Tunisia buries officer slain in bombing near US Embassy

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) —

Virgil Glenn La Plant

Virgil Glenn La Plant of Ephrata, Washington, passed away at the age of 93 on Jan. 27 at Summerwood Alzheimer’s Care Facility in Moses Lake, where he received excellent care from their staff and Hospice. He was born to Glenn and Myrtle La Plant in Ringwood, Oklahoma on May 9, 1929. Virgil grew up on the family farm in Oklahoma and has been a farmer all his life. He proudly served his country during the Korean War, training officers as an artillery specialist at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.

Andres V. ‘Andy’ Gonzalez

Andres V. Gonzalez, 75, known as “Andy,” passed away peacefully April 15, 2023, surrounded by family. Andres was born in Cienega De Flores, Nuevo Leon, Mexico on Jan. 21, 1948, to Maria Villarreal and Luis Gonzalez. As a teenager he moved to Crystal City, Texas and then to Moses Lake, Washington, where he met and married Anna Alvarado and had four children: Roman Gonzalez; Nereida Gonzalez; Leticia Gomez, married to Santiago Gomez; and Isabel Orbe, married to Mauricio Orbe. He had 10 grandchildren: Brittney, Luis, Valeria, Jaime, Ulyses, Tomie, Marvin, Milton Leena and Danilo who blessed him with seven great-grandchildren. Andy had such a sense of humor. Those who knew him loved his jokes and smart remarks. At times he could be so strict and with that taught many of us life lessons. He was a loving father, grandfather, uncle, brother and friend who without a doubt will be missed.

Linda J. Parks Marean

Linda Jean Parks Marean, 73, of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, formerly of Klamath Falls, Oregon, passed away Oct. 16, 2023, at Frankfort Regional Medical Center, Frankfort, Kentucky. Born in Emporia, Kansas, on April 13, 1950, she was the daughter of the late Ralph Donald Parks and Nina Jean Taylor Parks. Linda worked as a music teacher in Oregon for over 30 years and directed many church and community vocal and handbell choirs. After moving to Kentucky, she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Frankfort where she directed the handbell choir. Active with the Anderson County Extension Service in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, she was a member of the Anderson Piece Makers and Wilderness Trace Quilt Guild in Harrodsburg. She was also an avid supporter of the Anderson County Senior Center in Lawrenceburg.

Diane Engberg

Diane Marie Engberg, 78, died peacefully at her home on Dec. 31, 2022. Diane was born Diane Marie Gray to Glenn and Shirley Gowan Gray in Snohomish County. She grew up in Granite Falls; her dad was the owner of Glenn’s Welding and Machine and her mother was a bookkeeper. She met Kenneth Engberg Sr. through friends, and they became inseparable. He had just moved here from North Dakota. They were happily married for 52 years. They made their home in Lake Stevens and raised four boys. Diane worked for Pacific Coca-Cola and later owned her own espresso stand, Diane’s Getchell Station. She always had a pet companion and was very gifted with ceramics and crafts. Sadly, Diane was widowed in 2013. She recently moved to Moses Lake and oversaw construction of her new house. She became president of the Columbia Basin Eagles 2622 Ladies Auxiliary for the year 2021, where she raised money for the Heart Fund.

Jean Marie Draxton

Jean Marie Draxton, 85, of Moses Lake, Washington died peacefully in Central Washington Hospital. Jean was born in San Francisco, California where she lived most of her life before moving to Vacaville, California and marrying Elroy (Drax) Draxton in January 1960. There they began raising a family until they moved to South Lake Tahoe, California in April 1975. Jean and Drax owned and ran the Green Lantern Motel for 27 years. Jean loved being hospitable. She always welcomed many guests into her home for celebrating holidays and friendly gatherings. You couldn’t find a better New Year’s Eve party. After selling the motel Jean and Drax moved to Moses Lake, Washington where she worked a variety of different jobs, enjoyed traveling, and was committed to volunteering at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.

Mike Christian

Mike Christian, 69, passed away unexpectedly in his home on Nov. 16, 2022. He was born in Hollywood, California on Feb. 3, 1953, to Edwin and Janice Christian. Mike graduated from La Mirada High School, Class of 1971, before enrolling at Cal State L.A. He graduated in 1975 with a major in biology. In 1975 he attended law enforcement academy in California and went to work as a police officer for the City of Montebello, California, resigning in 1976 after an injury. Mike attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine from 1982 to 1986, graduating as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

Evelyn Mae Smith Fabian

Evelyn Mae Smith Fabian went to be with our Lord Oct. 9, 2022, after extended health issues and a battle with cancer. Evelyn was a longtime resident of Ephrata Washington and later resided in East Wenatchee, Washington to be closer to family. Evelyn was born in Fairfield, Iowa, then moved to Palmdale, California. Following high school Evelyn went on to college at Northwest Christian University in Eugene, Oregon where she graduated with her degree as a nursing assistant. She then married Larry Fabian in December 1958. In 1965 Larry and Evelyn and family moved to Block 71, Grant County, Washington where they farmed until retirement with Evelyn’s parents Clayton and Dee Smith, brother Andrew and family. While working on the farm and raising a family, she was also a telephone operator for Pacific Northwest Bell.

Judith Grable

Judith (Judy) Ann Grable passed peacefully on June 20, 2023, at Virginia Mason Medical Facility in Seattle, Washington. Judy was born Sept. 22, 1939, in Madison, Wisconsin to Almon and Agnes Osgood. She spent most of her childhood helping her family shop keep up with business. Throughout her youth Judy had always been a helping hand to everyone in need. She was a very independent woman until she met Oscar. They wed Oct. 31, 1959, and she became a homemaker. Oscar worked for the IBEW, which in turn meant they traveled frequently for his job. They welcomed three children throughout their travels: Mary, Charles and, Ann. They finally settled down in Moses Lake, Washington in 1984. She especially enjoyed spending her days baking, reading, watching her TV shows, volunteering at the local food bank, meeting friends for lunch or coffee and spending time with her family.

Peggy Justesen

Peggy Justesen, 94, a longtime Moses Lake resident, passed away in her home on Feb. 13, 2023, surrounded by her family. She was born in Plymouth, Utah on Sept. 27, 1928, to William and Lenore Silvester and moved to Moses Lake with her husband and young family in 1954. She is survived by her brothers Ned Silvester and Bill Silvester and her children, Don (Linda) Justesen, Cheryl (John) Leeder, Gary (Gail) Justesen, Blaine (Ursula) Justesen, Karen Hiatt, Jim (Danielle) Justesen and Lynnette (David) Plate, along with 22 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Ray Justesen, grandson Stacy Pruett, granddaughter Stephanie Belnap and son-in-law Vaughn Hiatt, as well as her brothers Clarence Silvester and Kyle Silvester and sister Sandra Birks.

Glen Bensch

Glen Lee Bensch, 53, of Ephrata passed away July 17, 2023. Glen was born in Brewster Sept. 12, 1969, to Jim and Dorothy Bensch. He was fifth of seven children, born three hours before his twin sister Glenda. As twins, Glen and Glenda shared a special, close relationship. Glen grew up in Ephrata, but lived most of his adult life in Colorado. He had various jobs in his life like roofing and landscaping, but his favorite was working on oil rigs in Colorado. The happiest time of Glen’s life was while he worked in the oil fields and he was married to Haley. He loved family life with Haley and her two children.

Victor G. Fuller

Victor G. Fuller, known to many as Vic, passed away peacefully May 1, 2021, at the age of 85.

Man charged with murder of N Ireland journalist Lyra McKee

LONDON (AP) — Police in Northern Ireland charged a 52-year-old man on Wednesday with murdering Lyra McKee, a journalist shot dead during a riot involving Irish Republican Army dissidents last year.

Lawyer: Family slaughter 'almost unbearable' for Utah father

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The killing of a Utah mother and three of her children by a gunman identified by police as her 16-year-old son is “nearly unbearable" for the father who survived, a lawyer said Thursday.

Harvey Heer

June 4, 1952 — Oct. 16, 2025

Harvey (Rick) Heer, 73 of Ephrata, Washington passed away on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, peacefully at his home. Harvey and Shirley Heer. Rick graduated from Ephrata High School in 1970. He attended Yakima Valley College, playing on their basketball team. In 1972 he married Nancy Youngers. They lived in Ephrata, Washington and had two sons together, Kevin and Allan Heer. In 1990 he married Sylvia Meulman and moved out of town to the farm on Road 9 and had two daughters, Lorna Bailey and Leah Johnson. Rick was a maker and farmer at heart. He grew many types of crops including wheat, cherries, alfalfa, corn, peas and hazelnuts. In his spare time he enjoyed riding his 1966 Shovelhead Harley Davidson, fishing, photography, sailing and welding. He was always ready with a joke or a story and will be dearly missed by his family.

AP News in Brief at 11:04 p.m. EDT

'We need help': Economic, health crises grow as cases top 1M

AP News in Brief at 12:04 a.m. EDT

'We need help': Economic, health crises grow as cases top 1M

NY Democrat's ties to Maduro may help Biden unlock stalemate

MIAMI (AP) — It was the aftermath of a failed coup against Hugo Chávez and Rep. Gregory Meeks was lounging at the Kennedy compound on Cape Cod with a young lawmaker from Venezuela with a bushy moustache named Nicolás Maduro.

NY Democrat's ties to Maduro may help Biden unlock stalemate

MIAMI (AP) — It was the aftermath of a failed coup against Hugo Chávez and Rep. Gregory Meeks was lounging at the Kennedy compound on Cape Cod with a young lawmaker from Venezuela with a bushy moustache named Nicolás Maduro.

Gorden Dale Melcher

1938 – 2025

Gorden Dale Melcher, 87, of Moses Lake, Washington went to be with his Savior on March 14, 2025. He was born on February 21, 1938, in Odessa, Washington to Carl Melcher and Yetta Greenwalt Melcher.