Fire report for July 3, 2023

EPHRATA — A fire northwest of Ephrata required three fire departments to put out Thursday night, according to a statement from Grant County Fire District 13...

Hot degree

Continuing education crucial part of firefighting career, GCFD 3 deputy chief says

QUINCY — The science and technique of fighting fires is always changing, said David Durfee, and firefighters must learn and change with it. “Continuing education is part of our job all the time in the fire service,” he said. “It was always instilled into me that you’re training every day, and if you’re not training, you’re not a firefighter.” ...

Lunch crowd

Senior Picnic fills venue nearly to capacity

MOSES LAKE — The Commercial Building at the Grant County Fairgrounds has a maximum capacity of 770 people, and the crowd at the Senior Picnic Wednesday came mighty close to meeting that. “We had 612 meals served to seniors,” said Debbie Doran-Martinez, executive director of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce. “We had 34 vendors, and most vendors, there were two people there. I don't have an exact headcount. There's a few that had three and four, but most of them had two.” Add to that 24 volunteers from the community and 34 from the Columbia Basin Job Corps Center, and that’s a whole lot of people.

Warden opens Hazard Mitigation Plan to public comment

WARDEN – The city of Warden announced on Friday in a news release that the city’s portion of Grant County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan is now open for public comment until July 14...

Nancy Bouker

Nancy A Bouker, 84, passed away Sunday, June 25, at her daughter’s home in Royal City, Washington. Mrs. Bouker spent the first 31 years of her married life as an Air Force wife. She traveled with and sometimes joined her husband at bases in the Philippines, England, across the United States, Italy and West Germany. She raised five children and worked in the hospitality industry as a food and beverage manager for restaurants and golf clubs, and finally as a buyer for Memorial Hospital in Broward County, Florida. After her husband’s retirement she served alongside him during his time as a deacon with the Diocese of Miami. She especially enjoyed the RCIA classes.

Wildfire update for June 30, 2023

MOSES LAKE — The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch for Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties, according to an announcement from the NWS. The warning is in effect from Saturday morning through Saturday evening...

Dual purpose

Couple runs two home improvement businesses together

OTHELLO — What do garage doors and blinds have in common? They both open, they both close, and Kip and Ilene Burns can sell you both. The Burnses and their partner John Overton own both B and B Doors and Blinds For Any Budget. The two businesses are mobile, operating out of a trailer and a van, respectively. They actually came about as a sort of retirement project for the Burnses, who moved to the MarDon area from Kelso. “Four years ago, my wife and I were building our custom home,” Kip Burns said. “And our builder – who's a good friend of ours, CAD Homes – did a fabulous job on our house, but they were having trouble getting doors. And we're entrepreneurs. We actually just retired two weeks ago from our corporate jobs, but we started (B and B Doors) three years ago, because there was a demand.”

State revenue projection increases $327M

OLYMPIA – Washington state’s financial prospects are a little brighter than anticipated, according to a statement from the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. Washington’s projected Near General Fund revenue collections for the 2023–25 state budget have increased by nearly $327 million, the statement said...

Moses Lake student offered prestigious scholarship

OLD WESTBURY, New York — A Moses Lake student has been awarded a prestigious scholarship at the New York Institute of Technology, according to an announcement from the school...

Water rules tightening in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake city Council voted to make some changes to the city’s water conservation ordinance at its Tuesday meeting...

Warden to apply for $9.8M in state funds

WARDEN - Warden City Council unanimously passed a motion during Tuesday’s scheduled meeting to apply for $9.8 million dollars in funding from the Washington State Public Works Board to pay for city infrastructure projects...

B and B door cuts the ribbon

MOSES LAKE – Kip and Ilene Burns, flanked by their partner John Overton, left, and their granddaughter Saylor Blodgett, cut the ribbon in front of the B and B Doors trailer and the Blinds for any Budget van at the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce office Wednesday. The Burnses and Overton own both businesses. Look for more about B and B Doors and Blinds for Any Budget in Friday’s Homes section.

CWU names interim associate VP of academic affairs

ELLENSBURG — Central Washington University announced this week that it has selected Dr. Kurt Kirstein as interim associate vice president of academic affairs.

Moses Lake development waiting for roundabout

MOSES LAKE - The owners of about 100 acres of land in Moses Lake adjacent to State Route 17 have big development plans for the land but are currently waiting on the installation of a roundabout before those plans can be implemented...

Graham Grindy: 1 in 100

COULEE CITY – Graham Grindy knew he wanted to get into teaching since he was in high school, but the idea to begin a career in coaching didn’t spawn until he was in college...

Fire report for June 28, 2023

WENATCHEE — State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Methow Fire just outside Wenatchee, according to a statement from the State Fire Marshal’s Office...

Legals for June, 28 2023

Tentative Quincy hospital construction start announced

QUINCY — Construction for the new Quincy Valley Medical Center is tentatively scheduled for this fall. “September 11 is our go date for construction,” said QVMC board member Anthony Gonzalez. “We’re trying to get this thing off the ground as quickly as we can.” ...

Installation of Othello playground to begin

OTHELLO — The long-running project to build a new playground and expanded basketball courts in Othello’s Lions Park should be completed by this fall...

Celebrating safely

Fireworks restrictions vary across county, but safe mindset it key.

COLUMBIA BASIN — Independence Day is next Tuesday and residents can expect a lot of booms, bangs and whistles, but in a dry climate like this, fireworks get out of hand easily and set off wildfires, said Grant County Fire District 7 Chief Chris Baker. “We have warmer, drier conditions that are going to be affecting the area,” Baker said. “In our jurisdiction, especially the north portion, we haven't had a whole lot of fires in recent years, so we have a lot of light, flashy fuels that are of concern. And of course, the increase in vacationers in the area means that there's a potential for even more issues. If we do have a fire that means evacuations, potential for people to get trapped, things like that.” ...