News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 1814 - 1838 of 3733
While both sides argue over the merits of Seattle’s escalating minimum wage, there are other issues, such as the total cost per worker, which enter into hiring equations. When employers look to add or retain workers, they must not only consider wages, but the added required benefits which they must pay for each individual they employ. They must keep costs on par with their competitors, because employees are a big part of their operating costs. According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (...
I had a friend at the age of 10 who swore to me that she was a boy. We were just kids playing in sand and gravel of a pit behind my home outside Missoula, Montana. Her statement didn’t really make any sense to me. She looked like a girl to me, although her interests seemed to indicate she was different. Neither one of us had any idea what sex was all about. But one day she felt compelled to tell me she was really a boy, not a girl. The memory of her informs my opinions on the current international struggle in society to recognize those we now c... Full story
As we near Thanksgiving, I hope the Raider Nation will join me in being thankful for the vision and passion Rob Williams had for starting the Lake Roosevelt youth football program 11 or so years ago. Many of the players on this year’s team had the opportunity to grow up playing football and getting better because Rob wouldn’t take no for an answer when pursuing his passion to create a youth football program in the Coulee that would be safe, fun, and make kids better people and players. Although it has been 10 years since we lost Rob, it is awe...
If you live in the Grand Coulee Dam area, you know that the large volcano-looking structure beside the high school is called “the sand hill.” It is one of the markers of our little area that has become part of the town. Very much like our dam, North Dam Park, Banks Lake, Siam Palace, Loepps and the TeePee, it has become a part of our community. But the history it holds tells a story that only a large sand hill can tell. Most of us know it is the leftover sand from the construction of our Gra...
In the last column, I wrote about the physical changes occurring in and around the Arctic Ocean. Those changes are occurring due to climate change. Shipping lanes are being used for commerce, significantly cutting travel time and saving fuel. Other transformations are happening as a direct result of climate change in that part of the world as well. The geopolitics of the Arctic is affected as much as the physical body of the region. Several nations are looking at the region and envisioning...
Meet the late Will Chaussee. On the outside, he was a cedar lumber owner-dealer. On the inside, he was a mountain man, and he owned a sapphire mine between Hamilton and Philipsburg, Montana. He retired and annually invited me to his place up in the mountains, where we fished, explored a bit and told stories that were mostly true. He had returned to Bothell on business and looked in on me at the newspaper there where I worked, and said, “Look what I found at the mine, a sapphire fit for a king.” That started it, and for the next several mon...
At the end of last year, a group of people visited the school and brought a strong message. They not only came to Lake Roosevelt, but traveled to Nespelem, Omak, Paschal Sherman, Inchelium and Keller schools as well, bringing with them a message of self-worth, overcoming and positive actions. In Lake Roosevelt this has caused a ripple effect of good things, and I keep going back to that turning point of communication. When James Pakootas, Miah Bearcub, Lou Rouda, TS Solution and John Crown spoke on the stage in the Raider gym, I am sure they kn...
Last week The Star published “Town now planning entire lift station to serve Elmer City.” As a short response, Coulee Dam should not subsidize Elmer City. It’s unreasonable, it’s poor strategy (with some caveats), it’s a matter of fairness, and may violate the state constitution & statutes (as a gift of funds). During the planning, design, and approvals for the new Coulee Dam wastewater treatment facility, the town took all reasonable efforts to include and involve all those impacted and involved the stakeholders — specifically, since the T...
Why: Cindy cares about Grant County and actively participates in making it better. Cindy listens and is passionate about finding positive solutions. Cindy is fiscally responsible and holds departments accountable. Cindy is dedicated to public service and has a great working relationship with us, department heads, and other agencies. Cindy is accessible and willing to help at all times. Cindy is well-respected and a trusted county leader. Please join us in re-electing Cindy Carter for Grant County Commissioner - District 3. Michele Jaderlund,...
Looming at the PUD is replacement of a complicated (and vital) energy sales contract, new infrastructure to meet growing power demands, and the resolve and creativity to finally finish building out the PUD fiber optic network. We need commissioners who actually understand how debt works — not folks who throw around scary debt numbers with no context. Terry Brewer and Patti Paris will begin on Day 1 of the new term as effective PUD Commissioners. No learning curve needed. Please look beyond the $$ onslaught of Ag Power User road and yard s...
I urge voters to consider personal qualifications of candidates - rather than simply party affiliations. My votes for unaffiliated/independent candidates Ann Diamond and Salley Bull are for their ability to unite people rather than divide them. I support Democrat Christine Brown for joining these independents in their push for good healthcare for all. I support Republican Arian Noma for Okanogan County prosecutor because he addresses, with knowledge and passion, a consistently minimized issue. In 2015, the U.S. held 21.0 percent of the world’s...
Our institutions are essential in preserving democracy. Some vital elements of our democratic institutions include a free press, judicial system, environmental protection, education, labor unions, intelligence agencies, election systems and health services. These institutions, and others, are under attack by the current administration by actions such as repeatedly discrediting the press and intelligence agencies, eliminating environmental regulations (clean air, water, climate change), and chipping away at healthcare. Our own election system,...
Did you know that in the 2016 presidential election, over 108 million eligible voters didn’t vote? Were you aware that nationally, the voter turnout was less than 40 percent in the 2014 midterm elections and 21.4 percent of eligible voters were not registered? That’s greater than 46 million people. And here is another sobering statistic — according to a Pew Charitable Trusts Foundation 2016 survey, around 60 percent of both unregistered and registered voters said they had never been asked to register to vote. The study also showed that eligi...
This is another bill sponsored by billionaires and organizations such as Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility (WAGR). They spent $10.5 million to get I-594 passed in 2014. That bill approved by voters now makes it illegal to loan a rifle to a friend to hunt with, among other things. Then they spent $7 million on bill 1491 in 2016. Now the same five billionaires, along with WAGR, have spent $4.3 million to get this passed. If bill 1639 is approved by the voters, it could potentially make every gun owner in Washington state a felon. This...
Cindy Carter is a rarity these days, an elected official who knows where money comes from. She learned to work as a child and retains a remarkable work ethic. I visited the Carters when they were finishing their house. Cindy was not there giving directions; she was there working. When Cindy first ran for the office of county commissioner, the county Republicans opposed her because she was a political outsider. She’s been the lone voice in county government for those living south of I-90. Things have changed since Cindy Carter was first e...
We have important PUD Commissioner choices on the ballot this year. The platform of two of the PUD Commissioner candidates seems solely to be reducing rates for irrigation and residential customers. But, history is full of unintended consequences from seemingly simple solutions. Irrigation and residential electric rates in Grant County are among the lowest in the nation. Much of that is due to the foresight of prior PUD commissioners in building Priest Rapids and Wanapum Dams, but it’s also due to the practice of current PUD commissioners in a...
There are some students who fly by under the radar, and they are moving to the college of their choice when you realize you missed out on knowing a senior who is pretty special. That is not the case with Rainy Dawn. I met her a few years ago and have been addicted to her personality ever since. So when I sat down with her this past week to talk about all things “her,” I was really looking forward to what she had to say. She did not disappoint. Rainy is one of those rare students. Good grades, go...
Ballots are starting to arrive and it’s getting to be decision time. As someone who works with a lot of businesses, especially small businesses, I am concerned about the impact of the costs associated with Initiative 1631, the energy tax measure. That’s why the [Moses Lake] chamber is opposed, and why I am voting NO on I-1631. Living in the Columbia Basin, we do have some mass-transit options. But most of us — especially businesses — rely on our vehicles to get around town or leave the county. We also rely on vehicles to transport product...
As we watch the larger political world seem to strain to pull itself apart, it’s heartening to see signs of local unity shining a beam of light through the clouds. Last week, Coulee Dam’s city council agreed to consider paying for the extra horsepower needed to get Elmer City’s effluent to the new treatment plant Coulee Dam is building. The two towns have been at the verge of mutually suing each other over whose responsibility that should be. Then last night, the Grand Coulee City Council voted to put the question of consolidating local munic...
We would like to thank the personnel from all of the area fire departments that responded to the fire in Elmer City on October 15, 2018. The high winds and encroaching darkness made containing the fire difficult and dangerous; however, these brave men and women worked quickly and efficiently to both contain the fire and prevent additional homes from being destroyed. Our home was surrounded on three sides with fire when it crossed Highway 155, and their efforts prevented any damage to our home. One firefighter had to climb a large tree in our...
I have known Terry for 15-plus years, quite some time before he became a PUD commissioner. Terry has integrity, incredible character and is highly qualified for the PUD commissioner position. There is no question in my mind that he is the best person to work through, and address the complexity of, challenges we face. His dedication to this resource we have has been tireless; in fact, he has not missed one PUD meeting in the last five years. There is unfortunate buzz that if you vote for one candidate, you are voting for agriculture; and if you...
Did you know that irrigated agriculture accounts for 24 percent of the employment in Grant County? Grant County agriculture directly employs over 7,000 Grant County residents, and indirectly creates employment for another 10,000. Agricultural processing and manufacturing creates another 17 percent (9,000) jobs for Grant County. All total, this means 41 percent, or 26,000 jobs are created by irrigated agriculture. Irrigated agriculture represents approximately 25 percent of the energy used from Grant County PUD. Terry Brewer and Patti Paris are...
I support Terry Brewer for Grant County PUD Commissioner. I have known Terry for over 20 years. It has been my pleasure to work with him as Director of the Grant County EDC and in his role as a PUD Commissioner. Don’t mistake Terry’s quiet demeanor and even disposition when evaluating his commitment to the people of Grant County and his advocacy for public power. Terry brings to this position extensive experience with private and public power. He is respected in the Public Power Field because of his knowledge and experience navigating the com...
It was the Three Devils Road closure that brought to light the glaring conflicts of interest within our county government. Through public records, we learned that previous road closures/vacations were being approved in spite of public testimony to their usefulness. When decisions like this affect your way of life, it is time to pay attention. Two-term Commissioner Jim DeTro voted to go with the Hearings Examiners’ decision not to vacate Three Devils, but that was after the deal was sealed – two votes to vacate already. He, then, admonished us...
Gail Morin, of Elmer City, is on her 62nd book. Are they western adventure, romance, war stories, children books? No, nothing like that. Gail writes geneology-type books, getting all her information from public records. Her books, many of them available on Amazon, have titles such as: “Manitoba Scrip” “Stignace Parish of Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan 1882 - 1910 Baptisms, Marriages and Burials” “Chippewa Half-Breeds of Lake Superior - Concerning the applicants for Half-Breed Scrip” and “St. Joachim, Fort Auguste (Fort Edmonton) 1858-1890”. T...