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

Brian Warnecke has been appointed as a new commissioner for the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District following the resignation of longtime member Bob Valen.

Valen still intends to be available to consult with other members of the group.

Commission President Kevin Portch praised Valen’s wealth of knowledge on topics related to the district.

Warnecke spoke about his family’s long history in the area, his love of baseball and softball, being born in the local hospital, and other community involvement such as working for UPS for 19 years and working for the town of Coulee Dam as a “utility guy.”

“My first time on a baseball field was the day I was born,” Warnecke said. “I was born at 3 o’clock and (was) at a fastpitch tournament of my dad’s at Coulee Dam at 9:30.”

The district manages North Dam Park and its softball fields.

“You need help, I’m your man,” Warnecke told the rest of the board, referring to projects in North Dam Park, using his knowledge of trades and infrastructure and resources towards such projects as fixing a broken frisbee golf receptacle or moving a flagpole near the gazebo that is obscured by trees to a more desirable location in the park.

Other district commissioners, in addition to Warnecke and Portch, are Ben Hughes, Josh Vega and Carla Marconi.