Two Basin residents sworn in as WSP troopers

OLYMPIA — Colton Conner of Ephrata and Kay Lester of Othello were among the 47 newly commissioned troopers added to the ranks of the Washington State Patrol Wednesday at the 118th Trooper Basic Training graduation ceremony held at the state Capitol Rotunda, according to an announcement from the WSP. The graduation marks the completion of more than 1,400 hours of training, including classroom and practical exercises at the WSP Academy in Shelton, according to the announcement. The training culminated with a coaching trip where the cadets worked the roads alongside field training officers. The combined efforts of the 118th TBTC class resulted in 9,065 driver contacts, 3,069 calls for service, the removal of 540 impaired drivers from the roadways, and 976 collision investigations during their two-month-long coaching trip, the WSP wrote.