Fruit grower fined for Othello trench collapse incident

TUMWATER — Wenatchee-based fruit company Stemilt has been fined $353,000 for safety violations that led to a worker being buried and injured in a trench collapse last fall near Othello.

FIRE REPORT: Yakima Valley fire threatens town, Pioneer Fire swells again

MOSES LAKE — Evacuation notices for the Yakima Valley town of Zillah were downgraded Monday to level 1 as crews fight the Beam Road Fire, which flared up Saturday afternoon.

Gas prices dropping as summer approaches

(The Center Square) – Fuel prices typically surge as summer approaches because of supply and demand. Higher temperatures – along with kids being home from school – means increased traveling, which in turn leads to greater demand for gasoline. Also, the summer blend of gas – uniquely designed to not evaporate as quickly in warmer weather – is more expensive than the winter blend. But in Washington state and across the nation, the cost of gas is bucking that trend by going down.

Legals for June, 18 2024

Law enforcement prioritizing safety after pursuit restrictions lift

EPHRATA – As of June 6, Initiative 2113 took effect and walked back restrictions on when law enforcement can pursue suspects that were set by legislation passed in Olympia in 2021. The initiative allows broader officer discretion and local and state authorities say they’ve updated policies to reflect the new law.

Basin libraries begin summer programs

MOSES LAKE — Heading into summer, Mid-Columbia Libraries and NCW Libraries have already begun implementing their summer reading programs, providing an opportunity for kids and adults alike to keep up their reading and attend library events. Mid-Columbia Libraries Associate Director of Communications Carlos Orozco said the summer reading program is to keep kids engaged and motivated over the summer. “We just want people to read over the summer and not fall behind in school. I know that's kind of naturally what happens when they take that summer break, they hit that summer slide, which (we) want to work with the community to prevent that,” Orozco said. “We're hoping some of the prizes and performances and stuff will get them excited about being able to read over the summer.”

ACH, Soap Lake wrap up spring practices with jamboree

COULEE CITY – Spring football practices came to a close Friday for Almira/Coulee-Hartline and Soap Lake, capping off with a jamboree hosted by the Warriors and attended by five other eight-man football squads from across the east side of the state.

MLSD board continues close examination of funding

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School Board heard about some measures being taken to cut costs at its meeting Thursday, scrutinizing some items that were brought to it for approval and discussing with Acting Superintendent Carol Lewis some ways of making up the roughly $13 million shortfall.

Rock blasting to close I-90 for brief period Thursday

ELLENSBURG — The first night of closing Interstate 90 near Easton for a short period to blast rocks is scheduled for Thursday.

Phone scammers still prevalent, but can be stopped

EPHRATA – Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete said his staff received at least six calls on June 5 alone from area residents saying someone had called posing as a deputy and demanding they deposit money into an account to avoid being arrested. Those calls, he said, are scams.

Legals for June, 17 2024

STUDIO BASIN: Sheriff Joey Kriete on summer safety and sports awards

MOSES LAKE – In this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Managing Editor R. Hans "Rob" Miller sits down with Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete to talk about summer safety. Kriete went over factors contributing to increased dangers during the summer and education efforts GCSO has in place to help keep area residents safe.

10th Annual Senior Picnic brings the color, conversation and fun

MOSES LAKE — The annual Senior Picnic has become something of a tradition for Bryce Newcomb and his wife Nancy Newcomb. There’s always a photo booth, and attendees are encouraged to stop by and pose for a picture. “We’ve been to many (senior picnics), and we always do that,” Bryce Newcomb said. “And every one is on display at the house.”

Royal’s Scroggins receives High School Broyles Award

ROYAL CITY – Royal Defensive Coordinator Jeremy Scroggins received the High School Broyles Award for Washington, the Washington State Football Coaches Association announced on social media last week.

ROAD REPORT: Both lanes of Vantage Bridge will be open through summer

MOSES LAKE — State Route 17 repaving project through Moses Lake is in the homestretch. Crews were working at the intersection of SR 17 and Wheeler Road Wednesday night. The project involves removing the top two to three inches of asphalt and replacing them with new asphalt, as well as repaving bridges, the Stratford Road overpass and its onramps and offramps. The road has been repaved from the bridge at I-90 to the intersection with South Pioneer Way, and now crews are working north to the intersection of Patton Boulevard.

Boys & Girls Club begins serving summer meals

MOSES LAKE — The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin will begin offering breakfast and lunch to local children today through the Summer Meal Program.

FIRE REPORT: Pioneer, Cold Creek fires increase

MOSES LAKE — The Pioneer Fire on the shore of Lake Chelan about 30 miles northwest of Wenatchee had almost tripled in size Thursday, swelling from 600 acres to 1,756 acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The cause of the fire was still undetermined. The estimated cost of suppressing the fire was $10 million.

Coumbia Basin events calendar for June 14 – 21

Coumbia Basin events calendar for June 14 – 21

Law enforcement logs for June 14, 2024

Ephrata Police Department, Moses Lake Police Department, Grant County Jail

Legals for June, 14 2024