News Bites for Dec. 14, 2023

EPHRATA — Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete administered the oaths of office to Deputy Sheriff Dakota Blair and Deputy Sheriff Jose Lopez on Monday morning, according to an announcement from the Sheriff’s Office. 

Blair transferred from the Soap Lake Police Department and Lopez transferred from the Granger Police Department. Family, friends and colleagues attended the ceremony.

    Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete, middle, administered the oaths of office to Deputy Sheriff Dakota Blair, left, and Deputy Sheriff Jose Lopez, right, Monday morning.
  

QUINCY — The Quincy Police Department announced Monday to be on the lookout for a missing person James G. Cox. According to the statement, Cox was last seen at approximately 10:30 a.m. walking on Road Nine Northwest in Quincy.

The statement said if you have any information regarding the location of Cox, call 509-797-2222 or 509-762-1160 and reference case number 23QU3460. 

Cox was last seen Nov. 10, but he was not reported missing and a report was taken until Dec. 6. The statement described Cox as 66 years old, 175 pounds and 6 feet 2 inches tall.

ROYAL CITY — Royal Slope Fire-Rescue-EMS responded to a haystack yard fire near State Route 26 and Division Road South, about 6 miles southeast of Royal City, according to a Wednesday GCSO announcement. 

The fire is expected to burn for the next several days and smoke will be visible until it burns itself out. The statement said there was nothing suspicious about the fire. According to the announcement, the fire originated in the middle of the haystack, which means it was likely spontaneous combustion.

    Royal Slope Fire Rescue responds to a haystack on fire near the intersection of State Route 26 and Division Road South, about six miles southeast of Royal City.