2016: Year in Review

ROYAL CITY — We do a review of the previous year in January with excerpts from some of the most significant stories. The date indicates when the story ran.

The big story for 2016 was the Sun Tribune's expansion to Othello after the Othello Outlook, which had served the community for more than 100 years, was closed.

Our year in review follows:

1-12-16

Visit by Japanese wrestlers brings out the best in Royal

ROYAL CITY — It took a lot people to make the Japanese Wrestling Cultural Exchange last week a success, and organizer Randy Miller could not have asked for a greater effort.

Several Royal residents opened their homes to house the visitors. Others donated vehicles and/or time to get the Japanese delegation around the South County area to sample small-town American life. And yet others prepared group meals.

One volunteer, who ended up in the spotlight, was former Royal teacher Shigeko Spencer. She was the lead interpreter and found herself up front at every large group event.

Shigeko was a natural choice for the job. She was born in Fukuoko, Japan and lived there the first 20 years of her life.

2-9-16

Faulty culture of safety a root cause of the Priest Rapids Dam explosion

DESERT AIRE – There were mechanical reasons for the explosion last Oct. 8 at Priest Rapids Dam in which six men were injured – some burned severely.

There were also human reasons – plenty of them – according to a long and detailed report from the investigation, which appears to have been about as thorough as possible.

“We wanted to know not only the immediate cause of the explosion but also the root causes,” Grant County PUD Information Officer Chuck Allen said. “What was it that could have allowed this to happen?”

The report concluded there was a faulty sense of safety throughout the PUD. Complacency, in other words.

2-16-16

Nordt takes over as new PUD general manager

EPHRATA — Grant PUD Commissioners announced the appointment of former Chief Financial Officer Kevin Nordt as the new general manager during their last meeting.

Nordt joined Grant PUD in 2004 and brings more than 25 years of experience to the position. His appointment will be effective June 3.

The appointment follows a succession plan submitted by former General Manager Tony Webb in January. Webb will continue with the utility in a senior leadership capacity.

3-23-16

Royal Superintendent comes from Clarkston

ROYAL CITY — The Royal School Board chose Roger Trail of Clarkston to be the new superintendent at a meeting Thursday night.

He was up against Andrew Perkins, a long time community member and school teacher and administrator.

“The board said it was a really tough decision,” Business Manager David Andra said. “Both were really qualified.”

On the other hand, the decision was made quickly. The board met for only about five minutes. A motion was made to offer Trail the job and it passed.

“I'm excited about it,” Trail said Friday morning.

4-19-16

Two from Wahluke make it to TSA nationals

MATTAWA — Jessica Arellano from Wahluke High School and Wahluke Junior High School's Natalia Nevarez will attend the Technology Student Association National Convention this summer as a result of their efforts at the state TSA Convention recently.

The state convention, held at the SeaTac DoubleTree, saw the participation of 20 junior high and 14 high school students from Wahluke. There were several competitions.

“This opportunity connected the students' engineering design studies to the relevance of design and the economics that help drive Washington State,” TSA Advisor Arthur Morken said.

4-26-16

Wind Valley captures National Bible Bowl

SCHAWANA — The Wind Valley Scripture Scholars have scored a first place finish again at the North American Division Pathfinder Bible Experience (NAD PBE) Bible Bowl.

The Bible Bowl was held at Phoenix, Arizona on April 16. It was Wind Valley's fourth straight year on top.

Wind Valley is made up of youngsters from Schawana and Cle Elum. They are coached by Schawana resident and Hanford High teacher Meg Bartrand.

The youngsters are Beck Bartrand, Adam Rinaldi, Anson Bartrand, Yves Elis, Benjamin Rentfro, Abe Ellis and Jonathan Curtis.

5-17-16

Wahluke High student wins Congressional art competition

WASHINGTON D.C. — A Wahluke High School student has won the 2016 Congressional Art Competition for high schoolers in the Fourth Congressional District, which covers Douglas, Okanogan, Grant, Yakima, Franklin, Benton and Adams counties.

The winning entry, dubbed “Soul Sisters,” was submitted by Wahluke High School student Audra Coulson. It will be displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol alongside other winning entries from congressional districts around the U.S.

Coulson will travel to Washington, D.C. to attend a reception sponsored by the Congressional Institute.

7-26-16

Car prowl leads to crash, tragedy for GCSO family

EPHRATA — An eight-year-old girl was killed and five persons injured due to a violent 2-vehicle collision in Ephrata Wednesday evening of last week.

The crash, which was the by-product of a suspected car prowl, brought tragedy to the Grant County Sheriff family, Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones reported

The deceased child was Audrey Grubb of Ephrata. She was riding in a pickup her father, Justin Grubb, 33, of Ephrata was driving. It was struck by a Dodge Durango, whose driver was fleeing police, Jones said.

Justin Grubb, a Grant County Jail corrections officer, was taken by ambulance to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake with multiple injuries. Another passenger in the pickup, Elizabeth Mills, 35, of East Wenatchee was critically injured and was flown by LifeFlight to Providence-Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

According to Jones, two passengers in the Durango sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to local hospitals. They were identified as Jaucina Skotland, 26, of Moses Lake and Sarah Gibson, 24, of Soap Lake.

The driver of the Durango, Neil McLeod, 36 of Ephrata, was arrested by police and transported to Samaritan Healthcare. He was facing charges of DUI (drugs), vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.

7-26-16

Sun Tribune newspaper moving into Othello market

MOSES LAKE — When one door closes another opens, and the town of Othello will not be without a local news source for long.

The 108-year-old history of the Othello Outlook will come to an end on Thursday with its final edition.

Hagadone Corporation, which owns the Columbia Basin Herald, has plans to fill the void, moving into the Othello market with its Sun Tribune newspaper, which is based in Royal City.

“The story of Othello needs to keep being told,” CBH and Sun Tribune Publisher Eric LaFontaine.

LaFontaine was the publisher of the Outlook before taking over at the CBH a couple of years ago.

10-11-16

Othello surgeon builds wild animal museum

RITZVILLE — Othello's Don Sebesta is a “build it, and they will come” type of person.

They'd better come. He has built it, and it needs an audience to make it viable.

Sebesta has built the Lasting Legacy Wildlife Museum to the south side of Interstate 90 in this community. He has some finishing details remaining, but he's about ready to open.

Sebesta is going to need visitors to assure the museum's long-term survival. He doubts it will recoup his investment in his lifetime, but that's not an issue. He built it for the world.

Sebesta, a surgeon and big game hunter, and his wife Sandy, a nurse and also a hunter, have been building the museum for 20 years on every available weekend. Sandy has helped more in the last five years, as the couple has put in the exhibits.

The building, all 25,000 square feet of it, was put up by the doctor and one carpenter. It was a massive undertaking for two people.

Lasting Legacy Wildlife Museum is the result of years and years of hunting by Sebesta. He's been all over the world. The collection of more than 500 mounted animals came mostly from his travels.

12-6-16

Royal tops Connell, 25-10, for state 1A football crown

TACOMA — Royal High School concluded its second unbeaten football season in a row and won its second successive state 1A championship at the Tacoma Dome Saturday with 25-10 win over SCAC East rival Connell.

That gives one of the top football programs in the state seven state titles in 10 state finals appearances. It was Royal's second time winning back-to-back titles.

12-13-16

CBHA welcomes new doctor

OTHELLO — The Columbia Basin Health Association has welcomed a new physician, Dr. Gabe Barrio, to its clinics at Othello and Wahluke.

Barrio grew up in Northern California. He graduated from Stanford University Medical School and also did a pediatrics residency there.

Barrio wondered who might live in eastern Washington as he made his way over the mountains, through central Washington and into Othello for an interview.

Turns out he does.

“It's what you guys have built here with these amazing clinics in this shrub steppe landscape that has led me here,” he said.

12-20-16

Othello Community Christmas Baskets an opportunity to spread Christmas spirit

OTHELLO — “They were all delivered; that's what I love to hear,” said Merritt Johnson to a volunteer driver who had just returned from successfully delivering Christmas Baskets to three families.

Dec. 17 was Christmas Basket delivery day. The driver had returned to the Adams County Fire District No. 5 Station in Othello, where the biggest group of volunteers was preparing more baskets for more families.

Johnson has been a part of the annual Othello Community Christmas Basket program since it first began more than 40 years ago. And this holiday season, he and his volunteers had a goal of delivering to about 320 to local families in need. The program served five families the first year.