The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Moratorium on pot growing extended

Electric City’s council voted to extend its moratorium on medical marijuana collective gardens for another six months at its Tuesday meeting last week. The old moratorium ended April 30.

Solar eclipse viewing set up for Sunday

You can join local astronomers as they gather at the Crescent Bay Lake area beginning at 4:45 p.m. on May 20 to view a once-in-18-years solar eclipse.

The annular solar eclipse in this area will be a view of the moon covering 78 percent of the sun, “not as much as areas farther south, but still something to view!” says Sky Ranger Janice Elvidge of the National Park Service. “We will have solar viewing glasses you can borrow and pin-hole cameras to view the eclipse.”

The eclipse is expected to last until around 6:30. Elvidge and others will be at Crescent Bay throughout the eclipse, and people are welcome to “drop by at any time,” she says.

For more information, call Elvidge at 509-633-9188 ext. 12, Wednesday-Friday.

Holidays set

The Electric City Council officially established 11 holidays for employees of the city. They are New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King’s birthday, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and day after, Christmas Day and one floating holiday.

Scam noted

A woman reported that she had been contacted by phone with the party saying her grandson was in trouble and she needed to send $18,000 by Western Union to a certain address. She said she recognized it as a scam and didn’t want anyone else to fall for it.

Director named

The Grand Coulee Dam School District school board has named Mark Arnold as acting transportation director. He replaces George Davis, who recently resigned the position to return to mechanic duties with the district bus fleet.

A bench for Aumick approved

Elmer City’s council members approved the request to place a park bench in memory of Marilyn Aumick in the town’s park.

Receipts for the transfer station

Regional Transfer Station show a loss of $1,227.94, compared to the same month a year ago. For the first four months, the Transfer Station is $4,715.93, under receipts for the same period in 2011.