well as drumming and dancing. Visitors can stay and enjoy a free hotdog and potato salad lunch. A number of door p... Full story
The Ridge Riders, in their second annual auction and banquet, raised nearly $25,000 to support the various activities planned by the group this year. The auction raised $10,500; contributions for Rodeo Queen Erin Wieldraayer’s activities raised $1,200; and $2,000 was raised toward a new junior rodeo. Monty Fields, vice president of the Ridge Riders, stated that the Colorama Rodeo last year cost the group $20,000, and the bull riding events, $7,000. He said their April 1 banquet and auction w... Full story
The National Newspaper Association today welcomed a decision by the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors to continue Saturday mail delivery while it awaits postal reform legislation from Congress. NNA president Merle Baranczyk, publisher of the Mountain Mail in Salida, CO, also warned NNA will oppose increases in postage rates at a time when closing mail processing facilities are degrading newspaper delivery service nationwide. "The mission of the Postal Service is in its name: it is service. Without reliable service, no price is fair. NNA... Full story
Tours, visitor center hours and laser light show offerings might be curtailed because of budget cuts, officials confirmed this week, but they’re still hoping for a reprieve from the national budget cutback known as “sequestration.” Although tours at Grand Coulee Dam resumed Monday after a normal winter stoppage, a hiring freeze across the Department of Interior has made it impossible to hire the extra help needed to keep operations open all week through the normal tourism season, explained Lynne Brougher, public affairs officer with the Burea... Full story
There is good news and bad news for those who visit the area to see the laser light show. The new show won’t be ready until mid-July. However, the all-new laser equipment will be able to show the old laser show. Until recently that ability was an unanswered question. It all depends on the “sequester” and how that affects staffing the various visitor functions at the Bureau of Reclamation. Nicole Poisson, project manager for LumaLaser of Eugene, Ore., the firm that is developing the new show, said visitors are going to see something outst... Full story
Children race across Ludolph Field at Grand Coulee Dam Middle School Saturday to find Easter Eggs in the Lions Club annual event. The winners who found special eggs are listed on page 2. For more photos see our online gallery at grandcoulee.com. — Scott Hunter photo... Full story
The chamber of commerce is sponsoring the “Are You Tough Enough” first annual Banks Lake Triple Fish Challenge, this weekend, April 6 and 7, out of Coulee Playland in Electric City, a major sponsor. The two-day event features a fishing derby for smallmouth bass, walleye, and rainbow trout. Competition is divided into two age categories, 0-14 years of age, and adults. So get out your rod and reel, read up on the contest, and get your 2013 fishing license, so you are all set for the big eve... Full story
Officials from Coulee Dam, Elmer City, Gray & Osborne, the Colville Tribes and Indian Health Services are meeting and moving toward some decisions on proposed wastewater treatment plant work that has been halted by controversy. Larry Holford, town council member at Elmer City, said he was pleased with the cooperative attitude of those attending a meeting last Tuesday. “We need to let the principals get their report together,” Holford stated this week. Holford said that Alex Dailey, an engineer from Indian Health Services, Frank Friedlander fro... Full story
