News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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For some time, The Star has published just about all of its stories online as well as in print. That practice will continue, but by the end of this month, online access will not be free. Why? Because we can’t afford to lose you, and we are starting to. Across the country, newspapers have increasingly turned to charging for online access to the work of their journalists. It’s time The Star followed that course, and many seem to expect and understand that move. We hope our loyal readers will keep reading us wherever they prefer, in print or onl... Full story
As you probably know, the current Coulee Dam mayor has chosen not to file for another term, and with that decision, we need to elect a new mayor. I’ve been active on Town Council for almost four years. I serve on town committees with well-thought and balanced service. I have worked with the current administration from the beginning of the Waste Water Treatment Facility, Transportation Improvement Board roads/sidewalks grant applications, and other projects and programs, and am able to provide a seamless transition as we construct the f... Full story
Really, do trees migrate? The answer is a yes. A little clarification here, though; trees don’t actually move themselves. What does occur: tree populations can shift over time. A recent study confirms that, over the past three decades, trees in the eastern United States are shifting their population centers west and north. Several tree species common in the east, such as white oak, sugar maples, and American hollies, have shifted their population center west since 1980. The study also shows that more than half of the species studied also m... Full story
I was honored to be asked to go on the senior trip this year. This class is jammed full of special personalities, funny characters and future stars looking to make their mark in the world and on each other. So here is a recap of our trip to Seattle. At 5 a.m. Friday we met at the school, zombies staggering around with bags on our shoulders, sleep in our eyes and begging for coffee. We started our journey across the state; soon sleepiness turned to anticipation as we left the desert and entered the plush greenness on the other side. First stop w... Full story
Water rages downstream past the town of Coulee Dam in this 1948 photo showing the west bank of the Columbia River. During the 1948 flood, extensive damage was done to the riprapped slopes on both banks for nearly a mile downstream. To protect critical areas, government forces worked around the clock for nearly two weeks, hauling replacement riprap. The discharge on this date was 535,000 cubic feet per second.-June 1, 1948 photo... Full story
The Turkish government is obviously familiar with the concept of “chutzpah,” if not necessarily the word. Ankara summoned the American ambassador to protest allegedly “aggressive and unprofessional actions” by the Washington, D.C., police. Their offense? Intervening after Turkish security personnel mauled peaceful protesters outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence in Washington. Video of the incident is jaw-dropping. About a dozen people protested Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- arriving at the ambassador’s residence after a Whi... Full story
In the last decade, there has been a highway construction boom in Texas. On the other hand, lawmakers in Olympia still scramble to fund road maintenance. Texas, a state with a population of 27 million, is flush with cash thanks partly to a 10-year voter approved initiative which will pump $2 billion a year into highways. Then recently, that state’s legislature added $9 billion to further help relieve traffic congestion. “What’s Texas doing that we aren’t?” The answer is private-public partnerships. Since 2011, the state’s transportat... Full story
Thirty-plus years just does not feel like enough time. The Peacocks are about to pull up roots and travel the nation on a permanent road trip. We have gotten used to the snow bird effect, but this time it will be for much longer. Barry and Viv are spreading their wings and are going to soar. Barry has been helping people for years. With the city, with the church and with friends, he is a man’s man. He has helped many a person over the years and has been a staple to the area. He has helped Karrie... Full story
The sheep of Joe Hodgin travel from winter quarters at Adrian, Washington, to their summer range in the Colville National Forest. - May 9, 1945 photo... Full story
Our congressman, Dan Newhouse, (R-4th Dist.) has repeatedly advocated for “market-based health insurance,” promising that for-profit health insurance companies will deliver on the goals of less expensive, higher quality, and more available healthcare in the U.S. He is not alone in pushing this mantra. Neither he nor others provide evidence to support their infatuation with market-based health insurance. On the contrary, there is a great deal of evidence to suggest that market-based health insurance provides very expensive, lower quality hea... Full story
The world is changing at a fast pace, making it difficult to keep up and even more difficult to know what it all means for us and our children and grandchildren. Only a generation ago, 60 percent of college students in American colleges were men. Today, that is reversed; 60 percent of college students are women. When men were drafted for military service during World War I, government administrators were surprised to discover that those men typically had only six or seven years of schooling. Today, 61 percent of young people say that completing... Full story
Recently, two girls at Lake Roosevelt High School sat in the cafeteria during lunch. They had been having a really good discussion as they munched on their chow of choice when one of them looked up at the other eaters in the room. They were amazed and their eyes were opened to a very common phenomenon that is sweeping our country. Every other student at every table was looking at the screen of their device. No talking was taking place. All zoomed in to whatever event was happening on the screen at the moment. The two girls pointed this out to... Full story
Recently, Washington state’s largest environmental, wildlife and natural resources agencies recognized 43 large forest landowners for their “exemplary efforts” to upgrade forest roads and stream crossings which improved salmon habitat and water quality. After investing more than $300 million collectively, these landowners rebuilt 25,000 miles of forest roads, replaced over 6,000 in-stream barriers to migrating fish, and opened in excess of 3,500 miles of previously blocked spawning habitat. The recognition is milestone in collaboration and a re... Full story
View of the base for the stator of generator L-6, taken from No. 1 crane in the left powerhouse.-May 12, 1943 photo... Full story
Students who witnessed a mock crash scene last Friday may not realize it, but they were given an important advantage that we hope they don’t squander. As horrific as the actors and organizers of the mock accident scene made it, the impact of any such impression naturally fades over time. But at least the students of Lake Roosevelt Junior/Senior High School were subjected to the event organized by Colville Tribal Police in the first place. Now comes the tricky part. The mock crash depicted the scene of a two-car collision with multiple deaths a... Full story
The Center for Rural Affairs has fought on behalf of rural communities for nearly 45 years. We are heartened by U.S. Department of Agriculture Sec. Perdue’s expressions of support for rural communities during his early days in office. However, we are concerned about his current path. On May 11, Purdue proposed eliminating the position of Undersecretary for Rural Development and moving oversight of Rural Development agencies to the Deputy Secretary, USDA’s second-in-command. If this change is made, we lose the most significant rural adv... Full story
Did you know that May is National Foster Parent Appreciation Month? There are nearly 9,000 children currently in foster care in Washington state. Children enter foster care at no fault of their own. Most children in foster care have endured some form of abuse/neglect which made conditions unsafe to remain in their home. Thankfully, there are caring adults who choose to become foster parents. Foster parents are willing to open their hearts and homes to the children in foster care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Foster parents provide the safety,... Full story
“America needs more welders and fewer philosophers,” proclaimed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio during the 2016 presidential campaign. He hit the nail on the head without disrespecting philosophers. Industry News reported in 1988 that there were 570,000 welders, compared to the 360,000 in 2012. Considering the manufacturing and construction sectors have boomed in recent years, the growing shortage of welders is troublesome. Even worse, the American Welding Society estimates a 290,000 job deficit by 2020. This shortage is primarily due to the lar... Full story
In a world where turmoil, drama and entertainment seem to grab the front page, top stories and flood our cyber space, I was reminded over the weekend that miracles still surround us. A blooming flower, an egg hatching, planets in orbit and other “natural” occurrences happen every second, but there are other things if we are willing to see. Karrie and I have been, most Saturdays, going to Spokane early in the morning, driving to be there by 9 and experience some great things. We became a part of Healing Rooms International and were honored to... Full story
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 Elevation 934. The maximum flow for 1938 was 361,680 second feet. – May 28, 1938 photo... Full story
This coming weekend is typically one that is packed full for many local folks, in a good way. This year it promises much the same, weather holding. With Mother’s Day, the Colorama festivities, the big rodeo, and the old-home week atmosphere at local gathering places, there’s no excuse for boredom. The chamber of commerce never stops working at improving Colorama, a multi-faceted, complex enterprise, the successful completion of which will leave many revelers pleasantly exhausted, but not more so than its organizers. The Colorama Rodeo, the con... Full story
In spite of all the economic factors pointing in the opposite direction, our Okanogan PUD is pushing ahead with the electrification of Enloe Dam. This decision has no basis in reality and defies common sense. The estimated construction cost of $42.5 million dollars is only just a guess. The commissioners admit they have no idea what the actual cost will be. Whether $45 million, $60 million or even higher, this powerhouse will never pay off the borrowing required to build it. The annual losses of $2 million dollars projected by the PUD make this... Full story
There was nothing pretentious about Mike Lowry. What you saw is what you got! Lowry was one of Washington’s most colorful governors. He served one term from 1993 to 1997. He died on May 1 at age 78. There was nothing subtle about Mike Lowry. He was not afraid to mix it up publicly nor put his political future on the line when he believed in a cause. For example, in 1993 Lowry pushed legislation dramatically reforming our state’s healthcare laws. He and his Democrat colleagues jammed a bill through the legislature requiring all employers to pro... Full story
I have vivid memories of our local festival. The week-long wait as a child drove all the kids crazy. Watching day by day as carnival rides showed up and slowly erected themselves into something magical and astounding. Seeing trucks pulling horse trailers arriving to Coulee Country, ending their long journey in Delano, where we would all go to see the cowboys and cowgirls ride the beasts. Then there were the bands, floats and princesses from around the state that would crowd our little streets and delight us on a Saturday morning. That is when... Full story
An old round up of horses in the coulee before these grounds were flooded to form Banks Lake - Cleatis Lacy photo... Full story