News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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In Washington, an abundance of low cost, reliable hydropower spurs economic growth. It is a key reason why energy intensive industries locate here. Today, our nation has a profusion of carbon-based energy. Unlike a decade ago when we relied upon imported natural gas and crude oil, fracking technology put us on the path to be the world’s largest producer of processed petroleum. While fracked gas and oil are a boon to America’s economy, they are a big problem for traditional oil-rich nations like Saudi Arabia and Russia. The Wall Street Jou...
It starts with a question. That question can be difficult for some to answer, or for others it can release the flood gates of time and you end up knowing everything about them. A simple question, “What’s your story?” can require a person to dig deep within themselves and uncover things seldom thought about, much less talked about. For others, they spew the information out like they are counting grains of sands in the desert, a task that goes on and on. So why am I bringing this up? I was recently challenged to tell my story. I was met with...
Excessive snow on December 8, 1985, made it possible for artist Perry Ferguson to create this sculpture of an Indian on a horse. Assisted by Joe Kiehn, the sculpture was begun on Dec. 8 at 10:30 a.m., and finished by 11 p.m. It was near Kiehn's Pawn Shop parking lot on SR-174....
Most of the Town was built over 80 years ago and we can’t expect that the infrastructure will last forever… and that includes our sidewalks. So for now, let’s skip the myriad of other issues/problems and let’s look at our sidewalks. At first, the Town just presumed that each of us “homeowner’s” would be required to individually repair the (their) sidewalks – and that was (and still is) a requirement of state statutes (laws). However, as is usually the case, assumptions and perceptions are usually interpreted as a requirement for someone els...
I made the decision in 2012 to run for county commissioner to bring effective leadership to the county. I ran for reelection to continue that leadership of balancing budgets, adopting land use plans that were kicked down the road since 1965, and updating the county facilities plan. We did all of these things while maintaining a balanced budget and putting over $2 million dollars back into county roads. I am proud of my service and the work achieved by commissioners Campbell and DeTro. Okanogan County has many great employees dedicated to their...
Thank you to the voters for helping us to better serve the Public Safety needs of Lincoln County! The modest Public Safety sales tax increase was approved by 58 percent of the voters and will greatly help us to serve you better. We are very appreciative of your vote of confidence in us and will continue to do our best to manage the money that we have. Speaking of voters, Lincoln County had the second highest percentage of voter turnout of all 39 counties in the state at 83.64 percent. Great job, Lincoln County, that is just awesome! We are...
Aren’t we all so grateful that this fiasco of an election year is over! For those young people who were experiencing their first presidential election, please don’t be turned off by all of it. The media has stated “never in our history have we ever seen anything such as this.” Hopefully it will never happen again! The one bright spot for our family was campaigning for Nick Wallace for Grant County Superior Court Judge. Putting up signs, marching (huffing and puffing) in parades, etc. Certainly we were disappointed that the results were not wha...
Wrestling is a dedication sport. It is not always about the wins and losses and skill level. It is about the dedication you put into yourself and the time you’re willing to put in to be the best. How much are you willing to sacrifice? This time of year is the time we see grapplers headed to Mr. Hood’s mat room, running circuits and eating the bare essentials. All so they can elevate themselves to the next level. The last five years have seen state wrestling champions in the halls of LR. Octavio Alejendre, Kodie Horn, Jacob Smith and Orrin Gross...
Winter's icy grip on a spillway bridge pier at Grand Coulee Dam. -Nov. 12, 1940 photo...
At some recent town council meetings, some Coulee Dam citizens expressed a desire to help stem crime in their community by forming a “Block Watch” program. I was asked to head this endeavor as I had worked with similar programs in Spokane and Renton, Washington, as well as helped start Yakima County’s 911 program. These programs are normally aimed at larger communities, although the basic ideas can be incorporated in our small community. If you are concerned with what is going on in our community, if you want to know how you can help prote...
I want to thank the school, the community, the students, the coaches and especially the players for an uplifting season. It goes to show hard work pays off! Keep up all the things in your lives. Soy Redthunder...
I want to first thank all of those who assisted, supported, volunteered, donated, and voted for me in the Okanogan County Commissioner District 2 primary and general elections. The amount of support I received is truly humbling. I also want to thank Andy Hover for running; I am pleased that we both ran clean, civil campaigns, sticking to the facts and avoiding mudslinging. The number of candidates that ran in this election clearly demonstrates that democracy works; there was some disagreement about how matters were being handled at the county...
Washington my home; Where ever I may roam; This is my land, my native land, Washington, my home. Our verdant forest green, Caressed by silvery stream; From mountain peak to fields of wheat. Washington, my home. This verse of “Washington My Home,” adopted as our state song in 1959, illustrates what so many Washingtonians picture about our home in the northwest corner of America. For those of us in the Okanogan Highlands, thinking of the “verdant forest green” is certainly true. For those of us in the Mid-Columbia south, though, we think of larg...
I read in last week’s paper of the passing of Reg Morgan. To say the least, I am a little heartbroken to hear of this. On these very pages, week after week, Reg wrote about fishing, hunting, travel and the occasional stray pet as he let you in on little glimpses of his life and shared what was important to him. It did not matter if it was a local play, what was hot with fishing or changes in the hunting regulations; he spoke with passion, integrity and his own creative style. He was a mentor to me even though he did not mean to be. He only e...
No matter what just happened, we’re all in this together. Regardless of which candidate won the presidential election, or any others you’re watching closely, the republic, state and county will survive, especially with our help. Note that collective “our” that indicates it’s up to all of us to move on and work together, whether we like those on the other side of the argument or not. That can be especially difficult if you’re convinced, as so many seem to be, that those whose views you just can’t stomach are either stupid or evil. Here’s a viewp...
The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten – President Calvin Coolidge said it well almost 100 ago. Friday is Veterans Day, when we as a nation honor those who have answered the call to defend our way of life. We exercise and enjoy our freedoms every day, and we owe special recognition of every American man and woman who has served in uniform. On November 11, Veterans Day ceremonies will take place across the country. Citizens will gather in assembly to pay tribute to the memory and service of our warriors by singing the w...
One of the more intriguing aspects of this unusual election year is the extent to which the underpinning of the election itself — voting — has become an issue in its own right. An act that we used to take for granted is increasingly being called into question. Just look at the headlines from the past few months. Russia, it seems clear, is trying to meddle in the process, sowing confusion and distrust about the integrity of the vote and about the vibrancy and fairness of our democracy. There have been questions about the cyber-security of vot...
Communication has always been a key to success. Ask any businessman or woman and they will agree. Ask any teacher and they will also agree. Ask any coach and the answer is the same: communication is key to winning and losing. In the classroom, on the field and in the board room, talking to each other is a must. Communication is also a key ingredient in good parenting. The conversation around a meal can be one of the most insightful times. Kids can learn how busy their parents are and parents can also learn about a school day or Snapchat. Kids c...
Pile Trestle Bridge - looking east, 1/4 mile below the axis of the Grand Coulee Dam. – November 2, 1934 photo...
People giving good advice for dealing with an increase in local crime usually miss the real point of the discontent of those complaining about it. They’ll advise, rightly, that we would all be better off if we’d stop pretending we still live in a place where all your possessions are safe from theft. Lock up your stuff, lock your car door and don’t leave your home unlocked. It’s common sense, they say. And it is, and has been, common sense for a long time — elsewhere. People don’t want their possessions stolen, true enough. But those thing...
Citizens of Coulee Dam, please plan on joining us the evening of Nov. 21 for a discussion concerning funding needed repairs of our town sidewalks. We will be meeting at the American Legion Hall in Electric City beginning at 6 p.m. This meeting will be open to all who are concerned about the condition of the town’s sidewalks and the safety of those who use them as we walk around our town. Council members are in the process of developing the 2017 budget, which must be finalized by Dec. 31. Council meetings are scheduled for Nov. 9, Nov. 28, Dec....
It has been my privilege to serve as your District Court judge for the past 25-plus years. I was born and raised in Quincy where I grew up on the family ranch. My father, Dr. LeRoy Whitener, practiced veterinary medicine for over 40 years, with clinics in Quincy and Ephrata. I write this letter of support for Judge David Estu-dillo because I believe he lives the same values we cherish. When Judge David Estudillo joined our Superior Court bench last year, he was a great addition to our judiciary. His high level of courtroom experience, his...
In less than two weeks this whole election fiasco will be at an end! I hope the young, first-time voters realize that this has not been the norm over the years! A large number of our young people have had the opportunity to meet and know a very special candidate up close! This special candidate is Nick Wallace, who is running for Grant County Superior Court Judge. Some of those young people simply call him Coach Nick. Nick Wallace has been a resident of Grant County for over 20 years (as opposed to Mr. Estu- dillo’s four or five). In those 2...
A recent article in the Omak Chronicle called attention to legal costs our incumbent county commissioners have passed on to taxpayers, including recent issues regarding salary for an employee in the county court which has now cost more to litigate than it would have to pay the original amount in question. As she has advertised, Shiela Kennedy has been a very active county commissioner. Those actions, however, have been counter to my interests as a resident of Okanogan county. She has used my tax dollars to support the American Lands Council,...
A few years ago, I didn’t know anything about Sheilah Kennedy except that she was a county commissioner. Since then, I have researched many issues that have arisen in local governance and have come to greatly respect her. In case after case, she carefully examines the questions and consistently makes decisions with the intent to benefit the citizens of the whole county. She has the courage to tackle difficult questions which need to be resolved. Despite lots of negative publicity, those who approach her about an issue find that she c...