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

• Congratulations to Fern Blaylock, who was recognized by Gov. Inslee last week for her volunteer service. Often nominated for The Star Volunteer of the Year award, Blaylock’s service is something many people in the local community appreciate.

• A sense of anticipation turned into a let-down when we learned that the school board had chosen a name for the new school complex without a public process for input. Lake Roosevelt, of course, is not a bad name but it is an old one. Fitting that new edifice with an old name could be seen as new wine into an old wineskin.

The district has an opportunity to remake itself with not just a new building, but a new educational institution. Let’s hope the choosing of an easy, old name is not indicative of the school board’s commitment to a grander cause.

• Coulee Dam raised rates in advance of the need to pay off a loan for upgrading its sewer plant and has been collecting that extra money. Since the rate was raised, many questions have also been raised — about the plan the money would fund. At this juncture, it would seem appropriate to spend some of the money on a study of alternatives for the wastewater treatment facility.

­Scott Hunter, publisher & editor