Steven L. Gilbert

1958 – 2025

Steven L. Gilbert, devoted husband and father, passed away peacefully on November 23, 2025. Steve lived heroically with the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s for 18 years, but it never daunted his loving spirit and sense of humor. Steve was a gentle giant and leaves a legacy of strength during trial, humor in hard times and an enduring love of God, family and ice cream.

Moses Lake Council approves temporary ice rink fix

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council voted unanimously at Tuesday’s meeting to rent replacement equipment to keep the Larson Recreation Center ice rink functional.

Use common sense when warming up with a space heater

MOSES LAKE — Winter weather has come to the Basin, which means a lot of people will be looking for ways to keep warm. Space heaters can be a useful, portable way to heat up a room, but you have to be careful with them and the fire risks they present. “Maintain space between the heater and any combustible object: clothes, blankets, anything that could catch fire,” said Moses Lake firefighter Seth Ellis. One in six residential fires on average are caused by heating equipment, according to the National Fire Prevention Association. Of those, about a third are caused by space heaters, but those fires result in 88% of civilian deaths and 80% of civilian injuries from heating-related fires. The number of fires caused by heaters has dropped from more than 70,000 annually to about 40,000, largely due to safety features like switches to shut the device off when it tips over.

Quincy Police Department logs as of Nov. 18-24, 2025

The reports below were provided by the Quincy Police Department. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Purple Sage Meadows developer considering suit against Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE — A dispute between North Pacific Investments and the city of Soap Lake has intensified following NPI’s recent decision to file a formal legal appeal against the city's administration. The developer says Mayor Peter Sharp's denial of the Purple Sage Meadows' affordable housing project—a $66 million initiative intended to provide 232 affordable homes—represents an unjustified obstruction of the planned development.

LETTER: The high cost of school construction: A call for reform

Excessive soft costs • 35-45% of school construction budgets are consumed by soft costs – engineering, design and planning – before a single nail is driven or cement poured. • These costs must be reined in and redirected toward actual construction.

MLSD passes resolution due to potential teacher strike

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District Board of Directors passed a resolution on Thursday in response to an possible strike by teachers represented by the Moses Lake Education Association. MLEA members voted to authorize a strike if a labor agreement is not met by Friday, Nov. 28.

Knights dominate on the gridiron to advance to semifinals

ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights (11-0) stormed through Seton Catholic Cougars 48-10 in a rematch of last year's 1A state football championship. However, this came in the quarterfinal round as the Knights earned a first round bye.

Grant County Sheriff’s Office logs as of Nov. 21, 2025

The reports below were provided by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

City of Ephrata, port enter interlocal agreement for economic grant

EPHRATA — In a move towards driving economic revitalization, the City of Ephrata has entered into an Interlocal Agreement with the Grant County Port District No. 9. The agreement aims to facilitate a joint application for a grant from the Community Economic Revitalization Board, providing an opportunity for the City and Port to collaboratively develop a comprehensive economic development plan.

Moses Lake Police Department logs as of Nov. 20, 2025

The reports below were provided by the Moses Lake Police Department. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Quincy Police Department logs: Nov. 8-13

The reports below were provided by the Quincy Police Department. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Grant County Sheriff’s Office Log as of Nov. 13, 2025

Moses Lake Police Department logs for Nov. 13, 2025

The reports below were provided by the Moses Lake Police Department. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Othello pool construction bond failing

OTHELLO — The fate of the Othello Community Pool, whether it will reopen and if so, how soon, will be in the hands of new Mayor Ken Johnson and a new Othello City Council. Johnson and the new council members will take office in January.

A heartfelt thank you from the CBH team

MOSES LAKE — The only reason the team at the Columbia Basin Herald can do our jobs is because of the dedication of veterans who have protected our Constitutional freedoms for well over 200 years. Freedoms like the First Amendment which guarantees a free press. We thank all of our local veterans for their contributions to preserving our freedoms and their hard work after their service to ensure the Columbia Basin is a wonderful place to live.

Potato Expo 2026 to be held in Dallas

DALLAS – Potato Expo 2026, North America's largest annual potato industry conference and trade show, is heading to Dallas Jan. 6-8 at the Gaylord Texan, according to an announcement from the National Potato Council. The event, hosted by the National Potato Council, invites U.S. and international potato supply chain partners to connect, share insights, and collaborate to kick off the new year.

Fairy tale: Othello HS to stage ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

OTHELLO — It’s your typical teenage drama. Boy loves girl. Girl’s father wants her to marry someone else. Girl runs away and both boys look for her. A mischievous fairy sprinkles a potion on everybody that makes them all fall in love with the wrong people. Wait, what?

Covenant Homeownership Project showing results

MOSES LAKE — Washington’s Covenant Homeownership Project is beginning to do what it’s designed to. “As of the beginning of last week, 886 people had closed on their homes using this program,” writes Margret Graham, communications director for the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. Another 92 buyers are waiting to close, she wrote.

Grant County building permits

Grant County building permits