NEWS BITES: June 25, 2024
Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete, right, administered the path to office to Sheriff’s Deputy Julio Valencia, left. Valencia is transferring from corrections deputy to patrol.
COURTESY PHOTO/GCSO
EPHRATA — The Washington State Patrol will be working with local law enforcement agencies in Kittitas, Grant, Adams, Lincoln and Spokane counties from June 28-30 along Interstate 90 from Snoqualmie Pass to the Idaho border enforcing speeding and DUI laws.
QUINCY — Grant County’s Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team was at the Gorge Amphitheater during this weekend’s Beyond Wonderland festival to help prevent violence that may arise due to illegal drug use.
The INET was comprised of Moses Lake Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit, Yakima County’s Law Enforcement Against Drugs Task Force, the Washington State Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the GCSO. Eight investigations were conducted over the weekend resulting in 12 people being arrested on 24 charges, two vehicles were confiscated and one firearm seized. INET took hold of $3,000 cash and over a pound of illegal drugs.
OTHELLO — The Othello Police Department is hosting an open house Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. Crafts and tours will be available.
SOAP LAKE — A Soap Lake area man was issued a ticket for second-degree reckless burning after the man caused a brush fire Sunday morning, responded to by Grant County Fire District 7 with assistance from Grant County Fire District 12 and 13 along with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
The annual county-wide burn ban began June 1 and lasts through Sept. 30. Second-degree reckless burning is a gross misdemeanor.