Coulee Dam rates heading up

Residents and electric ratepayers in Coulee Dam can expect an increase in rates next year, town councilmembers indicated during discussion at a budget workshop Monday.

Citing the need to replace large transformers and other electric system needs, councilmembers were leaning toward an increase greater than 20 percent, boosting the charge per kilowatt hour to 6 cents, plus increasing a base charge from $6 a month to $13.

Charges for sewer service, currently at $56 a month, will likely go to about $67, a jump planned to pay for the new wastewater treatment plant, but may go higher if other factors come into play.

Full month for library events

A new Friends of the Grand Coulee Library group is working to make people aware of its benefits and is inviting people to an unusual type of promotion: “Reading Between the Wines,” which will take place at The Wine Bar on Grand Coulee’s Main Street.

Called a “book tasting,” those who attend the Nov. 14 event (adults only; it is a bar) will learn more about services offered at the library. It’s planned for 5-7 p.m.

The next night, Nov. 15, the library will host “Astronomy for Everyone” at 6 p.m.

And on Nov. 19, at 6 p.m., the library will host “Writing in the Margins/Transforming the Stories We Tell about Race” with Jessica Maucione. She’s an associate professor of English and women’s and gender studies, and is director of the Underrepresented Minority Post-Doctoral Fellowship program at Gonzaga University.

Tourism grants offered by Grant County

The Grant County Tourism Commission said Monday that it is seeking grant applications for qualifying tourism-promotion campaigns, events and projects for 2019.

All grant applications must be received or postmarked no later than 5 p.m., Dec. 5.

For more information, guidelines and application forms go to tourgrantcounty.com, click on Resources and download the Lodging Tax Grant Funds Application & Guidelines.

This application is available to only non-profit organizations that are applying for lodging tax grant support.

For more information, contact Jerry Gingrich at jtgingrich@grantcountywa.gov, or call (509) 754-2011, ext. 2931.