News Bites for June 8, 2023

EPHRATA – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office will be closed today from noon to 3 p.m. for staff to participate in the Chief for a Day event. The event, as stated in yesterday’s news bites, honors Grant Co. youths impacted by long-term or life-threatening medical conditions.

GCSO Deputy Josh Fitzhugh swam across a significant portion of Lake Lenice to rescue a man over this past weekend. The man had swum out to retrieve his raft, according toa GCSO statement, but had been too tired once he got to it to board the craft or swim back to shore. Fitzhugh gave the man a flotation device, then pulled the man and his craft back to shore.

Grant County Fire District 13 would like to remind the public that a burn ban is in effect through Sept. 30. This includes yard waste, the burning of ditch banks, private burning and burning household garbage. Burning building materials is illegal at all times in Washington. Some permitted burning is acceptable and residents are encouraged to visit the department’s Facebook page for more information at facebook.com/GCFD13.

GRAND COULEE – The Grand Coulee Police Department announced Tuesday that its email system had been hacked. A spam email had been sent from the police chief’s work account. IT assets were contacted and the city’s IT contractor was able to address the issue.

GCPD has announced that it will participate in National Night Out this Aug. 1 at 4 p.m. The event will be held in the 400 block of Midway Avenue in Grand Coulee.

MATTAWA – The Mattawa Police Department is urging Mattawa residents to call 911 for emergencies and 509-762-1160 for nonemergencies rather than searching for officers around town. It is faster for the dispatching center to contact an officer and send them to a call for aid than a manual search for an officer.

Grant County Fire District 8 has recognized volunteer Monica Pozos as the member of the week. Pozos recently passed her EMT coursework and is ready to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification on as well. Pozos said she would like to become a firefighter and move into service as a first responder full time in the future, but at this point is working for the Wahluke School District.

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Police Department is seeking the public’s help regarding an arson fire in the 700 block of Windrose Drive. They are asking residents nearby to check their doorbell camera footage and other recordings for people in the area around 2 a.m. Monday morning.

RITZVILLE – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office swore in deputy Joel C. Salas on Wednesday. Salas grew up in Mattawa and has been a long-time Columbia Basin resident, according to an ACSO statement.