William (Bill) Braden

June 17, 1971 — Jan. 10, 2025

William (Bill) Deen Braden, 53, born June 17, 1971, in The Dalles, Oregon, passed away Jan. 10, 2025, in Spokane, Washington, after a very brief struggle with an aggressive form of lung cancer. Bill attended school in Lind through his graduation in 1989. After graduation he moved to Moses Lake and began to attend Big Bend Community College studying auto mechanics to further his dream. Bill had found his calling early in life. He found his love to find out how things were built and operated at a young age with his grandfather and his father by his side. He then wanted to pursue that love of knowledge into his career of being a mechanic of all things. Nothing was too small or big for him to learn.

Building permits for July 25, 2025

City of Moses Lake Hayden Homes, 4300 block of Cove West Drive, new residence, $311,655.49. Pro Made Homes, 4200 block of North Sandy Court, fence, no valuation given. Jennifer Bell, 800 block of North Paxson Drive, plumbing, no valuation given. Carlos Socorro, 5400 block of Owen Road, addition, $20,000.

Big Bend loads up new ag mechanics certification

MOSES LAKE – Big Bend Community College announced the establishment of a new Agricultural Mechanics certification program, according to an announcement from the college. “The launch of the Agricultural Mechanics certificate program is a direct response to the growing demand for skilled workers in our region’s ag industry,” said BBCC Dean of Workforce Education Michelle Morley via the announcement.

'Beyond belt-tightening': WSU scrambles for revenue amid cuts, falling enrollment

(The Center Square) – As President Donald Trump cuts funding and Gov. Bob Ferguson juggles a $16 billion budget shortfall, Washington State University is bracing for up to 10% reductions across several departments. The WSU Executive Leadership Team laid out the situation in a message to the community. According to WSU Insider, the university’s media relations outlet, leadership directed all 44 budgeted units, colleges and departments across the system to plan for upcoming cuts.

GCSO recovers $20K tool for GCFD 5

MOSES LAKE — In August, Grant County Fire District 5’s fire station on Mae Valley Road was burglarized, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman.

Arthur Sergio Castro

July 9, 1955 — July 6, 2025

Arthur was born to Cesar and Victoria Castro, who immigrated to Moses Lake from Mexico in 1949. The couple settled in a small farmhouse off of Stratford Road near Crab Creek. Arthur, the fifth of eight children, grew up a farm kid with his brothers and sisters. The Castros raised animals and young Art would fetch fresh milk from the farmer down the road. He and his brothers loved fishing near the creek and Art became an avid bass fisherman as an adult. Once, near Block 40, Art reeled in a largemouth bass that weighed nearly 12 pounds. Throughout his childhood and teenage years he worked construction jobs, drove potato trucks and learned mechanics. He graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1974 and soon after met the love of his life, Salina. Art and Salina were married in Moses Lake in 1979 and would raise four children in the Knolls Vista neighborhood.

Medicare out-of-pocket cap on prescriptions takes effect

WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than 70,000 seniors in Washington state will save hundreds or thousands of dollars each year thanks to the new annual cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for folks on Medicare Part D, according to an announcement from the office of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. The new cap is part of the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress in 2022, and it means seniors will pay significantly less for their prescription drugs this year, lowering costs for families and giving them more breathing room, according to the announcement. “Starting Jan. 1, anyone with a Medicare prescription drug plan – also known as Medicare Part D – now has their out-of-pocket drug costs capped at two thousand dollars each year,” Murray wrote in the announcement. “ … As everyone knows, high drug prices come with other painful costs – like stress over how to make ends meet, or what bills to skip in order to fill a prescription, or whether to take the risk of rationing medication. These are impossible choices that no one should ever have to make. But they’re the reality for so many people, and so many seniors especially.”

Ephrata resident arrested for 26 counts of livestock theft

EPHRATA – Last Wednesday, Grant County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies and Crime Reduction Team deputies acted on a tip from the Washington State Department of Agriculture about individual stealing cattle.

One booked, another unidentified in rural business burglary

MOSES LAKE – A 24-year-old Moses Lake man was apprehended by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office Crime Reduction Team and other law enforcement Friday during a burglary in a rural area of Moses Lake, according to a GCSO statement.

Building permits for Jan. 17, 2025

Unincorporated Grant County Dec. 12-31

Boeing International updates safety and quality plan

SEATTLE — Boeing has unveiled enhancements to its Safety & Quality Plan, which focuses on four key areas: cultivating a superior safety and quality culture, investing in workforce training, simplifying production processes and eliminating manufacturing defects, according to a statement from Boeing.

Junk vehicles to be removed in Larson community

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office Crime Reduction team will begin to remove junk vehicles from the Larson area this week, according to an announcement from the GCSO.

WDFW seeks comment on landowner hunting permits in Grant Co.

WILSON CREEK — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking for public comments on proposed updates to landowner hunting permits following recent changes in property ownership and management in Grant and Spokane counties.

Building permits for May 16, 2025

Building permits for May 16, 2025

Ag announces loan assistance program to help farmers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The US Department of Agriculture has announced a final phase of loan assistance for distressed direct and guaranteed farm loan borrowers through the Inflation Reduction Act. About $300 million is available nationwide.

Ferguson details proposed budget savings of nearly $4B to address shortfall

(The Center Square) – Gov. Bob Ferguson unveiled his plan for nearly $4 billion in cuts as lawmakers in the Washington State Legislature grapple with a projected four-year operating budget shortfall. Just after taking office last month, Ferguson asked most agencies to find 6% in spending cuts.

Moses Lake man arrested after high-speed chase

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man was booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of felony eluding and other charges after allegedly leading local law enforcement and Washington State Patrol troopers on a high-speed chase Tuesday afternoon.

U.S. House passes Trump-endorsed budget reconciliation bill

(The Center Square) – Republicans in the U.S. House Thursday morning passed the multi-trillion dollar budget reconciliation bill after more than a day of debate in committee before reaching the full House floor. The vote in the House was razor thin, 215-214, with two Republicans joining all Democrats in voting against it.

‘Everyone Has a Why’

Campaign seeks to bring opioid addiction out of the shadows

MOSES LAKE — The reasons for addiction are many, but everybody has one. That’s the point of a campaign by the Grant County Health District to highlight opioid addiction and overdoses. It’s part of a two-phase campaign to explain some of the reasons behind addiction, and encourage people to seek help. “It can be loss, or pain, or struggle, but everyone has a reason that they may start using substances,” said Lexi Smith, communications coordinator for the Grant County Health District. “But on the flip side of that, everyone has a reason that they don’t, or that they choose to help someone who does.” The tagline for the Everybody Has a Why campaign is “Make addiction a conversation, not a secret,” and removing the shame of seeking help is a primary aim.

Alberto B. Morales

1947 – 2024

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden death of our beloved brother Alberto (Bert) B. Morales. He died of natural causes on Nov. 2, 2024, in Moses Lake. Bert was born Nov. 19, 1947, in Lerdo, Durango, Mexico to Elvira Lopez and was raised in Edinburg, Texas. He entered the United States with his mother and sister Rosa in 1955. He enjoyed learning and receiving an education. He earned his diploma in 1967 from Agua Fria Union High School in Avondale, Arizona. He continued his studies in an automotive mechanic program in Yakima County. Bert volunteered to serve our country in 1969 in the Army. He was deployed to the Vietnam War as a medical laboratory specialist. He then served in the National Guard. He attended the University of Washington and studied science and Spanish. Bert worked at Lamb Weston, Connell, Washington for many years and retired as a machine operator. His undiagnosed PTSD started to surface which contributed to his poor health and early death.