One 16-year-old girl killed, second injured in Othello shooting

OTHELLO — A 16-year-old girl was killed and a second 16-year-old girl sustained life-threatening injuries when occupants of a car opened fire on the car one of the girls was driving late Thursday night. A release from the Othello Police Department said officers believe the shooting may be gang-related.

WorkSource to hold hiring event Thursday

MOSES LAKE — WorkSource will hold its annual hiring event at the WorkSource Center in Moses Lake on Thursday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. According to an announcement from WorkSource, this year’s event will bring together job seekers with 30 local employers looking to hire immediately. Job seekers should come prepared with their employment history and copies of their resume and wear professional attire, the announcement said. WorkSource staff are available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., to help with resume writing and interview preparation and to answer questions about the upcoming event...

Birth announcements for the month of September 2022

The Columbia Basin Herald and the hospitals listed below congratulate the families on their new arrivals. Samaritan Hospital Aug. 11 Olivia Jensen and Jared Hubbard, Ephrata, son Owen Micheal Hubbard, 6 pounds 8 ounces. Aug. 17 Jessica and Cale Russell, Moses Lake, daughter Millie Marie Russell, 6 pounds 8 ounces...

Legals for October, 7 2022

Faith & Blue coming to McCosh Park

Local law enforcement and clergy host BBQ to build community relationships

MOSES LAKE — Pastors from a number of local churches will be joining Moses Lake Police officers and Grant County Sheriff’s deputies at McCosh Park on Saturday for grilled hot dogs, a time of fellowship and to show support for local law enforcement. According to Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr, both the Moses Lake Police Department and Grant County Sheriff’s Office will mark Faith & Blue on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Police officers will grill hot dogs and serve them up with chips and drinks, and there will be short presentations from the pastors of up to eight local churches, as well as brief speeches from Fuhr and Grant County Interim Sheriff Ryan Rectenwald. “It’s to help build trust and understanding with all members of the community,” Fuhr said.

GCFD3 to hold open house

QUINCY - Grant County Fire District 3 will be holding a fire prevention and open house on Oct. 11. The event will feature balloons, a junior firefighter obstacle course, halloween bags, Sparky the mascot and residents can order address markers for $20. There will also be free refreshments including hot dogs, chips and cake. The event will be held in the main firehouse located at 1201 Central Ave S in Quincy from 3 to 6 p.m.

Simulated shooter drill coming to Confluence

MOSES LAKE — Confluence Health and Samaritan Healthcare will conduct a joint full-scale active shooter exercise in Moses Lake on Saturday, according to a statement from the two companies. The exercise will focus on a simulated active shooter threat at the Confluence Health clinic in Moses Lake, the statement said. Local first responders, including Moses Lake fire, police, and EMS departments, will all participate in the exercise and respond to the incident. The exercise will also involve a simulated mass casualty incident in which “patients” – volunteers playing a part – will first be taken to Samaritan Hospital to be stabilized and, if needed, transported to other regional hospitals including Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee. Confluence Health will also activate its Hospital Incident Command System for the exercise to help manage the fictional incident in Moses Lake as well as coordinating with CWH to receive patients as part of their MCI plan. The exercise seeks to allow healthcare workers, first responders, and others involved in such real-life incidents to have an opportunity to practice, discover areas to improve and to better prepare to provide the best service and response possible should the need ever arise, the statement said.

Red Cross blood drive comes to Ephrata

EPHRATA — The American Red Cross will be holding a blood drive in Ephrata in the middle of October, hosted by the American Legion Family of Art Semro Post and Unit 28. According to a release by the Legion, the blood drive will be held Oct. 19 at the Ephrata Recreation Center, 112 Basin St. SW, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Health insurance premium assistance program launched

OLYMPIA — Washington residents who get health insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder may qualify for a subsidy to help them pay the premiums in 2023. “Cascade Care Savings” may be available to Washington residents with incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty level but who do not qualify for coverage through other programs like Medicaid or Washington Apple Health. People must buy a Gold or Silver insurance plan to qualify for the subsidy, according to a press release from the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. People can switch or change their plans during the open enrollment period from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15. Washington residents can determine their eligibility for the program on the Washington Healthplanfinder website, www.WAHBExchange.org.

OIC enrollment opens for winter

COLUMBIA BASIN — OIC of Washington Utility and Rental Assistance Program started its open enrollment for the winter season on Oct. 1. To be eligible clients must live within the Upper Yakima Valley or Grant or Adams counties, fall within the income guidelines, show proof of income for the previous three months and provide proof of identification for every member of the home.

Masquers to hold auditions this weekend

SOAP LAKE — Masquers Theater will be holding auditions this weekend for their early December show “The Enchanted Bookshop.” A press release by the theater said auditions will be held on Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. and Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. in the lobby of the theater in Soap Lake. Director Marla Allsopp will be looking for cast members ages 12 and older to play book characters that come to life.

‘Wicked Spokane’

New book explores the dark underbelly of the Lilac City

EASTERN WASHINGTON — Around the turn of the 20th century, most of the Columbia Basin was little more than miles and miles of sagebrush, coulees and coyotes. There were a few little hamlets dotting the landscape, but nothing you could really call a city. Spokane, on the other hand, was the commercial hub between the Cascades and the Rockies, and it sprang up fast, fueled by mining, railroads and the fertile farmlands surrounding it. Between 1900 and 1910 the city’s population nearly tripled to well over 100,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census records. This brought money, prestige, arts, culture, all the good things that come with urban life. It also brought some, well, unsavory people.

Four injured in collision near Warden

WARDEN — Four people were injured when a semi truck rear-ended a car that had slowed for traffic on state Route 17 early Tuesday afternoon, pushing it into another car. According to a press memo from the Washington State Patrol, Javier Sanchez-Zepeda, 27, Othello, was driving north on SR-17 at about 2 p.m. Tuesday when he ran into a car driven by Matthew Bobbitt, 41, College Place. Bobbitt had slowed for traffic, the memo said. The collision pushed Bobbitt’s car into a car driven by Steven Booth, 57, Warden. The press memo said Sanchez-Zepeda was following too closely.

Simulated shooter drill coming to Confluence

MOSES LAKE — Confluence Health and Samaritan Healthcare will conduct a joint full-scale active shooter exercise in Moses Lake on Saturday, according to a statement from the two companies. The exercise will focus on a simulated active shooter threat at the Confluence Health clinic in Moses Lake, the statement said. Local first responders, including Moses Lake fire, police, and EMS departments, will all participate in the exercise and respond to the incident. The exercise will also involve a simulated mass casualty incident in which “patients” – volunteers playing a part – will first be taken to Samaritan Hospital to be stabilized and, if needed, transported to other regional hospitals including Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee. Confluence Health will also activate its Hospital Incident Command System for the exercise to help manage the fictional incident in Moses Lake as well as coordinating with CWH to receive patients as part of their MCI plan.

Law enforcement reports for Oct. 5. 2022

The reports below were provided by the respective law enforcement agencies as noted. Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

SLPD says goodbye to Officer Gallaher

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake Police Department said goodbye to Officer Jeff Gallaher after he patrolled his last shift for the agency on Sept. 29. “His worth ethic was top-notch,” said SLPD Officer Trevor Jones. “Any task he had in front of him, he did it to his fullest and saw it through to fruition.” A release from the SLPD said Gallaher is leaving the department because he accepted a position with the Spokane County Sheriff's Department. During his three years with SLPD, Gallaher had been a field training officer, child seat technician, UAS (drone) operator, patrol officer and motor officer, among others.

ESD levies planned for November ballot

EPHRATA — Ephrata School District voters will decide the fate of two school district levies on the November ballot. If approved, these measures will purchase four new yellow school buses and provide capital needed to address facility and infrastructure improvements throughout the district, according to a press release from the district. “When I stepped in as superintendent, I committed to uphold the tax plan of those that held my position before me,” Tim Payne, Ephrata School District superintendent said in the release. “We are moving forward on a long-term capital plan that includes the building of a new high school in the near future. We’re sensitive to the impact we have on our community and its taxpayers, and are working hard to anticipate the needs of Ephrata’s future while keeping tax rates as stable as possible.”

Spotting depression in pets

For pets accustomed to a certain routine or way of life, having to adjust to great or sudden changes can be extremely difficult. For some pets, these changes can even result in a depressive state. Dr. Ashley Navarrette, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, says that depression in pets is usually associated with a major change or event. “The most common event associated with depression in pets is the death of a family member—either a human or another pet,” Navarrette said. “However, it can also be caused by other events, such as a major change in routine; for example, a pet may have difficulty adjusting if a family member who was previously working from home has returned to work on-site.” Pets that are depressed often act unlike themselves. Common symptoms of depression include hiding, acting reserved or unsociable, and experiencing a low appetite. Owners may also notice that pets no longer seem interested in activities they used to enjoy...

Legals for October, 3 2022

ML to hold candidate forum

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a candidate forum and has invited all candidates running in contested local, district and statewide races, for Monday, Oct. 10, starting at 6 p.m. in the Moses Lake Civic Center. Invited to participate in the forum are: Grant County Sheriff candidates Joey Kriete and Joe Harris, Grant County Clerk candidates Kimberly Allen and Marla Rodunner, Grant County Commission candidates Jeff Foster and Cindy Carter, Superior Court Judge candidates Anna Gigliotti and Melissa Chlarson, Grant County Assessor candidates Melissa McKnight and James Liebrecht, Grant County Auditor candidates Michele Jaderlund and Richard Stevens, U.S. House of Representatives Fourth District candidates Dan Newhouse and Doug White, and U.S. Senate candidates Patty Murray and Tiffany Smiley. The forum is free and open to the public.