Building Permits for Feb. 14

Moses Lake January 2025

Columbia Basin Events for Feb. 14-22

COLUMBIA BASIN — Live music, theater, art and family fun await those who are willing to venture out this week. Here are a few possibilities around the Basin:

Ephrata police logs for Feb. 10-12, 2025

The reports below were provided by the Ephrata Police Department. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Reports from other area agencies are in flux due to the change to a new dispatching system. Ephrata is utilizing the prior system for blotter purposes during this time, but other agencies have chosen not to do so.

iNET works at identifying, mitigating narcotics in the Basin

Local joint task force works to mitigate the flow of controlled substances into Grant, Adams counties

EPHRATA – If you live in the Columbia Basin, you've seen coverage from the Columbia Basin Herald and other outlets regarding the prevalence of drugs such as fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in the area. The Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team, otherwise known as iNET, is tasked with fighting the drug epidemic in the region. “We have a mission – I would say mandate – but our mission is to target middle to upper-level narcotics traffickers in drug trafficking organizations,” said the group’s lead detective. “... Our primary area of responsibility is Grant and Adams counties.”

'I learned to fly before I learned to drive'

Moses Lake's Betty Warnick stays busy at 100

MOSES LAKE — Betty Warnick, who turned 100 in January, has never been one to sit still, whether it was taking off cross-country for a new job or taking a plane up in the air. “I learned to fly before I learned to drive,” she said.

Students think fast during Amazing Shake

MATTAWA — Let’s see – the preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Aiden Avila Salgado ran through it one more time with his friend Ledger Carl while they waited their turn at what is known as the gauntlet. The school fight song? McFarland Middle School students practiced as they lined up.

Legislators eye Climate Commitment Act funding for road projects

OLYMPIA — As Washington state's roads continue to deteriorate and transportation funding faces significant challenges, Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, is calling for a public hearing on House Bill 1324. This proposed legislation aims to redirect excess revenues from the Climate Commitment Act toward urgent road projects, seeking to alleviate a growing infrastructure backlog that currently exceeds $11 billion, according to a statement from Barkis.

Fake kids, real charges: Lawmakers push additional oversight for net nanny stings

(The Center Square) – The Washington State Patrol has leveraged “net nanny” operations since 2015 to arrest hundreds of alleged child predators, but state lawmakers have concerns that could redirect its efforts. Senate lawmakers moved legislation out of committee on Thursday that would reestablish the WSP’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force, or MECTF, advisory board. While the task force still exists, the Legislature terminated its oversight board nearly a decade ago.

Budget challenges a hurdle for Dent's regional firefighting bill

OLYMPIA – Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, is working on a bill to create a pilot project, aimed at boosting wildfire prevention and responses in rural areas. The project intends to improve firefighting through collaboration between public and private entities. Dent has proposed this legislation since 2017, and although confident in its proposal, the budget deficit presents a significant challenge, he said. “I don’t know right now where I will find the money,” said Dent. “There’s a big fiscal note on here and it's inflated. We have to cut that down. It’s not right.”

Eastern Washington site of de facto EV school bus experiment

(The Center Square) – With cold weather and long distances, eastern Washington state would seem an unlikely region to find school district officials excited about electric buses. Mike McCain, transportation director for the Reardan-Edwall School District, is looking forward to the experiment.

Building Permits for Jan. 31, 2025

Building Permits for Jan. 31, 2025

Two major power outages in Grant County

MARDON — On both Wednesday and Thursday, Grant Public Utility District had large-scale power outages. A major outage affects more than 50 customers, according to the PUD.

Garnet Belle Wilson

1938 – 2025

My mother, Garnet Belle (Ritchie) Wilson, born on Friday January 14, 1938, in Calloway, Nebraska, passed away peacefully at her home in Moses Lake, Washington, on Friday, January 10, 2025, just four days shy of her 87th birthday.

Voters to weigh Wahluke capital levy

MATTAWA — Wahluke School District voters will decide the fate of a three-year capital projects levy request in a special election Feb. 11. If the levy is approved, it would raise $2.58 million over the three years. The levy will allow the district to be more proactive, says Superintendent Andy Harlow. “I feel like we’re always in the tyranny of the urgent. We’re always putting out fires,” he said. District staff and students will be canvassing neighborhoods in Desert Aire from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday to remind residents to vote. The proposal requires a bare majority, 50% plus one vote, to pass.

Othello Public Works set for a busy 2025

OTHELLO — Some long-term projects in Othello reached completion in 2024, and there’s a whole list of new projects planned for 2025. Public Works Director Robin Adolphsen summed it up. “There’s a lot going on,” she said. Summer 2024 saw the completion of a project that was first considered in 2019, the opening of the new Iron Horse playground in Lions Park. Most of the project was paid for with grants the city received from the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office and a capital appropriation from the Washington Legislature.

Playing with the future...

STEM event gets children excited about science and technology

MOSES LAKE — The Apple STEM event at Garden Heights Elementary School Thursday was a little more popular than expected. “We haven’t officially counted yet, but we got over 600 parents and students,” said David Estrada, STEM programs manager for the North Central Washington Tech Alliance, which put on the event. The organizers only anticipated about 300, he added.

Construction coming on new Quincy Aquatic Center

QUINCY — Residents could see work beginning on a new Quincy Aquatic Center by late spring. “Our architects are working on getting all the documents finalized,” said Russ Harrington, Quincy Parks and Recreation director. “They’re still tweaking things to make sure everything will fit.”

Construction, repair projects starting at GC International Airport

MOSES LAKE — Construction and repair projects will be starting soon at the Grant County International Airport. Airport Director Rich Mueller said contractors are working on preparations for the reconstruction of the apron – a type of aircraft shelter – on the west taxiway, a project started in 2024.

WA bill would give judges discretion to reduce felons' sentences

(The Center Square) – Washington state lawmakers are contemplating a bill that, if enacted, would give judges discretion to reduce the sentences of convicted felons, including those convicted of violent crimes and murder. However, some legislators have raised concerns about whether or not such authority should be granted due to concerns about public safety.

Informational meeting on Wahluke capital levy Jan. 28

MATTAWA — Wahluke School District officials will be available to answer questions on the district’s capital levy request at an 11:30 a.m. presentation on Jan. 28 at the Sagebrush Senior Center, 23 Desert Aire Drive SW, Desert Aire. The levy’s purpose is to pay off debt and and upgrade safety infrastructure in school buildings.