Fentanyl crisis in Grant County

Local authorities express significant concern over fentanyl’s prevalence in the community.

EPHRATA – According to staff at the Grant County Jail, roughly 90% of detainees arrive with some substance abuse-related concern. Of those, roughly 70% have some level of dependency on fentanyl. The Grant County Morgue is seeing sadly similar increases. “We’re starting to see (fentanyl addiction) as a huge issue inside the jail,” said Grant County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Chief Deputy Phil Coats. “And, from what I’m hearing talking to some of the people that are withdrawing from it is that it is so severe that actual suicide rates have actually gone up in jails because they don’t want to have to deal (with withdrawals.) It hurts too much.” ...

Legals for July, 13 2023

Tribal youth aid pollinators with WSU Extension-improved seed bombs

PULLMAN - Two summers ago, prairies burned as towns on the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation filled with smoke from the 54-square-mile Chuweah Creek Fire...

Royal Council awards scholarship, approves parade

ROYAL CITY — A Royal City student received a boost to her education at the July 5 Royal City City Council meeting. Rayne Sheriff, a 2023 graduate of Royal High School, was the winner of a $1,000 scholarship from the engineering firm Anderson Perry. Anderson Perry, based in La Grande, Oregon and Walla Walla, offers scholarships to students every year in the various communities in Eastern Washington and Oregon that it serves, said Anderson Perry Vice President Jake Hollopeter. Hollopeter came in person to present the scholarship because the program is near and dear to his heart, he said. “I think now we've donated and given back just over $150,000 in scholarships to communities,” he told the council. “This year, we selected about 14 different communities, and Royal City was one of them. This year we had three outstanding candidates … The city reviewed all of the applicants and selected a very highly qualified young lady this year.”

Grant County May employment data shows gains in some industries

MOSES LAKE — The employment picture in Grant County improved between May 2022 and May 2023, although the number of people employed in nonfarm jobs didn’t change much. A report from the Washington Employment Security Department shows nonfarm unemployment dropping between April and May 2023 as well. The county’s unemployment rate was 3.8% in May, down from 5.4% in May 2022. The unemployment rate dropped a full percentage point between April and May of this year; it was 4.8% in April. Don Meseck, WESD regional labor economist, wrote that the number of people with jobs didn’t change much between May 2022 and May 2023, as some industries gained jobs and others lost them.

DOD partners with new ceramics research center at WSU

PULLMAN - Washington State University researchers will partner with the Department of Defense Army Research Laboratory (ARL) on a cooperative agreement for research focused on materials used in extreme environments...

Commentary: Mountains of government red tape shackling America’s manufacturers

Until President Biden signed the Chips and Science Act last year, companies such as Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company looked elsewhere to build plants costing well over $20 billion each. Biden’s pitch to taxpayers was that ultramodern manufacturers of miniature computer chips used in our sophisticated weapons, advanced manufacturing, cars and trucks, and high-tech equipment needed to move back to the USA. Congress responded and passed CSA, supplying $280 billion to encourage them to reposition even though our costs tend to be higher and our regulations more shackling.

Japanese ag students arrive at BBCC

MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College welcomed the newest group of Japanese Agricultural Trainees to campus this week. Twenty-nine trainees arrived Friday, ready to begin their 19-month adventure in the United States...

WSU memory and addiction study receives $2.9M grant

PULLMAN – Years into sobriety, seemingly innocent stimuli — like songs, smells or specific visuals — can trigger memories of earlier drug use and an intense craving that can cause even a long-recovered addict to relapse. But what if those memories could be manipulated to be less triggering? ...

Shoshone County PA not seeking death penalty for Kellogg homicide

Kaylor is accused of murdering Kenna Guardipee, 41, Kenneth Guardipee, 65, Devin Smith, 18, and Aiken Smith, 16, at their home in Kellogg on Father’s Day.

Commentary: Snake River Whac-A-Mole needs to stop

To supporters of the four Lower Snake River dams, the latest news that President Biden continues to pursue dam breaching is not shocking, but surprising, considering the growing shortfall in electricity predicted in the western states and his desire to dramatically reduce carbon emissions. Biden’s March 21 announcement started another “Whac-A-Mole” game to determine the dams’ future. The news was reported in a Wall Street Journal commentary by Faith Bottum titled “Biden’s fishy plan to breach the Snake River dams.” She wrote that Biden is determined to bring “healthy and abundant salmon runs back to the Colorado River system.” (He really meant the Columbia River.)

Legals for June, 22 2023

Legals for June, 22 2023

Samaritan construction plans moving forward

MOSES LAKE — An updated analysis of the cost of building a new Samaritan Hospital could be presented at the July 25 commission meeting. “(The project general contractor) is working on updating the guaranteed maximum price for the project, so we should see that sometime in July,” said Samaritan CEO Theresa Sullivan at the commission meeting Tuesday...

Compassionate planning

Local funeral director shares tips to plan end-of-life services and reduce stress for families.

MOSES LAKE – The passing of a loved one is never something that people like to think about in their day-to-day lives. Unfortunately, things happen and it’s important to have a plan in place. Susan Freeman who is the Funeral Director at Pioneer Memorial said the most important thing a person can do is be prepared. There are many times when people come in and there is nothing prearranged and the family has no idea what to do for the funeral, said Freeman...

Newhouse to help lead field hearing on Lower Snake River Dams

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, will help lead a field hearing in Richland for members of the House Natural Resources Committee on the importance of Eastern Washington’s Lower Snake River dams, according to an announcement from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, who will join Newhouse at the hearing...

Accused murderer Kaylor has first appearance in court

After reviewing and reading him his rights, Magistrate Judge Keisha Oxendine read Kaylor his charges – which also included a felony burglary charge, each count of murder included the names of his alleged victims, Devin Smith, Kenna Guardipee, Kenneth Guardipee, and a juvenile identified only as A.S.

Legals for June, 15 2023

Legals for June, 7 2023

Saving those who served

Empathy key to reducing veteran suicides.

EPHRATA — Every 28 seconds or so, a U.S. military veteran attempts to take their own life. “Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the U.S. There were 46,000 deaths by suicide in 2020 and there were 1.15 million attempts,” said Mike Badgley, a suicide prevention peer specialist for the Washington State Department of Military Affairs...