News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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Thankfully, on Monday, President Trump delayed assessing higher tariffs on Chinese imports by another 90 days. China followed suit and delayed its own tariffs before the August 11 deadline expired. The new deadline is November 10, which, if not further delayed, will see import taxes of up to 145 percent on Chinese goods coming to USA. China has threatened 125 percent reciprocal tariffs on U.S. goods entering its country. The extension especially helps retailers who are in the middle of Christmas purchases. Meanwhile, hopefully the respective...
I arrived in Saigon on the first of three trips and near the end of the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong Tet offensive. The communists had targeted over 100 cities and hit pretty hard. Saigon was hit hard and there was still some limited fighting in the city when I arrived. I went to the Caravalle Hotel to get a room. That’s where most of the media stayed. They were full and directed me to an eight-story hotel nearby. One of the things I wanted to do was look up families of two UW students who were in the FIUTS program. We also were part of the p...
The 1938 high water of the Columbia River tops the upstream spillway blocks and floods the blockouts left for the outlet works gate installations at EL. 934. The maximum flow for 1938 was 361,680 second feet. May 28, 1938...
One of the first things I did when moving to Electric City in 1989 was to sign onto a fire crew for two seasons. The owners of the operation, OK Cascade, was the Keener family from Bothell. During the two-season stint we were involved in countless fires in Washington and Oregon. The Keeners had a meat market in downtown Bothell, run by Vern, the head of the family. People came from miles around to purchase their meat. The market featured the highest quality of cuts. The fire operation was run by John Keener, the oldest son. When John learned...
We continue to read about devastation from wildfires and strong storms. Climate scientists say we will see more as a result of climate change. To reduce air pollution that causes climate change we must reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Senator Lindsey Graham said, “CO2 emissions generated by man is creating our greenhouse gas effect that traps heat, and the planet is warming.” Our government needs to do much more to promote clean energy, such as wind, solar, and geothermal, and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. This includes res...
When I heard the news the authoritarian imbecile had fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics director for the crime of factual math, I dimly recalled something that George Orwell had written in a magazine essay 86 years ago. I had to look it up to confirm my memory, but there it was: “It is quite possible that we are descending into an age in which two plus two will make five when the Leader says so.” Orwell wrote that at a time when fascism and communism were riding high in Germany and the Soviet Union, a time when it was beyond impossible to...
As salmon restoration ramps up on the Columbia River above Chief Joseph Dam, it is important to establish balances between those fish already in reservoirs behind dams and salmon being introduced. Completed in 1942, Grand Coulee Dam became the largest U.S. hydropower plant. It generates enough power to supply about 2 million households with electricity for one year. Water stored in Lake Roosevelt, which is 150 miles long and as deep as 375 feet, reduced downstream flooding. Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams blocked salmon from migrating...
Although 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris lost Congressional District 4 by 59%-38%, she only lost nation-wide narrowly by 1.5%. Yet, 155 years after African Americans were enfranchised to vote, that anyone as openly racist as President Donald Trump can still be elected president is utterly appalling. Racism remains our country’s original sin (quoting Abraham Lincoln) and most enduring, cruel sin. I admit naiveté in thinking a majority of white Americans had progressed beyond considering color when Barack Obama became pr...
When I brought Village Cinema back to life, my goal wasn’t just to reopen a theater... it was to build something this town could be proud of, and something that included everyone. Now, we’re taking another step in that direction. Starting at the end of August, we’ll be launching a new wireless audio system that lets guests stream movie sound directly to their own phones with earbuds and headphones. It’s easy, discreet, and free. Just connect to our Wi-Fi, open the AudioFetch app, and you’ll hear the movie in real time. Loud and clear, ri...
I was born on a farm. It was near Four Mile Creek, south and west of Palouse. My dad went to town to get Dr. Dart, everyone’s doctor since there was only one in Palouse. As it turned out, I was delivered by my Aunt Lorena, who was staying with us at the time. She later was my mentor, in a way. She dropped everything and went to the University of Washington. She was in her 40s at the time, and would go on for her master’s degree. She later taught at the UW School of Medicine. It seemed she was always in my life. I was invited numerous times to...
Working on the Northern Pacific Railroad was my first experience outside of Palouse. It was from Palouse to Tekoa, the rail line of some 50 miles. I had already run milk for the local Darigold dealer. We delivered milk on one side of town one day and on the other side the next. You got every other day delivery of milk, cream, cottage cheese and eggs. We still had glass bottles when I started and switched to cartons later . Early on, we had a lot of carton leakers. I worked at my dad’s butcher shop, at the local Piggly Wigley, and as a fry c...
See if this rings a bell: In 1994 the voters in Italy elected, as their leader, a flamboyant demagogic mogul with no governing experience. Silvio Berlusconi vowed to lurch Italy rightward, and the nation’s neo-fascists rejoiced. He was not a fan of free speech. During his multiple stints as prime minister, he routinely attacked the media, particularly when it investigated his ongoing conflicts of interest, declaring at one point that reporters were using TV “as a criminal means of communication.” He was constantly targeted for prosecution, and...
If they’re up to their frequently used tactics, the Trump Administration will likely drag out the drama they’re causing by “freezing” nearly $7 billion in already budgeted education funds for K-12 education across 50 states, then just drop the whole thing. The chaos is often the real goal for this bunch. Make depending on the federal government for anything pure hell and people will tend to not rely on it. Local school districts are just a recent entry into that long list of people and institutions learning there is no long honor at the top...
The sign said “Tombstone 50 miles.” We were in Arizona and I am always game for a history lesson. When we arrived in town, we Iooked across the valley and could see how the paved road curved and twisted its way to where I stood. It was easy to imagine a few riders making their way to history many years before. One of the first places we went into had a machine that challenged you to a quickdraw. I was only a few quarters away from the challenge. I activated the machine and made my draw. Surprisingly, I beat the machine, and for a split sec...
July 20, 1944, the July Plot, an attempt to kill Hitler fails. Several months before the plot, opposition to Hitler in high army circles increased. Plans for a coup were set in late 1943. Hitler was suspicious; changes his plans and made himself less accessible, thwarting a number of attempts on his life. Lieutenant Colonel Stauffenberg, along with other Nazi military leaders agreed to remove Hitler from power. On July 20, Stauffenberg and others were meeting with Hitler at the Wofsschanze in Rastenburg. Stauffenberg personally carried a...
Here are just a few things I’ve noticed recently that show we live in an area surrounded by amazing people. I was in awe watching the fire and law enforcement departments fight the recent fire and keep everyone safe in West Coulee Dam. Rick Paris stopped by and assured us things would be alright. People don’t get any better than him! The Festival of America was awesome. They didn’t skip a beat due to the theft of the Chamber’s trailer. Our local talent with Dylan and the teachers “Fuel for Ghosts” was great. Their genuine passion made it a f...
I was a church kid in the 1960s and 70s. Many of our “kid” songs were upbeat and contemporary. There were many stories and lessons in those songs, some of which many of us have seemingly forgotten over the years. One of my favorites comes to mind: “They’ll Know We are Christians by our Love.” If you were a church kid in the 60s and 70s, you’ll probably remember some of the words: “We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord,” and “we will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,” and “we will work with each other, we will work s...
The Grand Coulee Star is a weekly community newspaper. It covers local news, community events, births, weddings, obituaries, police reports, and school happenings. It has an editorial page that regularly showcases conservative voices, including GOP Representative Dan Newhouse and business columnist Don C. Brunell, as well as letters from local citizens, and a political cartoon —a time-honored American tradition. Accusations that it is “liberal” are laughable. It’s a fantastic community resource that we should all be proud to support. It’s ne...
Over the years I’ve been amazed at some people that read the paper. Maybe I’ll just state it as is: some extreme right wings don’t like your reporting both sides of the news and threatened to cancel the paper. Over the years I personally think you’ve reported both sides fairly. Plus, you report some news that nobody is covering. Good job. On a personal note, I really didn’t care for the draft and was drafted, but with the draft in place more citizens were watching what the government was doing. Now with the all-volunteer military nobody cares....
It’s been 20 years since the Lake Roosevelt High School Class of 2005 crossed that stage. Many of us moved away, started families, and built new chapters. But one thing hasn’t changed: the bonds we formed here. That’s why we’re inviting all LRHS alumni to join us on July 19 at Village Cinema for a relaxed evening with trivia, arcade games, free popcorn and soda, and a classic movie that takes us back to those carefree days. For those who want to catch up beforehand, Rio Grande is offering dinner specials for reunion attendees. BOGO 1/2 price i...
I had written earlier that the Grand Tetons in Wyoming was my favorite place. They are, as far as scenery goes. However, as far as my personal experiences go, my best place would be the Snake River from one end to where it empties into the Columbia River. My wife’s family had a 350-acre irrigated farm near Buhl, Idaho overlooking the Snake River canyon. At about 4 p.m. each day, hundreds of pheasants would fly up onto their farm area from the canyon below. You could stand on the rocky ledges and see the canyon below come alive with pheasant. W...
July 11, 1804, personal enemies and political antagonists, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton met to settle their long-standing differences with dual. This extreme event reflected the hostility provoked by the developments of the nation’s political party system. As the two faced off, their pistols fired in close succession. Burr’s shot struck its target. Fatally wounded Hamilton, who died the following day. Both men were political leaders in New York. Burr, a prominent Republican. Hamilton was...
They are inescapable, these words. They are present everywhere, down the street, and all the way to Washington, D.C. They have become prominent in our society and its politics over the past decades; truly the agony of our nation. Ignorance, intolerance, indifference, irresponsible, ineptitude and ineffectual. Let me share the definition of each of these words according to The American Heritage Dictionary. Ig.no.rance -- The condition of being uneducated, unaware or uninformed. In.tol.er.ance --...
Democrat Senators and Congressmen are pushing to Impeach Trump again. For his bombing Iran Nuclear sites, that every President from President Reagan, Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden, and Trump again has said Iran can’t have nuclear bombs. However, Obama used 26,000 bombs to bomb Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, & Yemen in 2016 alone. Never did obtain an act from congress to conduct Military Operations. President Biden bombed Syria, Yemen, Iran with 3,246 bombs No complaints from Democrats. & not congress approval either. Obama s...
What’s most important to remember about the monstrous “big beautiful” bill ginned up by Trump’s Reichstag is that Republicans are just being themselves. They’ve always pined to fatten the fat cats and screw the average citizen – to take from the needy and give to the rich, like Robin Hood in reverse. None of this is new. What’s different now is the sheer scale of the cruelty, the scope of the destruction, and the spineless fealty to a fascist. And what truly galls me is the Republicans’ repugnant hypocrisy. In 2011, President Obama proposed...