Legals for May, 22 2024

Fire report: Burn barrel triggers wildfire near Ephrata

EPHRATA — A 10-acre wildfire started Monday evening after an unsupervised burn barrel spread to nearby vegetation in the area of Naylor Junction, southwest of Ephrata, according to a statement from Grant County Fire District 13. A quick response had the wind-driven fire contained within 20 minutes of the call, but mopping up took two-plus hours for 10 trucks. Nothing was damaged, although if the fire had gone unreported or unchecked several minutes longer property damage would have likely resulted, the district wrote. Burn barrels have been illegal in Washington since 2000, according to GCFD 13, whether they’re attended or not. These other wildfires were burning around Washington Tuesday afternoon:

Grant County PUD manager to stay on the job

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD General Manager Rich Wallen will continue in that job. Utility district commissioners made the announcement during a workshop Tuesday morning, followed by a statement from Commissioner Terry Pyle warning against listening to rumors. Commission Chair Tom Flint said commissioners wanted to make it clear where they stood. “As you know, there has been a quite a bit of rumor and misinformation floating around the district,” Flint said. “The commission would like to clarify some of that. The commission has never asked Rich Wallen to resign.” All five commissioners supported, and still support, Wallen, Flint said.

Box score roundup for May 18

MOSES LAKE – Box scores for local baseball, boys soccer and softball games from May 18.

Educational Service District 123 Superintendent discusses priorities, services

PASCO – Washington Educational Service District 123, based out of Pasco, serves 23 school districts in seven counties of Southeastern Washington – including Othello School District – with more than 70,000 students, according to ESD 123’s website.

Fire report

Grant County firefighters train near Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Fire District 5 got in some training on an acquired structure on Road 10 Northeast Saturday, according to an announcement from the fire district

Royal City teacher nominated for National History Day Teacher of the Year award

ROYAL CITY – Royal Middle School Social Studies Teacher Emily Ovenell was nominated in the middle school division of National History Day’s 2024 Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year award according to a May 13 announcement from NHD

Man sentenced for sexually abusing children in Othello

PORTLAND, Ore. — An Oregon man who was convicted of sexually abusing two girls in Othello was sentenced Thursday to more than 12 years in prison, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern Oregon.

ACH defeats Northport, reaches state semifinals

WENATCHEE – Runs were hard to come by in Saturday’s 1B State Baseball Tournament quarterfinal matchup between No. 3 seed Almira/Coulee-Hartline and No. 6 Northport, but the Warriors advanced to the state semifinals with a 1-0 win over the Mustangs.

Knights reach final four with shootout win over Seton Catholic

ROYAL CITY – Penalty kicks determined the winner of Saturday’s 1A Boys State Soccer quarterfinal match between No. 3 seed Royal and No. 11 seed Seton Catholic, with the Knights advancing to the state semifinals with a 3-1 shootout win over the Cougars.

Legals for May, 21 2024

News bites for May 21, 2024

EPHRATA — An Ephrata man was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault – domestic violence and making a bomb threat after portions of the neighborhood around the 10 block of K Street Northeast were evacuated Sunday night. Nicholas Svetich, 49, was arrested Monday morning, according to a release from the Ephrata Police Department. “Due to threats made by the suspect, neighbors were evacuated as a precaution,” the release said. “Neighbors were notified they could return to their homes (Monday morning).” OTHELLO — A former law enforcement agent who thought he was meeting an underage girl in Othello and instead found police officers waiting for him has been convicted of attempted online enticement of a minor, according to a statement from the Othello Police Department.

Construction begins on new Habitat for Humanity house

MOSES LAKE — Workers from Bailey and Sons Construction started clearing the site for a new Habitat for Humanity house in Moses Lake on Monday, about five years after the last house was finished. Executive Director Rebecca Mabius said there have been some changes, including almost all new board members, and some challenges since the last house was built. “It really has been a journey,” she said. “It’s definitely been a great learning opportunity for myself and our board members.”

Janea Fowles Pixton

Janea Fowles Pixton, 70, died May 14, 2024, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Visitation will be Friday, May 31, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth St., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Visitation will continue Saturday June 1, 2024, from 2 p.m. until the 3 p.m. funeral service at the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 477 E Honeysuckle Ave., Hayden, Idaho. Graveside service will be held at the Hooper Cemetery in Hooper, Utah.

Janet (Barney) Brooks

March 1, 1940 — May 8, 2024

Born March 1, 1940, at their home in Huntington, Utah to Stanley and Bardell (Norton) Barney, Janet was the youngest of three siblings. Janet spent her early years living in Price and Springville, Utah. In 1945, Janet and her family moved to Tacoma, Washington where her parents worked in the Tacoma shipyards supporting the war efforts. Janet went to school in Tacoma and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1958. Throughout her early life, Janet enjoyed ice and roller skating, writing for her school newspaper, sewing with her mother, going to church and spending time with her friends. She started writing Harris Brooks Jr. while he was on an LDS mission during her senior year of high school because her good friend said he needed someone to write to. They continued to write until his mission was completed. Harris had to report for military duty in Seattle and then traveled to Tacoma to meet Janet. They met face to face on a Friday and by Sunday they were talking about marriage. They were married Sept. 1, 1959, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

‘That was great softball’

Moses Lake fastpitch softball wins Big 9 title, advances to state

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School fastpitch softball coach Mike Hofheins assessed the game for his team after the Mavericks’ 7-0 win over West Valley (Yakima) Saturday. “That was great softball,” Hofheins said.

Reykdal visits Wahluke

State superintendent learns of challenges faced by rural, underfunded district

MATTAWA – Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal visited Wahluke School District Thursday afternoon for a tour and various discussions and panels with teachers, administrators and students. “It's a great visit. I do a lot of these around the state, but it's nice to see everyone's unique community, particularly a school district where your elementary, middle and high (schools) feel like such a family,” Reykdal said in a later interview.

Quincy hosts Special Education Field Day

QUINCY — Connie Martin, special education director for the Quincy School District, said she had a goal for the participants in the Special Education Field Day Friday. “I want them to be able to have their moment to shine,” she said. “To be able to participate in a sports event and get their moment in the spotlight. And for their parents to see it.”

Weather for the week of May 20, 2024

Weather for the week of May 20, 2024

GALLERY: GCAO pets looking for homes

MOSES LAKE – Grant County Animal Outreach is over capacity and asking for the community to consider adoption or fostering to help out. The shelter has a capacity of 47 dogs, but many animals are paired up in kennels where possible to accommodate the roughly 150 animals they’re currently caring for.