News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Sorted by date Results 2825 - 2849 of 3667
We are one glum country. Trust in the federal government is at historic lows, according to Gallup. More than half of the respondents to an October Rasmussen poll think our best days are behind us. And just a few weeks ago, an NBC/Wall St. Journal poll found that the one thing Americans agree upon whatever their race or circumstances is that the system is stacked against people like them. Scratch an American, it seems, and you’ll get a litany of complaints about our representative democracy. I see this defeatism all around me. When I speak to c... Full story
Sometimes during the hustle and bustle of this time of year we must pause. (OK, let’s pretend there is a dramatic 20-second silence right here) Sit back, relax, take a breath and let it soak in a second. That happened to me this weekend. Let me fill you in. As some of you know, we recently moved. And, as most of you know, that leaves you in a hectic state for a while. Boxes filled with your necessity items fill your every space, and you just can’t find that one thing you need. Now, that is hectic in its own right but add Christmas nearly two we... Full story
Ten Years Ago The Coulee Dam Town Council approved a hotly contested budget last week before a packed house of community members who spoke their minds on several hot budget issues with the Mason City Park project and the rejection of a $90,000 grant from the county for park improvements, the top issue. Dick Taylor of the Coulee Dam Business Alliance, the driving force behind the park project, commented, "This is a major gift....the town's partnership is a relatively small, short-term loan to... Full story
I put out a request on Coulee Area Virtual Yard Sale on Facebook. I needed a free bed for a needy senior lady. Wow … were my socks knocked off. Let me first say “Angie” is beaming. She is going to bed early tonight to enjoy her new bed. Many, many thanks to all that offered help, and a special personal thank you to Carol Estrada, Eagles Auxiliary, Loepps and their teams of elves. Mission accomplished. The camaraderie of this small community is wonderful. When help is needed, we still come together to do what each of us can. I hope that never... Full story
By now most of you have climbed into the attic or sunk into the depths of the basement to haul out those boxes of treasured relics. No, I am not talking about the 1965 baseball card set you inherited or the prom dress from your first prom. I am talking about the most treasured set of boxes in the storage area of your choice. The Christmas stuff. Some of you just went “Ahhh,” like when you see the baby for the first time, and some of you went “Egghh,” like when the flashing red and blue lights show up in your rearview mirror. Neverth... Full story
While the dust is still settling from the mid-term elections and the pundits are trying to figure out what it all means, the American people have made their collective voices heard and delivered a message that they do not like the country’s direction. Exit polling data from Election Day showed clear majorities against growing corporate influence on the political process and in favor of greater corporate accountability. The message is clear: inversions must stop, corporate tax avoidance must end, and special corporate loopholes must close. T... Full story
1 years ago The preliminary 2005 budget has been released for the town of Coulee Dam with expenditures at $1.26 million with over $777,000 for police operations including revenue of $540,000 in USBR security contracts. Removed from the budget were roof repairs on the town hall and community building, two new patrol cars and paving for parking lots. Also removed from the budget were plans to match a grant from the Okanogan County Economic Alliance for improvements to Mason City Park. As the... Full story
Given all the words and images devoted to the midterm elections over the past few weeks, you’d think the results had told us something vital about the future of the country. In reality, they were just a curtain-raiser. It’s the next few weeks and months that really matter. The big question, as the old Congress reconvenes and prepares to make way for next year’s version, is whether the two parties will work more closely together to move the country forward or instead lapse back into confrontation and deadlock. I suspect the answer will be a mix:... Full story
Not to steal from the weather man, but it has been cold. Colder than Hans Solo in a Carbonite freeze. It might even be colder than a Hobbit in Melkor. OK, now that that is out of my system and movie buffs are happy, let's move right along. Since I have spent a fair share of time outside lately in the frigid air, I have let my mind drift a bit back to the days of horse and buggy or, more appropriately, horse and sled. I remember reading in "Pioneers to Power" that the young adults in the pioneer days would go to dances in sleighs. They would... Full story
1 years ago The Grand Coulee town council passed a $2.8 million dollar budget for fiscal year 2005 Tuesday night including $65,000 to replace the roof on city hall, a projected $733,000 budget for law enforcement, and $12,000 is earmarked for tourism activities sponsored by the chamber of commerce. The city will pay more than $860,000 in salaries, overtime and benefits plus an estimated $304,000 for the USBR police security contract. Tis the season for "eats" and good cheer with Stucks Bar and... Full story
Last week, the Grand Coulee City Council reversed its earlier decision that had kept the chief of police job under the protection of the city’s civil service commission. That reversal should be reconsidered. No matter how much faith council members may have in the current mayor, who pushed for the change, such far-reaching policy changes should not be based on the dominant personalities of the moment. That can be a difficult point to defend when every-one currently involved seems to have the best interests of the community at heart. But c... Full story
My name is Clinton J. Andrews. I was a member of the 3/502 HHC BN Postal Clerk, Infantry 11C Mortar Crew member in the Air Assault unit of Fort Campbell, Kentucky 1984-1985. While I was getting desert fatigues and boots, because I wanted back to Germany this time, I wanted to go to Berlin. I would have to extend my enlistment for six months, to go to Egypt to patrol the border of the Sinai Peninsula; I am one of the seven who stayed behind. My unit went to Egypt for six months deployment. On December 12, 1985, they were at Gander,... Full story
Last week I gave you a (try and make you smile) column about making a rough draft of what you are thankful for. Well, after the week I had, the true Thanksgiving list is here and ready for your approval. So here we go. Cardboard boxes can be hard to come by. I have heard from people all over the world that have a difficult time finding the hard paper storage units without paying for them. This is not the case in Coulee Country. An overwhelming outpouring of boxes came our way. Dave, at the school, supplied us with a stack of boxes a day. Ed... Full story
As I complete my final weeks in Congress, it is only natural to reflect on the past 20 years. It has truly been my honor and privilege to serve you and represent those who call Central Washington home in Congress. Whether it’s helping seniors with their Social Security benefits, ensuring that veterans are awarded the medals they earned but never received, or cutting through bureaucratic red tape to support local families and small businesses – the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives is something that I will always be grate... Full story
1 years ago Raider basketball practices starts next week for both the boys and girls teams. Head coach Brad Wilson expects 35 or more to show up for the first practice with four starters, all seniors, back this season including Omar Fercha, Jarrad Erickson, Nick Barnaby, and Neil Johnson.Veterans Justin Beagle, Gus Smith and Brandon Heintz will also return.Steve Breeze is the JV coach and Josh Harrison will coach the C Squad. Billy Nicholson is the girls varsity team coach and Loriann Mountjoy... Full story
As local towns decide on how much money they’ll spend next year, the season always brings out what for councils is a bothersome and needlessly complicated question: How much money should we spend to promote tourism, and how should we spend it? Three local municipalities collect a tax on motel rooms and campground spaces that is supposed to be spent to promote tourism. That brings groups that qualify, and some that don’t, to the town government asking for those tax funds collected from tourists. The process is cumbersome at best and depends on t... Full story
I have lived here, in Grant County near Electric City, for about 20 years, but I needed a rental house for the summer. Merle Kennedy found a nice little house in Coulee Dam; it was just what I wanted, so I said “I’ll Take it”. I had not thought too much about living in Coulee Dam, but after four months there I was impressed. The utilities were first rate, no trouble with anything; city hall was close so I could just drop in and pay just one combined utility bill. The house itself had been remodeled and everything was new — kitchen, bathroo... Full story
Just a note to correct a couple of errors in the Vet section of this week’s Star. First of all, I enjoy looking at and reading the tribute to the vets. As to the picture of the American Legion Post that was dedicated to Louie Canady, it is in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, and that is not Louie’s home town but where our son, Buzz, lives and was instrumental in starting the post. When Louie died, his buddies voted to honor Buzz and his dad at the same time by naming the post after Louie. Diane Canady... Full story
I have watched with much interest with how the mayor wants to handle the situation with the hiring of the police chief. The Civil Service Commission has, and “should” continue to have the role in deciding who will hold that position. The only reason I can see that the mayor is so bent on being the sole decider is to put one of his cronies in that position. That should not be allowed to happen! I have no respect for Mayor Christopherson, as “mayor.” I have found that he talks out of both sides of his mouth and accomplishes nothing! With that sa... Full story
With all that is going on in the world and the holidays right around the corner, I thought maybe I would start the preparation for being thankful. Just like a professional baseball player has to go to spring training before the season, and just like a soldier must go through boot camp before serving, all of us must take the proper preparations before we celebrate all we are thankful for. I mean, serious injuries can occur if we start the season without stretching or watching the game tape of last season’s highs and lows. So let’s begin the sea... Full story
1 years ago On Monday, Nov. 15, the Colville Tribes' fish and wildlife dept. released 712 rainbow trout, weighing an average of 5.35 pounds, in to Lake Rufus Woods at Ed Scahllenberger's net pen site about 16 miles downriver from Grand Coulee Dam. Another 86,000 triploid rainbow trout (fish with three sets of chromosomes instead of two) that were too small to release, weighing in now at three to a pound and approximately five inches in length, were purchased by the Tribes from Schallenberger an... Full story
As a matter of fact, we view the four towns as one in many ways, but in purely practical terms joining just two would be very good start. In any large city, the populations of Electric City, Grand Coulee, Coulee Dam and Elmer City would barely qualify as a neighborhood, let alone four municipalities each with separate mayors and councils, budgets to work out and utility bills to track. Combining the towns seems so obviously a good idea. But smaller steps often make the start of a long and worthy journey. Two of the cities already share so much... Full story
The elections are over, back to business with Congress as they have many unsettled issues in need of attention. The VA scandal is still a priority for Congress to settle. Although the VA has made some progress toward veterans care and benefits improvements, it is not yet 100 percent thought out. Our Congress needs transparency in bipartisanship and to be held accountable. A quote by Theodore Roosevelt: “A man who is good enough to shed his blood for the Country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards.” We veterans need a square deal... Full story
The flags along the 155 corridor are all ripped and unsightly. Should be replaced or removed immediately. Disgraceful for viewing on Veteran’s Day. Phil Berry... Full story
I was standing at the Veterans Assembly last week at the high school during the National Anthem and found myself thinking of not only the 30-plus veterans on hand for the event that we were honoring but of other vets that lost their lives giving the ultimate sacrifice. I then thought of my grandfathers who served and how proud they both were to be Americans. I then thought of my uncles and some of the horrible things they had to go through in Vietnam and their return. I had to fight back the tears as I looked up at old glory and studied the red... Full story
