Ellington

Proclaiming care for survivors

MLCA students volunteer in community

Child Abuse Prevention Month

Board of County Commissioners of Grant County Proclamation

MLCA students volunteer in community

Whereas, New Hope is committed to eliminating all forms of sexual violence through education and community action across Grant County;

The high cost of Olympia’s hidden utility tax

Washingtonians are living through a relentless affordability crisis. From the grocery aisle to the gas pump, the cost of living has moved from “concerning” to “unsustainable.” Our state consistently ranks among the top three most expensive for gas, often a full dollar above the national average. Meanwhile, the average household income is roughly half of what is required to qualify for a median-priced home.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: One final word...

Four and a half years ago, I took a job that didn’t turn out as I expected. I accepted a position as a reporter with the Columbia Basin Herald, thinking that I’d be walking away from an editor’s position at a Texas newspaper. The idea, at the time, was to get a bit more work-life balance and return to the Inland or Pacific Northwest to be closer to family.

A LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER: Why local journalism matters more than ever

There are moments when it’s worth taking a step back and asking a basic question. What really keeps a community united? Is it our schools, our businesses, our neighborhoods, or the shared experiences that shape where we live? The answer is all of those things. But there is something that connects them, documents them, and gives them meaning over time. Something that informs, challenges, records, and reflects the life of a community every single day.

Celebrating National Library Week

What brings you joy? For me, it’s driving through our beautiful region to visit our branch libraries, serving ice cream at the Peshastin Library’s annual summer social, and meeting with county commissioners to talk about what local libraries mean to rural communities.

LETTER: Cut to Pre-K disturbing; however...

Your article regarding a 25% cut to Pre-K programs was disturbing and prompted me to do further research. Supt. Chris Reykdal (D), whom I voted for, blames Democrats in the Legislature and Gov. Bob Ferguson (D). Reykdal thinks pressure from in-home care providers combined with purely wanting to save money influenced the final decision. Being a Democrat myself, and knowing Democrats value education, it appears that an important part of this article is missing. That missing information would be about the Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program (ECEAP). The success of Pre-K is undeniable; however, it does not offer family and health services and does not focus on children with the least opportunities (poverty, unstable housing, poor educational resources, etc.) as does ECEAP. These are strong predictors of future low earnings.

LETTER: City council should value museum

As concerned, involved members of the community we were surprised, and troubled, to see the 04.16.26 Columbia Basin Herald news article depicting how low the Moses Lake City Council members ranked the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center. The Museum and Art Center is a vital, and integral, part of our community. It serves our entire population with art exhibits, education through a wide variety of classes and speakers, school field trips, entertainment, unique shopping opportunities, free activities for families, a forum for local artists, and area history preservation all of which are found nowhere else in the community.

LETTER: FBI director disrespected sacred site

The Pearl Harbor Memorial is not a tourist attraction. It is not a playground. It is not a place for thrill seeking or “exclusive experiences.” It is a burial site, a sacred tomb for the men who died aboard the USS Arizona when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Their bodies remain in that ship. Their spirits remain in that water. And for generations, Americans have treated that place with the reverence it deserves. That is why the news of Kash Patel snorkeling at this Memorial is nothing short of shocking. It is disrespectful. And in my humble opinion, it is a desecration of an underwater tomb.

LETTER: Numbers matter

The Moses Lake School District's report card from the (Washington) Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction indicates that 2% of our students are homeless, equating to 180 students. The most recent Point-In-Time count for Grant County identified 64 unsheltered individuals and 68 sheltered homeless people, for a total of 132. Only six children were counted among the unsheltered households. Is the MLSD overcounting or is the county undercounting? These numbers matter. They impact real people with real barriers to a successful adulthood.