News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
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One would think with all the precipitation we had in December the drought we experienced in 2015 would be placed in the history books. Well, not just yet according to the National Drought Mitigation Center. Looks like we’ll have to see more wetness before we are officially out of drought conditions. El Niño is still in place. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is stating that it will likely be in place until at least late spring or early summer. It’s not fully clear if this particular El Niño is affecting our weather here... Full story
Sometimes you just get some extra time to think about things. Things like, “did I really write that the Chiefs would win the Super Bowl?” and “did I really just see that person pick their nose while working the cash register?” You know, things like that. Why does every other school district around us get “snow days” or late starts and we just keep plugging along, business as usual. For years, we have called the strip from Coulee Dam to Belvedere the banana belt, but come on, man. Maybe we just have really good bus drivers and really dedicated s... Full story
8 has been an eventful year for our nation and for the 4th District of Washington, which I have been honored to be given the responsibility by Central Washingtonians to represent you in Congress. My commitment has been to work hard on solutions, not just add to the partisan noise in D.C. I am committed to working for you, listening to you and responding to questions and comments you have. This year, my congressional office has provided resources at events held on behalf of farmers, students, and veterans. My staff made 24 mobile office... Full story
The “Lighting of the Library” was a big success again this year, with Santa arriving compliments of the Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department and the children all lighting glow sticks to welcome Santa. As the children were greeted by Santa and each given a coloring book, Christmas carols were sung, cookies provided by the library board were consumed, and drawings for door prizes held. Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union donated $50 gift cards won by Jason Olsen and Brian Clark; and $25 gift cards, won by Scotty Flannery, Janet Williams, Sha... Full story
I thought I would start the new year with some predictions for 2016. You know, stuff I think will happen and more than likely will. Confidence is the key here. • So prediction number one is, (drum roll) the Coulee area will purchase more snow removal equipment this year than ever before. Snow blowers, snow shovels and de-icer stock will skyrocket in the local economy, leaving shelves empty and consumers using their old shovels and rock salt to get themselves out of the big freeze. But the bright side is that our old shovels are practically b... Full story
Surprisingly, Congress’ $680 billion holiday-season tax deal will bring some cheer to working families, and not just to big corporations this year. Refundable tax credits putting extra cash in the hands of hard-pressed workers and parents were included in a huge year-end gift-wrapped package of tax breaks — the type of bill that usually only offers big rewards to corporate fat cats. Every two years for the past few decades, Washington has renewed a collection of about 50 temporary tax breaks, called “tax extenders.” Even though some of them ha... Full story
You’ll laugh at this, but hear me out. This is a very tough time to be a politician — whether running for office or trying to lead while holding office. The women and men who’ve undertaken to represent us face circumstances that make campaigning and governing unusually challenging right now. Not that they’ve ever been easy, at least in my lifetime. Our size, diversity, and multi-layered government structure; the number and complexity of the problems our political leaders face daily; and the divided politics of our time, which make settlin... Full story
Airport townsite addition in Coulee Dam, taken from the gravel pit road. – Dec. 19, 1946... Full story
Can tribal courts hear tort cases against non-Indians? This case worked its way up to the Supreme Court, which heard it this month. Here is an interesting "Amicus" podcast on the subject, with background and an interview with a lawyer on the yes side.... Full story
The run up to the holidays is always a time during which it is challenging to fit everything in the schedule. And at a weekly newspaper, the schedule is really messed up during the season when regular meetings are canceled or moved, new events pop up and a lot of issues and events deserve community attention. "Hectic" can describe it, but so can a sigh of wonder. The latter description comes to mind after many events involving children. If you have some, consider yourselves lucky, even if you... Full story
How come you do not follow the Coulee Dam council meetings anymore? When the mayor election was going on, you were reporting everything that Mr. Wilder was doing and saying and reporting on the “heated council meetings,” making Mayor Snow look bad, but now that Mr. Wilder is mayor we never hear about the meetings, which have been a little heated lately. I would hate to think that there is a bias here, Mr. Hunter. Stacy Mattson Editor’s response: As a general (but not strict) rule, we don’t write stories about meetings, but about the subject... Full story
Well before the final negotiations of the COP21 climate talks in Paris, business was already making a big difference on the ground. For the first time, superstar entrepreneurs showed up with plans to fund major initiatives. Giant companies sent CEOs to showcase their results in reducing carbon in their own operations. And entire industries, such as financial services, agriculture and manufacturing, made new commitments to address climate change. Attending the talks as a business leader, I could tell that positive pressure from the business... Full story
On Dec. 12, Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke patiently waited two hours in line with 70,000 volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery to collect wreaths and secure them to headstones. Thousands of others across our nation joined those at Arlington honoring soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who died while serving America. In all, nearly one million wreaths were laid this year. Wreaths Across America is a privately funded charity that accepts no government money. As part of the project, truckers volunteer to haul the wreaths, and veterans and... Full story
This sculpture of an Indian on a horse. Assisted by Joe Kiehn, the sculpture was begun at 10:30 a.m., Dec. 8 and finished by 11 p.m. It was near Kiehn's Pawn Shop parking lot on Highway 174. – December 11, 1985.... Full story
While searching for cattle in the North Star burn, a lot of wildlife were found dead or dying, including bear, moose, elk and deer. Because of a very limited food supply, a large herd of deer and some elk migrated to our green hay meadows. Even though our cattle range was limited (because of the fire), we did everything we could to provide food for the wildlife. We were very protective of the wildlife on private property so they would survive and not be molested by hunting. At home, the deer ate all the apples and some pears. In our big... Full story
I read with some sadness about the closing of the Coulee Dam Community Church. During the 1950s I attended the church, sang in the choir and have wonderful memories of the candlelight Christmas Eve services. Back in those days, the Community Church was about the only church that held services every Sunday. It accommodated all the protestant faiths. The Catholic church had a traveling priest who held mass regularly, but did not live in Coulee Dam. Our minister, Rev. Petersen, was very active in the community and even played tennis regularly with... Full story
Truly a building built stone by stone with much love. Gosh, didn’t know it was built the year I was born! Have enjoyed so many events there over the years. Whether attending one of my girls’ piano recitals, a wedding, a community event, or one of my children’s baccalaureates, the chapel was so lovely to look at. The exterior stone work is amazing and carefully constructed, always catching my eye as I drive by. I really hope that it is declared a historical building. Jacquelyn Reese (from Facebook/ GrandCouleeStar)... Full story
Good comments, Scott. The greater coulee community has much to cherish, save and share. Gaylen and I moved “home” to Grandview to be closer to family; however, our 15 years in the coulee gave us “extended” family to care for as well. And we do care. We are watching closely and cheering for everything that builds you up and secures your future. The hospital and the new school are great, and there’s just so much more within your grasp. Good luck & God Bless, Lois & Gaylen Chilton... Full story
I think it would be a great idea for a wall honoring our active local service personal. In Ephrata, at the Walmart store, they have such a wall honoring their local men and women in the military. Perhaps local businesses could donate the materials needed. Maybe the wall could go up outside the local Safeway store, where locals and tourists could enjoy it. This wall could be dedicated to the memory of Mr. Rodney Bise, with perhaps a memorial plaque. The coulee community should get behind this effort to help Jess Utz and make it happen. Wendi... Full story
This year the Grand Coulee Dam PTA was able to put on a Halloween Festival that brought families together for a fun night of games, cake walk and costume parade. We put on a Christmas Bazaar for the first time, with over 35 vendors to present their wares and share in the good cheer for the Christmas season. The bazaar wouldn’t have been such a success without the vendors, customers like you and help from the staff – Steve Knighten, Craig Purdy, Lisa Lakin, Susan Duclos and Tammy Norris. We also engaged the help of Lake Roosevelt High Sch... Full story
If you asked a child what the “best present” they could receive this year would be, you would get answers that vary. One might say a pony, another might say a Playstation III with some kind of Star Trek-sounding adapter. All would say a new phone, even if they did not even know how to count to 10. Older kids might be more specific with their desires, but few would stray further than the newest electronic zombie maker of their choice. But is that really the best present? If we went a little older with the question, we might get more realistic an... Full story
This community has not done a good job of preserving its own history. Until recently, the home of the largest dam and largest powerplant in North America, and of one of the most important public works projects in the country’s history, hasn’t even had a museum; and even the one that’s struggling to survive is an underfunded all-volunteer effort. Now would be a good time to reverse this trend. When Mom’s Tavern, the last of the old buildings on the famous B Street in Grand Coulee, was demolished decades ago, the last authentic remnant of that... Full story
I was saddened to read of the passing of Rodney Bise. There is so much everyone knows about all the wonderful things he did for the community. But I would like to share what I was particularly grateful for in Rod, and that was the fact that he was such a great friend to my brother, Chuck (Butch) Perkins. When Butch came home from the war in a wheelchair, Rodney (and Joy) was always there to lend a helping hand, be it odd jobs or repairs around the house, taking care of him in things that Penny just couldn’t do, driving him to Spokane in the wor... Full story
In the past three decades, much has changed in our food system and society. Schools aren’t purchasing as many fresh foods, yet they have more nutrition requirements to fill. Schools got away from purchasing locally. The number of local farms to purchase edible food from has become scarce. Recently, my kids invited me to eat lunch at school. Their school lunch menus show what items are locally sourced. Granted, I get to be a farm-to-school geek for a living, but to me that also meant an average parent would know that locally grown, fresh food w... Full story
Deliver us from Chicken Little. The tale of Chicken Little is about unwarranted fear. This campaign season our country has been disgraced by politicians and pundits fear-mongering for political gain. Leaders do not promote fear. Leaders allay fear. The reason that politicians can exploit fear is because an “ism,” as in communism or terrorism, is unmeasurable. If the Spanish Armada arrives off your coast, you can count the ships. You can measure the danger. Because an “ism” is unmeasurable, imagination can run wild, making the threat seem mu... Full story