GCSO Motor Traffic Unit

EPHRATA - The motor traffic unit investigates traffic collisions involving fatalities and serious injuries, as well as being in charge of traffic enforcement and traffic safety education.

November options narrowed after primaries

Unofficial county election results as of Aug.2

COLUMBIA BASIN - While Grant and Adams county voters had plenty of options in the Aug. 2 primary, the point of the August ballot is to narrow down options in November to no more than two candidates for each race. The results posted below are unofficial and do not include all ballots. Mail-in ballots or ballots with signature issues needing to be rectified before they are counted are not included. Results of the primaries are expected to be certified by Aug. 16 at the county level and Aug. 19 at the state level, according to the Washington Secretary of State’s website. Only contested races are included below and additional coverage will be provided as ballot totals are finalized...

Vantage Highway fire causes haze, threatens 40 structures

Blaze impacts about 8,000 acres so far

VANTAGE - A fire is burning on the western side of the Columbia River north of Vantage along the Vantage Highway, leading to the mobilization of state resources to combat the roughly 10,500-acre blaze which threatened about 40 structures Monday. “We have resources from all across the state because this is a state mobilization fire now,” said Grace DeBusschere, public information officer with Kittitas Fire District 7. “We have (Washington State Department of Natural Resources) ground resources from all across the state. We have local fire district resources and mutual aid partners.” A small amount of Bureau of Land Management land is also involved in the fire, so BLM staff are on hand to assist as well, along with Department of Fish and Wildlife responders. The state mobilization order, authorized by Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste at the request of Kittitas County District 4 Fire Chief William Rose, allows those additional resources to respond to the fire, DeBusschere said. Efforts to contain the blaze, which caused a haze of smoke across much of northern Grant and Kittitas counties, include aerial firefighting apparatus such as planes and helicopters. Boats with first responders aboard could also be seen from the Frenchman Coulee area moving around the area impacted by the fire, which she said was spreading in a northerly direction as of Monday at about 2 p.m. No cause has been identified for the fire at this time; however, it is thought to have started around 1 p.m. Monday. The fire caused the evacuation of the city of Vantage, along I-90 on the east end of the bridge over the Columbia River. No injuries or structure losses have been reported at this time, DeBusshere said...

Fire near Ephrata quickly brought under control

EPHRATA - A fire early Tuesday morning burned about 100 acres of federal land just outside of Ephrata between Road A and Drumheller Road, according to first responders. Grant County Fire District 13 Chief Jim Stucky said the fire was reported about 2 a.m. from an address off of Road A NW. Stucky said the fire was brought under control by about 4:30 a.m. and that there were no injuries or damages to power lines...

Judge hits 43rd HR, Yanks beat Ms 7-2

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 43rd home run, Jose Trevino had his first multihomer game and the New York Yankees beat the Seattle Mariners 7-2 Monday night in a series opener between teams bulking up for the postseason.

Hot weather presents challenges in dementia care

Hot summer weather can pose a special risk to people suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia conditions, but there are ways for caregivers to minimize the risk. “The dangers of extreme temperatures, which can cause heat stroke in a matter of minutes, are magnified for someone living with dementia,” Jennifer Reeder, director of educational and social services for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, wrote in a press release. “Dementia-related illnesses can impair a person’s ability to know when they are thirsty or in danger of overheating, communicate basic needs or remember basic safety protocols. “Caregivers cannot solely depend on waiting for the person to express that they are too hot or need to cool off,” the press release said. As a result, caregivers should keep an eye out, watching for signs of hyperthermia. That’s abnormally high body temperature, caused by an inability to regulate heat. Seniors and people with chronic medical conditions are at the highest risk, the press release said...

Basin seniors calendar for August 2022

Ephrata: Lunch at the senior center Join community members each weekday at noon at the Ephrata Senior Center at 124 C Street NW in Ephrata. Lunch comes with a hot entree, salads, veggies, a starch and homemade desserts. Refreshments are included. Meals are $7 for members and $8 for nonmembers. Dinners are also available but reservations are encouraged. Contact the center by calling 509-754-2382. Defensive Driving Course Contact the senior center at 509-754-2382 to sign up for a defensive driving class. The Evergreen Safety Council course is six hours long and can help seniors qualify for a discount on their automobile insurance, if their insurance provider participates in the program. (Call your insurance provider to ask if they participate.) Exercise classes Join instructor Terry Troutman for beginners yoga each Tuesday at the senior center. Register online by clicking the Center link at the top of the Ephrata Senior Center website at ephrataseniorcenter.org. Classes are $22 per month or $8.50 per drop-in session. The Ephrata Senior Center also offers Stay Active & Independent for Life - SAIL - classes at no cost 2-3 times per week. Go thrifting! The Ephrata Senior Center operates a senior thrift shop. The shop offers a wide variety of products and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday of each week. Contact the shop, located at 604 Basin Street NW at 509-754-9605.

Allegations against former SLSD super unfounded

Accusations of inappropriate sexual relations unproven

SOAP LAKE — The investigation into the alleged misconduct of former Soap Lake School District Superintendent Sunshine Pray – which was conducted by Clear Risk Solutions – has been released and states that the allegations were unfounded. Four main allegations were made against Pray in the two separate documents. The four allegations were that Pray had sex with a student, that Pray had an inappropriate relationship with a former student, that Pray had a romantic relationship with a subordinate teacher and that Pray had a romantic relationship with a school board member. Each document states that investigator Tony Zeman would not make conclusions about policy violations but each conclusion did state that each allegation was unfounded. Each allegation was also denied by Pray and also denied by all but one of those she was accused of having inappropriate relationships with...

Ephrata man killed in collision near Coulee City

COULEE CITY — An Ephrata man was killed when he hit the back of a car while riding his motorcycle Sunday morning. Dennis Armour, 68, died at Confluence Health-Central Washington Hospital Sunday, according to a press memo from the Washington State Patrol. The collision occurred at about 9 a.m. roughly nine miles southwest of Coulee City. Armour was following a car driven by Ashley Offer, 39, Renton, when Offer slowed down to turn into the Blue Lake rest area, the WSP memo said. Armour ran into the back of Offer’s vehicle; his motorcycle came to rest on the northbound shoulder. Offer’s car came to rest in the northbound lane. Offer and two passengers in her car, Steven Horner, 37, Renton and a six-year-old boy, were not injured.

Former Moses Lake nurse sentenced for morphine theft

SPOKANE — A Moses Lake woman was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after she was convicted of tampering with medications while on the job as a registered nurse. Esther Ray Tuller, 41, was convicted of taking morphine from the supply at Confluence Health-Moses Lake Clinic and using the substance herself between August 2019 and April 2020, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Washington. “Tuller used syringes to remove morphine from at least 17 vials, and then ingested the morphine as part of her own opioid addiction,” according to a press release from the USAO. “She then replaced the morphine with a saline solution, and attempted to glue the caps back onto the vials to make them appear intact.” At least one Confluence Health patient had to seek emergency treatment after receiving one of the vials Tuller had emptied and refilled with saline solution, the press release said. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Group and the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigation.

One killed in crash near Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE - A press release by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office Monday said a crash west of Moses Lake Saturday resulted in one dead and three injured. The release states a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier was traveling west on South Frontage Road East around 6:30 a.m. when the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve. The curve is about three-tenths of a mile east of Hiawatha Road. The car then left the road to the north, rolled several times and ejected all four occupants. Karri S. Ortega, 22, of Moses Lake, a 14-year-old female from Quincy, and an unidentified male were flown to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. One unidentified male was pronounced dead at the scene, the release states. The release said it is unclear who was driving the car and the GCSO Motor Traffic Unit is investigating. There is no update on the status of the three surviving victims as of Monday, the release states.

Rectenwald to remain as interim Grant Co. sheriff through Nov.

EPHRATA — Ryan Rectenwald will continue as interim Grant County Sheriff through mid-November when the 2022 election is certified. Rectenwald’s appointment to the interim position was approved unanimously by the Grant County Commissioners Monday. Rectenwald had been serving as sheriff since July 1, when former sheriff Tom Jones retired. Jones announced earlier this year he was not running for reelection. Three people are running for the position, including Joe Kriete, currently the chief deputy for investigations, former Mattawa Police Chief Joe Harris, and James Baker, a Moses Lake-area farmer...

The benefits of surgery in fighting veterinary cancer

When it comes to treating cancer in pets, there are several options available, depending on the type, location, and severity of the cancer. In some cases, surgically removing a cancerous tumor can be a great way to heal a pet and help them maintain a great quality of life...

3 charged with disaster relief fraud

SPOKANE — A federal grand jury indicted three Eastern Washington residents - including a man from Moses Lake - last week for fraud in obtaining COVID-19 relief money, according to a Department of Justice press release. “COVID-19 relief programs were designed to lift up our community during crisis, and due to the number of people and businesses that request funding, some deserving small businesses were not able to obtain funding to keep their businesses in operation,” saide Vanessa Waldref, a U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington...

Fire restrictions expanded to firearm discharge

SPOKANE - The Bureau of Land Management Spokane District has added a prohibition to its existing fire restrictions order regarding the discharge of firearms. Discharging firearms is prohibited on public lands under the care of BLM and the Bureau of Reclamation as of July 29. The only exception to this prohibition is while engaged in lawful hunt pursuant to state, federal or tribal law and regulations, on public lands administered by the BLM and the BOR in the following counties: Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant and Yakima.

Invasive beetles continue to spread in WA

RICHLAND — The Japanese beetle infestation continues to spread following the discovery of more of the invasive pests in Richland. According to a press release from the Washington State Department of Agriculture, department officials confirmed the discovery of a single beetle in a trap in Richland, about 35 miles east of Grandview, the epicenter of the Japanese beetle infestation. Earlier last week, WSDA officials announced the discovery of Japanese beetles in Wapato, roughly 30 miles west of Grandview. As of Friday, WSDA said officials have set more traps in Richland in the hunt for additional beetles.

Columbia Basin Herald launches Studio Basin podcast

The Columbia Basin Herald is happy to announce the launch of the Studio Basin podcast. Hosted by managing editor R. Hans Miller, the podcast will include guests from the Columbia Basin, recaps of the week’s news, discussions about challenges and opportunities in Columbia Basin Communities and other information on what’s happening in Grant and Adams counties as well as issues that impact Washington state. To listen to the podcast, visit the Studio Basin site at: https://bit.ly/STUDIOBASIN. The podcast will also be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Alexa, Overcast, PocketCasts, Castro, Castbox and Podchaser. At about 4 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on July 30.

‘Get out, dunk the chief, get a snow cone’

National Night Out returns after pandemic hiatus

COLUMBIA BASIN — Police cars, fire trucks, information booths, Quincy’s Chief for a Day, snow cones, ice cream, a dunk tank featuring Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr - National Night Out returns with a plethora of activities in three Columbia Basin communities Monday and Tuesday. “It’s a way to increase connections between those who serve and the neighborhoods out there,” Mattawa Police Chief Robert Salinas said...

Law enforcement logs for July 29, 2022

The items below are consolidated reports from Columbia Basin law enforcement agencies. All those named as defendants or suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

ICE officer arrested in Othello child sex trafficking investigation

OTHELLO — A 47-year-old Ellensburg man was arrested by Othello Police officers Tuesday in connection with an incident where he allegedly traveled to Othello to pay for sex with a 13-year-old girl.