Tuesday, November 3
Othello city officials warn residents to beware of invoice scam
OTHELLO — Othello city officials are warning residents to pay careful attention if they receive what looks like an invoice from the city after a resident reported an attempted scam using information from city records. Community Development Director Anne Henning said the scammer was thorough. "They used our seal, our watermark; they had detailed information," she said. The scam email claimed to be from the city's building and planning department, looking for payment for a building permit. Henning said the city does send out invoices for some services, including building and planning services like building permits, as well as plan reviews, application fees and related services.
Othello School Board to consider capital levy next week
OTHELLO — Othello School Board members will decide Nov. 9 whether or not to ask Othello School District patrons for a capital levy in a special election in February 2027. If school board members approve the proposal, voters would be asked to consider a six-year levy. If the levy were approved, property owners would pay 97 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value per year. District Superintendent Pete Perez said a capital levy is new to Othello, and that the money, if it's approved, would be spent for specific projects. Othello Assistant Superintendent Josh Meek said all the proposed projects that have been identified are included in the information that will be sent to district patrons.
MLSD highlights STOPit app as tool for reporting safety concerns
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District officials are encouraging students, parents and community members to use the district's STOPit reporting platform to share concerns about school safety, bullying and student well-being. The renewed focus on the reporting system follows a recent community safety town hall, where district leaders discovered many attendees were unfamiliar with the tool, according to Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon. “We wanted people to know this system is available to our community and to the parents for a multitude of different issues,” Shannon said.
Downtown clock intersection combines 4-way stop, roundabout rules, police say
MOSES LAKE — Drivers traveling through downtown Moses Lake's clock intersection should first treat it as a four-way stop and then navigate around the clock as they would a roundabout, according to Moses Lake Police Department Capt. Adam Monroe. The intersection, centered around the city's iconic clock, has long generated questions from motorists. While many drivers travel to the right around the clock before reaching their destination, others attempt to make direct left turns through the intersection. Monroe said that is not the correct way to navigate the area. “You have to go around the clock tower to get to your destination,” Monroe said. “You can't just cut through traffic.”
Grant County Jail Roster for Nov. 3, 2026
This list shows current inmates who were arrested by Grant County law enforcement agencies on Oct. 31-Nov. 3 as of Tuesday afternoon. Grant County inmates are housed at the Grant County Jail. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Oct. 31 Avel Isaid Ramirez, 38, booked by Grant County Sheriff’s Office for DUI. Dennis Wayne Starkweather, 54, booked by Moses Lake Police Dept. for DUI and harassment. Nov. 1 Ernesto Alonso Rodriguez Ornelas, 35, booked by Grant County Sheriff’s Office for residential burglary.
Delmer Bruce English
Delmer Bruce English, born in 1942, passed away Oct. 21, 2026, in Moses Lake, Washington at the age of 84. With the eyes of an eagle and a quiet strength, Delmer Bruce English could find what most would miss: a clue at a crime scene, a fish beneath still water and the woman who would become the love of his life. He spent his life protecting others. As an Army aircraft crew chief in Vietnam, he faced enemy fire. As a police detective, he earned the nickname “Eagle Eye,” becoming a legend still remembered at the Bremerton Police Department today. But his greatest devotion was always to his family.
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CBAA Premier Series offers music, ballet and comedy
MOSES LAKE — Columbia Basin Allied Arts 49th Premier Series is a little shorter than past seasons, but that’s because the focus is on quality over quantity, said CBAA Executive Director Shawn Cardwell. “Allied Arts is really trying to step up the prestige level of the shows that we’re bringing,” Cardwell said. That prestige is reflected this month in the first show, by a living legend: Booker T. Jones. Jones is the founder and last living original member of Booker T. & the MG’s, the instrumental jazz/rhythm and blues band of the 1960s that paved the way for the soul and funk sounds of the 1970s. “(His show has) a lot of storytelling,” Cardwell said. “He’ll be armed with his Hammonnd B organ; its sound is really iconic.”
Ballots due today; officials urge voters to use drop boxes or hand-cancel mailed ballots
EPHRATA — Today is the final day for residents to return their ballots for the 2026 General Election, and election officials are urging voters not to wait until the last minute. Grant County Elections Coordinator Rebecca Pettingill said ballot drop boxes remain the most reliable way to ensure ballots are received on time.
Knights battle into district championships
ROYAL CITY — The second seeded Royal Knights (16-2-1) battled in a tight matchup against the third seeded Naches Valley Saturday afternoon in the district semifinals. Both teams put forward a strong effort, with the Knights securing a 1-0 victory. "We were all putting our heart out in this game and trying our best because we have a really good team this year," said Knights junior Sofia Villafana. "We were just giving it our all." The tone of the game was set from the very start as Royal and Naches Valley went back and forth on their attack. While the Knights controlled the ball for most of the first half, Naches Valley's defense kept things in check.
BASIN SPORTS SCHEDULE: Nov. 3-9
MOSES LAKE — The 2026 fall sports season is getting down to the wire, now that regular season play has wrapped up; the postseason kicks off this week. See below where your favorite teams are playing next.
Meet Berrybux
This little puppy is ready to roll her way into your home and your heart. Berrybux is a mixed-breed bundle of love who is great with children. She’s spayed and vaccinated and ready to go. To adopt Berrybux or another furry friend, visit adamscountypetrescue.com or call 509-488-5514. This spot is sponsored by Hot Springs Spa & Leisure. To sponsor the Pet of the Day, call the Columbia Basin Herald Advertising Manager Jeannie Austin-Cook at 509-765-4561.
Wahluke state hopes alive with 7-0 win over Wapato
MATTAWA — The Wahluke Warriors (9-7) earned a crucial win Saturday, putting together a dominant 7-0 victory over the Wapato Wolves. This comes after a tough 4-3 loss to Cascade (Leavenworth) in the opening round of the District 5 1A Girls Soccer Tournament. "We competed in that game (against Cascade), we forced them to overtime, we blinked for a second and we ended up losing on a corner kick," Head Coach Cele Lopez said. "The girls never gave up, and that means a lot for any team. That's what you want to see, especially in districts. So far, I'm happy with the girls. I see a lot of progress (and) I see a lot of dedication."
GALLERY: A look back at October 2026
MOSES LAKE — October is in the rear-view mirror, but before we dive headlong into November, here’s a look back at some things worth remembering.
Othello man taken into custody in connection with Connell assault
OTHELLO — An Othello man was taken into custody Sunday morning following an alleged assault in Connell.
GC Public Utility District proposed rates subject of Nov. 10 hearing
EPHRATA — Grant County Public Utility District customers are being invited to submit their reactions to proposed 2027 electrical rates at a hearing at 2 p.m. Nov. 10 in the PUD commission meeting room, 30 C St. SW, Ephrata. There's also a virtual option for people who can't attend the meeting in person; the link is under the "2027 rates" tab on the PUD website, grantpud.org.
Grant County Jail Roster for Nov. 2, 2026
Oct. 31 Avel Isaid Ramirez, 38, booked by Grant County Sheriff's Office for DUI.
WEATHER Nov. 3 to 9, 2026
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, high near 55, light north winds. Partly cloudy overnight, low around 31. Light northeast wind.
Othello man injured in crash that kills one, possible charges pending
WALLA WALLA — Possible charges are pending against an Othello man in connection with a crash early Sunday morning that killed a Umatilla, Oregon woman.
Legals for November, 3 2026
Monday, November 2
Ephrata PD chief, city reach separation agreement after dispute over leadership, communication
EPHRATA — When former Ephrata Police Chief Erik Koch submitted a letter Sept. 15 seeking a separation agreement with the City of Ephrata, it followed years of praise for his service and months of disagreements with city leadership over communication, personnel matters and the role of the police chief within city government.
A new day for Grant County's animals
New shelter, new opportunities as Grant County Animal Outreach prepares for its next chapter
MOSES LAKE — For decades, the aging concrete building on Randolph Road has served as a refuge for lost, abandoned and neglected animals across Grant County. Inside, staff members have battled frozen pipes, failing electrical systems, overcrowded kennels and leaking hoses. They have cleaned runs by headlamp when power failed, worked through winter cold in oversized coats and improvised solutions to problems the building was never designed to handle. Through it all, the animals still needed food, water, medical care, enrichment and, perhaps most importantly, hope.
‘A wild-eyed bunch’: Moses Lake and the Columbia Basin Project
No event in the history of the Columbia Basin reshaped our town as deeply as the arrival of irrigation and the rapid development it triggered. Before the Columbia Basin Project, Moses Lake was a modest lakeshore settlement of just a few hundred people. Already impacted by the arrival of the Army in 1944, we experienced even more dramatic and immediate change thanks to the Columbia Basin Project, growth so intense that people across the state and nation took notice. The beginning of this transformation can be traced to the 1940s and early 1950s, when construction of the reservoir and massive Grand Coulee Dam infrastructure brought a surge of new workers into the area. As Don Goodwin recalled, the project drew a “mammoth amount of employees … to work on the different projects around Moses Lake,” overwhelming the town’s capacity to house them. Many newcomers resorted to “living in tents and just garages and anything they could find” until homes could be built. This early influx marked the first wave of population growth that would fundamentally reshape our identity.
‘Build the House’
Eagles look ahead after district loss
SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Eagles (10-7) 2026 season came to a close Thursday after falling 3-1 to the Waterville-Mansfield Shockers in the District 5 1B Volleyball Tournament. Despite a tough loss, Head Coach Erin Fletcher was proud of how her team battled. "We're a really young team. We have one kid that's actually played in playoffs before and actually played in districts. (Waterville-Mansfield) is a team that has been district champs for two years in a row," she said. The Eagles started strong, taking an early lead over the Shockers in the first set. Soap Lake held a steady lead the entire way, with Waterville only cutting the deficit to two points at times. With a 20-18 lead, the Eagles put together a 5-point run to seal the first set win.
Tigers fall in key matchup against Prosser
EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers (4-5) faced the top team in the Central Washington Athletic Conference, the Prosser Mustangs (9-0), with heavy postseason implications on the line. Despite the Tigers' best efforts, the Mustangs proved their strength and won 34-7. "With our senior night, I thought our kids and our seniors played some inspired football," said Tigers Head Coach Patrick Mitchell. "The scoreboard doesn't really reflect it, but that was one of our better games of the year in terms of execution and unfortunately we still had some struggles in the redzone." The Tigers entered Thursday's game without their starting quarterback, junior Cooper Vasquez, who was injured during last week's matchup against Ellensburg. Sophomore Cannon DeLong stepped up to fill the role, with a short week to prepare.
Samaritan hospital use up from 2025, but below 2026 budget expectations
MOSES LAKE — While Samaritan Hospital is a little busier in 2026 than 2025, patient utilization is less than projected in 2026 budget through the first three quarters of the year. Chief Financial Officer Darryl Wolfe said inpatient revenue was about 6% below the budget projection for the year to date, and about 12% below the projected revenue for September. Revenues were higher than budget projections in May, June and August, but lower than projections during the rest of the year. As of the end of September, Samaritan had a net loss of about $3.4 million for the year. The 2026 budget projected a year-to-date loss of about $456,700 through September.
Longer road, same goal: Huskies keep sights on state
ELLENSBURG — After long and physical battle, the Othello Huskies (6-7) fell just short 2-1 to the Ellensburg Bulldogs in the semifinals of the District 5 2A Girls Soccer Tournament on Saturday. Despite the final result, the Huskies aren’t hanging their heads. “That's just a game of just two halves,” Head Coach Victor Quiroz said. “That first half (Ellensburg) dominated. The second half, I think we had a better half. It's unfortunate – that goal, my goalkeeper had it in her hand, slipped out and the (Ellensburg) girl was right there on that backside to put it in. Autumn (Weyns) had a good shot on goal. She's been hitting that crossbar this whole year. We fought till the end, and you could tell we were there.”
Mavs girls claim league, district crowns; both teams head to state
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks cross country teams had strong showings at the Big 9 4A District 5 Cross Country Championships on Thursday. While both teams qualified for the state meet, the girls also brought home the league and district championships.
Meet Harley
Harley is a shepherd/Lab mix about 4 years old, who loves to snuggle and go on outdoor adventures. He’s vaccinated, neutered and microchipped and ready to take home. To adopt Harley or another furry friend, visit rockbottomrocker.org. This spot is sponsored by Hot Springs Spa & Leisure. To sponsor the Pet of the Day, call the Columbia Basin Herald Advertising Manager Jeannie Austin-Cook at 509-765-4561.
Lodging tax money to be used to upgrade Larson, Lauzier playfields and other projects
MOSES LAKE — Fields in Lauzier Park and some at the Larson Playfields will get upgrades with money generated by the city's lodging tax. Those were at the top of a list of projects recommended by the city's lodging tax committee and approved by the Moses Lake City Council Oct. 27.
Grant County Jail Roster for Oct. 31, 2026
This list shows current inmates who were arrested by Grant County law enforcement agencies on Oct. 27 through 31 as of Saturday afternoon.
Ballots due Tuesday: hear from the candidates seeking the 13th district seat
EPHRATA — Ballots for the Nov. 3 general election are due Tuesday, and voters in Washington's 13th Legislative District will decide who will represent them in Position 2 of the state House of Representatives.
WEATHER Nov. 2 to 6, 2026
Monday: Mostly sunny, high near 55. Mostly cloudy overnight, low about 36, light winds after midnight.
